[Advice] Starlight, the L30 High Elven Ranger

**Pete Mack** · January 17, 2010, 20:21

I would say: get more CON. It's not just poison breath that can kill you. No need for ring of Acid or Damage unless you are using melee (which your comment says you're not.)

**fizzix** · January 17, 2010, 23:32

Originally posted by Pete Mack

I would say: get more CON. It's not just poison breath that can kill you. No need for ring of Acid or Damage unless you are using melee (which your comment says you're not.)

So you have telepathy which is good. That means the only thing that can really instakill you are drolems (or nexus vortices/quylthulgs that teleport you)

I would recommend the following advice for deciding to fight when you are unfamiliar with the monsters.

If you know you can handle it, and it's not an inventory drain (pukelmen, hounds etc.), fight it.
If you know you can handle a monster that's a bit deeper, fight it.
If you know you can *easily* handle a monster that's the same level, or 1 or 2 levels deeper (but no more) then fight it.
Consider uniques to be monsters that are 10 levels OoD.

**Netbrian** · January 18, 2010, 06:58

Okay, somehow I managed to maximize almost all of my stats, and I'm continuing my dive. I've had bad luck with dungeon spellbooks (so far, only Raal's and Resistances), but very good luck with artifacts. I managed to grab Isildur, which is very nice.

Oh, and guys? Glaive of Pain + Ring of Acid is beautifully degenerate. Compared to this, archery is nice and balanced.

**Pete Mack** · January 18, 2010, 07:19

Originally posted by Netbrian

Oh, and guys? Glaive of Pain + Ring of Acid is beautifully degenerate. Compared to this, archery is nice and balanced.

Ain't it great?

**Netbrian** · January 20, 2010, 07:33

Okay, I'm coming along just fine. I've recently arrived at d-level 80, and am hoping for lots of awesome speed rings. I'd like suggestions on what I should do next, how, if any, I should change my equipment, and how to take down the tougher uniques -- if I build an anti-summoning corridor, then I have to melee them. Otherwise, they just swarm me with nasty undead or demons.

Any general late-game advice would be much appreciated (yes, I know I need to be more careful about disenchantment).

Right now, I use missile combat for major fights against difficult monsters or uniques, and melee combat for more bread and butter battles. My generally excellent luck hasn't extended to finding a better launcher yet, which saddens me.

Thanks again!

[Angband 3.1.1 dev Character Dump]

Name Starlight Self RB CB EB Best
Sex Female Age 107 STR! 18/190
Race High-Elf Height 71 INT! 18/180
Class Ranger Weight 178 Wis! 18/120
Title Ranger Social Respected DEX! 18/200
HP 810/810 Maximize Y CON! 18/100
SP 329/329 CHR! 18/100

Level 43 Armor [18,+114] Saving Throw 97%
Cur Exp 4821919 Fight (+37,+23) Stealth Superb
Max Exp 4821919 Melee (+41,+49) Fighting Heroic
Adv Exp 4830000 Shoot (+48,+14) Shooting Legendary
MaxDepth 4050' (L81) Blows 5/turn Disarming 90%
Turns 3746430 Shots 4/turn Magic Device Legendary
Gold 946743 Infra 40 ft Perception 1 in 20
Burden 193.1 lbs Speed 10 Searching 27%

rAcid:...+....*.... rConf:...........+.
rElec:.+........... Sound:........+....
rFire:.+........... Shard:.............
rCold:.+........... Nexus:.......+.....
rPois:......+...... Nethr:......+....+.
rFear:+.......+.... Chaos:......+.+..+.
rLite:.....+......+ Disen:.............
rDark:.....+....... S.Dig:.+..+........
rBlnd:.........+... Feath:.............

PLite:............. Aggrv:.............
Regen:............. Stea.:.......+.....
ESP:.........+... Sear.:.............
Invis:.....+......+ Infra:............+
FrAct:........+.++. Tunn.:.............
HLife:....++....... Speed:.++....+.....
ImpHP:............. Blows:.............
ImpSP:............. Shots:.+...........
Fear:............. Might:.+...........

[Character Equipment]

a) The Glaive of Pain (9d6) (+4,+26)
Provides resistance to fear.
Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.

