noob question : how to deal with hundreds of monsters

[dying_is_my_hobbit]

How do you use the Word of Recall ? I lost 2 scrolls trying what I've read in doc (use the 'r' key) but didn't move

[Estie]

It takes a few turns for the recall to kick in. It is not an emergency escape; rather, an easier means to go to town and back than walking.
Read it when safe. If danger is imminent, use escapes like phase door scrolls.

Edit: also, I have no idea what kind of periphery object you are using if not a keyboard, but you are very much supposed to be able to move and attack diagonally.

[dying_is_my_hobbit]

But I used two of them and I've explored almost a whole level since...

What's the sequence of keys/actions when you use them ?

[Estie]

If you use two, the second will cancel the first. You press "r" for read, and the inventory letter of the scroll when the menu shows you the options. After reading, you have to wait (you can move and do things, just not read another word of recall scroll), eventually youll be moved to town.

The status line should have "recall" in there, informing you that the transportation is imminent.

[dying_is_my_hobbit]

Ok, thanks.

[dying_is_my_hobbit]

Edit: also, I have no idea what kind of periphery object you are using if not a keyboard, but you are very much supposed to be able to move and attack diagonally.

I have a keyboard but not a numeric keyboard. So I've set the delay to 9 and I combine the arrow keys.

[Estie]

You might want to check the roguelike keyset; the option is in the usual menu somewhere ( = - key).

[Malak Darkhunter]

To learn the game and actualy enjoy playing and finding out what's out there,and build up your enthusiasm for the game you could go under the cheat options = and select:

: let character avoid death.

This will alow you to explore the game and learn it without worrying about dying so much the first couple times, after you feel ready then play a game for real and without save scumming and start uploading your characters on the ladder! That's fun.

[Therem Harth]

I actually wouldn't recommend that if you ever want to play the game without Cheat Death though, because it trains you to reflexively care less about your character dying. IMO anyway.

[Timo Pietilä]

Louses do breed, they are infinite.

That's not completely true. They stop breeding after a while, so entire level wont get filled with those, but for each one you kill one will be born. Exponential breeding curve, so you either need to be able to kill a lot of them in single round, or you need to avoid them. Or kill them early from distance before there are too many of them. Bow and arrows, wands, spells.

Warrior with six blows can now kill six adjacent louse in single turn, thanks to fractional blows. You can basically swim thru group of louses.

(worm masses (w), insects (I), and louses (l =lowercase L) breed. Only one to be really afraid of is Hummerhorn.

Usually early all you need is a wand of stinking cloud (as warrior) to kill breeders before they get out of control.

[Malak Darkhunter]

Be on the lookout for scrolls of banishment and mass banishment. Or genocide depending on what version your playing.

[Malak Darkhunter]

I actually wouldn't recommend that if you ever want to play the game without Cheat Death though, because it trains you to reflexively care less about your character dying. IMO anyway.

To be fair some new people to the game could quickly become frustrated without lack of progress and constant dying, this gives them an option to actualy just play so to speak.

[LostTemplar]

I mean, you can kill any number of lice, and there are still more around, they never stop breeding if you keep killing them. And you need more or less advanced character to clear the level of breeders, level 5 warrior probably will not be sufficent.

[Derakon]

Be on the lookout for scrolls of banishment and mass banishment. Or genocide depending on what version your playing.

Yeah, that's not gonna be available until much later in the game, and it wouldn't be worth wasting on lice even if it were available, outside of very strange circumstances.

[Malak Darkhunter]

Yeah, that's not gonna be available until much later in the game, and it wouldn't be worth wasting on lice even if it were available, outside of very strange circumstances.

You might not have any other option depending on the circumstances.