CIP: DSMo, any suggestions?

[mattington]

I've been playing lots of monks lately, mostly gargoyles because of the awesome natural AC and good mutations, but I decided to try a DS on a whim and got a great mutation set for a monk, including great AC!

I'm wondering about armour, should I enchant up that Steam Dragon, enchant the Mottled, or stick with the cloak? Or should I switch depending on where I am?

I suppose I'll be going for 5 runes, any need to learn spells? I wasn't really planning on it, putting all my stats into dex.

Any other suggestions or comments always welcome.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.13.1 (tiles) character file.

Pyyuntl the Black Belt (Demonspawn Monk)           Turns: 38958, Time: 03:00:31

HP 134/135       AC 26     Str 12      XL: 17   Next: 62%
MP  31/31        EV 26     Int 11      God: Makhleb [******]
Gold 2881        SH  0     Dex 20      Spells:  0 memorised, 16 levels left

Res.Fire  : + . .   See Invis. : .     - Unarmed
Res.Cold  : + . .   Warding    : .   H - +2 robe {rC+ rF+}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : +   (no shield)
Res.Poison: .       Res.Corr.  : +   q - +2 wizard hat {MR+}
Res.Elec. : .       Clarity    : +   d - +2 cloak {rCorr, Cons}
Sust.Abil.: . .     Spirit.Shd : .   (gloves unavailable)
Res.Mut.  : .       Stasis     : .   j - +2 pair of boots
Res.Rott. : .       Flight     : .   F - amulet of clarity
Saprovore : . . .                    S - +4 ring of protection
                                     i - +0,+6 ring of slaying

@: studying Fighting, quite resistant to hostile enchantments, stealthy
A: claws 3, demonic guardian 2, spiny 2, AC +10, Dex -3
a: Minor Destruction, Lesser Servant of Makhleb, Major Destruction, Greater
Servant of Makhleb, Renounce Religion


You are on level 2 of the Lair of Beasts.
You worship Makhleb.
Makhleb is exalted by your worship.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 6 branches of the dungeon, and seen 42 of its levels.

