Difference between revisions of "Stairs"
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| − | [[File:Stairs up.png]] [[File:Stairs down.png]] '''Stairs''' are a dungeon feature which connect floors of the [[Dungeon]] and its assorted [[branches]]; they are the primary means of moving from one part of the Dungeon to the next. | + | '[[File:Stairs up.png]] [[File:Stairs down.png]] '''Stairs''' are a dungeon feature which connect floors of the [[Dungeon]] and its assorted [[branches]]; they are the primary means of moving from one part of the Dungeon to the next. |
==Useful Info== | ==Useful Info== | ||
Stairs take you up or down a level. An upstair on a lower floor will usually be connected to a downstair on a higher floor, and vice versa. Some [[branch]]es' stairs work differently (see below for detail). | Stairs take you up or down a level. An upstair on a lower floor will usually be connected to a downstair on a higher floor, and vice versa. Some [[branch]]es' stairs work differently (see below for detail). | ||
| − | Using a staircase normally takes 2.5 turns; 1. | + | Using a staircase normally takes 2.5 turns; 1.0 turn in the old location, and 1.5 turns in the new location. Using a stair with an unknown destination (stairs that display a yellow * in tiles; stairs with a white glyph in Console) is "fast", spending only 0.75 turn in the new location. This means that, when descending an unknown staircase, you'll always get a chance to act before monsters do. |
| − | + | Travelling through stairs does ''not'' count as movement. Species [[movement speed]] doesn't matter, so a [[Naga]] takes the same time to use stairs as a [[Spriggan]], and [[Cheibriados]] doesn't slow movement. Stairs don't count towards the [[amulet of acrobat]] bonus. | |
| − | Using the up staircase on D:1 ends your game | + | Normally, only the player character will use stairs. Most non-[[summon]]ed monsters will follow you through stairs, ''if'' they are adjacent to you. |
| + | |||
| + | Using the up staircase on D:1 ends your game. If you've collected the [[Orb of Zot]], you win. Otherwise, you lose, treated as if you have [[quit]]. If you don't have the Orb, the game will ask for a confirmation before leaving. | ||
==Layout== | ==Layout== | ||
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In addition, floors may also contain [[escape hatch]]es, which function as one-way staircases and are a different color than normal staircases. Also of note are [[shaft]]s, a type of [[trap]] which can drop you 1-3 floors. | In addition, floors may also contain [[escape hatch]]es, which function as one-way staircases and are a different color than normal staircases. Also of note are [[shaft]]s, a type of [[trap]] which can drop you 1-3 floors. | ||
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===Sealed Stairs=== | ===Sealed Stairs=== | ||
[[File:Sealed stairs up.png]] [[File:Sealed stairs down.png]] [[Vault warden]]s may cast the [[Seal Doors]] spell to seal all staircases and [[door]]s within range. Such staircases are impassable until the seal is lifted, either after enough time has passed or the caster has been killed. | [[File:Sealed stairs up.png]] [[File:Sealed stairs down.png]] [[Vault warden]]s may cast the [[Seal Doors]] spell to seal all staircases and [[door]]s within range. Such staircases are impassable until the seal is lifted, either after enough time has passed or the caster has been killed. | ||
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[[File:Tomb stair up.png]] [[File:Tomb stair down.png]] [[The Tomb of the Ancients]] has cursed one-way staircases instead of regular stairs, which force players to locate another staircase to return to a previous area instead of simply heading back up the stairs they came down. Additionally, there are not always three stairs up and three stairs down on each floor of the Tomb. See [[The Tomb]] article for more details. | [[File:Tomb stair up.png]] [[File:Tomb stair down.png]] [[The Tomb of the Ancients]] has cursed one-way staircases instead of regular stairs, which force players to locate another staircase to return to a previous area instead of simply heading back up the stairs they came down. Additionally, there are not always three stairs up and three stairs down on each floor of the Tomb. See [[The Tomb]] article for more details. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Strategy== |
