Furthest I've gotten

[Raajaton]

I use archery as much as I can, but ammo has been a very limiting factor. I buy out whatever I find from the stores, which generally is not much, and I almost never find arrows in the dungeon. It doesn't matter what type of launcher I use on any character, I always seem to find tons more of whatever ammo types I don't need.

The new quiver in this version makes it more difficult for me to win solely with archery. After all the consumables and spellbooks I bring I seem to have enough room left over for 2 slots in my quiver - assuming I can even find enough ammo to fill those slots. With the extra shots per round I blow through that pretty quickly. I doubt I'll be able to kill him purely with arrows. I try to do as much damage with them that I can, but I feel like I'm going to have to resort to melee at some point in the fight.

[Pete Mack]

I think +shooting speed makes Amras better than pretty much any other artifact bow, doesn't it? Or is that math different for rangers somehow?

I remember being frustrated at how awesome that +1 shooting speed was relative to any other bonus I could get on a bow, but I'm still pretty green at V so I dunno

Belthronding is best for non-rangers. (Top-notch Sling of Buckland is absolute best, by far.) CL 40+ rangers get two bonus shots, so Bard is best by about 25%. (Top-notch Bow of Lothlorien is absolute best by a little.)

[debo]

CL 40+ rangers get two bonus shots

O________O

[Raajaton]

WTB summon ammo spell.

[Pete Mack]

O________O

CL 20 rangers get +1 shot (with bows only.) Ranger is considered by many (most?) to be the easiest class. I prefer more stealth and HP and better detection, so I go with Rogue.

[Pete Mack]

WTB summon ammo spell.

You can buy plenty of ordinary ammo in the store and enchant the hell out of it with branding & enchanting. That will give you

(19 + 2.5 + 12)*5*3 ~ 500

damage/turn with bard. For Fire/Cold/Poison susceptible monsters, it does

(19 + 2.5 + 12)*(5+3)*3 ~ 800!

[Raajaton]

Out of curiosity are acid brands possible with the elemental brand spell? IIRC Morgoth doesn't resist acid. Would be quite fortunate and lucky if I could get some that way.

[Derakon]

Morgoth resists acid (or rather, he's outright immune); Sauron doesn't.

[Raajaton]

Oh ok nevermind then.

Yeah I mainly used Acid arrows on Sauron. He dropped faster than most other uniques I've fought recently.

[Oramin]

I posted actual game numbers for Bard and Belthronding with a L50 Ranger in my long thread. The numbers are about the same; Bard is *not* clearly better for damage. Check them out.

[Oramin]

Here you go:

http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=5572&page=19

Discussion starts at post #187

[Oramin]

I use archery as much as I can, but ammo has been a very limiting factor. I buy out whatever I find from the stores, which generally is not much, and I almost never find arrows in the dungeon. It doesn't matter what type of launcher I use on any character, I always seem to find tons more of whatever ammo types I don't need.

The new quiver in this version makes it more difficult for me to win solely with archery. After all the consumables and spellbooks I bring I seem to have enough room left over for 2 slots in my quiver - assuming I can even find enough ammo to fill those slots. With the extra shots per round I blow through that pretty quickly. I doubt I'll be able to kill him purely with arrows. I try to do as much damage with them that I can, but I feel like I'm going to have to resort to melee at some point in the fight.

Teleport Morgoth away and pick up the unbroken arrows. You should have plenty of arrows if you start with 80 of the appropriate type (Slay Evil or Holy Might).

[Pete Mack]

I use archery as much as I can, but ammo has been a very limiting factor. I buy out whatever I find from the stores, which generally is not much, and I almost never find arrows in the dungeon. It doesn't matter what type of launcher I use on any character, I always seem to find tons more of whatever ammo types I don't need.

There is an infinite supply of ordinary ammo in the General store. Use it when you can. And don't use ammo for everything; just for the stuff that's hard to kill with your walking-around melee weapon.

Don't use special ego ammo except for specific targets. (Like Gothmog, Glarung, Sauron, etc.)

The new quiver in this version makes it more difficult for me to win solely with archery. After all the consumables and spellbooks I bring I seem to have enough room left over for 2 slots in my quiver - assuming I can even find enough ammo to fill those slots. With the extra shots per round I blow through that pretty quickly. I doubt I'll be able to kill him purely with arrows. I try to do as much damage with them that I can, but I feel like I'm going to have to resort to melee at some point in the fight.