You have collected 3487 gold pieces.
You have spent 606 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Armour
 a - a +2 robe of magic resistance
 d - a +2 cloak of preservation (worn)
 g - a +2 wizard hat
 j - a +2 pair of boots (worn)
 o - a +0 buckler of resistance
 q - a +2 wizard hat of magic resistance (worn)
 H - a +2 robe of resistance (worn)
 J - a +0 cloak of poison resistance
 O - a troll hide
 R - a mottled dragon hide
 X - a +0 steam dragon armour
Magical devices
 b - a wand of polymorph
 k - a wand of digging {zapped: 3}
 r - a wand of disintegration {zapped: 3}
 D - a wand of teleportation {zapped: 3}
 E - a wand of invisibility {zapped: 4}
Comestibles
 x - 5 pears
 P - 10 apricots
Scrolls
 h - 2 scrolls of enchant armour
 l - 2 scrolls of teleportation
 u - 2 scrolls of fog
 v - 2 scrolls of fear
 w - 3 scrolls of identify
 C - 2 scrolls of blinking
Jewellery
 f - an uncursed ring of see invisible
 i - a +0,+6 ring of slaying (left claw)
 B - an uncursed ring of sustenance
 F - an amulet of clarity (around neck)
 K - a ring of magical power
 S - a +4 ring of protection (right claw)
Potions
 c - 3 potions of curing
 e - 2 potions of restore abilities
 n - a potion of speed
 p - a potion of berserk rage
 s - a potion of agility
 t - a potion of porridge
 G - a potion of flight
 I - 2 potions of resistance
 V - a potion of might
Books
 m - a Young Poisoner's Handbook   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Sting                              Conjuration/Poison           1
   Cure Poison                        Poison                       2
   Mephitic Cloud                     Conjuration/Poison/Air       3
   Olgreb's Toxic Radiance            Poison                       4
   Venom Bolt                         Conjuration/Poison           5
 y - the Collected Works on Venomous Arcane Weapons
   (You found it on level 5 of the Lair of Beasts)   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Sting                              Conjuration/Poison           1
   Cure Poison                        Poison                       2
   Force Lance                        Conjuration                  5
   Bolt of Magma                      Conjuration/Fire/Earth       5
   Conjure Ball Lightning             Conjuration/Air              7
 z - a book of Beasts   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Summon Butterflies                 Summoning                    1
   Sticks to Snakes                   Transmutation                2
   Call Canine Familiar               Summoning                    3
   Ice Form                           Ice/Transmutation            4
   Summon Ice Beast                   Ice/Summoning                4
   Summon Hydra                       Summoning                    7
 A - a book of Cantrips   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Confusing Touch                    Hexes                        1
   Animate Skeleton                   Necromancy                   1
   Summon Small Mammal                Summoning                    1
   Apportation                        Translocation                1
 L - a book of Death   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Corpse Rot                         Necromancy                   2
   Sublimation of Blood               Necromancy                   2
   Agony                              Necromancy                   5
   Dispel Undead                      Necromancy                   5
   Excruciating Wounds                Charms/Necromancy            5
   Bolt of Draining                   Conjuration/Necromancy       6
 M - a book of Fire   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Fire Brand                         Charms/Fire                  2
   Ignite Poison                      Fire/Transmutation           5
   Fireball                           Conjuration/Fire             5
   Bolt of Fire                       Conjuration/Fire             6
   Delayed Fireball                   Conjuration/Fire             7
   Ring of Flames                     Charms/Fire                  7
 N - a book of Ice   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Freezing Aura                      Charms/Ice                   2
   Ensorcelled Hibernation            Hexes/Ice                    2
   Ozocubu's Refrigeration            Ice                          6
   Bolt of Cold                       Conjuration/Ice              6
   Freezing Cloud                     Conjuration/Ice/Air          6
   Metabolic Englaciation             Hexes/Ice                    6
   Simulacrum                         Ice/Necromancy               6
 Q - a book of Minor Magic   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Magic Dart                         Conjuration                  1
   Blink                              Translocation                2
   Call Imp                           Summoning                    2
   Repel Missiles                     Charms/Air                   2
   Slow                               Hexes                        2
   Conjure Flame                      Conjuration/Fire             3
   Mephitic Cloud                     Conjuration/Poison/Air       3
 T - a book of Minor Magic   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Magic Dart                         Conjuration                  1
   Blink                              Translocation                2
   Call Imp                           Summoning                    2
   Repel Missiles                     Charms/Air                   2
   Slow                               Hexes                        2
   Conjure Flame                      Conjuration/Fire             3
   Mephitic Cloud                     Conjuration/Poison/Air       3
 U - a book of the Dragon   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Flight                             Charms/Air                   3
   Cause Fear                         Hexes                        4
   Bolt of Fire                       Conjuration/Fire             6
   Dragon Form                        Transmutation                7
   Summon Dragon                      Summoning                    9
 W - a manual of Fighting
 Y - a book of Battle   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Infusion                           Charms                       1
   Shroud of Golubria                 Charms/Translocation         2
   Song of Slaying                    Charms                       2
   Spectral Weapon                    Hexes/Charms                 3
   Regeneration                       Charms/Necromancy            3
   Song of Shielding                  Charms                       4
 Z - a book of Hinderance   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Confusing Touch                    Hexes                        1
   Slow                               Hexes                        2
   Confuse                            Hexes                        3
   Petrify                            Transmutation/Earth          4
   Leda's Liquefaction                Hexes/Earth                  4
   Metabolic Englaciation             Hexes/Ice                    6


   Skills:
 + Level 14.8 Fighting
 + Level 15.0 Dodging
 - Level 1.7 Stealth
 + Level 19.4 Unarmed Combat
 - Level 12.0 Invocations


You have 16 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (20/27)            Temple (1/1) D:6             Orc (4/4) D:7
    Elf (0/3) Orc:4          Lair (7/8) D:10          Swamp (5/5) Lair:3
  Snake (5/5) Lair:5        Slime (0/6) Lair:6       Vaults (0/5) D:20

