YASD: Gargoyle Warper of Chei

[skjarl]

This has been a strange character. I started out in maces, but found that axe on level 1 of the dungeon. For those that aren't familiar with it (like I was when I picked it up), it forces you to close and kill every monster that comes into your LOS. You are under a siren-like effect until they are dead and can't move away from them. It also very frequently summons powerful demons to help you in battle. I've had as many as 3 up at once so far. I know this cursed thing is going to kill me, but I can't stop using it!!! @____@ Anyway, if I make it to a Chei altar, hopefully I'll become powerful enough to stave off my inevitable death at this hands of this Stormbringer wannabe. I wonder if the anti-flee effect will block my blinks and teleports. Anyone know?

***********

Well that didn't take long. Got one shotted by Harold:

8206 Guffleshanks the Cleaver (level 11, 0/66 HPs)
Began as a Gargoyle Warper on Feb 10, 2014.
Was an Elder of Cheibriados.
Killed from afar by Harold (36 damage)
... with a bolt of fire
... on Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts.
The game lasted 00:44:19 (8479 turns).

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.14-a0-2461-g5fe3fd9 (tiles) character file.

Guffleshanks the Grasshopper (Gargoyle Warper)      Turns: 4717, Time: 00:25:25

HP  44/44        AC 14     Str 19      XL: 8   Next: 19%
MP  20/20        EV 11     Int 17      God:
Gold 315         SH  0     Dex 12      Spells:  5 memorised,  5 levels left

rFire  . . .     SeeInvis +     y - +12,+15 obsidian axe {chop, +Fly Str+3 SInv Curse}
rCold  . . .     Clarity  .     V - +1 leather armour "Omeuc" {MR++ Dex+3 SInv}
rNeg   + . .     Conserve .     (no shield)
rPois  +         rCorr    .     x - +0 helmet
rElec  +         rRot     +     G - +0 cloak
SustAb . .       Spirit   .     (no gloves)
rMut   .         Warding  .     q - +2 pair of boots
Saprov . . .     Stasis   .     (no amulet)
MR     +++..                    (no ring)
                                (no ring)

@: extremely resistant to hostile enchantments, very unstealthy
A: clever 1, magic resistance 1, life protection 1, electricity resistance,
unbreathing, petrification resistance, AC +5
a: Evoke Flight


You are on level 6 of the Dungeon.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 1 branch of the dungeon, and seen 6 of its levels.
You have also visited: Sewer and Ossuary.

You have collected 427 gold pieces.
You have spent 112 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 y - the +12,+15 obsidian axe (weapon) {chop, +Fly Str+3 SInv Curse}
   (You found it on level 1 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It inflicts extra damage upon your enemies.
   
   It affects your strength (+3).
   It enhances your eyesight.
   It lets you fly.
   It may recurse itself when equipped.
Missiles
 e - 15 darts (quivered)
 f - 10 darts of dispersal
 k - 2 darts of flame
 p - 3 needles of sleeping
 r - 44 stones
 s - 6 needles of confusion
 E - 11 poisoned needles
Armour
 q - a +2 pair of boots (worn)
 x - a +0 helmet (worn)
 B - a cursed +0 elven chain mail
 G - a +0 cloak (worn)
 K - a +0 pair of boots of flying
 V - the +1 leather armour "Omeuc" (worn) {MR++ Dex+3 SInv}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It affects your resistance to hostile enchantments.
   It enhances your eyesight.
Magical devices
 u - a curved silver wand
 H - a twisted glass wand
Comestibles
 g - 6 bread rations
 l - 4 meat rations
 t - 2 rotting chunks of goblin flesh
Scrolls
 a - 2 scrolls labeled BLAYMO STYVIPS
 d - a scroll of blinking
 h - a scroll labeled NUOTOE DUDANEB
 j - 2 scrolls labeled PAJOEMMEAR
 m - a scroll labeled THREDA VOEBLO
 n - 2 scrolls of fear
 z - a scroll labeled ULI WEHABUITZ
 A - 3 scrolls of teleportation
 C - a scroll of amnesia
 D - 2 scrolls of remove curse
 F - a scroll labeled WEMUUGR BRIGG
 J - a scroll labeled REALALE TRIRHUD
Potions
 b - 16 potions of curing
 i - a potion of magic
 o - a potion of brilliance
 v - 3 potions of might
 L - 5 pink potions
 M - a potion of agility
 N - 3 potions of restore abilities
 O - a potion of invisibility
 U - 4 potions of flight
Books
 c - a book of Spatial Translocations   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Apportation                       Translocation                1
   Portal Projectile                  Translocation                2
   *Blink                             Translocation                2
   *Shroud of Golubria                Charms/Translocation         2
   *Teleport Other                    Translocation                3
   *Passage of Golubria               Translocation                4


