CIP - Furthest Caster Ever for Me

[donblas]

Attached is my HEFE, which just cleared Orc Mines. This is the furthest I've ever gone and would like some advice.

This guy has been blessed by the RNG, with tons of books, 2 scrolls of acquire and good artifacts (and an early staff).

- Any obvious spells I should have that I'm missing? Obviously working towards crystal spear and fire storm.
- Should I swap my skill learning around?
- I can drop a few spells with scrolls, any I should ditch?
- Where next? I don't have see invisible so I'm leary of going down too far.

[sir_laser]

- Any obvious spells I should have that I'm missing? Obviously working towards crystal spear and fire storm.

Get Mephetic Cloud and Summon Butterflies.
You don't need LCS. It isn't worth it. Fire Storm is godlike though, just watch spell hunger. Or find a Necronomicon.

- Should I swap my skill learning around?

As a HE, why are you training Earth Magic? None of the earth magic spells are good enough to warrant training for a specie with poor aptitude, stop right now (keep LRD though, since you're @ %1 failure; it'll deal large damage against enemies made of bone and golems). Your fire spells will carry you. Rush Fire Storm, and hope you get Tornado (instant win, basically), since you have a +2 aptitude in Air Magic.

- I can drop a few spells with scrolls, any I should ditch?

If you don't need to memorize additional spells keep 'em. Maybe they'll end up saving your butt. I'd ditch Sticky Flame, Conjure Flame, Throw Flame when it comes down to it though.

- Where next? I don't have see invisible so I'm leary of going down too far.

You don't have rPois, which is a problem. See invis. is less of a problem, since Unseen Horrors can't kill you. I'd do the Dungeon until you feel scared, then go and do Elf. Mephetic Cloud + Fire will carry you down to Elf:5, at which case you should read a !Magic Mapping and stop outside the vault. Hopefully you'll come across rPois by then.
Since your Earth Magic is @ 5, and you don't have any summoning spells, if you want to venture into summoning Summon Elemental will net you a wall of Earth Elemental buddies/meat shields, which is probably a good idea (you worship Vehumet).

[donblas]

"As a HE, why are you training Earth Magic? "

For Fire Resistant enemies.

"Rush Fire Storm"

So are you suggesting I turn off Dodging and just rush Fire/Conj?

I can pickup Summon Elemental, Mephetic Cloud and Summon Butterflies.

"I'd do the Dungeon until you feel scared" - How far is that roughly?

[sir_laser]

For Fire Resistant enemies.

Point, but summons should deal with that, not putting XP into another conjuration skill IMO.

So are you suggesting I turn off Dodging and just rush Fire/Conj?

If you don't feel threatened by enemies that you are killing very quickly, then trying to get Fire Storm quickly is probably a good idea. Dodging is less useful as a defensive mechanism than unblockable offense. Make sure you have a couple Panic Buttons lined up though.

"I'd do the Dungeon until you feel scared" - How far is that roughly?

Probably up to and not including D:20, earlier if less than ideal enemies spawn - if you can't kill everything very quickly, or if a pack of centaurs suddenly reduce your health by half would be a good example.
Spam Mephetic Cloud.

[rchandra]

Won't he only be able to have one Earth Elemental at a time? (have EM/5 chance at a friendly, with EM reduced by 5 for each existing elementals, I think)

Mystic Blast and later Orb of Destruction should take care of enemies that resist fire, no real need for Earth spells.

[donblas]

And now I'm dead. Aizul and Nikola both showed up on D15, one after another. I tried blinking via a scroll when I saw Nikola (and ran out of MP) and the blurry vision stopped me. Died in 2 turns.

What could I have done differently? As soon as I killed Aizul I backed away and tried to rest. Even with 9 levels of fighting and 14 of dodging I still got 2 hit, again. Two turns is longer than a scroll of teleport would take to fire.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.10.0 character file.

104080 Donblas the Eclecticist (level 15, -5/95 HPs)
             Began as a High Elf Fire Elementalist on Mar 7, 2012.
             Was the Champion of Vehumet.
             Killed from afar by Nikola (8 damage)
             ... with a chain lightning
             
             ... on Level 15 of the Dungeon on Mar 8, 2012.
             The game lasted 02:41:32 (41326 turns).

