YAVP - CeVM of Ash - Heavy Armour Reaver

[RangerC]

Random combo that was actually quite good with Ash skill boost. Probably one of the only wins ever with this particular rule set for Ash (it's already been reverted, and 0.9 will have a new (but similar) setup. Sting/centaur speed took me to the lair. Once Ash skill boost kicked in (all skills to 6) I was able to cast most low level spells despite wearing medium armor and mostly training melee (though I didn't find useful stuff like Blink, Repel Missiles, or Regen until D:23 or so). Horrible luck with uniques - at one point D was blocked by St Roka, Vaults by Margery and Xhatua (no rF at this point), Snake by Mara & Mennas(!) - I had to dive past Roka just to have somewhere to go.

I used a bunch of spells this game I rarely ever use because of the Ash boosts - Poison Cloud was a staple, as was Bolt of Magma (actually easy to cast this game with free 6 levels in Fire and Earth). I even tried the Poison Cloud/Ignite Poison combo (very good, even used it in Zot 5 for crowd control, but pricy in terms of slots/MP). After finding Alistair's Intoxication I was able to wipe out most of the humanoids in the dungeon and finally make progress towards Zot. V:8 was horrible with no rN and 6 EV, and Zot 1-4 were also surprisingly difficult (I think maybe I forgot how tough 5 EV characters have it vs. ranged attacks), but Zot 5 was shockingly easy (never even in danger, killed almost everything in melee one at a time). Orb run was randomly horrible with stuff like Pan lords who cast 80 damage firestorm or 50 damage hellfire burst appearing around corners - luckily I never got a bad teleport after these encounters.

Bullet Points:
- Ash with skill boosts: fun, especially for weird/awkward combos (I wouldn't call CeVM bad since the early game is so easy, but the combo definitely doesn't have a logical progression)
- Casting in ice dragon armour - not hard at all, miscasts a little annoying at times
- Once ate 7 chunks in a row, getting sick every time Like most centaur games, lots of red sick, hunger, and rotting chunks. I ate almost all the food in the dungeon by the end of the game, and might have actually had a problem if not for the 2 food shops on Orc 4.
- Brought Sigmund with me to the surface - found him on D:2 on the ascent (forgot about running from him days ago when I started the game) and had him follow me to the upstairs.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.8.0-a0-5941-g5831c72 character file.

1192822 Combatomancer the Conqueror (level 27, 274/274 (282) HPs)
             Began as a Centaur Venom Mage on Mar 25, 2011.
             Was the Champion of Ashenzari.
             Escaped with the Orb
             ... and 3 runes (of 3 types) on Apr 2, 2011!
             
             The game lasted 10:57:02 (158081 turns).

Combatomancer the Conqueror (Centaur Venom Mage)                  Turns: 158081, Time: 10:57:02

HP 274/274 (282) AC 36     Str 11 (12) Exp: 27/1192743 (19582)
MP  38/38        EV  5     Int 26 (27) God: Ashenzari [******]
Gold 5102        SH 12     Dex 13      Spells: 16 memorised,  6 levels left

Res.Fire  : + + .   See Invis. : +    s - +6 demon blade of Tyev {flame, rElec}
Res.Cold  : + + .   Warding    : . .  v - +2 ice dragon armour (curse)
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .    i - -3 elf buckler {rF+} (curse)
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    P - +1 helmet of the Good {rF+ Int+4}
Res.Poison: +       Clarity    : +    S - -1 dwarf cloak (curse)
Res.Elec. : +       Spirit.Shd : .    x - +3 pair of gauntlets of War {Acc+3 Dam+3}
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    e - +4 centaur barding (curse)
Res.Mut.  : +       Ctrl.Telep.: .    w - cursed amulet of resist mutation
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    E - cursed ring of protection from magic
Saprovore : . . .   Ctrl.Flight: .    X - cursed ring "Thriepew" {rPois rF+}

@: very quick, extremely resistant to hostile enchantments, unstealthy
A: hooves 3, deformed body 1, deterioration 2, speed 2, fast metabolism 2, -10% mp, spit poison
1, tough skin 3
a: Spit Poison, Butcher, Scrying, Transfer Knowledge, Renounce Religion


You escaped.
You worshipped Ashenzari.
Ashenzari was exalted by your worship.
You were hungry.

