KoBe crypt

[Willy Elektrix]

I've got a Kobold Berserker who is probably the best character I've ever had. I would really like to get 1 rune before he dies (I never have before). Right now I've cleared the Lair, Orc Mines, and Hive with only a few hang ups. I just entered into the Vaults under the idea of going to the Crypts as soon as I can. Below is a dump of my character. Here are my questions:

What else should I make sure I'm equipped with before I tackle these next areas?
How should I be building my skills for the mid-game?
How hindering is low AC going to be?
Should I continue building Invocations to strengthen my wand use?

Any other advice is appreciated.

  Code:

Buggo the Spry (Kobold Berserker)                                  Turns: 51611, Time: 04:08:43

HP  95/95        AC 10     Str 21      XL: 15   Next: 88%
MP   5/5         EV 33     Int  9      God: Trog [******]
Gold 1285        SH 19     Dex 24      Spells:  0 memorised, 16 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : +    z - +7,+8 quick blade (antimagic) {god gift}
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : . .  A - +3 leather armour of the Equator {Dex+1 In
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .    n - +2 buckler
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    (no helmet)
Res.Poison: +       Clarity    : .    m - +1 elf cloak
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    a - +0 pair of gloves
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    (no boots)
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    I - amulet "Jerr" {Faith -CAST +Rage +Inv Dex+
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    H - +4 ring of strength
Saprovore : + + .   Ctrl.Flight: .    b - ring of poison resistance

@: somewhat resistant to hostile enchantments, extraordinarily stealthy
A: disease resistance, see invisible, carnivore 3, saprovore 2, Dex -1
a: Burn Spellbooks, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms, Renounce Religion, Evoke Berserk
Rage, Evoke Invisibility

Hand weapons
 s - a +6,+1 elven sabre of venom {god gift}
 z - a +7,+8 anti-magic quick blade (weapon) {god gift}
 N - a +2,+4 sabre of holy wrath {god gift}
Armour
 a - a +0 pair of gloves (worn)
 m - a +1 elven cloak (worn)
 n - a +2 buckler (worn)
 A - the +3 leather armour of the Equator (worn) {Dex+1 Int+4}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 12 of the Dungeon)   
   
   
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
   It affects your dexterity (+1).
 B - a +0 buckler
Magical devices
 p - a wand of confusion {zapped: 3}
 q - a wand of magic darts (8)
 t - a wand of healing (4)
 w - a wand of digging {zapped: 4}
 C - a wand of hasting {recharged}
 E - a wand of paralysis {zapped: 4}
 K - a wand of digging
 R - a wand of slowing
Comestibles
 c - 4 meat rations
Scrolls
 e - 4 scrolls of identify
 g - 2 scrolls of fog
 i - 5 scrolls of detect curse
 l - 2 scrolls of enchant weapon I
 o - 7 scrolls of remove curse
 r - 3 scrolls of magic mapping
 v - 6 scrolls of teleportation
 x - a scroll of vulnerability
 G - a scroll labeled NIYXAROINU {tried}
 J - a scroll labeled LESENE GUSKUEBA
 P - 2 scrolls of blinking
Jewellery
 b - a ring of poison resistance (left hand)
 k - an uncursed ring of life protection
 D - an uncursed ring of protection from magic
 F - an uncursed amulet of warding
 H - a +4 ring of strength (right hand)
 I - the amulet "Jerr" (around neck) {Faith -CAST +Rage +Inv Dex+3}
   (You found it on level 14 of the Dungeon)   
   
   [amulet of faith]
   
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It lets you turn invisible.
   It lets you go berserk.
   It prevents spellcasting.
Potions
 d - 2 potions of agility
 f - 12 potions of healing
 h - 4 potions of brilliance
 j - a potion of might
 u - a potion of speed


   Skills:
 + Level 13 Fighting
 - Level 15 Short Blades
 - Level 3 Maces & Flails
 + Level 6 Armour
 + Level 18 Dodging
 + Level 12 Stealth
 + Level 11 Stabbing
 - Level 7 Shields
 + Level 4 Traps & Doors
 + Level 2 Unarmed Combat
 - Level 1 Spellcasting
 + Level 6 Evocations


You recuperate from illness quickly.
You are small and have problems with some larger weapons.
You are carnivorous and can eat meat at any time.
You can eat rotten meat.
You have supernaturally acute eyesight.
You are clumsy (Dex -1).


