Sudden massive drop in Strength

[Derakon]

How much do potions of rHeat help against fire burning up inventory?

Inventory damage is based on how much HP damage you take. If I recall correctly, <30 HP damage means a 1% chance for any susceptible item to be destroyed, <60 HP damage is 2%, anything else is 3%.

So it depends on what's hitting you and how much damage they're doing. Fire hounds already deal so little damage that resistance makes no difference in how badly your inventory gets toasted, but with something like a young/mature dragon, it could be relevant. Ancient dragons deal so much damage that even with double resistance you're probably still over the 3% threshold.

[Grotug]

So sounds like rHeat potions are pretty useless if you already have the resistance covered.

Whelp, got my STR! and cruising very comfortably at 3,050'. If I didn't need rNexus, I'd be able to put on some big armor, but I have boots of speed I don't want to swap for stability; and the only other piece of rNexus I've found is Arvedui. Not really a big deal as I've been finding tons of good arrows and picked up Belthronding at 2600' so doing some serious bow damage. Saruman didn't even know what hit him (those were arrows of Holy Might, bud). I will do a character dump once I get a better form of rConf.

edit: +27 speed is a thing. Picked up a RoS [+11} at 2500' and a [+8] RoS just now. Have a <+5> DEX ring I can swap with one of the speed rings for da Liches and other stat drainers.

EDIT: I didn't set RandArts, but the last two artifact weapons I've had have had multiple brands, the latest with rPoison and my Totila has pConf. (I recently picked up Thunderfist and just picked up Gurthang. Both artifacts I've never seen before). Are these typical kinds or restiancs to have on artifact weapons? The Thunderfist is branded with fire and lightning and slays orcs, trolls, animals. Gurthang slays dragons powerfully and is branded with poison and fire.

[Thraalbee]

Eventually you will meet cold and fire breathers with 1600 damage. Temporary resistance is not useless for those situations, especially if you have it via activation or spell. But by no means would I carry a pile of potions for 40 levels to have that late.

[Grotug]

So how much damage would a 1600 breath of fire do if I have rFire from equipment as well as from a quaffed a rHeat potion?

[Carnivean]

For the 4 base resistances and Poison, 1 resist will reduce the damage to 1/3 of the total, so a 533 max breath. 2 resists (1 permanent and 1 temporary) will reduce the damage to 1/9, so 178 max breath.

[Pete Mack]

Note poison is 1/2 that, as is Acid so long as all armor slots have non-zero AC value. This means it is actually easier to take on a big acid breather than a big poison breather, because for the former breath goes like HP/6 while the latter goes like HP/3. Of course no one normally games that because acid destroys scrolls and staffs, as well as ant armor that isn't IGNORE_ACID

[Thraalbee]

Also, for normal monsters, quickly taking a big part of their hp away is usually enough, that will render their breath less powerful. Boss dragons need a lot of damage though before dropping breath strength

[Grotug]

Thanks, guys, for the infos.

I am carrying 130 mithril arrows and running around at +27 speed and 380 melee damage to most critters per round. Though I have to swap to a weaker weapon to gain pConf. Going smoothly at 3500'.

[Grotug]

Here is my character. Boasting, speed, damage and resistances.

  [Angband 4.0.5 Character Dump]

 Name   Grendel      Age             28          Self  RB  CB  EB   Best
 Race   Half-Troll   Height       8'11"   STR! 18/100  +4  +3  +3 18/200
 Class  Warrior      Weight   22st 13lb   INT! 18/100  -4  -2  +0  18/40
 Title  Hero         Turns used:          WIS! 18/100  -2  -2  +4 18/100
 HP     943/943      Game       1234703   DEX! 18/100  -4  +2 +13 18/210
 SP     0/0          Standard    188933   CON! 18/100  +3  +2  +3 18/180
                     Resting       2873

 Level                 44    Armor     [48,+100]    Saving Throw     61%
 Cur Exp          2860480                           Stealth          Bad
 Max Exp          2860480    Melee      18d1,+37    Disarming        73%
 Adv Exp          2880000    To-hit       96,+48    Magic Devices     43
                             Blows      6.0/turn    Perception   1 in 23
 Gold              889316                           Searching        33%
 Burden          162.5 lb    Shoot to-dam    +22    Infravision    60 ft
 Overweight      -17.4 lb    To-hit       81,+49    Speed             30
 Max Depth    3550' (L71)    Shots        2/turn

 Your father was a Stone-Troll Warrior.  You have slime-green eyes,
 oily bright red hair, and white leprous skin.



rAcid:+.....+.+.... Nexus:+...+........
rElec:+.......+.... Nethr:.............
rFire:+.......+.... Chaos:.............
rCold:+.......+.... Disen:.+...........
rPois:....+........ pFear:+..........++
rLite:............. pBlnd:.....+.......
rDark:............. pConf:.............
Sound:............. pStun:.............
Shard:......+...... HLife:.............