You need about 200 enchanted arrows to kill M. That's 5 slots. For final battle, you won't need (from your pack):

• Mordy's
• Rall (this is of very limited value to ranger.)
• MB1 (use ?Phase instead)
• MB2
• *Enlightenment*
• Teleport level

What you are a bit short on is stuff to survive the battle:

• !rMana (3 is safe)
• !Heal (10 is safe; you will need 4)
• !*Heal*/!Life (about 5 is safe; you will need 2)
• a few Mushroom of vigor/Life for occasional melee rounds.

[scud]

Should post your dump scud. I like perusing other people's character dumps when I'm bored - especially since we're currently playing the same race/class combo

Here's me...

  [Angband v3.3.2 Character Dump]

 Name   Prudence                                 Self  RB  CB  EB   Best
 Sex    Neuter       Age            101   STR! 18/100  +1  +2 +12 18/***
 Race   High-Elf     Height          40   INT! 18/100  +3  +2 +11 18/***
 Class  Ranger       Weight          62   WIS! 18/100  -1  +0  +5 18/140
 Title  Ranger Lord  Social      Feared   DEX! 18/100  +3  +1 +14 18/***
 HP     985/985      Maximize         Y   CON! 18/100  +1  +1 +11 18/***
 SP     287/385                           CHR! 18/100  +5  +1  +5 18/210

 Level               50   Armor   [18,+154]     Saving Throw        100%
 Cur Exp       18293444   Fight   (+41,+31)     Stealth        Legendary
 Max Exp       18293444   Melee   (+56,+55)     Fighting       Legendary
 Adv Exp       ********   Shoot   (+61,+15)     Shooting       Legendary
 MaxDepth   4200' (L84)   Blows    5.0/turn     Disarming            98%
 Game Turns     1930327   Shots      3/turn     Magic Device         115
 Standard Turns  257062   Infra       70 ft     Perception       1 in 10
 Resting Turns   119831   Speed          19     Searching            37%
 Gold           2955303   Burden  108.6 lbs

 You are the only child of a Vanyarin Ranger.  You have light grey
 eyes, straight brown hair, and a fair complexion.



rAcid:..+...+++.+.. Nexus:.............
rElec:....+.+++.++. Nethr:......+......
rFire:......+*+.+.. Chaos:....+........
rCold:+.....+++.+.. Disen:..........+..
rPois:.........++.. Feath:........+.++.
rLite:.......+....+ pFear:........+.+..
rDark:.......++.... pBlnd:.........++..
Sound:..........+.. pConf:..........++.
Shard:.......+..... pStun:.............

Light:........+.... Tunn.:........+....
Regen:.........+... Speed:...+.......+.
  ESP:........+.... Blows:.............
Invis:+..........++ Shots:.............
FrAct:+++.+..+..+.. Might:.+...........
HLife:.....+++..+.. S.Dig:.............
Stea.:..+....+..++. ImpHP:.............
Sear.:.......+.....  Fear:.............
Infra:........+...+ Aggrv:.............


  [Character Equipment]

a) the Broad Axe of Tolaquen (5d6) (+15,+24) [+10]
     Dropped by a Lesser Balrog at 2700 feet (level 54).
     
     Slays trolls.
     *Slays* dragons, demons, undead.
     Branded with weak lightning.
     Provides resistance to cold.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Blessed by the gods.  Prevents paralysis.  Grants the ability to
     see invisible things.  
     
     When aimed, it creates a large frost ball with damage 200.
     Takes 307 to 377 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 93.0%
     
     Combat info:
     5.0 blows/round.
     Average damage/round: 489.5 vs. creatures not resistant to
     electricity, 588.5 vs. trolls, 786 vs. dragons, 786 vs. demons,
     786 vs. undead, and 390.5 vs. others.
     
b) a Long Bow of Lothlorien (x5) (+20,+15) <+3, +2> {!d, squelch}
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 2750 feet (level 55).
     
     +3 dexterity.
     +2 shooting power.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     
c) the Ring of Tarwe (+11,+11) <+5>
     Dropped by an Osyluth at 4050 feet (level 81).
     
     +5 wisdom, dexterity, constitution, stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     
     When activated, it removes all curses from all equipped items.
     Takes 475 to 696 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 93.0%
     
d) a Ring of Speed <+12>
     Dropped by a Pit Fiend at 4050 feet (level 81).
     
     +12 speed.
     
e) the Elfstone 'Telachil' <+4>
     Dropped by an Archlich at 3350 feet (level 67).
     
     +4 dexterity, constitution.
     Provides resistance to lightning, chaos.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains wisdom.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     
     When aimed, it causes you to breathe either cold or flames for 80
     damage.
     Takes 188 to 208 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 94.2%
     
f) the Arkenstone of Lobeltar <+4>
     Dropped by an Osyluth at 3150 feet (level 63).
     
     +4 strength, intelligence.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains your life force.  
     