Altars:
Ashenzari
Cheibriados
Elyvilon
Fedhas
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Nemelex Xobeh
Okawaru
Sif Muna
Trog
Vehumet
Xom
Yredelemnul
Zin
the Shining One
Beogh

Shops:
D:4 /   D:7 [   D:9 *   Orc:2 *   Orc:4 *+[[(

Portals:
Trove: D:11 (give 18 scrolls of identify)

Annotations:
D:4 Blork the orc, Grinder
D:20 Margery


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You have claws for hands.
You are completely covered in rough black scales (AC +10, Dex -3).
A demonic guardian rushes to your aid.
You are mostly covered in sharp spines.


Message History

t - a potion of porridge
Identify which item? (\ to view known items) (? for menu, Esc to quit)
G - a potion of flight
Drop what? (_ for help) (? for menu, Esc to quit)
You drop a potion of blood.
You drop 2 potions of might.
WARNING: ABOUT TO ENTER WIZARD MODE!
If you continue, your game will not be scored!
Do you really want to enter wizard mode?
Okay, then.
Char dumped to '/Users/schreck/Library/Application Support/Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup/morgue/Pyyuntl.txt'.
There are several objects here.
Pick up a potion of blood? ((y)es/(n)o/(a)ll/(m)enu/*?g,/q)
o - a +0 buckler of resistance; J - a +0 cloak of poison resistance; R - a mottled dragon hide
a - a +2 robe of magic resistance; X - a +0 steam dragon armour; O - a troll hide; g - a +2 wizard hat
h - 2 scrolls of enchant armour
y - the Collected Works on Venomous Arcane Weapons
m - a Young Poisoner's Handbook; Y - a book of Battle; z - a book of Beasts; A - a book of Cantrips
L - a book of Death; M - a book of Fire; Z - a book of Hinderance; N - a book of Ice; Q - a book of Minor Magic
T - a book of Minor Magic; U - a book of the Dragon; W - a manual of Fighting

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P..####f..P.#.......#
#..# ###......@..#..##
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 #..# ##.#   ##..........###
 #.##  #.#    #.....####...#
 #.#   #.#   ##..##...##....
 #.#   #.#####............^.
 #.#   #............##......
 #.#   #.f..#.f..##.P.......
 #.##  #f######..#......^..^