Regen:............+ Stea.:.+..+..+...+.
  ESP:.........+... Sear.:....+........
Invis:+....+....... Infra:....+.......+
FrAct:+.....+...... Tunn.:+............
Feath:............. Speed:.++++.++...+.
S.Dig:............. Blows:.............
ImpHP:............. Shots:.+...........
 Fear:............. Might:.............
Aggrv:............. Light:.....+.......


  [Character Equipment]

a) the Great Hammer of Aulë (18d1) (+19,+21) [+5] <+4, +8>
     Dropped by Scatha the Worm at 3550 feet (level 71)
     
     +4 wisdom.
     +8 tunneling.
     Slays dragons (powerfully), evil creatures, undead, demons.
     Branded with acid.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost, nexus.
     Provides protection from fear.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     Prevents paralysis.  Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     
     Combat info:
     6.0 blows/round.
     Average damage/round: 592.2 vs. creatures not resistant to acid,
     829.8 vs. dragons, 473.4 vs. evil creatures, 592.2 vs. undead,
     592.2 vs. demons, and 354.6 vs. others.
     
b) the Long Bow 'Belthronding' (x3) (+20,+22) <+3, +1>
     Dropped by a Lost soul at 2600 feet (level 52)
     
     +3 dexterity.
     +1 stealth.
     +1 speed.
     +1 shooting speed.
     Provides resistance to disenchantment.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
c) a Ring of Speed <+11>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 2500 feet (level 50)
     
     +11 speed.
     
d) a Ring of Speed <+9>
     Dropped by Scatha the Worm at 3550 feet (level 71)
     
     +9 speed.
     
e) an Amulet of Trickery <+3, +2, +4>
     Dropped by a Death quasit at 3550 feet (level 71)
     
     +3 dexterity.
     +2 stealth.
     +4 searching skill.
     +3 infravision.
     +2 speed.
     Provides resistance to poison gas, nexus.
     Sustains dexterity.
     
f) a Lantern of True Sight (12632 turns) <+2>
     Dropped by a Shadow at 1950 feet (level 39)
     
     Provides protection from blindness.
     Cannot be harmed by fire.
     Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     Radius 2 light.
     
g) the Leather Scale Mail 'Thalkettoth' (-1) [20,+25] <+3>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 2500 feet (level 50)
     
     +3 dexterity.
     +3 speed.
     Provides resistance to acid, shards.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     
h) an Elven Cloak [6,+5] <+1>
     Dropped by a Half-troll at 1900 feet (level 38)
     
     +1 stealth.
     +1 speed.
     
i) the Large Metal Shield of Anárion [12,+20]
     Dropped by an Ancient black dragon at 2900 feet (level 58)
     
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     Sustains strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution.
     
j) a Hard Leather Cap of Telepathy [2,+9]
     Dropped by Saruman of Many Colours at 3050 feet (level 61)
     
     Grants telepathy.  
     
k) a Set of Leather Gloves of Agility [1,+1] <+4>
     Found lying on the floor at 900 feet (level 18)
     
     +4 dexterity.
     
l) the Pair of Steel Shod Boots of Thrór [7,+20] <+3, -1>
     Dropped by a Dark elven sorcerer at 3550 feet (level 71)
     
     +3 strength.
     +3 constitution.
     -1 stealth.
     +3 speed.
     Provides protection from fear.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     




  [Character Inventory]

a) a Flask of oil
     Branded with fire.
     
b) a Potion of Cure Critical Wounds
c) 5 Potions of Healing
d) 2 Potions of *Healing*
     It can be thrown at creatures with damaging effect.
     
