Background - Revision history

NormalPerson7: Forgecraft, 0.33

2025-05-03T16:31:32Z

Forgecraft, 0.33

Patrick2011b: update to 0.31

2024-01-29T21:41:29Z

update to 0.31

Hordes: /* History */

2023-07-14T19:59:20Z

‎History

Hordes: soften Bg advice

2023-07-14T19:57:49Z

soften Bg advice

Hordes: /* Classes in Crawl */ modern roguelikes / roguelites don't always have "advancement paths set in stone"

2023-05-11T04:31:57Z

‎Classes in Crawl: modern roguelikes / roguelites don't always have "advancement paths set in stone"

Ge0ff: latest changes go first

2023-05-05T21:47:21Z

latest changes go first

Hordes: /* Warrior-mages */ Tm doesn't have any "change other" spells in their library

2023-05-04T22:33:52Z

‎Warrior-mages: Tm doesn't have any "change other" spells in their library

Hordes: 0.30

2023-05-04T22:32:19Z

0.30

Hordes: /* Renamed */

2022-08-26T02:57:01Z

‎Renamed

Hordes: /* History */

2022-08-23T18:29:11Z

‎History

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version031}}
+{{version033}}
 A '''background''' (also known as a '''class''') is your character's occupation, i.e. what they have learned prior to entering the [[Dungeon]]. Your background determines your starting [[skills]], stats, [[items]], and (in the case of religious backgrounds) your [[god]].
 ==Backgrounds & Difficulty==
-As one might expect, some backgrounds are easier than others, or at least easier to learn. New players should try out [[Berserker]] and [[Fighter]]. Berserker starts with [[Trog]]'s [[berserk]] ability, while Fighters enter with better-than-average weapon and armour, including a [[shield]]. If you would rather play a mage, try a [[Conjurer]].
+As one might expect, some backgrounds are easier than others, or at least easier to learn. New players should try out [[Berserker]] and [[Fighter]]. Berserker starts with [[Trog]]'s [[berserk]] ability, while Fighters enter with better-than-average weapon and armour, including a [[buckler]]. If you would rather play a mage, try a [[Conjurer]].
 ==Classes in ''Crawl''==
 An important difference between ''Crawl'' and many other roguelikes (and indeed other video game RPGs) is that your background is only your ''starting package'', not an advancement path that is set in stone.
-''Crawl'' was  designed to give you a lot of flexibility with how your character develops as they grow, and it does this by giving you a free hand to distribute your experience between your skills however you see fit. Your chosen background has no direct impact on this; it only gives you a starting point to move forward from. Your choice of [[species]], however, will make certain skills easier to learn than others, and your background helps determine your starting [[stats]], perhaps making certain play styles more viable than others.
+''Crawl'' is designed to give you a lot of flexibility with how your character develops as they grow, and it does this by giving you a free hand to distribute your experience between your skills however you see fit. Your chosen background has no direct impact on this; it only gives you a starting point to move forward from. Your choice of [[species]], however, will make certain skills easier to learn than others, and your background helps determine your starting [[stats]], perhaps making certain play styles more viable than others.
 For example, your [[Fighter]] could potentially learn [[spell]]s until they look more like a [[Hedge Wizard]], build up their [[Stealth]] and [[Dodging]] until they're basically a [[Brigand]]... or just keep bashing monsters, wearing heavy armour, and becoming a more talented Fighter. As a Fighter, your high [[strength]] may not contribute as much to these alternate paths as high [[intelligence]] or [[dexterity]] would, but the choice is there.
 ==List of backgrounds==
-There are currently 25 different backgrounds in ''Dungeon Crawl'', with many others removed. More information can be found on the pages for each individual background. They are broken up here into the categories shown on the initial select screen.
+There are currently 26 different backgrounds, with many others removed. More information can be found on the pages for each individual background. They are broken up here into the categories shown on the initial select screen.
 ===Warriors===
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 *'''[[Summoner]] (Su)''' - A magician who calls allies through [[Summonings]].
 *'''[[Necromancer]] (Ne)''' - A magician who studies the dark arts of [[Necromancy]].
 *'''[[Fire Elementalist]] (FE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Fire Magic]].
 *'''[[Ice Elementalist]] (IE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Ice Magic]].

