The Life and Death of Aialdar

[Nick]

If I were you, I'd be heading towards Menegroth at this point and making use of the Ent's forest advantages to kit myself up a little better.

Yes; alternatively, you could go directly north from Amon Rudh to Ephel Brandir town, and then Brethil forest beyond. This is a shorter distance, but on the other hand Menegroth town is bigger and you should get better prices.

While you're doing this, note that you can have up to 4 recall points active at once; so definitely keep your Amon Rudh one, but then make another in one or both of the forests.

[buzzkill]

Yes; alternatively, you could go directly north from Amon Rudh to Ephel Brandir town, and then Brethil forest beyond. This is a shorter distance, but on the other hand Menegroth town is bigger and you should get better prices.

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely take you up on it. I really need some better equipment, especially a weapon.

Is there a way to calculate my chance of failure with a particular wand? It might be nice to include upon (I)nspection after a number of uses (rods/wands/staffs).

OK, I searched the forum and found this link http://www.juti.nl/hugo/Angband/Spoiler/spoiler.htm. According to info contained here my chance of success should be very good (19 in 20) assuming Ents have a neutral (zero) modifier and Tele Away/Tele Other are the same wand, just renamed.
24 class + 16 level + 0 race + 0 int = 40 - 20 (wand lev.) = 20, success = 19/20. Experience tells me this isn't even in the ballpark, what's the problem?

[Nick]

OK, I searched the forum and found this link http://www.juti.nl/hugo/Angband/Spoiler/spoiler.htm. According to info contained here my chance of success should be very good (19 in 20) assuming Ents have a neutral (zero) modifier and Tele Away/Tele Other are the same wand, just renamed.
24 class + 16 level + 0 race + 0 int = 40 - 20 (wand lev.) = 20, success = 19/20. Experience tells me this isn't even in the ballpark, what's the problem?

Those are Vanilla spoilers, and O/FA devices are handled differently. You want this page.

[buzzkill]

Thanks again. Right now my chance of success seems to be 33%, however just 1CL less and it would drop to 16% which is probably why I was having so much trouble with it. And, not that I expect you to re-work all the charts and upset the balance, but it would seem entirely reasonable to me that a negative modifier (rather than zero) be applied for characters with very low INT (like mine, INT 5).

Is FA based on Oangband or Vanilla? Should I use the O spoilers for all my FA spoiling needs?

[Nick]

Is FA based on Oangband or Vanilla? Should I use the O spoilers for all my FA spoiling needs?

FA is based on O 0.7.0 (although I also included some of the O 1.1.0 changes later). Most of the O spoilers are pretty accurate for FA - combat, and most items and monsters retained from O, are mostly unchanged.

[buzzkill]

Deeper into Amon Rudh DL17 CL16 190HP Day 9, 1:20 AM. The stairs continue down. Detected the 4 basics, traps, objects, doors/stairs and evil. Started in the SW corner of the map and moved further SW. Entered a room and picked up another Rod of Door/Stair. Backtracked to the stairs, then NE and attacked a sleeping Wererat, which soon blinked away. The Wererat returned, took some more damage, and blinked again. Repeat again. Moved E then S, trying to stay near the bottom of the map. Killed a Novice Shapeshifter who dropped a cursed Ring of Resist Fire (-53%). Ran into a Druid who decided to change into a Giant Marksman Ant. He died. Killed a Skeleton Human and found a Ball and Chain. Ran into a pack of Clear Hounds and without means of see invisible, besides the staff, I started a retreat. After a while, I managed to kill and the hounds and picked up a Cloak from their den. Here’s another first for me. I moved N from the den, towards a recently detected Potion of Heroism. Came across a sleeping Guardian Naga in the room and decided to detect evil before taking him on, because I just heard a door bust open. I detected 101 creatures off-screen. An army of various types of Orcs was packed into a rectangular area (20x5) just off the screen to the north, no more than 100’ from me. I detected objects and came up empty, so I figured this probably wasn’t worth the fight (not that I could have handled it). I attacked the Naga but before long Uruks started filing into the chamber so I read WoR and beat a retreat since my pack was full anyhow.

Recalled to Belgost. Nothing worth buying in town, again. I sold all my swag and restocked for my wilderness expedition.

Back to Ered Luin DL10 CL16 190HP Day 10, 12:01 PM. Killed a few creatures and found a bunch of mushrooms. Is there such a thing as a mushroom themed level?

Back to Ered Luin DL9 CL16 190HP Day 10, 3:00 PM. Killed a Giant Salamander.

