Quickband: A post about Bunglost and general "what to do next advice"

[Nemesis]

Here's the deal: The only obstacle I have left is Saruman (killing him means Victory in Quickband), but I don't feel confident at all that I can take him out. I think my character is a good all-rounder with a nice speed of +6 (+16 by quaffing a potion) but Medusa, the hardest unique I've fought yet, almost killed me with her plasma bolts.

I guess finding boots and a bow giving me more speed would be a good idea, but I'm also wondering if my use of rings is ideal. Right now I have to use that +4 strenght ring, as I otherwise get one swing less per turn. I don't think I really need a bonus of 4 to strenght, maybe even one point would do, and in that case I could get it from Bunglost, but I'm a little wary of putting the ring on. How does heavy curse and *Remove Curse* really work?

I have a few Scrolls of *Remove Curse* but is it like in Nethack, that once I've used one of those scrolls the ring will become uncursed and can be put on and taken off as I please, or will I just be able to take off the ring only to get cursed again if I put it on a second time. I've also heard rumours that curses in Angband at times are bugged, and that sometimes you get permacursed from stuff that shouldn't do that to you. In Quickband Life_Drain "only" decimates (divides by 10) your healing rate instead of constantly robbing you of your xp, but I still don't want to be stuck with such a ring, even if the immunities it grants would be nice, at least as a swapping ring.

What do you think of the second ring I'm wearing, btw, the one that adds 21 to my AC. I've heard that offence and speed is more important than defence, but I usually kill the bad guys I chose to confront quickly and ignore the really tough ones thanks to my detection. Sauron is as I said the only tough guy I have to kill and maybe it is better then to avoid a suprisingly fast unforseeable death in a move than to take him out in a few hits less. I mean, it's not like I could kill him fast with my Ring of Damage or Ring of Fire anyway.

Qucikband is the only Angband variant I've spent any time worth mentioning with, although I plan on trying vanilla once I finally manage to beat Qucikband. I think these are the main differences between Quickband and Vanilla that you could keep in mind if you decide to help me with some advice:

1. Quickband is based on NPPAngband, with 12 levels of rapidly escalating difficulty - on the last level most monsters have a native depth that would be around level 40 in Vanilla. Those are usually no problem unless they have some really nasty attack I cant resist against but Saruman have a native level of 60 and unlike other out-of-death monsters I have to fight him - and maybe also some equally out-of-death summonings of his.


1. In Quickband there are no stat gain potions

2. Unlike NPPAngband you can't do quests or fireproof your spellbooks (without an item granting immunity)

3. Equipment with Life_Drain will set your regeneration rate to only 10% of the normal value, instead of draining life - at least I think so, never tried anything cursed as I'm afraid of it being bugged and permacursing me

4. Saruman and Lurtz play the roles of Morgoth respectivly Sauron, and are both a bit beefed up... Lurtz wasn't that tough as I had no magic so I won't list his stats but here are those of Sauron:

N:569:Saruman of Many Colours
G:A:v
I:120:40d100:100:100:0
W:60:1:350:35000
B:HIT:PARALYZE:4d4
B:HIT:LOSE_STR:4d4
B:HIT:UN_POWER:4d4
B:HIT:COLD:4d4
F:UNIQUE | QUESTOR | MALE | ATTR_MULTI | FORCE_MAXHP | FORCE_SLEEP
F:ONLY_ITEM | DROP_2D2 | DROP_3D2 | DROP_GOOD
F:DROP_GREAT | SMART | HAS_LITE | OPEN_DOOR | BASH_DOOR
F:EVIL | IM_FIRE | IM_COLD
F:IM_POIS | NO_CONF | NO_SLEEP
S:SPELL_PCT_65 | POW_80
S:BALL_ACID | BALL_FIRE | BALL_COLD | BALL_DARK
S:BOLT_ICE | HEAL | CURE
S:TPORT | TELE_AWAY | FORGET | MIND_BLAST
S:SCARE | BLIND | S_MONSTERS | S_ANIMAL
S:S_DEMON | S_UNDEAD | S_UNIQUE

Summon Unique... *Sigh* It was by reading a scroll casting that spell I met Medusa who would have defeated me if she had used Plasma Ball again...

