Sorcerer starting AC

[Number Thirteen]

Hello all,

I'm playing PosChengBand and I just created a human sorcerer with the shrewd personality. I started off with a wizard staff and all books.

My first course of action was dropping all books but one in my house in order to maintain a reasonable weight. I then noticed that I had a problem. My AC was -50.

After putting on a robe it went to -49.

Can someone explain this to me? Why did I start with such a massive penalty to AC?

[debo]

Hello all,

I'm playing PosChengBand and I just created a human sorcerer with the shrewd personality. I started off with a wizard staff and all books.

My first course of action was dropping all books but one in my house in order to maintain a reasonable weight. I then noticed that I had a problem. My AC was -50.

After putting on a robe it went to -49.

Can someone explain this to me? Why did I start with such a massive penalty to AC?

Sorcerers have a bunch of huge disadvantages to offset their extreme magi-ness. The AC hit (-50) you've already noticed -- you also only get 4.0lb of worn equipment until you start suffering encumbrance penalties, and your life rating is 0.65 of base (you're roughly losing 35% of what your maxhp "should" be.)

Shrewd is (counterintuitively) a pretty bad idea for most mages -- your casting will be OK regardless, so you probably want something to give you more HP. Ordinary or patient could be better choices.

[wobbly]

Sorcerers have big melee penalties to make up for being the best casters in the game. Never played one but I'd suggest staying out of melee range. It seems charisma is also there casting stat, so fearless might be better then shrewd (which comes with a -1 chr). You could play it as golem or android if you want say -40 AC instead?

Probably should clarify that I'm joking. I imagine an android has serious trouble leveling on the sorcerer

[Cold_Heart]

You should not dump all books, books are your friends

In fact, first order of business would be getting more money to buy even MORE books.

[Number Thirteen]

Wow, that seems pretty harsh. Thanks for the information, I might want to start off with a friendlier class.

[Cold_Heart]

Wow, that seems pretty harsh. Thanks for the information, I might want to start off with a friendlier class.

It is a friendly class, it is just picky about who to be friends with

[Number Thirteen]

It is a friendly class, it is just picky about who to be friends with

I guess anyone at a range. The life penalty I understand but the AC and encumbrance penalty are huge. Do end game sorcerers end up just suffering from being overweight and have their SP reduced?

Also, somewhat off topic, but is there a list of abilities/intrinsics that classes gain as they level?

[Cold_Heart]

You just wear the lightest armor (robe, ethereal cloak, soft leather boots, small shield etc), keep it all enchanted (you have access to craft books) and boost AC with spells.

Help files contain some info but sometimes you have to check out source code for some things.

[Number Thirteen]

Alright, thanks for the information.

[budswell]

For me the easiest magic user to start with was a normal mage with realms of Armageddon (offensive spells) and Sorcery (detection/utility spells). Magic eater was also fun.

Keep in mind, I'm very crap at this game.

[Number Thirteen]

I've been playing as a dark elf sorcerer for several days now and I can see why they have penalties.

When I put anything on, even a cloak, I get an encumbrance message. It's not even 4 lbs like debo said, it appears to be anything at all.

What does encumbrance do? I assumed I took a speed penalty but my speed is unchanged when I wear something. I only see my max SP change.

[Derakon]

What does encumbrance do? I assumed I took a speed penalty but my speed is unchanged when I wear something. I only see my max SP change.

Assuming PosChengband hasn't changed this aspect of the game, that is all it does -- penalize your max SP. The heavier the armor you wear, the more SP you lose. Wearing gloves that aren't suitable for spellcasting also imposes a much more significant penalty (of 1/3rd or 2/3rds of your SP, I forget).

[Number Thirteen]

Assuming PosChengband hasn't changed this aspect of the game, that is all it does -- penalize your max SP. The heavier the armor you wear, the more SP you lose. Wearing gloves that aren't suitable for spellcasting also imposes a much more significant penalty (of 1/3rd or 2/3rds of your SP, I forget).

Hmm, alright, I guess I can risk wearing something. I've been running around naked.

There doesn't seem to be any point in putting anything on unless it will get be above -AC. The only exception would be if it has a specific resistance or ego to it as lowering my SP to go from -50 to -45 doesn't seem like a good idea.

[Regalia]

I'd dare to suggest dropping humans/elves and taking a "tankier" race. Demigod + hades + unyielding trait (it does not get reduced, afair). Or simply a half-titan for high base hit points.

Also, at lvl 3 you get a summoning spell (trump). Summon some tanks, make a macro to resummon. Keep them close at all times ('p'et menu, stay 'c'lose), even when moving <> the stairs.

[Number Thirteen]

I'd dare to suggest dropping humans/elves and taking a "tankier" race. Demigod + hades + unyielding trait (it does not get reduced, afair). Or simply a half-titan for high base hit points.

Also, at lvl 3 you get a summoning spell (trump). Summon some tanks, make a macro to resummon. Keep them close at all times ('p'et menu, stay 'c'lose), even when moving <> the stairs.

So that's what trump <race> means. I wasn't sure. I thought it had something to do with weakening said race.

So I can be one of those annoying summoners that kills high level berserker characters? Fun stuff.

I chose Dark Elf for the cha bonus and took fearless for the cha bonus as well. So far I'm doing well using detection spells and being smart about engages. I'm guessing mid-end game I'll have problems with my low hp.