Any Advice for My Best Character in a while?

[Wraitheist]

I just wish the bow was a long bow!

  [Angband 3.4.1 Character Dump]

 Name   Wraitheist                               Self  RB  CB  EB   Best
 Sex    Male         Age            107   STR:  18/82  +1  +0  +4 18/132
 Race   High-Elf     Height          98   INT:     16  +3  +2  +3  18/60
 Class  Ranger       Weight         190   WIS:  18/66  -1  -2  +2  18/56
 Title  Guide        Social   Respected   DEX:  18/76  +3  +1  +0 18/116
 HP     274/274      Maximize         Y   CON:     16  +1  -1  +5  18/30
 SP     58/58                             CHR:     18  +5  +1  +2  18/80

 Level               29   Armor    [64,+72]     Saving Throw         81%
 Cur Exp         145393   Fight   (+21,+17)     Stealth           Superb
 Max Exp         161693   Melee   (+33,+36)     Fighting          Superb
 Adv Exp         172500   Shoot   (+45,+10)     Shooting       Legendary
 MaxDepth   3650' (L73)   Blows    5.0/turn     Disarming            66%
 Game Turns      738460   Shots      3/turn     Magic Device          85
 Standard Turns   75242   Infra       40 ft     Perception        1 in 1
 Resting Turns    39539   Speed      Normal     Searching            62%
 Gold             66357   Burden  142.3 lbs

 You are one of several children of a Telerin Warrior.  You have light
 grey eyes, straight blond hair, and a fair complexion.



rAcid:......+.+.... Nexus:......+.+..+.
rElec:......+.+.... Nethr:.............
rFire:......+.+.... Chaos:.............
rCold:+.....+.+.... Disen:.............
rPois:..+.......... Feath:.......+...+.
rLite:+...........+ pFear:.............
rDark:............. pBlnd:.........+...
Sound:............. pConf:.........+...
Shard:......+...... pStun:.............

Light:+....+....... Tunn.:.............
Regen:............. Speed:.............
  ESP:....+........ Blows:.............
Invis:.........+..+ Shots:.+...........
FrAct:..........+.. Might:.............
HLife:............. S.Dig:.............
Stea.:.......++.... ImpHP:.............
Sear.:....+....+...  Fear:.............
Infra:............+ Aggrv:.............


  [Character Equipment]

a) the Rapier 'Forasgil' (1d6) (+12,+19) <+1>
     Found lying on the floor of a cavern at 2300 feet (level 46).
     
     Slays animals.
     Branded with frost.
     Provides resistance to cold, light.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
     Combat info:
     5.0 blows/round.
     Average damage/round: 222 vs. animals, 240 vs. creatures not
     resistant to cold, and 203.5 vs. others.
     
     Radius 1 light.
b) a Short Bow of Extra Shots (x2) (+24,+10) <+1>
     Found lying on the floor at 2050 feet (level 41).
     
     +1 shooting speed.
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
c) a Ring of Resist Poison
     Found lying on the floor at 2200 feet (level 44).
     
     Provides resistance to poison.
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     
d) a Ring of Constitution <+3>
     Found lying on the floor of a labyrinth at 1800 feet (level 36).
     
     +3 constitution.
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     Sustains constitution.
     
e) an Amulet of ESP <+5>
     Found lying on the floor at 3200 feet (level 64).
     
     +25% to searching.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Grants telepathy.  
     
f) the Phial of Galadriel <+2>
     Dropped by Bullroarer the Hobbit at 1150 feet (level 23).
     
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
     When activated, it lights up the surrounding area, hurting
     light-sensitive creatures.
     Takes 11 to 20 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 96.5%
     
     Radius 2 light.
g) the Chain Mail of Arvedui (-2) [40,+15] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor at 2400 feet (level 48).
     
     +2 strength, charisma.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, shards, nexus.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
h) a Fur Cloak of the Magi [3,+6] <+1, +3>
     Found lying on the floor at 2200 feet (level 44).
     
