Difference between revisions of "Rune lock"

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A '''rune lock''' is a barrier that prevents you from traversing a branch before you have a sufficient number of the [[runes of Zot]]. Two rune locks currently exist in ''Crawl'':
  
The '''rune lock''' is a barrier found on the 16th floor of [[the Dungeon]], preventing you from travelling into [[the Depths]] until you've acquired at least one [[rune of Zot]].
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*In order to exit the [[the Vaults]], you must have 1 rune. Any rune, even runes obtained outside the Vaults, can bypass this lock. If you enter the Vaults with no runes, you must get one (either from the Vaults itself, the [[Tomb]] inside, or from the [[Abyss]]) before you can go back to the Dungeon normally. Note that [[Ignis]]' Rising Flame ability will bypass the rune lock.
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*The entrance to [[the Realm of Zot]] requires 3 runes to unlock. This serves as the main barrier preventing the player from simply descending as deep as possible and reaching the Orb.
  
 
==Rune Availability==
 
==Rune Availability==
By the time you reach the rune lock, you'll have a limited selection of runes to go after. Here is a list of all runes available by D:14:
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*All runes are available as the first rune. However, it is highly recommended to get the first rune from one of the two Lair branches ([[Snake Pit]]/[[Spider's Nest]] and [[Swamp]]/[[Shoals]]). Obtaining the second rune is generally best done in the other Lair branch from the list above.  
*'''Decaying''' - Found in [[the Swamp]], which generates in 50% of games. Although difficulty varies based on the particular Swamp ending you encounter, this is widely considered to be the easiest rune to acquire.
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**Followers of [[Jiyva]] can trivially acquire the rune from the [[Slime Pits]] once they have accumulated sufficient [[piety]], but others will likely wish to wait until later.  
*'''Gossamer''' - Found in the [[Spider's Nest]], which generates in [[the Lair]] in 50% of games. Moderately difficult.
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*The third and final rune for opening the Realm of Zot is best obtained from either the Vaults, the Slime Pits, or the [[Abyss]].
*'''Serpentine''' - Found in the [[Snake Pit]], which generates in [[the Lair]] in 50% of games. Moderately difficult.
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*All runes found in the [[Hell]]s, [[Pandemonium]], and [[Tomb]] are considered part of the optional [[extended game]] and are mainly used to improve the final [[score]].
*'''Barnacled''' - Found in [[the Shoals]], which generate in [[the Lair]] in 50% of games. Moderately difficult.
 
*'''Abyssal''' - Found in [[the Abyss]], which you can access through unwielding a [[distortion]] weapon, being [[banish]]ed by certain monsters, or suffering severe [[Translocations]] [[miscast effect]]s. High difficulty, though less so for worshipers of [[Lugonu]].
 
*'''Slimy''' - Found in [[the Slime Pits]], which generate in [[the Lair]] in all games. High difficulty, though much less so for worshipers of [[Jiyva]].
 
*'''Obsidian''' - Found in [[Gehenna]], which can occasionally be accessed via the [[Vestibule of Hell]] found in one Lair ending. Extremely difficult.
 
*'''Icy''' - Found in [[Cocytus]], which can occasionally be accessed via the [[Vestibule of Hell]] found in one Lair ending. Extremely difficult.
 
*'''Bone''' - Found in [[Tartarus]], which can occasionally be accessed via the [[Vestibule of Hell]] found in one Lair ending. Extremely difficult.
 
*'''Iron''' - Found in [[the Iron City of Dis]], which can occasionally be accessed via the [[Vestibule of Hell]] found in one Lair ending. Extremely difficult.
 
  
The remaining runes (silver, golden, demonic, fiery, magical, glowing, and dark) are located in [[the Vaults]], [[the Tomb]], and [[Pandemonium]], and cannot be accessed at this point in the game.
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==History==
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*Prior to [[0.30]], you needed a rune to ''enter'' [[the Vaults]]. This rune lock has been moved to ''exiting'' the Vaults.
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*Prior to [[0.28]], you needed 2 runes to enter a [[ziggurat]].
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*Prior to [[0.19]], you needed 3 runes to enter a ziggurat.
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*Prior to [[0.14]], you did not need a rune to enter the Vaults.
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**Although the concept of a rune lock to the Vaults had been debated since very early versions of ''Crawl'', it was only implemented after the [[0.13]] tournament, in which acquiring a rune before D:14 was an optional challenge conduct.  
  
==History==
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::Without a rune lock, players have much less of a reason to enter the Lair Branch endings. They could explore Dungeon, both Lair Branch: 1-4s, and Vaults: 1-4 before entering a branch end. So by the time the player entered their first rune vault, they'd be overlevelled (thus, removing the challenge from obtaining your first rune).
Although the concept of a rune lock had been debated since very early versions of ''Crawl'', it was only implemented after the [[0.13]] tournament, which made acquiring a rune before D:14 an optional challenge conduct. Prior to the rune lock, players had little reason to explore the Lair branches until after they'd explored most of the main Dungeon, leaving them very overpowered for the challenges the branch endings provided.
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*A rune lock requiring 3 runes has always existed for [[the Realm of Zot]].
  
 
[[Category:Dungeon Features]]
 
[[Category:Dungeon Features]]

Latest revision as of 18:49, 2 July 2024

Version 0.31: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

A rune lock is a barrier that prevents you from traversing a branch before you have a sufficient number of the runes of Zot. Two rune locks currently exist in Crawl:

  • In order to exit the the Vaults, you must have 1 rune. Any rune, even runes obtained outside the Vaults, can bypass this lock. If you enter the Vaults with no runes, you must get one (either from the Vaults itself, the Tomb inside, or from the Abyss) before you can go back to the Dungeon normally. Note that Ignis' Rising Flame ability will bypass the rune lock.
  • The entrance to the Realm of Zot requires 3 runes to unlock. This serves as the main barrier preventing the player from simply descending as deep as possible and reaching the Orb.

Rune Availability

  • All runes are available as the first rune. However, it is highly recommended to get the first rune from one of the two Lair branches (Snake Pit/Spider's Nest and Swamp/Shoals). Obtaining the second rune is generally best done in the other Lair branch from the list above.
    • Followers of Jiyva can trivially acquire the rune from the Slime Pits once they have accumulated sufficient piety, but others will likely wish to wait until later.
  • The third and final rune for opening the Realm of Zot is best obtained from either the Vaults, the Slime Pits, or the Abyss.
  • All runes found in the Hells, Pandemonium, and Tomb are considered part of the optional extended game and are mainly used to improve the final score.

History

  • Prior to 0.30, you needed a rune to enter the Vaults. This rune lock has been moved to exiting the Vaults.
  • Prior to 0.28, you needed 2 runes to enter a ziggurat.
  • Prior to 0.19, you needed 3 runes to enter a ziggurat.
  • Prior to 0.14, you did not need a rune to enter the Vaults.
    • Although the concept of a rune lock to the Vaults had been debated since very early versions of Crawl, it was only implemented after the 0.13 tournament, in which acquiring a rune before D:14 was an optional challenge conduct.
Without a rune lock, players have much less of a reason to enter the Lair Branch endings. They could explore Dungeon, both Lair Branch: 1-4s, and Vaults: 1-4 before entering a branch end. So by the time the player entered their first rune vault, they'd be overlevelled (thus, removing the challenge from obtaining your first rune).