YASD: If you're going to ring-switch, you gotta ring-switch

[Cantwell]

I tried the guide that I just read about going Gladiator->quarterstaff->lajatang->staff of earth. The components fell into place to skip lajatang with this character, and staff of earth was getting VERY effective.

But carelessness did me in again. Planned on putting on the ring of rC when I saw something dangerous. How about a frost giant? Dangerous enough to jog the ol' memory. Ha. Hardly.

Oh well.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.16.2 (console) character file.

321892 Bandarg the Earth Mage (level 21, -19/132 HPs)
             Began as a Gargoyle Gladiator on Oct 20, 2015.
             Was the Champion of Cheibriados.
             Killed from afar by a frost giant (58 damage)
             ... with a bolt of cold
             ... on level 4 of the Vaults on Oct 21, 2015.
             The game lasted 03:48:22 (50257 turns).

Bandarg the Earth Mage (Gargoyle Gladiator)        Turns: 50257, Time: 03:48:22

Health: -19/132    AC: 40    Str: 45    XL:     21   Next: 53%
Magic:  12/38      EV: 23    Int: 28    God:    Cheibriados [******]
Gold:   1277       SH: 16    Dex: 32    Spells: 7 memorised, 9 levels left

rFire  + . .     SeeInvis +     a - staff of earth
rCold  . . .     Clarity  .     X - +4 ring mail "Smiehol" {Contam rF- Regen+ Str+8 Int+2}
rNeg   + . .     SustAb   .     y - +0 shield
rPois  ∞         Gourm    +     j - +2 helmet {SInv}
rElec  +         Spirit   .     K - +2 cloak
rCorr  .         Warding  .     W - +0 pair of gloves
rMut   .         Stasis   .     V - +2 pair of boots of Vazim {rF++ MR- SInv}
MR     +....                    E - amulet of the gourmand
Stlth  ++........               t - ring of protection from magic
                                e - +3 ring of evasion

@: stone skin, very slow, somewhat resistant to hostile enchantments, unstealthy
A: able to fly continuously, big wings, agile 1, deformed body, negative energy
resistance 1, electricity resistance, slow healing 1, unbreathing, petrification
resistance, rot immunity, AC +15
a: Fly, Bend Time, Temporal Distortion, Slouch, Step From Time, Renounce
Religion
}: 2/15 runes: decaying, gossamer


You were on level 4 of the Vaults.
You worshipped Cheibriados.
Cheibriados was exalted by your worship.
You were not hungry.

You visited 8 branches of the dungeon, and saw 45 of its levels.
You visited the Abyss 1 time.
You also visited: Labyrinth.

You collected 3963 gold pieces.
You spent 2686 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 b - the +6 hunting sling of Geyhuz {venom, rPois rC+ rN+ Str-5 Stlth+}
   (You found it on level 3 of the Spider Nest)   
   
   It poisons the ammo it fires.
   
   It affects your strength (-5).
   It protects you from cold.
   It protects you from poison.
   It protects you from negative energy.
   It makes you more stealthy.
Missiles
 v - 20 tomahawks (quivered)
 x - 77 sling bullets
 F - 5 silver tomahawks
 Z - 3 throwing nets
Armour
 j - a +2 helmet of see invisible (worn)
 y - a +0 shield (worn)
 K - a +2 cloak (worn)
 V - the +2 pair of boots of Vazim (worn) {rF++ MR- SInv}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   It greatly protects you from fire.
   It affects your resistance to hostile enchantments.
   It enhances your eyesight.
 W - a +0 pair of gloves (worn)
 X - the +4 ring mail "Smiehol" (worn) {Contam rF- Regen+ Str+8 Int+2}
   (You found it on level 8 of the Lair of Beasts)   
   
