How to approach endgame with high XP char?

[Will]

Amras is a crummy bow for a ranger. Much better to have 3 shots * 4 multiplier than 4 shots and 3 multiplier. Even Amrod isn't all that great--a big Longbow of Lothlorien is way better on damage. And so, of course, is Bard.

I haven't many bows, only the 2 artifacts mentioned and one bow of Lothlorien x4 (+20,+21).

Comparing damage it doesn't seem that impressive.

Using a regular arrow of Flame (+9,+9) I get the following results:
- Amras: 4 shots per round, 667,6 if not resist fire, 334 otherwise
- Lothlorien: 3 shots per round, 716.7 if not resist fire, 409.5 otherwise

I find that 4 shots per round, while obviously using up more arrows, can also be useful to get rid of more pesky hounds per round (of course I still have to get used to the cold immunity + I found Firestar on the same level).

Hopefully a better bow will drop soon.

[Pete Mack]

Amras is a crummy bow for a ranger. Much better to have 3 shots * 4 multiplier than 4 shots and 3 multiplier. Even Amrod isn't all that great--a big Longbow of Lothlorien is way better on damage. And so, of course, is Bard.

[Will]

The situation just changed dramatically as I found Nenya lying on the floor of a dlvl 83 vault that wasn't even protected by a unique. I basically just had to walk in and TO a Horned Reaper to grab it.

I swapped the RoS out, replaced Thranduil (only useful for ESP) with Celeborm (meaning I have all resists covered) and switched Amrod for Amras (I was mostly using Amrod as a stat stick for CON but Amras provides me with substantially more damage).

Immunity to cold should help me stockpile healing potions, and I've found quite a few potions of experience so I'm now only 157k xp from lvl 46.

It's the first ring of power I've ever found and it makes a huge difference...

[Pete Mack]

Ranger isn't as bad as mage--you can kill high XP monsters with minimal cost (just Branded ammo with the 3 basic brands. Mage has the spell, but has a hard time actually doing damage.) In any case, do not assume you will reach CL 50. CL ~45 is all *many* characters ever get before winning. For Mage, I like CL 46 and INT 18/220 because that is zero-fail for Mass Banishment, and it's the point at which Mana Storm overtakes Chaos bolt in efficiency. But for Ranger, the only major limit is CL 40, where you get the third shot.

Edit: the reorg of the ladder for winners shows this easily (The first winner is a joke using the One Ring.)

http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-browse.php?v=Angband&s=4

[Derakon]

You already have 3 shots/turn, so a bow with a big multiplier is probably what you want to be looking for. And yeah, you don't need much in the way of HP if you're never getting hit; you just need enough to survive Sauron/Morgoths' big attacks, plus the ability to then hide long enough to heal (or just spend a *Healing* if you have lots of those).

[Estie]

Stop thinking about xp completely. The only things youre missing are items - in particular, a better bow and more arrows with slay evil or acid branded. 800 hit points are fine if you dont have to enter melee. Get those, by clearing vaults. Then go kill the endbosses.

A better bow would be a simple extra shots bow with decent damage enchantment, or a Lorien bow x5. You should find a few in the next GV. More of a problem can be arrows; by the time you have 2-3 stacks of slay evil ones, you probably have gained a few levels from drinking xp potions.

[Will]

After my HT warrior I've decided to try a ranger and picked High-Elf as a race. I've reached clvl 44 and dlvl 81 but it seems I've hit a wall xp-wise. Progression is now really slow and it doesn't feel safe to farm for xp. At the same time my hp is only 828 and that seems a bit low for Morgoth...

Right now I'm abusing runes of protection to kill the strongest uniques as well as anything reasonably tough (archliches, wyrms and so on). I have high speed (native +24), average damage output and I'm missing rShards and more importantly rDisenchant.

Every time I go back to the dungeon, either I find really easy mobs who don't yield any XP, or really tough ones that are extremely dangerous. Since I've never really played a ranger I have no clue what I should be looking forward to in terms of equipment, nor what the best strategy is from now on.

Any help appreciated

Link to ladder: Badaboom