Confused is a status condition in ADOM. It is a semi-debilitating condition that prevents or interferes with the usage of several game commands, though it does not render the PC completely helpless (as being paralyzed or asleep would).
Effects on the PC[]
Perhaps the most significant effect of confusion is that the PC becomes disorientated — meaning that if the PC attempts to move, (s)he will end up stumbling in a random direction. The PC will stumble randomly even if (s)he tries to wait on the spot (by using the '.' or '5' command), meaning that it's not possible to just wait for confusion to pass this way. This effect is potentially quite dangerous as it may cause the PC to unwillingly stumble into traps or water (including the piranha-infested kind). Fortunately, would-be attacks on peaceful NPCs still prompt for confirmation.
While confused, there are many things that the PC cannot do at all. These actions include:
- Eating
- Reading
- Shooting ("In your state of confusion you would probably shoot yourself.")
- Zapping wands
- Searching
- Dipping items into potions (gives the message "What wuzzit I wanted to do?")
- Spitting acid
- Applying most skills (as of v. 1.2.0)
- Cleaning ears or face (as of v. 1.2.0)
- Swapping with/displacing monsters (as of v. 1.2.0)
Attempting to cast spells while confused carries a high failure rate, which appears to be about 60-65%, and may depend on Willpower. There is also a high chance that the PC will be too confused to kick anything (giving the message "With your hand or your feet?"). If the PC does a controlled teleport whilst confused, (s)he will end up landing on a random space somewhere near where they wanted to go due to lack of concentration (giving the message "It's hard to concentrate."); if this would cause the PC to land on a square that they can't occupy then they will teleport to a random square (as usual, but with the message "Strange... this doesn't seem to work." instead of "Impossible.").
Note that in v. 1.1.1, there are ways of passing a turn even whilst confused which don't involve the PC stumbling about. These include applying first aid and attempting to pay (non-existing) shopkeepers. In v. 1.2.0, players can no longer safely wait out the PC's confusion by using certain commands (including applying most skills) as these will no longer use up a turn if they fail[1]. Attempting to cast a spell or eat something will still pass a turn while allowing the PC to not stumble. You can also easily pass a turn without stumbling by taking off and on a piece of worn/wielded equipment.
Causes[]
- Monster attacks: Some monsters can confuse the PC with their melee attack; see the corresponding category. Additionally, doppelgangers have an extra 'attack' that will attempt to confuse the PC for one or two turns — which usually works unless the PC is of the Raven star sign or has very high Mana.
- Monster abilities: Wyrms, minotaur mages, skeletal kings, the Ancient Chaos Wyrm, Nuurag-Vaarn, Guth'Alak, Keriax and Andor Drakon are able to confuse the PC from afar using magic. Fairy dragons can confuse the PC in melee range by singing. Gibbering mouthers can babble to confuse the PC if (s)he attacks one; their babbling also confuses the PC if (s)he chats to a non-hostile one.
- Eating monsters: Eating minotaurs of any kind, displacer beasts, fairy dragons or hydras confuses the PC.
- Use of items: Reading a IBM guild manual 'permanently' confuses the PC; this kind of confusion can only be removed by prayer or drinking a blessed potion of confusion. Drinking a non-blessed potion of confusion confuses the PC. If the PC reads a spellbook but fails to understand it, there is a chance that (s)he can end up becoming confused. Reading the weird tome causes (most) PCs to become very confused.
- Misc: After Kranf Niest gives the Healing skill to the PC, (s)he will wake up confused and stunned.
Cures/Treatment[]
The only ways of immediately snapping the PC out of confusion are blessed potions of confusion or prayers. Confusion wears off after a certain number of turns, based on the source of the confusion and the PC's resistances to it, anyway (unless induced by an IBM guild manual).
Effects on monsters[]
Confused monsters lose control over their movements and their ability to invoke certain special powers (e.g. summoning) for a few turns, making it an effective means of disabling monsters. Like most status effects, it does not affect undead or constructs. Some bosses also have confusion resistance.
Mindcrafters are the masters of confusion, as their means of confusing monsters are fully rechargeable and can hit several targets at once. Other PCs can confuse monsters by throwing either a potion of confusion or potion of wonder at them. Zapping a staff of the swirling mind will replicate the confusion wave ability of Mindcrafters.