Difference between revisions of "Instadeath"

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The term '''instadeath''' can have several definitions, either in ''Crawl'' or in roguelikes in general.  Of course, many people use it to describe a death which occurs instantly or very quickly, e.g. an early [[ogre (monster)|ogre]] one-shotting a low-level [[spriggan]]. However, the term is often more formally used to describe deaths which occur regardless of a character's current [[HP]], even if the death itself is not instant (so-called 'delayed instadeaths'). Such instadeaths are fairly rare in Crawl, and can only occur in a few ways:
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The term '''instadeath''' can have several definitions, either in ''Crawl'' or in roguelikes in general.  Of course, many people use it to describe a death which occurs instantly or very quickly, e.g. an early [[ogre (monster)|ogre]] killing a low-level [[spriggan]] in one shot. However, the term is often more formally used to describe deaths which occur regardless of a character's current [[HP]], even if the death itself is not instant (so-called 'delayed instadeaths'). Such instadeaths are extremely rare in Crawl; specifically, there is only one way for the player to be killed instantly: [[starvation]] - and the player receives a significant amount of warning before this can occur.
 
 
*[[Starving]] to death is an instadeath.
 
*Falling into [[deep water]] or [[lava]] and failing to [[scramble]] free will result in an instadeath. Falling into lava without fire resistance is always an instadeath. Even if you scramble free from lava when you have fire resistance, you may ''still'' be killed by the direct HP damage caused by the lava. Normally, the game will prevent you from walking into deep water or lava, but it may happen in a number of ways:
 
**Moving while confused and adjacent to such terrain. The game will ask for confirmation first if falling into deep water or lava is a possibility.
 
**Ending [[flight]] while over deep water or lava. The game will not let you choose to end flight in such a situation, and will give you very clear warnings if a temporary source of flight is expiring.
 
**Being fully [[petrify|petrified]] while flying over deep water or lava.
 
**Despite how ominous their effects may seem, [[Ilsuiw]]'s [[Call Tide]] and [[merfolk aquamancer]]s' [[Primal Wave]] spells will '''not''' directly cause you to drown. In the same vein, while [[water elemental]]s' attacks are referred to as "drowning" attacks, they merely do irresistible damage each turn, instead of causing any sort of instadeath.
 
  
 
==Dealing instadeath to monsters==
 
==Dealing instadeath to monsters==
 
There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. All of them only work in a few specific situations:
 
There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. All of them only work in a few specific situations:
*Most monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava. Usually, this requires [[confuse|confusing]] them near such terrain. Be aware that highly intelligent creatures are smart enough not to move while confused and adjacent to deep water/lava.
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*Most monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava. Usually, this requires [[confuse|confusing]] them near such terrain.
*You can also drop monsters into deep water or lava by [[petrify]]ing them over it. The [[harpies]] in the [[Shoals]] are a good target for this.
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*Arguably, [[Aura of Abjuration]] can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
*[[Orange crystal statue]]s and [[silver statue]]s can reliably be killed with one zap from a [[wand of disintegration]].
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*[[Banishment]] (through [[Lugonu]]'s *** ability or a weapon of [[distortion]]) works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in [[the Abyss]].
*Arguably, (Mass) [[Abjuration]] can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
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*[[Uskayaw]]'s Grand Finale ***** ability can instantly kill any monster.
*[[Banishment]] works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in [[the Abyss]].
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
In [[0.15]], orange crystal and ice statues are immune to disintegration.
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*Prior to [[0.19]], instead of receiving draining every turn, players falling into deep water or lava (through flight expiring) would be subject to instadeath.
 
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*Prior to [[0.17]] it was possible for confused players to accidentally walk into deep water or lava. Intelligent monsters used to be immune to this type of death, but no longer are.
Prior to [[0.14]] [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] could instantly kill brittle monsters.
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*Prior to [[0.15]], orange crystal and silver statues could be instantly killed by [[Wand of disintegration|wands of disintegration]]. Prior to this version it was also possible to sometimes [[scramble]] out of deep water or lava.
 
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*Prior to [[0.14]] [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] could instantly kill brittle monsters.
Prior to [[0.13]], one could suffer [[statdeath]]: after a few dozen turns of a stat being at zero, the character would die. Presently, being at 0 in a stat will just apply some [[stat zero|penalties]]. Prior to [[0.8]], statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.
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*Prior to [[0.13]], one could suffer [[statdeath]]: after a few dozen turns of a stat being at zero, the character would die. Presently, being at 0 in a stat will just apply some [[stat zero|penalties]]. In addition, prior to [[0.13]], one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1. This was removed when draining attacks were changed to temporarily drain skills instead of permanently draining experience.
 
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*Prior to [[0.8]], statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.  
In addition, prior to [[0.13]], one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1. This was removed when draining attacks were changed to temporarily drain skills instead of permanently draining experience.
 
  
 
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
 
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
 

Revision as of 19:34, 13 August 2019

Version 0.23: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

The term instadeath can have several definitions, either in Crawl or in roguelikes in general. Of course, many people use it to describe a death which occurs instantly or very quickly, e.g. an early ogre killing a low-level spriggan in one shot. However, the term is often more formally used to describe deaths which occur regardless of a character's current HP, even if the death itself is not instant (so-called 'delayed instadeaths'). Such instadeaths are extremely rare in Crawl; specifically, there is only one way for the player to be killed instantly: starvation - and the player receives a significant amount of warning before this can occur.

Dealing instadeath to monsters

There are only a few ways to kill monsters irrespective of their hit points. All of them only work in a few specific situations:

  • Most monsters die if they fall in deep water or lava. Usually, this requires confusing them near such terrain.
  • Arguably, Aura of Abjuration can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
  • Banishment (through Lugonu's *** ability or a weapon of distortion) works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in the Abyss.
  • Uskayaw's Grand Finale ***** ability can instantly kill any monster.

History

  • Prior to 0.19, instead of receiving draining every turn, players falling into deep water or lava (through flight expiring) would be subject to instadeath.
  • Prior to 0.17 it was possible for confused players to accidentally walk into deep water or lava. Intelligent monsters used to be immune to this type of death, but no longer are.
  • Prior to 0.15, orange crystal and silver statues could be instantly killed by wands of disintegration. Prior to this version it was also possible to sometimes scramble out of deep water or lava.
  • Prior to 0.14 Lee's Rapid Deconstruction could instantly kill brittle monsters.
  • Prior to 0.13, one could suffer statdeath: after a few dozen turns of a stat being at zero, the character would die. Presently, being at 0 in a stat will just apply some penalties. In addition, prior to 0.13, one could die by being level-drained to level 0 - that is, being hit by a draining attack at XL1. This was removed when draining attacks were changed to temporarily drain skills instead of permanently draining experience.
  • Prior to 0.8, statdeath killed the player as soon as the stat hit zero, as opposed to being a delayed instadeath.