How do I prepare for such a fearsome foe?

2.

  [Quickband 1.0.5 Character Dump]

 Name   Nemesis                         Self RB CB  EB   Best
 Sex    Male         Age      63 STR:     16 +1 +3  +5  18/70
 Race   Dunadan      Height   82 INT:     11 +2 -3  +0     10
 Class  Paladin      Weight  174 WIS:     16 +2 +1  +8  18/90
 Title  Guardian     Status   34 DEX:     12 +2 +0  +7  18/30
 HP     387/387                  CON:     12 +3 +2  +0     17
 SP     241/241      Level    35 CHR:     15 +2 +2  +3  18/40

 GameTurn    745095  Armor  [49,+115] Saving Throw     Superb
 Cur Exp     602928  Fight   (+7,+10) Stealth       Excellent
 Max Exp     602928  Melee  (+22,+35) Fighting      Legendary
 Adv Exp     641250  Shoot   (+20,+6) Shooting         Heroic
 MaxDepth   Lev  12  Blows     4/turn Disarming     Very Good
 Gold        857848  Shots     1/turn Magic Device     Superb
 Burden     158 lbs  Speed         +6 Perception         Good
 % Burden       52%  Infra      50 ft Searching          Good

 You are one of several children of a Yeoman. You are a credit
 to the family. You have brown eyes, straight black hair, and an
 average complexion.



  [Character Equipment Stat Modifiers, Sustains and Flags]

(+/-) + + ++   ++ 
      ‰šŽ„ŚŠ??‡™’Ź               ‰šŽ„ŚŠ??‡™’Ź
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@
 Str: ..4.......1..        Str:  ..s..........
 Int: .............        Int:  .............
 Wis: 4....1...3...        Wis:  .....s.......
 Dex: 4...3........        Dex:  ....s........
 Con: .............        Con:  ............s
 Chr: .........3...        Chr:  .............
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@ 
 Acid:.......++....        Blind:............. 
 Elec:.............        Confu:.........+... 
 Fire:......+......        Sound:............. 
 Cold:+............        Shard:............. 
 Pois:....+........        Nexus:....+........ 
 Fear:+......+.....        Nethr:............. 
 Lite:.............        Chaos:............. 
 Dark:.............        Disen:............. 
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@ 
S.Dig:+............        Stea.:....+......+.
Feath:.............        Sear.:....+........
PLite:.............        Infra:....+........
Regen:.............        Aggr.:.............
Telep:.............        Speed:....+........
Invis:.......+.....        Blows:.............
FrAct:+......+.....        Shots:.............
HLife:.............        Might:.+...........
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@
      ‰šŽ„ŚŠ??‡™’Ź               ‰šŽ„ŚŠ??‡™’Ź 

  [Character Equipment]

a) The Spear 'Aeglos' (3d6) (+15,+25) [+5] (+4)
   It increases your wisdom and dexterity by 4.  It slays orcs, 
   trolls, and all evil creatures, and it is especially deadly
   against undead.  It is branded with frost.  It provides
   resistance to cold and fear.  It can be thrown effectively, 
   is blessed by the gods, and slows your metabolism.  It grants
   you immunity to paralysis.  It activates for frost ball (100)
   every 35 turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  It
   gives you 4 attacks per turn.  
b) a Light Crossbow of Extra Might (x3) (+13,+6) (+1)
   It increases your shooting power by 1.  
c) a Bronze Ring of Strength (+4)
   It increases your strength by 4.  It sustains your strength.  
   
d) a Malachite Ring of Protection [+21]
e) an Adamant Amulet of Trickery (+3)
   It increases your dexterity by 3.  It increases your stealth, 
   searching, infravision, and speed by 3.  It provides
   resistance to poison and nexus.  It sustains your dexterity.  
   
