CIP: Deep Elf Fire Elementalist

[Jk]

I'm trying my hand at a "conjurator" or "caster" type, and I could use some advice on how to proceed. I've pumped up the power of my combat spells with some skill specialization and a lucky find of a Ring of Fire. As I was also lucky enough to get an early Staff of Power, I've been wielding it and spamming my spells until any dangerous monster gets close, then switching to my flail of protection for the extra AC.

But I also found two SUPER interesting items in the artifact gloves and dagger, though using those doesn't really fit the character prototype. I'm curious about your thoughts on how I proceed with skills, and the best way to leverage my interesting finds.

Thanks for any advice! I've never gotten a conjurator very far and this lad Poindexter is looking promising so far.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.14.0-2-gd2dacb9 (tiles) character file.

Poindexter the Conjurer (DEFE)                      Turns: 8403, Time: 00:55:36

HP  45/45        AC 12     Str  8      XL: 9   Next: 49%
MP  44/44        EV 17     Int 21      God: Vehumet [**....]
Gold 377         SH  0     Dex 18      Spells:  6 memorised,  4 levels left

rFire  + . .     SeeInvis .     D - staff of power
rCold  x . .     Clarity  .     N - +3 leather armour {MR+}
rNeg   . . .     Conserve .     (no shield)
rPois  .         rCorr    .     (no helmet)
rElec  .         rRot     .     F - +2 cloak
SustAb . .       Spirit   .     s - +2 pair of fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+8}
rMut   .         Warding  .     (no boots)
Saprov . . .     Stasis   .     (no amulet)
MR     +....                    C - ring of fire
                                j - ring of invisibility

@: somewhat resistant to hostile enchantments, fairly stealthy
A: no striking features
a: Renounce Religion, Evoke Invisibility


You are on level 7 of the Dungeon.
You worship Vehumet.
Vehumet is pleased with you.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 2 branches of the dungeon, and seen 8 of its levels.

You have collected 377 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 i - a +2,+0 dagger
 B - the +10,+4 dagger "Zetsony" {freeze, -Cast rElec rC+ Str-1}
   (You found it on level 6 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It has been specially enchanted to freeze those struck by it, causing extra
   injury to most foes and up to double damage against particularly susceptible
   opponents. It can also slow down cold-blooded creatures.
   
   It affects your strength (-1).
   It protects you from cold.
   It insulates you from electricity.
   It prevents spellcasting.
 E - a +4 blowgun
 G - an uncursed bow
 L - a +1,+2 flail of protection
Missiles
 e - 23 arrows of flame
 g - 13 poisoned needles
 m - 5 darts of frost (quivered)
 n - 8 needles of sleeping
 q - 22 darts
 r - 43 stones
 t - 36 arrows
 O - 6 exploding darts
Armour
 a - a +0 robe
 s - the +2 pair of fencer's gloves (worn) {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+8}
   (You found it on level 6 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It affects your evasion (+3).
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It affects your accuracy with ranged weapons and melee attacks (+8).
 F - a +2 cloak (worn)
 N - a +3 leather armour of magic resistance (worn)
Magical devices
 x - a short bronze wand
 M - a wand of draining {zapped: 1}
Comestibles
 c - 7 bread rations
 f - 2 meat rations
 A - an apple
 H - an apricot
 J - a pear
Scrolls
 d - 4 scrolls of remove curse
 k - 2 scrolls of recharging
 l - 8 scrolls of identify
 o - 2 scrolls of random uselessness
 w - 2 scrolls of teleportation
 y - a scroll of magic mapping
 I - a scroll of enchant weapon I
Jewellery
 j - a ring of invisibility (left hand)
 C - a ring of fire (right hand)
Potions
 h - 3 potions of curing
 p - 3 potions of heal wounds
 u - 2 potions of agility
 v - a potion of paralysis
Books
 b - a book of Flames   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Flame Tongue                      Conjuration/Fire             1
   *Throw Flame                       Conjuration/Fire             2
   *Conjure Flame                     Conjuration/Fire             3
   Inner Flame                        Hexes/Fire                   3
   *Sticky Flame                      Conjuration/Fire             4
   *Fireball                          Conjuration/Fire             5
 z - a book of Power   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Fulminant Prism                    Conjuration/Hexes            4
   *Iskenderun's Mystic Blast         Conjuration                  4
   Venom Bolt                         Conjuration/Poison           5
   Bolt of Magma                      Conjuration/Fire/Earth       5
   Iron Shot                          Conjuration/Earth            6
   Orb of Destruction                 Conjuration                  7
Magical staves
 D - an uncursed staff of power (weapon)