You visited 12 branches of the dungeon, and saw 76 of its levels.
You visited the Abyss 1 time.
You visited 1 Labyrinth.
You visited 4 portal chambers: sewer, ossuary, spiders nest, wizlab.

You collected 8965 gold pieces.
You spent 3883 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 s - the cursed +6,+6 demon blade of Tyev (weapon) {flame, rElec}
   (You found it on level 2 of the Hive)   
   It emits flame when wielded, causing extra injury to most foes and up to
   double damage against particularly susceptible opponents. Big, fiery blades
   are also staple armaments of hydra-hunters.
   It insulates you from electricity.
   It has a curse placed upon it.
 U - the +6,+6 Lehudib's crystal spear (quivered) {return, Int+3}
   (You found it on level 2 of the Swamp)   
   A skilled user can throw it in such a way that it will return to its owner.
   It affects your intelligence (+3).
   Presumably this relic led to the invention of the famous spell, or maybe
   the other way around.
Missiles
 b - 2 curare-tipped +0 needles
 m - 4 curare-tipped +4 needles
Armour
 e - a cursed +4 centaur barding (worn)
 i - a cursed -3 elven buckler of fire resistance (worn)
 v - a cursed +2 ice dragon armour (worn)
 x - the cursed +3 pair of gauntlets of War (worn) {Acc+3 Dam+3}
   (You found it on level 22 of the Dungeon)   
   It affects your accuracy (+3).
   It affects your damage-dealing abilities (+3).
   It has a curse placed upon it.
 P - the cursed +1 helmet of the Good (worn) {rF+ Int+4}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Crypt)   
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
   It protects you from fire.
   It has a curse placed upon it.
 S - a cursed -1 dwarven cloak (worn)
Magical devices
 a - a wand of slowing (7)
 c - a wand of draining (12)
 d - a wand of invisibility (2)
 g - a wand of teleportation (0)
 h - a wand of digging (7)
 j - a wand of hasting (0)
 p - a wand of teleportation (4)
 u - a wand of teleportation (5)
 A - a wand of healing (0)
 B - a wand of disintegration (3)
 F - a wand of lightning (0)
 J - a wand of hasting (1)
 N - a wand of teleportation (9)
 O - a wand of disintegration (7)
Comestibles
 l - 3 royal jellies
Scrolls
 I - a scroll of curse weapon
 T - 2 scrolls of remove curse
Jewellery
 f - an uncursed ring of teleport control
 r - the ring "Furoa" {rPois Str+4 Int+4}
   (You found it on level 4 of the Swamp)   
   [ring of poison resistance]
   It affects your strength (+4).
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
 t - an uncursed ring of sustain abilities
 w - a cursed amulet of resist mutation (around neck)
 C - the cursed necklace of Bloodlust {*Rage +Rage MR Str+2 Int-2 Dam+3 Stlth- Curse}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 6 of the Vaults)   
   [amulet of rage]
   It affects your strength (+2).
   It affects your intelligence (-2).
   It affects your damage-dealing abilities (+3).
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
   It makes you angry.
   It may recurse itself.
   It makes you less stealthy.
   It has a curse placed upon it.
 E - a cursed ring of protection from magic (right hand)
 L - the amulet of Ploem {Spirit Stlth++}
   (You found it on level 8 of the Vaults)   
   [amulet of guardian spirit]
   It makes you much more stealthy.
 M - the ring "Bahemy" {AC+3 Stlth++}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Crypt)   
   [ring of protection]
   It affects your AC (+3).
   It makes you much more stealthy.
 X - the cursed ring "Thriepew" (left hand) {rPois rF+}
   (You found it on level 8 of the Vaults)   
   [ring of poison resistance]
   It protects you from fire.
   It has a curse placed upon it.
Potions
 q - 8 potions of healing
 z - a potion of magic
 G - a potion of brilliance
 H - a potion of resistance
Books
 K - a book of Annihilations   
   WARNING: If you fail in an attempt to memorise a spell from this book, the
   book will lash out at you.
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Poison Arrow                      Conjuration/Poison           6
   Orb of Destruction                 Conjuration                  7
   Chain Lightning                    Conjuration/Air              8
   Lehudib's Crystal Spear            Conjuration/Earth            8
   Ice Storm                          Conjuration/Ice              9
   Fire Storm                         Conjuration/Fire             9
   
Orbs of Power
 k - the Orb of Zot
Miscellaneous
 y - a serpentine rune of Zot
 Q - a decaying rune of Zot
 R - a silver rune of Zot


 You had 19582 experience left.

