OK, so randarts don't necessarily all suck...

[Derakon]

I stopped playing with randarts a while ago because they would consistently not allow me to make a viable kit. The set of standarts are specifically balanced and holes are filled, but that's not the case with randarts.

Conversely, this is what I like so much about randarts.

Also, since the game is eminently winnable without using any artifacts, I'm curious how you define a "viable kit". You don't actually need all that much to take down Sauron and Morgoth, and everyone else is optional.

[Magnate]

Some people view collecting artifacts as a sort of extended endgame, I gather.

... and there are artifacts whose native depth is below dl100 (the One Ring being the obvious one), so diving beyond Morgoth allows you to find them more easily (though never with certainty).

[MattB]

... and there are artifacts whose native depth is below dl100 (the One Ring being the obvious one), so diving beyond Morgoth allows you to find them more easily (though never with certainty).

And, rather oddly, there are randarts whose min depth is deeper than their max depth.
(which is why you rarely see cursed randarts).

[Nomad]

(which is why you rarely see cursed randarts).

Apart from this one. I'm not getting over wield-testing that one at 450' any time soon.

[MattB]

Apart from this one. I'm not getting over wield-testing that one at 450' any time soon.

HaHa! Yes, I saw you post that a little while back. Still funny!

[Justin Z]

Yeah I got a helm with +13 speed as a randart on the game I just beat (first victory, woo!). That was helpful. Even though it had no resistances I was able to fill out everything else with other equipment as well.

[Derakon]

Yeah I got a helm with +13 speed as a randart on the game I just beat (first victory, woo!). That was helpful. Even though it had no resistances I was able to fill out everything else with other equipment as well.

I had a game where my endgame body armor had +7 speed and nothing else, but it freed up other slots that would normally have been spent on speed to be spent on other important things. Getting speed on an "unusual" slot can be quite a blessing.

[Zireael]

Apart from this one. I'm not getting over wield-testing that one at 450' any time soon.

Nice one, Nomad!