A Newbie says hello! (Questions inside)

[fizzix]

Originally Posted by Oramin

Probably, I like to clear levels and I typically do each of the levels 1 to 10 at least twice.

I usually clear about 10-25% of levels 1-10 and not much more for the levels thereafter. I clear more when playing ironman.

[Alice]

I happened upon an "Resistance and a =FA, so I think I am ready to try diving a bit! I've been to 1100' at the most, and fought a couple of uniques for underwhelming drops. Sigh. I have managed to enchant my weapon quite nicely, and to a lesser extent, my armors. Is =Damage(+0, +8) worth replacing with =FA, or should I keep both and swap? Maybe I will run across an artifact that has intrinsic FA so I don't have to choose.

Also, losing my last ?recall scroll at depth was embarrassing. I'll remember to carry a spare to avoid having to climb all the way up again. >///>

Lastly: the ladder is updated ;3

[Derakon]

I generally stock 5 Word of Recall in town, so I have one to get me down, one to get me back up, and three spares. They're cheap and weigh next to nothing, so why not?

Damage rings are very useful. What's on your other finger that you'd rather replace =Damage? If it's See Invisible, you might consider wearing the =Damage most of the time and carrying the =SeeInvis as a swap ring for when you encounter invisible enemies.

In any event, keep it around in case you find gloves or boots or other gear that gives Free Action.

[Alice]

Originally Posted by Derakon

I generally stock 5 Word of Recall in town, so I have one to get me down, one to get me back up, and three spares. They're cheap and weigh next to nothing, so why not?

Damage rings are very useful. What's on your other finger that you'd rather replace =Damage? If it's See Invisible, you might consider wearing the =Damage most of the time and carrying the =SeeInvis as a swap ring for when you encounter invisible enemies.

In any event, keep it around in case you find gloves or boots or other gear that gives Free Action.

My sword (Holy Avenger) lets me see invisible, so invisible creatures aren't dangerous to me until I replace it. The other ring is =Strength<+3>, which gives me almost two hits with my sword. I could purchase a =Dexterity<+2> in the black market right now if I wanted a solid two blows per round, but I think I'd rather keep the =Damage and the fractional blow.

Edit: Azog, King of the Uruk-hai is terrifying. It took three teleports to escape both him and the level after trying to fight him and changing my mind. Is he one of the more nefarious uniques at this depth?

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Alice

Edit: Azog, King of the Uruk-hai is terrifying. It took three teleports to escape both him and the level after trying to fight him and changing my mind. Is he one of the more nefarious uniques at this depth?

He is one of the first fast tough uniques - they will get faster and tougher. It is fine to just avoid him until you can deal with him better; if you want to take him on now, I would suggest:

1. Drink a potion of speed
2. Shoot him until he gets close, then phase; repeat.

Step 2 is one of the best strategies you have as a ranger (or any character, for that matter).

[Oramin]

Not that tough if you play conservatively - by the time you reach him, he's fairly easy.

The early one I typically have problems with is Mim (I hate that dwarf).

[Timo Pietilä]

Originally Posted by Oramin

Probably, I like to clear levels and I typically do each of the levels 1 to 10 at least twice.

Level 10 is 500'. I play quite a bit like you and I don't get longbows usually that early (unless I buy it from a store), much less enchanted one.

Things do change quite rapidly after that though (much more uniques, gain-one, lose-one -potions appear at 1000' etc.

I have usually quite a bit worse gear than Alice had: This is my current char at 450':

  [Angband 3.4.0 Character Dump]

 Name   Wanderer                                 Self  RB  CB  EB   Best
 Sex    Male         Age             25   STR:     18  -2  +0  +0     16
 Race   Hobbit       Height          40   INT:     10  +2  +1  +0     13
 Class  Rogue        Weight          56   WIS:     10  +1  -3  +0      8
 Title  Footpad      Social     Unknown   DEX:     17  +3  +3  +0  18/50
 HP     71/71        Maximize         Y   CON:     10  +2  -1  +0     11
 SP     6/6                               CHR:     10  +1  -1  +0     10