| − | + | Stairs are one of the most important escape tools in ''Crawl'' - if you have cleared the level above. In 1.5 turns, you can escape whatever's below, rest, recover from [[status effect]]s. If you've escaped from a dangerous monster by going up, you can enter from another downstair, which will often be in a new part of the level. The lack of easily accessible stairs is what makes [[shaft]]s and [[teleport trap]]s so dangerous. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | They also allow for [[stair dancing]]. Since only adjacent monsters follow you up, stairs can be used to split groups of monsters. There's a huge difference between "fighting 2 [[orc]]s, resting, and fighting 3 orcs", and "fighting all 5 orcs at once". Also, going up to a cleared level makes it very unlikely for you to encounter new monsters during a fight. Some monsters ([[derived undead]], [[Geryon]], [[the Royal Jelly]]...) won't follow you up stairs, for good and bad. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | However, stairs are not infallible: | |
| − | + | * Stairs give adjacent enemies 2.5 turns to hit you, while non-adjacent enemies get 1 turn. Not all monsters are safe to stairdance; for instance, an [[ogre (monster)|ogre]] can outright kill you if you give it 2.5 turns of attacks. | |
| − | * | + | * Certain effects can move you off the stairs, interrupting travel. For example, [[elephant]]s and [[dragon]]s can [[trample]] on attack, pushing you off. [[Dispersal trap]]s can be activated by enemies, blinking you away. |
| + | * Most statuses which prevent you from moving also prevent use of stairs. Being inflicted by [[sleep]], [[paralysis]], etc. will interrupt all actions, forcing you to go up again. [[Confusion]] gives a 50% chance to fail going upstairs. [[Miscast effect|Stuck]] and [[Tree Form]] prevent movement, too. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Tips & Tricks=== | ||
| + | *Most levels have 3 sets of normal stairs. If you don't think you've fully explored a floor, you can use the minimap (or press '''X''' then '''>''' or '''<''' to cycle through up/down stairs respectively) to count the amount of normal up/down staircases you found. Branch entrances, portals, and escape hatches don't count towards the count of 3 stairs. | ||
| + | :If you see less than three of each, some hidden area of the floor is walled off from the area you're in. The best way to reach it is to exit the floor and then reenter through an unexplored staircase on the floor above or below. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 19:46, 14 July 2023
'
Stairs are a dungeon feature which connect floors of the Dungeon and its assorted branches; they are the primary means of moving from one part of the Dungeon to the next.
Contents
Useful Info
Stairs take you up or down a level. An upstair on a lower floor will usually be connected to a downstair on a higher floor, and vice versa. Some branches' stairs work differently (see below for detail).
Using a staircase normally takes 2.5 turns; 1.0 turn in the old location, and 1.5 turns in the new location. Using a stair with an unknown destination (stairs that display a yellow * in tiles; stairs with a white glyph in Console) is "fast", spending only 0.75 turn in the new location. This means that, when descending an unknown staircase, you'll always get a chance to act before monsters do.
Travelling through stairs does not count as movement. Species movement speed doesn't matter, so a Naga takes the same time to use stairs as a Spriggan, and Cheibriados doesn't slow movement. Stairs don't count towards the amulet of acrobat bonus.
Normally, only the player character will use stairs. Most non-summoned monsters will follow you through stairs, if they are adjacent to you.
Using the up staircase on D:1 ends your game. If you've collected the Orb of Zot, you win. Otherwise, you lose, treated as if you have quit. If you don't have the Orb, the game will ask for a confirmation before leaving.
Layout
Each floor within a branch normally contains three up staircases and three down staircases. Traveling between branches is restricted to a single staircase ("branch entrance" / "branch exit").
In addition, floors may also contain escape hatches, which function as one-way staircases and are a different color than normal staircases. Also of note are shafts, a type of trap which can drop you 1-3 floors.
Sealed Stairs
Vault wardens may cast the Seal Doors spell to seal all staircases and doors within range. Such staircases are impassable until the seal is lifted, either after enough time has passed or the caster has been killed.
The Abyss
Instead of regular stairs, the Abyss has one-way Abyssal Stairs leading deeper into the Abyss. These are generated randomly or after the player has gained a certain amount of experience. There are no up-staircases in the Abyss -- only exits leading back out. These exits are randomly generated, becoming more common in the deeper layers of the Abyss and are much more common once you have collected the Abyssal Rune; exits may also be generated after killing enough monsters.