     +1 intelligence.
     +3 stealth.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     Can be destroyed by fire.
     Sustains intelligence.
     Feather Falling.  
     
i) a Large Metal Shield of Elvenkind [12,+15] <+2>
     Dropped by an Ancient red dragon at 3600 feet (level 72).
     
     +2 stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, nexus.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
j) the Iron Helm 'Holhenneth' [7,+10] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor of a cavern at 2250 feet (level 45).
     
     +2 intelligence, wisdom.
     +10% to searching.
     Provides protection from blindness, confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     
     When activated, it detects treasure, traps, doors, stairs, and all
     creatures nearby.
     Takes 56 to 110 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 95.2%
     
k) the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg' (+8,+8) [1,+15] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor at 2350 feet (level 47).
     
     +2 strength, constitution.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     
l) a Pair of Leather Sandals of Stability [1,+4]
     Found lying on the floor at 750 feet (level 15).
     
     Provides resistance to nexus.
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     Feather Falling.  
     


  [Character Quiver]

n) 14 Mithril Arrows of Venom (3d4) (+4,+10)
     Found lying on the floor of a special room at 2650 feet (level
     53).
     
     Branded with venom.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 424.8 vs. creatures not resistant to poison,
     and 169.8 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
o) 22 Mithril Arrows (3d4) (+9,+2)
     Dropped by Lokkak, the Ogre Chieftain at 3050 feet (level 61).
     
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 120.3.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
p) 19 Seeker Arrows (4d4) (+5,+4)
     Found lying on the floor of a cavern at 3150 feet (level 63).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 148.2.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
q) a Mithril Arrow (3d4) (+5,+5)
     Found lying on the floor of a cavern at 2400 feet (level 48).
     
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 138.9.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
r) (nothing)
s) (nothing)
t) (nothing)
u) (nothing)
v) (nothing)
w) (nothing)


  [Character Inventory]

a) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Magic for Beginners]
     Can be destroyed by fire.
     
b) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Conjurings and Tricks]
     Can be destroyed by fire.
     
c) a Book of Magic Spells [Incantations and Illusions]
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by fire.
     
d) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Resistances of Scarabtarices]
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
e) 11 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
     Can be destroyed by cold.
     
f) 8 Scrolls of Phase Door
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
g) 3 Scrolls of Teleportation
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
h) a Scroll of Teleport Level
     Found lying on the floor at 2450 feet (level 49).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
i) 2 Scrolls of Word of Recall
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
j) 3 Rods of Treasure Location
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     
k) 2 Wands of Teleport Other (8 charges)
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     
l) 2 Staves of *Destruction* (5 charges)
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
m) a Staff of Mapping (9 charges)
     Found lying on the floor at 3600 feet (level 72).
     
     
     
n) 2 Staves of Teleportation (13 charges)
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
o) 2 Staves of Speed (9 charges)
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
p) a Staff of Identify (0 charges)
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     


  [Home Inventory]

a) a Book of Magic Spells [Sorcery and Evocations]
     Found lying on the floor at 2200 feet (level 44).
     
     
     
b) a Book of Magic Spells [Tenser's Transformations]
     Dropped by a Black ogre at 2350 feet (level 47).
     
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
c) 4 Potions of Healing
     Can be destroyed by cold.
     
d) a Potion of *Healing*
     Found lying on the floor at 2650 feet (level 53).
     
     Can be destroyed by cold.
     
     It can be thrown at creatures with damaging effect.
     
e) 4 Potions of Restore Mana
     Can be destroyed by cold.
     
f) 5 Scrolls of Teleportation
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
g) 3 Scrolls of Banishment
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
h) a Scroll of Mass Banishment
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
i) 3 Scrolls of Deep Descent
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
j) 2 Scrolls of *Destruction*
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
k) 2 Rods of Teleport Other
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     
l) a Staff of Banishment (2 charges)
     Found lying on the floor at 3600 feet (level 72).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
m) 2 Staves of Teleportation (13 charges)
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
n) a Staff of Identify (8 charges)
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
o) a Ring of Damage (+0,+12)
     Found lying on the floor at 2350 feet (level 47).
     
