🚀 go-pugleaf

>It's sort of a pity that normal people don't see treasure zoo's, maybe
>the code should be changed to give a ( very ) small chance of getting
>one -- of course you wouldn't live through one unless you were pretty
>good since you get hit from 3 sides when standing in a doorway. With
>a ring of conflict you might just make it though.
>-- 
>Jon M. Allingham	(201)386-3466	AT&T Bell Laboratories-WH
>
>"Beam me up Scotty, no intelligent life down here!"

Yes, I agree.  Treasure zoos are fun; everyone should get to
see at least one or two in a game.  Of course, when I play as
THE WIZARD I don't have to be too careful about being killed,
since "for some reason I am still alive", and I've usually
wished for a +3 or so crysknife, but I've encountered normal
zoos (no nifty presents under those stacks of orcs) while
playing as a mortal character, and I've found a good way to
deal with the problem of hitting 3 monsters (and being hit by
three monsters) while in a doorway:  i.e., not to be in the
doorway, but to back up one step after luring the monsters out
by tempting them with my puny self.  This way, one can bash
them one-on-one instead of taking blows from three sides.  If
you are strong enough to survive the onslaught without a ring
of conflict, your experience will go right off the map and you
will prabably be beseiged by neophyte hack-ers wanting you to
mentor them in the intricacies of the greatest thing since
sliced tripe (thanks, Chris).  I do like the ring of conflict,
though.  "The orc hits the jackal.  The umber hulk hits the
xorn.  The zombie hits the centaur.  The xan hits the tengu.
The rust monster hits the jaguar.  The little dog laughs to
see such sport, and the dish runs away with the spoon.  And
the player hits the space bar while the beasties tough it out
in the zoo."
              Ciao (and meow)
                 Monica