History VideoGame / Angband

Although not the first in its roguelike line (that distinction goes to ''VideoGame/Moria'', of which Angband is a descendant), Angband is the grandfather of an entire family of roguelikes collectively known as *bands, thanks to its relatively easy-to-fork source code.

* '''large dungeons''' - dungeons in ''Angband'' and other *bands are many screens wide and tall

* MassiveRaceSelection: Mostly ''ZAngband''. The ''ZAngband'' variant ''Entroband'' has thirty-seven races and twenty-seven classes. Averted by a newer variant ''Sil'', in which you can only choose Noldor (High Elves), Sindar (Grey Elves), Naugrim (Dwarf) or Edain (Human).

''Angband'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion loosely]] [[AnachronismStew based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, but with stuff from other games, mostly ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''{{Rolemaster}}'', as well as some original content. It was intended as an enhanced port of Umoria, an earlier roguelike. The goal of the game is to descend into the dungeon and amass enough experience and loot to defeat Morgoth, the BigBad of Middle-earth.

Not as well-known as ''VideoGame/{{NetHack}}'', but has a comparable fanbase. It is relatively easy to alter the source, so it has spawned hundreds of variants over the years, a few dozen of which are still in active development: one example is ZAngband. The latest version of Angband can be downloaded at http://rephial.org/.

* DeathOfAThousandCuts: [[ExplosiveBreeder Explosive breeders.]] Most dangerous for low-level characters, but a sufficient number of them can cause problems even for higher-level players. If met at the start of the game, a Floating Eye can keep you paralyzed to the point that you ''starve to death''.

** A fairly minor but entertaining example is selling broken swords/daggers and rusted chain mail to shops. The storekeeper will offer you one gold coin for it and then - surprise, surprise - it turns out said item has negative to hit/to dam/armor modifiers, thus making them worthless.

* BoringButPractical: Rods/Wands of Light in general, which light up a long line of tiles. If you rely in any kind of ranged attack, you'll need to spot monsters from as far away as possible, and these babies really shine in long corridors. You'd also be surprised by how many enemies are damaged by it in the early game.

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal [[SelfImposedChallenge as many]] [[MineralMacGuffin Silmaril]] as possible, which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown first. [[SelfImposedChallenge Bonus points]] for [[UpToEleven only]] [[HarderThanHard using a shovel]] as equipement.

* ArtificialBrilliance: Orc packs try to flank you or block your escape routes, while archers will spead out and keep their distance - which is annoying and deadly.
Explosive bree
* DeathOfAThousandCuts: Wolves. Most dangerous if you have low evasion and protection, but a sufficient number of them can cause problems even late game, because the get a bonus for [[ZergRush surrounding]] you.
* WeaponOfXSlaying: Weapons of Gondolin give you slaying vs. Orcs and Trolls. Which basically means you get an extra dice for your damage rolls. You still have to [[RandomNumberGod hit]] [[CaptainObvious them first]].

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal [[SelfImposedChallenge as many ] [[MineralMacGuffin Silmaril]] as possible, which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown first. [[SelfImposedChallenge Bonus points]] for [[UpToEleven only]] [[HarderThanHard using a shovel]] as equipement.

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal [[SelfImposedChallenge as many ] [[MineralMacGuffin Silmaril]] as possible, which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown first. [[SelfImposedChallenge Bonus points]] for [[UpToEleven only]] [[HardcoreMode using a shovel]] as equipement.

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal at least [[SelfImposedChallenge one of three]] [[MineralMacGuffin Silmaril]] which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown.

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal at least [[SelfImposedChallenge one of three]][[MineralMcGuffin Silmaril]] which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown.

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal at least one of the [[McGuffin Silmaril]] which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown.

''Sil'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, which is a successor of Videogame/{{Angband}}. It went back to the roots and focuses more on recreating Tolkien's universe and flair. The goal is not to kill Morgoth, but to steal at least one of the [[MagGuffin Silmaril]] which have to be cut from Morgoth's iron crown.

''Angband'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion loosely]] [[AnachronismStew based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, but with stuff from other games, mostly ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''{{Rolemaster}}'', as well as some original content. It was intended as an enhanced port of Umoria, an earlier roguelike. The goal of the game is to descend into the dungeon and amass enough experience and loot to defeat Morgoth, the BigBad of Middle-earth.

Not as well-known as ''VideoGame/{{NetHack}}'', but has a comparable fanbase. It is relatively easy to alter the source, so it has spawned hundreds of variants over the years, a few dozen of which are still in active development: one example is ZAngband. The latest version of Angband can be downloaded at http://rephial.org/.