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Frederick (Snake:5)
  A sphinx (D:19)
  Rupert (D:17)
  3 greater nagas
  2 stone giants (D:20)
  Azrael (Snake:2)
  5 vault guards (D:20)
  A dragon (D:15)
  Josephine (Orc:3)
  13 hydras
  Erica (Lair:5)
  2 ogre magi
  The ghost of Bjochep the Carver, a powerful TeBe of Trog (D:12)
  8 anacondas
  4 alligators
  11 naga warriors
  4 rakshasas
  8 centaur warriors
  3 orc high priests (Orc:4)
  The ghost of Eamlobanq the Bringer of Life, an experienced DDHe of Elyvilon (Orc:1)
  2 flayed ghosts
  5 unseen horrors
  A giant amoeba (D:18)
  2 sea snakes (Snake:5)
  A swamp dragon (Swamp:1)
  A flaming corpse (D:11)
  5 orc knights
  10 hill giants
  A fire giant zombie (D:18)
  3 red wasps
  8 cyclopes
  A draconian (shapeshifter) (D:18)
  A wolf spider (D:19)
  6 griffons
  A sphinx skeleton (D:18)
  2 orc sorcerers
  A spiny worm (Lair:7)
  A frost giant skeleton (D:17)
  Maurice (Orc:3)
  35 black mambas
  7 spiny frogs
  A stone giant skeleton (D:20)
  4 guardian serpents
  Psyche (D:13)
  An efreet (D:13)
  3 naga magi
  A troll (shapeshifter) (D:20)
  5 fire drakes (Lair:7)
  A giant firefly (shapeshifter) (D:14)
  6 yaktaurs
  A hydra zombie (D:15)
  10 trolls
  13 blink frogs
  A burning bush (D:11)
  5 two-headed ogres
  38 slime creatures
  A fire vortex (D:11)
  5 giant leeches
  A wind drake (shapeshifter) (D:20)
  4 komodo dragons
  6 bog bodies
  2 griffon zombies (D:15)
  8 basilisks
  2 shadows
  29 ugly things
  A dragon skeleton (D:12)
  A vampire (D:17)
  2 wraiths
  4 wyverns
  2 deep elf magi (Orc:2)
  4 water elementals
  A hill giant zombie (D:14)
  3 sharks (D:18)
  An ettin skeleton (D:18)
  2 fire elementals (Snake:2)
  36 yaks
  2 steam dragons
  Eustachio (D:4)
  2 elephant slugs
  A clay golem (D:15)
  4 hungry ghosts
  28 vampire mosquitoes
  15 hippogriffs
  7 manticores
  4 hill giant skeletons
  34 swamp worms
  11 wolves
  2 necrophages
  A mottled dragon (D:11)
  The ghost of Cabtoen the Insei, an average GrMo (D:5)
  A rock worm (D:18)
  6 porcupines
  24 orc warriors
  6 hell hounds
  5 ice beasts
  65 nagas
  A human (D:12)
  2 phantoms (D:8)
  6 sky beasts
  5 giant goldfish (Swamp:4)
  A griffon simulacrum (D:15)
  7 swamp drakes
  3 black bears
  23 centaurs
  5 crocodiles
  A blink frog skeleton (D:14)
  19 ogres
  A slave (D:6)
  A yellow wasp (D:10)
  Sigmund (D:5)
  3 wargs
  4 giant slugs
  34 water moccasins
  A yaktaur zombie (D:18)
  A brain worm (D:13)
  22 giant frogs
  A giant slug zombie (D:18)
  4 yaktaur skeletons
  61 insubstantial wisps
  9 agate snails
  A cyclops zombie (D:13)
  An agate snail simulacrum (D:20)
  10 jellyfish
  A boulder beetle zombie (D:18)
  2 yak zombies (D:14)
  4 fire bats (D:11)
  An eye of draining (D:17)
  15 killer bees
  6 wights
  3 goliath beetles
  12 electric eels
  A boring beetle zombie (D:20)
  9 hounds
  A quasit (D:11)
  9 crimson imps
  Crazy Yiuf (D:3)
  20 orc priests
  A giant frog zombie (D:13)
  7 big fish
  An iron imp (Orc:2)
  13 iguanas
  28 orc wizards
  A scorpion (D:14)
  6 worker ants
  14 sheep
  Jessica (D:3)
  5 boggarts
  A mottled dragon skeleton (D:15)
  A hound skeleton (D:9)
  4 gnolls (D:6)
  50 adders
  36 green rats
  2 giant centipedes
  A shadow imp (Orc:2)
  A giant mite (Lair:5)
  An inept item mimic (D:4)
  2 white imps
  4 worms
  An ufetubus (Lair:5)
  2 adder skeletons
  A giant eyeball (D:11)
  6 giant geckos
  4 oozes
  152 orcs
  2 ball pythons
  7 giant cockroaches
  11 goblins
  20 hobgoblins
  7 quokkas
  26 bats
  3 giant newts
  2 giant spores
  11 illusory rakshasas
  19 jackals
  27 kobolds
  A kobold zombie (D:5)
  An orc zombie (Orc:3)
  22 rats
  5 ballistomycetes
  A bush (Lair:7)
  7 fungi
  5 plants
1429 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  Agnes (Snake:1)
  Frances (Swamp:4)
  An orc warlord (Orc:4)
  Aizul (D:14)
  Gastronok (Orc:3)
  A greater naga (Snake:5)
  3 vault guards (D:20)
  4 hydras
  6 death yaks (Lair:6)
  4 naga warriors
  A centaur warrior (D:17)
  An iron troll (Orc:4)
  2 hell knights (D:20)
  A wizard (D:20)
  Pikel (D:6)
  A wolf spider (D:20)
