The Life and Death of Aialdar

[Psi]

Weaponry: The starting Mace isn't great but I've usually got enough cash to pick up a War Hammer by the time I get to Ossiriand or Belegost - 4d3 isn't bad for an early character. Once I get to Menegroth (CL15-20), I'd look for a Lead-filled Mace and enchant that up a bit, until a decent blunt ego weapon turns up...

Yes, but both of those are xd3 or xd4 which are not great for criticals. I'm now using Til-i-arc at 1d15 and suffering the PPP (not really knowing how bad it is).

Disarming & Magic-Device: These are both a bit grim, initially - I tended to avoid concentrate on detecting traps and didn't go to great lengths to collect chests, given the problems with opening them...

The rods of disarming are proving perfect for chests. They may take an age to actually activate, but when they do they are 95% guaranteed to disarm the trap.

I suspect levelling a non-Ent Paladin would be tricky early on, due to a lack of stealth that isn't fully offset by other strengths early on. Once the character's levelled up a fair bit (HPs > 250, etc), I just played her as a HM-type character but with spells on the side...

Well now I've found two big skill rings it is a lot easier. I'm just diving my way through AR to sit on Mim.

[Seany C]

I've never really bothered much about criticals - I tend to simply look for the weapon with the best average damage from a regular hit. Although an early Ent Priest attempt did get a Morning Star (2d11) from the shop...

Rods of Disarming are nice but I've not had much joy finding them yet. Still trying Ent Priests, at least until I get one past Glaurung (it's just a matter of not losing concentration when collecting goodies in Dorthonion)...

[Psi]

I've never really bothered much about criticals - I tend to simply look for the weapon with the best average damage from a regular hit.

I believe the average damage shown when 'I'nspecting takes criticals into account.

[Nick]

I believe the average damage shown when 'I'nspecting takes criticals into account.

Yes, I believe that too.