* ArtificialBrilliance: Monsters actively avoid tiles that you can see, opting to instead wait in the dark until they can pounce on you. They also learn your resistances ([[TheAllSeeingAI or, if you set the option, know them in advance]]) and will not attempt to use ineffective attacks repeatedly. In the variant/successor ''Sil'' orc packs try to flank you or block your escape routes, while archers will spead out and keep their distance - which is annoying and deadly.
* BoringButPractical: Rods/Wands of Light in general, which light up a long line of tiles. If you rely in any kind of ranged attack, you'll need to spot monsters from as far away as possible, and these babies really shine in long corridors. You'd also be surprised by how many enemies are damaged by it in the early game.
* CastFromHitPoints: Genocide/Banishment spell, which will subtract 1d3 HP for every monster killed from the spell. Also, casting a spell without enough mana could damage your CON (health stat) temporarily or permanently.
* ChestMonster: Creeping Coins and various other mimics
* CompanionCube: Slime molds, a food item which many players name and keep as pets
* DeathOfAThousandCuts: [[ExplosiveBreeder Explosive breeders.]] Most dangerous for low-level characters, but a sufficient number of them can cause problems even for higher-level players. If met at the start of the game, a Floating Eye can keep you paralyzed to the point that you ''starve to death''.
* DroneJam: Anti-Summoning Corridors, the fancy name for player-dug corridors with a dead end the player sits on. They are meant to be used as a means to prevent [[MookMaker summoning monsters]] from calling monsters behind you and surrounding you. While they are the most reliable means to deal with those, it can take a while for the MookMaker to get in the player's range.
* DropTheHammer: Priests are restricted to using bashing weapons. Also, Morgoth's hammer Grond, which shatters walls all around when swung.
* EldritchAbomination: Quylthulgs. Cthangband is a variant entirely based on the CosmicHorrorStory genre.
* EnemySummoner: Better learn to make an anti-summoning corridor.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Cursed items
* ExplosiveBreeder: Many low-level creatures, including worm masses, lice, and rats, each of which which have many [[UndergroundMonkey annoying]] [[PaletteSwap colour]] [[UndergroundMonkey variants]]. These can be [[LevelGrinding ground upon]] to gain levels, but unless you're using a borg (a bot which plays the game) this is too dull to do for more than a few levels.
* FantasyGunControl: A few variants avert this, notably ''Steamband''.
* FinalDeath: It's a roguelike. You can savescum, but don't try to pass it off as a genuine win.
* GameMod: Few freeware games have such a large number of variants as Angband. [[http://angband.oook.cz oook.cz]] is the most known repository.
* GatelessGhetto: Built on top of Morgoth's fortress is a town consisting of six stores, a [[BlackMarket black market]], a house belonging to the player, and a few ne'er-do-well townfolk, surrounded by an impenetrable wall. A few variants avert this by adding an overworld.
* GuideDangIt: Don't go below 1000 feet (20th floor) without See Invisible. Don't go below 2000 feet (40th floor) without Resist Poison.
* MassiveRaceSelection: Mostly ''ZAngband''. The ''ZAngband'' variant ''Entroband'' has thirty-seven races and twenty-seven classes. Averted by a newer variant ''Sil'', in which you can only choose Noldor (High Elves), Sindar (Grey Elves), Naugrim (Dwarf) or Edain (Human).
* RandomlyGeneratedLoot: The game uses this method for ego items and random artifacts. One starts with a basic item, like a Hard Studded Leather [7,+0]. With a numeric bonus, that might be a Hard Studded Leather [7,+3]. If it gets an ego, it might be an Elven Hard Studded Leather (increases stealth, detects orcs), a Hard Studded Leather of Resist Fire (reduces fire damage), or with two egos, an Elven Hard Studded Leather of Resist Fire! If it becomes a random artifact (or randart), it receives a unique name, like the Elven Hard Studded Leather of Felorith, and some random powers. Because this is ''Angband'', most ego items and randarts look like average junk until the player identifies or psuedo-identifies the items.
** ''Moria'', the ancestor of ''Angband'', has ego items but no artifacts.
* RandomNumberGod: Everything in the dungeon is randomly created. Surviving early on depends entirely on random luck.
* SchmuckBait: Greater Vaults. If you see a completely walled off room filled with treasure, ''run away''.
** Also, in [[TalesOfMajEyal ToME]], don't equip that yellow ~ lying on the ground right away. It could be the Phial of Galadriel, or something really evil...
* StatSticks: Defender weapons.
* TheSymbiote: Available as a class in ''Angband Variants'' for the Android/IOS.
* VendorTrash: Unidentified potions of apple juice, slime mold juice and water, which are given the same color qualifier across games (although no longer available in the latest versions). You can also sell other unidentified items as a cheap identification method. Known trashy items cannot be sold. Unknown items, however...
-->You sold 3 Scrolls of Create Trap for 31 gp. [[HeadDesk The shopkeeper bangs his head against the counter]].
* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: The town level is full of beggars, harmless drunks, street urchins and mercenaries. The urchins of whom will try and steal from you. ''Guess what happens next.'' Even worse, the mercenaries can easily kill a starting character.
** Three words: Killing [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Farmer Maggot]].
*** Sure, but that's not purely for fun, he usually drops good stuff.
** In ZAngband, you can kill the [[HarsherInHindsight Finnish president and Nobel Peace prize laureate]] Martti Ahtisaari - or rather, a parody version of him.
** A fairly minor but entertaining example is selling broken swords/daggers and rusted chain mail to shops. The storekeeper will offer you one gold coin for it and then - surprise, surprise - it turns out said item has negative to hit/to dam/armor modifiers, thus making them worthless.
* WarpWhistle: Scrolls of Recall. Also available as a cleric spell.
* WeaponOfXSlaying: One of many properties ego and artifact weapons can have is bonus damage against particular types of enemies. This is controlled by a set of independent boolean flags, allowing (in the extreme) the artifact sword Crisdurian, which has ''all'' the Slay X flags set (and has the damage dice to make it count).

