From: dylanw@demon.net (Dylan O'Donnell)
Subject: Re: Items getting randomly cursed?
Date: 30 Nov 1998 10:24:32 +0000


Dipping an item in a fountain can have the following effects
(discounting Excalibur-related things):

First, the object gets wet and does the appropriate things (scrolls
blank, potions dilute, metal things rust, lit objects go out, grease
washes off). Then fun things happen:

 1/30 Dipped item is cursed
 4/30 Cursed dipped item is uncursed ("feeling of loss" otherwise)
 1/30 Summons a water demon [1]
 1/30 Summons a water nymph
 1/30 Summons 5d2 water moccasins
 1/30 You find a random gem (not stone)
 1/30 Water gushes forth (creates pools)
 1/30 You lose some gold [2]
 1/30 You find (2*d(height+1))+5 zorkmids [3]
 1/30 "A strange tingling runs up your arm." (no effect)
 1/30 "You feel a sudden chill." (no effect)
16/30 No special effect.

[1] A water demon has a 80+DL/100 chance of being hostile (100% if you
    have the Amulet); if not hostile, he'll grant one wish and then vanish.
[2] The amount of gold you might lose depends on how much you have (GP)
    as follows: GP <= 10    : 0 zorkmids
            GP <  100   : GP/10 zorkmids
            GP <= 10000 : d(GP)/10 zorkmids
            GP >  10000 : d(10000)/10 zorkmids
[3] height = distance above bottom level of current dungeon branch.
    
Finally, the fountain has a 1/3 chance of drying up (except
in Minetown, where you'll always get one warning).