  A necromancer (D:18)
  5 orc knights
  2 sixfirhies (Orc:4)
  An orc sorcerer (Orc:4)
  2 griffons
  A stone giant skeleton (D:20)
  A black mamba (Lair:5)
  An orange demon (Orc:4)
  A smoke demon (Orc:4)
  4 naga magi (Snake:5)
  A fire drake (Lair:7)
  2 hellwings (Orc:4)
  An iron devil (Orc:4)
  A burning bush (D:11)
  A slime creature (D:15)
  A trapdoor spider (D:17)
  A hungry ghost (Swamp:5)
  A neqoxec (Orc:4)
  Grum (Orc:3)
  A vampire mosquito (Swamp:3)
  A mottled dragon (D:17)
  4 wolves (Orc:3)
  A swamp drake (Swamp:3)
  A black bear (D:11)
  A porcupine (Lair:6)
  3 ogres
  6 orc warriors
  A sky beast (D:7)
  10 nagas
  A crocodile (Lair:6)
  A warg (D:20)
  A water moccasin (Swamp:4)
  2 giant slugs
  2 giant frogs
  An insubstantial wisp (Swamp:4)
  An agate snail (Lair:6)
  2 killer bees
  A crimson imp (D:8)
  A hound (D:12)
  3 orc priests
  2 orc wizards
  An iguana (D:12)
  4 boggarts
  A lemure (Orc:4)
  An adder (Lair:6)
  A giant centipede (D:17)
  29 orcs
  2 bats
  A giant cockroach zombie (D:5)
  A kobold (D:9)
  3 orc skeletons (Orc:3)
  An orc zombie (Orc:3)
151 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  An Executioner (D:20)
  5 soul eaters
  5 sun demons
  2 ice devils
  9 sixfirhies
  A naga mage (Snake:5)
  4 smoke demons
  2 fire vortices (D:11)
  A swamp drake (Swamp:1)
  17 crimson imps
  An electric eel (Swamp:1)
  An orc priest (Orc:3)
  A centaur zombie (D:6)
  23 iron imps
  33 lemures
  24 white imps
  25 ufetubi
  A giant eyeball (D:11)
  An orc (D:6)
  A giant cockroach (D:6)
  A giant spore (D:11)
  4 fungi
  4 plants
167 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 1747 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Pyyuntl, the Demonspawn Monk, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 16/16 MP: 0/0
   255 | D:1      | Reached skill level 4 in Unarmed Combat
   383 | D:1      | Gained mutation: You are partially covered in sharp spines. [demonic ancestry]
   383 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 13/22 MP: 1/1
   800 | D:1      | Gained mutation: You have sharp fingernails. [demonic ancestry]
   800 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 17/28 MP: 2/2
  1283 | D:2      | Found a glowing golden altar of the Shining One.
  1522 | D:2      | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
  1748 | D:3      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 34/34 MP: 3/3
  1756 | D:3      | Noticed Jessica
  1782 | D:3      | Killed Jessica
  1782 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Unarmed Combat
  2505 | D:3      | Noticed Crazy Yiuf
  2523 | D:3      | Killed Crazy Yiuf
  2523 | D:3      | Gained mutation: You are partially covered in rough black scales (AC +4, Dex -1). [demonic ancestry]
  2523 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 40/40 MP: 4/4
  2528 | D:3      | Identified a +0 cloak of preservation (You took it off Crazy Yiuf on level 3 of the Dungeon)
  2788 | D:4      | Noticed Eustachio
  2832 | D:4      | Killed Eustachio
  2832 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 34/47 MP: 5/5
  2890 | D:4      | Noticed Grinder
  2890 | D:4      | Paralysed by Grinder for 5 turns
  2897 | D:4      | Found Boinlilo's Magical Wand Boutique.
  2974 | D:4      | Noticed Blork the orc
  3390 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  3585 | D:5      | Reached skill level 6 in Unarmed Combat
  3726 | D:5      | Gained mutation: A weak demonic guardian rushes to your aid. [demonic ancestry]
  3726 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 51/53 MP: 6/6
  3866 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  4073 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  4380 | D:5      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  4380 | D:5      | Found a glowing silver altar of Zin.
  4381 | D:5      | Noticed a blizzard demon
  4381 | D:5      | Noticed an angel
  4546 | D:5      | Noticed Cabtoen's ghost (average GrMo)
  4562 | D:5      | Killed Cabtoen's ghost
  4627 | D:5      | Found a bloodstained altar of Trog.
  4627 | D:5      | Found a radiant altar of Vehumet.
