Milestone reached! DLVL 99.

[Narvius]

Today (actually, around eight hours ago, at night) my first character ever to reach DLVL 99 died, one-hitted by Kronos (shard breath, which I resisted but got killed by nonetheless).

http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=11635

Despite the entirely avoidable death, I'm very satisfied with myself. DLVL 99 is kind of a milestone.

That said, in the comment I said that I didn't know how to efficiently level (High-Elf Mage, lvl 33), so any hints are appreciated. Also, I don't know much about endgame kits, so, again, any hints are appreciated.

[Timo Pietilä]

Today (actually, around eight hours ago, at night) my first character ever to reach DLVL 99 died, one-hitted by Kronos (shard breath, which I resisted but got killed by nonetheless).

http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=11635

Despite the entirely avoidable death, I'm very satisfied with myself. DLVL 99 is kind of a milestone.

That said, in the comment I said that I didn't know how to efficiently level (High-Elf Mage, lvl 33), so any hints are appreciated. Also, I don't know much about endgame kits, so, again, any hints are appreciated.

You didn't have elec resists, even as swap?? That's bold. That deep there are things that breathe that for 1600 points of damage.

My suggestion is to go a lot slower, like twice that long in your next try. Sauron or Morgoth would make you minced meat in no time flat with that low HP (or Tarrasque or Vecna or Carcharoth or any of the Black Reavers you might meet or Dracolichs or ....)

You need somewhere over (preferably way over) 500 HP and speed of +20 (hasted) to survive that deep, even with resists, to not get single-move killed. Plan your gear and depth that in mind.

[Narvius]

I had unhasted +22.

[Timo Pietilä]

I had unhasted +22.

It would have been better if your RoS would have been RoCON in your case. Odds to get single move killed regardless of speed is worse than double-move with a bit less than +20 speed. I'm guessing you were using that RoSTR to be able to use Durin, right? If not then *two* RoCON. Maybe Til-i-Arc & two RoCON >+3.

[Narvius]

Yeah. But now that you're pointing it out, the =Str was probably obsolete after the !Str's I found. Eh. Well, new knowledge!
I'll probably be able to beat Angband sooner or later after all.

[Derakon]

Congrats on the milestone!

As for efficient leveling, pick a different race/class combo. High-elf mages have the worst levelup rate in the game. Otherwise, good experience-rich targets are the weak greater demons (couple thousand apiece and easy to kill), dragons, and upper-tier zephyr hounds as long as you can kill them efficiently. 5k each for plasma hounds adds up fast.

[Zikke]

And mumaks! Those are like big lumbering xp jackpots.

[Timo Pietilä]

And mumaks! Those are like big lumbering xp jackpots.

Vrocks and if you have immunity then any basic element great wyrm.

[Max Stats]

Earlier on, I find fire ants to be good targets. They are pretty weak, give good exp, and appear in groups. It is common for me to gain a level, maybe two, fighting the Queen Ant as she summons more and more of them for me to kill.

[Narvius]

Thanks, all. :3
Actually, base wyrms are a good idea, as reliable double-resist is easy to come by...

[Narvius]

Okay. I got a bit further (level 37... http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=11648).

I made a few stupid choices, like abandoning Elessar (which gave me rPoison), but well, that's not the cause of my death, at least. The death's a total YASD, but whatever.

My problem is dealing damage. I was using -Drain Life and -Annihilation coupled with ?Tensers to deal damage. I find this... very hacky. Arrows seemed to constantly miss at any distance other than melee.

So... any hints on that? :c

[Derakon]

Mages do need Drain Life and Annihilation to help out their offense. There's nothing wrong with using them. I've used plenty of Annihilation in the final fight, even. Remember you get a damage multiplier of (your device skill - wand object level)%.

[Timo Pietilä]

Mages do need Drain Life and Annihilation to help out their offense. There's nothing wrong with using them. I've used plenty of Annihilation in the final fight, even. Remember you get a damage multiplier of (your device skill - wand object level)%.

Annihilation is actually very very powerful weapon, even for other classes. 250+ points of damage without manacost that always hits (if you success on activating it) is no small damage. If you combine that with greater recharging you have one formidable weapon.

[Narvius]

Oh, neat, then.

Are there rods of Annihilation? (I've seen Drain Life ones.)

[Derakon]

No, there aren't.