Donblas the Eclecticist (HEFE)                     Turns: 41326, Time: 02:41:32

HP  -5/95        AC 12     Str 11      XL: 15   Next: 73%
MP   3/38        EV 28     Int 36      God: Vehumet [******]
Gold 1981        SH  0     Dex 24      Spells: 13 memorised,  0 levels left

Res.Fire  : + + .   See Invis. : .    y - staff of conjuration
Res.Cold  : x . .   Warding    : . .  k - +4 robe of Augmentation {Str+4 Dex+4 Int+4
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .    (no shield)
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    v - +0 wizard hat {Int+3}
Res.Poison: .       Clarity    : +    B - +2 cloak "Ghoew" {MR}
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    b - +0 pair of dwarf gauntlets
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    s - +1 pair of boots
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    F - amulet of clarity
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    n - ring of fire
Saprovore : . . .   Ctrl.Flight: .    t - ring "Haonwuemp" {rF+ Dex+2 Int+4}

@: mildly poisoned, very slightly contaminated, very resistant to hostile
enchantments, stealthy
A: blurry vision 1
a: Renounce Religion


You were on level 15 of the Dungeon.
You worshipped Vehumet.
Vehumet was exalted by your worship.
You were not hungry.

You visited 4 branches of the dungeon, and saw 28 of its levels.
You visited 2 portal chambers: volcano, spiders nest.

You collected 3500 gold pieces.
You spent 1539 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Armour
 b - a +0 pair of dwarven gauntlets (worn)
 k - the +4 robe of Augmentation (worn) {Str+4 Dex+4 Int+4}
   (You found it on level 8 of the Lair of Beasts)   
   
   It affects your strength (+4).
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
   It affects your dexterity (+4).
 s - a +1 pair of boots (worn)
 v - a +0 wizard hat of intelligence (worn)
 x - a +0 ice dragon hide
 B - the +2 cloak "Ghoew" (worn) {MR}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 7 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
Magical devices
 d - a wand of flame (9)
 l - a wand of hasting (9)
 m - a wand of draining (3)
 p - a wand of teleportation (7)
 G - a wand of fireball (7)
 M - a wand of draining (5)
Comestibles
 c - 4 bread rations
 i - 3 meat rations
 o - 9 strawberries
 u - a pear
 K - 3 chunks of manticore flesh
Scrolls
 e - 3 scrolls of remove curse
 f - a scroll of blinking
 h - 3 scrolls of teleportation
 q - 2 scrolls of identify
 r - 2 scrolls of detect curse
 A - 2 scrolls of fog
 C - a scroll of magic mapping
 I - a scroll of fear {unknown}
Jewellery
 a - an uncursed ring of sustenance
 n - a ring of fire (right hand)
 t - the ring "Haonwuemp" (left hand) {rF+ Dex+2 Int+4}
   (You found it in a spider's nest)   
   
   [ring of protection from fire]
   
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
   It affects your dexterity (+2).
 w - a +5 ring of intelligence
 E - an uncursed ring of life protection
 F - an amulet of clarity (around neck)
 J - an uncursed ring of protection from magic {unknown}
 L - an uncursed amulet of conservation
Potions
 g - 6 potions of heal wounds
 j - 2 potions of invisibility
 z - 5 potions of curing
 D - a potion of restore abilities
 H - 2 potions of levitation
Books
 O - Roxanne's Disquisition on Stones
   (You took it off Roxanne on level 14 of the Dungeon)   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Sandblast                          Earth                        1
   Stone Arrow                        Conjuration/Earth            3
   Dig                                Transmutation/Earth          4
   Bolt of Magma                      Conjuration/Fire/Earth       5
   Statue Form                        Transmutation/Earth          6
Magical staves
 y - a staff of conjuration (weapon)


   Skills:
 - Level 9.0 Fighting
 + Level 14.3 Dodging
 - Level 2.3 Stealth
 - Level 17.6 Spellcasting
 * Level 12.5 Conjurations
 - Level 12.2 Charms
 - Level 4.6 Translocations
 * Level 12.0 Fire Magic
 - Level 5.5 Earth Magic