f) a Brass Lantern of Wisdom (with 11179 turns of light) (+1)
   It increases your wisdom by 1.  It sustains your wisdom.  It
   cannot be harmed by fire.  
g) Ancient Dragon Scale Mail (Red) (-3) [30,+22]
   It provides resistance to fire.  It activates for fire
   resistance (10+d10 turns) and breathe fire (300) every 300+d300
   turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
h) The Cloak of Thorongil [1,+10]
   It provides resistance to acid and fear.  It grants you 
   immunity to paralysis and the ability to see invisible things.
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
i) Ancient Dragon Scale Shield (Black) [10,+19] (charging)
   It provides resistance to acid.  It activates for acid
   resistance (10+d10 turns) and breathe acid (150) every 150+d150
   turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
j) The Metal Cap of Thengel [3,+12] (+3)
   It increases your wisdom and charisma by 3.  It provides
   resistance to confusion.  It cannot be harmed by the
   elements.  
k) a Set of Gauntlets of Power (+4,+3) [2,+10] (+1)
   It increases your strength by 1.  
l) a Pair of Hard Leather Boots of Stealth [3,+7] (+1)
   It increases your stealth by 1.  


  [Character Inventory]

a) 2 Holy Books of Prayers [Words of Wisdom]
b) a Holy Book of Prayers [Chants and Blessings] {10% off}
c) a Holy Book of Prayers [Godly Insights]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
d) 9 Pieces of Elvish Waybread
e) 9 Magenta Potions of Cure Light Wounds
f) 9 Brown Potions of Cure Critical Wounds
g) 17 Scrolls titled "rogklis dalf" of Teleport Level
h) 4 Scrolls titled "ivsne ox val" of Word of Recall
i) a Scroll titled "nihro wun tab" of Holy Prayer
j) 5 Copper-Plated Rods of Perception
   It cannot be harmed by electricity.  
k) 3 Brass Rods of Magic Mapping
l) 2 Titanium Rods of Detection
   It cannot be harmed by electricity.  
m) 3 Rusty Rods of Stone to Mud
n) 4 Lead Rods of Fire Bolts
o) 6 Molybdenum Rods of Frost Bolts
p) 2 Banyan Staffs of Speed (4 charges)
q) 2 Pewter Amulets of Devotion (+2)
   It increases your wisdom and charisma by 2.  It provides
   resistance to fire, light, dark, and life draining.  It
   sustains your wisdom and charisma.  It lights the dungeon
   around you.  It cannot be harmed by fire.  
r) an Adamant Amulet of Trickery (+2)
   It increases your dexterity by 2.  It increases your stealth, 
   searching, infravision, and speed by 2.  It provides
   resistance to poison and nexus.  It sustains your dexterity.  
   
s) a Golden Crown [0,+8]
   It cannot be harmed by acid.  
t) a Steel Helm [6,+6]
u) a Bastard Sword (3d4) (+3,+4)
   It gives you 3 attacks per turn.  

  [Home Inventory Stat Modifiers, Sustains and Flags]

(+/-)              + +++       
       ’“„?ťťťť??‰?ŚŠ?†Śť??’           ’“„?ťťťť??‰?ŚŠ?†Śť??’   
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
 Str:  ............1..3........  Str:  ............s..s........
 Int:  ............1...........  Int:  ............s...........
 Wis:  ..............1.........  Wis:  ..............s.........
 Dex:  ............1...2.......  Dex:  ............s...s.......
 Con:  ............1...........  Con:  ............s..s........
 Chr:  ..............1.........  Chr:  ..............s.........
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
 Acid: ............*+......+... Blind: ........................
 Elec: .............+.......... Confu: ........................
 Fire: ..........+.*++......... Sound: ........................
 Cold: .............+.......... Shard: ...................+....
 Pois: ................+.+..... Nexus: ................+.......
 Fear: ...............+........ Nethr: ........................
 Lite: ..............+......... Chaos: ........................
 Dark: ............+.+......... Disen: ............+..+........
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
S.Dig: ............+........... Stea.: ................+.......
Feath: ....................+... Sear.: ................+.......
PLite: ..............+......... Infra: ................+.......
Regen: ............+........... Aggr.: ........................
Telep: ........................ Speed: ................+.......
Invis: ............+........... Blows: ........................
FrAct: ............+..+........ Shots: ........................
HLife: ..............+......... Might: ........................
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
       ’“„?ťťťť??‰?ŚŠ?†Śť??’           ’“„?ťťťť??‰?ŚŠ?†Śť??’

