Diving exercise for newbies

[Pete Mack]

@bdgamer--
Yeah, that will happen sometimes, especially before you really learn all the early monsters with paralyzing attacks. Damage will eventually come--usually in an a huge shift where suddenly everything native is easy to kill. (You'll find a *thanc, say, or Careth Asdraig, or a decent ego bow.)
After running these two characters back to back, I think the rogue was a little easier. Yeah, you have to be picky about fights, but detection makes that easy. With the warrior, I had to carry staffs of Detect Evil. I neglected to show all the supplies I was carrying at the end of the demo. It was something like:
?17 PD
? 18 CSW+CCW
4 !Hero
_Teleport (warrior)
_Detect Evil (warrior only)
2 _Mapping (warrior; rogue hadn't recalled since DL 8 or so)
Rod of Light
2 Scrolls of Teleport (rogue)
2 rods of frost bolts (rogue)
1 wand of frost bolts(warrior)
Light activation (warrior)

[Diogenes]

This is my latest entry for the "Rogue" newbie excercise. THe choice for Elf instead of HE was intentional - before this I had tried an HE Rogue, but the XP penalty (and the apparent lack of HP for that particular try) made it a short but tedious affair.

I'm not sure if I should dive now... I usually stayed at these DLevs for a long time hoping to find !Stat.

No great weapon yet, nice defenses tho (if I may say so).

[Pete Mack]

Diogenes: if you dive fast, EXP doesn't matter nearly so much, as monsters have exponentially more HP. Yeah, you'll be a few levels behind a weaker race, but you'll still be stronger overall.
!stat will come at all levels below 30, and !Aug starts showing up at DL 50. But if you're getting stat potions, the exercise is already done...
If you want to continue the exercise, keep diving. But diving past DL 40 isn't really a "newbie" exercise. More "intermediate". But there's nothing particularly special about stat gain. You can do it throughout the dungeon, and it does go faster with more vaults (and more !Augmentation.) The big issues become damage and speed, not so much individual stats (except to some extent CON.) You can survive deep with surprisingly weak characters, so long as you play with sufficient paranoia.

[bdgamer]

Ok, I did it again, 58 minutes, and am down at DL20 at CL17, with a handful of goodies that should set me up fairly well at this level and moving forward. There are some things that I would really like to have at this point, but definitely can't complain.

  [Angband 4.1.0 Character Dump]

 Name   Nennhil XIII Age            128          Self  RB  CB  EB   Best
 Race   High-Elf     Height        8'4"   STR:     18  +1  +0  +0  18/10
 Class  Rogue        Weight    14st 5lb   INT:     10  +3  +1  +1     15
 Title  Robber       Turns used:          WIS:     10  -1  -3  +1      7
 HP     145/145      Game        173775   DEX:     16  +3  +3  +0  18/40
 SP     16/16        Standard     17425   CON:     10  +1  -1  +0     10
                     Resting       5959

 Level                 17    Armor      [24,+34]    Saving Throw     65%
 Cur Exp             5721                           Stealth    Very Good
 Max Exp             5721    Melee        1d3,+8    Disarm - phys.   83%
 Adv Exp             6525    To-hit        46,+5    Disarm - magic   81%
                             Blows      2.7/turn    Magic Devices     71
 Gold               10432                           Searching        57%
 Burden           59.4 lb    Shoot to-dam    +10    Infravision    40 ft
 Overweight      -72.5 lb    To-hit       47,+18    Speed         Normal
 Max Depth    1000' (L20)    Shots        1/turn

 You are the only child of a Telerin Ranger.  You have light blue eyes,
 straight black hair, and a fair complexion.



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) a Whip of *Slay Animal* (1d3) (+2,+6) <+1>
     Found lying on the floor at 600 feet (level 12)
     
     +1 intelligence.
     Slays animals.
     Grants telepathy.  
     