You couldn't memorise any spells.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Bolt of Fire          Fire/Conj      #########.   1%          6    None
b - Sticky Flame          Fire/Conj      #########    1%          4    None
c - Conjure Flame         Fire/Conj      #########    1%          3    None
d - Fireball              Fire/Conj      #########.   1%          5    None
e - Call Imp              Summ           #####.....   1%          2    None
f - Iskenderun's Mystic   Conj           #########    1%          4    None
g - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          1%          2    None
h - Summon Elemental      Summ           #####.....   4%          4    None
i - Lee's Rapid Deconstr  Erth           #######...   1%          5    None
j - Flight                Air/Chrm       #######...   1%          3    None
k - Haste                 Chrm           ########.    1%          6    None
l - Repel Missiles        Air/Chrm       #######...   1%          2    None
m - Abjuration            Summ           #####.....   1%          3    None


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (15/27)            Temple (1/1) D:4             Orc (4/4) D:11
    Elf (0/5) Orc:4          Lair (8/8) D:12          Swamp (0/5) Lair:5
 Shoals (0/5) Lair:3        Slime (0/6) Lair:8     
 Vault: D:14-19     

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

Shops:
D:7: *  D:9: +  D:11: (  D:12: (  Orc:4: (/([%

Annotations
D:15 Nikola
Lair:5 exclusion: oklob plant


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

Your vision is a little blurry.


Message History

Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f - Nikola
Aim: Nikola, wielding a sabre of electrocution, wearing an embroidered cloak and wearing a pair of gauntlets (hasn't noticed you)
You feel a strong surge of power! The bolt of fire hits Nikola.
Nikola is moderately wounded.
Nikola gestures at you while chanting.
The bolt of lightning misses you.
Casting: Bolt of Fire
Confirm with . or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
You don't have enough magic to cast that spell.
Read which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
The writing blurs in front of your eyes.
Nikola says, "You don't look like a good insulator."
Nikola mumbles some strange words.
You hear a mighty clap of thunder!
The lightning arc hits you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The lightning arc hits Nikola. The lightning arc hits you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The lightning arc hits Nikola. The lightning arc hits you!
You die...

            .
           ....#
   .       ....#
    .      ....#
    .#######...#
     @.....#...#
     #.....#...#
     #)....#...#
     #.....'<..#
 .   #.@...#...#
....)###'###...#######
.....)................
#.>###########...%....
             #.######.
             #.#    #.
             #.#    #.
             #.#    #%
             #.#    #.
             #.#    #.
             #.#    #.


You could see Nikola.

