Hengband struggles..

[Eli]

I'm currently working on a Hengband 1.6.2 (level 26) Amberite Berserker. I've found some really nice gear (Robes of Permanence, Elven Cloak, Westernesse weapon).

Being unable to read scrolls or have reliable success with staves / rods / wands, I'm at a loss as to what could provide a source of GTFO of dodge. Anything that would enable me to tele away from a pinch reliably? It's the only thing keeping me from going deeper, at this point.

[debo]

Being unable to read scrolls or have reliable success with staves / rods / wands, I'm at a loss as to what could provide a source of GTFO of dodge.

You don't have one. That's what being a berserker is all about: you're OP as hell, but you can't escape. If you want something with slightly less extreme melee that still has escapes, just play a warrior.

In Poschengband, zerkers get Earthquake: that can act like a poor man's mini-destruction or forest-creation (removes LOS if you're lucky) when things go really badly. You want to start spamming it early. Not sure if you get that in hengband.

Generally you want to get really strong early and then dive the last 50 or so floors to win as fast as possible. (I learned that the hard way.) You're probably unstealthy as heck, so try to go down a floor and then draw everything to you so that you're at least close to a staircase if things go south. Vamp is also a huge help. Finally, try to carry a lot of healing with you, there's no point in leaving it at home really. Your 2x hitpoints are basically a really shitty phase door, in that you probably have enough hp to walk to nearby staircase if you're getting bombed.

[Eli]

I was afraid of that.. Working on trying to get levels and gear, but I don't know how deep I feel safe going without a Vamp weapon or where I should even be going for it at this point.