Where's the loot?

[Laie]

Newbie, Hobbit Ranger, v3.0.9, currently at dungeon level 20 (character level 21).


I did come across a Longbow (+15,+10) rather early, level 12 perhaps, and nothing of comparable value ever since. I've been advancing ever more carefully, visiting every level at least twice since lvl15. There's been quite a few close calls already and I don't really dare to go any deeper... not before I find better equipment, at any rate.

I'm especially after something-of-strength, but also some resistances would come in handy. Alright, so I've got rings of all sorts, but... Just now I came across "Nar the Dwarf", and all I got was a Chain Mail +4 and Boots +1 -- on level 20.

To cut a long tale short: is this just a streak of bad luck, or do I really need to get deeper before I can expect to find armor-of-resist-something or similar stuff?

[Derakon]

At dungeon level 20, you should be able to occasionally find armor with a single resistance, and maybe a Resistance armor or a Defender weapon. You're unlikely to see any strength boosters outside of the black market, though.

Resistances aren't critical for you yet. They'll get more and more useful as you go deeper, but you shouldn't stop diving because you don't like your gear. Angband rewards strategic risk-taking far more than it rewards caution.

Also, you shouldn't expect to get your best gear from uniques. Uniques have slightly better drops than normal monsters do, but not all that much better. Nar in particular is generally not worth fighting until you can curbstomp him because of his nasty spells.

[buzzkill]

Just now I came across "Nar the Dwarf", and all I got was a Chain Mail +4 and Boots +1...

My God, if I only had a nickel for every time I said that to myself.