  4628 | D:5      | Found a snail-covered altar of Cheibriados.
  4682 | D:5      | Noticed Sigmund
  4687 | D:5      | Killed Sigmund
  4687 | D:5      | Gained mutation: You have very sharp fingernails. [demonic ancestry]
  4687 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 52/60 MP: 7/7
  4883 | D:6      | Reached skill level 7 in Unarmed Combat
  4887 | D:6      | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
  5013 | D:6      | Noticed Pikel
  5040 | D:6      | Killed Pikel
  5121 | D:6      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  5144 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  5348 | D:5      | Became a worshipper of Makhleb the Destroyer
  5348 | D:5      | Acquired Makhleb's first power
  5348 | D:5      | Acquired Makhleb's second power
  5439 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Invocations
  5441 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 57/67 MP: 7/10
  5707 | D:6      | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
  5983 | D:7      | Acquired Makhleb's third power
  6005 | D:7      | Found Phapon's Armour Shoppe.
  6006 | D:7      | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
  6245 | D:7      | Reached skill level 8 in Unarmed Combat
  6845 | D:8      | Reached skill level 5 in Invocations
  6962 | D:8      | HP: 2/68 [orc priest/divine providence (13)]
  7035 | D:8      | Acquired Makhleb's fourth power
  7121 | D:8      | Gained mutation: You are mostly covered in rough black scales (AC +7, Dex -2). [demonic ancestry]
  7121 | D:8      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 45/75 MP: 19/19
  7331 | D:9      | Found Immet's General Store.
  7347 | D:9      | Bought a potion of resistance for 91 gold pieces
  7347 | D:9      | Bought a potion of mutation for 39 gold pieces
  7431 | D:9      | Killed an unseen horror
  7542 | D:9      | Got a twisted quarterstaff
  7543 | D:9      | Identified the quarterstaff "Koip" {antimagic, rF+} (You found it on level 9 of the Dungeon)
  7681 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
  7865 | D:10     | Reached skill level 9 in Unarmed Combat
  8028 | D:10     | Found a staircase to the Lair.
  8324 | D:11     | Noticed a hill giant
  8332 | D:11     | Killed a hill giant
  8382 | D:11     | Killed an unseen horror
  8441 | D:11     | Acquired Makhleb's fifth power
  8452 | D:11     | Reached skill level 10 in Invocations
  8457 | D:11     | Reached XP level 11. HP: 83/83 MP: 23/23
  8812 | D:11     | Noticed a flaming corpse
  8862 | D:11     | Killed a flaming corpse
  9419 | D:11     | Found a portal to a secret trove of treasure.
  9567 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 10000 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 10 in Fighting
 10489 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 10 in Unarmed Combat
 11963 | Lair:3   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 12849 | Lair:4   | Noticed a six-headed hydra
 12868 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 12868 | Lair:4   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 60/92 MP: 25/25
 12873 | Lair:4   | Killed a six-headed hydra
 12873 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 11 in Unarmed Combat
 13787 | Lair:5   | Noticed Erica
 14055 | Lair:5   | Found a staircase to the Snake Pit.
 14124 | Lair:5   | Reached skill level 12 in Unarmed Combat
 14262 | Lair:5   | Identified the Collected Works on Venomous Arcane Weapons
 14377 | Lair:5   | Killed Erica
 14472 | Lair:5   | Noticed a six-headed hydra
 14489 | Lair:5   | Killed a six-headed hydra
 14719 | Snake:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Snake Pit
 14887 | Lair:6   | Noticed an eight-headed hydra
 14906 | Lair:6   | Gained mutation: You are completely covered in rough black scales (AC +10, Dex -3). [demonic ancestry]
 14906 | Lair:6   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 91/98 MP: 26/26
 14918 | Lair:6   | Killed an eight-headed hydra
 15006 | Lair:6   | Found a staircase to the Slime Pits.
 15038 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 13 in Unarmed Combat
