Terrain types: water
The world has many rivers, lakes, and seas that cannot be crossed on foot. Diving to the bottom of a lake or getting through a flooded tunnel is not so simple either. Water has three terrain types: shallows (passable without a boat), deep water, and underwater.
DEEP WATER
- find a boat: for example, pick up a dinghy in Gnome Village or buy a canoe from a sailor in Midgaard. Most boats just need to be carried in your inventory, and some can be worn.
- learn to fly: cast fly on yourself, drink a potion of flight, or use a magical item with this spell
- learn to swim: your character cannot swim on their own, this ability is granted by certain items in the world
- get a water or flying mount: some pets can fly or swim and will let you ride them
If you are disarmed in combat on deep water, your weapon may sink! Be careful.
UNDERWATER Boats and flight do not work underwater, but swimming is not required to dive: you can enter an underwater room or a swim-only exit even without it. The first attempt only warns you -- repeat the same move within a minute and you dive. NPCs and mounts still cannot go there.
Without water breathing you will drown. Each move into an underwater room takes about twelve seconds (the game tells you so, extra commands just queue up), and the room deals drowning damage over time (in permanent flood rooms about two minutes from full health, twice as fast for those vulnerable to water), while a swim-only exit costs you several drowning ticks, depending on your dexterity. Water breathing prevents drowning altogether and can currently be obtained via the water breathing spell, some rare herbs, or special artefacts -- for example, a scuba tank from Solace.
Casting is harder underwater for anyone but the local mobs: the water muffles your voice and slows your hands, so about four casts in ten fail. A failed cast takes your time but no mana. Water breathing does not help here.
If you stay underwater without the ability to breathe there -- you may die. And if you have vulnerability to drowning, this means that water, as well as spells and weapons that strike with liquid, will deal more damage to you.
Hydroblast by rangers works on water spaces and near other water sources.