   Skills:
 - Level 5.0 Dodging
 - Level 2.4 Stealth
 + Level 7.8 Spellcasting
 + Level 9.2 Conjurations
 + Level 9.1 Fire Magic


You have 4 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Flame Tongue          Conj/Fire      #####        1%          1    None
b - Throw Flame           Conj/Fire      ######       1%          2    None
c - Conjure Flame         Conj/Fire      ######..     1%          3    None
d - Sticky Flame          Conj/Fire      ######..     1%          4    ###....
e - Fireball              Conj/Fire      ######....   6%          5    ####...
f - Iskenderun's Mystic   Conj           #####...     1%          4    ###....


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (7/15)             Temple (1/1) D:4         

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

Shops:
D:7 %

Annotations:
D:4 Jorah's ghost, average DDNe

Message History

Vehumet accepts your kill.
You feel your power returning.
l - 8 scrolls of identify (gained 1)
Partly explored, can't reach some places.
Partly explored, can't reach some places.
Move the cursor to view the level map, or type ? for a list of commands.
Returning to the game...
Magic restored.
There is a stone staircase leading down here.
You drop a rotting chunk of centaur flesh.
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.
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.
There is a stone staircase leading down here.
You see here a rotting chunk of centaur flesh.

#.#......#.....#........#....
#.#.####.#.###.###....#.#.###
#.#.####.#.#...[<#..^...#.# #
#.#....#.#.#....))......#.###
#.####.#.#.###.(..[..........
#.#  #.#.#.########.....#.###
#.#  #.#.#.....#  #.[#..#.#
#.####.#.#####.#  #.......#
#......#.#####.####.......###
########................#....
..............@.........#.###
.................#........# #
##########.#######.#.#.#### #
.........#...........#.#.####
#######.##########.......<...
      #.....#   #####.###.###
###########.#   #.........#
............#   #.###.#####
#############   #.# #.#
                #.###.#
                #.....#


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  A hungry ghost (D:7)
  Edmund (D:5)
  An ice beast (D:7)
  2 sky beasts
  4 ogres
  5 centaurs (D:7)
  Blork the orc (D:4)
  4 giant frogs
  5 killer bees (D:7)
  A water moccasin skeleton (D:7)
  2 scorpions
  A troll skeleton (D:3)
  A giant frog zombie (D:7)
  A crimson imp (D:7)
  3 hounds
  A goliath beetle (D:6)
  5 orc priests (D:4)
  2 quasits (D:6)
  4 worker ants
  5 orc wizards
  2 iguanas
  Ijyb (D:7)
  A mummy (D:6)
  9 adders
  An orc zombie (D:5)
  2 giant mites
  An inept feature mimic (D:2)
  A worm (D:2)
  2 giant eyeballs (D:4)
  3 giant geckos
  An ooze (D:1)
  12 orcs
  4 giant cockroaches
  9 hobgoblins
  2 quokkas
  2 ball pythons
  12 bats
  5 giant newts
  18 goblins
  13 kobolds
  A quokka skeleton (D:4)
  14 rats
  A rat skeleton (D:5)
  A plant (D:3)
168 creatures vanquished.

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Poindexter, the Deep Elf Fire Elementalist, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 10/10 MP: 5/5
   316 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 15/15 MP: 6/8
   397 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Throw Flame
   486 | D:1      | Reached skill level 4 in Fire Magic
   865 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 19/19 MP: 7/10
  1814 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 24/24 MP: 9/13
  1908 | D:2      | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
  2466 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 10/28 MP: 6/16
  3029 | D:4      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  3037 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  3135 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Vehumet
  3220 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Fire Magic
  3221 | D:4      | Noticed an ogre
  3241 | D:4      | Killed an ogre
  3241 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Conjurations
  3241 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 32/32 MP: 0/18
  3616 | D:4      | Noticed Jorah's ghost (average DDNe)
  3937 | D:4      | Noticed Blork the orc
  4095 | D:4      | Noticed an ogre
  4100 | D:4      | Killed an ogre
  4100 | D:4      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 36/36 MP: 3/20
  4106 | D:4      | Learned a level 4 spell: Sticky Flame
  4224 | D:4      | Reached skill level 6 in Conjurations
  4510 | D:4      | Killed Blork the orc
  4698 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4848 | D:5      | Acquired Vehumet's first power
  4848 | D:5      | Offered knowledge of Sandblast by Vehumet.
  5383 | D:5      | Noticed Edmund
  5391 | D:5      | Killed Edmund
  5391 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  6229 | D:6      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 41/41 MP: 12/22
  6299 | D:6      | Got a bone dagger
  6300 | D:6      | Identified the +10,+4 dagger "Zetsony" {freeze, -Cast rElec rC+ Str-1} (You found it on level 6 of the Dungeon)
  6347 | D:6      | Reached skill level 7 in Conjurations
  6520 | D:6      | Learned a level 4 spell: Iskenderun's Mystic Blast
  6968 | D:7      | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
  7360 | D:7      | Reached skill level 8 in Conjurations
  7397 | D:7      | Learned a level 5 spell: Fireball
  7537 | D:7      | Offered knowledge of Shock by Vehumet.
  7537 | D:7      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 45/45 MP: 27/27
  7758 | D:7      | Noticed Ijyb
  7762 | D:7      | Killed Ijyb
  7814 | D:7      | Found Ytiahid's Food Shoppe.
  7983 | D:7      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  8008 | D:7      | Reached skill level 9 in Conjurations