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version030}}
+{{version031}}
 A '''background''' (also known as a '''class''') is your character's occupation, i.e. what they have learned prior to entering the [[Dungeon]]. Your background determines your starting [[skills]], stats, [[items]], and (in the case of religious backgrounds) your [[god]].
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ===Warriors===
-* '''[[Fighter]] (Fi)''' - A heavily-armoured warrior with a good general grounding in melee combat.
+*'''[[Fighter]] (Fi)''' - A heavily-armoured warrior with a good general grounding in melee combat.
-* '''[[Gladiator]] (Gl)''' - A warrior from the arena who strikes a good balance between melee and ranged combat.
+*'''[[Gladiator]] (Gl)''' - A warrior from the arena who strikes a good balance between melee and ranged combat.
-* '''[[Monk]] (Mo)''' - An ascetic warrior who starts off with limited equipment, but their pious ways make the [[gods]] look favourably upon them.
+*'''[[Monk]] (Mo)''' - An ascetic warrior who starts off with limited equipment, but their pious ways make the [[gods]] look favourably upon them.
-* '''[[Hunter]] (Hu)''' - A warrior who specializes in long-range weaponry.
+*'''[[Hunter]] (Hu)''' - A warrior who specializes in long-range weaponry.
-* '''[[Brigand]] (Br)''' - A killer who favours stealth and poison over brute force.
+*'''[[Brigand]] (Br)''' - A killer who favours stealth and poison over brute force.
 ===Zealots===
-* '''[[Berserker]] (Be)''' - A savage warrior who worships [[Trog]], the violent god of rage.
+*'''[[Berserker]] (Be)''' - A savage warrior who worships [[Trog]], the violent god of rage.
-* '''[[Chaos Knight]] (CK)''' - A warrior-priest of [[Xom]], an unpredictable and fickle chaos god.
+*'''[[Chaos Knight]] (CK)''' - A warrior-priest of [[Xom]], an unpredictable and fickle chaos god.
-* '''[[Cinder Acolyte]] (CA)''' - A worshipper of [[Ignis]], a fiery god whose powers will soon burn to flickering embers.
+*'''[[Cinder Acolyte]] (CA)''' - A worshipper of [[Ignis]], a fiery god whose powers will soon burn to flickering embers.
 ===Warrior-mages===
-* '''[[Transmuter]] (Tm)''' - A magician whose [[Transmutations]] magic can enhance themselves.
+*'''[[Warper]] (Wr)''' - A warrior who uses [[Translocations]] magic to control the battlefield.
-* '''[[Warper]] (Wr)''' - A warrior who uses [[Translocations]] magic to control the battlefield.
+*'''[[Hexslinger]] (Hs)''' - A hunter who combines enchantments and missiles to deadly effect.
-* '''[[Hexslinger]] (Hs)''' - A hunter who combines enchantments and missiles to deadly effect.
+*'''[[Enchanter]] (En)''' - A spellcaster versed in the subtle arts of [[Hexes]].
-* '''[[Enchanter]] (En)''' - A spellcaster versed in the subtle arts of [[Hexes]].
+*'''[[Reaver]] (Re)''' - A warrior  with the support of some destructive [[Conjurations]] magic.
 ===Mages===
-* '''[[Hedge Wizard]] (HW)''' - A broadly-educated magician who does not specialize in any one school of magic.
+*'''[[Hedge Wizard]] (HW)''' - A broadly-educated magician who does not specialize in any one school of magic.
-* '''[[Conjurer]] (Cj)''' - A magician who wields the destructive art of [[Conjurations]].
+*'''[[Conjurer]] (Cj)''' - A magician who wields the destructive art of [[Conjurations]].
-* '''[[Summoner]] (Su)''' - A magician who calls allies through [[Summonings]].
+*'''[[Summoner]] (Su)''' - A magician who calls allies through [[Summonings]].
-* '''[[Necromancer]] (Ne)''' - A magician who studies the dark arts of [[Necromancy]].
+*'''[[Necromancer]] (Ne)''' - A magician who studies the dark arts of [[Necromancy]].
-* '''[[Fire Elementalist]] (FE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Fire Magic]].
+*'''[[Fire Elementalist]] (FE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Fire Magic]].
-* '''[[Ice Elementalist]] (IE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Ice Magic]].
+*'''[[Ice Elementalist]] (IE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Ice Magic]].
