Any tips for a newbie?

[AnonymousHero]

Here it is. Is this the right format?

You should probably post over here on the Ladder. (Search for "Submit your character".)

If think what you posted was a HTML dump, but you'll probably want a Text dump for posting to the ladder. (Not sure if it "understands" HTML dumps, but Text dumps will definitely work.)

(Btw, don't worry if your character is "bad". Nobody cares about the absurd and bizarre rankings on the ladder.)

[robbiodobbio]

Here it is. Is this the right format?

[Pete Mack]

Rob--
Do you have a character dump? Hard to give advice without one.

[krazyhades]

I know, on my last game I got a leather cap of telepathy really early but it didn't happen this time. Loads of artefact weapons seem to give "see inv" but the 'thanc doesn't.

Just found a great pair of boots that give speed +5 but my current boots are what give me paralysis resistance, bit annoying, just need a couple more nice bits of gear and I'll be sorted.

Early telepathy really *really* helps a ton with enabling less cautious play. Sure, mindless things can still screw you badly, but for realtime playing speed, early ~tele is incredible. The single-sitting win I had in one comp was 110% due to finding early ~tele, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

As for the boots...well, yeah, you probably still need FA, but if you are very cautious and aware of what monsters do, you could use the speed instead. Probably shouldn't yet though. Keep checking the black market when you're in town, as it can sometimes provide a handy ring of FA.

[robbiodobbio]

At your depth, if you can't see invisible and don't have telepathy, eventually you're going to be killed by a monster you can't see. I'm kind of surprised you don't have it on a convenient source, frankly.

I'd wear Barukheled as a standard weapon and carry the 'thanc as a swap for when you need more damage.

I know, on my last game I got a leather cap of telepathy really early but it didn't happen this time. Loads of artefact weapons seem to give "see inv" but the 'thanc doesn't.

Just found a great pair of boots that give speed +5 but my current boots are what give me paralysis resistance, bit annoying, just need a couple more nice bits of gear and I'll be sorted.

[Derakon]

Got loads of great stuff now but still can't see invisible creatures. Is it every worth sacrificing a bit of damage to use a weapon that grants see invisible?

At your depth, if you can't see invisible and don't have telepathy, eventually you're going to be killed by a monster you can't see. I'm kind of surprised you don't have it on a convenient source, frankly.

I'd wear Barukheled as a standard weapon and carry the 'thanc as a swap for when you need more damage.

[robbiodobbio]

Got loads of great stuff now but still can't see invisible creatures. Is it every worth sacrificing a bit of damage to use a weapon that grants see invisible?

Just found "Barukkheled" around 200 damage against most things and grants see invisible but Nimthanc is now doing 248 per round to non-cold resistant monsters.

Found the evenstar too, loving the restore life levels activation.

[robbiodobbio]

Yeah I just carry the first spellbook because it has the detect monster and trap spells.

I figured carrying detect staffs or scrolls would take up too much space.

Gonna dive down to 45 now. Wish me luck!

[Estie]

Int and level. With support casters, its best to treat them like warriors early on; use devices for spells, focus on str/dex stats, dont carry spellbooks. Eventually spellcasting will catch up and make life easier.

[robbiodobbio]

It's getting a bit better now, it's mainly because I've quaffed a fair few potions of brawn and nimbleness so INT has taken a bit of a battering.

Another thing, on most spells I still have fail rate of 50%, which is really annoying for detecting properly. Is that just down to low INT too?

[Pete Mack]

Encumbrance is only a problem til you get your INT up a little, so it doesn't eat such a large fraction of your mana. Narthanc is good. The heavy Xbow is great. Go to dl 45 and kill Smaug, or a little deeper and pick off demons. At that depth character power is hugely amplified by ego ammo or double resistance, or both.

[ranger jeff]

That's why Strength is important for every character, and even more so casters. It enables you to wield the best gear AND keeps your speed and mana up.

[robbiodobbio]

Not really interested in cheating death. With fast diving I've almost got my new character to the level of the old one. Had a few good drops:

Chainmail of Arvedui
Dagger "Nimthanc"
Heavy Crossbow of Power

Encumbance weight is really annoying, Chainmail of Arvedui gives some great resistances but means I can't carry a heavy shield or wear other heavy armour.

[Pete Mack]

Cheating death that way is less helpful. They idea is to learn survival at that depth, not just wander around not worrying about dying

[Mondkalb]

You could also enter wizard mode with Ctrl-w (if it is still available in 4.05, I didn't check).
That would mark your savefile and you could cheat death.