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Dagger            |       |    29 |       ||    29
 Fire: Blowgun           |       |       |     8 ||     8
 Cast: Flame Tongue      |    53 |    69 |   101 ||   223
       Throw Flame       |    12 |    60 |   134 ||   206
       Conjure Flame     |       |     3 |     3 ||     6
       Sticky Flame      |       |       |     4 ||     4
       Iskenderun's Myst |       |       |     8 ||     8
Evoke: Wand              |       |       |     2 ||     2
  Use: Potion            |       |     3 |     5 ||     8
       Scroll            |       |       |    11 ||    11


[Sar]

Gloves of evasion is a great item for any type of character prototype.
Also I wouldn't walk around with an elemental vulnerability.
Right now I would probably get some Fighting and some more Dodging, as Sticky Flame will take care of most (all) things damage-wise.

[Eyesburn]

Learn Bolt of Fire (Vehumet should give it) and Venom Bolt or Iron Shot as backup for fire immune monsters.

[Sar]

Why would you ever learn VB on a character with BoF? Also, he has IMB, that should be enough for resistant monsters for a long time.

[Jk]

Thanks for all the tips! I made it to the Lair, phew! I recently picked up Repel Missiles, Swiftness, and Flight so I feel a lot better about my survivability. I also got Iskenderun's Battlesphere because it sounded cool, but I'm thinking it isn't worth the 5 spell slots now that I've used it a few times. I'm working my way towards learning Orb of Destruction as my final attack spell when I can get 7 spell slots (other than Bolt of Fire once I can find it), and then I'm probably going to focus on other spells I can hopefully use to survive, since I feel so squishy. The prime ones I'm considering (that I have) are Control Teleport, Leda's Liquefaction, Deflect Missiles, Summon Mana Viper, and Mass Confusion.

A few specific questions about how to proceed:

* I haven't done any summoning since Summon Mana Viper was added to the game. It seems like a decent enough answer to strong enemy casters like liches, which I think should end up being my most challenging foes (getting one-shotted by a crystal spear and so on). Any other thoughts on a good solution to that type of enemy (one I can't kite around with swiftness, repel missiles, and ranged spells) that I should be aiming for?

* Do you think Mass Confusion is worth learning (and correspondingly, Hexes worth raising that high)? The only enemies I can really think of it being useful against are big packs of dumb enemies that I'd rather Fireball anyway, since I presume big packs of smart enemies will just resist it (like Elves). But it also seems like a cool spell since it affects everything!

* My interpretation of Summon Guardian Golem was that it only absorbs damage for other summons, correct? So it will not absorb damage for ME? If it did absorb damage for me, that would seem like the perfect spell for my needs.

* Should I bother with a weapon skill at all? I have a dagger of electrocution, so I could invest a little in short blades, but getting that close to enemies is likely to mean I'm dead regardless I should think.

[Sar]

I don't think Summon Mana Viper is a good anti-lich spell, I think Bolt of Fire is a much better one. To prevent one-hit-kills you can train Fighting.
Guardian Golem is for your summons, not you.
I would get melee skill.

[skjarl]

Lightning Spire and Shadow Monsters are the two best lower level summons. I used both extensively even down to Zot:5. Also, Sar is right: you need some fighting (10ish for now) and at least min delay level on your dagger, which is a good weapon for a long while. If something better comes along (like a staff of fire, train up some staff/evocation skill if you get one).