YASD: DEFE of Ru

[cjo]

I'm in a bazaar and could use some advice on how to allot my gold. General spell advice or skilling tips also welcome.

Tempting Bazaar Goodies:
* Gauntlets of War--I'm trying to stay out of melee except vs very weak enemies, but it's 3 points of AC since I haven't found gloves yet.
* Book of Summoning--pretty tempting, but is it really worth 900 gold?
* Ring of Pesouniq (rElec rN+ Str+8 Dex-4)

I think what I want most is the gauntlets of war, since I haven't yet found any other gloves yet. Book of summoning is also very tempting, especially since I have some summoning already. I have enough for both. The ring is really cool, but I can't afford all three and I do have a staff of air for rElec. To complicate things, I could also reserve gold for a Book of the Warp for sale in an orc shop ($900 gold.) Still tempted by gauntlets+summoning though.

Spells:

- Right now Fulminant Prism is my tool for fire resistant enemies who I don't want to handle with 0-skill weapon. I haven't used it much, but did take out a ghost which didn't hit overly hard but had annoyingly high evasion. I'm wondering if this was really a worthwhile pick, as I don't see myself whittling down a fire dragon with it, for example. Should I have learned lightning bolt? Just held out and hoped for iron shot or something?

-Sticky flame, bolt of fire, and lightning spire are all great. I kinda regret learning mephitic cloud, as I never used it much.

-Basically I'm wondering what to train and what to look for.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.20.0-15-g7f486f2 (webtiles) character file.

cjo the Nimble (Deep Elf Fire Elementalist)        Turns: 41024, Time: 05:07:52

Health: 103/103    AC: 25    Str:  5    XL:     16   Next: 76%
Magic:  34/34      EV: 23    Int: 28    God:    Ru [*****.]
Gold:   1830       SH: 10    Dex: 15    Spells: 0/39 levels left

rFire    . . .     SeeInvis .   o - +7 flail of Bishretan {crush, +Rage}
rCold    + . .     Gourm    .   O - +2 buckler
rNeg     . . .     Faith    .   B - +5 steam dragon scales
rPois    +         Spirit   .   m - +2 helmet of Impressiveness {rC+}
rElec    .         Reflect  +   X - +2 cloak {rPois}
rCorr    .         Harm     .   (no gloves)
MR       +....                  Z - +2 pair of boots
Stlth    +++++.....             h - +3 amulet of reflection
Regen    0.3/turn               f - ring of wizardry
MPRegen  0.3/turn               b - +6 ring of protection

@: no status effects
A: inability to drink while threatened, inability to use devices, inability to
train armour, missing an eye
a: Draw Out Power, Power Leap, Apocalypse, Renounce Religion


You are in a bazaar.
You worship Ru.
Ru is extremely pleased with you.
You are very hungry.

You have visited 6 branches of the dungeon, and seen 30 of its levels.
You have visited 1 bazaar.
You have also visited: Labyrinth.

You have collected 2780 gold pieces.
You have spent 950 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand Weapons
 d - a +3 demon whip of pain
 o - the +7 flail of Bishretan (weapon) {crush, +Rage}
   (You found it on level 1 of the Swamp)   
   
   It inflicts extra damage upon your enemies.
   
   It lets you go berserk.
 V - a glaive of distortion
 W - an arbalest
Armour
 m - the +2 helmet of Impressiveness (worn) {rC+}
   (You found it on level 10 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It protects you from cold.
 n - the +5 cloak "Hatzakhle" {*Contam rC+++ Regen+ rCorr}
   (You found it on level 13 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It renders you almost immune to cold.
   It causes magical contamination when unequipped.
   It increases your rate of regeneration.
   It protects you from acid and corrosion.
 w - a glowing helmet
 B - +5 steam dragon scales (worn)
 O - a +2 buckler (worn)
 X - a +2 cloak of poison resistance (worn)
 Z - a +2 pair of boots (worn)
Magical Staves
 R - an uncursed staff of air
Jewellery
 a - an uncursed ring of protection from fire
 b - a +6 ring of protection (right hand)
 f - a ring of wizardry (left hand)
 h - a +3 amulet of reflection (around neck)
 y - an uncursed ring of protection from magic
 F - the amulet "Giupt" {+Rage rF+ rC+ Dex+3}
   (You found it in a labyrinth)   
   
   [amulet of rage]
   
