It's been about 8 years since I first tried Zangband, and so far the score is something like Zangband: 153, Bovius: 0. Normally I realize I've failed because of a shortcoming on my part, but I'm a little frustrated with my most recent loss, and I'm looking for symphathizers or advice.
This is the first time that I've been in striking distance to complete the game with munchkin off. Playing as a Mindflayer Mage with Death/Sorcery, with:
* Clevel 41
* A complete set of resistances, and a few immunities to put on when the need arises
* Multiple copies of all spell books
* A healthy +43 speed with Haste Self on
* Maxed out int/wis/con
* >150 armor
* A few of my favorite staffs
* More +sp equipment then I've ever had up to this point.
All I really need is to level up to gain access to my top level spells, and I'm set, so I'm hovering around dlevel 80 looking for pits to clean out.
Now, granted, I did make a mistake. I'm used to thinking "Air Hounds" when I see 5 light blue Zs, so I cast Clairvoyance after coming out of a stairway to scout for pits. Nope - on dlevel 80, light blue Zs = Mana Hounds. I never got another action.
What can I do to tighten my game at this point? Angband variants seem to be a journey of 1000 miles where any randomly selected step could be your last. I don't know what I could have done to survive this scenario, other than teleporting away or leaving the floor instead of casting Clairvoyance. Some ideas:
* Get more speed. This seems unlikely to help - returns on investment past +43 are pretty slim.
* Increase stealth. My equipment layout ended up with no stealth bonuses, but I'm used to that not mattering at all at this point in the game.
* Never, ever fail to closely examine each line-of-sight monster and accurately assess risk when entering a new floor. See 1000 miles comment above.
* Dimension door into a safer location if there are any line-of-sight monsters on entering a new floor, regardless of percieved threat. The problem with this is that you don't necessarily know of any good places to hide until using Magic Mapping or Clairvoyance.
* Use a staff/scroll of *Destruction* when entering a new floor, every time. Hmm...this might actually be a feasible option. I was carrying four of said staffs and keeping them decently charged at time of death. The obvious drawback is losing potential loot nearby, although at that point I really only cared about artifacts.
* Stay at shallower dlevels until I've got GoI. This feels a little cheap, and doesn't guarantee that I won't have a suprise encounter with an out-of-depth critter.
What do you think?
This is the first time that I've been in striking distance to complete the game with munchkin off. Playing as a Mindflayer Mage with Death/Sorcery, with:
* Clevel 41
* A complete set of resistances, and a few immunities to put on when the need arises
* Multiple copies of all spell books
* A healthy +43 speed with Haste Self on
* Maxed out int/wis/con
* >150 armor
* A few of my favorite staffs
* More +sp equipment then I've ever had up to this point.
All I really need is to level up to gain access to my top level spells, and I'm set, so I'm hovering around dlevel 80 looking for pits to clean out.
Now, granted, I did make a mistake. I'm used to thinking "Air Hounds" when I see 5 light blue Zs, so I cast Clairvoyance after coming out of a stairway to scout for pits. Nope - on dlevel 80, light blue Zs = Mana Hounds. I never got another action.
What can I do to tighten my game at this point? Angband variants seem to be a journey of 1000 miles where any randomly selected step could be your last. I don't know what I could have done to survive this scenario, other than teleporting away or leaving the floor instead of casting Clairvoyance. Some ideas:
* Get more speed. This seems unlikely to help - returns on investment past +43 are pretty slim.
* Increase stealth. My equipment layout ended up with no stealth bonuses, but I'm used to that not mattering at all at this point in the game.
* Never, ever fail to closely examine each line-of-sight monster and accurately assess risk when entering a new floor. See 1000 miles comment above.
* Dimension door into a safer location if there are any line-of-sight monsters on entering a new floor, regardless of percieved threat. The problem with this is that you don't necessarily know of any good places to hide until using Magic Mapping or Clairvoyance.
* Use a staff/scroll of *Destruction* when entering a new floor, every time. Hmm...this might actually be a feasible option. I was carrying four of said staffs and keeping them decently charged at time of death. The obvious drawback is losing potential loot nearby, although at that point I really only cared about artifacts.
* Stay at shallower dlevels until I've got GoI. This feels a little cheap, and doesn't guarantee that I won't have a suprise encounter with an out-of-depth critter.
What do you think?
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