5

A few times recently in Sokoban, I've been having issues with inconvenient monster spawns that end up blocking my boulders. I most frequently run into this trouble when I'm nearing the completion of a level, when the level's long "pit corridor" is almost entirely filled in. Although I've verified the hallway as being fully clear of obstacles ahead of time, by the time I walk back to my boulder and push it all the way through the passageway, occasionally a monster has suddenly appeared in the hallway in front of the remaining pit(s) and I get stuck.

The only thing that I can figure is happening is that a monster is spawning in the passage after I check it, but before I'm able to get the boulder to the pit (with no real opportunities to re-check the corridor as I move the boulder due to the structure of the level). I can always destroy the boulder and use/create another, but I'd obviously like to avoid the Luck penalties if possible.

Is there any good way to mitigate the odds of this happening, and/or fixing the problem when it does? Methods that would be reasonably accessible to an early-game character (and, ideally, without assessing Luck penalties) would be preferable.

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
13

Ranged attacks, with the exception of force bolt/wand of striking (which destroy the boulder in the process), pass over boulders just fine and let you kill whatever is on the other side.

If you don't have any ranged weapons or suitable attack wands of spells, in the worst case you can leave sokoban, smash a boulder, and get rocks to throw.

If you have a wand of teleportation, you can also teleport the boulder (and, in the long hallway, probably the monster behind it as well) with no luck penalty. Note that the boulder way very well end up in an inconvenient place.

Improve this answer
1
  • Ah ha, I had forgotten that ranged attacks can pass over boulders. Easy solution. Thanks! :)
    – Cloudy
    Commented Aug 9, 2012 at 16:29
3

If no ranged attacks available, you can also squeeze past the boulder (Walk into it while carrying almost nothing). Drop all your gear (take off armor) and walk into it. Usually I'm able to bring a weapon that way. But beware: this inflicts a luck penalty.

Improve this answer
1
  • 2
    I had such a painful death this way yesterday! I was on my second highest score ever and went to solve the Sokoban after setting it aside for awhile. A giant mimic that I could not see spawned inside a room that was closed off by a boulder. Otherwise the level was going just great. But I had to get into that room to finish. I stripped and squeezed past the boulder hoping to kill or move whatever was back there. Naked in combat with a giant mimic and not being a monk, and on prayer timeout. Ouch! Game over!
    – cdaddr
    Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 22:53

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.