Vanquished Creatures
  An acid blob (Lair:8)
  Roxanne (D:14)
  Aizul (D:15)
  Gastronok (D:11)
  Jozef (D:13)
  A death ooze (Lair:5)
  Josephine (Orc:4)
  Nessos (D:12)
  4 ogre magi (Orc:4)
  4 hydras
  16 death yaks (Lair:8)
  A centaur warrior (D:13)
  Nergalle (D:14)
  Erolcha (D:10)
  An iron troll zombie (Orc:4)
  A draconian (shapeshifter) (D:13)
  A purple draconian skeleton (Orc:4)
  Joseph (D:10)
  4 oklob plants
  2 hill giants
  3 griffons
  A mottled draconian skeleton (Orc:4)
  A lindwurm (Lair:6)
  A spiny worm (Lair:8)
  The ghost of Donblas the Magician, an experienced HuSu of Sif Muna (D:7)
  A trapdoor spider (Port)
  3 wolf spiders (Port)
  An elephant slug (Lair:8)
  5 black mambas
  8 slime creatures
  A feature mimic (Lair:5)
  14 elephants
  Psyche (D:11)
  A mermaid (Lair:3)
  3 ugly things (D:15)
  3 komodo dragons
  15 spiny frogs
  A redback (Port)
  The ghost of Donblas the Magician, an experienced DECj (D:6)
  A queen bee (D:12)
  Prince Ribbit (D:8)
  11 two-headed ogres
  3 trolls
  6 brown oozes (Lair:5)
  45 blink frogs
  3 basilisks
  39 yaks
  An air elemental (Temple)
  7 hippogriffs
  8 vampire mosquitoes
  4 wyverns
  8 sharks
  2 hungry ghosts
  Grum (D:10)
  An item mimic (Lair:2)
  2 manticores
  13 war dogs
  A yaktaur skeleton (D:15)
  8 orc warriors
  A necrophage (Orc:4)
  2 mottled dragons (D:15)
  2 yellow wasps (D:14)
  A hell hound (Lair:8)
  8 ice beasts
  8 sky beasts
  33 ogres
  8 crocodiles
  2 phantoms
  A troll skeleton (Orc:4)
  17 giant goldfish
  12 centaurs
  A yak skeleton (Orc:4)
  A boring beetle (Lair:6)
  A fire drake (Lair:2)
  5 wolves (Lair:8)
  A tarantella (Port)
  11 water moccasins
  26 giant frogs
  8 wargs
  7 giant slugs
  2 giant leeches (Lair:8)
  3 agate snails
  A two-headed ogre zombie (Orc:4)
  A basilisk zombie (D:14)
  2 basilisk skeletons
  9 jellyfish
  31 killer bees
  13 electric eels
  A killer bee zombie (D:12)
  An eye of draining (D:10)
  2 goliath beetles
  16 hounds
  18 orc priests
  A lava snake (Port)
  A big kobold skeleton (D:11)
  A quasit (D:13)
  3 crimson imps
  A hound zombie (D:6)
  3 scorpions
  A shadow (D:14)
  8 spiders (Port)
  5 big fish (Lair:8)
  A hound skeleton (D:9)
  6 iguanas
  9 worker ants
  A worker ant zombie (Orc:4)
  26 orc wizards
  11 porcupines
  18 sheep
  14 jellies
  Terence (D:3)
  2 mummies
  2 giant centipedes
  2 gnolls (D:6)
  40 green rats
  A scorpion zombie (D:9)
  35 adders
  An adder zombie (D:9)
  3 adder skeletons
  A giant mite (Lair:2)
  7 worms
  A bat skeleton (D:11)
  A gnoll zombie (D:6)
  5 giant geckos
  18 oozes
  127 orcs
  5 ball pythons
  5 giant cockroaches
  24 goblins
  26 hobgoblins
  32 jackals
  12 quokkas
  20 bats
  9 giant newts
  A hobgoblin skeleton (D:10)
  15 kobolds
  An orc skeleton (D:10)
  31 rats
  A rat zombie (D:10)
  7 ballistomycetes
  A bush (Lair:8)
  3 butterflies
  5 fungi
  7 plants
  40 toadstools
1133 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  A fire drake (Lair:7)
  14 lava worms (Lair:5)
  A giant frog (Lair:8)
  2 giant leeches (Lair:8)
  2 lava fish (Port)
  5 crimson imps
  A gnoll shaman (D:6)
  A gnoll (D:6)
  An adder (Lair:5)
  2 quokkas (D:6)
  A fungus (Lair:5)
31 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A spiny frog zombie (Lair:8)
  A two-headed ogre (Orc:4)
  A war dog (Lair:7)
  A hell hound (Lair:8)
  An ogre (Orc:4)
  A crocodile (Lair:4)
  A water moccasin (Lair:8)
  A giant frog skeleton (Lair:8)
  A giant leech zombie (Lair:8)
  12 crimson imps
  An iron imp (Lair:8)
  A porcupine (Lair:7)
  A worm zombie (D:6)
  An adder zombie (D:6)
  8 shadow imps
  18 white imps
  An orc (Orc:2)
  A ball python (D:7)
  2 giant cockroaches (D:4)
  A hobgoblin (D:6)
  2 kobolds
  A giant newt (D:4)
  2 giant spores
  6 goblins
  A quokka (Lair:1)
  A rat (D:1)
  A ballistomycete (D:12)
  19 fungi
  27 plants
  151 toadstools
267 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 1431 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Donblas, the High Elf Fire Elementalist, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 11/11 MP: 4/4
   571 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 17/17 MP: 2/5
  1343 | D:2      | Learned a level 2 spell: Throw Flame
  1475 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 21/21 MP: 9/9
  1845 | D:2      | Reached skill level 4 in Spellcasting
  2133 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 27/27 MP: 13/13
  2138 | D:2      | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
  2143 | D:2      | Learned a level 4 spell: Sticky Flame
  2787 | D:3      | Noticed Terence
  2791 | D:3      | Killed Terence
  3117 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 29/31 MP: 8/15
  3554 | D:4      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  3565 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  3691 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Vehumet
  3934 | Temple   | Learned a level 2 spell: Call Imp
  4204 | D:4      | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