 15041 | Lair:6   | Noticed a five-headed hydra
 15053 | Lair:6   | Killed a five-headed hydra
 16244 | Lair:7   | Noticed a balrug
 17368 | D:11     | Killed an unseen horror
 17384 | D:12     | Noticed Bjochep's ghost (powerful TeBe)
 17708 | D:12     | Reached skill level 14 in Unarmed Combat
 18171 | D:13     | Noticed Psyche
 18190 | D:13     | Killed Psyche
 18253 | D:12     | Killed Bjochep's ghost
 18705 | D:13     | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
 18775 | D:14     | Entered Level 14 of the Dungeon
 18777 | D:14     | Noticed Aizul
 18788 | D:14     | Killed Aizul
 18803 | D:14     | Gained mutation: You have claws for hands. [demonic ancestry]
 18803 | D:14     | Reached XP level 14. HP: 77/107 MP: 28/28
 19933 | D:15     | Entered Level 15 of the Dungeon
 20546 | D:15     | Reached skill level 15 in Unarmed Combat
 21871 | D:17     | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
 22011 | D:17     | Noticed Rupert
 22020 | D:17     | Killed Rupert
 22083 | D:17     | Reached skill level 16 in Unarmed Combat
 22125 | D:17     | Gained mutation: A demonic guardian rushes to your aid. [demonic ancestry]
 22125 | D:17     | Reached XP level 15. HP: 115/115 MP: 29/29
 22809 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 22809 | Orc:1    | Noticed Eamlobanq's ghost (experienced DDHe)
 22834 | Orc:1    | Killed Eamlobanq's ghost
 23150 | Orc:2    | Found Itourghua's General Store.
 23166 | Orc:2    | Bought a bread ration for 64 gold pieces
 23934 | Orc:3    | Noticed Gastronok
 23952 | Orc:3    | Killed Gastronok
 24111 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 24112 | Orc:4    | Found Qappoe Fanu's Book Boutique.
 24258 | Orc:4    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 24281 | Orc:4    | Found a roughly hewn altar of Beogh.
 24331 | Orc:4    | Found Theos' Antique Armour Shop.
 24387 | Orc:4    | Found Phuntiul's Antique Armour Shoppe.
 24693 | Orc:4    | Bought a jewelled helmet for 240 gold pieces
 24697 | Orc:4    | Identified the -6 helmet of the Bells {Str+2 Dex+2} (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)
 24767 | Orc:4    | Found Shohy's General Store.
 24832 | Orc:4    | Bought a scroll of identify for 30 gold pieces
 24832 | Orc:4    | Bought a meat ration for 60 gold pieces
 24832 | Orc:4    | Bought a scroll of blinking for 82 gold pieces
 24880 | Orc:3    | Noticed Josephine
 24883 | Orc:3    | Noticed Grum
 25001 | Orc:4    | Found Mnir's Antique Weapon Shoppe.
 25018 | Orc:4    | Reached skill level 17 in Unarmed Combat
 25225 | Orc:3    | Killed Grum
 25233 | Orc:3    | Noticed Maurice
 25241 | Orc:3    | Killed Josephine
 25248 | Orc:3    | Killed Maurice
 26373 | Snake:1  | Noticed Agnes
 26383 | Snake:1  | Killed Agnes
 27207 | Snake:2  | Noticed Azrael
 27218 | Snake:2  | Killed Azrael
 27814 | Snake:2  | Reached skill level 18 in Unarmed Combat
 27886 | Snake:2  | Got a heavily runed copper ring
 27907 | Snake:2  | Identified the ring "Iptubb" {+Fly rC+ Dex+2} (You found it on level 2 of the Snake Pit)
 29620 | Snake:4  | Reached XP level 16. HP: 123/123 MP: 30/30
 29895 | Snake:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Snake Pit
 31400 | Snake:5  | Noticed Frederick
 31966 | Snake:5  | Killed Frederick
 32242 | Lair:2   | Paralysed by you for 7 turns
 32310 | Swamp:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Swamp
 35149 | Swamp:4  | Noticed Frances
 35159 | Swamp:4  | Killed Frances
 35534 | Swamp:4  | Reached skill level 19 in Unarmed Combat
 35565 | Swamp:4  | Gained mutation: You are mostly covered in sharp spines. [demonic ancestry]
 35565 | Swamp:4  | Reached XP level 17. HP: 133/133 MP: 31/31
 36034 | Swamp:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Swamp
 36319 | Swamp:5  | Noticed a tentacled monstrosity
 37569 | D:19     | Got an encrusted cloak
 37637 | D:19     | Identified the cursed -2 cloak of Noptisest {+Fly rF+ MR+} (You found it on level 19 of the Dungeon)
 37852 | D:20     | Entered Level 20 of the Dungeon
 38277 | D:20     | Found a staircase to the Vaults.
 38369 | D:20     | Reached skill level 15 in Dodging
 38594 | D:20     | Noticed Margery