   Skills:
 - Level 2.1 Fighting
 + Level 4.9 Axes
   Level 2.6 Maces & Flails
 - Level 1.0 Throwing
 - Level 1.1 Armour
 - Level 1.5 Dodging
 + Level 5.1 Spellcasting
 + Level 5.6 Translocations


You have 5 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Apportation           Tloc           ###.......   1%          1    None
b - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          2%          2    #......
c - Shroud of Golubria    Chrm/Tloc      ##........   10%         2    #......
d - Teleport Other        Tloc           ###.....     6%          3    ###....
e - Passage of Golubria   Tloc           N/A          17%         4    ####...


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (6/16)           
Temple: D:4-7       

Altars:
Dithmengos
Nemelex Xobeh

Shops:
D:5 *


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
You are immune to poison.
Your stone body is very resilient (AC +5).
You resist negative energy.
You are resistant to electric shocks.
You can survive without breathing.
You are immune to petrification.
Your mind is acute. (Int +2)
You are resistant to hostile enchantments.

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Guffleshanks, the Gargoyle Warper, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 12/12 MP: 3/3
   442 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 11/17 MP: 4/4
   482 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Blink
   485 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Shroud of Golubria
   630 | D:1      | Reached skill level 3 in Translocations
   687 | D:1      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
   870 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 17/21 MP: 6/6
  1231 | D:2      | Reached skill level 1 in Axes
  1471 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 26/26 MP: 8/8
  1607 | D:2      | Noticed Ijyb
  1614 | D:2      | Killed Ijyb
  1614 | D:2      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 30/30 MP: 11/11
  2178 | D:3      | Reached skill level 4 in Translocations
  2582 | D:4      | Learned a level 3 spell: Teleport Other
  2828 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 35/35 MP: 13/13
  2948 | D:4      | Found a shadowy altar of Dithmengos.
  3132 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  3236 | D:5      | Got a pitted leather armour
  3260 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 26/40 MP: 17/17
  3331 | D:5      | Found a sand-covered staircase.
  3336 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Translocations
  3356 | Ossuary  | Entered an ossuary
  3834 | Ossuary  | Identified the +1 leather armour "Omeuc" {MR++ Dex+3 SInv} (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)
  3929 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 27/44 MP: 19/19
  3957 | D:5      | Found Dual's Assorted Antiques.
  3965 | D:5      | Bought a pair of embroidered boots for 48 gold pieces
  3965 | D:5      | Bought a scroll of identify for 64 gold pieces
  4056 | D:5      | Found a glowing drain.
  4063 | Sewer    | Entered a sewer
  4068 | Sewer    | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
  4146 | Sewer    | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
  4393 | D:5      | Gained mutation: Your mind is acute. (Int +2) [potion of beneficial mutation]
  4394 | D:5      | Gained mutation: You are resistant to hostile enchantments. [potion of beneficial mutation]
  4660 | D:5      | Learned a level 4 spell: Passage of Golubria


