Is that the best place to start in the 4.x game?

4.1 will feel familiar. 4.2 includes a major rewrite of spell sets and more powerful monsters, with 4 added classes. I'd have called it 5.0

Thanks for the info. Sounds like 4.1.x is the way I'll go.

a) the Blade of Chaos 'Feariona' (15d5) (+15,+15) [+10] <+2, +1>
Found lying on the floor in a vault at 4850 feet (level 97)

+2 intelligence.
+1 wisdom.
+1 attack speed.
+1 light.
Slays dragons (powerfully), undead, demons, giants, orcs.
Branded with weak fire.
Provides resistance to Cold, Chaos.
Cannot be harmed by Acid.
Prevents paralysis. Blessed by the gods (combat bonuses for holy
casters).

Combat info:
5.0 blows/round.
This weapon may benefit from one or more off-weapon brands or
slays.
Average damage/round: 1819.5 vs dragons and demons, 1252.5 vs
undead, demons, giants, and orcs, 969 vs evil creatures and
creatures not resistant to fire, and 685.5 vs. others.


This might be the best non-MoD randart weapon I have seen yet, found by a priest.

Now that is one wicked blade!
I don't remember this high damage on any melee weapon, certainly not with 5 attacks. Things like Scatha and Balrog of Moria get killed in two turns, if they are lucky.

Oh my. I guess you'll be meleeing M. No Wands of annihilation necessary. That thing is ridonculous.

Usually you don't even get 969 vs evil with GROND!
These kinds of arts are plain stupid...

yet there is no guarantee you will have such an artifact in your randart set, nor that you will find it. Oh how many randart games i have played with rangers that didnt have a single randart bow in them ..

Oh you want stupid do you?
I give you the other end of the spectrum

c) the Band of Gorth
Dropped by Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief at 750 feet (level 15)

Cannot be harmed by Lightning.
Aggravates creatures nearby.

That's it. Some would argue that a weapon like Mormegil with a dozen negatives is worse - and they have a point. But honestly, this is just as useless/pointless. I was hoping for at least a modest upgrade from my ring of the dog/reckless attacks combo.

Ring of dog is bad. Carry a stack of buff potions instead.