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It protects you from fire.
   It protects you from cold.
   It lets you go berserk.
Scrolls
 j - 2 scrolls of magic mapping
 l - 8 scrolls of teleportation
 p - 2 scrolls of fog
 q - 3 scrolls of vulnerability
 t - 3 scrolls of amnesia
 x - 4 scrolls of remove curse
 E - a scroll of fear
 G - 6 scrolls of identify
 H - a scroll of enchant weapon
 L - a scroll of enchant armour
 S - a scroll of blinking
 T - 2 scrolls of silence
Potions
 e - 2 potions of invisibility
 i - 5 potions of lignification
 k - 4 potions of berserk rage
 r - 4 potions of flight
 s - a potion of might
 v - 7 potions of heal wounds
 z - 11 potions of curing
 A - 2 potions of resistance
 C - 2 potions of ambrosia
 I - 2 potions of haste
 J - a potion of cancellation
 N - 2 potions of agility
 U - 4 potions of brilliance
Books
 g - a book of Maledictions   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Corona                       Hexes                         1
    b - Ensorcelled Hibernation      Hexes/Ice                     2
    c - Confuse                      Hexes                         3
    d - Tukima's Dance               Hexes                         3
    e - Dazzling Spray               Conjuration/Hexes             3
 K - a book of Spatial Translocations   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Blink                        Translocation                 2
    b - Shroud of Golubria           Charms/Translocation          2
    c - Lesser Beckoning             Translocation                 3
    d - Gell's Gravitas              Translocation                 3
    e - Teleport Other               Translocation                 3
    f - Passage of Golubria          Translocation                 4
 P - Noepanuj's Volume of Poisonous Attacks
   (You found it on level 6 of the Lair of Beasts)   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Sting                        Conjuration/Poison            1
    b - Shock                        Conjuration/Air               1
    c - Spider Form                  Transmutation/Poison          3
    d - Fulminant Prism              Conjuration/Hexes             4
    e - Lightning Bolt               Conjuration/Air               5
Comestibles
 c - 12 bread rations
 u - 2 fruits
 D - 2 meat rations
 M - 9 royal jellies


   Skills:
 + Level 12.7 Fighting
 + Level 14.8 Dodging
 - Level 12.3 Stealth
 - Level 5.0 Shields
 - Level 12.0 Spellcasting
 - Level 14.0 Conjurations
 - Level 8.2 Hexes
 * Level 7.7 Summonings
 - Level 6.0 Translocations
 - Level 10.7 Fire Magic


You cannot memorise any spells.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Flame Tongue          Conj/Fire      #####        0%          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    None
e - Fireball              Conj/Fire      ######....   1%          5    ###....
f - Bolt of Fire          Conj/Fire      ######....   1%          6    #####..
g - Animate Skeleton      Necr           N/A          1%          1    None
h - Cause Fear            Hex            ######....   1%          4    None
i - Mephitic Cloud        Conj/Pois/Air  #####...     1%          3    None
j - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          1%          2    None
k - Summon Lightning Spi  Summ/Air       #####...     2%          4    None
l - Fulminant Prism       Conj/Hex       ######....   1%          4    None


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (15/15)              Lair (6/6) D:11          Swamp (3/4) Lair:3
 Spider (3/4) Lair:2        Slime (0/5) Lair:6          Orc (2/2) D:12
    Elf (1/3) Orc:2        Vaults (0/5) D:14         Depths (0/5) D:15
Temple: D:4-7       

Altars:
Ashenzari
Elyvilon
Hepliaklqana
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Nemelex Xobeh
Qazlal
Ru
Sif Muna
Xom
Yredelemnul
Zin

Shops:
D:6 }   Orc:2 :*=[   Elf:1 (

Annotations:
D:2 Sigmund
D:5 exclusion: downstairs
D:7 exclusion: centaur
Lair:4 exclusion: downstairs
Lair:5 death yak pack!, exclusion: downstairs
Lair:6 exclusion: oklob plant
Spider:3 ghost moth!, exclusion: upstairs
Elf:1 Asterion


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You cannot drink potions while threatened.
You cannot study or use magical devices.
You cannot train Armour skill.
You are missing an eye, making it more difficult to aim.


Message History

You now have 1731 gold pieces (gained 8).
You now have 1742 gold pieces (gained 11).
You now have 1760 gold pieces (gained 18).
You now have 1774 gold pieces (gained 14).
You now have 1786 gold pieces (gained 12).
You now have 1797 gold pieces (gained 11).
You now have 1815 gold pieces (gained 18).
You now have 1830 gold pieces (gained 15).
There is an entrance to Fugyokh's Armour Shop here.
Search for what [? for help]? rElec
There is an entrance to Quruvvom's General Store here.
You can access your shopping list by pressing '$'.
There is an entrance to Quruvvom's General Store here.
Unknown command.
You can access your shopping list by pressing '$'.
Okay, then.
You start resting.
You are feeling very hungry.
You start resting.
HP restored.

