noobery (dumb questions)

[Kneller]

1) I'm picking up tons of stuff thinking that even though it's not useful to me (inferior gear, etc.), I might be able to recycle it into something useful later. Is it so or should I just travel light?

2) Speaking of light, I could use more of it. I ran through a torch in just the first and part of the second level. However, I'm not finding replacements. At the rate I'm going, I'll be stumbling around in the dark before long. What can I say? I like to wander and explore. Is there any way to get a more permanent source of light? And, with how much I like to wander, can I expect to have a problem with food, too? But, I've heard you can craft some kind of glowing gem that lasts forever. However, I ignored smithing on the build and can't really craft anything.

3) Speaking of smithing, my reason for ignoring it is because smithing costs XP which competes with my characters skills and abilities (also an XP cost). I figured that having abilities at my disposal all the time was more valuable than throwing together a trinket once in a while. So, I dumped all my points into melee and evasion, some in archery, and a bit into stealth, figuring it would maximize my survivability and exploration capability. On the other hand, by ignoring smithing and voice skills, I'm not throwing away a resource that might actually be handy. Any recommendations on how to get something out of these areas without significantly nerfing my combat prowess?

4) Speaking of stealth, does holding a light source affect stealth? I've been unequipping it when I've wanted to sneak around (logic dictates that holding a flaming stick makes one more noticeable), but I wonder if it matters.

Thanks.

[taptap]

Originally Posted by Kneller

1) I'm picking up tons of stuff thinking that even though it's not useful to me (inferior gear, etc.), I might be able to recycle it into something useful later. Is it so or should I just travel light?

2) Speaking of light, I could use more of it. I ran through a torch in just the first and part of the second level. However, I'm not finding replacements. At the rate I'm going, I'll be stumbling around in the dark before long. What can I say? I like to wander and explore. Is there any way to get a more permanent source of light? And, with how much I like to wander, can I expect to have a problem with food, too? But, I've heard you can craft some kind of glowing gem that lasts forever. However, I ignored smithing on the build and can't really craft anything.

3) Speaking of smithing, my reason for ignoring it is because smithing costs XP which competes with my characters skills and abilities (also an XP cost). I figured that having abilities at my disposal all the time was more valuable than throwing together a trinket once in a while. So, I dumped all my points into melee and evasion, some in archery, and a bit into stealth, figuring it would maximize my survivability and exploration capability. On the other hand, by ignoring smithing and voice skills, I'm not throwing away a resource that might actually be handy. Any recommendations on how to get something out of these areas without significantly nerfing my combat prowess?

4) Speaking of stealth, does holding a light source affect stealth? I've been unequipping it when I've wanted to sneak around (logic dictates that holding a flaming stick makes one more noticeable), but I wonder if it matters.

Thanks.

1) Usually, you can't. Some throwing weapons, substitutes (you can lose equipment at times) or alternative gear is useful though.

2) There is a forge at the second floor you enter. If you take jewellery from smithing, you can make a lesser jewel there. However, usually light as in light vs. no light is not a problem. The problem is the weakness of the light sources you have when you face certain opponents.

3) Just ignoring smithing is fine. Perception (to find traps, open doors and chests) and especially will (to resist traps and special effects) help a lot with survival once you leave the first few floors. I wouldn't ignore song altogether, several songs actually improve your combat prowess.

4) No. Imagine you are disguised as an easterling

[Kneller]

Follow up:

If one is only going to dabble in smithing and voice, what do you recommend to get the most out of a minimal investment?

Can I craft/magic something that gets me food as well? I managed to get to hungry by the third floor, but had not found any food other than that with which I started.

[HallucinationMushroom]

Jewelry is a good cheap smithing option. It takes 4 points of smithing to buy it, and unless you are playing a 1 or 0 grace, that automatically gets you access to lesser jewel, and +1 accuracy rings.

The long version:
I'm good at bad logic, so if you had say, invested 5 points into melee, it would take you 1300 to raise your accuracy by 2. This way is 1500, or only 1000 if you play Feanor or a Dwarf. You aren't going to find better rings than +1 to hit for a while, and should you find anything mithril, feanorian lamps are only difficulty 7. Haunted dreams amulets are difficulty 8. Probably the next level jewelry worth making is +13 skill... there you can make +2 accuracy rings. Then, a +1 Con amulet is 15 skill.

Edit: Why I type so slow? Damn you locus.
Edit Edit: HEY MAYBE YOU COULD MAKE SOME ACCURACY RINGS.

[Kneller]

Ok, so based on what you all have said, I have a Noldor Fingolfin 3/4/4/2 Stats and skills starting at 9/7/9/5/5/4/4/5 with assorted bonuses. I went with Fingolfin because I figured the Will affinity would get more use than a smithing affinity, and the house option with perception affinity boosted grace, which is probably the least useful to me. I figure I'll never need to raise smithing or song again and can just focus on other areas. Did I interpret your advice correctly?

[Derakon]

A quick note regarding exploration: even if you have unlimited light, you do not have unlimited time to explore. The game has a "minimum depth" that increments every so often; I'm pretty sure (since, again, I've never played Sil ) that once that depth exceeds your current depth you'll get pushed to the new minimum depth as soon as you take a down staircase. You can check your minimum depth on the character screen.

The clock isn't so strict that you can't explore, but the name of the game is efficiency here. Being too laggardly can leave you forced to descend before you're ready.

[Kneller]

Ok, problem. I have skill level in smithing, but when I go to the character menu to get Jeweler, it says I only have two skill points. What did I do wrong?

Also, sometimes the text box says -more-. Is there a button to see the rest of the text without advancing the game by a turn? Seems like everything I hit (num5, esc, space) also moves to the next turn.

[locus]

Originally Posted by Kneller

Ok, problem. I have skill level in smithing, but when I go to the character menu to get Jeweler, it says I only have two skill points. What did I do wrong?

Also, sometimes the text box says -more-. Is there a button to see the rest of the text without advancing the game by a turn? Seems like everything I hit (num5, esc, space) also moves to the next turn.

You need to buy 4 skill *points* in order to get Jeweler, not just have a total skill of 4.

Space should not advance to the next turn. I think the issue is that it hasn't fully finished processing the previous turn when it says -more-, so it looks like you're skipping a turn when it finishes. But you aren't.

[Kneller]

edit: Nevermind, I figured it out.

[taptap]

Dabbling in song:

Song of Trees can be very handy when overcoming insufficient of light.

Song of Freedom is just generally awesome. Very easily overcomes obstacles such as traps, rubble, pits, opens blocked and finds unfound doors and grants you temporary freedom of movement (which is one of the most useful special effects).

Song of Elbereth is generally underappreciated. Carefully used and with sufficient skill it can completely change the game.

Not dabbling in songs anymore:

Slaying, Staying, Este, Sharpness are obvious candidates, noise can be a problem and they are probably of more use later on. Still, true warriors sing.