e) 4 Potions of Speed
f) 30 Scrolls of Phase Door
g) 6 Scrolls of Teleport Level {!*}
h) a Scroll of Banishment
i) 2 Scrolls of Mass Banishment
j) a Scroll of Deep Descent
k) 4 Rods of Detection {@3}
     Cannot be harmed by lightning.
     
l) 2 Rods of Teleport Other {!d}
m) 4 Rods of Recall {!*}
     Cannot be harmed by lightning.
     
n) a Rod of Identify
     Cannot be harmed by lightning.
     
o) 3 Staves of Teleportation (22 charges) {!*}
p) 2 Staves of Speed (5 charges)
q) a Golden Crown of the Magi [0,+15] <+3>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 2600 feet (level 52)
     
     +3 intelligence.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     Sustains intelligence.
     Sustains your life force.  
     
r) the Flail 'Totila' (3d6) (+16,+13) <+2>
     Dropped by The Queen Ant at 1900 feet (level 38)
     
     +2 stealth.
     +2 speed.
     Slays evil creatures.
     Branded with fire.
     Provides resistance to fire.
     Provides protection from confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     When activated, it confuses a target monster.
     Takes 57 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 89.7%
     
     Combat info:
     5.8 blows/round.
     With +2 STR and +0 DEX you would get 6.0 blows
     Average damage/round: 385.7 vs. creatures not resistant to fire,
     316.9 vs. evil creatures, and 248.7 vs. others.
     




  [Character Quiver]

0) 18 Mithril Arrows (3d4) (+7,+7)
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 227.8.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
1) 29 Mithril Arrows (3d4) (+7,+8)
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 234.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
2) 8 Mithril Arrows of Flame (3d4) (+9,+12)
     Branded with fire.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 517.8 vs. creatures not resistant to fire,
     and 259 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
3) 17 Mithril Arrows of Slay Demon (3d4) (+13,+15)
     Slays demons.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 560.6 vs. demons, and 280.4 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
4) 32 Mithril Arrows of Slay Demon (3d4) (+15,+12)
     Slays demons.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 522.8 vs. demons, and 261.4 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
5) 12 Mithril Arrows of Acid (3d4) (+16,+13)
     Branded with acid.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 535.4 vs. creatures not resistant to acid,
     and 267.8 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
6) 19 Mithril Arrows of Holy Might (3d4) (+15,+14)
     Slays evil creatures, demons, undead.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 456.8 vs. evil creatures, 548 vs. demons,
     548 vs. undead, and 274 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     


  [Home Inventory]

a) 40 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
b) 17 Potions of Healing
c) 3 Potions of *Healing*
     It can be thrown at creatures with damaging effect.
     
d) 12 Potions of Speed
e) 7 Scrolls of Teleportation {!*}
f) 2 Scrolls of Rune of Protection
g) 6 Scrolls of *Destruction* {!*}
h) 13 Staves of Teleportation (89 charges) {!*}
i) a Ring of Dexterity <+5>
     Found lying on the floor in a pit at 2150 feet (level 43)
     
     +5 dexterity.
     Sustains dexterity.
     
j) an Amulet of Sustenance
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 1700 feet (level 34)
     
     Sustains strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution.
     Slows your metabolism.  Sustains your life force.  
     
k) an Amulet of ESP <+7>
     Dropped by a Spectre at 1900 feet (level 38)
     
     +7 searching skill.
     Grants telepathy.  
     
l) the Amulet of Carlammas <+1, +3>
     Dropped by Ar-PharazÙn the Golden at 2600 feet (level 52)
     
     +1 strength.
     +3 constitution.
     Provides resistance to fire.
     
     When activated, it grants you protection from evil for 1d25 plus 3
     times your character level turns.
     Takes 858 to 1710 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 82.3%
     
m) the Phial of Galadriel <+3>
     Dropped by Ufthak of Cirith Ungol at 1050 feet (level 21)
     
     Cannot be harmed by fire.
     Radius 3 light.
     