  4405 | D:4      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
  4650 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4735 | D:5      | Acquired Vehumet's first power
  4744 | D:5      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 19/36 MP: 4/18
  4912 | D:5      | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
  4956 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Conjurations
  5041 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
  5287 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Fire Magic
  5403 | D:5      | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
  5715 | D:6      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 41/41 MP: 12/20
  5968 | D:6      | Noticed Donblas' ghost (experienced DECj)
  6017 | D:6      | Gained mutation: Your vision is a little blurry.
  6025 | D:6      | Reached skill level 6 in Conjurations
  6037 | D:6      | Killed Donblas' ghost
  6271 | D:6      | Acquired Vehumet's second power
  6874 | Temple   | Learned a level 5 spell: Fireball
  6979 | D:7      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 46/46 MP: 14/22
  7307 | D:7      | Found Ynkytac's Assorted Antiques.
  7332 | D:7      | Bought a faintly humming cloak for 162 gold pieces
  7333 | D:7      | Identified the +2 cloak "Ghoew" (You bought it in a shop on level 7 of the Dungeon)
  7392 | D:7      | Noticed a slime creature
  7406 | D:7      | Killed a slime creature
  7406 | D:7      | Reached skill level 7 in Spellcasting
  7407 | D:7      | Reached skill level 8 in Spellcasting
  7948 | D:7      | Acquired Vehumet's third power
  8162 | D:7      | Reached skill level 9 in Spellcasting
  8176 | D:7      | Noticed Donblas' ghost (experienced HuSu)
  8193 | D:7      | Killed Donblas' ghost
  8193 | D:7      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 51/51 MP: 4/27
  8646 | D:8      | Reached skill level 10 in Spellcasting
  9126 | D:8      | Noticed Prince Ribbit
  9133 | D:8      | Killed Prince Ribbit
  9725 | D:8      | Reached skill level 11 in Spellcasting
 10079 | D:9      | Found Olaeta's Book Boutique.
 10123 | D:9      | Reached skill level 1 in Fighting
 10305 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 10307 | D:9      | Acquired Vehumet's fourth power
 10359 | D:9      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 55/57 MP: 21/30
 10523 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 10527 | D:10     | Identified a scroll of acquirement
 10577 | D:9      | Bought a book of Power for 630 gold pieces
 10577 | D:9      | Bought a book of Minor Magic for 280 gold pieces
 10582 | D:9      | Learned a level 2 spell: Blink
 10587 | D:9      | Learned a level 4 spell: Iskenderun's Mystic Blast
 10591 | D:9      | Learned a level 3 spell: Mephitic Cloud
 11155 | D:10     | Reached skill level 1 in Translocations
 11185 | D:10     | Reached skill level 12 in Spellcasting
 11260 | D:10     | Noticed Grum
 11264 | D:10     | Killed Grum
 11703 | D:10     | Noticed Joseph
 11707 | D:10     | Killed Joseph
 11950 | D:10     | Noticed Erolcha
 11953 | D:10     | Killed Erolcha
 11953 | D:10     | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
 12213 | D:10     | Reached skill level 13 in Spellcasting
 12489 | D:11     | Found Empimul's Antique Weapon Shoppe.
 12648 | D:11     | Noticed Psyche
 12650 | D:11     | Killed Psyche
 12796 | D:11     | Noticed Gastronok
 12804 | D:11     | Killed Gastronok
 12804 | D:11     | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
 12804 | D:11     | Reached XP level 11. HP: 65/67 MP: 8/32
 13377 | D:11     | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 13385 | D:11     | Found a roughly hewn altar of Beogh.
 13784 | D:9      | Bought a book of Wizardry for 420 gold pieces
 14573 | D:12     | Learned a level 3 spell: Flight
 14592 | D:12     | Reached skill level 1 in Charms
 14734 | D:12     | Reached skill level 14 in Spellcasting
 15236 | D:12     | Noticed a queen bee
 15251 | D:12     | Killed a queen bee
 15535 | D:12     | Found Vahel's Antique Weapon Emporium.
 15709 | D:12     | Noticed Nessos
 15712 | D:12     | Killed Nessos
 16549 | D:12     | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 16921 | Temple   | Learned a level 6 spell: Bolt of Fire
 17182 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 17406 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 5 in Charms
 17809 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 15 in Spellcasting
 18424 | Lair:1   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 75/75 MP: 24/34
 18766 | Lair:2   | Received a gift from Vehumet
 19969 | Lair:2   | Found a dark tunnel.
 19980 | Volcano  | Entered a volcano
 21020 | Temple   | Learned a level 6 spell: Haste
 21853 | Lair:3   | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
 22286 | Lair:3   | Found a staircase to the Shoals.
 23659 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 23975 | Lair:5   | Found a viscous altar of Jiyva.
 24552 | Lair:5   | Reached skill level 16 in Spellcasting
