I'm curious as to what factors go into the 'compare' command. I've found plenty of equipment that compares as worse than what I'm wearing but turns out to be better. I'm sure this is inevitable as different classes will find different objects more or less valuable, but I'd still like to know if this command has any real use, especially in the case of weapons, or if I'm better off just testing things out myself by wearing them and forgetting about the command altogether.

On a somewhat related note, I'd also like to know what options I have in identifying objects when playing a class that doesn't have the 'identify' spell. I'm sure RP interaction would be one way, but I don't think I can find it in me after my experiences here to trust that some random mage that agrees to identify an object for me won't just run off with it! So assuming I have no trustworthy allies to help me out, and that my lore skill is too low to provide any truly useful information, what other options are out there?

>So assuming I have no trustworthy allies to help me out, and that
>my lore skill is too low to provide any truly useful
>information, what other options are out there?

Scrolls and wands with the Identify spell and, like Cytherea
mentioned, typing score, wearing the item, and typing score
again. Some thieves also have the Appraise command.

But if you're a plain ol' warrior, get cracking on Lore.

As far as I can tell, weapons go strictly by average, armor by total AC. Lockpicks & instruments are probably the only thing where compare gives you enough information to go by as a choice in which to use.

Compare kind of just shows you what an item compares as, consider it a "vauge" ID. I tend to wear the item, score, and remove it, score and see if it is what I want. If it doesn't help me in the ways I want it to, I just keep what I have. Then again, that is what I do. Hope that helps you out some.