 Level               11   Armor     [19,+3]     Saving Throw         58%
 Cur Exp            823   Fight     (+4,+1)     Stealth        Excellent
 Max Exp            823   Melee     (+8,+6)     Fighting       Excellent
 Adv Exp            877   Shoot     (+4,+0)     Shooting          Superb
 MaxDepth     450' (L9)   Blows    2.0/turn     Disarming            77%
 Game Turns       90636   Shots      1/turn     Magic Device          62
 Standard Turns    9070   Infra       40 ft     Perception       1 in 11
 Resting Turns     1284   Speed      Normal     Searching            44%
 Gold               110   Burden   82.8 lbs

 You are one of several children of a Hobbit Miller.  You are a credit
 to the family.  You have brown eyes, wavy blond hair, and an average
 complexion.


rAcid:............. Nexus:.............
rElec:............. Nethr:.............
rFire:............. Chaos:.............
rCold:............. Disen:.............
rPois:............. Feath:.............
rLite:............. pFear:.............
rDark:............. pBlnd:.............
Sound:............. pConf:.............
Shard:............. pStun:.............

Light:.....+....... Tunn.:.............
Regen:............. Speed:.............
  ESP:............. Blows:.............
Invis:............. Shots:.............
FrAct:............. Might:.............
HLife:............+ S.Dig:.............
Stea.:............. ImpHP:.............
Sear.:.............  Fear:.............
Infra:............+ Aggrv:.............


  [Character Equipment]

a) a Main Gauche (1d5) (+4,+5)
     Found lying on the floor at 150 feet (level 3).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid.
     
     Combat info:
     2.0 blows/round.
     With +3 STR and +0 DEX you would get 2.7 blows
     With +0 STR and +1 DEX you would get 2.3 blows
     Average damage/round: 18.2.
     
b) a Sling (x2) (+0,+0)
     Found lying on the floor at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
c) (nothing)
d) (nothing)
e) (nothing)
f) a Lantern (11452 turns)
     Found lying on the floor at 400 feet (level 8).
     
     Cannot be harmed by fire.
     
     Radius 2 light.
g) Soft Leather Armour [8,+0]
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
h) a Cloak [1,+0]
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
i) a Small Metal Shield [5,+0]
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid.
     
j) a Hard Leather Cap [2,+0]
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid.
     
k) a Set of Leather Gloves [1,+0]
     Found lying on the floor at 50 feet (level 1).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
l) a Pair of Leather Boots [2,+0]
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     


  [Character Quiver]

n) 18 Iron Shots (1d4) (+0,+0)
     Found lying on the floor at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     Combat info:
     Hits targets up to 100 feet away.
     Average damage/round: 5.
     25% chance of breaking upon contact.
     
o) (nothing)
p) (nothing)
q) (nothing)
r) (nothing)
s) (nothing)
t) (nothing)
u) (nothing)
v) (nothing)
w) (nothing)


  [Character Inventory]

a) a Book of Magic Spells [Magic for Beginners] {@m1!k!d!v=g}
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by fire.
     
b) 4 Rations of Food
     
     
c) 3 White Spotted Mushrooms of Clear Mind
     Found lying on the floor at 50 feet (level 1).
     
     
     
d) 2 Flasks of oil
     Branded with flames.
     
e) 13 Icky Green Potions of Cure Light Wounds
     
     
f) a Metallic Blue Potion of Neutralize Poison
     Found lying on the floor at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     
     
g) 2 Light Green Potions of True Seeing
     
     
h) a Blue Potion of Infravision
     Dropped by an Apprentice at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     
     
i) 13 Scrolls titled "pus ocurgo" of Phase Door {@r2!k!d!v=g}
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
j) 9 Scrolls titled "alius cons dia" of Teleportation
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
k) 3 Scrolls titled "diurris" of Treasure Detection
     Dropped by a Battle-scarred veteran in town.
     
     
     
l) 2 Scrolls titled "frelevus leas" of Door/Stair Location
     
     
m) 2 Scrolls titled "inus plerius" of Detect Invisible
     Found lying on the floor at 150 feet (level 3).
     