[cerebovssquire]

Invocations won't do anything to wand use. If you mean Evocations, that's only really worth training if you found a good rod. So, in your case, no.
Your AC won't be much of a problem but consider switching to Swamp Dragon Armour since that grants very good AC for little EV penalty, plus rPois to save you that ring slot. Turn off Unarmed Combat.
Turn off Traps & Doors when it hits ~8.
If you want to stick with leather and robes, turn off Armour.
Otherwise, train Fighting and Dodging (Short Blades is a little too high already but that won't be a problem) and, if you want to stab monsters, Stealth and Stabbing. Turn off Stabbing at 15.
Good luck!

[ilpalazzo]

I'm no pro, but I think snake/swamp would be easier than crypt now (you already have rP). Maybe you can fill your armor gaps there. I would try getting rN+++ and higher MR ready for vaults and crypt. With skills I would concentrate on fighting, shields and some traps next.

[cerebovssquire]

I'm no pro, but I think snake/swamp would be easier than crypt now (you already have rP). Maybe you can fill your armor gaps there. I would try getting rN+++ and higher MR ready for vaults and crypt. With skills I would concentrate on fighting, shields and some traps next.

rN is of little use in Crypt and Vaults (except V:8, where rN+ will help) so no worries on that matter. But yes, Snake will be easy with an antimagic weapon and rPois and Swamp shouldn't be much harder.
If he really needs MR quick (ogre mages, Kirke, sphinx etc.) there is always Trog's Hand which merely has a very small piety cost.

[Willy Elektrix]

If you want to stick with leather and robes, turn off Armour.

Thanks for all the skills advice. Why wouldn't I stick with leather? It seems having a high EV is more useful for me than a high AC. Or am I underestimating the power of AC? I'll see if I can get Swamp Dragon armor. But I wouldn't see a Swamp Dragon until I get to the swamps I'm assuming.

I'm no pro, but I think snake/swamp would be easier than crypt now (you already have rP). Maybe you can fill your armor gaps there. I would try getting rN+++ and higher MR ready for vaults and crypt. With skills I would concentrate on fighting, shields and some traps next.

rN is of little use in Crypt and Vaults (except V:8, where rN+ will help) so no worries on that matter. But yes, Snake will be easy with an antimagic weapon and rPois and Swamp shouldn't be much harder.

No Snake Pit in my current game. I got the Shoals instead. Yuck. Should I try Swamps before Crypts then?

[cerebovssquire]

You are underestimating the power of AC, I think - and also disregarding that said armour won't impede your EV notably. Swamp Dragon Armour is only 7/-2 so your EV will barely suffer. But a fully enchanted Swamp Dragon Armour will give you 14 AC extra, rPois and a decent amount of Guaranteed Damage Reduction (GDR). So all in all you're receiving a huge boost. I mean, leather armour is 3/-1, just compare these numbers. Even the dragon equivalent (Mottled Dragon Armour) which is 5/-1 doesn't compare very well to it.
Yeah, Swamp is the place where you'll find one with the highest probability. Pity about Snake. I in your position would go to Swamp, skin a dragon and get the rune! Don't forget that Brothers in Arms may be very helpful, used once or twice, in the rune vault itself.
Looking good! Great weapon, wand of healing/hasting, good god, etc. Shouldn't be hard to win!

[Stormfox]

One other small point that hasn't come up: If you're looking for a rune, don't bother in Crypt. There's no rune there, and the branch that it leads to that does have one (Tomb) is a splatground for even experienced players.