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There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Rupert (Orc:2)
  Frances (Swamp:1)
  Gastronok (Lair:2)
  3 thorn hunters
  An entropy weaver (Spider:2)
  A spark wasp (Spider:2)
  2 dire elephants (Lair:6)
  An ettin (Orc:1)
  Snorg (Lair:5)
  A minotaur (Lab)
  The ghost of dumpsterbaby the Fighter, a journeyman GrBe of Trog (D:12)
  2 vault guards (D:14)
  6 hydras
  A death knight (D:13)
  2 catoblepae
  2 ghost crabs
  An anaconda (Lair:6)
  6 death yaks
  7 two-headed ogres
  10 alligators
  3 tengu warriors
  Urug (Lair:2)
  3 orc high priests (Orc:2)
  2 skeletal warriors
  Sonja (Orc:2)
  A wizard (D:15)
  2 unseen horrors
  A swamp dragon (Swamp:2)
  3 shambling mangroves
  7 orc knights
  10 deep elf magi
  5 orb spiders
  A manticore (D:14)
  4 orc sorcerers (Orc:2)
  3 ugly things
  A moth of wrath (Spider:1)
  17 wolf spiders
  Maurice (D:8)
  13 elephants (Lair:6)
  3 black mambas
  4 centaur zombies
  21 spiny frogs
  An orange demon (D:13)
  A torpor snail (Lair:6)
  12 komodo dragons
  3 demonic crawlers
  4 rime drakes
  3 tengu conjurers
  17 jumping spiders
  A polar bear (Lair:3)
  7 trolls
  3 tyrant leeches
  11 hornets
  14 blink frogs
  9 dream sheep
  16 slime creatures
  2 bog bodies (Swamp:1)
  7 hippogriffs
  A shadow (Swamp:1)
  38 redbacks
  9 spriggans
  A water elemental (Elf:1)
  9 tarantellas
  A wraith (D:12)
  A vampire (D:10)
  24 yaks
  2 humans (D:14)
  A basilisk (Lair:1)
  2 wyverns
  18 vampire mosquitoes
  2 steam dragons (D:9)
  A warg (Orc:2)
  7 swamp worms
  An acid dragon (D:13)
  6 water moccasins
  8 porcupines
  A swamp drake (Swamp:1)
  28 orc warriors
  4 sky beasts
  5 ice beasts
  2 necrophages
  A black bear (D:11)
  17 wolves
  An eye of draining (D:10)
  10 centaurs
  9 crocodiles
  12 ogres
  A big kobold (D:10)
  15 bullfrogs
  A wyvern zombie (D:14)
  A hornet simulacrum (D:9)
  A wyvern skeleton (D:11)
  4 scorpions
  11 wights
  3 killer bees (D:8)
  2 vampire bats (D:7)
  7 electric eels
  5 howler monkeys
  5 jellies
  2 crimson imps (D:14)
  2 bullfrog zombies
  4 hounds
  18 orc priests
  7 centaur skeletons
  5 bullfrog skeletons
  28 orc wizards
  5 hell rats (Lair:6)
  2 iguanas
  12 worker ants
  A killer bee zombie (D:5)
  A hound skeleton (D:4)
  A howler monkey zombie (D:5)
  2 worker ant zombies
  A gnoll (D:12)
  12 adders
  A shadow imp (D:9)
  An adder zombie (D:9)
  2 adder skeletons
  A worm (D:6)
  A dart slug (D:5)
  4 leopard geckos
  73 orcs
  3 bat skeletons (D:7)
  2 bat zombies (D:7)
  4 hobgoblins
  9 jackals
  8 kobolds
  2 quokkas (D:3)
  7 bats
  2 frilled lizards
  2 goblins (D:2)
  A jackal skeleton (D:8)
  3 rats
  2 briar patches (Swamp:2)
778 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  A two-headed ogre (D:13)
  A wolf spider (Spider:3)
  An elephant (Lair:6)
  3 demonic crawlers
  A hornet (Swamp:2)
  A blink frog (Swamp:3)
  A hungry ghost (D:14)
  2 swamp worms (Swamp:3)
  2 vampire mosquitoes (Swamp:3)
  A soldier ant (D:13)
  A crimson imp (D:13)
  A hound (D:13)
  A worker ant (D:13)
  An adder (D:12)
  3 plants (Lair:6)
21 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  Nessos (Lair:5)
  A death yak (Lair:5)
  A wizard (D:15)
  3 wolf spiders
  A black mamba (Lair:6)
  A komodo dragon (Lair:4)
  A freezing wraith (D:13)
  A demonic crawler (Spider:2)
  A yaktaur (D:14)
  A jumping spider (Spider:3)
  A hippogriff (Lair:3)
  2 redbacks (Spider:1)
  A yak (Lair:6)
  An orc warrior (D:12)
  A wolf (Lair:3)
  A centaur (D:11)
  A bullfrog (D:13)
  An orc wizard (Orc:2)
  3 orcs
  A quokka (D:9)
  A briar patch (Swamp:2)
  A bush (Lair:6)
  13 fulminant prisms
  17 fungi
  37 plants
94 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 893 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
-------+----------+-------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | cjo the Deep Elf Fire Elementalist began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 10/10 MP: 6/6
   511 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 15/15 MP: 4/8
   515 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Throw Flame
  1079 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 19/19 MP: 5/9
  1148 | D:2      | Found a stormy altar of Qazlal.
  1148 | D:2      | Noticed Sigmund
  1222 | D:2      | Found a sacrificial altar of Ru.
  1230 | D:2      | Became a worshipper of Ru the Awakened
  1249 | D:2      | Found a shattered altar of Ashenzari.
  1354 | D:2      | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
  1785 | D:3      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 24/24 MP: 6/10
  2012 | D:3      | HP: 1/24 [orc wizard/puff of frost (9)]
  2427 | D:3      | Noticed an orc warrior
  2444 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 28/28 MP: 8/11
  2911 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Conjurations
  3218 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Fire Magic