     
     
n) a Scroll titled "serto ca lum" of Identify {@r1!k!d!v=g}
     Dropped by a Black naga at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     
     
o) 9 Scrolls titled "ribetio cedo" of Light
     
     
p) 3 Scrolls titled "suco nus ascus" of Word of Recall {!*!*!*}
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
q) 3 Scrolls titled "mo mulco cus" of Blessing
     
     
r) a Brass Rod of Disarming
     Found lying on the floor at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     Can be destroyed by electricity.
     
s) 2 Mithril Wands of Magic Missile (26 charges)
     
     
t) a Steel Wand of Slow Monster (11 charges)
     Found lying on the floor at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     
     
u) a Mithril-Plated Wand of Wonder (5 charges)
     Found lying on the floor at 150 feet (level 3).
     
     Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
     


  [Home Inventory]

a) an Azure Potion of Resist Poison
     Found lying on the floor at 450 feet (level 9).
     
     
     
b) 12 Scrolls titled "alius cons dia" of Teleportation
     Bought from a store.
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     
c) 26 Bolts of Slay Demon (1d5) (+9,+6)
     Dropped by Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman at 400 feet (level 8).
     
     Slays demons.
     Can be destroyed by acid.
     
d) 25 Bolts (1d5) (+0,+0)
     Found lying on the floor at 150 feet (level 3).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid.
     
e) 25 Arrows (1d4) (+0,+0)
     Found lying on the floor at 400 feet (level 8).
     
     Can be destroyed by acid, fire.
     


============================================================
                   CHAR.
|   TURN  | DEPTH |LEVEL| EVENT
============================================================
         1      0'    1   Began the quest to destroy Morgoth.
      4407     50'    2   Reached level 2
     11734     50'    3   Reached level 3
     25671    150'    4   Reached level 4
     31734    150'    4   Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's dog
     31734    150'    5   Reached level 5
     35533    150'    6   Reached level 6
     47929    400'    7   Reached level 7
     48839    400'    7   Killed Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman
     48839    400'    8   Reached level 8
     48839    400'    9   Reached level 9
     59284    400'   10   Reached level 10
     61059    400'   10   Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's dog
     68493    450'   11   Reached level 11


  [Options]

Maximise effect of race/class bonuses        : yes (birth_maximize)
Randomise the artifacts (except a very few)  : no  (birth_randarts)
Restrict the use of stairs/recall            : no  (birth_ironman)
Halve view and spell distances               : no  (birth_small_range)
Restrict creation of artifacts               : no  (birth_no_artifacts)
Don't stack objects on the floor             : no  (birth_no_stacking)
Lose artifacts when leaving level            : no  (birth_no_preserve)
Don't generate connected stairs              : yes (birth_no_stairs)
Don't show level feelings                    : no  (birth_no_feelings)
Items always sell for 0 gold                 : yes (birth_no_selling)
Use previous set of randarts                 : yes (birth_keep_randarts)
Monsters chase recent locations              : yes (birth_ai_smell)
Monsters act smarter in groups               : yes (birth_ai_packs)
Monsters learn from their mistakes           : yes (birth_ai_learn)
Monsters exploit player's weaknesses         : no  (birth_ai_cheat)
Monsters behave more intelligently (broken)  : no  (birth_ai_smart)

(birth_no_selling so I actually use everything I have, not sell them)

[Oramin]

It is probably the "no selling" option that is making the difference; I rely on cash to bump up my gear. Although, I'm pretty sure that I found all of my good early launchers in 3.3.2, so maybe I'm just getting lucky.

[Derakon]

The "no selling" option significantly increases the size of cash piles, so you should get roughly comparable amounts of money with it as without it (depending on how religiously you hoover up junk for sale in selling games, of course).

[Alice]

Character Update!
Ladder entry here.

I've come across two egos in quick succession in the dungeon (still hovering at around 1150-1200'. One was a glaive of slay orc (which I later sold), and the other was a very nice Crossbow of Extra Might (+10, +18). Are numbers like these typical for Extra Might?

Also bought a White Dragon Scale Mail at the black market, though it was quite expensive. I also stocked up on ?Teleport while I was there.

Now my biggest concern is lack in convenient FA and !Speed (as I see it). Am I lacking in anything fundamental to my immediate survival beyond these two things? For one, I am starting to think that the -Curing is not useful enough to take up a slot that could be used for something better. Or -TreasureDetect for that matter.