Wormtongue and Smeagol

[zaimoni]

Originally Posted by roustk

For Smeagol in particular, you want to be able to See Invisible creatures (most likely with a potion), or have very long infravision (say 80'). Wormtongue is not invisible so this isn't an issue.

50' infravision (V dwarves) is adequate. I'm not sure how low the range has to be before you want See Invisible badly (Detect Evil burns mana way too fast to be convenient).

Originally Posted by roustk

Then, you can use an enchanted longbow (or crossbow), average ammo, and a lot of phase door to blink around on them -- don't let them touch you and these two can't blink away. Note that Smeagol is faster than you, getting double moves even if you aren't overburdened.

Triple moves without a !Speed, although it may not be that obvious as Smeagol has very random movement. I would not use !Speed on Smeagol, however.

I usually avoid Smeagol until I have enchanted up a Death Bow (+7 damage). Most players are concerned about weight (or are playing Rangers), so I'd usually recommend enchanting a Long Bow for this purpose.

[roustk]

Originally Posted by zaimoni

Triple moves without a !Speed, although it may not be that obvious as Smeagol has very random movement.

Zaimoni is right -- Smeagol is three times faster than normal. I said double (without checking) because I remembered that I have to PD if he is two spaces away: @..h

Originally Posted by zaimoni

50' infravision (V dwarves) is adequate.

At 50' infravision, you can have this sequence and not be able to get a safe shot:
@..... (can't see Smeagol at 60' away, so stand)
@..h.. (finally can see him, so take a shot)
@..... (he steals gold and blinks away)

At 60' infravision, it always takes Smeagol two full turns before he can steal gold, so that you can take a shot and then PD. At 80' infravision, it often will take 3 turns, giving you two shots per PD. Going the other way, with 30' infravision you never have a safe shot.

80' is achievable for most races with a potion of Infravision (and average 5 safe shots for every 3 phase doors). Half-elves can reach 70', but Humans and Dunadan can only get 50' (2 shots for 3 PD).

Kevin
(Edit in red)

[steeg1234321]

Cool thanks! I'll remember that and start using ranged attacks more often lol.

[momo125]

If you really want to kill them early, I have a lot of luck with - of wonder. Not 100% but get 1 blast of dragon breath and you got them.
Also Smeagol seems to slow down a bit if you shoot him because he ends up running arround picking up ammo.

[Narvius]

Alternatively you may use -slow monster or !Speed.

[bigmcstrongmuscle]

Don't underestimate the usefulness of the arrow trick, especially. Neither one of those snots can resist picking up arrows you shoot at them, and with a bit of luck or a few ? of Phase Door, you can keep them distracted enough to kill them really easily, even with a junk bow.

And unlike gold, any items they pick up will be dropped upon their death, so you get most of the ammo back if you win.

Wand of Wonder is good if you've got no other option, but can easily mess you up, too. The only thing more annoying than Smeagol is Smeagol when he's hasted.

[Cardinal Rob]

If you don't have see invisible or infravision, and are really bent on killing Smeagol early in the game, retain several potions of see invisible. Don't rely on just one though - they don't last long and you'll need another if he steals and disappears.

[Garrie]

Originally Posted by bigmcstrongmuscle

Wand of Wonder is good if you've got no other option, but can easily mess you up, too. The only thing more annoying than Smeagol is Smeagol when he's hasted.

This highlights that it is worth staying near stairs, and no matter how much gold he steals there will always be more.
Zap him with the Wand of Wonder... and if it makes him tougher, dive. Next time you see him he will have slowed back down!
Personally, I just leave the level until I'm that powerful that he is a pushover.

[Melchizedek]

Yeah, smeagol's drop was really important in early gameplay for me in 3.06. I didn't get it till the late 1ks this time. Can't remember which unique. Oh, and I'm new here, so is there some sort of rule/stigma against discussing spoilers in certain places? Or are we just talking about "that thing that smeagol drops" for no particular reason?

[Djabanete]

I *always* avoid Wormtongue and Smeagol the first time around, usually because my AC is atrocious after selling the starting chain mail so i always just get robbed if i bother trying to fight. They drop better stuff later on anyway... Just my two cents.

@Melch: Welcome to Oook. I wouldn't worry about spoiling. Just don't tell anyone that Snape kills Dumbledore.