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     
p) Black Dragon Scale Mail of Stealth (-2) [16,+17] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor at 2150 feet (level 43).
     
     +2 stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
q) an Iron Crown of the Magi [0,+9] <+3>
     Found lying on the floor at 2350 feet (level 47).
     
     +3 intelligence.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold.
     Provides protection from fear.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains intelligence.
     
r) the Spear 'Nimloth' (1d6) (+11,+13) <+3>
     Found lying on the floor at 2500 feet (level 50).
     
     +3 stealth, speed.
     Slays undead.
     Branded with frost.
     Provides resistance to cold.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Blessed by the gods.  Grants the ability to see invisible things. 
     
     
     Combat info:
     5.0 blows/round.
     Average damage/round: 208.5 vs. undead, 208.5 vs. creatures not
     resistant to cold, and 172 vs. others.
     
s) 13 Arrows of Slay Evil (1d4) (+11,+8)
     Found lying on the floor at 2400 feet (level 48).
     
     Slays evil creatures.
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 253.2 vs. evil creatures, and 126.6 vs.
     others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
t) 16 Mithril Arrows of Venom (3d4) (+4,+10)
     Found lying on the floor of a special room at 2650 feet (level
     53).
     
     Branded with venom.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 424.8 vs. creatures not resistant to poison,
     and 169.8 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
u) 20 Mithril Arrows (3d4) (+5,+5)
     Found lying on the floor of a cavern at 2400 feet (level 48).
     
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 138.9.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     


============================================================
                   CHAR.
|   TURN  | DEPTH |LEVEL| EVENT
============================================================
         1      0'    1   Began the quest to destroy Morgoth.
      4200    100'    2   Reached level 2
      9336    100'    3   Reached level 3
     17894    100'    3   Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's dog
     17894    100'    4   Reached level 4
     17994    100'    4   Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's dog
     34857    250'    5   Reached level 5
     41492    350'    6   Reached level 6
     52117    400'    7   Reached level 7
    106018    700'    8   Reached level 8
    144012    850'    9   Reached level 9
    161288    950'   10   Reached level 10
    181484   1000'   11   Reached level 11
    221273   1150'   11   Found the Long Sword 'Elvagil' (LOST)
    225338   1150'   11   Killed Bullroarer the Hobbit
    225338   1150'   12   Reached level 12
    225358   1150'   12   Found the Phial of Galadriel
    232956   1250'   13   Reached level 13
    256328   1550'   14   Reached level 14
    275680   1650'   15   Reached level 15
    275730   1650'   16   Reached level 16
    293172   1750'   17   Reached level 17
    295606   1700'   18   Reached level 18
    298134      0'   18   Killed Farmer Maggot
    330607   1950'   19   Reached level 19
    344370   1950'   20   Reached level 20
    367776   2100'   20   Killed Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman
    367841   2100'   21   Reached level 21
    385314   2000'   22   Reached level 22
    387134   2000'   23   Reached level 23
    393713   2100'   23   Killed Shagrat, the Orc Captain
    397962   2150'   23   Killed Angamaitë of Umbar
    403860   2200'   23   Killed Sméagol
    405156   2150'   24   Reached level 24
    415656   2200'   25   Reached level 25
    415856   2200'   25   Killed Gorbag, the Orc Captain
    420570   2200'   25   Killed Uldor the Accursed
    420761   2250'   25   Found the Iron Helm 'Holhenneth'
    443637   2150'   25   Killed Mughash the Kobold Lord
    446127   2200'   25   Killed Azog, King of the Uruk-Hai
    447421   2250'   25   Killed Ufthak of Cirith Ungol
    452591   2300'   26   Reached level 26
    472313   2300'   27   Reached level 27
    476412   2350'   27   Killed Brodda, the Easterling
    481884   2350'   27   Found the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg'
    483408   2300'   27   Found the Rapier 'Forasgil'
    521530   2400'   27   Found the Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnen' (LOST)
    542013   2400'   27   Killed Lagduf, the Snaga
    552140   2400'   28   Reached level 28
    557475   2400'   28   Found the Chain Mail of Arvedui
    588708   2350'   28   Found the Lochaber Axe 'Mundwine' (LOST)
    593537   2350'   29   Reached level 29
    600493   2500'   29   Found the Beaked Axe of Théoden (LOST)
    603765   2500'   29   Found the Spear 'Nimloth'
    616284      0'   29   Reached level 29
    669581   2800'   29   Killed Boldor, King of the Yeeks
    669703   2800'   29   Found the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim' (LOST)
    702979   3050'   29   Killed Lokkak, the Ogre Chieftain
    724342   3450'   29   Killed Lugdush, the Uruk


