Beast 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.

Transforms the user into a monstrous, furry were-beast, limbs pulsing with ferocious energy. Shapeshifting skill increases the killing power provided. While transformed, any gloves, cloaks, headgear and boots are melded.

A beast talisman is a talisman that changes you into Beast Form, a wild, hulking form that grants bonuses to melee.

Shapeshifters start with this item, and start the game in Beast Form.

Useful Info

When eVoked, a beast talisman turns you into Beast Form, which lasts until you end the form. Entering or exiting a form takes 5 turns.

Beast Form has the following effects:

Combat Bonuses

• Unarmed Combat: 3 base damage (no boost).
• Slaying Bonus: adds 1 + (7/10 * Shapeshifting) slaying (1-7 slay) to melee combat, rounded in a weighted fashion. Applies even when using a weapon. Slaying increases damage and accuracy.

Restrictions

• Melded Gear: All armour except for body armour and shields. (This includes helmets/hats, cloaks, gloves, and boots/bardings.)

Beast Form does not block any mutations, does not change your size, and gives no innate bonus to HP / AC.

Beast Form has no minimum Shapeshifting skill. It has a maximum skill of 10; further skill has no further impact.

Strategy

If you haven't found or can't use any auxiliary armor pieces yet, then Beast Form is a free +1.7 slaying. That's a net positive for every character - no Shapeshifting skill required. Generally, 1 slaying is worse than 2 AC, so good enough armour should take priority over this form.

Remember that Beast Form boosts weapons as much as it does Unarmed Combat. For example, if you find a dagger of venom on D:2, then don't hesitate to switch.

Skill Analysis

Even Shapeshifters might not want to train Shapeshifting skill right away. In general, Shapeshifting (for Beast Form) offers less return than training Unarmed Combat. Shapeshifting offers more benefit per level than weapon skills, though most species have poor aptitudes in Shapeshifting.

Benefits of each skill:

• 1 Shapeshifting skill gives +0.7 slay per level, or +0.35 damage and +0.7 accuracy.

• 1 weapon skill will give benefits depending on the weapon itself. Examples:
  • A short sword gets +0.1 base damage, +0.5 accuracy, and -0.05 attack delay (5% to 10% faster) per Short Blades level (not including stabbing bonuses).
  • A mace gets +0.16 base damage, +0.5 accuracy, and -0.05 attack delay (4% to 9% faster) per M&F level.

Even though base damage is boosted by strength and Fighting skill, in the early-game, these benefits aren't significant.

• 1 Unarmed Combat skill gives +1 base damage, +0.5 accuracy, and slightly faster attacks.

Skilling example

A Shapeshifter might go through the following training to increase early-game survival:

1. Train Unarmed Combat first, to increase your immediate damage output.

2a. If you stick with Unarmed Combat, eventually, the skill gets expensive. E.g. going from 3 -> 4 Shapeshifting (at -2 aptitude) is equal to 8 -> 8.6 Unarmed Combat (at 0 aptitude).

2b. You may find a good weapon. Shapeshifting offers more benefit than weapon skill, even with the worse aptitude. You'll also want to train the weapon to 1.0 attack delay, to prevent monsters from getting a second turn when attacking. Like in 2a., weapon skill will eventually be more cost-effective than Shapeshifting.

3. The point where games diverge. If you find a higher level talisman, you may want to start training for it. If you find a good branded or randart weapon, you might want to use that for the foreseeable future. Also remember that defenses exist.

History

• Will be introduced in trunk, in the transformation overhaul. Beast Form is similar in function to Beastly Appendage.