Talisman

Template:Version034 Template:Flavour Talismans are items used to change your form, using the Shapeshifting skill.

Useful Info

A talisman, when Put on, turns you into its respective transformation (e.g. a quill talisman turns you into Quill Form). This transformation lasts indefinitely. It can't be cancelled or dispelled, though you can voluntarily exit by taking off the talisman at any time. Entering or exiting a form takes 4 turns<ref>Template:Source ref</ref>. If you are turned into a bad form, when you revert, you'll go back to your talisman form.

Talismans may spawn as randarts; any randart properties apply so long as you remain in the form. For example, the quill talisman "Qicrucob" {rF+} would give permanent fire resistance in addition to all the benefits of Quill Form.

The undead (Mummies, Poltergeists and Revenants) are unable to transform. Zin despises form-shifting, and will instantly excommunicate any follower who uses one.

Transformations

Each form has its own benefits and downsides. However, talisman forms share a few things in common:

• Many talisman forms boost Unarmed Combat's base damage.
• Most forms will meld certain types of equipment, which cannot be used. For example, a blade talisman turns your hands into blades, melding your weapon, shield, and gloves.
• Forms often negate certain mutations, or add new ones. They can also change your size.

Being in any form will make you take +75% damage from silver weaponry.

Skill

Each form has a minimum Shapeshifting skill. Below this skill, you will receive a penalty to max HP. Every level of skill below the minimum gives a penalty of -10% max HP (max. -90% HP), which is then multiplied by the form bonus.

Raising Shapeshifting past this point will give you form-specific benefits. Quill Form will have increased damage on quills, Statue Form will increase your defenses further, etc. Each form also has a maximum Shapeshifting skill, where further training has no benefit.

Talismans are not related to spells in any way, so intelligence, wizardry, etc. has no effect, and Trog won't hate them. They are also unaffected by Sacrifice Artifice, since they are not evocables.

Sources

Talismans are found around the dungeon and in jewellery shops. There's a 50% chance to find a blade talisman, possibly an artefact one, in the Hall of Blades part of Elven Halls:2. The loot chamber in Crypt:3 has a 33% chance to contain a talisman of death.

Some uniques can drop talismans after you kill them:

• Template:Monsterlink, maw talisman, 50% chance
• Template:Monsterlink, serpent talisman, 100% chance (guaranteed to be an artefact)
• Template:Monsterlink, granite talisman, 100% chance
• Template:Monsterlink, storm talisman, 50% chance
• Template:Monsterlink, dragon talisman, 50% chance
• Template:Monsterlink, death talisman, 50% chance

List of talismans

Talismans are sorted by "tiers"; each tier has the same Shapeshifting skill thresholds.

Tier 1: (min. 0 skill, max. 7 skill)

• File:Quill talisman.png Quill talisman (Quill Form)
• File:Inkwell talisman.png Inkwell talisman (Scroll Form)

Tier 1.5: (min. 5 skill, max. 14 skill)

• File:Flux bauble.png Flux bauble (Flux Form)

Tier 2: (min. 8 skill, max. 14 skill)

• File:Protean talisman.png Protean talisman (Transforms into another Tier 2 talisman when used)
• File:Medusa talisman.png Medusa talisman (Medusa Form)
• File:Rimehorn talisman.png Rimehorn talisman (Yak Form)
• File:Scarab talisman.png Scarab talisman (Scarab Form)
• File:Spore talisman.png Spore talisman (Spore Form)

Tier 3: (min. 12 skill, max. 20 skill)

• File:Maw talisman.png Maw talisman (Maw Form)
• File:Eel talisman.png Eel talisman (Eel Form)
• File:Fortress talisman.png Fortress talisman (Crab Form)
• File:Lupine talisman.png Lupine talisman (Werewolf Form)
• File:Serpent talisman.png Serpent talisman (Serpent Form)
• File:Spider talisman.png Spider talisman (Spider Form)
• File:Wellspring talisman.png Wellspring talisman (Aqua Form)

Tier 4: (min. 17 skill, max. 25 skill)

• File:Blade talisman.png Blade talisman (Blade Form)
• File:Dragon-coil talisman.png Dragon-coil talisman (Dragon Form)
• File:Granite talisman.png Granite talisman (Statue Form)
• File:Hive talisman.png Hive talisman (Hive Form)
• File:Riddle talisman.png Riddle talisman (Sphinx Form)
• File:Vampire talisman.png Sanguine talisman (Vampire Form)

Tier 5: (min. 23 skill, max. 27 skill)

• File:Talisman of death.png Talisman of death* (Death Form)
• File:Storm talisman.png Storm talisman (Storm Form)

*Talismans of death have a minimum of 26 skill

Melded Slots

Form	Weapon	Offhand	Body Armour	Helmet	Cloak	Gloves	Boots	Barding
Quill				x	x	x	x	x
Inkwell	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Flux	x	x	x			x
Medusa				x	x
Yak	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Scarab	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Maw			-75%
Spore		x					x
Eel	x	x				x
Crab		x	+70%~+135%	x	x	x	x	x
Werewolf				x	x	x	x	x
Serpent	x	x	x	x		x	x	x
Spider	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Aqua			x
Blade			-60%~0%
Dragon	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Statue			x			x	x	x
Hive			x	x
Sphinx	x	x	x	x		x	x	+
Vampire
Storm	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Death

Percentages indicate changes in AC derived from body armour.
Ranges indicate values at minimum and maximum Shapeshifting, in accordance to the talisman's Tier.
+ indicates a slot is enabled while in this form, regardless of species.

History

• In 0.34, spore talismans and eel talismans were added. Talismans were also made to be cheaper in shops. Also, talismans are now considered gear and are (p)ut on instead of e(v)oked.
• In 0.33, a dozen new talismans were added, including: Quill talisman, Inkwell talisman, Protean talisman, Medusa talisman, Rimehorn talisman, Scarab talisman, Fortress talisman, Lupine talisman, Spider talisman, Wellspring talisman, Hive talisman, Riddle talisman, Sanguine talisman.

Also, the skill requirements for different tiers changed:

• Tier 2 (ie: protean tier) is 8-14 instead of 7-14.
• Tier 3 (ie: blade tier) is 12-20 instead of 10-19.
• Tier 4 (ie: statue tier) is 17-25 instead of 16-25.

• Talismans were introduced in 0.31, replacing Transmutations magic. Removed spells include Beastly Appendage, Spider Form, Ice Form, Blade Hands, Statue Form, Dragon Form, Storm Form, and Necromutation (Lichform).