ToME WikiOrvin: Funny that diggers don't actually dig. How about being able to use diggers to dig shallow holes in certain types of terrain? Holes would require extra time to traverse (for monsters or the player) without levitation/flying. So, the player might strategically dig holes in order to prepare the battlefield. Of course, this would take time.
It might also lead to interesting tactics if water generated in a hole would spread to all connected holes. Or, if it were possible to place oil in connected holes and ignite the oil in one hole, with the effect of all of the connected holes being filled with fire for a limited duration.
Perhaps, in addition to terrain being either hole-diggable or not hole-diggable, some terrain should permit temporary holes, which are replaced by another terrain after a certain (randomized) time. For example, holes dug in sand in a "watery" level might fill with water.
I don't know how trapping works/will work, but, perhaps, some traps could be placed in holes, then covered, with the effect that they would be more difficult for monsters to detect (but just as lethal).
ReenenLaurie: Wow... this will certainly be a most interesting change. You can even let certain spells create holes. So you can combo create holes (ball of force) with poison gas etc. Obviously you can create piles of rubble too... as where would you place all the dirt?
Orvin: I'm not sure about debris...perhaps, these holes are shallow enough that the debris isn't significant enough to impede your movement, like normal debris objects do. When I think of debris objects, I don't think of dirt, but some solid objects that have to be broken up in order for you to pass. When you tunnel debris, it doesn't become a new pile of dirt. On the other hand, it could be interesting to produce debris as a result...