Identification strategies

[Carnivean]

The risks of ID-by-use are so high for early-game that it's better to waste a good scroll or potion by selling it.

What risks? ID-by-use is meant to the be safe for all.

[wobbly]

The only risks I can think of are fairly easy to counter. Summon monster can be planned for, you should have phases anyway and can pick a spot with only 1 free square for an enemy. Potions shouldn't be drunk in a situation where sleep/poison/salt water will kill you. Deep descent is only a worry in iron-man otherwise you have recall, right?

[Rowan]

What risks? ID-by-use is meant to the be safe for all.

I tend to play the squishier classes/races, so early on I daren't risk potion of poison, or deep descent scrolls, etc. We're talking really early, like first time you enter the dungeon. But that's when you first encounter a lot of these, anyway.

[wobbly]

I tend to play the squishier classes/races, so early on I daren't risk potion of poison, or deep descent scrolls, etc. We're talking really early, like first time you enter the dungeon. But that's when you first encounter a lot of these, anyway.

It doesn't matter if you're squishy. Test it when there's nothing around. Most squishy race/classes have detect. Detect, then say, if something goes wrong can I deal with it? Is there anything around to cause me trouble?

[Derakon]

I tend to play the squishier classes/races, so early on I daren't risk potion of poison, or deep descent scrolls, etc. We're talking really early, like first time you enter the dungeon. But that's when you first encounter a lot of these, anyway.

If it's that early, then why do you care if the character survives or not? Throw 'em into the meatgrinder and see what happens. The game's more fun if you take risks, anyway.

[Rowan]

If it's that early, then why do you care if the character survives or not? Throw 'em into the meatgrinder and see what happens. The game's more fun if you take risks, anyway.

Haha! I guess I could, but my imagination just doesn't work that way. At least a part of me always jumps into character and wants to be careful from the start. If it really were me going in there, I wouldn't drink unknown potions when I'm at risk of dying from a fruit-bat!

[Egavactip]

In early-game I like selling scrolls & potions to ID them. The risks of ID-by-use are so high for early-game that it's better to waste a good scroll or potion by selling it. By the time you get deep enough for really amazing/valuable scrolls and potions, you've found other means of ID.
.

I thought so too until I sold a Potion of Experience found on a very early dungeon level.

Potions are generally not a problem to field test as long as you have some suitable remedies around. It is scrolls that I am reluctant to field test--they can have much nastier results.

[Derakon]

Potions are generally not a problem to field test as long as you have some suitable remedies around. It is scrolls that I am reluctant to field test--they can have much nastier results.

Read them while standing on stairs, and be willing to accept you might end up 5 dungeon levels deeper, and you should be able to ID all the dangerous ones without too much trouble. Later on you'll probably want to avoid accidentally reading Teleport Level or Destruction or the like, but that's more because they can screw you out of interesting stuff on the current level, rather than because they're innately dangerous to use.

[MadeOfBees]

No more cursed items?, and what about potions of death?

Play mage, the best class ever, take no chances!

[fph]

and what about potions of death?

They are gone, too, in the recent versions, if this is what you meant.

[Ingwe Ingweron]

No more cursed items?, and what about potions of death?

Play mage, the best class ever, take no chances!

There are very few cursed items, and only a couple Permanently cursed items. If you do happen to run across one of the cursed items (e.g., Boots of Wormtongue), it still may be worth wielding for the advantages conferred. Reading scrolls of Enchant Armor (or Enchant Weapon, if applicable), has a chance of breaking the curse.

[Rowan]

I thought so too until I sold a Potion of Experience found on a very early dungeon level.

Well, but such a level probably had a high-level treasure feeling. If you want to play cautious AND not risk selling something great, keep all unique flavors at home, and only sell things of which you have multiples. It really doesn't take long to find magical ID, anyway.

[Timo Pietilä]

No more cursed items?, and what about potions of death?

There are cursed items, but not normal ones, only few ego and artifact weapons and armors (and one very special ring). Reading scrolls of enchant weapon/armor has a chance of breaking any curse, even if the enchantment is unsuccessful. Pretty much all jewelry can be tested by wearing them.

Potions of death and detonations are gone. Also scrolls of curse weapon/armor are gone. Scrolls and spells of remove curse are also gone.

No item will kill you instantly but couple will make gaming harder somewhat. Most cursed ego weapons are not bad, but annoy because of sticky curse. Cursed armors are worse, but usually appear deep enough that you can reliably ID them by the time you find one.