Disc of storms
| Type | Miscellaneous item |
|---|---|
| Name | Disc of storms |
| Icon | 
|
| This extremely powerful item can unleash a destructive storm of electricity. Its effectiveness greatly improves in the hands of one skilled in using magical devices, but cannot be used by one who is not a conductor. |
A disc of storms is a powerful evocable item which releases uncontrollable (and dangerous) electrical bolts when evoked. It cannot be used by characters with electricity resistance, and has a success rate which rises with Evocations.
| Evocations | Success Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 | 34% |
| 5 | 42% |
| 10 | 51% |
| 15 | 61% |
| 20 | 73% |
| 27 | 91% |
When the disc is activated, 2d(1 + Evocations/7) bolts are zapped at random tiles up to 6 tiles from you (including your tile). These bolts may be bolts of lightning, bolts of electricity, or orbs of electricity (equal odds for each).
Using this item has an Evocations-based chance of creating rain clouds in the area surrounding the caster. This can turn regular tiles into shallow water and shallow water into deep water. It is therefore not recommended for use in the vicinity of your stash, nor to use while in shallow water unless drowning isn't a risk for you.
Nothing happens. (Electricity Resistance or Evocations failure)
The disc glows for a moment, then fades. (Evocations failure)
Little bolts of electricity crackle over the disc. (Evocations failure)
The disc erupts in an explosion of electricity! (Success)
Strategy
It's difficult to understand how this item could be used safely or effectively. It doesn't work if you have electricity resistance, so you're guaranteed to be vulnerable and you'll need huge HP reservoir because of this. Since the same Evocations value that makes the disc reliable also makes it more powerful, when you do eventually get it to work, you're going to get it firing lots of bolts. Your own tile is a valid target tile for lightning and shock, but that's really the least of it. Lightning bolts can bounce and hit you. Exploding orbs of electricity have a blast diameter of 5 tiles, so if the disc emits an orb, odds are good that you will also be hit by the explosion.
If you insist on using this device, the best areas for it are wide open spaces where lightning cannot bounce. The worst: at the end of a dead-end corridor. Certainly test the disc out at low Evocations (or, better yet, in Wizard mode) to get a feel for it before you attempt to use it in battle.
Calculations
The probability for successful evoking it is: (0.7 + Evocations/100)3
History
In 0.12, the disc will be usable even if you have electricity resistance.
Prior to 0.9, it appeared unidentified, as a grey disc.