-* '''[[Air Elementalist]] (AE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Air Magic]].
+*'''[[Air Elementalist]] (AE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Air Magic]].
-* '''[[Earth Elementalist]] (EE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Earth Magic]].
+*'''[[Earth Elementalist]] (EE)''' - An elementalist who specializes in [[Earth Magic]].
-* '''[[Venom Mage]] (VM)''' - A spellcaster who specializes in [[Poison Magic]].
+*'''[[Alchemist]] (Al)''' - A spellcaster who specializes in [[Alchemy]].
 ===Adventurers===
-* '''[[Artificer]] (Ar)''' - An [[Evocations]] specialist armed with several [[wand]]s.
+*'''[[Artificer]] (Ar)''' - An [[Evocations]] specialist armed with several [[wand]]s.
-* '''[[Wanderer]] (Wn)''' - A fool that somehow ended up in the [[Dungeon]]. Starts off with randomized equipment and skills.
+*'''[[Wanderer]] (Wn)''' - A fool that somehow ended up in the [[Dungeon]]. Starts off with randomized equipment and skills.
-* '''[[Delver]] (De)''' - A bold explorer that carries several useful tools, but begins their journey on the 5th floor of the Dungeon.
+*'''[[Delver]] (De)''' - A bold explorer that carries several useful tools, but begins their journey on the 5th floor of the Dungeon.
 ===Obsolete Backgrounds===
-* '''[[Abyssal Knight]] (AK)''' - A follower of [[Lugonu]], the god of corruption and chaos. Begins the game in the [[Abyss]], but always near an exit. Removed in [[0.30]].
+*'''[[Transmuter]] (Tm)''' - A magician whose [[Transmutations]] magic can enhance themselves. Removed in [[0.31]].
-* '''[[Skald]] (Sk)''' - A war-chanting fighter using [[Charms]] to augment their attacks. Removed in [[0.26]].
+*'''[[Venom Mage]] (VM)''' - A spellcaster who specializes in [[Poison Magic]]. Removed in [[0.31]].
-* '''[[Death Knight (background)|Death Knight]] (DK)''' - A warrior-priest of [[Yredelemnul]], the god of death. Removed in [[0.16]].
+*'''[[Abyssal Knight]] (AK)''' - A follower of [[Lugonu]], the god of corruption and chaos. Begins the game in the [[Abyss]], but always near an exit. Removed in [[0.30]].
-* '''[[Healer]] (He)''' - A pacifistic worshipper of [[Elyvilon]], the god of healing. Removed in [[0.16]].
+*'''[[Skald]] (Sk)''' - A war-chanting fighter using [[Charms]] to augment their attacks. Removed in [[0.26]].
-* '''[[Priest]] (Pr)''' - A priest of order. They worship either [[Zin]] the Law-Giver, or [[Beogh]] if a [[Hill Orc]]. Removed in 0.13.
+*'''[[Death Knight (background)|Death Knight]] (DK)''' - A warrior-priest of [[Yredelemnul]], the god of death. Removed in [[0.16]].
-* '''[[Paladin]] (Pa)''' - A warrior who worships [[The Shining One]], a god of holy crusades against evil. Removed in 0.8.
+*'''[[Healer]] (He)''' - A pacifistic worshipper of [[Elyvilon]], the god of healing. Removed in [[0.16]].
-* '''[[Reaver]] (Re)''' - A warrior who uses [[Conjurations]] to bolster their destructiveness. Removed in 0.8. Reintroduced in 0.30.
+*'''[[Priest]] (Pr)''' - A priest of order. They worship either [[Zin]] the Law-Giver, or [[Beogh]] if a [[Hill Orc]]. Removed in 0.13.
-* '''[[Stalker]] (St)''' - An assassin who uses [[Transmutations]] magic to kill victims. Removed in 0.12.
+*'''[[Paladin]] (Pa)''' - A warrior who worships [[The Shining One]], a god of holy crusades against evil. Removed in 0.8.
-* '''[[Thief]] (Th)''' - A sneaky type, well versed in the working of traps and moving unseen. Removed in 0.7.
+*'''[[Reaver]] (Re)''' - A warrior who uses [[Conjurations]] to bolster their destructiveness. Removed in 0.8. Reintroduced in 0.30.
 ====Renamed====
-* '''[[Arcane Marksman]] (AM)''' -> '''[[Hexslinger]] (Hs)'''. Renamed in [[0.30]].
+*'''[[Arcane Marksman]] (AM)''' -> '''[[Hexslinger]] (Hs)'''. Renamed in [[0.30]].
-* '''[[Assassin]] (As)''' -> '''[[Brigand]] (Br)'''. Renamed in [[0.26]].
+*'''[[Assassin]] (As)''' -> '''[[Brigand]] (Br)'''. Renamed in [[0.26]].
-* '''[[Wizard]] (Wz)''' -> '''[[Hedge Wizard]] (Wz, later HW)'''. Renamed in [[0.26]].
+*'''[[Wizard]] (Wz)''' -> '''[[Hedge Wizard]] (Wz, later HW)'''. Renamed in [[0.26]].
 ==See Also==

