Phail of Galadriel frequency

[diggerB]

In the majority of the Angband games I've played, I have discovered the Phial of Galadrial early on in the game. I have progressed significantly further than I usually do before encountering this item, and I'm getting tired of using up a slot on Oil Flasks.

I've read somewhere that it starts appearing at DL 5. Would it improve my chances of acquiring this artifact if I were to scum around level 5 for a while rather than DL15 where I'm hovering around now?

[Pete Mack]

Don't bother going back to dl 5, and probably don't bother carrying oil. The lantern is good for 15,000 turns, which is more than enough time to refill it on trips back to town.

[Derakon]

Agreed with Pete -- just make sure your lantern is full before entering the dungeon and you'll be fine. The only time not having the Phial makes me waste an inventory slot is if I'm carrying around a Rod of Illumination as a warrior.

As for whether or not you'd be better off scumming dlvl5 for it vs. a different dungeon level, probably not. You get more items dropped overall, and items of generally higher quality, as you descend into the dungeon. It'll turn up eventually.

[fizzix]

That being said flasks of oil are often my best sources of damage until I pick up a good weapon. I usually use them through dlevel 10 or so. Or even later if I don't have a ranged weapon yet.

[Tiburon Silverflame]

You can also:

--find oil in the dungeon. Keep it til you're running out if inventory slots, then top off your lantern. Or top it off as you go along.

--find an everburning lantern.

--worst case, you get several warnings as your fuel runs down, so just recall back at that point.

[Timo Pietilä]

--find an everburning lantern.

This exactly same question is in r.g.r.angband and he mentions there that he is playing 3.0.6. That one doesn't have everburning lanterns.

[Derakon]

In that case, I think he also only gets a radius-2 light from the lantern, which sucks. Upgrade to 3.1.2v2!

[diggerB]

This exactly same question is in r.g.r.angband and he mentions there that he is playing 3.0.6. That one doesn't have everburning lanterns.

Does that constitute offensive cross-posting? If so, I apologize.

Thanks for the helpful info, folks.

Don't bother going back to dl 5, and probably don't bother carrying oil. The lantern is good for 15,000 turns, which is more than enough time to refill it on trips back to town.

I'm a CL26 Ranger, just got my ID spell - so I'm spending a lot of time resting up for ID... one full lamp isn't enough to completely scour a "good" level.

[Zyphyr]

I'm a CL26 Ranger, just got my ID spell - so I'm spending a lot of time resting up for ID... one full lamp isn't enough to completely scour a "good" level.

Go into a lit room, remove your lamp, do your rest/ID cycle there, put the light back on and resume your delving.

[Derakon]

Or just cast light wherever you're standing. Or, heck, carry consumable ID with you. Money isn't all that dear, and you can spare an inventory slot for scrolls or staves.

[PowerDiver]

Or just cast light wherever you're standing. Or, heck, carry consumable ID with you. Money isn't all that dear, and you can spare an inventory slot for scrolls or staves.

More importantly, monsters spawn while you rest. Using ?id instead of casting spells could save you from an unlucky death.

[Timo Pietilä]

Does that constitute offensive cross-posting? If so, I apologize.

No. I'm the one that told you to ask here. Also without the exactly same wording I wouldn't be able to tell that you are the same person.

You just left out that vital piece of information here that you are playing 3.0.6.

[Pete Mack]

Derakon has it right. Ranger ID spell is pretty much useless. If you are finding yourself resting to cast ID, carry a decent stack of scrolls. If you have too much loot when returning, you can always drop ?ID/food/?Recall, etc.

The same holds for (almost) any utility spell: if you frequently find yourself resting to cast it, you probably shouldn't be using the spell.

Edit:
I really do like the title of this thread--artifact light source...FAIL!

[nullfame]

I'm a CL26 Ranger, just got my ID spell - so I'm spending a lot of time resting up for ID... one full lamp isn't enough to completely scour a "good" level.

Maybe I'm crazy but I don't even carry books 2-4. I am running a ranger right now (3.1.2v2) at dl40, cl30. I've never won with a ranger but my first win was with a rogue and I only carried 1, 5, and 7 until the very end and I imagine I'll do the same here. When I was willing to use !restoreMana I carried mb2-4, but for me that was only in the final two fights. Until then I preferred mana-free sources of ID, stone to mud, haste, teleport, and teleport other.

Oh and always cast light to rest. Or rest behind closed doors with always disturb. Or both. Stay away from the dark. I carry rods of light and use them compulsively.

[Pete Mack]

@nullfame--
I tend to think in terms of the books I never carry: MB6 as rogue/ranger and MB9 as rogue. All the others I carry at some point in the game, often because of a single spell.
MB2 -- Teleport Self
MB3 -- Detect Invisible. (Given this, S2M, Sat. Hunger, and ID are a nice lagniappe*)
MB4 -- Haste Self
MB9 -- *Destruction* (Ranger)

MB 1,5,7,8 I carry at almost any cost.

* Nick-- I got to use it again. Isn't it just a fantastic word?