Difference between revisions of "Manual"

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''For the instruction manual for Crawl itself, see [https://github.com/crawl/crawl/blob/master/crawl-ref/docs/crawl_manual.rst this file].
 
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  |itemtype = Book
 
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{{flavour|A valuable book which allows one to learn a certain skill faster.}}
 
[[file:Manual 1.png]] [[file:Manual 2.png]]
 
[[file:Manual 1.png]] [[file:Manual 2.png]]
  
'''Manuals of [Skill]''' are rare [[book]]s which greatly speed the rate at which you train the [[skill]]s they pertain to by applying a +4 bonus to your skill aptitude for as long as you have the manual in your inventory. You can study more than one manual at a time, but only if they pertain to different skills. Each manual has a limited amount of extra [[XP]] they can provide: once that amount is reached, the manual is destroyed.
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'''Manuals''' are rare [[book]]s which boost a skill by providing a +4 bonus to the skill's [[aptitude]], effectively doubling your XP gain. You can study multiple manuals of different skills, but multiples of the same skill are used one at a time. Each manual generates with 2000-3000 [[skill point]]s of XP; once consumed, the manual is destroyed.
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
Manuals essentially generate free [[experience]], and at a rate dependent on the amount you train the skill they pertain to. Pouring 100% of your experience into the appropriate skill will grant you the extra experience ten times faster than if only 10% were going to the skill. However, if this means ignoring other skills that are immediately useful to your character in order to train something you don't really need just yet, using them may actually be harmful.  
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Manuals are essentially "free" bonus experience: as long as you train the skill with a manual, you get double XP. Unless you've hit the skill cap (level 27), you cannot waste them - you always get the full amount. Since manuals don't have a time limit, you can take as long as you want before actually training the skill.
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Don't be compelled to train a skill ''just'' because you have the manual:
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*Even if you have a manual, your character might not benefit from certain skills. A character committed to melee & heavy armour is unlikely to find a manual of [[Stealth (skill)|Stealth]] useful, for instance.
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*You don't have to train the manual right away - other skills may be more ''immediately'' important than the manual's skill. E.g. a caster may want to get their spells to a reasonable failure rate before training [[Dodging]].
  
You can use a [[scroll of acquirement]] to potentially generate a manual for you, though this is less likely if you are a [[spellcaster]].
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Still, manuals can be very nice to have. They can encourage you to train skills you otherwise wouldn't have trained, or boost the skills you were already training.
  
 
===Settings===
 
===Settings===
Users of manuals may want to add this to their Options file Init.txt (see [https://github.com/crawl/crawl/blob/master/crawl-ref/docs/options_guide.txt options_guide.txt]):
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Users of manuals may want to add this to their [[rcfile]]:
 
  force_more_message = finished your manual
 
  force_more_message = finished your manual
 
This will alert you when your manual's skill aptitude bonus has run out and allow you to readjust your training priorities should you desire.
 
This will alert you when your manual's skill aptitude bonus has run out and allow you to readjust your training priorities should you desire.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to [[0.13]], you could only study one manual at a time, and you would activate or deactivate them by '''r'''eading them.
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*Prior to [[0.27]], manuals took up inventory slots.
 
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*Prior to [[0.13]], you could only study one manual at a time, and you would activate or deactivate them by '''r'''eading them.
Prior to [[0.9]], manuals functioned very differently because the skill system was very different. They would allow you to assign stored up experience from your experience pool to a specific skill without actually using that skill, and would crumble to dust after sufficient uses.
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*Prior to [[0.9]], manuals functioned very differently because the skill system was very different. They would allow you to assign stored up experience from your experience pool to a specific skill without actually using that skill, and would crumble to dust after sufficient uses.

Latest revision as of 02:32, 2 January 2024

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

For the instruction manual for Crawl itself, see this file.

Type Book
Name Manual of [Skill]
A valuable book which allows one to learn a certain skill faster.

Manual 1.png Manual 2.png

Manuals are rare books which boost a skill by providing a +4 bonus to the skill's aptitude, effectively doubling your XP gain. You can study multiple manuals of different skills, but multiples of the same skill are used one at a time. Each manual generates with 2000-3000 skill points of XP; once consumed, the manual is destroyed.

Strategy

Manuals are essentially "free" bonus experience: as long as you train the skill with a manual, you get double XP. Unless you've hit the skill cap (level 27), you cannot waste them - you always get the full amount. Since manuals don't have a time limit, you can take as long as you want before actually training the skill.

Don't be compelled to train a skill just because you have the manual:

  • Even if you have a manual, your character might not benefit from certain skills. A character committed to melee & heavy armour is unlikely to find a manual of Stealth useful, for instance.
  • You don't have to train the manual right away - other skills may be more immediately important than the manual's skill. E.g. a caster may want to get their spells to a reasonable failure rate before training Dodging.

Still, manuals can be very nice to have. They can encourage you to train skills you otherwise wouldn't have trained, or boost the skills you were already training.

Settings

Users of manuals may want to add this to their rcfile:

force_more_message = finished your manual

This will alert you when your manual's skill aptitude bonus has run out and allow you to readjust your training priorities should you desire.

History

  • Prior to 0.27, manuals took up inventory slots.
  • Prior to 0.13, you could only study one manual at a time, and you would activate or deactivate them by reading them.
  • Prior to 0.9, manuals functioned very differently because the skill system was very different. They would allow you to assign stored up experience from your experience pool to a specific skill without actually using that skill, and would crumble to dust after sufficient uses.