Back to Ered Luin DL8 CL16 190HP Day 10, 4:01 PM. Found various items including 2 Rings of Weakness.

Back to Ered Luin DL8 CL16 190HP Day 10, 6:01 PM. Found some stuff, nothing good.

Back in Ossiriand. Sold my useless items as well as my empty Staff of Perception. Bought a Potion of Restore Dexterity and 4 Identifys.

On to East Beleriand DL7 CL16 190HP Day 10 9:37PM. Found a Wand of Confuse Monster.

On to East Beleriand DL8 CL16 190HP Day 10 11:02PM. Ran into a pack of Novice Mages and fought them off while blinded and confused. Then came the Novice Rangers and they too died. Then came more mages, then the Kobolds. Drank some salt water near the exit. I had to eat all my mushrooms just to get back to ‘hungry’, and I have no food. I’m glad to leave this cursed place.

On to East Beleriand DL9 CL16 190HP Day 10 4:46AM. Found some mushrooms of poison but ate them anyhow because I needed the food. Tried to cast Neutralize Poison, doogh! Killed the Ickyness and his minions.

On to East Beleriand DL10 CL16 190HP Day 11 9:51AM. No good items. Gained CL17. Learned the spell Protection from Evil.

[buzzkill]

On to East Beleriand DL11 CL17 196HP Day 11, 1:24PM. I finally received a level feeling, and it was superb. Eventually I found a Hill Orc camp, complete with Lug, and slaughtered them all. Found a bunch of stuff, but without and ID’s I’m going to have to rest for days to pseudo ID all this crap. Now I’m getting hungry, I may not be able to hang around much longer. I had to drop nearly all my Staffs and Wands and even my first spell book so I could carry and the orcish loot. Ran into a Beastmaster who summoned spiders with his last breath. I was slow and they were fast so I blinked, then teleported... into a pack of wolves. They were also fast, so I teleported again, but not very far and the wolves were soon on me again. Luckily my WoR finally kicked in and I was yanked homeward.

Recalled to Belgost. Bought a Staff of Perception, and used all the charges to ID all my junk. Sold a bunch of ‘good’ weapons. Identified and kept the following. A Short Bow of Extra Might, Mail Gauntlets of Power (STR+5), 52 arrows (1d6)(+3,+2). The chest contained 5 amulets, 3 of Resist Acid (1 cursed) and 2 Slow Digestion, sold them all. Heading back to the wilderness because I can’t go back to the dungeon without see invisible or a decent weapon.

Recalled to East Beleriand DL11 CL17 196HP Day 11, 11:06PM. I almost made to the western exit when I Hippogriff found me. While fighting the HG, a Petty Dwarf Mage began pelting me with stinking clouds. By the time I had killed those two, a large snake appeared, and then a pack of Manes and Orcs/Hobgoblins. I used a Potion of Speed to deal death to the evil masses. I would have bailed on this level but I was feeling ‘strangely lucky’ and wanted to stick around. So I wandering around looking for stuff when I ran into more orcs. Shortly, Balcmag shows up. I could have sworn I already killed him. Anyhow, I begin to run and fight with some success, but without any means of speed or teleportation I had to WoR when a pack of wolves also joined the battle. Picked up a suit of ‘average’ Chain Mail here, replaces my soft studded (+1).

Recalled to Belgost. Still nothing to good to buy here. Picked up a Staff of Teleportation since there were not’t any scrolls,2 WoR, and a Potion of Speed from home. Let’s try this again…

Recalled to East Beleriand DL11 CL17 196HP Day 12, 4:48AM. I was making my way along the northern rim of the map when daylight broke and gave me a chance to look around on this ‘still uncertain’ plains level. I hadn’t done so in a while so I decided to test my hand to hand combat skill against a Pink Naga. Well, it died, but not in a very convincing manner. I think I’ll stick with the axe for now. Found my first stat potion, of charisma. Found a Beastmaster who summoned Marskman Ant who’s acid damaged my armour.

On to East Beleriand DL12 CL17 196HP Day 12, 11:33AM. Killed a Yeti, a Rattlesnake, a Swordsman, a bunch of Novice Rangers. Achieved CL18, Learned the spells Detect Doors/Stairs and Find Traps. Killer Orfax, Son of Boldor and his yeeky companions. Later, stumbled into a snake pit (another first for me) and cleared it out hoping for some goodies, but none were to be found, just some more 'shrooms.

On to East Beleriand DL13 CL18 199HP Day 13, 6:56PM. Destroyed a pack of Lemure, with some difficulty. Later, some Novice Paladins, like me, died. Not much to see here.

On to East Beleriand DL14 CL18 199HP Day 13, 1:55 AM. Only 100’ to reach the northern exit.

On to East Beleriand DL15 CL18 199HP Day 13, 2:02 AM. Boring.

On to Doriath DL16 CL18 199HP Day 13, 2:57 AM. I’ve finally reached the forest. Detected and avoided some Novice Rogues in this boring place (obviously agents of Morgoth).

NOVICE ROGUES ARE EVIL, BUT THE THIEF OF THE MOUNTAINS IS NOT???

more to come...

[buzzkill]

On to Doriath DL17 CL18 199HP Day 13, 3:44 AM. Found a Flail (2d6) on this lucky level.

On to Doriath DL18 CL18 199HP Day 14, 10:35 AM. No encounters or finds.

On to Doriath DL19 CL18 199HP Day 14, 11:24 AM. Ran into a pack of Ogres and killed some of them. I just didn’t feel like tracking them all down as they wandered about without any purpose. Picked up some gold along the way

In Menegroth. Identified and sold rings of Searching (+2) and Aggravation, a Cutlass (+4,+1), Wand of Door Destruction. I Bought Restore Strength and Constitution and more Speed, some Scrolls of Identify. Kept a Flail (2d6)(+5,+4) as my new primary, but I’m not dropping that axe just yet. This next trip in the forest is strictly about upgrading my equipment. Without any ??? of Object Location, I don’t know how successful it will be.

On to Doriath DL20 CL18 208HP Day 14, 9:10 PM. Killed and Druid, Imp, Guardian Naga (the only creature on this boring forest level who seemed to be able to locate and hit me), Novice Rogues, King Cobra, Frost Giant, and a Master Yeek. Found a lot of mundane items, the best and worst of which seem to be a ‘cursed’ cloak, and a ‘good’ Main Gauche.

On to Doriath DL22 CL18 208HP Day 14, 4:06 AM. I felt my luck turning and then discovered a old ruined vault. In room 1 there were 2 Gaveronian Huntsladies and a Daggerman, they yielded a Flail(2d6)(+5,+5), a Ring of Slow Digestion, Potion of Clumsiness, Hard Studded Leather (+3), and a Staff of Sleep Monsters. The next room was empty except for a Saber (+2,+2). I had such trouble picking the locked door to room 3 that I decided it was easier just to tunnel through the granite wall. Room 3 held a Quarterstaff (+6,+4), and a Lead Filled Mace of Slay Demon (+4,+2), my shiny new toy.

On to Doriath DL24 CL19 215HP Day 15, 10:23 AM. Not much too see here.

On to Dor Dinen DL26 CL19 215HP Day 15, 8:22 PM. Out of the forest and probably in a little over my head, let’s see. Ran into some Gas Hounds who took me down to 50% pretty quickly. WoR, and teleport.

Recalled to Menegroth. Bought Scrolls of Teleportation, Identify, WoR. Sold the following ‘good’ items: Main Gauche, Sabre, Quaterstaff and 2 Flails, Hard Studded Leather, Wand of Sleep Monster, Ring of Slow Digestion. Time to take another stab at Amon Rudh even though I still think I'm too weak.

[Nick]

On to Dor Dinen DL26 CL19 215HP Day 15, 8:22 PM. Out of the forest and probably in a little over my head, let’s see.

You might be better off back in Doriath 24 - maybe go between 22 and 24 looking for better gear.

[Seany C]

You might be better off back in Doriath 24 - maybe go between 22 and 24 looking for better gear.

Yup - if you're an Ent, you want to stay in the Forest areas as much as you can. I'd suggest either sticking to Doriath 20-24 (the low risk option) or going across Dor Dinen, heading for Dorthonion - forest from about DL 38 to 46 (higher risk but some very nice potential rewards.

Bring a stack of ?TL and ?Tele & !CCW if you do try the latter option, in case you come across some monsters that can 'see' you, despite your forest superstealth... and also in case you get ambushed in Dor Dinen (my last Ent Priest died trying to clear a 'p' camp on Dor Dinen 26)...

[buzzkill]

You might be better off back in Doriath 24 - maybe go between 22 and 24 looking for better gear.

You're right, My only piece of noteworthy equipment is my Gauntlets of Power. I've terrible aim with my Bow of Might, and even I know that my Mace of Slay Demon won't take me very far (though I'm very comfortable with it). I've no resistances, save for the rings/amulet of resist fire/cold/acid. In, short, I fully agree with you, but I'm tired of muddling around in the forest (it seems almost like cheating). I think my recall point is Amon Ruth 17, I should be able to survive there and maybe make it as far as DL20 before being chased off.

Incidentally, I run into this 'wall' quite often. I dive (if you can call it that) fairly quickly, only taking time to half-heartedly explore levels with 'good' feelings. It seems that around CL10 (when I was a newb) and again at CL20 (presently), I find myself ill equipped to go further into the dungeon. I can't find the equipment I need and don't have the gold to buy it (even if I could find it in the shops).

EDIT: character dump attached

[Psi]

Can't remember if I read it somewhere in here, but do you just take the first roll of the dice? If so, that is hampering you for a start as your stats are awful.

Do you play with autoscum on? Makes a big difference to collecting early gear.

Always make the most of your terrain. Standing in rubble or trees makes you a lot harder to hit.

[Seany C]

You're not doing so badly - the likes of Orfax are tough to finish off in FAA so if you can nail him at. Th secret is to play to your strengths - Paladins are grim at archery and your DEX is low so personally, I wouldn't bother with the bow unless you need it. I'd concentrate on getting favourable terrain like Psi said (also trying to minmise the numbers of critters that can attack you at once) and don't forget to use Bless, etc to boost your to-hit. That lead-filled mace isn't so bad - in FAA, damage dice count for a lot so 4d4 is fine for early dungeons. I'd take my remaining cash and try to get the mace enchanted towards (+9,+9) and rely on magic devices for ranged attacks, at least until attack spells become available...

[buzzkill]