   It affects your strength (+8).
   It affects your intelligence (+2).
   It makes you vulnerable to fire.
   It causes magical contamination when unequipped.
   It increases your rate of regeneration.
Magical staves
 a - an uncursed staff of earth (weapon)
Jewellery
 d - an uncursed ring of protection from cold
 e - a +3 ring of evasion (left hand)
 t - a ring of protection from magic (right hand)
 B - an uncursed ring of invisibility
 E - an amulet of the gourmand (around neck)
Magical devices
 g - a wand of digging (6)
 i - a wand of enslavement (16)
 k - a wand of teleportation (2)
 C - a wand of heal wounds (3)
 I - a wand of fire (7)
 L - a wand of lightning (6)
 N - a wand of draining (6)
 Q - a wand of cold (7)
 S - a wand of invisibility (1)
 U - a wand of disintegration (3)
Scrolls
 h - 14 scrolls of teleportation
 m - 22 scrolls of remove curse
 n - 4 scrolls of recharging
 q - 3 scrolls of fear
 r - 2 scrolls of blinking
 u - 2 scrolls of silence
 D - 10 scrolls of magic mapping
 G - 3 scrolls of immolation
 M - 18 scrolls of identify
 P - 2 scrolls of amnesia
 Y - 6 scrolls of fog
Potions
 c - 6 potions of might
 o - 3 potions of resistance
 p - 21 potions of curing
 s - a potion of cancellation
 z - 6 potions of agility
 A - 8 potions of ambrosia
 J - 3 potions of heal wounds
Miscellaneous
 l - a stone of tremors
 w - a lamp of fire
 H - a phial of floods
 O - a phantom mirror
 R - a legendary deck of defence {the Elixir}
Comestibles
 f - 23 bread rations


   Skills:
 + Level 14.7 Fighting
 - Level 14.0 Staves
 - Level 5.0(6.5) Slings
 - Level 7.0(7.9) Throwing
 - Level 8.1 Armour
 - Level 8.1 Dodging
 - Level 10.0 Shields
 - Level 4.0 Spellcasting
 - Level 6.0 Summonings
 - Level 5.0 Translocations
 + Level 19.8 Earth Magic
 - Level 10.0 Invocations
 + Level 18.0 Evocations


You had 9 spell levels left.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Apportation           Tloc           ####......   1%          1    None
b - Summon Butterflies    Summ           #####...     1%          1    None
c - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          3%          2    None
d - Passwall              Trmt/Erth      ######....   1%          3    ##.....
e - Shadow Creatures      Summ           N/A          38%         5    #####..
f - Stoneskin             Trmt/Erth      ######..     1%          2    None
g - Lee's Rapid Deconstr  Erth           ########..   1%          5    #####..


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (15/15)            Temple (1/1) D:6            Lair (8/8) D:8
  Swamp (5/5) Lair:4       Spider (5/5) Lair:3        Slime (0/6) Lair:7
    Orc (4/4) D:11            Elf (3/3) Orc:3        Vaults (4/5) D:14
  Crypt (0/3) Vaults:2     Depths (0/5) D:15       

Shops:
D:4 [   D:5 *   D:7 (   Orc:1 }   Orc:4 [:[[   Elf:2 :   Elf:3 }

Portals:
Trove: Elf:1 (give horn of Geryon)

Annotations:
D:7 exclusion: moth of wrath
Elf:3 1 exclusion, Asterion


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
You are immune to poison.
You can fly continuously.
Your stone body is very resilient (AC +15).
Your wings are large and strong.
You resist negative energy.
You are resistant to electric shocks.
You can survive without breathing.
You are immune to petrification.
You are immune to rotting.
You are agile. (Dex +2)
Armour fits poorly on your strangely shaped body.
You heal slowly when monsters are visible.


Message History

You hit the vault warden but do no damage.
You crush the vault warden!
The vault warden is severely wounded.
The frost giant closely misses you.
A griffon comes into view.
You hit the vault warden. You crush the vault warden!
The vault warden is almost dead.
You block the vault warden's attack.
You hit the vault warden but do no damage.
You kill the vault warden!
Cheibriados appreciates the change of pace.
The runic seals fade away.
The frost giant points at you and mumbles some strange words.
The bolt of cold hits you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
You hit the frost giant! You crush the frost giant!
The frost giant is severely wounded.
The frost giant gestures at you while chanting.
The bolt of cold hits you!
You die...

.......#......
.......#......
.......'......
.......#......
.......#......####++##
#####'##......#......#
#...#.##......#......#
##.##)##......+(.....#
.8.8..##......#)@....#
......##......#x)C...#
.8.8..##......#......#
##.##.#########......#
#...#.#       #..H...#   ..
##'###############)#####p..
..................))...p...
....................).......
..................).).W.....


You could see a frost giant and a griffon.

Vanquished Creatures
  the Lernaean hydra (Swamp:5)
  A bone dragon (Abyss:1)
  A lich (Abyss:1)
  A deep elf blademaster (Elf:2)
  4 tentacled starspawn (Abyss:1)
  3 thorn hunters
  A storm dragon (Vaults:2)
  2 fire giants
  Donald (Vaults:3)
  A deep elf sorcerer (Elf:1)
  Aizul (Vaults:1)
  4 ghost moths
  An orc warlord (Orc:4)
 

Grand Total: 2397 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Bandarg, the Gargoyle Gladiator, began the quest for the Orb.
    3928 | D:6      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
    4044 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Cheibriados the Contemplative
  6391 | D:7      | Learned a level 1 spell: Apportation
  6393 | D:7      | Learned a level 1 spell: Summon Butterflies
  6399 | D:7      | Learned a level 5 spell: Summon Mana Viper
  7820 | D:9      | Acquired Cheibriados' second power
  8500 | D:8      | Acquired Cheibriados' third power
  8599 | D:8      | Reached skill level 12 in Staves
  9174 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
  15858 | Lair:7   | Learned a level 3 spell: Passwall
 17949 | Lair:8   | Gained mutation: Your wings are large and strong. [gargoyle growth]
 17949 | Lair:8   | Reached XP level 14. HP: 78/78 MP: 28/28
 18163 | Lair:8   | Noticed Yotoirse's ghost (powerful DsBe)
 18225 | Lair:8   | Killed Yotoirse's ghost
 19061 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 10 in Earth Magic
 20004 | Lair:8   | Identified the +4 ring mail "Smiehol" {Contam rF- Regen+ Str+8 Int+2} (You found it on level 8 of the Lair of Beasts)
 22387 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 24303 | Elf:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Elven Halls
 24385 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 24694 | Orc:3    | Killed Josephine
 24829 | Orc:4    | Identified the +2 pair of boots of Vazim {rF++ MR- SInv} (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)
 26038 | Orc:4    | Killed Fannar
 27682 | D:13     | Killed Nessos
 27828 | D:13     | Killed Erica
 28476 | D:14     | Reached XP level 16. HP: 93/93 MP: 31/31
 29042 | D:14     | Found a gate to the Vaults.
 29587 | D:15     | Entered Level 15 of the Dungeon
 29612 | D:15     | Found a labyrinth entrance.
 29622 | Lab      | Entered a labyrinth
 30045 | D:15     | Found a staircase to the Depths.
 30261 | D:15     | Reached skill level 15 in Earth Magic
 30636 | D:15     | Reached skill level 10 in Fighting
 31484 | Swamp:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Swamp
 34420 | Swamp:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Swamp
 35323 | Swamp:5  | Got a decaying rune of Zot
 35403 | Swamp:5  | Killed the 27-headed Lernaean hydra
 35904 | Lair:1   | Learned a level 5 spell: Shadow Creatures
 37141 | Elf:2    | Cast into the Abyss (bardiche of distortion)
 38340 | Elf:2    | Escaped the Abyss
 39954 | Spider:1 | Entered Level 1 of the Spider Nest
 43579 | Spider:5 | Entered Level 5 of the Spider Nest
 44250 | Spider:5 | Reached skill level 18 in Earth Magic
 44378 | Spider:5 | Got a gossamer rune of Zot
 45183 | Vaults:1 | Entered Level 1 of the Vaults
 45398 | Vaults:1 | Killed Aizul
 49215 | Vaults:3 | Killed Donald
 50257 | Vaults:4 | Killed from afar by a frost giant