  [Home Inventory]

a) a Holy Book of Prayers [Exorcism and Dispelling]
b) 4 Holy Books of Prayers [Ethereal Openings]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
c) 4 Sparkling Green Potions of Speed
d) 7 Grey Potions of Healing
e) 7 Scrolls titled "nes nelgwed" of *Identify*
f) 5 Scrolls titled "potiv zunnep" of *Remove Curse*
g) a Scroll titled "mikviv conprok" of *Recharging*
h) 4 Scrolls titled "re ro arzebek" of Protection from Evil
i) a Zinc-Plated Rod of Disarming
j) a Hawthorn Staff of Dispel Evil (5 charges)
k) an Amethyst Ring of Flames [+20]
   It provides resistance to fire.  It activates for fire
   resistance (20+d20 turns) and fire ball (80) every 50+d50 turns.
   It cannot be harmed by fire.  
l) an Opal Ring of Damage (+14)
m) The Ring of the Dwarves 'Bunglost' (+3,+3) [+10] (+1) {cursed}
   It increases your strength, intelligence, dexterity, and 
   constitution by 1.  It provides immunity to acid and fire.  
   It provides resistance to dark and disenchantment.  It
   sustains your strength, intelligence, dexterity, and 
   constitution.  It slows your metabolism and speeds your
   regeneration.  It grants you immunity to paralysis and the
   ability to see invisible things, but it also drains life and 
   is heavily cursed.  It activates for detection every 100+d100
   turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
n) a Golden Amulet of Resistance
   It provides resistance to acid, lightning, fire, and cold.  
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
o) a Pewter Amulet of Devotion (+1)
   It increases your wisdom and charisma by 1.  It provides
   resistance to fire, light, dark, and life draining.  It
   sustains your wisdom and charisma.  It lights the dungeon
   around you.  It cannot be harmed by fire.  
p) a Tortoise Shell Amulet of Weaponmastery (+3,+2) (+3)
   It increases your strength by 3.  It provides resistance to 
   fear and disenchantment.  It sustains your strength and 
   constitution.  It grants you immunity to paralysis.  
q) an Adamant Amulet of Trickery (+2)
   It increases your dexterity by 2.  It increases your stealth, 
   searching, infravision, and speed by 2.  It provides
   resistance to poison and nexus.  It sustains your dexterity.  
   
r) The Phial of Galadriel
   It lights the dungeon around you.  It cannot be harmed by the
   elements.  It might have hidden powers.
s) Ancient Dragon Scale Mail (Green) (-3) [30,+31]
   It provides resistance to poison.  It activates for poison
   resistance (10+d10 turns) and breathe poison gas (300) every
   300+d300 turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
t) a Cloak of Protection [1,+14]
   It provides resistance to shards.  It cannot be harmed by the
   elements.  
u) The Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnen' [2,+15]
   It provides resistance to acid.  It makes you fall like a
   feather.  It activates for resist acid (20+d20 turns) every
   50+d50 turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  