  3277 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  3350 | D:5      | Gained mutation: You cannot train Armour skill. [Ru sacrifice]
  3350 | D:5      | Reached * piety under Ru
  3374 | D:5      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 32/32 MP: 8/12
  3517 | D:5      | Learned a level 4 spell: Sticky Flame
  3591 | D:5      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  3822 | D:6      | Noticed an ice beast
  4292 | D:6      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 21/36 MP: 9/13
  4452 | D:6      | Found Sysoseleus's Gadget Shoppe.
  4897 | D:7      | Found a glowing silver altar of Zin.
  4897 | D:7      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
  4897 | D:7      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  4897 | D:7      | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
  4898 | D:7      | Found a hazy altar of Hepliaklqana.
  4899 | D:7      | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
  4899 | D:7      | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
  4912 | D:7      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  5350 | D:7      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  5355 | D:7      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 41/41 MP: 4/15
  5674 | D:7      | Learned a level 5 spell: Fireball
  6031 | D:8      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  6155 | D:8      | Noticed a hippogriff
  6437 | D:8      | Noticed Maurice
  6482 | D:8      | Killed a hippogriff
  6482 | D:8      | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
  6493 | D:8      | Killed Maurice
  6493 | D:8      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 45/45 MP: 6/19
  6503 | D:8      | Gained mutation: You are missing an eye, making it more difficult to aim. [Ru sacrifice]
  6503 | D:8      | Reached ** piety under Ru
  7484 | D:9      | Noticed a two-headed ogre
  7497 | D:9      | Killed a two-headed ogre
  7497 | D:9      | Reached skill level 10 in Conjurations
  7703 | D:9      | You fall through a shaft for 3 floors!
  7703 | D:12     | Noticed a troll
  7703 | D:12     | Noticed a troll
  7729 | D:12     | Reached skill level 1 in Fighting
  7738 | D:12     | Killed a troll
  7753 | D:12     | Killed a troll
  7753 | D:12     | Reached XP level 10. HP: 22/53 MP: 0/22
  8092 | D:12     | Noticed a deep elf mage
  8417 | D:11     | Noticed an unseen horror
  8421 | D:11     | Killed an unseen horror
  8421 | D:11     | Reached skill level 5 in Stealth
  8583 | D:11     | Noticed a red ugly thing
  8658 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
  8797 | D:10     | Got a crystal broad axe
  8827 | D:10     | Learned a level 4 spell: Cause Fear
  9071 | D:10     | Got a scorched helmet
  9082 | D:10     | Identified the +2 helmet of Impressiveness {rC+} (You found it on level 10 of the Dungeon)
  9099 | D:10     | Noticed a two-headed ogre
  9121 | D:10     | Killed a two-headed ogre
  9131 | D:10     | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  9206 | D:10     | Noticed a tengu warrior
  9206 | D:10     | Noticed a tengu warrior
  9236 | D:10     | Killed a tengu warrior
  9253 | D:10     | Killed a tengu warrior
  9253 | D:10     | Reached XP level 11. HP: 23/64 MP: 12/23
  9852 | D:10     | Gained mutation: You cannot study or use magical devices. [Ru sacrifice]
  9852 | D:10     | Reached *** piety under Ru
  9852 | D:10     | Reached **** piety under Ru
 10367 | D:9      | Identified the +2 broad axe of the Eel {speed, rC++} (You found it on level 10 of the Dungeon)
 10378 | D:9      | Reached skill level 5 in Hexes
 11332 | D:10     | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 11337 | D:10     | Killed a two-headed ogre
 11825 | D:11     | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 11903 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 12754 | Lair:2   | Found a hole to the Spider Nest.
 12754 | Lair:2   | Noticed an orb spider
 12767 | Lair:2   | Killed an orb spider
 12933 | Lair:2   | Gained mutation: You cannot drink potions while threatened. [Ru sacrifice]
 12933 | Lair:2   | Reached ***** piety under Ru
 13048 | Lair:2   | Noticed Urug
 13073 | Lair:2   | Noticed Gastronok
 13154 | Lair:2   | Killed Gastronok
 13154 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 13393 | Lair:2   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 63/72 MP: 7/24
 13431 | Lair:2   | Killed Urug
 13544 | Lair:3   | Noticed a death yak
 13626 | Lair:3   | Found a labyrinth entrance.
 13640 | Lab      | Entered a labyrinth
 13917 | Lab      | Noticed a minotaur
 13940 | Lab      | Killed a minotaur
 14001 | Lab      | Got a smoking pewter amulet
 14772 | Lair:3   | Noticed a death yak
 14783 | Lair:3   | Noticed a death yak
 14787 | Lair:3   | Killed a death yak
 14834 | Lair:2   | Killed a death yak
 15044 | Lair:3   | Killed a death yak
 15205 | Lair:3   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 15290 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 10 in Stealth
 15720 | Lair:4   | Noticed an eight-headed hydra
 15744 | Lair:4   | Killed an eight-headed hydra
 15744 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 1 in Shields
 16090 | Lair:4   | You fall through a shaft!
 16372 | Lair:5   | Identified the amulet "Giupt" {+Rage rF+ rC+ Dex+3} (You found it in a labyrinth)
 16409 | Lair:5   | Noticed Snorg
 16409 | Lair:5   | Noticed a death yak
 16410 | Lair:5   | Noticed a death yak
 16411 | Lair:5   | Noticed a death yak
 16455 | Lair:5   | Killed Snorg
 16455 | Lair:5   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 48/80 MP: 6/25
 16949 | Lair:5   | Noticed Nessos
 17118 | Lair:6   | Entered Level 6 of the Lair of Beasts
 17382 | Lair:6   | Found a staircase to the Slime Pits.
 17600 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 10 in Fighting
 18718 | Lair:6   | Learned a level 1 spell: Animate Skeleton
 19196 | Lair:6   | Noticed a dire elephant
 19284 | Lair:6   | Killed a dire elephant
 19384 | Lair:6   | Noticed a dire elephant
 19384 | Lair:6   | Noticed a dire elephant
 19429 | Lair:6   | Noticed a dire elephant
 19430 | Lair:6   | Noticed a dire elephant
 19758 | Lair:6   | Identified Noepanuj's Volume of Poisonous Attacks
 19843 | Lair:6   | Identified the Collected Works on the Hurtful Birds
 19852 | Lair:6   | Learned a level 6 spell: Bolt of Fire
 20066 | Lair:6   | Noticed a dire elephant
 20102 | Lair:6   | Killed a dire elephant
 21018 | Lair:5   | Killed Nessos
 21240 | Lair:5   | Learned a level 3 spell: Mephitic Cloud
 21278 | Lair:5   | Reached XP level 14. HP: 88/88 MP: 11/28
 21282 | Lair:5   | Reached skill level 10 in Fire Magic
 22702 | D:12     | Noticed dumpsterbaby's ghost (journeyman GrBe)
 22947 | D:12     | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 22990 | D:12     | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
 23769 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 23899 | Orc:2    | Entered Level 2 of the Orcish Mines
 23968 | Orc:2    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 24250 | Orc:2    | Noticed Sonja
 24256 | Orc:2    | Killed Sonja
 25760 | Orc:2    | Noticed Rupert
 27367 | D:13     | Got a transparent cloak
 27395 | D:13     | Identified the +5 cloak "Hatzakhle" {*Contam rC+++ Regen+ rCorr} (You found it on level 13 of the Dungeon)
 27737 | Swamp:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Swamp
 28185 | Swamp:1  | Noticed Frances
 28258 | Swamp:1  | Reached skill level 5 in Shields
 28681 | Swamp:2  | Reached skill level 10 in Spellcasting
 29135 | Swamp:2  | Reached XP level 15. HP: 89/94 MP: 27/31
 29151 | Swamp:2  | Noticed a thorn hunter
 29182 | Swamp:2  | Killed a thorn hunter
 29651 | Swamp:1  | Got an encrusted flail
 29652 | Swamp:1  | Identified the +7 flail of Bishretan {crush, +Rage} (You found it on level 1 of the Swamp)
 29949 | Swamp:1  | Killed Frances
 31114 | Swamp:2  | Noticed a thorn hunter
 31116 | Swamp:2  | Killed a thorn hunter
 31749 | Swamp:3  | Noticed a thorn hunter
 31758 | Swamp:3  | Killed a thorn hunter
 32718 | Orc:2    | Killed Rupert
 33684 | Orc:2    | Found Sairchomu's Assorted Antiques.
 33684 | Orc:2    | Found Yvatilell's Book Shoppe.
 33687 | Orc:2    | Found Neodo's Jewellery Shoppe.
 33687 | Orc:2    | Found Nusesh's Antique Armour Boutique.
 33769 | Orc:2    | Bought a book of Spatial Translocations for 650 gold pieces
 33769 | Orc:2    | Bought a book of Callings for 300 gold pieces
 33773 | Orc:2    | Learned a level 2 spell: Blink
 33778 | Orc:2    | Learned a level 4 spell: Summon Lightning Spire
 33979 | Spider:1 | Entered Level 1 of the Spider Nest
 34077 | Spider:1 | Reached skill level 1 in Translocations
 34202 | Spider:1 | Reached skill level 1 in Summonings
 34567 | Spider:1 | Reached XP level 16. HP: 89/101 MP: 31/34
 34729 | Spider:1 | Learned a level 4 spell: Fulminant Prism
 36055 | Spider:2 | You fall through a shaft!
 37365 | Spider:3 | Reached skill level 5 in Summonings
 37401 | Spider:3 | Reached skill level 5 in Translocations
 38424 | Elf:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Elven Halls
 38740 | Elf:1    | Found Zuuvuis's Antique Weapon Shoppe.
 38805 | Elf:1    | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
 38815 | Elf:1    | Noticed Asterion
 38933 | D:12     | Killed dumpsterbaby's ghost
 40488 | D:14     | Found a gate to the Vaults.
 40781 | D:15     | Entered Level 15 of the Dungeon
 40789 | D:15     | Found a staircase to the Depths.
 40846 | D:15     | Found a flickering gateway to a bazaar.
 40856 | Bazaar   | Entered a bazaar
 40856 | Bazaar   | Found Gehuon's Antique Armour Boutique.
 40856 | Bazaar   | Found Duifirig's Gadget Shoppe.
 40856 | Bazaar   | Found Fugyokh's Armour Shop.
 40856 | Bazaar   | Found Quruvvom's General Store.
 40858 | Bazaar   | Found Tiumor's Weapon Emporium.

Skill      XL: |  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 |
---------------+-------------------------------------------------+-----
Conjurations   |  2     3  4  5  6  7  9 10             13 14    | 14.0
Fire Magic     |        4     5     6  8  9             10       | 10.7
Dodging        |                 3  4  5  7  8 10 11 12    14    | 14.8
Spellcasting   |                       5  6     7     8 10 12    | 12.0
Fighting       |                          2  5  7  9 10 11 12    | 12.7
Stealth        |                          3  6  8 10 11    12    | 12.3
Hexes          |                             4  7  8             |  8.2
Shields        |                                   1  3  5       |  5.0
Translocations |                                            2  6 |  6.0
Summonings     |                                            1  7 |  7.7

Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Dagger            |     5 |    48 |    42 |   160 |   720 |       ||   975
       Flail             |       |       |       |       |   259 |   272 ||   531
Throw: Stone             |       |     2 |     1 |       |       |       ||     3
 Cast: Flame Tongue      |    30 |    63 |    97 |    68 |    12 |     8 ||   278
       Throw Flame       |    11 |    23 |    25 |    98 |   159 |    35 ||   351
       Conjure Flame     |       |     7 |    15 |    31 |    39 |    13 ||   105
       Sticky Flame      |       |       |    27 |   112 |   312 |   108 ||   559
       Cause Fear        |       |       |       |    11 |    13 |     1 ||    25
       Fireball          |       |       |       |     2 |    39 |    29 ||    70
       Animate Skeleton  |       |       |       |       |    30 |     1 ||    31
       Bolt of Fire      |       |       |       |       |    82 |    21 ||   103
       Mephitic Cloud    |       |       |       |       |     1 |       ||     1
       Fulminant Prism   |       |       |       |       |       |    13 ||    13
       Summon Lightning  |       |       |       |       |       |    12 ||    12
       Blink             |       |       |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
Invok: Sacrifice Durabil |       |     1 |       |       |       |       ||     1
       Sacrifice an Eye  |       |       |     1 |       |       |       ||     1
       Sacrifice Drink   |       |       |       |     1 |       |       ||     1
       Sacrifice Artific |       |       |       |     1 |       |       ||     1
       Reject Sacrifices |       |       |       |     1 |     1 |     1 ||     3
       Draw Out Power    |       |       |       |       |     3 |       ||     3
       Apocalypse        |       |       |       |       |     1 |       ||     1
  Use: Scroll            |     3 |     1 |     2 |    19 |    16 |     5 ||    46
       Potion            |       |       |     2 |     3 |     1 |     2 ||     8
 Stab: Sleeping          |       |     1 |       |     4 |     1 |     1 ||     7
       Invisible         |       |       |       |     1 |     7 |     5 ||    13
       Distracted        |       |       |       |       |     8 |     4 ||    12
       Paralysed         |       |       |       |       |       |     4 ||     4
  Eat: Chunk             |     3 |     4 |    11 |    31 |    77 |    10 ||   136
       Meat ration       |       |     1 |     1 |     1 |     2 |     3 ||     8
       Fruit             |       |       |       |     1 |     5 |       ||     6
       Royal jelly       |       |       |       |       |     1 |     1 ||     2
       Bread ration      |       |       |       |       |     1 |       ||     1
Armor: Robe              |     3 |     5 |    17 |    18 |       |       ||    43
       Skin              |       |       |     8 |       |       |       ||     8
       Steam dragon scal |       |       |       |    62 |   358 |   186 ||   606
Dodge: Dodged            |     8 |    34 |    66 |   243 |   829 |   432 ||  1612
Block: Other             |     2 |    10 |    16 |    20 |       |       ||    48
       Buckler           |       |       |       |    21 |   576 |   281 ||   878
       Reflection        |       |       |       |     1 |    17 |     8 ||    26