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Unarmed           |   130 |   159 |   318 |   778 |  1768 |  1300 ||  4453
Invok: Minor Destruction |       |       |    17 |     6 |     5 |     1 ||    29
       Major Destruction |       |       |       |     4 |    12 |     6 ||    22
       Greater Servant o |       |       |       |     2 |     6 |     5 ||    13
       Lesser Servant of |       |       |       |     1 |       |     1 ||     2
Evoke: Wand              |       |       |     2 |    12 |     7 |     5 ||    26
  Use: Scroll            |       |     5 |     4 |    22 |    18 |    14 ||    63
       Potion            |       |     1 |     4 |     1 |     4 |     1 ||    11
 Stab: Sleeping          |     3 |     6 |     5 |     9 |    13 |     7 ||    43
       Distracted        |       |       |     4 |     8 |    12 |     8 ||    32
       Invisible         |       |       |       |       |    11 |       ||    11



[and into]

You certainly could go mottled for more AC, and maybe that would be worth it later on when you have more ?EA and/or other ways to get some basic resistances. But right now you'd be losing rC+ and rF+ for a few more AC—not worth it. You could also just stick with the robe and EV all game, especially with that innate +10 AC and Makhleb's heal-on-kills helping you out. 26 AC in a robe is great.

You don't need particularly high int to get a lot out of spells, any more than you need really high dex to get a lot out of dodging. It helps, but for anything short of the maximum limits of the achievable, all you are really talking about is training the skills slightly more with lower stats, versus slightly less with higher stats.

So yeah, feel free to branch out into spells. But uh, first you might want to use that manual of fighting, which is basically the best manual you could hope to get. I'd train only fighting while using manual, so you get the extra HPs fast. Then yeah, you have lots of low level but powerful spells available.

Among what you have, these spells require very little or no training to be very effective, beyond just getting them reliably castable: Corpse Rot, Repel Missiles, Regeneration, Flight, Blink.

Everything in book of cantrips is potentially good for your character. Confusing Touch and Apportation will require a bit of hexes and translocations training (respecitvely) to have an effect, summon small mammals too but less so. Summon Butterflies is a great spell too but will also require a bit of extra summons training beyond getting low spell success in order to be very useful—spell power matters for these spells.

Nonetheless, these are all very high utility / low investment spells that you could get running quickly (regardless of intelligence). After that you can keep developing spells if you want, but you'd get a heck of a lot of added utility and defense just from the ones listed above.

[mattington]

Cheers! For rF and rC, I also have a buckler of resistance that could be worth considering, I found it early and it's probably saved my life a few times, being there to hold when I needed it. But offhand punch with +6 damage is pretty strong. As I understand it, UC is better the lighter your armour, but I'm not clear as to the magnitude of the effect. Also, does slaying stack with spines?

Advice on spells is super solid. On a recent monk I learned repel missiles, shroud, and swiftness. At the time it felt like too much investment for what I got, but looking back at the morgue file I see that it really wasn't that much to get them to ~10%.

I didn't even notice the manual of fighting that I found on D9... >_< I was wondering why that was cross-training for a while...

Thanks a bunch, we'll see how it goes.