     When activated, it maps the entire level and detects nearby
     objects, traps, doors, and stairs.
     Takes 147 to 290 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 95.2%
     
     Radius 3 light.
g) a Robe of Permanence [2,+25]
     Dropped by a Mature white dragon at 2500 feet (level 50).
     
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, nether.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution,
     charisma.
     Sustains your life force.  
     
h) the Ethereal Cloak of Umbor [0,+26] <+2>
     Dropped by a Bile Demon at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +2 intelligence, dexterity, constitution, charisma, stealth.
     +10% to searching.
     Provides immunity to fire.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, cold, light, dark, shards.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains strength, dexterity, charisma.
     Prevents paralysis.  Sustains your life force.  
     
i) the Leather Shield of Elebrien [8,+14] <+3>
     Dropped by a Barrow wight at 3000 feet (level 60).
     
     +3 strength, infravision, tunneling.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, dark.
     Provides protection from fear.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Feather Falling.  Grants telepathy.  
     
     Radius 1 light.
j) the Metal Cap of Telen [3,+22] <+5>
     Dropped by a Demilich at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +5 strength, intelligence.
     Provides resistance to poison.
     Provides protection from blindness.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Speeds regeneration.  
     
k) the Set of Gauntlets 'Sarthatar' [3,+27] <+3>
     Found in a chest from 4050 feet (level 81).
     
     +3 charisma, stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, poison, sound,
     disenchantment.
     Provides protection from fear, blindness, confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains strength.
     Feather Falling.  Prevents paralysis.  Sustains your life force.  
     
     When aimed, it creates a fire ball with damage 72.
     Takes 211 to 234 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 97.6%
     
l) the Pair of Leather Boots 'Uingalmen' [2,+15] <+7>
     Dropped by a Pit Fiend at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +7 stealth, speed.
     Provides resistance to lightning.
     Provides protection from confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains wisdom, charisma.
     Feather Falling.  Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     


  [Character Quiver]

[snip]

q) 22 Seeker Arrows of Lightning (4d4) (+12,+17)
     Found in a chest from 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     Branded with lightning.
     Cannot be harmed by electricity.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 160 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 1068.3 vs. creatures not resistant to
     electricity, and 667.8 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     


  [Character Inventory]

a thu i) The Books!
     
j) a Potion of Augmentation
     
k) 12 Potions of Healing
     
l) 4 Potions of Restore Life Levels
     
m) 3 Scrolls of Teleport Level
     
n) 6 Rods of Curing
     
o) 3 Rods of Healing (2 charging)
     
p) a Staff of Banishment (3 charges)
     
     


  [Home Inventory]

a) 11 Mushrooms of Vigor
     
b) 20 Potions of *Healing*
     
c) 5 Potions of Life

d) 58 Potions of Restore Mana
     
e) 12 Scrolls of Banishment
     
f) 7 Scrolls of Mass Banishment
     
g) a Ring of Speed <+11>
     
h) the Ring 'Rhundor' <+5>
     Dropped by a Great Wyrm of Many Colours at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +5 strength, wisdom, dexterity, charisma, infravision.
     +25% to searching.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, poison, light,
     sound, shards, nexus.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains strength.
     Feather Falling.  Prevents paralysis.  Sustains your life force.  
     
     When activated, it hastens you for d20+20 turns.
     Takes 237 to 290 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 91.6%
     
     Radius 1 light.
i) an Amulet of Trickery <+5, +3, +4>
     Dropped by a Gelugon at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +5 dexterity, stealth.
     +3 speed.
     +4 infravision.
     +20% to searching.
     Provides resistance to poison, nexus.
     Sustains dexterity.
     
j) the Amulet 'Rancamar' <+3>
     Dropped by an Archon at 3150 feet (level 63).
     
     +3 constitution, charisma, speed.
     Provides resistance to shards, chaos.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains dexterity.
     Speeds regeneration.  
     
     When aimed, it causes you to breathe either cold or flames for 80
     damage.
     Takes 188 to 208 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 93.6%
     
k) the White Dragon Scale Mail 'Ellurth' (-2) [14,+28]
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 2650 feet (level 53).
     
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, poison, light,
     dark, shards, chaos.
     Provides protection from stunning.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains your life force.  
     
l) the Ribbed Plate Armour 'Valemen' (-3) [66,+9] <+4>
     Dropped by an Enchantress at 3450 feet (level 69).
     
     +4 strength.
     Provides resistance to dark.
     Provides protection from blindness, confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Prevents paralysis.  Grants telepathy.  
     
m) the Adamantite Plate Mail of Maelental (-4) [80,+9] <+3>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 4000 feet (level 80).
     