 25222 | Temple   | Learned a level 2 spell: Repel Missiles
 26542 | Lair:5   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 26639 | Lair:5   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 83/83 MP: 24/36
 26905 | Lair:5   | Got a droning book
 26906 | Lair:5   | Identified the Tome of Improving Self and Ignition (You found it on level 5 of the Lair of Beasts)
 27259 | Lair:6   | Received a gift from Vehumet
 28424 | Temple   | Learned a level 5 spell: Lee's Rapid Deconstruction
 28921 | Lair:7   | Reached skill level 1 in Earth Magic
 29698 | Lair:8   | Entered Level 8 of the Lair of Beasts
 29706 | Lair:8   | Noticed a spiny worm
 29711 | Lair:8   | Killed a spiny worm
 30059 | Lair:7   | Reached skill level 5 in Earth Magic
 30287 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 10 in Charms
 31238 | Lair:8   | Received a gift from Vehumet
 31644 | Lair:8   | Reached XP level 14. HP: 90/90 MP: 7/37
 32043 | Lair:8   | Found a crumbling entrance.
 32050 | Spider   | Entered a spider's nest
 32460 | Spider   | Got a transparent jade ring
 32464 | Spider   | Got a transparent trident
 32932 | Temple   | Identified the ring "Haonwuemp" (You found it in a spider's nest)
 32935 | Temple   | Identified the cursed +2,+4 trident of Watchfulness (You found it in a spider's nest)
 33962 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 17 in Spellcasting
 34104 | Lair:8   | Got a silk robe
 34107 | Lair:8   | Identified the +4 robe of Augmentation (You found it on level 8 of the Lair of Beasts)
 34244 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 10 in Conjurations
 34861 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 10 in Fire Magic
 35298 | Lair:8   | Found a staircase to the Slime Pits.
 36409 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 37040 | Orc:2    | Received a gift from Vehumet
 37398 | Orc:3    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37401 | Orc:3    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37499 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 37504 | Orc:4    | Reached XP level 15. HP: 95/95 MP: 26/38
 37506 | Orc:4    | Found Tudat's Food Shoppe.
 37510 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37511 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37519 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37520 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37522 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37523 | Orc:4    | Killed an ogre mage
 37525 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37527 | Orc:4    | Killed an ogre mage
 37528 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37530 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37531 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37532 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37532 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37533 | Orc:4    | Killed an ogre mage
 37533 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37538 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37538 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37688 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37689 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37859 | Orc:4    | Found Tricaddazil's Weapon Shop.
 37859 | Orc:4    | Found Gruolug's Antique Armour Shoppe.
 37860 | Orc:4    | Found Akaeniesch's Antique Weapon Emporium.
 37860 | Orc:4    | Found Isku Mym's Magical Wand Shop.
 37860 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37864 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 37866 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37868 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 37873 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37877 | Orc:4    | Killed an ogre mage
 38102 | Orc:4    | Bought a pair of dwarven gauntlets for 47 gold pieces
 38121 | Orc:4    | Found a roughly hewn altar of Beogh.
 38145 | Orc:4    | Killed a two-headed ogre
 38181 | Orc:4    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 38206 | Orc:4    | Noticed Josephine
 38220 | Orc:4    | Killed Josephine
 39152 | Orc:3    | You fall through a shaft!
 39528 | Temple   | Learned a level 4 spell: Summon Elemental
 39532 | Temple   | Learned a level 3 spell: Abjuration
 39539 | D:4      | Noticed an air elemental
 39543 | Temple   | Killed an air elemental
 40378 | D:13     | Noticed Jozef
 40381 | D:13     | Killed Jozef
 40588 | D:14     | Entered Level 14 of the Dungeon
 40598 | D:14     | Noticed Nergalle
 40600 | D:14     | Killed Nergalle
 40639 | D:14     | Noticed Roxanne
 40998 | D:14     | Killed Roxanne
 41004 | D:14     | Got an inconspicuous book
 41005 | D:14     | Identified Roxanne's Disquisition on Stones (You took it off Roxanne on level 14 of the Dungeon)
 41058 | D:15     | Entered Level 15 of the Dungeon
 41314 | D:15     | Noticed Aizul
 41318 | D:15     | Killed Aizul
 41325 | D:15     | Noticed Nikola
 41326 | D:15     | HP: 3/95 [Nikola/chain lightning (23)]
 41326 | D:15     | Killed from afar by Nikola



