Ring of Speed <+9> question

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 08:28

That is anextremely lucky find and a good one too. Don't sell it. You can dive even faster with +9 Speed.
Rings of Speed normally show up very deep in the dungeon.
Usually you get some boots with a little speed bonus or such around 20ish or 30ish levels.

**Cutestory** · February 28, 2013, 08:50

I'm still trying to figure out exactly how fast to dive...I feel like I'm trying to balance the quick advancement offered by deep diving with the risk.

I know I've advanced further than I ever have by just taking down stairs whenever I find them unless there's a good feeling on the level.

I know I'm going to be dying for a while. Be conservative, and I'll just end up dying after spending 10 hours. Be risky, and I'll die in two hours.

How do you figure out how quickly to descend? And is the rephial guide still worth following? What's the best way to pick up experience (playing the game, not experience points).

**scud** · February 28, 2013, 08:53

That's a fantastic find. Effectively doubles the damage you inflict, doubles your run away! run away! speed, halves the time it takes to close in on monsters with a range attack.

20,000 coins' worth of 'other stuff' really isn't going to do much for you: that money won't go far at the black market, and the good stuff simply isn't available outside the black market.

Not that long ago I found boots of speed +10 at around 700', and that sort of boost gets you down to 1500'+ almost without having to think (which is dangerous in itself, of course). The only problem monsters were orc uniques.

I'm not certain that it's a feature of the game but I've found that as a magic caster I nearly always find a high value prayer book in the first 1000', and as a prayer caster I nearly always find a high value magic book. With that money I'll start to stock up on my own books, restore potions etc etc on my returns to town. But you won't be selling the ring so it doesn't really matter

Re selling without ID, there are *no* cursed rings any more other than The One Ring (which really would be a find at 50'). Put it on and see what happens.

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 09:13

Usually I dive with charlevel=dlevel. Down to 1000'/1500'. Then I get a little bit slower until I have certain things, like see invisible, free action, basic four resistances coverable and some stat optimization for more damage, more spells, more hp. After that, I again dive faster, depending on class, and usually get lots of artifacts. When more restances are covered and some speed is gained, I end up on dlevel 80/90 with a >35 level char. (With enough speed and detection granted. It is vital to be able to early detect the really dangerous monsters and uniques. )

**Cutestory** · February 28, 2013, 09:15

Scud, what kind of character are you playing? After this ranger dies, what should I try next?

I'm enjoying the range attacks of the Ranger, but I might like a spellcaster...

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 09:18

Originally posted by scud

I'm not certain that it's a feature of the game but I've found that as a magic caster I nearly always find a high value prayer book in the first 1000', and as a prayer caster I nearly always find a high value magic book.

That's just typical RNG cruelty.

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 09:20

Originally posted by Cutestory

Scud, what kind of character are you playing? After this ranger dies, what should I try next?

I'm enjoying the range attacks of the Ranger, but I might like a spellcaster...

My first winner was a ranger. They can do insane amount of damage with the good artifact bows and good ammo.

The also get useful spells later with the dungeon books.

I was never lucky with pure casters like mages or priests. I am enjoying the mixed classes, ranger, rogue, and paladin.

**Cutestory** · February 28, 2013, 09:31

Thanks for the advice Mondkalb.

So you're scumming between 1000'/1500' until you have what you need to descend?

Should I be asking for more specifics in terms of numbers or whatever for basic resistances and the like to decide when to descend further, or will the numbers not mean anything to me?

I'm not looking for a hand-hold as much as general (but specific) advice. I just want to know what to shoot for; I know there are no guarantees, no way to avoid death.

Again, trying to balance gathering advice without trying to bypass the school of hard knocks. Concentrated gameplay over the last couple of days has done wonders both for my in-game success and my desire to play more (even with all the deaths).

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 09:51

Not really scumming, I dive a little slower and sometimes feel the need to go up a level, for instance when I go down an stand in the miidle of an orc horde or if there is a bunch of acid hounds nearby.

The ranger has the early detect monster spell which helps a lot to decide whether to stay or to leave.

There are some guides which have suggestions for what to cover for certain levels, but most of them are a bit outdated. Free action was extremely important and still is, but paralyzing has a bit toned down, so you have a chance to survive the early paralyzers, by waking up in time and escape.
Resist poison was an issue and still is (after ~2000'), but to a lesser degree, because there is the resist poison potion as a temporary aid. Though mass poisoners are still very dangerous as are the one breath to kill monsters ^^.

I am having the impression that it was easier, say in 3.06, to get armor of resistance or elven armor early on. I feel they are a bit rarer now wich often makes it necessary to swap things; but that may be my playstyle because I dive faster than back then. (I almost always get artifact armor prior to resistance armor.)

With +9 speed and detection ability, you can avoid nearly every danger if playing careful. Just make sure you have always methods of escape (teleport, teleport level, deep descend) and healing. Wands and rods of teleport other are also vital, but they appear to be somewhat rarer also.

**Djabanete** · February 28, 2013, 10:04

It's hard to give specifics because there are so many ways to die. One can try to give advice like "don't go beyond level 20 without Free Action", but actually, people do that all the time and it works out; and sticking to all the "signposts" is a great way to die of boredom.

You seem pretty familiar with the game already. Instead of trying to guess which specific pointers would be useful (and any that I could offer would be outdated), I'll just remind you of the 3 golden rules of Angband:

1) Detect everything (all the time)
2) Run like hell (all the time)
3) Heal (all the time)

Use your detection and evasion very liberally, and if you're in serious danger, don't hold back on the healing potions, either. But try to not be in serious danger, because the good healing potions are hard to come by.

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 10:11

Also, don't rely only on spellcasting or reading, if you don't have rblind and rconf.

**Cutestory** · February 28, 2013, 10:12

I'm going to try out the ring and see how it goes...

Mondkalb, I see you giving out a lot of advice; you should write a quick-and-dirty guide for your playstyle! I think people would find it interesting.

This is the first time I've gotten far enough to get over my initial fear of death. Dying is a crucial part of learning the game; I'm just excited to increase the amount of time *between* deaths.

**Cutestory** · February 28, 2013, 10:19

@Djabanete:Boredom is no fun! Death to boredom! Boredom is killed by death, ironically.

@Mondkalb: I haven't gotten far enough to rely on either spellcasting or reading, so that isn't a problem.

I'll let you know how long I last with this ring...we'll see if I can make it to 1500'.

Play. Die. Play more. Die more.

**Mondkalb** · February 28, 2013, 10:20

You can't learn what is dangerous without (almost) dying.
Even if you would use the spoiler files which tell you everything about a monster, the game has many ways of putting your chars in perilous situations by using wacky combinations of monsters to show you who really is in charge.

BTW, I'd rather read a guide by Timo or other long time players and winners.

Ring of Speed <+9> question

Ring of Speed <+9> question

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