=== Birth/Difficulty options === Birth options are a special set of options, that only take effect if modified during the creation of a character (they are also the only options that can be modified during the creation of a character). Once the character is created, the birth options are set and modifications will only affect the next character created using the same savefile. Birth options are divided into three sub-sets - ==== Sub-Set 1 - Birth options ==== These are options that directly affect the creation of a character. ***** Allow purchase of stats using points [birth_point_based] Allows the player to determine exactly what stats the character will start with, but will lead to creation of weaker characters than by other methods. ***** Allow specification of minimal stats [birth_auto_roller] If point based creation is turned off, this allows the player to set minimum stats (within reason) and ask the game to keep on rolling until a character with the desired stats is generated. Using this method can lead to better characters than point-based creation, but totally random rolling can create even better ones (though rarely). ***** Generate hitpoints randomly [birth_random_hp] If this option is turned on, the amount of hit points gained with each level will be randomly determined from a range determined by the class and race of the character. If this option is turned off, the character will always be exactly middle-of-the-range. Random hitpoints allow for more variation and a chance for higher hit points, but bear the risk of gaining fewer hit points as well. ***** Pre-Shop for some basic items [birth_start_kit] The character starts with a lantern, 4 oil flasks, a scroll of phase door, a cloak, and a potion of cure light wounds. On the other hand he starts with 100 gold less than without this option and no torches. Using this option allows you to save the tedium of early shopping but gives you a bad deal gold-wise. ==== Sub-Set 2 - Difficulty options ==== These are options that influence the difficulty of the game. Changing any of these can result in a considerably different playing experience. ***** Easy mode [birth_easy_mode] If you wish to have an easier job, select this option and you shall face monsters with less hitpoints. In addition, you will get better prices at shops and get an extra 500 GP at the start of the game. You will also get easier quests, and other bonuses. ***** Nightmare mode [birth_nightmare_mode] Not for the feint of heart, this makes you game harder in many ways. ***** Generate better (harder) levels [birth_autoscum] Allows you to force the generation of "good" levels in the dungeon. This option may be extremely slow on some machines, especially deep in the dungeon. The minimum "goodness" of the level is based on the dungeon level, so the deeper you go, the better the level will be. Note that better levels also include tougher monsters so this makes the game both more challanging and more rewarding. ***** Preserve artifacts on leaving level [birth_preserve] If preserve mode is "off", you can get a level feeling that you *NEVER* get with preserve mode "on": a "special" feeling. This means that there is an artifact, a pit or a vault on the level: and while a pit or vault may not necessarily cause a special feeling, an artifact CERTAINLY will. This is principally of use in finding out which levels are *not* "special", i.e. which ones can be left in a hurry without worrying about leaving something behind - if it's not "special", there is no artifact unless a monster has dropped one when you killed it. This is particularly important because, with preserve mode off, no artifact can be generated more than once in the game. If it's on a level and you miss it, it's gone forever. With preserve mode "on", if you miss an artifact, it can turn up later provided you didn't pick it up and identify it the first time (in which case there is no excuse for losing it.) But you don't get the "special" feeling. ***** Randomize some of the artifacts [birth_rand_artifacts] A different set of artifacts will be created, in place of the standard ones from a_info.txt/a_info.raw. This is intended primarily for people who have played enough to know what most of the standard artifacts do and have got bored with them. ***** Restrict the use of stairs/recall [birth_ironman] This option, not recommended for non-advanced players, prevents the generation of up staircases, and makes the scroll and effect of Word of Recall not function: and teleport-level always goes down, as does the spell of stair-creation, except on the quest levels of Sauron and Morgoth. ***** Restrict the use of stores/home [birth_no_stores] The stores are all closed. The home is someone else's, and locked. You can keep nothing but what you carry with you, and get nothing but what you find in the dungeon. No selling items, or buying potions of restore stat... Not recommended for new players, or indeed for sane players. ***** No level feelings [birth_no_feelings] You will no longer get a descriptive feeling when entering a level - you'll have to explore it yourself to discover what it contains, with no prior warning. Recommended only for advanced players. ***** Restrict the creation of artifacts [birth_no_artifacts] No artifacts will be created. Ever. Just *how* masochistic are you? ***** All levels will be generated as small [birth_force_small_lev] All levels will be generated as small levels, giving you less space to run to... ==== Sub-Set 3 - Monster AI options ==== These are options that influence the behvaiour patterns of monsters. Changing these may influence what strategies and tactics will work best against your opponents. (note to those familiar with other varients - EyAngband monsters always use basic AI to determine spell choices). ***** Monsters act smarter in groups [birth_smart_packs] "group" monsters will use tactics that groups of monsters might reasonably employ - such as hiding out of sight around a corner, trying to draw the character out into the middle of a room so they can surround him and all attack at once, rather than chasing one by one down a corridor. ***** Monsters exploit players weaknesses [birth_smart_cheat] Allow monsters to know what spell attacks you are resistant tom, without having to make mistakes (normally, a monster will learn this information by casting spells and remembering their effectiveness). ***** Monsters chase current location [birth_flow_by_sound] Allow monsters to make paths to the player when they are nearby. This option may be extremely slow on older machines, but can produce viciously smart monsters. ***** Monsters chase recent locations [birth_flow_by_smell] Allow monsters to take advantage of "old" trails that you may have left in the dungeon. This has no effect unless "flow_by_sound" is also set.