Help with 421 Mage

[licker]

So in the past (like ancient past) I used to play mages all the time, but now I'm somewhat confused as to when to dive, and to where.

Problem seems to be not finding dungeon books, where are they expected to drop now? I suppose even without the ability to kill certain monsters, you can just TO them away, but honestly...

I'm just getting bored of hanging around 1800' hoping to find the books which I assume would let me dive deeper? Or should I just go deeper anyway?

  [Angband 4.2.1 Character Dump]

 Name   Aluminium    Age            117          Self  RB  CB  EB   Best
 Race   High-Elf     Height        7'0"   STR:  18/90  +1  -3  +0  18/70
 Class  Mage         Weight    14st 7lb   INT! 18/100  +3  +3  +7 18/***
 Title  Warlock      Turns used:          WIS:      9  -1  +0  +7     15
 HP     380/380      Game       1312570   DEX:     15  +3  +0  +0     18
 SP     289/289      Standard    137645   CON! 18/100  +1  -2  +0  18/90
                     Resting      22293

 Level                 36    Armor     [39,+113]    Saving Throw     84%
 Cur Exp           784698                           Stealth    Excellent
 Max Exp           784698    Melee       4d4,+20    Disarm - phys.   73%
 Adv Exp           797500    To-hit       33,+20    Disarm - magic  100%
                             Blows      1.1/turn    Magic Devices    115
 Gold              242676                           Searching        73%
 Burden          146.4 lb    Shoot to-dam    +12    Infravision   130 ft
 Overweight      -33.5 lb    To-hit       33,+25    Speed         Normal
 Max Depth    2000' (L40)    Shots      1.0/turn

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


Resistances         Abilities
 Acid:........+.... pFear:.............
 Elec:..+.....+.... pBlnd:........++...
 Fire:........+.... pConf:.........+...
 Cold:*.......+..+. pStun:.............
 Pois:......+...... HLife:.............
Light:+.......+.+.+ Regen:+............
 Dark:........+....   ESP:.............
Sound:............. S.Inv:.........+..+
Shard:.......+..... FrAct:..........++.
Nexus:............. Feath:...........+.
Nethr:......+...... S.Dig:....+........
Chaos:......+...... TrpIm:.............
Disen:............. Bless:+............

Hindrances          Modifiers
ImpHP:............. Stea.:...........+.
ImpSP:............. Sear.:.........+...
 Fear:............. Infra:+..........++
Aggrv:............. Tunn.:.............
NoTel:............. Speed:.............
DrExp:............. Blows:.............
Stick:............. Shots:.............
Fragl:............. Might:.............
                    Light:+....+....+..
                    D.Red:.............
                    Moves:.............


  [Character Equipment]

a) the Lead-Filled Mace 'Turmil' (4d4) (+10,+11) [+8] <+4, +1>
     Dropped by Sangahyando of Umbar at 1400 feet (level 28)
     
     +4 wisdom.
     +4 infravision.
     +1 light.
     Slays orcs.
     Branded with cold.
     Provides immunity to Cold.
     Provides resistance to Light.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     Speeds regeneration.  Blessed by the gods (combat bonuses for holy
     casters).  
     
     When activated, it drains up to 90 hit points of life from a
     target creature.  Does not affect undead, demons, golems,
     elementals or vortices.
     Takes 40 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 97.6%
     
     Combat info:
     1.1 blows/round.
     With +3 STR and +0 DEX you would get 1.3 blows
     With +0 STR and +2 DEX you would get 1.3 blows
     Average damage/round: 63.4 vs orcs and creatures not resistant to
     cold, and 37.6 vs. others.
     
b) a Long Bow of Accuracy (x3) (+15,+12)
     Found lying on the floor at 1450 feet (level 29)
     
c) a Ring of Lightning [+17]
     Dropped by an Easterling champion at 1550 feet (level 31)
     
     Provides resistance to Lightning.
     Cannot be harmed by Lightning.
     
d) a Ring of Intelligence <+5>
     Bought from a store
     
     +5 intelligence.
     Sustains intelligence.
     
e) an Amulet of Slow Digestion {!d, ignore}
     Bought from a store
     
     Slows your metabolism.  
     
f) the Phial of Galadriel <+3>
     Dropped by Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman at 950 feet (level 19)
     
     +3 light.
     Cannot be harmed by Fire.
     Intensity 3 light.
     