Nemesis the Dunadan Paladin
Began the quest on 06/27/2009 at 05:43 PM
============================================================
                   CHAR.  
|   TURN  | DEPTH |LEVEL| EVENT
============================================================
|    30283|     3 |  5  | Reached level 5
|    30983|     3 |  5  | Killed Wolf, Farmer Maggot's dog
|    52238|     3 | 10  | Reached level 10
|    63481|     3 | 12  | Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's dog
|    64554|     4 | 12  | Left the level without entering the Greater vault 
|  continued...   |     |  ("V-vault") 
|    66426|     5 | 15  | Reached level 15
|    88197|     3 | 16  | Killed Brodda, the Easterling
|   105262|     2 | 17  | Killed Mughash the Kobold Lord
|   108317|     5 | 17  | Found The Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnen'
|   114153|     5 | 17  | Killed Lagduf, the Snaga
|   129520|  Town | 18  | Killed Lotho Pimple
|   155481|     5 | 20  | Reached level 20
|   182517|     5 | 23  | Killed Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman
|   186110|     5 | 23  | Found The Metal Cap of Thengel
|   199274|     6 | 25  | Reached level 25
|   201507|     6 | 25  | Killed Angamaite of Umbar
|   225771|     5 | 26  | Killed Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief
|   228944|     5 | 26  | Killed Boldor, King of the Yeeks
|   237299|     5 | 27  | Killed Ufthak of Cirith Ungol
|   240013|     7 | 27  | Killed Bolg, Son of Azog
|   246909|     7 | 28  | Killed Shagrat, the Orc Captain
|   298753|     8 | 29  | Killed Nar, the Dwarf
|   298865|     8 | 29  | Killed Gorbag, the Orc Captain
|   308184|     6 | 29  | Killed Lugdush, the Uruk
|   310266|     6 | 29  | Killed Ugluk, the Uruk
|   327005|     7 | 29  | Killed Sangahyando of Umbar
|   370985|     9 | 29  | Found The Spear 'Aeglos'
|   389894|     5 | 30  | Reached level 30
|   405492|     9 | 30  | Killed Lokkak, the Ogre Chieftain
|   417702|     9 | 30  | Killed Khim, Son of Mim
|   424098|     9 | 30  | Killed Mim, Betrayer of Turin
|   439825|    10 | 30  | Killed Ibun, Son of Mim
|   458614|    10 | 31  | Found The Cloak of Thorongil
|   471042|    10 | 31  | Killed Maglor, Son of Feanor
|   472571|     8 | 31  | Killed Ulfast, Son of Ulfang
|   481550|     9 | 31  | Left the level without entering the Greater vault 
|  continued...   |     |  ("The Reward is Worth It") 
|   482229|     9 | 31  | Left the level without entering the Greater vault 
|  continued...   |     |  ("Hellpit") 
|   484708|    10 | 31  | Killed Ulfang the Black
|   517411|     9 | 31  | Left the level without entering the Greater vault 
|  continued...   |     |  ("Target Practice") 
|   556360|     9 | 32  | Killed Azog, King of the Uruk-Hai
|   560857|    10 | 32  | Killed Lorgan, Chief of the Easterlings
|   581655|     9 | 32  | Killed Beorn, the Shape-Changer
|   599380|     9 | 32  | Killed Grishnakh, the Hill Orc
|   604202|    11 | 32  | Killed Lurtz the Uruk-Hai Captain
|   604475|    11 | 32  | Found The Soft Studded Leather of Atharnim
|   629070|    11 | 33  | Killed The Queen Ant
|   655479|    10 | 33  | Killed Ulwarth, Son of Ulfang
|   672394|    10 | 35  | Reached level 35
|   697953|     3 | 35  | Killed Smeagol
|   706960|    11 | 35  | Found The Phial of Galadriel
|   710213|    11 | 35  | Destroyed Draebor, the Imp
|   718603|    10 | 35  | Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's dog
|   725450|    11 | 35  | Killed Maedhros, Son of Feanor
|   725779|    11 | 35  | Killed Bert the Stone Troll
|   725855|    11 | 35  | Killed Bill the Stone Troll
|   725878|    11 | 35  | Killed Tom the Stone Troll
|   729172| Chest | 35  | Found The Ring of the Dwarves 'Bunglost'
|   742697|    11 | 35  | Killed Medusa, the Gorgon
============================================================


  [Options]

GAME PLAY OPTIONS:

Auto-haggle in stores                        : yes (auto_haggle)
Auto-scum for good levels                    : yes (auto_scum)
Allow the generation of themed levels        : yes (allow_themed_levels)
Expand the power of the look command         : yes (expand_look)
Expand the power of the list commands        : yes (expand_list)
Map remembers all perma-lit grids            : yes (view_perma_grids)
Map remembers all torch-lit grids            : no  (view_torch_grids)
Generate dungeons with aligned rooms         : yes (dungeon_align)
Generate dungeons with connected stairs      : yes (dungeon_stair)
Monsters exploit players weaknesses          : no  (smart_cheat)

BIRTH OPTIONS:

