Sil mechanics: effect of the number of silmarils

[fph]

Some questions:

1- what are the exact effects of having 1, 2, or 3 sils with you?
2- what is the effect of killing Morgoth and carrying the crown?
3- are these effects tied to carrying? In other words, if I am carrying 3 sils and I realize it's too hard, can I drop 2 to avoid further penalties? Can I drop them during a difficult fight and pick them up afterwards?
4- what are the added difficulty effects of cutting off the 2nd and 3rd gem from the crown?

Sorry for asking this, but I don't think I have read a complete account on this game mechanic yet.

[Scatha]

Originally Posted by fph

1- what are the exact effects of having 1, 2, or 3 sils with you?

One Silmaril lets you use up stairs and move into the escape/pursuit part of the game. If you have a second Silmaril, there are extra monsters generated on the pursuit. I don't recall whether a third Silmaril increases the monster count further.

2- what is the effect of killing Morgoth and carrying the crown?

You'll get the pursuit for having 3 Silmarils (nothing extra for having killed Morgoth). You don't have the curse for cutting the third Silmaril out.

3- are these effects tied to carrying? In other words, if I am carrying 3 sils and I realize it's too hard, can I drop 2 to avoid further penalties? Can I drop them during a difficult fight and pick them up afterwards?

I believe they're determined on level generation. You can leave a Silmaril behind to make the pursuit easier, but you won't be able to get it again later.

4- what are the added difficulty effects of cutting off the 2nd and 3rd gem from the crown?

Cutting the third jewel out curses you: make each skill roll twice and take the worse result. There is no way to undo this after it's done.

[HugoVirtuoso]

Spoiler:
Carrying the Crown also lets you use the up staircase too.

[fph]

Thanks! One last thing: I read here in the forums that there is a chance of your weapon breaking when cutting sils; is it for all sils, only for the second/third, or only for the third? What helps preventing it?