The short list of changes is:
The handle command is mapped to the 'h' key in the original keyset, and to the Ctrl-G key in both the original and the roguelike keyset.
If you issue the handle command, you'll be prompted to select an object. All objects in your inventory and on the ground, as well as some items in your equipment can be chosen. Your character will the use that item with the action that is most appropriate for that kind of item (the "default action").
If you inscribe an item with @h0 through @h9, you can handle it without looking up the current letter in your inventory - just type h1 to handle the first item that is inscribed with @h1.
If you handle an item that is inscribed with !h or !*, you will be asked to confirm if you really want to handle that item. You will also be asked for confirmation if the item is inscribed with ! + the normal command letter (original keyset) for the item's default action.
The table below details the default action for each object in the game:
| Junk items | destroy ('k') |
| Spikes | jam ('j') |
| Chests | drop ('d') if currently in pack disarm ('D') if on floor with known traps open ('O') if on floor with no known traps destroy ('k') if already opened |
| All ammunition | fire ('f') if correct launcher is
equipped throw ('v') otherwise |
| Torches, lanterns | refill ('F') if light source is
same wield ('w') otherwise |
| Other equippable objects | wield ('w') if not already
equipped activate ('A') if equipped and activatable not eligible for handle command otherwise |
| Staves | use ('u') |
| Wands | aim ('a') |
| Rods | zap ('z') |
| Scrolls | read ('r') |
| Potions | Potion of Detonations: throw ('v') All other potions: quaff ('q') |
| Flasks of oil | refill ('F') if light source is
lantern throw ('v') otherwise |
| Mushrooms | Mushrooms of Unhealth/Disease:
throw ('v') All other mushrooms: eat ('E') |
| Ordinary food | eat ('E') |
| Spell books | cast ('m') if you're a
spell-caster destroy ('k') otherwise |
| Prayer books | pray ('p') if you're a priest or
paladin destroy ('k') otherwise |
When 'b'rowsing a book, you can now select one of the available spells.
If you select a spell, a short explanation of the spell's effect is shown. After hitting a key, you are returned to the spell list where you can select another spell to inspect or hit <ESC> to stop browsing.
The description for each spell is included in a new info file: spell.txt. This file also contains the spell's name, book, and page. That information has been removed from x-spell.c, where it was formerly hard-coded.
All spell names and the books they are in is also hardcoded in the LUA file SPELL.LUA. I used a big hack to bypass the spell names in the LUA file, so that changing the spell "Lightning Bolt" to "Lightning Beam" in spell.txt will actually work. I did not mess with any other LUA code. If you want to move a spell to another book or to another page in the same book, you'll have to recompile the game with LUA scripting disabled, or change SPELL.LUA to match the changes you have made.
I know almost nothing about LUA and I have no intention of learning it. If anyone sends me the code that lets the LUA code react to the spell.txt file, I'll test it and incorporate it in the patch. But I won't try to fix it myself.
Many object names in the info file object.txt include a tilde character (~) that is used to determine where the game should insert an extra "s" or "es" to form the plural form of an object name. Examples: "Dagger~" becomes "Dagger" in singular, "Daggers" in plural, and "Cutlass~" is pluralized to "Cutlasses".
This produces incorrect results for words with irregular plural forms. For instance, "Palantir~", "Knife~", and "Mouse~" would get "Palantirs", "Knifes", and "Mouses" as their plural forms.
With this patch, it is possible to use the pipe character (|) to specify singular and plural part for any name. You have to use a multiple of three pipe characters; the singular part comes between the first and second pipe and the plural part between the second and third. Note that it's perfectly legal to include multiple sets of three pipe symbols in an object's name. For the examples used above, the name in object.txt should be changed to "Palantir||i", "Kni|fe|ves", and "M|ous|ic|e".
The patch will also recognise the pipe symbol in flavour.txt. I was unable to come up with any example of how this would be useful in English, but it can be invaluable for anyone who tries to port Angband to a language where the adjective changes form if the noun is pluralized.
Note that the patch does not include any changes to the info files, since all current items are handled correctly by the regular pluralization.
Since 3.0.4 or 3.0.5, inscribing a rod or artifact with !! will cause the game to show a message when the rod or artifact is fully recharged. This patch changes this behaviour in the following ways: