Advice on Character Progression please :)

[captnamazing]

Hey guys!

I currently have a Fingolfin Elf who looks pretty promising.

The current question I am mostly asking is how I should spend my current xp pool and the archetypal direction you would recommend I take.

I have gotten a lot of heavy armor, so I went hard into that... I traded some +0, 1d2 greaves for the boots of Irime for the dex sustain and immunity to acid damage.

I've been using light weapons with finesse and switching between the gondolin/doriath to dispatch my foes... but since I finally ID'd this great axe and found it to be Hador's House it gives me a new style.

Please help this little elf go on strong!

  [Sil 1.3.0 Character Dump]

 Name   Hanatheb      Age      979       Str   3
 Sex    Male          Height   6'6       Dex   3
 Race   Noldor        Weight   170       Con   5
 House  Fingolfin                        Gra   3

 Game Turn    9,994   Melee   (+6,4d8)   Melee        6 = 10  +3  -7
 Exp Pool     3,146   Bows    (+3,1d8)   Archery      3 =  2  +3  -3  +1
 Total Exp   21,046   Armor  [+9,9-25]   Evasion      9 = 10  +3  -4
 Burden       153.9                      Stealth     -1 =  0  +3  -4
 Max Burden   172.8   Health     49:49   Perception   7 =  4  +3
 Depth         500'   Voice      34:34   Will        10 =  6  +3      +1
 Min Depth     450'                      Smithing     5 =  0  +3  +2
 Light Radius     3                      Song         3 =  0  +3

 You are one of several children of a warrior from the house of
 Fingolfin. You have light green eyes, straight black hair, and a fair
 complexion.





  [Equipment]

a) a Great Axe of Hador's House (-4,4d5) 10.0 lb
   It grants you the ability: Follow-Through.  It requires both
   hands to wield it properly.  
b) a Shortbow (+0,1d7) 1.5 lb
   It can shoot arrows 12 squares (with your current strength).
c) an Adamant Ring of Protection [+0,1d2]
d) an Adamant Ring of Protection [+0,1d2]
e) a Ruby Amulet of Constitution <+0>
   It increases your constitution by 0.  It sustains your 
   constitution.  
f) a Brass Lantern (5602 turns) {special}
g) a Hauberk of Protection (-2) [-4,2d6]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
h) a Cloak [+1]
i) (nothing)
j) a Great Helm of Brilliance [-2,1d3]
   It lights the dungeon around you.  
k) a Set of Gauntlets of the Forge (-1) [+0,1d1] <+2>
   It improves your smithing by 2.  
l) The Pair of Boots of Irime [+1,1d1]
   It sustains your dexterity.  It lights your path behind you.  
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
m) 97 Arrows
   They can be shot 12 squares (with your current strength and bow).
n) 22 Arrows (Poisoned)
   They are branded with venom.  They can be shot 12 squares
   (with your current strength and bow).


  [Inventory]

a) 2 Pale Herbs of Rage
b) a Wrinkled Herb of Sustenance
c) a Piece of Dark Bread
d) 4 Fragments of Lembas
e) 5 Dark Potions of Clarity
f) a Sparkling Potion of Healing
g) 6 Grey Potions of Slow Poison
h) 4 Shimmering Potions of Quickness
i) a Bright Orange Potion of Strength
j) a Green Potion of Dexterity
k) 8 Murky Brown Potions
l) a Yew Staff of Light (used 1 time)
m) a Yew Staff of Light
n) a Walnut Staff of Foes (used 1 time)
o) an Ebony Staff of Self Knowledge (used 4 times)
p) an Elm Staff of Recharging
q) a Rosewood Staff (used 1 time) {tried}
r) 3 Wooden Torches (2000 turns)
s) a Longsword of Gondolin (+0,2d5) [+1] 3.0 lb
   It slays orcs and trolls.  
t) a Longsword (+1,2d6) [+1] 3.5 lb
u) a Bastard Sword of Doriath (-2,3d3) [+1] 3.5 lb
   It slays wolves and spiders.  It does extra damage when
   wielded with both hands.  
v) 11 Throwing Axes (+0,2d4) 16.5 lb
   It can be thrown effectively (9 squares).  
w) a Shovel (-3,2d3) <+1> 4.0 lb
   It improves your tunneling by 1.  It requires both hands to
   wield it properly.  


  [Notes]

Hanatheb of the Noldor
Entered Angband on 17 Apr 2017

   Turn     Depth   Note

      5     50 ft   (Dodging)
  2,430    200 ft   Encountered Gorgol, the Butcher
  2,460    200 ft   Slew Gorgol, the Butcher
  3,353    250 ft   (Careful Shot)
  3,789    250 ft   (Finesse)
  5,016    350 ft   (Hardiness)
  6,999    400 ft   (Crowd Fighting)
  6,999    400 ft   (Heavy Armour Use)
  7,405    400 ft   Encountered Othrod, the Orc Lord
  7,633    400 ft   Slew Othrod, the Orc Lord
  7,638    400 ft   Found The Pair of Boots of Irime

Abilities:
Finesse
Follow Through (Hador's Axe)
Careful Shot
Dodging
Crowd Fighting
Heavy Armor Use
Hardiness 


  ['Score' 010090006]

PS - sorry, this is the first dump i've ever made. Not sure how to make it look good in the code box.

[Nick]

PS - sorry, this is the first dump i've ever made. Not sure how to make it look good in the code box.

Just hit the # button and then type between the CODE tags - or else highlight the bit you want in the box after you've typed it and hit #.

[captnamazing]

Thanks for the edit, Nick!

UPDATE:

I ditched the Great Axe. The -4 penalty was too much for my evasion heavy elf.

I soon found the Shortsword Dagmor. It has been sort of neat, I guess.

I used primarily my beefy Longsword and the Bastard Sword of Doriath to cut my way on down.

I was scared when I found this Ringrauko at floor 500'

But it looks like someone had gotten there first and imprisoned him!

It was a struggle to finish him off, anyway :/

Heading down I ran into the least of the Balrogs at a stairhead. He gave me a run for it, forcing me to take Rauko-Bane and popping a potion of quickness to seal the deal.

Another funny Warding event... the Doorkeeper cat had been kiting me all around. He couldn't do much damage to me, nor could I take him below 50%.

I play faster than I should, but I'm working on slowing down... slow down and think is what I did.



Then I cut him down.

Did I mention I found the shield of Glorfindel and Anguirel?

I'm a little scared about food

[Pete Mack]

-7 melee is painfully expensive. If you really want to go that way you will have to take concentration, and plan on drawn out fights against individual monsters.

Careful shot is a dubious choice. It makes the good archery things significantly more expensive: crippling shot, flaming shot, dexterity. Dexterity is almost always worthwhile, since by the endgame it's generally cheaper than another point in evasion/melee. Of course, you may end up getting it via the agility tree.

You might look at the winners on the ladder that go with heavy armor.

[ripforareason]

Definitely use Anguirel, don't worry about food too much. You can always just swap it out for something else against weaker enemies if you want to conserve food. For abilities, I would suggest getting Flanking, Rauko-Bane, Poison Resistance, and maybe Song of the Trees if your light is not that good. It's also worth considering Keen Senses. Since you have Anguirel, if I was playing this character, I would plan for a melee ability set of something like:

Power + Finesse (I actually like to have both), Follow-Through, Opportunist, Rapid Attack, Momentum, (maybe) Strength.

In the long term (but you don't rapid attack until 1000. For now just use Anguirel with your shield.

I would also swap out the hauberk for a corslet. Hauberks are almost always too heavy imo unless it is Maedhros or Nevrast. A corslet with at least one bonus to one of evasion, melee, or protection sides is usually the sweet spot. As a rule of thumb, I estimate 2 protection ~ 1 evasion or melee, with corslets getting the tiebreaker over studded leather for the extra protection die.