[VeryAngryFelid]

IMHO summons don't work great along with fire spells, especially fireball.
I would learn lightning bolt, and you already have lightning spire.
Also I don't see why you are afraid of melee, you have very good defense (and you will have even better one after you are done with poison branch and switch to using +5 cloak with regen+) and that +3 demon whip of pain is arguably the best weapon for a caster. Do you have bolt of draining somewhere?

Edit. If you don't want to go for level 9 spells, put some stat point into Str and/or Dex IMHO.

[Siegurt]

For your hypothetical fire dragon scenario, use your lightning spire *with* the prism.

Also, use mephitic cloud with conjure flame to make things step in the flames and die. Meph cloud is actually a pretty good spell.

[cjo]

IMHO summons don't work great along with fire spells, especially fireball.
I would learn lightning bolt, and you already have lightning spire.
Also I don't see why you are afraid of melee, you have very good defense (and you will have even better one after you are done with poison branch and switch to using +5 cloak with regen+) and that +3 demon whip of pain is arguably the best weapon for a caster. Do you have bolt of draining somewhere?

Edit. If you don't want to go for level 9 spells, put some stat point into Str and/or Dex IMHO.

I was afraid of melee due to DE hp being fairly low, but it's true that I got pretty lucky with good early armour. Maybe I can be slightly less conservative, but I don't want to tank anything nasty. Is Str/Dex to help melee? What would you consider enough int to be (if not going for 9th levels), and when do you start raising other stats?