Combat info:
5 blows/round.
This weapon benefits from one or more ring brands.
Average damage/hit: 164.3 vs. creatures not resistant to acid, and
90.6 vs. others.

b) The Short Bow of Amras (x2) (+11,+14) (+1 speed)
+1 intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, speed, shooting speed,
shooting power.
Provides resistance to lightning, fire, cold.
Slows your metabolism.

c) a Ring of Speed (+7)
d) a Ring of Acid [+17]

e) an Amulet of Sustenance
Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
Sustains strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution,
charisma.
Slows your metabolism. Stops experience drain.

f) The Arkenstone of Thrain
Provides resistance to light, dark.
Stops experience drain. Grants the ability to see invisible
things.

Radius 3 light.
g) The Hard Leather Armour of Himring [8,+13]
Provides resistance to poison, nether, chaos.

h) The Cloak 'Colannon' [1,+9] (+3)
+3 stealth, speed.
Provides resistance to nexus.

i) The Small Metal Shield of Thorin [4,+23] (+4)
+4 strength, constitution.
Provides immunity to acid.
Provides resistance to fear, sound, chaos.
Prevents paralysis.

j) The Hard Leather Cap of Thranduil [2,+7] (+2)
+2 intelligence, wisdom.
Provides resistance to blindness.
Grants telepathy.

k) The Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg' (+8,+8) [1,+15] (+2)
+2 strength, constitution.
Prevents paralysis.

l) The Pair of Leather Boots 'Dal-i-thalion' [2,+15] (+5)
+5 dexterity.
Provides resistance to confusion, nether, chaos.
Sustains constitution.
Prevents paralysis.

[Character Inventory]

a) 3 Books of Magic Spells [Magic for Beginners] {@m1=g}
b) 5 Books of Magic Spells [Conjurings and Tricks] {@m2=g}
c) 4 Books of Magic Spells [Incantations and Illusions] {@m3=g}
d) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Sorcery and Evocations] {@m4=g}
e) a Book of Magic Spells [Resistances of Scarabtarices] {@m5=g}
f) a Book of Magic Spells [Raal's Tome of Destruction] {@m6=g}
g) 3 Books of Magic Spells [Mordenkainen's Escapes] {@m7=g}
h) a Book of Magic Spells [Tenser's Transformations] {@m8=g}
i) a Book of Magic Spells [Kelek's Grimoire of Power]
j) 18 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
k) 2 Potions of Healing
l) a Potion of *Healing*
m) 3 Potions of Restore Mana
n) 3 Scrolls of Teleport Level
o) a Scroll of Banishment
p) a Staff of *Destruction* (4 charges)
q) a Staff of Mapping (3 charges)
r) a Staff of the Magi (3 charges)
s) The Long Sword 'Anduril' (3d5) (+10,+15) [+10] (+4)
+4 strength, dexterity.
Slays evil creatures, undead, orcs, trolls.
Branded with flames.
Provides resistance to fire, fear, disenchantment.
Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
Sustains strength, dexterity.
Blessed by the gods. Prevents paralysis. Grants the ability to
see invisible things.

Combat info:
5 blows/round.
This weapon benefits from one or more ring brands.
Average damage/hit: 64.8 vs. evil creatures, 74.8 vs. undead, 74.8
vs. orcs, 74.8 vs. trolls, 74.8 vs. creatures not resistant to
acid, 74.8 vs. creatures not resistant to fire, and 54.8 vs. others.

t) 67 Arrows of Frost (1d4) (+9,+8) {@f1=g}
u) 99 Arrows of Flame (1d4) (+12,+9) {@m0=g}
v) 8 Arrows of Venom (1d4) (+10,+9) {@f1=g}

[Home Inventory]

a) 12 Potions of Healing
b) 3 Potions of *Healing*
c) 9 Potions of Restore Mana
d) 24 Potions of Speed
e) 8 Scrolls of Teleport Level
f) a Scroll of *Remove Curse*
g) 3 Scrolls of *Destruction*
h) a Ring of Resist Poison
i) an Amulet of Trickery (+3)
+3 dexterity, stealth, infravision, speed.
+15% to searching.
Provides resistance to poison, nexus.
Sustains dexterity.

j) The Metal Brigandine Armour of the Rohirrim [20,+15] (+2)
+2 strength, dexterity.
Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, fear,
confusion, sound.

k) The Full Plate Armour of Isildur [26,+25] (+1)
+1 constitution.
Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, confusion,
sound, nexus.

l) The Mithril Chain Mail 'Belegennon' (-1) [28,+20] (+4)
+4 stealth.
Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, poison.

m) The Mithril Plate Mail of Celeborn (-3) [35,+25] (+4)
+4 strength, charisma.
Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, dark,
disenchantment.

n) The Large Metal Shield of Anarion [5,+20]
Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold.
Sustains strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution,
charisma.

o) The Jewel Encrusted Crown of Numenor [0,+18] (+3)
+3 intelligence, dexterity, charisma, speed.
+15% to searching.
Provides resistance to cold, light, dark, blindness, sound, shards.
Prevents paralysis. Grants the ability to see invisible things.