     When activated, it lights up the surrounding area, hurting
     light-sensitive creatures.
     Takes 41 to 76 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 92.1%
     
n) Metal Scale Mail of Elvenkind (-2) [38,+19] <+1>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 1900 feet (level 38)
     
     +1 stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost, sound.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     
o) the Chain Mail of Arvedui (-2) [40,+15] <+2>
     Dropped by Beorn, the Shape-Changer at 1900 feet (level 38)
     
     +2 strength.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost, shards,
     nexus.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     
p) the Mithril Plate Mail of Celeborn (-3) [65,+25] <+3> (charging)
     Found lying on the floor at 3500 feet (level 70)
     
     +3 strength.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost, dark,
     disenchantment.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     
     When activated, it removes all non-unique monsters represented by
     a chosen symbol from the level, dealing you damage in the process.
     Takes 1900 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 85.3%
     
q) Adamantite Plate Mail of Elvenkind (-4) [80,+16] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 2500 feet (level 50)
     
     +2 stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost, poison gas.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     
r) a Small Metal Shield of Elvenkind [5,+12] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor of a labyrinth at 2000 feet (level 40)
     
     +2 stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost, poison gas.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     
s) a Large Metal Shield of Elvenkind [12,+14] <+1>
     Dropped by a Mind flayer at 2400 feet (level 48)
     
     +1 stealth.
     Provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, frost,
     disenchantment.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     
t) the Jewel Encrusted Crown of Nâ?šâ?«menor [0,+18] <+3, +2, +1>
     Dropped by Draebor, the Imp at 3450 feet (level 69)
     
     +3 intelligence.
     +2 dexterity.
     +3 searching skill.
     Provides resistance to frost, light, dark, shards.
     Provides protection from blindness, stunning.
     Cannot be harmed by acid.
     Prevents paralysis.  Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     Radius 1 light.
     
u) the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim' (+5,+5) [1,+10] <+1>
     Dropped by Medusa, the Gorgon at 2100 feet (level 42)
     
     Provides resistance to light.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     Sustains constitution.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     Radius 1 light.
     
     When activated, it fires a magic missile with damage 3d4.
     Takes 7 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 91.4%
     
v) a Pair of Steel Shod Boots of Stability [7,+6]
     Dropped by an Ancient blue dragon at 2750 feet (level 55)
     
     Provides resistance to nexus.
     Cannot be harmed by fire.
     Feather Falling.  
     
w) a Pair of Mithril Shod Boots of Speed [8,+8] <+6>
     Conjured forth by magic at 2600 feet (level 52)
     
     +6 speed.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     
x) the Scythe 'Avavir' (5d3) (+18,+12) [+30] <+3, +1>
     Dropped by Harowen the Black Hand at 2600 feet (level 52)
     
     +3 dexterity.
     +3 speed.
     Branded with fire, cold.
     Provides resistance to fire, frost, light.
     Cannot be harmed by acid, fire.
     Prevents paralysis.  Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     Radius 1 light.
     
     When activated, it returns you from the dungeon or takes you to
     the dungeon after a short delay.
     Takes 760 turns to recharge at your current speed.
     Your chance of success is 85.3%
     
     Combat info:
     5.8 blows/round.
     Average damage/round: 374.5 vs. creatures not resistant to fire,
     374.5 vs. creatures not resistant to cold, and 241.6 vs. others.
     