[ebarrett]

Even with 9 levels of fighting and 14 of dodging I still got 2 hit, again. Two turns is longer than a scroll of teleport would take to fire.

Chain lightning always hits - it isn't targeted, it just zaps stuff nearby until it runs out of zap. Standing and fighting against Nikola without rElec is suicidal.

Anyway - blurring vision aside (if you had cure mut elsewhere, should have used it - it's one of the worst mutations you can get, if not the worst), scrolls of fog can always give you a few turns to do whatever needs doing.

Also, just curious - any particular reason for wearing clarity over conservation?

[donblas]

I was 5 squares away from him when I died, and the last "turn" took off 23+8 = 31 damage.

Scrolls of fog would have had the same possible problem (blurry vision)

I was more worried about dying (due to confusion) than my stuff getting blown up.

I was trying to play as defensibly as possible. How do you survive two turns of 25+ damage at range 5?

[BlackSheep]

Here's where you went wrong:

Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f - Nikola
Aim: Nikola, wielding a sabre of electrocution, wearing an embroidered cloak and wearing a pair of gauntlets (hasn't noticed you)
You feel a strong surge of power! The bolt of fire hits Nikola.

You had enough MP for one cast of bolt of fire. Your very first action should have been to run away.

[One-Eyed Jack]

It's also best to rest as far away from unexplored territory as is convenient, which means on or up that <.

[slowcar]

Yes, engaging Nikola without rElec is usually deadly. Now you know, won't happen next time.
Btw, a potion of resistance helps a lot when encountering him.

As long as you are not undead, confusion can be cured easily with a potion, but scrolls/potions will be lost forever, i would usually prefer conservation.

[donblas]

"You had enough MP for one cast of bolt of fire."

Unless my second blast would have killed him, I don't see how this matters. I had x hit points, he killed me in two rounds. If I had enough MP to cast 5 bolt of fire but his second attack killed me, I'd still be just as dead (Though I admit it was a mistake).

"Yes, engaging Nikola without rElec is usually deadly. Now you know, won't happen next time."

Yeah, he seems stupidly deadly.

I should have rested on the stairs, I didn't realize 2 turn death existed on floor 15.

Edit: Sorry for the frustration, I appreciate the help everyone!

[mumra]

I should have rested on the stairs, I didn't realize 2 turn death existed on floor 15.

You should always rest up before going downstairs, especially when your XL is only the same as the dungeon level. You never know what's down there - sometimes an idea to buff before the stairs when you're getting that deep, the mid-game can be pretty tough. You "only" had Haste. If you'd had that up, Nikola wouldn't have stood a chance.

"You had enough MP for one cast of bolt of fire."

Unless my second blast would have killed him, I don't see how this matters.

Exactly BlackSheep's point - you couldn't kill him, you should have at least attempted to run away.

You also had:
- Scroll of fog. Blocks LOS and could have prevented the attack.
- Scroll of fear (unidentified) - and two id scrolls. At that stage in the game it's worth spending an id scroll if there's a chance you could get another escape tool online. Actually you could probably have guessed it was fear if you had enough other scrolls identified.
- Potion of levitation / Flight spell. Would have insulated you from the lightning.