Radius 1 light.
p) The Iron Helm 'Holhenneth' [5,+10] (+2)
+2 intelligence, wisdom.
+10% to searching.
Provides resistance to blindness, confusion.
Grants the ability to see invisible things.

q) The Short Bow of Amrod (x2) (+12,+15) (+2)
+2 strength, constitution, shooting power.
Provides resistance to lightning, fire, cold.
Speeds regeneration.

r) 85 Bolts (1d5) (+5,+7)
s) 20 Bolts of Slay Evil (1d5) (+5,+3)
t) 30 Seeker Bolts (4d5) (+6,+7)
u) 23 Mithril Bolts of Wounding (3d5) (+10,+9)

**Pete Mack** · January 20, 2010, 09:03

You would waste less ammo with Amrod for the same damage (3x4 = 4x3), but I assume you are using the Glaive+RoAcid(!) for most of your damage anyway.

If you are having trouble with disenchantment, wear Anduril most of the time, and Glaive only when you have a worthy target.

Otherwise, my only advice is to go deeper, where speed rings are better and you have a better chance at Rings of Power. (Those give ESP)

You can already kill Sauron with ease: wear Celeborn & Glaive, change to "Trickery for more speed (and rPoison). Kill him in melee. It won't take long.

Take a big stack of !CCW, some ?Phase Door to escape for healing, and use Create Doors to keep his summons to a reasonable level. (And fight in a hallway, obviously.)

Also: if you do take your staffs, make sure they are either at 0 charges or are hidden away behind closed doors.

**Psi** · January 20, 2010, 10:44

Amrod is also plenty good enough for Morgoth if you can get yourself some slay evil arrows. I used it over Belthronding even, to conserve ammo with my last ranger.

**Netbrian** · January 20, 2010, 16:51

Why Amrod over Amras? Amrod has a higher multiplier, but Amras gets more shots, so it's a wash, isn't it?

**Psi** · January 20, 2010, 17:15

Well with 35% breakage on arrows, firing less shots for same damage output is much more preferable in terms of conserving precious ammo.

(and that is not to mention regen and +2 Con)

**PowerDiver** · January 20, 2010, 18:16

Originally posted by Psi

Well with 35% breakage on arrows, firing less shots for same damage output is much more preferable in terms of conserving precious ammo.

(and that is not to mention regen and +2 Con)

With truly precious ammo, I have used an x5 launcher with big plusses rather than an x4 launcher with an extra shot and smaller plusses. Damage per round is nice, but total damage is more important when fighting uniques with thousands of hitpoints.

**Netbrian** · January 21, 2010, 05:06

Originally posted by Pete Mack

Take a big stack of !CCW, some ?Phase Door to escape for healing, and use Create Doors to keep his summons to a reasonable level. (And fight in a hallway, obviously.)

How do you use Create Doors to prevent summoners from getting out of control? That's my biggest headache right now, and I'd love some good answers.

**Pete Mack** · January 21, 2010, 05:22

Code:

#######
#+[COLOR="Magenta"]p[/COLOR]
#'#######
#@#
#+#
# #

Edit: you can also use an ASC, but that's widely considered scummy.

Code:

########
# # #[COLOR="Magenta"]p[/COLOR]#
## #@# #
########

**Derakon** · January 21, 2010, 05:59

Ehh, antisummoning corridors are a bit of a crutch, that's all. It's scummy like shoot'n'scoot and hack'n'back are: it takes advantage of holes in the enemy AI and spell system. Given the speed with which summoning can get completely out of control, fighting summoners without using antisummoning tactics is basically gambling that on any given turn they won't decide to summon something that will force you to bail on the fight.

Do also note that Summon Doors isn't available to half the classes -- though I guess the priests and paladins do get Rune of Protection instead.

**d_m** · January 21, 2010, 18:02

FWIW I don't consider create doors solutions to summoning to be any more or less scummy than anti-summoning corridors: both of them are used to make a difficult enemy much easier to fight (and a smart enemy who summons would refuse to engage you in either situation).

Certainly warriors don't have any real alternatives to an ASC, besides hoping there is part of a level that lends itself to fighting summoners (like a bent corridor).

[Advice] Starlight, the L30 High Elven Ranger

[Advice] Starlight, the L30 High Elven Ranger

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