ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I've noticed playing today while using my bow, the monsters would sometimes 'dance' - close to a certain distance, then back away 1 square, then close 1 square. Sometimes it would just happen once, sometimes it happened multiple times.

I'm currently playing a Dwarf Wyrmic and I've just entered the Deep Bellows. There's a Rare - Gybrelle the dremling - it's currently stuck moving back and forth between 2 squares. I'm able to walk right up to it and it won't attack me, it just keeps 'dancing' back and forth.




hmm, I just saved the game and now it's fixed, he's a-chasing me.

Certain fast creatures dance back and forward as way to drive you crazy until you let your guard down.

HousePet wrote:Certain fast creatures dance back and forward as way to drive you crazy until you let your guard down.

I've seen some creatures (rabbits) do it before with their disengage, but now I've seen it happen with snakes and even trolls.

If creatures without a ranged attack are dancing in front of my bow, it makes the game easier (not that I don't still die )

TheFinn70 wrote:

HousePet wrote:Certain fast creatures dance back and forward as way to drive you crazy until you let your guard down.

I've seen some creatures (rabbits) do it before with their disengage, but now I've seen it happen with snakes and even trolls.

If creatures without a ranged attack are dancing in front of my bow, it makes the game easier (not that I don't still die )

It makes you miss some shots and if there are several mobs - you 'll find yourself without any ammo left. Often happens on Nightmare+ with snakes. Double the fun if you happen to start with quiver size of 5 or 6...

Can't you still hit them by manually aiming behind them?

The fleeing behavior works strange with my mindslayer. As the enemy flees I walk behind them and my telekinetic weapon keeps hitting them. Makes some fights too easy.

evouga wrote:Can't you still hit them by manually aiming behind them?

The problem isn't missing them because they're dancing (though it does sometimes happen) - the problem is it makes the game easier than it should be. A creature without a ranged attack (like a troll) moving back and forth between range 3 and 4 instead of closing with an archer/caster just makes the player's life easier. *Maybe* there's a purpose - like waiting for a cooldown - but more likely it's a buggy AI.

Actually, its sensible behaviour, it makes you waste resources doing no damage, then the ai moves in to beat you up.