  [Options]

Maximise effect of race/class bonuses        : yes (birth_maximize)
Randomise the artifacts (except a very few)  : no  (birth_randarts)
Restrict the use of stairs/recall            : no  (birth_ironman)
Halve view and spell distances               : no  (birth_small_range)
Restrict creation of artifacts               : no  (birth_no_artifacts)
Don't stack objects on the floor             : no  (birth_no_stacking)
Lose artifacts when leaving level            : no  (birth_no_preserve)
Don't generate connected stairs              : no  (birth_no_stairs)
Don't show level feelings                    : no  (birth_no_feelings)
Items always sell for 0 gold                 : yes (birth_no_selling)
Use previous set of randarts                 : yes (birth_keep_randarts)
Monsters chase recent locations              : yes (birth_ai_smell)
Monsters act smarter in groups               : yes (birth_ai_packs)
Monsters learn from their mistakes           : no  (birth_ai_learn)
Monsters exploit player's weaknesses         : no  (birth_ai_cheat)
Monsters behave more intelligently (broken)  : no  (birth_ai_smart)

[debo]

Is "don't get too attached to it" helpful?

[Raajaton]

I'd say you're looking to be in pretty fine shape. What you need the most right now is some more con, so with any luck hopefully you'll be finding some con potions soon. Hopefully you can find yourself some nice ego arrows to make taking out uniques easier. Even though that's not the best bow, with some good ammo you can be dealing significant damage.

Make sure you are using your detection spells a lot, because you're starting to get into territory where you can get some dangerous OoD monsters like dracolisks or something that can breathe for more hp than you have. As long as you pay attention to whats around you and maneuver accordingly you should be in fairly good shape.

Also just noticed the lack of teleport other. Hopefully you'll come across that soon. Before that, most vaults you come across should probably be avoided.

[Wraitheist]

Lol Debo...always advice worth repeating!

Thanks Raaj...pretty much the same thoughts I had. I haven't had much like finding CON potions yet and my bow is on the weak side. The only TO Rod I found was in the BM and I didn't have the funds for it. Soon, I hope!

[Wraitheist]

I updated the dump in this post. I finally have ESP from a non-weapon source, which is convenient. I'm still missing Nether res, which worries me, and I have no speed. My bow is underwhelming, too.

What kind of monsters should I be hunting right now? I can safely kill ancient dragons, but anything else I should be looking out for?

Also, I'm struggling to decide what to carry with me. I'd love to bring along some banishment! but I can't decide what to leave behind.

[Timo Pietilä]

I'm still missing Nether res, which worries me, and I have no speed.

first is not a problem, second is.