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 | 19-21 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Quarterstaff      |    17 |    68 |   263 |   852 |   656 |       |       ||  1856
       Short sword       |   109 |   167 |       |       |       |       |       ||   276
       Unarmed           |       |       |     1 |       |       |       |       ||     1
       Staff             |       |       |       |    19 |  1379 |  1669 |  1820 ||  4887
 Fire: Hunting sling     |    25 |    35 |   114 |   135 |   290 |   173 |   110 ||   882
Throw: Tomahawk          |       |     5 |     7 |     4 |    38 |   105 |    57 ||   216
       Throwing net      |       |     2 |     5 |     5 |     6 |     1 |       ||    19
       Stone             |       |       |       |    13 |    15 |       |       ||    28
 Cast: Apportation       |       |       |     2 |       |       |       |       ||     2
       Passwall          |       |       |       |       |     2 |     1 |     4 ||     7
       Summon Butterflie |       |       |       |       |       |     4 |     5 ||     9
       Stoneskin         |       |       |       |       |       |     2 |    10 ||    12
       Shadow Creatures  |       |       |       |       |       |     1 |       ||     1
       Lee's Rapid Decon |       |       |       |       |       |       |    23 ||    23
       Blink             |       |       |       |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
Invok: Bend Time         |       |       |     3 |    22 |    55 |    20 |     9 ||   109
       Slouch            |       |       |       |     4 |    10 |     3 |     3 ||    20
       Temporal Distorti |       |       |       |       |    15 |    16 |     2 ||    33
       Step From Time    |       |       |       |       |     2 |     1 |       ||     3
 Abil: Evoke Teleportati |       |       |       |       |     2 |       |       ||     2
       Fly               |       |       |       |       |     1 |       |       ||     1
       Stop Flying       |       |       |       |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
Evoke: Wand              |       |       |       |       |    10 |    11 |     4 ||    25
       Phial of floods   |       |       |       |       |     1 |     1 |       ||     2
  Use: Scroll            |       |       |    17 |    11 |    15 |    21 |     8 ||    72
       Potion            |       |       |     3 |    13 |     6 |     4 |     1 ||    27
 Stab: Invisible         |       |       |     1 |     2 |     1 |    12 |    20 ||    36
       Held in net/web   |       |       |     2 |     2 |       |     2 |       ||     6
       Distracted        |       |       |       |       |     1 |     2 |     1 ||     4
       Petrifying        |       |       |       |       |     5 |       |       ||     5
       Sleeping          |       |       |       |       |     6 |     1 |     2 ||     9
  Eat: Chunk             |     1 |     8 |       |     6 |    47 |    34 |    26 ||   122
       Beef jerky        |       |       |     1 |     2 |     1 |     3 |       ||     7
       Royal jelly       |       |       |     1 |       |       |       |       ||     1
       Meat ration       |       |       |     2 |     1 |       |       |       ||     3
       Pizza             |       |       |     1 |       |     1 |     1 |     2 ||     5
       Fruit             |       |       |       |       |     2 |       |       ||     2



[WingedEspeon]

FYI that guide is awful. Some people here tied following it as a challenge game.

[tasonir]

Agreed, staff of earth isn't something you'd really want to use as a melee weapon. I did follow the guide as a challenge game, and it was pretty fun, but not recommended if you don't have at least a few wins under your belt.

My writeup: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=16236&p=222330

In short, it takes a decent amount of staff exp, and very high earth/evocations exp, to get the melee damage online. The melee damage is perfectly fine, especially since it's a 1H weapon, but taking two additional skills to ~20 for it is just too much of an investment. You could be learning actual defenses, training fighting for health, etc.

All that being said, you were pretty far in the game, had a good mix of skill training (had the right amount of evo, earth, etc), so you probably could pull this off if you keep trying (and actually find the staff again). Just remember it is a challenge game and not optimal strategy

[WingedEspeon]

I'm not sure that staff of earth would be that bad if you are using earth spells and Evocables to back it up. If you are casting Iron shot and using lamp of fire etc, the staff of ear probably isn't that bad as you are letting your earth magic and evocations double as melee and ranged skills.

[tasonir]

Yeah, it's certainly reasonable for a more magic focused gargoyle. Start as an EE, learn your earth magic, boost its spell power. Assuming you train some evocations, then all you need is staff 14 and you're set. You've probably already learned some basic shield skill since most mages use a shield, and your build is now well rounded. It's just more of a challenge build if you focus on the staff of earth as a melee weapon first and foremost.