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Mace              |   105 |       |       ||   105
       Broad axe         |    18 |    88 |    48 ||   154
  Use: Scroll            |       |     4 |    11 ||    15
       Potion            |       |       |     2 ||     2


[Amnesiac]

GrWr

[tasonir]

as far as I know, the axe doesn't block blink or teleports. But I could be wrong. Maybe it just blocks blink and not teleport? In any case, you weren't quite one shot, but finding harold on D:6 is really quite early. He usually spawns in lair most of the time, so sucks to have found him before you could get any fire resistance. I would definitely say that using that axe should be considered a challenge game, but if I found one early on I'd probably use it too, just because it's so rare to be able to try it, might as well. If I found it late game on a character I already liked, I'd leave it alone

[wheals]

Since he was Chei, it was possible that Harold got two bolt of fires in just one turn, and the game only counts the damage of the last attack.

[Siegurt]

Well, in one *step* anyway, non-movement isn't slowed down by Chei. Of course that also implies that Harold was in LOS (Indeed in bolt of fire range) when the OP took a step, which is entirely possible. Harold casting two BoF's in a row is unlikely, but also possible.

[skjarl]

Here is the relevant bit from my morgue file. I was resting after a big fight and Harold walked up and knocked my dick in the dirt with one spell. If I had realized how strong his magic was, I would have employed countermeasures. Lesson learned.

  Code:

You are no longer entranced.
The giant frog dies!
Found 4 gold pieces.
You enter the shallow water.
Moving in this stuff is going to be slow.
Found a chain mail.
Found 20 gold pieces.
You enter the shallow water.
Moving in this stuff is going to be slow.
Found a bread ration.
Harold comes into view. He is wielding a runed short sword.
Visions of slaying Harold flood into your mind.
Some of the chunks of flesh in your inventory have completely rotted away.
You see here 4 gold pieces.
You now have 507 gold pieces (gained 4).
A rat comes into view.
Harold casts a spell at you.
The bolt of fire hits you!
Ouch! That really hurt!
You die...

                    ###
                 .r....#
                ......@f
               ........#
              #........#    #
                .......####.#
                  ........˜..
                   #.$.˜˜˜˜˜˜˜.
                   #.@.˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜.#
                   #..4˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜.˜
                   #.33˜˜˜˜.˜˜˜˜˜#
              #..####˜˜˜˜˜˜>.˜˜˜˜#
             %.........˜˜˜˜.˜˜˜˜˜#
              ....#P.#.˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜.######
              ##........˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜......#
               ...#####.˜˜%˜˜˜.˜˜#  #..
     #####     ##. #.......˜.˜..##  #.###
      ...#      #  #.f#.##˜##...#  ##...###
      #..#       ..[....######f.#  #..#.#.#
      #f.####    ##....##.#####.#####......
#######..##.###   #...#  #..3.........###.#


You could see Harold, a rat, a friendly sun demon, a friendly ynoxinul and a
friendly red devil.


[mattington]

Looks like you were resting right next to unexplored territory... I guess you understand now why that's such a horrible plan. While Harold is a particularly nasty mob to come waltzing out of the dark, you can very much expect someone to turn that corner at some point.

I could be wrong, but it looks like you are auto-exploring too. While I also use this feature, optimally you shouldn't. And I think with Chei you definitely shouldn't. Auto-explore isn't 'smart' and will put you in tactically bad situations where you get cut off from safe parts of the map.

[skjarl]

Yeah, I've already figured out all of these lessons on my own. I think from now on, I'm going to entirely avoid big open spaces when I play Chei. It's just too easy to get ganked and have no recourse. I was doubly damned because of that axe, too. Heheheheh.

[Lasty]

That axe is particularly frightening for a Chei worshipper, since it often puts you in circumstances where you can't block line of fire from a ranged monster, but walking towards them slowly is suicidal. In situations like that, temporal distortion can help get the monster to walk closer without exposing you to additional fire.