[captnamazing]

Thanks for the advice and pointers, guys! I got greedy for my poison arrows, but I will avoid Careful shot in the future.

I got a little impatient and went down to 800' before any replies. I am going along the lines of ripforareason's suggestion, by getting follow thru, charge, momentum...

I believe I will be taking opportunist soon.

Poison Resistance or Crit Resistance in the future?

Funny, I actually came across a Mail Corselet of Protection but kept the hauberk for the extra weight... Lol :/
Hopefully I will find a new one soon!

  [Sil 1.3.0 Character Dump]

 Name   Hanatheb      Age      979       Str   3
 Sex    Male          Height   6'6       Dex   4 =  3  +1
 Race   Noldor        Weight   170       Con   5
 House  Fingolfin                        Gra   3

 Game Turn   20,036   Melee  (+17,2d9)   Melee       17 = 14  +4  -2  +1
 Exp Pool     6,109   Bows    (+5,2d7)   Archery      5 =  2  +4  -2  +1
 Total Exp   42,609   Armor [+14,9-27]   Evasion     14 = 12  +4  -2
 Burden       132.7                      Stealth     -1 =  0  +4  -5
 Max Burden   172.8   Health     49:49   Perception   9 =  6  +3
 Depth         800'   Voice      34:34   Will        11 =  7  +3      +1
 Min Depth     750'                      Smithing     3 =  0  +3
 Light Radius     3                      Song         3 =  0  +3

 You are one of several children of a warrior from the house of
 Fingolfin. You have light green eyes, straight black hair, and a fair
 complexion.





  [Equipment]

a) a Longsword (+1,2d6) [+1] 3.5 lb
b) a Longbow of Quickness (+1,2d5) 2.0 lb
   It grants you the ability: Rapid Fire.  It can shoot arrows
   20 squares (with your current strength).
c) an Onyx Ring of Dexterity <+1>
   It increases your dexterity by 1.  It sustains your dexterity.
   
d) an Adamant Ring of Protection [+0,1d2]
e) a Ruby Amulet of Constitution <+0>
   It increases your constitution by 0.  It sustains your 
   constitution.  
f) a Brass Lantern of True Sight (6091 turns)
   It provides resistance to blindness and hallucination.  It
   grants you the ability to see invisible creatures.  
g) a Hauberk of Protection (-2) [-4,2d6]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
h) a Cloak [+1]
i) The Round Shield of Glorfindel [+1,1d4]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  It grants you the
   ability: Charge.  
j) a Great Helm of Brilliance [-2,1d3]
   It lights the dungeon around you.  
k) a Set of Gauntlets (-1) [+0,1d1]
l) The Pair of Boots of Irime [+1,1d1]
   It sustains your dexterity.  It lights your path behind you.  
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
m) 39 Arrows (Poisoned)
   They are branded with venom.  They can be shot 20 squares
   (with your current strength and bow).
n) 19 Arrows of Piercing
   They cut easily through armour.  They can be shot 20 squares
   (with your current strength and bow).


  [Inventory]

a) 9 Pale Herbs of Rage
b) 3 Fragments of Lembas
c) 8 Murky Brown Potions of Orcish Liquor
d) a Dark Potion of Clarity
e) 3 Sparkling Potions of Healing
f) 5 Grey Potions of Slow Poison
g) 2 Shimmering Potions of Quickness
h) 2 Bright Orange Potions of Strength
i) 3 Green Potions of Dexterity
j) 2 Black Potions of Constitution
k) 2 Clear Potions
l) a Milky White Potion
m) a Rosewood Staff of Sanctity
n) a Runed Staff of Treasures (used 2 times)
o) a Walnut Staff of Foes (used 7 times)
p) a Silver Staff of Warding (used 2 times)
q) an Elm Staff of Recharging
r) an Emerald Ring of Frost
   It provides resistance to fire.  
s) The Shortsword 'Dagmor' (+2,1d8) [+1] <+1> 2.0 lb
   It increases your grace by 1.  It provides resistance to fear.
   It lights the dungeon around you.  It cannot be harmed by the
   elements.  
t) The Bastard Sword 'Anguirel' (+1,3d3) [+1] 5.0 lb
   It cuts easily through armour.  It increases your hunger.  It
   cannot be harmed by the elements.  It does extra damage when
   wielded with both hands.  
u) a Mattock (-5,5d2) <+2> 15.5 lb
   It improves your tunneling by 2.  It requires both hands to
   wield it properly.  
v) 23 Arrows (+3)
   They can be shot 20 squares (with your current strength and bow).