Recall to Amon Rudh DL17 CL19 215HP. Day 15, 12:07AM. I land in a lit room, inhabited by a swordsman, black harpy, and rock lizard, nothing I can’t handle and, luckily, all asleep. Just 1 step/turn/move and I get a superb feeling, and suddenly wish I had brought more Potions of Speed with me (and the heroism as well). Several turns later my three greeters are dead along with a giant fruit fly (1 of 3 with the bow). They yielded nothing more than a few silver pieces. I arrived on the eastern edge of the map so I’m going to try to move to the south-eastern corner and methodically clear the dungeon. In the next room south I kill a Giant Yellow Scorpion (2 of 6/bow). I find a Skeleton Troll in a corridor and quickly destroy it (3 of 7). I made it to the south-east corner, now moving west. I was exploring a collapsed chamber when I was attacked by and fell a Hippogriff. Killed a green mold (6 of 10) and picked up hard studded leather and a long sword. Was shortly swarmed by and destroyed a pack of Warg (13 of 24). As I polished off the last of the Warg something unseen slowed me… then blinded me. I beat a retreat and regained my normal speed. Still blinded, it started moving faster. Suddenly I hit and killed something. Hearing many creatures nearby, I figured it was about time to see again. A CCW later and I saw I was surrounded by Giant Ants. There was a smug looking Druid nearby. I read Phase Door, not willing to risk a Blink (26% failure rate) and landed in a partially explored corridor. I backed away a little further, cast Chant, and readied my bow. Soon the druid was in sight, I fired and missed. He hit me with an acid bolt, damaging my boots. The second arrow found it’s mark and sent the Druid fleeing. I killed the first ant and was rewarded with CL20. By the time I had dealt with most of the ants, the druid had returned. As he closed for melee my second arrow penetrated his flesh, and he blinked away. As I scrambled to recover my arrows, he appeared again, this time face to face. One moment later he lay dead at me feet. As I looked down upon his broken and bleeding body I wondered of my legacy, of the Ent who wielded an ax and mowed down druids without remorse. It didn’t trouble me for long. I just hate those freakin druids. I took a moment to learn the prayer Cure Mortal Wounds, thus ends the second spell book. I located the stairway down but won’t be going there yet. I destroyed a spotted jelly and a skeleton troll. In a room to the south, I found a CCW and Ring of Protection (+7). Further south, in another room, was some food, gems, and a wand of scare monster. Off to the west, another room, with a cursed broadsword and a king cobra. As I cleaned up my arrows from this long rectangular room some half orcs (previously detected) started advancing toward me. I dropped the first few with arrows before casting Chant and reaching for my Flail. I used it to crush their skulls. Those that didn’t fall instantly were pierced by arrows as they fled. They didn’t give up much, just a WoR, some garnets, and more food. I’ve reached the south-western corner of the dungeon, killing a zombie human in the last room, where I picked up some cursed hard leather armour. As I moved north, I came across some Cave Orcs, this first of which had a Ring of Stupidity. They probably totaled ten in all, and the best of the loot was a Scroll of Enchant Weapon. Further to the north I killed Giant Green and White Dragonflys. This dungeon is probably 50% explored now and I still haven’t found the source of that superb feeling (but I do have a couple of un-ID’d item in my pack). I picked up a Staff of Cure Medium Wounds in an empty room, and then a door burst open. I prayed ‘chant’ and waited. Soon a half-orc came into view. My arrow struck him squarely and he ran like a girl. As I chased him down the corridor I encountered some of his friends. They didn’t stick around long either. I killed a Stegocentipede, a Green Jelly, and an Elven Thrall Warrior. Found a Scroll of Holy Chant and dropped all my food to make room in my pack. Killed a Hippogriff, a Drider, and a Giant White Dragonfly I found wandering around. I found a checker board patterned room. It had a CCW, wand of confuse monster, an ‘average’ spiked club and some gold. I killed a 2 Hill Giants in an area I had already cleared. I guess that the dungeon repopulates itself after a while. Another Hippogriff dies. Found Rods of Trap Location and Illumination. I think a finally found may be a vault. I detected a room with a bunch of traps within. Oh, this is classic. I finally find what may be a vault and it’s full, a checker board pattern, but none the less full of Clear Worm Masses. OK, moving throughout the room was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Not a vault, I guess. It contained a Staff of Perception, and an average Morning Star. Ran into more breeders, Giant Black Louses, and Nether Worm Masses, and throw in a pack of Blink Dogs too, and they have already begun breeding. Killed most of the dogs and gave up on the worm masses, there were too many. I finally found the vault, nearby. The worms will spread there soon enough so I don’t have much time. The worst of the creatures within seem to be a Werewolf and a Ghoul (at least of the evil which I can detect). Into the vault I go!!! A Skeleton Serpent, Quasit, Drider, dies. I sent a Blue Worm (dragon) fleeing, then quaffed the Potion of Speed. Killed a Pirest and a Werewolf, who was obviously picking up thing inside the vault , so he actually helped me out a little by carrying a bunch of stuff to me. I’m inside the vault, but still in an entrance type hallway. Destroyed my empty Cure Medium Wounds and picked up a fresh one. Killed a Pink Scorpion and some Wargs and destroyed some average and cursed swag. A Chimera came at me, my speed wore off, and the Dragon Worm returned. I teleported, recovered my HP and returned. Forgot about the Nether Worm Masses and had to wade through them again. Got back to the vault, killed the Chimera, and then was slowed by both the injured blue worm and also a fresh red worm. I blinked away, and recovered my speed. The worms returned and they soon died. Picked up a Cloak (+4) which I’m now wearing. I killed a Giant Clear Centipede and more Wargs, a Black Mamba and a Hippogriff. Destroyed an average Scimitar and Pick. I was just about to finish off some creeping Mithril Coins when a Dark Naga stared deep into my eyes and paralyzed me, AGHHH!! (that’s a first for me). When I regained movement, I teleported away. into Balcmeg, the Cave Orc and an accompanying horde of Snaga. Even in my weakened condition these guys went down easily. Squleched 2 average Rapiers, Leather gloves (+1), wand of scare monster, a mages spell book, and Leather Armour. Returned to the vault and killed the Dark Naga as well as some more Warg. Picked up a Wand of Lightning Bolts. Found and read a Scroll of Dungeon Mapping which revealed this labyrinth of a vault. I also found a Pair of Leather Gloves (+3) which I left behind, and Leather Sandals (+2) which I put on. Killed a Spotted Jelly but not before it destroyed a ‘good’ Mace and a WoR. I destroyed an average Scimitar and Long Bow. Found a good Long Sword, Morning Star, and a Long Sword of Slay Evil (no good to me, but probably the source of my feeling). Tunneled into the other half of the vault, and was immediately confronted by a Ghoul and a pack of Energy Hounds all lined up and breathing at me. I read Phase Door and killed the Ghoul when it came looking for me. I was mowing down Energy Hounds and Hill Orcs, when an Cave Ogre slipped in. I thought it was a Snaga and cought myself just hitting the attack button at 63HP. I didn’t die, not yet. I cleaned out the rest of the vault without much incident. Destroyed a bunch of average junk and recalled back to Menegroth.

[buzzkill]

Can't remember if I read it somewhere in here, but do you just take the first roll of the dice? If so, that is hampering you for a start as your stats are awful.

Yeah, I just take the first roll. I like the game hard. I get a certain satisfaction of taking a pathetic character as far as I can.
I am aware of the terrain modifiers. I not sure what they are exactly but I know that it's good to be in the trees/rubble and have your enemy out in the open.