     +3 strength, intelligence, dexterity, constitution.
     Provides immunity to acid.
     Provides resistance to lightning, fire, cold, dark,
     disenchantment.
     Provides protection from blindness.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Feather Falling.  
     
n) a Robe of Permanence [2,+27]
     Dropped by a Lesser Balrog at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, cold, chaos.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution,
     charisma.
     Sustains your life force.  
     
o) the Leather Scale Mail 'Aerimalas' (-1) [20,+18] <+3>
     Dropped by a Nightwalker at 3800 feet (level 76).
     
     +3 strength, intelligence, wisdom, constitution, charisma.
     +15% to searching.
     Provides immunity to acid.
     Provides resistance to lightning, fire, cold, poison, light, dark,
     nexus.
     Provides protection from fear, blindness.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains your life force.  Grants the ability to see invisible
     things.  
     
p) the Cloak of Carfeandi [1,+16] <+3>
     Found lying on the floor at 2450 feet (level 49).
     
     +3 strength, constitution, stealth.
     Provides immunity to lightning.
     Provides resistance to cold, dark, nexus, disenchantment.
     Provides protection from fear.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Feather Falling.  
     
q) the Metal Cap 'Cardad' [3,+26] <+3>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 3200 feet (level 64).
     
     +3 strength, intelligence, wisdom.
     Provides immunity to acid.
     Provides resistance to lightning, cold.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Sustains charisma.
     Prevents paralysis.  Grants telepathy.  Grants the ability to see
     invisible things.  
     
     When aimed, it creates a frost ball with damage 100.
     Takes 237 to 290 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 97.9%
     
r) the Metal Cap 'Airyonde' (+4,+8) [3,+23] <+4>
     Dropped by Shelob, Spider of Darkness at 2750 feet (level 55).
     
     +4 wisdom, dexterity, charisma.
     Provides resistance to fire.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
s) the Iron Helm of Ekkasalen [7,+15] <+4>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 3200 feet (level 64).
     
     +4 intelligence, constitution.
     Provides resistance to light.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Speeds regeneration.  
     
t) the Pair of Leather Boots of Silion [2,+15] <+9>
     Dropped by a Nightwalker at 3700 feet (level 74).
     
     +9 speed.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Feather Falling.  
     
u) a Mace of Disruption of Westernesse (5d8) (+18,+15) <+1, +2> {!d, squelch}
     Dropped by a Pit Fiend at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +1 strength, dexterity.
     +2 constitution.
     Slays undead, orcs, trolls, giants.
     Prevents paralysis.  Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     
     Combat info:
     5.0 blows/round.
     Average damage/round: 677.5 vs. undead, 677.5 vs. orcs, 677.5 vs.
     trolls, 677.5 vs. giants, and 394 vs. others.
     
v) the Light Crossbow 'Dannorwe' (x3) (+11,+17)
     Dropped by a Ghoul at 1650 feet (level 33).
     
     Provides immunity to acid.
     Provides protection from fear, confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     
w) the Heavy Crossbow of Herufini (x5) (+18,+21) <+1>
     Dropped by a Gelugon at 4150 feet (level 83).
     
     +1 strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution,
     stealth, infravision, shooting speed, shooting power.
     Branded with flames, venom.
     Provides resistance to acid, fire, nether.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     Slows your metabolism.  Grants the ability to see invisible
     things.  
     


============================================================
                   CHAR.
|   TURN  | DEPTH |LEVEL| EVENT
============================================================
     36737    150'    5   Reached level 5
     94369    350'   10   Reached level 10
    193259    550'   15   Reached level 15
    374140    750'   20   Reached level 20
    525884   1150'   25   Reached level 25
    974561   1800'   30   Reached level 30
   1286126   2200'   35   Reached level 35
   1436398   2700'   40   Reached level 40
   1668034   3300'   45   Reached level 45
   1767863   3650'   50   Reached level 50

Not quite the speed I'd like, but otherwise looking good. For the end game I'll swap shoes for a +2 gain but at present I'm enjoying my legendary stealth. Would expect to find a better RoS, too.

It's unusual that I have *no* randart speed bonuses outside of footwear and an amulet. There had been a few +2/+3 randarts but they were otherwise rubbish. Speed has been an 'issue' throughout this whole game and it was, at times, a painful grind. I'm not a quick player, but I can't remember ever previously taking 1.7m turns to reach CL50.

94/94 down, with only Vecna/Sauron/Morgy to come. Some decent ammo, half a dozen Rods of Restoration (not seen one yet) and another twenty potions of *Healing*/Life and I'll be ready

[Pete Mack]

You can get your speed up with "Trickery, with Chaos as a swap. There just aren't that many chaos breathers.