     When activated, it lights up the surrounding area, hurting
     light-sensitive creatures.
     Takes 11 to 20 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 98.5%
     
g) the Hard Leather Armour of Himring [20,+15]
     Found lying on the floor of a special room at 1450 feet (level 29)
     
     Provides resistance to Poison, Nether, Chaos.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
     When activated, it grants you protection from evil for 1d25 plus 3
     times your character level turns.
     Takes 101 to 200 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 95.2%
     
h) a Cloak of Protection [1,+19]
     Found lying on the floor of a special room at 1600 feet (level 32)
     
     Provides resistance to Shards.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
i) the Leather Shield of Celegorm [8,+20]
     Found lying on the floor in a vault at 1450 feet (level 29)
     
     Provides resistance to Acid, Lightning, Fire, Cold, Light, Dark.
     Provides protection from blindness.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid.
     
j) the Iron Helm 'Holhenneth' [7,+10] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor at 1650 feet (level 33)
     
     +2 intelligence.
     +2 wisdom.
     +2 searching skill.
     Provides protection from blindness, confusion.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid.
     Grants the ability to see invisible things.  
     
     When activated, it detects treasure and all creatures and maps an
     area nearby.
     Takes 56 to 110 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 97.6%
     
k) the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim' (+5,+5) [1,+10] <+1>
     Dropped by Grishnákh, the Hill Orc at 750 feet (level 15)
     
     +1 light.
     Provides resistance to Light.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     Sustains constitution.
     Prevents paralysis.  
     
     When activated, it fires a magic missile with damage 3d4.
     Takes 2 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 98.3%
     
l) the Pair of Leather Boots of Radagast [2,+12] <+1, +3, +5>
     Dropped by Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief at 900 feet (level 18)
     
     +1 wisdom.
     +3 stealth.
     +5 infravision.
     Provides resistance to Cold.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     Feather Falling.  Prevents paralysis.  
     




  [Character Inventory]

a) 4 Books of Magic Spells [First Spells] {@m1}
     
     You can read this book.
     
b) 4 Books of Magic Spells [Attacks and Knowledge] {@m2}
     
     You can read this book.
     
c) 3 Books of Magic Spells [Magical Defences] {@m3}
     
     You can read this book.
     
d) 22 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
e) 2 Potions of Healing
f) 12 Potions of Speed
g) 11 Scrolls of Teleportation
h) 3 Rods of Fire Bolts
i) a Rod of Healing
     Cannot be harmed by Lightning.
     
j) a Rod of Recall (charging)
     Cannot be harmed by Lightning.
     
k) 2 Wands of Light (7 charges)
l) 2 Wands of Teleport Other (17 charges)
m) a Wand of Dragon's Frost (1 charge)
     Cannot be harmed by Lightning.
     
n) 3 Staves of Teleportation (22 charges) {!*}
o) a Pick of Digging (1d3) (+8,+10) <+4> {!*}
     Dropped by Gorbag, the Orc Captain at 1050 feet (level 21)
     
     +4 tunneling.
     Branded with acid.
     
     Combat info:
     1.1 blows/round.
     With +9 STR and +0 DEX you would get 1.3 blows
     With +0 STR and +2 DEX you would get 1.3 blows
     Average damage/round: 31.7 vs creatures not resistant to acid and
     26.4 vs. others.
     




  [Character Quiver]

0) 3 Mithril Arrows of Slay Undead (3d4) (+9,+11)
     Slays undead.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
     Combat info:
     When fired, hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 188.5 vs undead and 94.2 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
1) 26 Mithril Arrows of Venom (3d4) (+16,+8)
     Branded with poison.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
     Combat info:
     When fired, hits targets up to 120 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 169.9 vs creatures not resistant to poison
     and 84.9 vs. others.
     35% chance of breaking upon contact.
     


  [Home Inventory]

a) a Potion of Strength
b) 27 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
c) 3 Potions of Healing
d) 3 Potions of *Healing*
     It can be thrown at creatures with damaging effect.
     
e) 20 Potions of Restore Mana
f) a Potion of Restore Life Levels
g) 14 Potions of Enlightenment
h) 6 Potions of Speed
i) a Scroll of Enchant Weapon To-Hit
j) 4 Scrolls of Remove Curse
k) a Scroll of Banishment
l) 3 Scrolls of Deep Descent
m) a Staff of Banishment (1 charge)
n) a Ring of Resist Poison
     Dropped by an illusionist at 1800 feet (level 36)
     
     Provides resistance to Poison.
     
o) Hard Leather Armour of Elvenkind (-1) [16,+10] <+2>
     Found lying on the floor at 1450 feet (level 29)
     
     +2 stealth.
     Provides resistance to Acid, Lightning, Fire, Cold, Shards.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
p) Leather Scale Mail of Elvenkind (-1) [20,+11] <+1>
     Found lying on the floor at 1800 feet (level 36)
     
     +1 stealth.
     Provides resistance to Acid, Lightning, Fire, Cold, Chaos.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
q) a Fur Cloak of Aman [3,+7] <+2>
     Bought from a store
     
     +2 stealth.
     Provides resistance to Nether.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid, Fire.
     
r) an Elven Cloak [6,+5] <+1>
     Dropped by a balance drake at 1800 feet (level 36)
     
     +1 stealth.
     +1 speed.
     
s) the Rapier 'Forasgil' (1d12) (+12,+19) <+1>
     Found lying on the floor at 1100 feet (level 22)
     
     +1 light.
     Slays animals.
     Branded with cold.
     Provides resistance to Cold, Light.
     Cannot be harmed by Acid.
     
     Combat info:
     2.0 blows/round.
     With +1 STR and +0 DEX you would get 2.3 blows
     With +0 STR and +2 DEX you would get 2.3 blows
     Average damage/round: 100.6 vs creatures not resistant to cold,
     86.6 vs animals, and 72.8 vs. others.
     
t) the Flail 'Totila' (3d6) (+14,+11) <+2>
     Dropped by Uldor the Accursed at 1500 feet (level 30)
     
     +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 15 turns to recharge.
     Your chance of success is 97.6%
     
     Combat info:
     1.1 blows/round.
     With +6 STR and +0 DEX you would get 1.3 blows
     With +0 STR and +2 DEX you would get 1.3 blows
     Average damage/round: 65.9 vs creatures not resistant to fire,
     52.2 vs evil creatures, and 38.6 vs. others.
     