  [Notes]

Hanatheb of the Noldor
Entered Angband on 17 Apr 2017

   Turn     Depth   Note

      5     50 ft   (Dodging)
  2,430    200 ft   Encountered Gorgol, the Butcher
  2,460    200 ft   Slew Gorgol, the Butcher
  3,353    250 ft   (Careful Shot)
  3,789    250 ft   (Finesse)
  5,016    350 ft   (Hardiness)
  6,999    400 ft   (Crowd Fighting)
  6,999    400 ft   (Heavy Armour Use)
  7,405    400 ft   Encountered Othrod, the Orc Lord
  7,633    400 ft   Slew Othrod, the Orc Lord
  7,638    400 ft   Found The Pair of Boots of Irime
  9,994    500 ft   (Charge)
 10,400    500 ft   (Flanking)
 11,066    500 ft   Encountered Uldor, the Accursed
 11,279    500 ft   (Momentum)
 11,413    500 ft   Slew Uldor, the Accursed
 12,023    500 ft   another special lantern... i'm going to try it
 12,038    500 ft   let's hope this rosewood staff works out
 12,039    500 ft   praise be to sanctity ;)
 12,134    500 ft   could really use sprint lol
 12,720    500 ft   vault of giants, trolls, and easterlings... bring it!!
 13,375    500 ft   ringrauko down.. good thing he was imprisoned
 13,590    550 ft   Encountered Duruin, Least of the Balrogs
 13,679    550 ft   Destroyed Duruin, Least of the Balrogs
 13,683    550 ft   Found The Shortsword 'Dagmor'
 14,773    550 ft   RIP potions
 14,805    550 ft   hi, potions... :D
 15,329    600 ft   Found The Shortsword of Amrod
 15,329    600 ft   Shortsword city, I guess?
 15,399    600 ft   Encountered Delthaur, Balrog of Terror
 15,440    600 ft   (Rauko-Bane)
 17,064    650 ft   (Follow-Through)
 18,034    650 ft   Encountered Ulfang the Black
 18,043    650 ft   Slew Ulfang the Black
 18,107    650 ft   (Sprinting)
 18,240    650 ft   Found The Round Shield of Glorfindel
 18,240    650 ft   FOR GLORFINDELLLLL!
 18,363    700 ft   Found The Bastard Sword 'Anguirel'
 18,364    700 ft   Here we go ...
 18,425    700 ft   Encountered Umuiyan, the Doorkeeper
 18,655    700 ft   going to trap this fucker
 18,723    700 ft   Slew Umuiyan, the Doorkeeper



  ['Score' 016079964]

[captnamazing]

Thus ends Hanatheb, who took revenge on Smaug. Weak to Troll Knockback and False Floor Traps.

May he await my next elf in the throne room!

