Depth descriptions

[spara]

Is there somewhere some nice reference to what to expect at what depth? I'm not too keen on looking at the configs to see the exact numbers and monsters, but I would rather see more vague descriptions like "Orc caves" or "Haunted depths" or "Dragons' territories" or something like that.

[Carnivean]

Not so much. The random nature and fairly broad spread of power levels for each type of monster make it fairly hard to put those kind of labels on.

What you'll tend to see is that low level versions of each monster will appear, then become more common, then a more dangerous version will appear, etc. Baby dragons, then groups of babies, then young dragons, etc. Snagas then orcs, etc.

Dragons for example start about level 9 (450') but could be seen from level 2 onwards if the RNG decides it to be fun, or not show up until level 15.

Thankfully nasties like undead don't appear until quite a bit further down.

[spara]

Thanks. I'm aware of the chaotic nature of the game and the possibility of frequently seeing OOD monsters.

Dragons for example start about level 9 (450') but could be seen from level 2 onwards if the RNG decides it to be fun, or not show up until level 15.

Thankfully nasties like undead don't appear until quite a bit further down.

This is the kind of vague information I'm looking for. I've gone through the game once and had a gut feeling that some monsters started to appear at some depth and after some other depth were not seen again.

Somewhere in the past, was there some rumor document or something to give some vague hints and add ambiance? Or maybe it's only in my head, I've been playing this game way too much over the previous 20 years. Anyway, this sort of info could well be in such a document.

[Pete Mack]

Well, the usual list is pretty short:
1200' for dangerous paralyzers
1700' for gravity hound
1900' for Kavlax (castamir is around there too)
2000' for ancient dragons, though they aren't so dangerous
2200' for drolems (instakill poison) Ancient dragon uniques show up around here too, though they are worth killing if you have double resistance.
After this, the dangers start accumulating fast . By 2500' there will be something dangerous on every level.

[PowerWyrm]

Castamir is a pushover... Gorlim is probably the one you want to recall. Also 2750' is the native depth of Dracoliches, which is probably the first monster (except Kavlax) that can instakill you EVEN with resistances.

[Pete Mack]

Powerwyrm--
Dracolich is dangerous, sure. But I have lost more characters to Ethereal dragons and Death drakes though, since they are shallower, invisible, and have passwall. By the time I run into a Dracolich, I am generally prepared for it.

[nikheizen]

Castamir is a pushover... Gorlim is probably the one you want to recall. Also 2750' is the native depth of Dracoliches, which is probably the first monster (except Kavlax) that can instakill you EVEN with resistances.

Drolems are definitely the shallowest instakillers sans Kavlax.

[fph]

They are not instakillers, but Dreads (2100') are also painful at first if you aren't prepared. They may quickly burn through your means of safe escape.

[Pete Mack]

Yep, I often carry a sustain strength swap in case of them, unless I can one-hit them safely.