TomeNET

(5.17) Digging                                                                  
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Your chance to successfully tunnel through an obstacle depends on the obstacle
and your 'digging power'.

In general, the digging power depends on your digging tool's (+digging) bonus
and its (+hit,+dam) enchantment and also on its weight (that's why a pick is a
better digging tool than a shovel for example, even if they have the same bonus
enchantments). Digging power further depends on your Digging skill and your STR
(strength).

Each digging attempt of your character has a constant chance to succeed, based
on your digging power vs the material you're trying to tunnel through. If your
digging power is too low, the chance might even be 0% so you would be trying
forever, giving you a message "You cannot seem to make a dent in the ..." and
automatically stopping your digging process, as your character realizes the
futility of the attempt.

Digging tools vs weapons
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Digging tools can actually also be wielded as weapons (Shift+W).
Vice versa, an equipped weapon can also serve as digging tool, if it's any axe,
any sword, or from the polearm-class a scythe or sickle.
However, weapons only have 'digging power' against soft targets such as spider
webs and vegetation, ie trees, bushes, ivy.
So even if you lack a digging tool, an equipped sword or axe can substitute
somewhat in these cases. For some weak, unenchanted digging tools, weapons can
even be more effective to use (see table further below)!
When you attempt to tunnel, your character will automtically apply the best
tool you have equipped, choosing from weapons and an actual digging tool.

Causing earthquakes
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For digging tools that have the ego-power 'of Earthquakes', you can cause an
earthquake by digging the floor you are standing on, ie direction '5'.
Again, this will also check your weapons, and if you have a weapon equipped
that can also cause earthquakes, the strongest source will automatically be
applied. So if you have The Mighty Hammer 'Grond' equipped and want to cause
an earthquake with it, just tunnel direction '5' and your character will smash
it into the floor where you are standing, most likely causing an earthquake.

If you're not interested in the exact formulas for digging power, skip down
to (5.17b) which has a table with example values for certain scenarios.