  [Sil 1.3.0 Character Dump]

 Name   Hanatheb      Age      979       Str   3
 Sex    Male          Height   6'6       Dex   4 =  3  +1
 Race   Noldor        Weight   170       Con   5
 House  Fingolfin                        Gra   4 =  3  +1

 Game Turn   22,764   Melee  (+22,3d6)   Melee       22 = 18  +4  -1  +1
 Exp Pool     3,443   Bows    (+6,2d7)   Archery      6 =  2  +4  -1  +1
 Total Exp   55,443   Armor [+21,8-24]   Evasion     21 = 15  +4  +2
 Burden       102.8                      Stealth      8 =  6  +4  -2
 Max Burden   172.8   Health      0:49   Perception  10 =  6  +4
 Depth         950'   Voice      41:41   Will        13 =  8  +4      +1
 Min Depth     800'                      Smithing     4 =  0  +4
 Light Radius     3                      Song         6 =  2  +4

 You are one of several children of a warrior from the house of
 Fingolfin. You have light green eyes, straight black hair, and a fair
 complexion.





  [Last Messages]

> You feel yourself moving faster!
> You have a Shimmering Potion of Quickness (i).
> Smaug the Golden misses you.
> You hit Smaug the Golden!
> You have slain Smaug the Golden.
> You continue your attack!
> You hit the Troll guard!!
> The Troll guard batters you.
> Low hitpoint warning!
> *** LOW HITPOINT WARNING! ***
> You are knocked back.
> The floor crumbles beneath you!
> You fall through...
> ...and land somewhere deeper in the Iron Hells.
> You die.


  [Screenshot]

         
         
  #v#####
  ..T@'~.
  ..T|###
   .}T#  
  #####  


  [Equipment]

a) The Bastard Sword 'Anguirel' (+1,3d3) [+1] 5.0 lb
   It cuts easily through armour.  It increases your hunger.  It
   cannot be harmed by the elements.  It does extra damage when
   wielded with both hands.  
b) a Longbow of Quickness (+1,2d5) 2.0 lb
   It grants you the ability: Rapid Fire.  It can shoot arrows
   20 squares (with your current strength).
c) an Onyx Ring of Dexterity <+1>
   It increases your dexterity by 1.  It sustains your dexterity.
   
d) an Emerald Ring of Frost
   It provides resistance to fire.  
e) a Coral Amulet of the Blessed Realm <+1>
   It increases your grace by 1.  It sustains your grace.  It 
   lights the dungeon around you.  
f) a Brass Lantern of True Sight (5699 turns)
   It provides resistance to blindness and hallucination.  It
   grants you the ability to see invisible creatures.  
g) a Mail Corslet of Protection (-1) [-3,2d5]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
h) a Shadow Cloak of Warmth [+4] <+2>
   It improves your stealth by 2.  It provides resistance to 
   cold.  It creates an unnatural darkness.  
i) The Round Shield of Glorfindel [+1,1d4]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  It grants you the
   ability: Charge.  
j) a Great Helm of Brilliance [-2,1d3]
   It lights the dungeon around you.  
k) a Set of Gauntlets (-1) [+0,1d1]
l) The Pair of Boots of Irime [+1,1d1]
   It sustains your dexterity.  It lights your path behind you.  
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
m) 53 Arrows (Poisoned)
   They are branded with venom.  They can be shot 20 squares
   (with your current strength and bow).
n) 19 Arrows of Piercing
   They cut easily through armour.  They can be shot 20 squares
   (with your current strength and bow).


  [Inventory]

a) 9 Pale Herbs of Rage
b) 3 Fragments of Lembas
c) a Flask of oil
d) 2 Clear Potions of Miruvor
e) 3 Murky Brown Potions of Orcish Liquor
f) 2 Dark Potions of Clarity
g) a Brilliant Blue Potion of Voice
h) 6 Grey Potions of Slow Poison
i) a Shimmering Potion of Quickness
j) a Milky White Potion of Elemental Resistance
k) 2 Bright Orange Potions of Strength
l) 4 Green Potions of Dexterity
m) 2 Black Potions of Constitution
n) an Adamant Ring of Protection [+0,1d2]
o) a Cloak [+1]
p) The Shortsword 'Dagmor' (+2,1d8) [+1] <+1> 2.0 lb
   It increases your grace by 1.  It provides resistance to fear.
   It lights the dungeon around you.  It cannot be harmed by the
   elements.  
q) a Longsword (+1,2d6) [+1] 3.5 lb
r) a Mattock (-5,5d2) <+2> 15.5 lb
   It improves your tunneling by 2.  It requires both hands to
   wield it properly.  