[Player history]
      Turn   Depth  Note
         0      0'  Began the quest to destroy Morgoth.
       766    200'  Reached level 2
       766    200'  Reached level 3
       766    200'  Reached level 4
       766    200'  Reached level 5
       787    200'  Reached level 6
      1044    200'  Reached level 7
      2644    200'  Reached level 8
      3163    250'  Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's dog
      4716    400'  Reached level 9
      6588    650'  Reached level 10
      6850    650'  Reached level 11
      6938    650'  Reached level 12
      7033    650'  Killed Lagduf, the Snaga
      7375    650'  Reached level 13
      7950    700'  Reached level 14
      9762    750'  Reached level 15
     10188    750'  Killed Ulfast, Son of Ulfang
     10322    750'  Reached level 16
     11846    850'  Reached level 17
     12131    850'  Killed Nâ?š°r, the Dwarf
     12131    850'  Reached level 18
     12822    850'  Reached level 19
     13210    850'  Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's dog
     14126    900'  Reached level 20
     14601    900'  Killed Mughash the Kobold Lord
     16486    900'  Reached level 21
     17956    950'  Killed Angamaitâ?š´ of Umbar
     17985    950'  Killed Sangahyando of Umbar
     17985    950'  Reached level 22
     19175   1000'  Killed Sm�©agol
     19266   1000'  Killed Shagrat, the Orc Captain
     20413   1000'  Killed Brodda, the Easterling
     21953   1000'  Reached level 23
     23814   1050'  Reached level 24
     24096   1050'  Killed Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief
     24147   1050'  Killed Bullroarer the Hobbit
     24159   1050'  Killed Grishnâ?š°kh, the Hill Orc
     24203   1050'  Found the Pair of Leather Boots of Wormtongue (LOST)
     24206   1050'  Found the Pair of Leather Boots of Radagast (LOST)
     25620   1050'  Killed Ufthak of Cirith Ungol
     25646   1050'  Found the Phial of Galadriel
     25840   1050'  Reached level 25
     31216   1250'  Killed Orfax, Son of Boldor
     31239   1250'  Killed Boldor, King of the Yeeks
     31447   1250'  Reached level 26
     32317   1250'  Killed Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman
     36908   1350'  Killed M�Æm, Betrayer of Turin
     36908   1350'  Reached level 27
     36952   1350'  Killed Ibun, Son of M�Æm
     36972   1350'  Killed Kh�Æm, Son of M�Æm
     38118      0'  Reached level 27
     43109   1950'  Reached level 28
     44129   1950'  Reached level 29
     44521      0'  Reached level 29
     45163   1950'  Reached level 28
     45992   1950'  Reached level 28
     46407      0'  Reached level 28
     46407      0'  Reached level 29
     48471   1950'  Reached level 30
     48836   1950'  Killed Lokkak, the Ogre Chieftain
     53279   2000'  Reached level 31
     54271   2050'  Reached level 31
     55065   2050'  Found the Leather Shield of Celegorm (LOST)
     59683   2000'  Reached level 32
     59952   2000'  Reached level 32
     60071   2000'  Found the Lucerne Hammer 'Turmil' (LOST)
     60892   1950'  Reached level 32
     63467   1900'  Killed Lorgan, Chief of the Easterlings
     67118   1900'  Reached level 33
     68799      0'  Reached level 33
     74663   2000'  Found the Dagger 'Nimthanc' (LOST)
     78431   1900'  Reached level 34
     79596   1900'  Killed Gorbag, the Orc Captain
     82372   1900'  Found the Dagger 'Dethanc' (LOST)
     83356   1900'  Killed Beorn, the Shape-Changer
     83366   1900'  Found the Chain Mail of Arvedui
     83935   1900'  Killed The Queen Ant
     83950   1900'  Found the Flail 'Totila'
     86556   1900'  Killed Uvatha the Horseman
     89637   1750'  Killed Bill the Stone Troll
     89698   1750'  Killed Bert the Stone Troll
     89791   1750'  Killed Tom the Stone Troll
     89952   1650'  Killed Bolg, Son of Azog
     89983   1650'  Killed Azog, King of the Uruk-Hai
     91004   1650'  Killed Uldor the Accursed
     93189   1600'  Reached level 35
     97675   1600'  Found the Short Bow of Amrod (LOST)
     98772   1600'  Found the Halberd 'Osondir' (LOST)
    107242   1750'  Found the Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnen' (LOST)
    111981      0'  Killed Farmer Maggot
    118411   2000'  Reached level 36
    121146   2000'  Killed Ulwarth, Son of Ulfang
    124389   2100'  Killed Medusa, the Gorgon
    124459   2100'  Killed Vargo, Tyrant of Fire
    124516   2100'  Found the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim'
    129004   2150'  Reached level 37
    129328   2150'  Killed Waldern, King of Water
    136341   2300'  Found the Pike 'Til-i-arc' (LOST)
    136610   2300'  Reached level 38
    138344   2300'  Killed Akhorahil the Blind
    140264   2350'  Killed Kavlax the Many-Headed
    141630   2400'  Killed Quaker, Master of Earth
    146015   2500'  Reached level 39
    146405   2500'  Found the Leather Scale Mail 'Thalkettoth'
    147046   2500'  Killed Ariel, Queen of Air
    147122   2500'  Found the Bastard Sword 'Calris' (LOST)
    149498   2500'  Killed Rogrog the Black Troll
    151226   2550'  Reached level 40
    152604   2600'  Killed Ar-Pharaz�¥n the Golden
    152664   2600'  Found the Amulet of Carlammas
    152744   2600'  Found the Broad Axe 'Barukkheled' (LOST)
    153095   2600'  Found the Long Bow 'Belthronding'
    153454   2600'  Killed Harowen the Black Hand
    153482   2600'  Found the Scythe 'Avavir'
    155740   2600'  Found the Glaive of Pain (LOST)
    158956   2700'  Reached level 41
    160377   2700'  Killed The Lernaean Hydra
    161197   2700'  Killed Itangast the Fire Drake
    165114   2850'  Killed Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir
    168211   2900'  Found the Large Metal Shield of Anárion
    168521   2900'  Killed Lugdush, the Uruk
    169240   2950'  Killed Castamir the Usurper
    170315   2950'  Killed Eâ?šâ?‚l, the Dark Elf
    170315   2950'  Reached level 42
    170438   2950'  Found the Quarterstaff 'Eriril' (LOST)
    172523   3050'  Killed Saruman of Many Colours
    173988   3050'  Killed Ren the Unclean
    173991   3050'  Found the Two-Handed Great Flail 'Thunderfist' (LOST)
    174777   3050'  Killed Uglâ?šâ?«k, the Uruk
    176191   3100'  Found the Zweihander 'Gurthang'
    176727   3100'  Found the Pick of Erebor (LOST)
    178974   3350'  Reached level 43
    180976   3450'  Killed Draebor, the Imp
    181043   3450'  Found the Jewel Encrusted Crown of Númenor
    182415   3500'  Reached level 44
    183134   3500'  Found the Mithril Plate Mail of Celeborn
    184352   3500'  Killed The Cat Lord
    185297   3500'  Found the Short Bow of Amras (LOST)
    186575   3550'  Killed Scatha the Worm
    186636   3550'  Found the Great Hammer of Aulë
    187592   3550'  Found the Pair of Steel Shod Boots of Thrór


