AFAICR rings of searching never activated automatic search. But they provided a search bonus for the checks (which also had stopped working). Fixed.

I'm fairly sure that back in 1.0.0 you were able to find traps simply by moving next to them while wearing those rings, if you were lucky...

The Improved ADOM Guidebook describes Rings of Searching as "automatic searching every turn ."

I agree I remember rings of searching searched automatically.

I went back and tested in 1.1.1. The ring definitely did not search automatically then. Character had 100 detect traps and was able to find adjacent traps with 1-2 searches; never automatically found a trap with ring of searching equipped (tested in pyramid trap corridors). Occasionally he would discover a secret door automatically, but that also happened without the ring.

Well searching now is too powerful, making additional help superfluous anyway. Hidden doors and passages are found in 1 search almost always. Search should be less powerful, Search and Detect Traps should have separate effects, and Rings of Searching should add a small bump.

Was reminded of this thread when receiving a Ring of Searching as initial equipment :) So, just wondering whether it will continue to have no effect? I like the idea of autosearch with some arbitrary level of effectiveness. Right now it may as well be a brass ring...