Any tips for a newbie?

[Derakon]

Ok, got a +4DEX ring now so got an extra melee blow.

What's better?

Short bow of extra might (x3) (+9+12) <+1>
Sling of extra shots (x2) (+13+6) <+1>

Is it better to get in two weaker shots per turn or one stronger one?

I would go with the shortbow for now, but as Pete says, neither is a great weapon. With +10 arrows, the shortbow deals (1d4 + 10 + 12) * 3 ~= 74 damage per hit, which is probably enough to do useful damage at your current depth, but will fairly rapidly age out.

[Pete Mack]

The short bow is better unless you get the sling fully enchanted up to 8 or 9 damage . Neither weapon is particularly good. Better off using magic devices for now

[robbiodobbio]

Ok, got a +4DEX ring now so got an extra melee blow.

What's better?

Short bow of extra might (x3) (+9+12) <+1>
Sling of extra shots (x2) (+13+6) <+1>

Is it better to get in two weaker shots per turn or one stronger one?

[Bogatyr]

Damage cap for basic 4 elements (fire/cold/acid/elec) is 1600, or 533 if single-resisted, 177 if double-resisted (which requires a permanent and a temporary source of the resist). Damage cap for poison is 800/266/88. Why are you anywhere near drolems when you have fewer than 300 HP?

Same way any death occurs: by not paying attention, not re-detecting enough, not lighting a corridor

[Pete Mack]

Soul keeping is junk. Drain Wis doesn't matter to a rogue; drain Int is rare, and doesn't matter much. Ring of Strength actually is useful for a kobold rogue, which tends to be short on strength but long on dex.

[Derakon]

Just got a ring of soulkeeping, sustains STR WIS INT. I'm assuming this is pretty valuable.

Eh. Might be worth carrying as a swap for when facing drainers, but they're rare enough that it's not worth using as standard gear. If you're a melee character, you really want to find big Rings of Strength (which also sustain STR), Rings of Dexterity (if they help you get more blows), and Rings of Damage (nuff said).

[robbiodobbio]

Just got a ring of soulkeeping, sustains STR WIS INT. I'm assuming this is pretty valuable.

[robbiodobbio]

I got stat drained by a unique, think it was one of Mim's boys. Now stuck on 14 health until I level up next.

[Derakon]

Yes but innate resistance only limits damage to 1/3 of original. You need temporary poison resist (from potion or spell) to reduce damage to 1/9 of original. A single drolem breath can easily kill any kobold without additional temporary poison resist before he gets enough HP (my last kobold rogue died exactly that way).

Damage cap for basic 4 elements (fire/cold/acid/elec) is 1600, or 533 if single-resisted, 177 if double-resisted (which requires a permanent and a temporary source of the resist). Damage cap for poison is 800/266/88. Why are you anywhere near drolems when you have fewer than 300 HP?

[Pete Mack]

There aren't that many different enemies that can drain stats, and they can only do it in melee range, with the notable exception of Time Hounds and Time Vortices. And almost all stat drainers have very poor health. Have a halfway-decent ranged combat option. A decently-enchanted Heavy Crossbow will do the trick even if it's not an ego-item. For single targets, you could also use wands or rods.

STR sustain is probably the most important one to get, mostly because of Dreads, which are ghosts that appear in groups, move quickly, and hit to drain STR. It's hard to avoid melee with the entire group. Though, being a rogue will help in that respect since you'll be more able to avoid waking up the entire group at once.

And if you don't have ESP at dread depth, make sure to carry some way to detect them and other (evil) invisible monsters. Detect evil is enough, or detect invisible, until you can reliably cast reveal monsters. If you are regularly getting stat drained, it's a sign you are not detecting enough. The only really unavoidable stat drainers are death quasits and to a dreads.

[Bogatyr]

As a kobold am I already poison resistant?

I seem to remember monsters that breathe gas or shards killing off some of my characters back in the day, is there a resistance to that?

Yes but innate resistance only limits damage to 1/3 of original. You need temporary poison resist (from potion or spell) to reduce damage to 1/9 of original. A single drolem breath can easily kill any kobold without additional temporary poison resist before he gets enough HP (my last kobold rogue died exactly that way).

[Derakon]

I keep getting stat drained, very annoying, especially when the drain strength so then I keep getting (slow -2) from carry weight.

There aren't that many different enemies that can drain stats, and they can only do it in melee range, with the notable exception of Time Hounds and Time Vortices. And almost all stat drainers have very poor health. Have a halfway-decent ranged combat option. A decently-enchanted Heavy Crossbow will do the trick even if it's not an ego-item. For single targets, you could also use wands or rods.

STR sustain is probably the most important one to get, mostly because of Dreads, which are ghosts that appear in groups, move quickly, and hit to drain STR. It's hard to avoid melee with the entire group. Though, being a rogue will help in that respect since you'll be more able to avoid waking up the entire group at once.

[Pete Mack]

Shard protection is nice to have, but it is not nearly as useful as some others. There just aren't that many big shards breathers, and the only relatively early one is the Great Crystal Drake. That's not nearly as dangerous as Ethereal Dragon or Death Drake...which can pass through walls.

[Mondkalb]

As a kobold am I already poison resistant?

I seem to remember monsters that breathe gas or shards killing off some of my characters back in the day, is there a resistance to that?

Oh, well, didn't remember you were playing a kobold.

Shard resistance is nice to have, considering crystal drakes and such.

[robbiodobbio]

If you are lacking fire or cold resistance from a different source, wear the ring. With such a good melee weapon, I'd say wear accuracy, and replace with Damage ASAP. You can use Acid as a swap to soften tough enemies. RoCON(+2) is junk.
Kobold is safe vs poison, mostly

Cheers for the advice, duly noted.

I keep getting stat drained, very annoying, especially when the drain strength so then I keep getting (slow -2) from carry weight.