  [Options]

  [User interface]

Use the roguelike command keyset             : no  (rogue_like_commands)
Use sound                                    : yes (use_sound)
Show damage player deals to monsters         : no  (show_damage)
Use old target by default                    : no  (use_old_target)
Always pickup items                          : no  (pickup_always)
Always pickup items matching inventory       : yes (pickup_inven)
Show flavors in object descriptions          : no  (show_flavors)
Highlight target with cursor                 : yes (show_target)
Disturb whenever viewable monster moves      : yes (disturb_near)
Show walls as solid blocks                   : no  (solid_walls)
Show walls with shaded background            : no  (hybrid_walls)
Color: Illuminate torchlight in yellow       : no  (view_yellow_light)
Color: Shimmer multi-colored things          : no  (animate_flicker)
Center map continuously                      : no  (center_player)
Color: Show unique monsters in purple        : no  (purple_uniques)
Automatically clear '-more-' prompts         : no  (auto_more)
Color: Player color indicates % hit points   : yes (hp_changes_color)
Allow mouse clicks to move the player        : yes (mouse_movement)
Notify on object recharge                    : no  (notify_recharge)

  [Birth]

Randomise the artifacts (except a very few)  : no  (birth_randarts)
Word of Recall has no effect                 : no  (birth_no_recall)
Restrict creation of artifacts               : no  (birth_no_artifacts)
Don't stack objects on the floor             : no  (birth_no_stacking)
Lose artifacts when leaving level            : no  (birth_no_preserve)
Don't generate connected stairs              : no  (birth_no_stairs)
Don't show level feelings                    : no  (birth_no_feelings)
Increase gold drops but disable selling      : yes (birth_no_selling)
Use previous set of randarts                 : yes (birth_keep_randarts)
Start with a kit of useful gear              : yes (birth_start_kit)
Monsters learn from their mistakes           : no  (birth_ai_learn)
Force player descent                         : no  (birth_force_descend)

[Nick]

Here is my character.

Putting CODE tags around the dump (as I just did) makes it much more readable. Probably better still is to upload it to the ladder - use the tab at the top of the page.

[Pete Mack]

Aule js easily an endgame weapon. You are sacrificing too much damage for speed. Swap a damage ring for a speed ring and suddenly you will be doing 70 damage more per turn. There are only a handful of monsters you need +30 speed for. Use _Speed for those. (Try to save maybe a dozen !Speed for the bosses.) Avoid Liches, Balrogs, and those few wraiths that drain charges. When you fight unique balrogs and L, stash your staves and wands in a safe place.