     Combat info:
     2.7 blows/round.
     With +1 STR and +0 DEX you would get 3.0 blows
     With +0 STR and +2 DEX you would get 3.0 blows
     Average damage/round: 33.7 vs. animals, and 27.9 vs. others.
     
b) a Sling of Accuracy (x2) (+15,+10)
     Found lying on the floor at 50 feet (level 1)
     
c) a Pearl Ring {tried, ??}
     Found lying on the floor at 850 feet (level 17)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     
d) a Ring of Protection [+13]
     Dropped by a large kobold at 800 feet (level 16)
     
e) a Carved Oak Amulet {tried, ??}
     Dropped by a large kobold at 850 feet (level 17)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     
f) a Lantern (12780 turns)
     Found lying on the floor at 550 feet (level 11)
     
     Cannot be harmed by fire.
     Radius 2 light.
     
g) Hard Leather Armour (-1) [16,+0]
     Found lying on the floor of a special room at 700 feet (level 14)
     
i) a Wicker Shield of Resist Fire [2,+4]
     Dropped by Bullroarer the Hobbit at 900 feet (level 18)
     
     Provides resistance to fire.
     
j) a Metal Cap of Wisdom [3,+5] <+1>
     Found lying on the floor at 600 feet (level 12)
     
     +1 wisdom.
     Sustains wisdom.
     
k) a Set of Gauntlets of Free Action [3,+10]
     Dropped by a bandit at 700 feet (level 14)
     
     Prevents paralysis.  
     




  [Character Inventory]

a) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Magic for Beginners] {@m1 @G1 @b1}
b) 4 Potions of Cure Serious Wounds
c) 3 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
d) 2 Potions of Speed
e) 4 Potions of Heroism
f) 7 Scrolls of Phase Door
g) 2 Scrolls of Magic Mapping
h) a Scroll of Light
i) 7 Scrolls of Word of Recall
j) 4 Scrolls of Blessing
k) a Rod of Light
l) a Wand of Stinking Cloud (10 charges)
m) a Wand of Lightning Balls (7 charges)
     Cannot be harmed by lightning.
     
n) a Wand of Wonder (20 charges)
     Cannot be harmed by lightning.
     
o) a Rusty Wand {tried}
p) a Ring of Protection [+10]
     Found lying on the floor at 750 feet (level 15)
     
q) an Azurite Ring {tried, ??}
     Found lying on the floor of a special room at 700 feet (level 14)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     Provides resistance to fire.
     
r) a Mithril Amulet {tried, ??}
     Found lying on the floor at 550 feet (level 11)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     
s) a Crystal Amulet {tried, ??}
     Dropped by a kobold archer at 850 feet (level 17)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     




  [Character Quiver]

9) 4 Iron Shots (1d4) (+0,+0) {@f9 =g}
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 25.2.
     25% chance of breaking upon contact.
     


  [Home Inventory]

a) a Mithril Amulet {tried, ??}
     Dropped by a dark elven priest at 600 feet (level 12)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     
b) a Broad Sword (2d5) (+3,+9) {??}
     Found lying on the floor at 600 feet (level 12)
     
     You do not know the full extent of this item's powers.
     Branded with acid.
     
     Combat info:
     1.3 blows/round.
     With +1 STR and +0 DEX you would get 1.6 blows
     With +0 STR and +2 DEX you would get 1.6 blows
     Average damage/round: 40.4 vs. creatures not resistant to acid,
     and 23.6 vs. others.
     


