equipment damage is my favroite

[Grotug]

You wield a crossbow; it is average. You drop a sling of accuracy. A baby dragon breathes fire. The sling of accuracy burns up.

yay.

Of course I dropped the {splendid} bolts I picked up last dungeon level since I was wielding a sling.

[Monkey Face]

Lesson is that when a baby red dragon is in the area, drop a potion or ring which won't burn up rather than something that will.

Also, the bright side is that it was a sling of accuracy which IMHO is less valuable than power, extra might, or extra shots.

[Grotug]

Well, I didn't see the dragon, he just came on the scene and breathed fire. I am an idiot, tho, per usual: a level or two later I picked up a light crossbow of extra shots (still no ammo) and then got in trouble with Uldor summoning black knights (on DL22) I nearly died; but teleported out (it took two ?teleportation). I then regenerated health and went back anxious to kill Uldor, forgetting to start using all the breath attacks I had until it was too late. I collect valuable stuff but I forget I have it when I panic; it's amazing.

I had a wand of lightning balls;
200 damage (with AOE) red armor of craftmanship
a ring of acid
a ring of cold
and 2 rings of escaping. When I was nearing the room where all those OOD baddies were in; I shoulda blasted them with the two rings; then put on the two rings of escaping and blasted them again with all the lightning balls/fire; but of course I didn't think of that until it was too late.

Oh, and I was attacking with Evergil.

Also worth noting: last two games I saved good ammo for a weapon I did not have. This time, I decided since I had a good sling (damage was 11) I'll drop the {splendid} bolts. I shoulda just left the Uldor level, but it had a level 5 feeling and I am stupidly stubborn. I also had an elvenkind armor of rDisenchantment. Why I stupidly kill off such a good character?

In other news, why do the townspeople attack you? I just died again as a HT Warrior in the town going to shops getting ready to go into the dungeon for the first time. I don't have the interest or patience to deal with townspeople.

[Pete Mack]

With the quiver, the only reasons to drop ego ammo is:
* it is sling ammo and you already have an ego bow, or your bow is so good you are unlikely to turn it in for better
* you are over weight
* you have the mage spell.
It is hugely valuable. Dropping it because you haven't yet found a bow is not so good a reason.

Hunting down shallow uniques that gave already summoned nasties is a mugs game. The odds of a good drop are much lower than the odds of either dying or just using a lot of consumables.
Well good lesson anyway.

Well, I didn't see the dragon, he just came on the scene and breathed fire. I am an idiot, tho, per usual: a level or two later I picked up a light crossbow of extra shots (still no ammo) and then got in trouble with Uldor summoning black knights (on DL22) I nearly died; but teleported out (it took two ?teleportation). I then regenerated health and went back anxious to kill Uldor, forgetting to start using all the breath attacks I had until it was too late. I collect valuable stuff but I forget I have it when I panic; it's amazing.

I had a wand of lightning balls;
200 damage (with AOE) red armor of craftmanship
a ring of acid
a ring of cold
and 2 rings of escaping. When I was nearing the room where all those OOD baddies were in; I shoulda blasted them with the two rings; then put on the two rings of escaping and blasted them again with all the lightning balls/fire; but of course I didn't think of that until it was too late.

Oh, and I was attacking with Evergil.

Also worth noting: last two games I saved good ammo for a weapon I did not have. This time, I decided since I had a good sling (damage was 11) I'll drop the {splendid} bolts. I shoulda just left the Uldor level, but it had a level 5 feeling and I am stupidly stubborn. I also had an elvenkind armor of rDisenchantment. Why I stupidly kill off such a good character?

In other news, why do the townspeople attack you? I just died again as a HT Warrior in the town going to shops getting ready to go into the dungeon for the first time. I don't have the interest or patience to deal with townspeople.

[Grotug]

Okay, little pop quiz: what do you think the level feeling is for a rod of cold balls (100 damage) on DL17? How about ring of damage [+9] on DL20?

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Okay, little pop quiz: what do you think the level feeling is for a rod of cold balls (100 damage) on DL17? How about ring of damage [+9] on DL20?