Hell
In the Hell branches (Gehenna, Cocytus, Tartarus, and the Iron City of Dis), there are only 1 set of stairs, except on the final level. And, instead of staircases up, there are portals out, which immediately take the player back to the Vestibule of Hell; these portals serve as the destinations for the staircases down from the previous floor.
Pandemonium
In Pandemonium, each floor can only be visited once. Each floor has at least three "gates to another region of Pandemonium", which are also sometimes referred to as one-way stairs. These gates do not lead to any particular destination in the next region of Pandemonium -- you may be placed anywhere, including next to that realm's Pandemonium lord. Players may exit Pandemonium by using an exit portal, but these are rare (though each rune you collect in Pandemonium makes finding an exit more likely). More common are "exits through the horrors of the Abyss", which lead to the Abyss and will return players to the Dungeon after they find an exit from the Abyss.
The Tomb
The Tomb of the Ancients has cursed one-way staircases instead of regular stairs, which force players to locate another staircase to return to a previous area instead of simply heading back up the stairs they came down. Additionally, there are not always three stairs up and three stairs down on each floor of the Tomb. See The Tomb article for more details.
Strategy
Stairs are one of the most important escape tools in Crawl - if you have cleared the level above. In 1.5 turns, you can escape whatever's below, rest, recover from status effects. If you've escaped from a dangerous monster by going up, you can enter from another downstair, which will often be in a new part of the level. The lack of easily accessible stairs is what makes shafts and teleport traps so dangerous.
They also allow for stair dancing. Since only adjacent monsters follow you up, stairs can be used to split groups of monsters. There's a huge difference between "fighting 2 orcs, resting, and fighting 3 orcs", and "fighting all 5 orcs at once". Also, going up to a cleared level makes it very unlikely for you to encounter new monsters during a fight. Some monsters (derived undead, Geryon, the Royal Jelly...) won't follow you up stairs, for good and bad.
However, stairs are not infallible:
- Stairs give adjacent enemies 2.5 turns to hit you, while non-adjacent enemies get 1 turn. Not all monsters are safe to stairdance; for instance, an ogre can outright kill you if you give it 2.5 turns of attacks.
- Certain effects can move you off the stairs, interrupting travel. For example, elephants and dragons can trample on attack, pushing you off. Dispersal traps can be activated by enemies, blinking you away.
- Most statuses which prevent you from moving also prevent use of stairs. Being inflicted by sleep, paralysis, etc. will interrupt all actions, forcing you to go up again. Confusion gives a 50% chance to fail going upstairs. Stuck and Tree Form prevent movement, too.
Tips & Tricks
- Most levels have 3 sets of normal stairs. If you don't think you've fully explored a floor, you can use the minimap (or press X then > or < to cycle through up/down stairs respectively) to count the amount of normal up/down staircases you found. Branch entrances, portals, and escape hatches don't count towards the count of 3 stairs.
- If you see less than three of each, some hidden area of the floor is walled off from the area you're in. The best way to reach it is to exit the floor and then reenter through an unexplored staircase on the floor above or below.
History
- Prior to 0.29, stairs would only be "fast" when entering a new level; not all unknown staircases were fast.
- Prior to 0.28, the Hells had the usual 3 sets of stairs on each level.
- Prior to 0.22, player ghosts couldn't use stairs.
- Prior to 0.21, monsters spawned over time on floors in the main dungeon as well as on level generation. Sometimes, these monsters could be spawned from stairs, and if the staircase was to a different branch, this could lead to monsters from other branches spawning in your current branch. (This had the potential to generate some fairly scary encounters, such as finding an azure jelly in the Lair.)
- Prior to 0.20, The Tomb had normal staircases instead of one-way stairs.
- Prior to 0.16, stair mimics could be found, which would then fight the player when discovered.
- Prior to 0.13, each branch connected to the Dungeon and the Lair had three exit staircases, in spite of the fact that they only had one entrance.
