Fungal fisticloak

Version 0.33: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

The handiwork of a mad mycologist who once attempted to overcome the genetic anxiety of wandering mushrooms by cultivating a species that could be easily transported without disturbing them. The result is as much a living organism as it is a piece of clothing, every linen fibre twined together with fungal mycelia that draw both nutrients and confidence from whoever wears it. And in exchange for such trifles as blood or peptides, the colony will instinctively lash out to defend its wearer from whatever they perceive as a threat. It's like wearing a thousand tiny friends at once! And the humming they fill your mind with in the dark is actually quite lulling.... (This item also occupies your helmet slot.)

the +3 fungal fisticloak

+3 cloak
The cloak sometimes lashes out at its wearer's enemies, inflicting confusion with its spores. Each turn there's a 1/4 chance to launch a special aux attack at a random adjacent enemy, which has a 1/3 chance to confuse the opponent.
+1 gloves slot
-1 helmet slot
HP -10
Strength -2
Intelligence -2

Desirability

The fungal fisticloak is an overenchanted cloak that trades the helmet slot for an extra gloves slot and also comes with an aux attack that can be made on any action. The aux attack is very useful for fast attacking characters, such as short blades users. Even if the chance to activate is relatively low, confusing nearby enemies remains powerful through the entire game and helps plenty with crowd control and stabbing. The -10 HP penalty means low XL characters and low HP species (e.g. Spriggans) should think twice about wearing the fisticloak unless they have a good pair of gloves to fill the extra slot.

Note that it doesn't prevent any auxiliary attacks from the head, e.g. Tengu's beak.

History

• In 0.33, this unrand was added to the game.