That character already should already have an easy time beating M.

[Grotug]

But more speed means more damage per enemy's round, means more damage overall, no?

[Derakon]

But more speed means more damage per enemy's round, means more damage overall, no?

To an extent, but the math is pretty tricky. Let's say that you're at 4x normal speed (which is something like +35 speed, I forget) while your opponent is at 3x normal speed (+20 speed). Thus you effectively get a 4/3 multiplier on your damage. If you drop to being at merely 3.5x normal speed, then your multiplier drops to 3.5/3. (4/3) / (3.5/3) = 4/3.5 ~= 1.14, so that's a 14% decrease in your damage. If you can increase your displayed "damage per round" by 14% in exchange for that speed drop, then you should, assuming all you care about is raw damage.

But you're at +30 permanent speed, so +40 temporary. What's the damage difference created by dropping from +40 speed to +30 speed? +40 speed is nowhere near 5x normal speed; it's something like 4.2x normal speed. And +30 speed is somewhere around 3.8x. So your damage loss from going from +40 to +30 speed is something like 4.2/3.8 ~= 10%. You shouldn't have much trouble finding gear (a +15 Ring of Damage, say) that gives you a better than 10% increase in damage to make up for that speed loss.

Someone with ready access to the code can look in tables.c, which has the energy table that defines energy gained per game turn at various speed levels and thus what the actual damage differences are at the upper ends of the speed table. But the bottom line is that not only does speed have diminishing returns in an absolute sense, but it also has diminishing returns in that the difference between e.g. 3x and 2x speed is more than the difference between 4x and 3x speed. There's definitely a point at which more speed is not as important as more of other things.

[Nick]

Someone with ready access to the code can look in tables.c, which has the energy table that defines energy gained per game turn at various speed levels and thus what the actual damage differences are at the upper ends of the speed table.

Now in game-world.c:

 * at speeds above "Fast (+30)", one approaches an asymptotic
 * effective limit of 50 energy per turn.  This means that it
 * is relatively easy to reach "Fast (+30)" and get about 40
 * energy per turn, but then speed becomes very "expensive",
 * and you must get all the way to "Fast (+50)" to reach the
 * point of getting 45 energy per turn.  After that point,
 * furthur increases in speed are more or less pointless,
 * except to balance out heavy inventory.
 *
 * Note that currently the fastest monster is "Fast (+30)".
 */
const byte extract_energy[200] =
{
	/* Slow */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* Slow */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* Slow */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* Slow */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* Slow */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* Slow */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* S-50 */     1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,  1,
	/* S-40 */     2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,
	/* S-30 */     2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  2,  3,  3,  3,
	/* S-20 */     3,  3,  3,  3,  3,  4,  4,  4,  4,  4,
	/* S-10 */     5,  5,  5,  5,  6,  6,  7,  7,  8,  9,
	/* Norm */    10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
	/* F+10 */    20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,
	/* F+20 */    30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36, 37, 37,
	/* F+30 */    38, 38, 39, 39, 40, 40, 40, 41, 41, 41,
	/* F+40 */    42, 42, 42, 43, 43, 43, 44, 44, 44, 44,
	/* F+50 */    45, 45, 45, 45, 45, 46, 46, 46, 46, 46,
	/* F+60 */    47, 47, 47, 47, 47, 48, 48, 48, 48, 48,
	/* F+70 */    49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49,
	/* Fast */    49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49, 49,
};

For example, the row

/* Norm */    10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,

means at normal speed you get 10 energy per turn, at + 1 speed 11 energy, etc up to +9 speed giving 19 energy, then the next row starts at +10 speed and so on.

Note too that the turns I'm talking about here are not what feels like a turn to the player; the player gets to move once they have accumulated 100 energy, so at normal speed that is ten of these turns (and at Fast +10 it is 5 turns).

I hope that helps - it certainly took me a while to get my head around this properly.

[Derakon]

Thanks, Nick. Also, ha! My memory of +30 and +40 speed is right on the money! ...which is kind of scary, but oh well.

But yeah, going from +20 to +30 speed is a substantial improvement of ~27%. Going from +30 to +40 is only 10%.