Metabolic Englaciation

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Metabolic Englaciation
Level	5
School1	Hexes
School2	Ice
Source(s)	Book of Sloth Book of Winter
Casting noise	4
Spell noise	0
Power Cap	200
Flags	Area

Lowers the metabolic rate of every creature in the caster's vicinity, slowing all those who are not resistant to cold. Cold-blooded creatures will be affected much more strongly, and tougher creatures will be slowed for a shorter time.

Metabolic Englaciation is a level 5 Hexes/Ice spell that slows down monsters in the caster's line of sight.

Useful Info

Applies the slowed status effect for creatures in the caster's line of sight. The duration of this effect is dependent on spell power and inversely proportional to monster HD; it does not check willpower. Duration is doubled for cold-blooded targets. Cold resistant and stationary monsters are unaffected by this spell. Using this spell on an already slowed creature will increase its duration.

The slow effect will last for 3d(pow+1)/6 - HD/2 - 0.5 turns. If this results in ≤ 0 turns, then the spell is resisted, otherwise it has a minimum of (1 + 1d4) turns. Cold-blooded creatures have their duration doubled after the turns > 0 check, meaning they aren't more likely to be slowed.

Strategy

While this spell may not be as impressive as other Hexes, Metabolic Englaciation can still be valuable as a crowd-control spell. Even if you can't slow down the most dangerous monsters, you can disable whole packs of "mook" enemies, such as vault guards and draconians. Unlike Cause Fear, Metabolic Englaciation checks HD instead of willpower.

High spellpower is vital for this spell's function; power increases the chance to slow, as well as the duration of the slow.

History

• Prior to 0.28, Metabolic Englaciation didn't have a minimum duration.
• Prior to 0.27, Metabolic Englaciation lasted for 3d(pow + 1) / 6 - 1d(HD) - 1 turns.
• Prior to 0.14, Metabolic Englaciation was a level 6 Hexes/Ice spell, and had no effect on already slowed creatures.
• Prior to 0.10, Metabolic Englaciation functioned as a mass Ensorcelled Hibernation.