[1.0.4] Coral Spray description inadequate

[Crim, The Red Thunder]

Or a alternate 'gimme the answer now' for folks who don't feel like experimenting. And only having to do ti for the rare artifact that actually HAS hidden powers wouldn't be an undue burden.

Also, I miss the old system. In the ID, speaking what Elisa (was that the name? Been so long...) was the only human (halfling, but who's keeping track) contact you had. It was your lifeline from mental insanity. A bit of good natured flirting lifts the spirits when you're struggling to deal with those level 783 demons.

All kidding aside, I don't see having hidden powers be HIDDEN but you being notified that there IS a hidden power, to be troublesome, and the ID issue to provide an out for those who don't WANT to risk experimenting solves everyone's problem, and make everyone equally happy. Hell, you could even make it a 'spoiler button' in options, if breaking theme with a very rare ID is that bad. Turn on whether or not hidden powers are openly displayed, labeled but undefined (this item has hidden powers not immediately discernable) or completely hidden (as now.)

The second is ideal, the first ruins part of the mystique in the game, since these items tend to be very special things. The third apparently makes some people unhappy. So I see no reason not to make all parties happy.

[PureQuestion]

I don't consider the two systems to be similar.
One of them was just a pointlessly slow interface, the other involves a bit of mystery and solving things for yourself.

I'm referring to the standard roguelike identification that was removed in favour of the orb of scrying originally.

[Crim, The Red Thunder]

The new suggestion is no different then the orb. Once you reach the fortress you can use the shadow to identify magic powers on an item that aren't immediately discernable. Have him adjust our orb of scrying so we can do it from a distance, if need be. That doesn't seem an undue complication, no toting scrolls of ID around, and activating it once every so often for an item with special hidden powers is less work then activating it when you found a regular artifact. Making this ID consume some minor quantity of fortress energy (10? 20?) would encourage folks to try some of these items out, but even if they don't want to, the cost is low enough that they can still have an on-demand identification for hidden unlisted powers.