* ArtificialBrilliance: Monsters actively avoid tiles that you can see, opting to instead wait in the dark until they can pounce on you. They also learn your resistances ([[TheAllSeeingAI or, if you set the option, know them in advance]]) and will not attempt to use ineffective attacks repeatedly.

* MassiveRaceSelection: Mostly ''ZAngband''. The ''ZAngband'' variant ''Entroband'' has thirty-seven races and twenty-seven classes.

* BoringButPractical: Rods/Wands of Light in general, which light up a long line of tiles. If you rely in any kind of ranged attack, you'll need to spot monsters from as far away as possible, and these babies [[IncrediblyLamePun really shine]] in long corridors. You'd also be surprised by how many enemies are damaged by it in the early game.

* VendorTrash: Unidentified potions of apple juice, slime mold juice and water, which are given the same color qualifier across games (although no longer available in the latest versions). You can also sell other unidentified items as a cheap identification method. However, known trashy items cannot be sold. Unknown items, however...

* DeathOfAThousandCuts: [[ExplosiveBreeder Explosive breeders.]] Most dangerous for low-level characters, but a sufficient number of them can cause problems even for higher-level players. If met at the start of the game, a Floating Eye can keep you paralyzed to the point that you ''starve to death''.

!!!Tropes in this game:

* RandomlyGeneratedLoot: The game uses this method for ego items and random artifacts. One starts with a basic item, like a Hard Studded Leather [7,+0]. With a numeric bonus, that might be a Hard Studded Leather [7,+3]. If it gets an ego, it might be an Elven Hard Studded Leather (increases stealth, detects orcs), a Hard Studded Leather of Resist Fire (reduces fire damage), or with two egos, an Elven Hard Studded Leather of Resist Fire! If it becomes a random artifact (or randart), it receives a unique name, like the Elven Hard Studded Leather of Felorith, and some random powers. Because this is Angband, most ego items and randarts look like average junk until the player identifies or psuedo-identifies the items.

** Also, in ToME, don't equip that yellow ~ lying on the ground right away. It could be the Phial of Galadriel, or something really evil...

--->You sold 3 Scrolls of Create Trap for 31 gp. [[HeadDesk The shopkeeper bangs his head against the counter]].

* VendorTrash: Unidentified potions of apple juice, slime mold juice and water, which are given the same color qualifier across games (although no longer available in the latest versions). You can also sell other unidentified items as a cheap identification method. However, known trashy items cannot be sold.

** Three words: Killing [[TheLordOfTheRings Farmer Maggot]].

''Angband'' is a {{roguelike}} game [[TheThemeparkVersion loosely]] [[AnachronismStew based]] on Creator/JRRTolkien's books set in Middle-earth, but with stuff from other games, mostly ''DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''{{Rolemaster}}'', as well as some original content. It was intended as an enhanced port of Umoria, an earlier roguelike. The goal of the game is to descend into the dungeon and amass enough experience and loot to defeat Morgoth, the BigBad of Middle-earth.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces: Mostly ''ZAngband''. ''Steamband'' also does this, but many of them are different nationalities of human.
** The ZAngband variant ''Entroband'' has thirty-seven races and twenty-seven classes.