It doesn't really work that way, since treasure feeling encompasses ALL the items on the level (but not monster drops). That said, I'd guess a 6 or 7. Not enough to make me stop unless I happen to come across them on my way to the down stairs. DL 1-3, a treasure level of 6 has a reasonable likelihood of being a 'thanc dagger and a 4 a reasonable likelihood of being free action. Other than those very early levels, I try to pause descending only for an 8 or 9.

[Derakon]

Okay, little pop quiz: what do you think the level feeling is for a rod of cold balls (100 damage) on DL17? How about ring of damage [+9] on DL20?

You really need to turn level feelings off, mate. They're doing the opposite of helping you: you're making bad decisions because of them. I know you don't want to miss out on good treasures, but the thing about Angband is that there's always the potential for something awesome around the next corner, even if the "corner" is a staircase. The items you leave behind on this level will be replaced by items on the next level that are, on average, just as good.

[Werbaer]

Okay, little pop quiz: what do you think the level feeling is for a rod of cold balls (100 damage) on DL17? How about ring of damage [+9] on DL20?

My guess: 6 for the rod. No extra feeling for the ring, since it's in-depth.

And if i don't have a ring of damage yet, i would very much prefer the later.
On the other hand, if i happen to already have a rod of cold balls, a second one would be great.

And in most cases, a 9 feeling is either a potion of experience, or an unusable high level dungeon book.

[Grotug]

The level feeling for the DL17 rod of cold balls was 1. The level feeling for the ring of damage on DL20 was 2.

You really need to turn level feelings off, mate. They're doing the opposite of helping you: you're making bad decisions because of them. I know you don't want to miss out on good treasures, but the thing about Angband is that there's always the potential for something awesome around the next corner, even if the "corner" is a staircase. The items you leave behind on this level will be replaced by items on the next level that are, on average, just as good.

Yes, I've been *really* slow to learn this one. Though I have had this realization from time to time, I just get so attached to each level for some reason.

[Derakon]

Yes, I've been *really* slow to learn this one. Though I have had this realization from time to time, I just get so attached to each level for some reason.

It's a common way to play the game, so take heart, you're not alone. In fact it wasn't until I was on my third or fourth playthrough of Diablo 2 (where movement about the level is much slower) that I thought "Wait, why am I bothering to kill and/or loot everything in this huge map?" For me at least it was a huge liberation to realize that there really wasn't a good reason to clear every level I encountered.

I forget which game broke me of my habit of pointlessly hoarding rare consumables. That's another important thing to learn.

[Grotug]

And I die of hunger from something eating my food from my pack.

[Mudd]

It's a common way to play the game, so take heart, you're not alone. In fact it wasn't until I was on my third or fourth playthrough of Diablo 2 (where movement about the level is much slower) that I thought "Wait, why am I bothering to kill and/or loot everything in this huge map?" For me at least it was a huge liberation to realize that there really wasn't a good reason to clear every level I encountered.

I forget which game broke me of my habit of pointlessly hoarding rare consumables. That's another important thing to learn.

I think it's that for a lot of folks, me included, exploration is a prime motivator.
The thrill of finding every nook and cranny, every rare item, etc.

Even in most of the commercial AAA games I play, I will completely ignore the main story line for as long is possible in order to explore the world.

Yes, this can be deadly. Clearing each level religiously is not the best strategy if one wants to "win" the game. But even experienced Angbander's set their own self-imposed rules to keep the game entertaining for themselves - ala iron main, forced descent, etc.

It is simply that for some players, clearing levels is it's own reward. Or killing every unique...or finding every artifact, etc.

[Grotug]

Ugh, now I die from a paralyze trap; just when things were starting to get interesting. I just picked up a +12,+12 bow with extra shots.

Death by paralysis is really lame. How about paralysis traps not last more than two or three turns? This was like 10 turns while Gorfumbil whacked away at me. Not really fun.

[Pete Mack]

Why did you step in it when a monster was near by, and you didn't have FA? That was avoidable.

[Monkey Face]

And I die of hunger from something eating my food from my pack.

Usually as soon as something starts eating my food, especially something I can't see (usually a green G), I eat enough to get full so I can afford to lose some rations.