On a run playing a paladin

[Pete Mack]

You should have some good spells by now. Res fire+cold is hugely valuable, letting you take on much bigger fire and cold breathers than you otherwise could. the various heal spells should let you cut down on potion use, especially if you carry enough phase door. And don't forget about archery. Paladin is pretty bad at it, but the bless spell makes up for some of it. And finally: protection from evil lets you take on huge mobs at or less than your character level. Sure it fades in usefulness once your damage output goes up. But it should be helping you very soon.

[Petoften]

Another named wasting my CCW, another junk loot drop.

But I got a nice weapon earlier finally.

[Petoften]

I think it says something like "cannot be harmed by lightning" or "it cannot be harmed by lightning"; meaning that specific item is immune to lightning, but that quality doesn't extend to you or to any other items you carry.

Gotcha. You're right, it didn't say 'you'.

[Sideways]

I found a 'ring of lightning' - it says it has 'lightning resist' but then says 'you cannot be harmed by lightning'. That sounds like immunity?

I think it says something like "cannot be harmed by lightning" or "it cannot be harmed by lightning"; meaning that specific item is immune to lightning, but that quality doesn't extend to you or to any other items you carry.

[Petoften]

I found a 'ring of lightning' - it says it has 'lightning resist' but then says 'you cannot be harmed by lightning'. That sounds like immunity?

[Pete Mack]

Yes. Just close the door behind you and leave.

[Petoften]

Are there unlimited mob respawns? I've killed hundreds of giant fruit flies and they are still coming.

[Pete Mack]

Many uniques come in pairs. If you can't handle them, teleport (or Portal) away. You might be able to kill them with elemental rings and dragon armor, escaping to recharge in between attacks. But a better solution is to wait until you have a better weapon and/or bow.

[Pete Mack]

To some extent. The odds of being destroyed go up with damage to the player, either 1% for low damage, 2% for moderate damage, and 3% for high damage. For the biggest breathers, however, even 1/9 damage counts as high damage. The thing to do is not melee monsters with a lot of elemental blows (various jellies, colbran, Pazuzu, etc.)

OK, good to know - then does resistance provide any reduction to the chance for items to be destroyed?

[Petoften]

Ran into two uniques together, had to use my emergency mushrooms and most of the remaining heal potions and speed - for almost no loot.

[Mondkalb]

Don't find Hydras, if you can avoid them. They drop only gold and they can destroy your inventory plus, you use up your healing potions.

[Petoften]

Using that better weapon, I do like 48 per round, but still had to use 3 critical heal potions and a serious to barely kill a 3 headed hydra...

[Petoften]

Are any elements better for weapons - I found an item with lightning brand and another with cold brand for example, with similar damage.

[Mondkalb]

Those situations are to be prevented.
Detect often to avoid monsters that can confuse you, if you don't have resistance.
Buy torches or oil for your lantern in the shop if you can't find enough in the dungeon.

If you are confused there is little you can do. If it was only one monster, than you might get lucky with some cure potions. If you meet hummerhorns, you could easily die to them.

Only chances with scrolls and spells are, if you are faster than the monster(s), so a potion of speed can help.
Other than that, there is a chance to activate a staff of teleportation (or even equip a cursed teleport item and hope for the best). But of course, in Angband that could teleport you into even greater danger.

[Petoften]

It does seem possible to get in situations where you have to rely on items.

For example, if I get confused, I can't read a spell to cure it. If I'm getting re-confused and damaged every turn I cure it... and can't read scrolls.

If I lose my light source, I can't cast a spell to see to read a recall scroll.

In that situation I'd just be stuck wandering the dungeon blind until I find a light source if I didn't have one.