  [Notes]

Hanatheb of the Noldor
Entered Angband on 17 Apr 2017

   Turn     Depth   Note

      5     50 ft   (Dodging)
  2,430    200 ft   Encountered Gorgol, the Butcher
  2,460    200 ft   Slew Gorgol, the Butcher
  3,353    250 ft   (Careful Shot)
  3,789    250 ft   (Finesse)
  5,016    350 ft   (Hardiness)
  6,999    400 ft   (Crowd Fighting)
  6,999    400 ft   (Heavy Armour Use)
  7,405    400 ft   Encountered Othrod, the Orc Lord
  7,633    400 ft   Slew Othrod, the Orc Lord
  7,638    400 ft   Found The Pair of Boots of Irime
  9,994    500 ft   (Charge)
 10,400    500 ft   (Flanking)
 11,066    500 ft   Encountered Uldor, the Accursed
 11,279    500 ft   (Momentum)
 11,413    500 ft   Slew Uldor, the Accursed
 12,023    500 ft   another special lantern... i'm going to try it
 12,038    500 ft   let's hope this rosewood staff works out
 12,039    500 ft   praise be to sanctity ;)
 12,134    500 ft   could really use sprint lol
 12,720    500 ft   vault of giants, trolls, and easterlings... bring it!!
 13,375    500 ft   ringrauko down.. good thing he was imprisoned
 13,590    550 ft   Encountered Duruin, Least of the Balrogs
 13,679    550 ft   Destroyed Duruin, Least of the Balrogs
 13,683    550 ft   Found The Shortsword 'Dagmor'
 14,773    550 ft   RIP potions
 14,805    550 ft   hi, potions... :D
 15,329    600 ft   Found The Shortsword of Amrod
 15,329    600 ft   Shortsword city, I guess?
 15,399    600 ft   Encountered Delthaur, Balrog of Terror
 15,440    600 ft   (Rauko-Bane)
 17,064    650 ft   (Follow-Through)
 18,034    650 ft   Encountered Ulfang the Black
 18,043    650 ft   Slew Ulfang the Black
 18,107    650 ft   (Sprinting)
 18,240    650 ft   Found The Round Shield of Glorfindel
 18,240    650 ft   FOR GLORFINDELLLLL!
 18,363    700 ft   Found The Bastard Sword 'Anguirel'
 18,364    700 ft   Here we go ...
 18,425    700 ft   Encountered Umuiyan, the Doorkeeper
 18,655    700 ft   going to trap this fucker
 18,723    700 ft   Slew Umuiyan, the Doorkeeper
 20,179    800 ft   (Opportunist)
 20,193    800 ft   Encountered Tevildo, Prince of Cats
 20,197    800 ft   Encountered Oikeroi, Guard of Tevildo
 20,286    800 ft   Slew Tevildo, Prince of Cats
 20,294    800 ft   Slew Oikeroi, Guard of Tevildo
 21,159    850 ft   Encountered Scatha the Worm
 21,205    850 ft   Slew Scatha the Worm
 21,206    850 ft   easy, scatha...
 21,691    850 ft   Encountered Turkano, Balrog of the Hosts
 21,762    850 ft   Destroyed Turkano, Balrog of the Hosts
 22,118    900 ft   (Poison Resistance)
 22,118    900 ft   (Song of Slaying)
 22,314    900 ft   Found The Leather Armour of Caranthir
 22,687    900 ft   Encountered Smaug the Golden
 22,763    900 ft   Slew Smaug the Golden
 22,764    900 ft   Fell through a false floor

 22,764    900 ft   Slain by a collapsing floor.
 22,764    900 ft   Died on 18 April 2017.




  ['Score' 019077236]