Adult: Allow purchase of stats using points  : yes (adult_point_based)
Adult: Allow specification of minimal stats  : no  (adult_auto_roller)
Adult: Maximize effect of race/class bonuses : yes (adult_maximize)
Adult: Preserve artifacts when leaving level : yes (adult_preserve)
Adult: Restrict the use of stairs/recall     : no  (adult_ironman)
Adult: Restrict the use of stores/home       : no  (adult_no_stores)
Adult: Restrict creation of artifacts        : no  (adult_no_artifacts)
Adult: Randomize some of the artifacts (beta): no  (adult_rand_artifacts)
Adult: Never stack objects on the floor      : no  (adult_no_stacking)
Adult: Have notes to written to a file       : yes (adult_take_notes)
Adult: All levels generated small            : yes (adult_force_small_lev)
Adult: Retain squelch settings               : no  (adult_retain_squelch)
Adult: Disable quests                        : no  (adult_no_quests)
Adult: Disable player ghosts                 : no  (adult_no_player ghosts)
Adult: Disable store services                : no  (adult_no_store_services)
Adult: Disable extra artifacts               : no  (adult_no_xtra_artifacts)

CHEAT OPTIONS:

Score: Peek into object creation             : no  (score_peek)
Score: Peek into monster creation            : no  (score_hear)
Score: Peek into dungeon creation            : no  (score_room)
Score: Peek into something else              : no  (score_xtra)
Score: Know complete monster info            : no  (score_know)
Score: Allow player to avoid death           : no  (score_live)

[Nemesis]

Ok, maybe the last post was a bit messy, so I try to sum up what I really was wondering here:

1. If I use a *Remove Curse* on Bunglost, can I take it off and put it on whenever I like or will *Remove Curse* just let me take off the cursed ring, only to get cursed one more time if I try to put it on again?

2. Is there any risk that the curse is bugged and will behave like a PERMACURSE?

3. What do I really need to do before I can meet Saruman and be totally safe and sure of victory?

4. A little word of warning would be nice, as I have detection I want to know which monsters to look out for. Who can kill me instantly or cause grevious xp or equipment damage?

5. I'm not that good with spells (detection, light and healing spells are really the only ones I use regulary, are there any other good cleric spells that I have access to and should use?)

6. Will the Greater Vaults that I have missed ever appear again, seems like a long time since my "character biography" told me I was on a level with a Greater Vault but never opened... Preserve Artifacts are on, so I never lose artifacts permanently unless I sell, drop or destroy them after they've been ID'ed, but are the Vaults preserved too? As Greater Vaults always are risky it would be sad if you lose them forever just because you don't want to risk a character with winning potential.

7. I once ran into a level called "Cave Dwellers Nest", or something like that... It was some kind of a theme level with only trolls and giants... Some of the monsters where really out of depth, if I hadn't used scroll of level teleport when I saw my first Lesser Titan I would probably have died the very next turn as he had teleported me into a room full of his Troll Cheiftains and Cyclopos friends... As I've only once found such a level I wounder how it shows up. Is it just that the RNG dislikes this kind of levels or did it trigger in some other way? I think it happened some time after I had killed Lurtz (who fills the roll of Sauron in Quickband).


Oops, this post came out almost as long as the last once but at least it should be less confusing to read... Thanks in advance for your help!

[pampl]

I'm not experienced with Quickband, so this will be based on general:

0. It seems like many good players think AC is weak relative to other stats, because it only effects your chance to be hit by melee attacks and slightly reduces the damage of non-elemental melee and maybe ranged attacks (e.g. orcs shooting arrows, halfling slingers slinging). Up to you

1. *Remove Curse* should let you put it on and off again, especially if Bunglost doesn't say it re-curses. If you have multiple *Remove Curse* scrolls then it's worth trying it out IMO, those scrolls usually don't get much use.

2. That bug was only in a recent dev version of V, AFAIK, and Quickband predates it.

6. Nope, Greater Vaults aren't one-shot deals, just annoyingly uncommon.

[Nemesis]

Ok, I'm using Bunglost now, while the immunities are nice I really heal annoyingly slow now. But I'll keep it on anyway, as it's more tedious than dangerous. I just have to remember to carry enough oil for my Lantern of Wisdom (or just use the Phial of Galadriel) so I don't run out light now that it takes ten times as long to rest.


