Draft:Wand of ball lightning
| / | |
| Type | Wand |
|---|---|
| Base value (Au) | 500 |
| Item level | 4 |
| Weight | 80 |
| Unidentified appearance | Random wand appearance |
| Cursed name | Wand of ball lightning |
A wand of ball lightning launches an electrical explosion which affects its endpoint and the eight surrounding squares. It can damage several creatures without individual hit rolls, but the user can also be caught in the blast.[1]
Generation
This item-level-4 random wand normally has 1–20 charges, random blessing and +0 enchantment. Random loot, pawn-shop stock and acquirement can supply it.[2]
Ambrosias transforms a tesla monster whip into a blessed +5 wand with 20 charges for normally 400 Au. This is a remains recipe, not a guaranteed wand in the living monster's possessions. The +5 does not increase its blast damage.[3]
Description
| Property | Rule |
|---|---|
| Blast footprint | Endpoint and eight adjacent squares, a 3 × 3 area |
| Damage | Independent random 0–49 electrical damage to each affected creature or player |
| Hit check | None once an occupant is in the blast; electrical immunity still applies |
| Positive blessing or enchantment | No larger area or damage increase |
| Curse | Forces the explosion to center on the player |
The travelling effect stops at its selected square or first obstruction, including a creature, so a nearby interceptor can move the blast dangerously close. The blast itself does not make separate projectile-path checks from its center to the surrounding eight squares. It does not use the bolt-only deflection protection.[4]
The explosion can destroy ordinary hedges in its area, but a trifid absorbs that terrain effect. It does not turn water into floor. One charge is spent and the type revealed before aiming; see Using wands for cancellation limits.[5]
Strategy
Use the area attack against grouped electricity-susceptible enemies, keeping both the intended endpoint and possible interceptors away from your own square. It can be more reliable than a bolt against high defense because it has no hit roll, but its maximum damage per target is lower than a lightning bolt's.
Electrical immunity protects against the blast's HP damage; deflection alone does not. A tesla monster is a source of the ingredient but is itself electrically immune. Do not choose the wand merely because the target's remains make one, and do not expect blessing the alchemical copy to make its area safe for you.[6]
References
- ↑ iinit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 360; itemf3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 699–711; effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 352–356; effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 378–453.
- ↑ item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 7–41; item.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 254–262; site1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 1043–1052; effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 699–705.
- ↑ minit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 165; site1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 845–869; itemf3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 699–711.
- ↑ effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 378–453; util.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 73–85; util.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 206–268.
- ↑ effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 433–453; itemf3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 699–711; command2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 459–488.
- ↑ minit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 165; effect1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 399–431; aux1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 498–513.