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Elke brought up a good point elsewhere about how mobs will sometimes pursue to the ends of the earth, in defiance of common sense. Mele also had a troubling encounter along these lines.

I was going to suggest spot-fixes, but perhaps a more general revisiting of this issue makes sense.

It is realistic, if not necessarily desirable, for mobs to pursue those fleeing them, and for them to pose a risk for anyone who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, just minding their own business. On the other hand, currently it seems mobs will pursue out of their home areas indefinitely, or at least a very long way. Should there be a limit to how long or how far a mob will venture from its home after someone?

My opening suggestion would be throughout an area or perhaps three or four squares on the large map...but then, I also think it would be dependent on which mob we're talking, and whether it would make sense that you would be able to outrun them.

What I'd quite like to see would be the 'flee' option setting your speed automatically to the fastest possible you have. (I'd also like to see directional fleeing brought back, because honestly, no one runs away from a fight they can't handle -towards- the next encounter, but that's another issue altogether).

At that point the question is whether the mob can keep up. If it's land-based and you're flying off, the answer is probably no, unless it's capable of gallop, much like with someone following you normally. If you're on foot, maybe there'd be a dex check or something similar to work out whether it -can- keep up?

Not sure that was all very helpful, but at least the ball will be rolling!

Elke wrote: (I'd also like to see directional fleeing brought back, because honestly, no one runs away from a fight they can't handle -towards- the next encounter, but that's another issue altogether).

I'd really love to see this in a topic of its own. I have far more than 2 cents for -that- subject.



But regarding the topic at hand, I wouldn't think any creature would continue a pursuit where their escapee has traveled the space of more than 2 or 3 world map squares, several miles, from them. I mean, if someone was running from you, and outstripped you by -miles-, would you even bother? It's not like you'll catch them, ever, even if you -do- have a way to continue tracking them, as they are presumably LONG out of your range of eyesight. I don't think area-held mobs should even leave their areas, and at most should only travel 2-4 rooms outside of it if they must. Just me though.

I don't think it's a problem that's big enough to warrant a code change for all mobs in the entire game.

But I agree with you in spirit.

it would take a basic adding of SENTINEL flags to a lot of mobs, and STAY_ZONE flags, too. (I think. It's been a long time) I think we're running on a smaug, so I'm not sure if the exact flags are consistent, being an ex diku/circle builder/coder myself. Very easy, but very tedious and time-consuming, especially with the sheer amount of mobs in FK's huge, huge world.

The thread with my problem is not yet approved as the testers haven't gotten there yet. Let me quote it.

Not sure if this is a builder bug, or code bug. I'm sending it both.

In Mithril Halls my dwarf below level 10 stumbed upon a bug bear. I got killed and transported back to my respawn spot.

I was sitting there healing up when all of the sudden my screen spammed _diemsg_ so fast I hardly even knew what was happening, until suddenly I defeated the bug bear.

(239) The corpse of Orani is here. (superb)

But not before being killed that many times. I'm not sure why he stalked me back to the respawn point after having killed me, but that was definately suckish!

nice backdoor through the system, we'll get along famously.

It would be fairly nice if you were going to make comments that you at least made them understandable and helpful to the matter at hand.

I'm not sure what "back door" was taken here, but if saving my bug posts in a text pad is bad, pardon me. If being stuck in a room where you can't do anything but die is a back door, it's the worst one I've ever seen.

You should know Mele, when a troll pops up, don't feed it. It regenerates and you always smell after.

Glim wrote:You should know Mele, when a troll pops up, don't feed it. It regenerates and you always smell after.

i've been exposed

*hides*