ADOM Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Scroll is an item group in ADOM. As the name implies scrolls are compact objects containing written symbols to be read by intelligent beings.

There are two main groups of scrolls in the game:

  • Magical scrolls which power is supposedly invoked by the PC to produce a one-time effect.
  • Mundane scrolls containing various bits of information which can be deciphered by the PC mostly for the benefit of the player himself/herself.

Naturally, there are several exceptions within these groups (noted in the table below).

Properties[]

All scrolls weigh 2 stones which allows most PCs to carry large amounts of them at all times. This is often considered a practical approach, as scrolls provide a broad range of effects invaluable in both common and critical situations.

Nevertheless, all scrolls are made of paper which makes them vulnerable to almost all sources of item destruction. Fireproof and especially waterproof blankets are almost mandatory unless the player is prepared to lose scrolls to traps, special monster attacks and environmental effects.

Mechanics[]

Using scrolls naturally boils down to reading them. Therefore, several conditions must be fulfilled:

  • The PC must have the Literacy skill. Moreover, in order to read unidentifed scrolls, the skill must be highly trained, as otherwise it is possible to fail reading (signified by the message You don't manage to correctly decipher that scroll). Badly failing this Literacy check may cause the scroll to disappear completely (non-magic information scrolls however do not disappear).
  • The PC must have enough light to read the scroll — being blind or standing in a dark area prevents any attempt to use a scroll.
  • The PC must be in a clear physical/mental state to attempt reading — being engulfed in webs, stunned or confused makes using scrolls impossible.

Using some scrolls will automatically identify their true nature (see use-based identification for more information).

Miscellaneous[]

Scrolls can be cursed and blessed using potions of water of appropriate B/U/C status. However, unlike most items, dipping scrolls into an uncursed potion will produce a special effect — namely, transform the scroll in question into a blank scroll.

Blank scrolls can be used with magical writing sets to produce new scrolls. However, the PC must have a desired scroll in its identified item list.

A scroll shop is one of the possible types of shops in ADOM.

Merchants specializing in scrolls are able to automatically identify all scrolls.

Scrolls can be used as melee and missile weapons, although they have almost non-existent base to-hit and to-damage stats.

Up to 9 scrolls can be polymorphed with a potion of exchange.

List of all scrolls[]