For your hypothetical fire dragon scenario, use your lightning spire *with* the prism.

Also, use mephitic cloud with conjure flame to make things step in the flames and die. Meph cloud is actually a pretty good spell.

Good point about doubling up on spire+prism.

I love mephitic cloud when I find it early. It seems like I learned it a bit late, but when I think back, the real issue was I kept forgetting to cast it in the orcish mines! In main dungeon / vaults, it seems like most enemies can resist confusion or shrug it off pretty fast.

[VeryAngryFelid]

I was afraid of melee due to DE hp being fairly low, but it's true that I got pretty lucky with good early armour. Maybe I can be slightly less conservative, but I don't want to tank anything nasty. Is Str/Dex to help melee? What would you consider enough int to be (if not going for 9th levels), and when do you start raising other stats?

Yes, Str 5 gives a significant penalty to melee as far as I know, also you may choose to wear heavier armour like Enchantress' one if you are lucky. Dex becomes more important because you will need more EV when you stay in melee.
If you are going for melee, put all remaining points into Str/Dex, you have enough Int (and you will get even more from future XL as DE) unless you go for level 9 spell which is a bad idea IMHO.
You have quite respectable defense, just try to melee a couple of monsters and see how bad it is. Try DEBe of Trog some day, it is fun IMHO and also may help to better feel what characters can do and what they can't.

[cjo]

I was afraid of melee due to DE hp being fairly low, but it's true that I got pretty lucky with good early armour. Maybe I can be slightly less conservative, but I don't want to tank anything nasty. Is Str/Dex to help melee? What would you consider enough int to be (if not going for 9th levels), and when do you start raising other stats?

Yes, Str 5 gives a significant penalty to melee as far as I know, also you may choose to wear heavier armour like Enchantress' one if you are lucky. Dex becomes more important because you will need more EV when you stay in melee.
If you are going for melee, put all remaining points into Str/Dex, you have enough Int (and you will get even more from future XL as DE) unless you go for level 9 spell which is a bad idea IMHO.
You have quite respectable defense, just try to melee a couple of monsters and see how bad it is. Try DEBe of Trog some day, it is fun IMHO and also may help to better feel what characters can do and what they can't.

For this character, I sacrificed Armour to Ru, so I think I'll stay my current path of minimal melee. I did buy the gauntlets of war, mostly for the AC but I saw an immediate boost in my ability to kill weak stuff with a weapon. I'll give DEBe a try sometime though, it sounds hilariously awful and educational

[cjo]

For your hypothetical fire dragon scenario, use your lightning spire *with* the prism.

This worked like a charm against the no longer hypothetical fire dragons

I found OOD at the bottom of Swamp and am a happy camper.

[Plantissue]

Wow, I wish I could get defence like that by D:15. If you can afford it I don't see a reason for not getting the gauntlets of war and the ring, just in case you never do find relec by the time you want one.

[cjo]

Yeah, I definitely had some great luck with equipment. (I got the gauntlets but nothing else--probably a mistake, but I was eager to play and feeling indecisive.) Lately I've splatted a lot of characters with good equipment *crosses fingers*

[cjo]

Alas, I met YASD in Depths, to poison of all things. Well, in general to not retreating fast enough. Aizul's poison did the killing blow though.

[VeryAngryFelid]

Sorry about the death. I feel bad about it because I suggested to remove cloak of rPois and then you met Aizul while being unable to quaff potions
I am surprised you haven't trained a weapon, the gauntlets of war are not that great when you just cast spells. AC 32/EV 29 (after being drained!) is Zot 5-like defenses for a melee character.

Edit. You should have learned and used Ozo armour IMHO

[cjo]

Sorry about the death. I feel bad about it because I suggested to remove cloak of rPois and then you met Aizul while being unable to quaff potions
I am surprised you haven't trained a weapon, the gauntlets of war are not that great when you just cast spells. AC 32/EV 29 (after being drained!) is Zot 5-like defenses for a melee character.

Edit. You should have learned and used Ozo armour IMHO

Yeah, I'm kicking myself about Ozos. Don't feel bad for your advice, I wanted to use the artifact cloak if only for the cool factor. I do appreciate the advice.

I used to always train a weapon, but lately I've been experimenting with not doing so for some characters. Given this one's AC I probably should have... but it's a moot point now. Ah well, I'll miss this one, I thought he had a chance of crossing the finish line. Gonna keep at it, I'm taking a break to mess around with other species though.

Off to splat some more!