Would YOU open this vault?

[Dragonboneman]

Chardump here: http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=7106

I just encountered a humungous vault at 2000'. I took an HTML screenshot, but it doesn't seem to want to upload.
Anyway, the vault resembles a Union Jack, and here's a few of the things I've found in it:

Great Hell Wyrm
Ibun, Son of Mim
Great Crystal Drake (I don't resist shards)
Feagwath, the Undead Sorcerer (37 levels out of depth)
2 Ancient Green Dragons
Ancient Multi Hued Dragon
Ancient Gold Dragon
Death Knight
2 Ancient Blue Dragons
The Queen Ant
Ancient Red
Ancient Bronze
Hand Druj
Vampire Lord
Several Inertia Hounds

And some of the goodies: Shield of Deflection
Mordenkainen's Escapes
2x Dagger 2d4
plus assorted weapons and armour, although nothing else with unusual dice.
Given my current level and the fact I have less than 200 HP, I think it's best to leave it alone, to put it mildly.

[Djabanete]

I suggest you take on Feagwath and hope he doesn't cast any spells.

[Dragonboneman]

I'll take that under advisement.

[Psi]

Assuming it is the vault I'm thinking it is, most of the bad guys can't actually get out unless they are freed, so it is only the ones that can blink that you have to be particularly wary of ie the Death Knight and Vampire Lord.

Grab what loot you can whilst always being ready to TA anything too nasty for you - may be worth quaffing the speed if you are near the blinkers too. Actually, saying that, can monsters out of LoS blink towards you in V anyway? If not, then go and help yourself...

[Dragonboneman]

In previous games I've cracked a few greater vaults using similar tactics, but in this case I felt I'd have to TO so many nasties that I'd be bound to get killed if *I* needed to teleport, so I chickened out and read a WoR. The entrance to this vault goes into one of two large open areas, so the monster rush would be overwhelming, especially with so many big breathers I don't resist.
I'm already pushing my luck just being this deep with such a weak character, so I'm playing in "abject coward" mode at the moment.

[Psi]

Oh it's not the one I thought then. On that one, the entrances lead to long diagonals.

[Dragonboneman]

I think my sleepy head was a bit fuzzy when I wrote that last post. I had a look in Vaults.txt and it's listed as "Divisi". So it is full of long diagonals, but they're too wide for Teleport Other to be as effective as I would like.

[Paffa]

Wise decision, with <200 hp. Quite many nasties that could've gotten you killed in one turn.

[Dragonboneman]

I'm thinking about going deeper, but I'm worried about those HP. Thoughts?

[Mondkalb]

These vaults are only made to spark - well, not just interest - I would say greed.
You are lucky that you had the mental strength to withstand.

About diving further: You have good speed and stealth. With careful detection you could go deeper.
But, you need rBlind and rConfu!
I would spend some time around there until you have a little more con and rBlind and rConfu.

[Dragonboneman]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I was thinking.
It's just that I'm getting a little bored waiting for those two resists to show up. I'll take it easy at 2000' for now and see where things are once I've gained another level.

[Dragonboneman]

Found Holhenneth now, but HP are still horrible. I've slowed right down for now, only dropping 50' per character level gained, and recalling to sell stuff whenever I get slowed below +5 unhasted.

[Dragonboneman]

A difficult choice

See updated dump, link in first post.

I'm not very experienced with mages and I'm uncertain how deep I should be at the moment. Stealth and speed are pretty good for this depth, firepower is decent with 0% fail on Rift, and HP are tragic.

It seems I have three options.

A) Sit tight and pray for Calris which is in depth and would boost HP but also aggravates.
B) Dive 'as is' and invite instakills from Nether breathers.
C) Give up 5 speed to wear Dal-i-thalion, then try to dive at +3/+13.

I'm leaning towards Option C.

[Seany C]

Hmm, I think I'd go for c) here and then once you've got a few more STR pots, swap the STR ring for a CON ring to get those HPs up...

Then again, with cautious detecting and judicious use of TeleAway, you might be OK to about 2450' without RNether (too many nether breathers/bolters after that)...

[Dragonboneman]

Thanks for the advice, Seany.
It feels uncomfortable playing a character with such a glass jaw, and I'm getting a little paranoid.