Jade talisman

Trunk-only: This article pertains to a feature of Crawl which is being tested. It will likely change before the next release, and may even be removed entirely.

A small statuette carved out of multi-hued jade which thrums with quiet power. Causes a great mantle of elementally-attuned crystal to grow out of the wearer's head and upper body, increasing their proficiency with fire, ice, earth, and air magic, but impairing all other schools. Each time the wearer casts a spell from one of those 4 schools, it will empower the corresponding crystal and unleash a burst of damaging magic. If all four crystals become charged at once, the wearer's resistances and fortitude will be temporarily enhanced.

A jade talisman is a talisman that changes you into a jademantle form.

Useful Info

When Put on, a jade talisman turns you into a Jademantle Form, which lasts until you end the form. Entering a form takes 4 turns and exiting it takes 5.

Jademantle Form has the following effects:

Offensive traits

• Elemental crystals. While in jademantle form, you are surrouned by four elemental crystals on the diagonals: Air, Earth, Fire and Ice. The crystals can move on top of the walls and try to keep their positions around the player, unless a monster occupies the corresponding tile. If you cast the spell from one of the elemental school and there are any enemies at the distance of 3 tiles or less to the corresponding crystal, the crystal will surge, perform the elemental damage to all the nearby enemies and become charged. If all four crystals are charged, you gain temporary Resistance and Indomitable status (increased HP regeneration). In case of one or more crystals getting destroyed, they will re-appear again after a short time.

The following properties of the crystals are scaled by the Shapeshifting skill level:

• Crystal's health ranges from 13 HP to 25 HP.
• Amount of HP restored by indomitable status ranges from 15 to 35.
• Surge damage amount ranges from 2d6, up to 2d11.
• +2 Skill level for elemental magic schools (Air, Earth, Fire, Ice)

	Air Crystal	Earth Crystal	Fire Crystal	Ice Crystal
Uncharged
Charged

Restrictions

• Reduces skill level of non-elemental magic schools by 1/3rd.
• Melded Gear: Helmet, cloak.
• Makes you vulnerable to Lee's Rapid Deconstruction

Jademantle Form has a minimum Shapeshifting skill of 8, and the maximum skill is 14. Using it at the skill level less than 8, lowers your maximum HP and makes the scalable properties for the crystals below their minimum.

Mystics start with a jade talisman.

Strategy

Dragon Veins has an obvious synergy with this form, as it can charge all the crystals with a single cast. As a capstone form for the Mystic background, Jademantle + Dragon Veins could carry you at least through the midgame. The main disadvantage of the form is a debuff to non-elemental spell schools, including Conjurations, which many late game spells depend on. However, some high level spells like Permafrost Eruption or Plasma Beam synergise with Jademantle form well. Crystals could temporarily block enemies from getting in melee range, which could help you to survive or retreat. Most of the spells or ranged attacks could be fired through the crystals, but some spells like Hellfire Mortar are slightly limited by their position.

	Humanoid	Naga	Felid	Octopode	Centaur
Uncharged
Charged

History

• In 0.35, Jade talismans will be added.