Some more questions:

1. I found a Potion of Detonations, is it worth using as a thrown weapon against Saruman?
2. Does the Paurnimmen and Paurnen gauntlets deserve being called Artifacts? Not that much AC, one lousy resist and no offensive attributes!
3. Instead of that +21 protection ring, should I wear the +14 Damage, +20 flames or +5 Strenght?

[camlost]

1. Probably.
2. The gauntlets are artifacts, just really crappy ones. Some people^H crazy divers save them because they're a way of getting an elemental resistance from a glove, which is potentially useful. You'd probably swap them in if you had the electricity one.
3. Probably damage, maybe strength. You already have fire immunity, so double resistance isn't helpful, and the damage is quite low.

[Pete Mack]

Ok, I'm using Bunglost now, while the immunities are nice I really heal annoyingly slow now. But I'll keep it on anyway, as it's more tedious than dangerous. I just have to remember to carry enough oil for my Lantern of Wisdom (or just use the Phial of Galadriel) so I don't run out light now that it takes ten times as long to rest.


Some more questions:

1. I found a Potion of Detonations, is it worth using as a thrown weapon against Saruman?
2. Does the Paurnimmen and Paurnen gauntlets deserve being called Artifacts? Not that much AC, one lousy resist and no offensive attributes!
3. Instead of that +21 protection ring, should I wear the +14 Damage, +20 flames or +5 Strenght?

0. Use mana to restore your wounds. Also, buy out the temple for CCW. (CLW is worthless)
1. If you have space for it, yes.
3. Yes. Use +14 Damage.
3a. Yes. Wear STR+5 instead of STR+4.

With +16 speed (hasted), 240dam/turn, and a big stack of CCW, double RAcid and RFire, sSTR(!), and full buffing, Saruman will go down easily.

[Nemesis]

0. Use mana to restore your wounds. Also, buy out the temple for CCW. (CLW is worthless)
1. If you have space for it, yes.
3. Yes. Use +14 Damage.
3a. Yes. Wear STR+5 instead of STR+4.

With +16 speed (hasted), 240dam/turn, and a big stack of CCW, double RAcid and RFire, sSTR(!), and full buffing, Saruman will go down easily.

The main thing that worries me is his ability to call nasties upon me with Summon Unique, but I guess I just have to hit the panic button (i.e. Teleport Level) if that happens. Or maybe drink a potion of healing THEN read the teleport scroll, in case he blinds me first. I just found a +6 speed ring, so now I can reach a speed of +22 with a potion!

Got rid of that Cure Light Wounds Potions stack, btw, I still haven't got resistance to blindness but with one million middle earth bucks I guess I can waste Cure Criticals when I get blinded...

[Nemesis]

When it rains, it pours... First I just can't find a single ring of speed, then I find two or three that are cursed, and when I finally found that +6 ring, I find a +7 mere moments later and then a +8! Now I'm moving with +14 without the buff potion and +24 with it!

[Pete Mack]

Don't teleport level if S is down in HP. Teleport Self is what you want. (It's a small risk, but that's OK when you are fighting a boss.)

[Nemesis]

Don't teleport level if S is down in HP. Teleport Self is what you want. (It's a small risk, but that's OK when you are fighting a boss.)

I got a little cocky and fought Saruman on somewhat open ground instead meeting him in an anti-summoner tunnel. There were at least three summoned uniques native to dlvl 40-60, phase spiders teleporting me around and god knows what else. The level was extremly tiny and after finally killing Saruman I had around 60 hp left. I had lots of Healing potions and so on, and I did of course think of teleporting away, heal up and collect the stuff Saruman dropped afterwards, but there were a few problems:

-the level was VERY small
-the Phase Spiders were capable of teleporting me back the very next round,
-the other guys could do 200-300 damage per round
-the possibility of the spell failing
-the risk of the teleport not landing me in a safe place

As I had already defeated Saruman and earned the status of ***WINNER*** I decided I'd rather be a retired winner without the dropped stuff than risking being a dead winner who still didn't get to the drops.

[Pete Mack]

That's the way all wins should be--exciting!