[Raajaton]

Suffice to say that the list of things you should be fighting at that depth is probably much shorter than the list of things you should run from. With 250 health and no speed the likelihood of getting 1 shotted is pretty high right now. Stay away from high level demons like Lesser/Greater Balrogs, Osyluths, Gelugons, Pit Fiends, Horned Reapers, etc. They all have the potential to drop you instantly. I'd stay away from any of the Greater Wyrms. I can't remember if it's Dracolich or Dracolisk that breathe nether/nexus (maybe both?) but they can easily 1 shot you. IIRC I think Blue Wizards and maybe Istars or Greater Maia have a nether bolt that could probably kill you. Probably the majority of the in depth uniques that have any ranged abilities (which is the vast majority of them).

Like Timo said, the nether resist is really no issue. I've had a couple of winning characters that never managed to fit nether resist in their build. However, with no speed there are plenty of enemies that could get 2-3 turns to your 1 turn, and you'd be nothing more than a thin red paste.

Judging from your character progress I'd guess that you probably popped some deep descent scrolls or power dived a lot since your last post. That was a ballsy move given your current situation, but I know there are probably a lot of other players that wouldn't have been shy doing the same thing. Probably my recommendation at the moment would be just to keep diving down to lvl 98. There's really not much of a difficulty jump from where you are down to the bottom of the dungeon, but there is potential loot improvement. The fact that you're still alive means you've been playing carefully. If you can continue that play down on the bottom of the dungeon, you have the potential to patch up your gear holes quickly. Just be wary, since again there are many breathers that can breathe for more than double your max hp, even when resisted.

edit: Also, almost forgot, if you see a Black Reaver, it's time to gtfo. If one shows up on a level that you don't want to leave, you may want to use a source of banishment/destruction on it. They can burrow through walls, so teleporting them away usually just results in them finding you again shortly, and burrowing a pathway somewhere else, allowing more monsters to follow them to you. They also cast mana storm, the most powerful spell in the game. IIRC they are the only non-unique that casts it, and it would certainly 1 shot you.

[MattB]

And Undead Beholders and Nightwings have both got three different ways of doing about 200 damage unresistable. Top end liches will hurt too. And watch out for darkness attacks...

Personally, being at that depth at clvl29 would have me hiding under the bed!

[Wraitheist]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I actually had no idea that some of those monsters were so dangerous. I found speed and a couple of other nice items as well as enough stat pots to almost max most of my stats. Got down to around '4100 and was one-shotted by a unique G. Forget the name, but cast something called Darkness Storm...boom! 320 HP gone.

Oh well, good learning experience. I wasn't nearly scared enough of half of the monsters that I was seeing.

[Derakon]

That would have been Tselakus. He's basically a Dreadlord with a few more spells and more hitpoints. Still not anything you want to tangle with until the endgame.

[Timo Pietilä]

That would have been Tselakus. He's basically a Dreadlord with a few more spells and more hitpoints. Still not anything you want to tangle with until the endgame.

Tselakus can summon things. That's the main difference between it and ordinary dreadlord.

[Wraitheist]

Good to know...are regular Dreadlords something to be avoided, as well? Can they all cast Darkness Storm? Darkness is about the only resistance I was lacking, of course

[Raajaton]

Dreadlords aren't near as scary as some other creatures. They don't have darkness storm, their highest damaging spell is nether balls, which hits for around 160 unresisted.

They can cast spells with just about every status effect you can think of besides hallucination or stunning, so if you have resistance holes and/or low saving throw that would put them on the avoid list. They also hit to drain strength like the rest of the dreads, so without strength sustain they should be taken down at range.

BTW I think Dreadlords can summon undead as well. Only difference is I know I've seen Tselekus summon other undead uniques, whereas I think normal Dreadlords only summon normal undead mobs.

[Wraitheist]

Good to know. Thanks!

[Timo Pietilä]

BTW I think Dreadlords can summon undead as well. Only difference is I know I've seen Tselekus summon other undead uniques, whereas I think normal Dreadlords only summon normal undead mobs.

Looks like both dreadlord and dreadmaster can summon undeads. Tselakus summons are just couple of order of magnitude worse.