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ==History==
-*In [[0.29]], the introduction of [[attacks of opportunity]] also came with an extra consumable item to almost every background.
+*In [[0.29]], almost all backgrounds gained a consumable. This compensates for the introduction of [[attacks of opportunity]].
 *Prior to [[0.26]], all backgrounds started with a [[ration]].
 *Prior to [[0.21]], all backgrounds started with a [[bread ration]] (adjusted for [[species]]).

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==Backgrounds & Difficulty==
-As one might expect, some backgrounds are easier than others, at least to begin with. The best ones for a beginner are probably [[berserker]]s or [[fighter]]s. [[Berserker]]s have an easy early game with [[Trog]]'s [[berserk]] ability. Fighters enter the dungeon equipped with better-than-average weapon and armour, including a [[shield]]. If you would rather play a mage, try a [[conjurer]].
+As one might expect, some backgrounds are easier than others, or at least easier to learn. New players should try out [[Berserker]] and [[Fighter]]. Berserker starts with [[Trog]]'s [[berserk]] ability, while Fighters enter with better-than-average weapon and armour, including a [[shield]]. If you would rather play a mage, try a [[Conjurer]].
 ==Classes in ''Crawl''==

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Classes in ''Crawl''==
-An important difference between ''Crawl'' and most other roguelikes (and indeed other video game RPGs) is that your background is only your ''starting package'', not an advancement path that is set in stone.
+An important difference between ''Crawl'' and many other roguelikes (and indeed other video game RPGs) is that your background is only your ''starting package'', not an advancement path that is set in stone.
 ''Crawl'' was  designed to give you a lot of flexibility with how your character develops as they grow, and it does this by giving you a free hand to distribute your experience between your skills however you see fit. Your chosen background has no direct impact on this; it only gives you a starting point to move forward from. Your choice of [[species]], however, will make certain skills easier to learn than others, and your background helps determine your starting [[stats]], perhaps making certain play styles more viable than others.