Name DL One-time effect? Effect B/U/C status influence Notes
Antediluvian scroll covered with dwarven runes N/A No No effect aside from message No effect Found in a special grave in the Eerie Glade
Scroll of amnesia 1 Yes Current level map knowledge is removed; some items in the identified item list are removed Affects magnitude
Scroll of balance 1 Yes Displays the PC's alignment score Affects value precision
Blank scroll 1 No No effect Affects writing process Can be used to write other scrolls
Scroll of charging 3 Yes Recharges wands Affects magnitude
Scroll of corruption removal 10 Yes Changes the amount of the PC's corruption B — removes ~1.5 corruptions
U — removes ~0.6 corruptions
C — grants ~0.3 corruptions
Crumpled scroll N/A No No effect aside from message (picture description) No effect Dropped by the emperor moloch; can be given to Khelavaster (after saving him) in exchange for the Trident of the Red Rooster if the PC is neutral or lawful
Scroll of cure blindness 3 Yes No effect aside from a humorous message No effect
Scroll of danger 1 Yes Increases the danger Level of the current level Affects magnitude Required for one of the Gaab'Baay's Quests
Scroll of dark predictions 3 Yes Reveals the PC's state of corruption ?
Scroll of darkness 1 Yes Creates darkness in an area around the PC No effect
Scroll of defense 1 Yes Modifies DV of a worn item B, U — increases
C — reduces
It is not possible to choose the target item, although item type priority is fixed
Scroll of education 1 Yes Grants a random skill or increases proficiency in a random skill Affects magnitude
Scroll of entropy 1 Yes Transforms monsters on the current level or confuses the PC, required for Nihilist ending No effect
Scroll of familiar summoning 1 Yes Summons a companion of the current area's danger Level B: Treats the area's DL as being 6 higher
C: Treats the area's DL as being 6 lower
Scroll of gold detection 1 Yes Reveals the locations of gold on the current dungeon level No effect
Scroll of great identify 8 Yes Reveals properties for one item of choice Affects the amount of properties revealed
IBM guild manual 1 Yes Confuses the PC for an unlimited number of turns No effect
Scroll of identify 1 Yes Identifies items of choice B — affects all items
U — affects items of a chosen group
C — affects a single item
Scroll of ill fate 12 Yes Bestows cursed intrinsic on the PC if Lucky intrinsic is present C — might remove Fate smiles
Scroll of increase melee accuracy 1 Yes Modifies to-hit bonus of the current wielded weapon B, U — increases
C — reduces
Scroll of increase melee damage 1 Yes Modifies to-damage bonus of the current wielded weapon B, U — increases
C — reduces
Scroll of information N/A No (unless read outside the Small Cave) Reveals the distance between the stairs in the Small Cave and the guaranteed waterproof blanket No effect Generated on the Small Cave entrance, works properly only in that dungeon
Scroll of item creation ? Yes Creates a random item corresponding to the current area's danger Level Created item has the same status as the scroll
Scroll of item detection 1 Yes Reveals the location of all items on the level No effect
Scroll of item destruction 1 Yes Destroys a random worn or carried item. No effect Can only be used with at least 4 items in possession
Scroll of light 1 Yes Removes darkness in an area around the PC No effect
Scroll of literacy check 1 Yes No effect aside from a humorous message No effect Literacy level affects the message
Scroll of luck 12 Yes Removes the Cursed intrinsic, or grants Lucky, or grants Fate Smiles C — cannot grant Fate Smiles
Scroll of magic mapping 1 Yes Reveals portions of the current level map Affects the amount of the level revealed
Scroll of monster aggravation 1 Yes Makes monsters on the level hostile ?
Scroll of monster detection 1 Yes Reveals current location of all monsters on the level No effect
Papyrus scroll N/A No No effect aside from a message No effect Generated on the current level when the PC reaches level 13
Scroll of peace 1 Yes Reduces the danger Level of the current level Affects magnitude
Scroll of power 1 Yes Changes the current amount of PC's power points B, U — increases
C — reduces
Prayer scroll N/A Yes No effect aside from a message No effect Only obtainable from a magic statue
Scroll of protection 1 Yes Modifies PV of a worn item B, U — increases
C — reduces
It is not possible to choose the target item, although item type priority is fixed
Ratling pamphlet N/A No No effect aside from a message No effect Can be received from the ratling rebel after 'c'hatting to him/her
Scroll of repair 1 Yes Modifies item's broken state B — Fixes items and improves their B/U/C status
U — fixes items
C — breaks items, curses artifacts
Can affect items that are not supposed to break in version 1.1.1 (thus stacks of useful items can be broken and fixed for a B/U/C upgrade)
Scroll of satiation 1 Yes Grants satiation Affects magnitude
Strange message N/A No No effect aside from a message No effect Can be found in the High Mountain Village
Scroll of teleportation 6 Yes Teleports the PC No effect
Scroll of treasure creation 12 Yes Creates gold Affects magnitude
Scroll of uncursing 1 Yes Modifies the B/U/C status of items B — uncurses all items
U — uncurses item of choice
C — curses item of choice
Scroll of vermin control 1 Yes Sterilizes all breeders on the current level ? Does not work on the battle bunny level
Scroll of warning N/A No No effect aside from a message No effect Generated on the entrance to the Small Cave, only works properly in this dungeon
Antediluvian dwarven map fragment N/A No Gives the option to assemble the map if the PC possesses all 6 fragments No effect Non-unique artifact; 6 are located in various places
Antediluvian dwarven map N/A No Allows the PC to find Rolf's fortress on the wilderness map No effect Artifact; assembled from the 6 map fragments
Scroll of omnipotence N/A No Unknown Unknown Artifact; dropped by the supreme balor
Scroll of the finder 6 No Acts as a scroll of magic mappingscroll of item detectionscroll of gold detection,  scroll of monster detection, or scroll of treasure creation Same as the activated scroll effect Random artifact
Advertisement