   Skills:
 * Level 27 Fighting
 - Level 2 Short Blades
 + Level 16 Long Blades
 - Level 2 Throwing
 + Level 14 Armour
 - Level 6 Dodging
 - Level 3 Stealth
 - Level 2 Stabbing
 - Level 4 Shields
 - Level 4 Traps & Doors
 + Level 14 Unarmed Combat
 + Level 16 Spellcasting
 - Level 11 Conjurations
 - Level 1 Charms
 - Level 2 Summonings
 + Level 2 Necromancy
 - Level 1 Translocations
 - Level 3 Transmutations
 - Level 4 Fire Magic
 - Level 5 Air Magic
 - Level 4 Earth Magic
 - Level 6 Poison Magic
 - Level 3 Evocations


You had 6 spell levels left.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Success   Level  Hunger
a - Ignite Poison         Fire/Trmt      #######...   Very Good   5    None
b - Mephitic Cloud        Pois/Air/Conj  #######...   Excellent   3    None
c - Stone Arrow           Erth/Conj      #######      Excellent   3    None
d - Poisonous Cloud       Pois/Air/Conj  #######...   Excellent   5    None
e - Conjure Flame         Fire/Conj      #######..    Excellent   3    None
f - Bolt of Magma         Fire/Erth/Conj #######...   Excellent   5    None
g - Alistair's Intoxicat  Pois/Trmt      N/A          Great       4    None
h - Stoneskin             Erth/Trmt      #######...   Excellent   2    None
i - Poison Arrow          Pois/Conj      #######...   Very Good   6    Honeycomb
j - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          Excellent   2    None
k - Summon Butterflies    Summ           #######..    Excellent   1    None
l - Apportation           Tloc           #######...   Excellent   1    None
m - Olgreb's Toxic Radia  Pois           N/A          Great       4    None
n - Abjuration            Summ           #######...   Excellent   3    None
o - Repel Missiles        Air/Chrm       #######...   Excellent   2    None
p - Regeneration          Chrm/Necr      #######...   Excellent   3    None


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (27/27)            Temple (1/1) D:4             Orc (4/4) D:9
    Elf (5/5) Orc:4          Lair (8/8) D:11          Swamp (5/5) Lair:3
  Slime (0/6) Lair:6        Snake (5/5) Lair:6         Hive (2/2) D:11
  Vault (8/8) D:15          Blade (1/1) Vault:6       Crypt (5/5) Vault:4
    Zot (5/5) D:27       
  Tomb: Crypt:2-3   

Altars:
Ashenzari
Cheibriados
Elyvilon
Fedhas
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Okawaru
Sif Muna
The Shining One
Trog
Xom
Yredelemnul
Zin
Jiyva

Shops:
D:10: /  Orc:3: *  Orc:4: %((  Elf:1: ((*=  Elf:2: (  Elf:3: (  Elf:4: *  Snake:5: *
Vault:2: *  Vault:3: +([  Vault:4: =  Vault:5: ?  Vault:6: =  Vault:7: =  Vault:8: ?!!

Portals:
Hell: D:14 D:21 D:22 D:23 D:24 D:25 D:27
Abyss: D:22 D:25
Pan: D:24
Trove: D:15 (give +2 gold dragon armour)

Annotations
D:14 exclusion: door
Elf:1 exclusion: 2 statues
Lair:8 exclusion: oklob plant
Crypt:2 exclusion: curse skull
Crypt:4 exclusion: 2 curse skulls
Crypt:5 exclusion: curse skull


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You have hooves in place of feet.
Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
You cover ground very quickly.
You have a very fast metabolism.
You have extremely tough skin (AC +3).
Your body is deteriorating.
Your magical capacity is low (-10% MP).
You can spit poison.


Message History

The magic dart hits you!
There is a staircase leading out of the dungeon here.
You feel weakened.
Helpless, you fail to dodge Sigmund's attack.
Sigmund hits you but does no damage.
Are you sure you want to leave the Dungeon?
You have escaped!

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You could see Sigmund (invisible).


[joellercoaster]

Nice one - this forum needs more oddball and experimental wins 8)