[Player history]
      Turn   Depth  Note
         0      0'  Began the quest to destroy Morgoth.
       431     50'  Reached level 2
      1771    100'  Reached level 3
      2127    100'  Reached level 4
      2309    150'  Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's Dog
      2779    150'  Reached level 5
      3304    150'  Reached level 6
      4698    250'  Reached level 7
      5689    500'  Reached level 8
      5947    500'  Killed Brodda, the Easterling
      5947    500'  Reached level 9
      6661    550'  Reached level 10
      8557    600'  Reached level 11
      9211    600'  Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's Dog
      9949    600'  Reached level 12
     11032    600'  Reached level 13
     13681    700'  Reached level 14
     14653    800'  Reached level 15
     15808    850'  Reached level 16
     16643    900'  Killed Bullroarer the Hobbit
     16981    950'  Reached level 17


  [Options]

  [User interface]

Use the roguelike command keyset             : no  (rogue_like_commands)
Use sound                                    : no  (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       : no  (pickup_inven)
Show flavors in object descriptions          : no  (show_flavors)
Highlight target with cursor                 : yes (show_target)
Highlight player with cursor between turns   : no  (highlight_player)
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        : yes (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]

Generate a new, random artifact set          : yes (birth_randarts)
Generate connected stairs                    : yes (birth_connect_stairs)
Force player descent (never make up stairs)  : no  (birth_force_descend)
Word of Recall has no effect                 : no  (birth_no_recall)
Restrict creation of artifacts               : no  (birth_no_artifacts)
Stack objects on the floor                   : yes (birth_stacking)
Lose artifacts when leaving level            : no  (birth_lose_arts)
Show level feelings                          : yes (birth_feelings)
Increase gold drops but disable selling      : yes (birth_no_selling)
Start with a kit of useful gear              : yes (birth_start_kit)
Monsters learn from their mistakes           : no  (birth_ai_learn)
Know all runes on birth                      : no  (birth_know_runes)

[Pete Mack]

ESP is sweet, though it's too bad you haven't found a swap weapon yet. I continued the game I was playing, since it's a shame to quit with a nice weapon like Eorlingas (as well as Careth Asdraig.) Didn't get ESP (amulet) til DL 53 (or 52, if you count finding Beruthiel.) I was able to balance Constitution a bit with a couple potions of toughness.

[Pete Mack]

So l got to DL 70, CL 35. The weakness of the starting stat distribution shows now. I only have 13 base int and 17 base CON. Even with +15 CON modifier, I'm only at 572 HP. On the other hand, I have Thunderfist, a RoSpeed(+13), Thorin, Rohirrim, and a nice Crown of Magi (ESP). I'm doing 429 DPR against almost anything, but I can't cast both haste and resistance in the same fight. (I'm lucky to cast either one of them.) a

[Diogenes]

@Pete Mack: 429 DPR sounds great. I too continued playing the character after the excercise was done. I'm not sure if "Elrond" has the potential to be a winner (am now lingering around Dlev 25 at Clev 24) ; I'll start the "intermediate" challenge.

PS: I can't recall takeing a character legit past Dlev 50, let alone write down a winner. My last "winner" was created using savefile scumming and the use of the Invulnerability spell. Really liked that one. Too bad it got scrapped a while back.

[tprice]

I tried things out for a bit with Rogues after my recent (and first ever) win with a warrior. The first two died within 5-10 minutes in the dungeon due to forgetting I wasn't playing a HalfTroll Fighter that can just roll over enemies tanking the damage

The 3rd one got pretty far due to an early *thanc then Angrist on DL20, until I got a bit to greedy trying to clear a vault around DL40. The Rogue version of Detect Objects is VERY nice and having high enough stealth to sneak around most dangerous mobs made for a different feel to the game play.

After that I swapped to trying Dwarf Priests for a bit, loosing the 1st one fairly quickly but the second one is going strong at CL17, DL20. He got really lucky with a Sling of Power x2 (+9, +15) with a poison curse on DL 4!!! I put up with the occasional poison for the 33 damage with simple pebbles that let me sling my way through things i would have had to run away from without it. Unfortunately soon after i finally got the curse off the thing (haven't had to go to town yet and took a while to find the right book, found #3 before #2) I'm having to give it up... For a Sling of Extra Might x3 (+10, +12) My resistances are still lousy and I haven't found any decent hand to hand weapons that work for a priest but the slings are making up for it for now at least.