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:
 
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:
  
 
*[[Starving]] to death is an instadeath.
 
*[[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:
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*Falling into [[deep water]] or [[lava]] will result in an instadeath. 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.
 
**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.
 
**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.
 
**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.
  
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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.
 
*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.
*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.
 
*[[Orange crystal statue]]s and [[silver statue]]s can reliably be killed with one zap from a [[wand of disintegration]].
 
 
*Arguably, (Mass) [[Abjuration]] can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
 
*Arguably, (Mass) [[Abjuration]] can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
 
*[[Banishment]] works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in [[the Abyss]].
 
*[[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 silver statues are immune to disintegration.
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In [[0.17]] it will no longer be possible for confused players to accidentally walk into deep water or lava. Monsters can still die this way, and in fact intelligent monsters will no longer be immune.
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In [[0.15]], orange crystal and silver statues are immune to 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 [[0.14]] [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]] could instantly kill brittle monsters.

Revision as of 05:04, 22 June 2015

Version 0.16: 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 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:

  • Starving to death is an instadeath.
  • Falling into deep water or lava will result in an instadeath. 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.
    • Despite how ominous their effects may seem, Ilsuiw's Call Tide and merfolk aquamancers' Primal Wave spells will not directly cause you to drown. In the same vein, while water elementals' 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

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. Be aware that highly intelligent creatures are smart enough not to move while confused and adjacent to deep water/lava.
  • Arguably, (Mass) Abjuration can deal a form of instadeath to summoned monsters.
  • Banishment works regardless of a monster's current HP, although said monster may again be encountered in the Abyss.

History

In 0.17 it will no longer be possible for confused players to accidentally walk into deep water or lava. Monsters can still die this way, and in fact intelligent monsters will no longer be immune.

In 0.15, orange crystal and silver statues are immune to 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. 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.