[Player history]
      Turn   Depth  Note
         0      0'  Began the quest to destroy Morgoth.
       190     50'  Reached level 2
       190     50'  Reached level 3
      1271    150'  Reached level 4
      2125    150'  Reached level 5
      2518    200'  Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's Dog
      2675    200'  Reached level 6
      2916    200'  Reached level 7
      3926    250'  Reached level 8
      5934    350'  Reached level 9
      7590    350'  Reached level 10
      8326    600'  Reached level 11
      9412    600'  Reached level 12
     10230    600'  Reached level 13
     11621    600'  Reached level 14
     12248    600'  Reached level 15
     14393    650'  Reached level 16
     15869    650'  Killed Orfax, Son of Boldor
     16702    650'  Reached level 17
     17228    650'  Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's Dog
     18061    650'  Reached level 18
     20834    700'  Reached level 19
     21521    700'  Reached level 20
     21826    700'  Reached level 21
     22309    750'  Killed Brodda, the Easterling
     23848    750'  Killed Grishn&#195;&#161;kh, the Hill Orc
     23851    750'  Found the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim'
     25543    800'  Reached level 22
     26283    800'  Killed Ufthak of Cirith Ungol
     30146    900'  Reached level 23
     31202    900'  Killed Bullroarer the Hobbit
     31397    900'  Killed Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief
     31400    900'  Found the Pair of Leather Boots of Radagast
     33374    950'  Reached level 24
     35004    900'  Killed Ulfast, Son of Ulfang
     37258    900'  Reached level 25
     38133    950'  Killed Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman
     38141    950'  Found the Phial of Galadriel
     38791    950'  Reached level 26
     38791    950'  Reached level 27
     38791    950'  Reached level 28
     38791    950'  Reached level 29
     38791    950'  Reached level 30
     38892   1000'  Killed Shagrat, the Orc Captain
     42234   1050'  Killed Gorbag, the Orc Captain
     44164   1100'  Killed Sm&#195;&#169;agol
     44625   1100'  Found the Rapier 'Forasgil'
     45622   1100'  Killed Lugdush, the Uruk
     49324   1200'  Killed Ibun, Son of M&#195;&#174;m
     49863   1200'  Killed N&#195;&#161;r, the Dwarf
     51299   1200'  Killed Kh&#195;&#174;m, Son of M&#195;&#174;m
     52313   1200'  Killed Bolg, Son of Azog
     55862   1250'  Reached level 31
     56343   1250'  Killed Lagduf, the Snaga
     57455   1200'  Killed Old Man Willow
     59438   1200'  Found the Long Sword 'Elvagil' (LOST)
     67663   1400'  Killed Ugl&#195;&#186;k, the Uruk
     68202   1400'  Killed Angamait&#195;&#171; of Umbar
     68394   1400'  Killed Sangahyando of Umbar
     68397   1400'  Found the Lead-Filled Mace 'Turmil'
     72026   1500'  Killed Uldor the Accursed
     72027   1500'  Found the Flail 'Totila'
     73220   1500'  Killed Ulwarth, Son of Ulfang
     74083      0'  Killed Farmer Maggot
     80976   1550'  Killed Azog, Enemy of the Dwarves
     83285   1500'  Reached level 32
     84740   1500'  Reached level 32
     88293   1450'  Found the Leather Shield of Celegorm
     90252   1450'  Found the Hard Leather Armour of Himring
     94013   1550'  Killed Bert the Stone Troll
     94128   1550'  Killed Tom the Stone Troll
     94382   1550'  Killed Bill the Stone Troll
     98027   1650'  Reached level 33
     99089   1650'  Killed Boldor, King of the Yeeks
     99537   1650'  Found the Iron Helm 'Holhenneth'
    103800   1750'  Killed Beorn, the Shape-Changer
    107459   1800'  Found the Set of Gauntlets 'Pauraegen' (LOST)
    110299   1850'  Reached level 34
    113800   1750'  Reached level 35
    121370   1800'  Killed Ulfang the Black
    123172   1750'  Reached level 35
    127249   1900'  Killed Lokkak, the Ogre Chieftain
    131047   1900'  Reached level 36

[jevansau]

The dungeon books are native to Level 40 and 60, so you want to be a bit deeper.

For me, I'd want more stealth to make the looting easier. Say Totila with Turmil as a swap for Immune cold. I'd also wear the Aman for now.

The key really is to pick your fights.

[licker]

Thanks for the info.

I've been better about picking fights rather than the way I used to play where the goal was just to clear each level, though that was it's own kind of challenge.

Is there a lot of nether in the next 500' or so? I seem to see endless numbers of shardstorms and earth hounds, and nearly no nether breathers (anything else I can just stay away from).

My main concern is that without any perm speed, and even Totila is only +2, I'm more scared of getting double or triple hit by something like crystal drakes or other higher HP shard sources.

I had a staff of speed, but I blew it up on a recharge sadly

[Sphara]

The earliest dangerous nether user is an enemy Necromancer, who uses a quite damaging Nether Bolt. It's not that dangerous for a character with 400 HP but it does drain EXP ofc without resistance.
Then come Master Vampires, but those are pretty quick to kill. But up next are Death Knights, Vampire Lords and packs of Dreads and those are very dangerous even with rNether, for a character that has below +5 speed. Nether isn't even the worst attack those things have. Yet, an unlucky volley of several Nether Bolts by a Dread pack, will end even a strong character in one/two turns.
First big nether BREATHER is a Death Drake and it is notoriously nasty, if you do wake one up. Next up is a Dracolich and those should be handled by an endgame-worthy character only. Avoid at any cost.