Late game XP

[shadow]

I'm playing a Dwarf Priest, CL 45, DL 90. What's the best way to pick up those last five character levels? It seems like I would have to grind forever for them, and anything worth much XP still seems pretty dangerous. I think I've been getting more from potions of xp than I have been from killing things for a while now.

[debo]

Originally Posted by shadow

I'm playing a Dwarf Priest, CL 45, DL 90. What's the best way to pick up those last five character levels? It seems like I would have to grind forever for them, and anything worth much XP still seems pretty dangerous. I think I've been getting more from potions of xp than I have been from killing things for a while now.

Higher-element hounds or dragon pits? I find the latter to be good if you have an immunity or two, you can just stairscum until you find a pit of the color you're immune to and then wipe them out for a billion XP.

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Originally Posted by shadow

I'm playing a Dwarf Priest, CL 45, DL 90....

Playing Comp. 164, where winner had to have the lowest max experience, was a good way to learn that you don't need to level up all the way in order to win. Admittedly, @ in that comp had the One Ring so it isn't a straight comparison, but if you have sufficient hitpoints there's no need to wait. Instead focus on collecting consumables and resistances for the final two fights and then go straight for DL 99 and take on the big bosses.

[mushroom patch]

For my money, U packs are the best way to go for xp. If you're a priest and can heal yourself all day, horned reapers, gelugons, etc. drop good loot and give good xp/turn economy.

[Raxmei]

Originally Posted by mushroom patch

For my money, U packs are the best way to go for xp. If you're a priest and can heal yourself all day, horned reapers, gelugons, etc. drop good loot and give good xp/turn economy.

Yeah just dig out a space so you can't get breathed on by a bunch of the demons with dangerous breaths all at once and you'll be able to fight it out with them pretty sustainably. If you play it right you can keep them summoning more of each other and not run out of sp. Certainly much more manageable than greater undead.

I'll also agree that it isn't necessary to advance to level 50 before taking on the final fight.

[Derakon]

Dragons, plasma/nether/aether hounds, non-balrog greater demons (hell, balrogs too if you don't mind the charges drain), W monsters from Nightwing on down (no Nightcrawlers or Nightwalkers, thanks), and the top-tier hydras. Remember that you can cast Resist Heat & Cold out of book 2, which seriously cuts down on two very common sources of elemental damage and, to some extent, mitigates inventory damage.

[MattB]

Originally Posted by Derakon

Remember that you can cast Resist Heat & Cold out of book 2, which seriously cuts down on two very common sources of elemental damage and, to some extent, mitigates inventory damage.

Does it? How does that work then?

[PowerWyrm]

Originally Posted by shadow

I'm playing a Dwarf Priest, CL 45, DL 90. What's the best way to pick up those last five character levels? It seems like I would have to grind forever for them, and anything worth much XP still seems pretty dangerous. I think I've been getting more from potions of xp than I have been from killing things for a while now.

Ainu pits. Not only you get ton of xp, but ton of consumables too.

[Derakon]

Originally Posted by MattB

Does it? How does that work then?

Each time you take elemental damage, the game does a percentile check for each vulnerable item in inventory to see if it gets destroyed. The odds are 1% for small damage, 2% for medium (30-60 points, IIRC), and 3% for anything higher. So if double-resistance takes you below one of these thresholds, you'll reduce the inventory damage you take.

Doesn't do anything in the early game when nothing's hitting you for more than 30 damage anyway, though.

[MattB]

Originally Posted by Derakon

Each time you take elemental damage, the game does a percentile check for each vulnerable item in inventory to see if it gets destroyed. The odds are 1% for small damage, 2% for medium (30-60 points, IIRC), and 3% for anything higher. So if double-resistance takes you below one of these thresholds, you'll reduce the inventory damage you take.

Ah, didn't know the odds scaled with damage. Thanks.