Edit: Just noticed the blurry vision. But yeah, Lev + Haste followed by healing potions might have given you a pretty good chance.

[BlackSheep]

"You had enough MP for one cast of bolt of fire."

Unless my second blast would have killed him, I don't see how this matters. I had x hit points, he killed me in two rounds. If I had enough MP to cast 5 bolt of fire but his second attack killed me, I'd still be just as dead (Though I admit it was a mistake).

My point was that you had enough MP for one cast of bolt of fire and you still cast it. Emptying the tank, so to speak, is only a good idea for killing a straggler, not for starting fights--least of all against powerful uniques.

- Potion of levitation / Flight spell. Would have insulated you from the lightning.

I believe this is incorrect. Flight/lev protects you from weapons of electrocution and static discharge, but not lightning spells.

[donblas]

I think you miss-read the morgue file mumra. Here is what happened:

I went into floor 15 fully rested.
I saw Aizul. I killed him and was brought to ~50 hp.
I went into a corner and started to rest (mistake, should have gone to stairs)
Nikola showed up.
I fired a bolt of fire (mistake, should have started escape that turn).
Nikola brings me to < 30 hp.
I read a scroll of blinking, failed due to mutation.
Nikola kills me.

I had exactly 2 turns between seeing the unique to YASD.

Pointing out the other scrolls I could have read instead of blinking doesn't make sense, as blinking is a better escape. Unless I hasted on turn 1 or tried to blink, there isn't much else I could have done (Beyond resting on the stairs).

I still think Nikola is stupidly powerful (50 hp over 2 turns).

[BlackSheep]

Nikola is most definitely stupidly powerful. He could have easily killed you if you'd been at full health and MP. His Knowledge Bot entry kind of sums it up:
http://crawl.develz.org/info/index.php?q=Nikola

[mumra]

Yeah, I slightly misread. But still. You could have hasted yourself (with the wand) as soon as Nikola showed up, that would have given you some extra turns to quaff healing potions (you had six!) and either blink or run around the corner.

Anyway; as I'm sure you realise you didn't need to be "caught with your pants down" in the first place, but these situations can inevitably happen now and then no matter how careful you are (Nikola could have just showed up right at the end of the Aizul battle instead of waiting til you rested!) and it's very easy to forget about escape options. Simply chugging some heal wounds might have been enough; uniques don't usually fire their best spells every single turn.

[BlackSheep]

Had Nikola come into view and immediately shouted, hasting might have been a good first move. However he had not yet noticed you, and if I'm reading the little map in your morgue correctly, you could have broken line of sight with him by taking one step left. How it would have played out after that, who can say? But unless he blinked toward you, you could have kept him on the edge of your LOS just by walking.

[sir_laser]

Also, remember that Crawl is a turn based game. If you're not sure how to deal with a situation do save, exit, and ask on the tavern. Someone'll probably give you a quick answer and save a lot of frustration.

[rebthor]

- Any obvious spells I should have that I'm missing? Obviously working towards crystal spear and fire storm.

Get Mephetic Cloud and Summon Butterflies.
You don't need LCS. It isn't worth it. Fire Storm is godlike though, just watch spell hunger. Or find a Necronomicon.

- Should I swap my skill learning around?

As a HE, why are you training Earth Magic? None of the earth magic spells are good enough to warrant training for a specie with poor aptitude, stop right now (keep LRD though, since you're @ %1 failure; it'll deal large damage against enemies made of bone and golems). Your fire spells will carry you. Rush Fire Storm, and hope you get Tornado (instant win, basically), since you have a +2 aptitude in Air Magic.

- I can drop a few spells with scrolls, any I should ditch?

If you don't need to memorize additional spells keep 'em. Maybe they'll end up saving your butt. I'd ditch Sticky Flame, Conjure Flame, Throw Flame when it comes down to it though.

- Where next? I don't have see invisible so I'm leary of going down too far.

You don't have rPois, which is a problem. See invis. is less of a problem, since Unseen Horrors can't kill you. I'd do the Dungeon until you feel scared, then go and do Elf. Mephetic Cloud + Fire will carry you down to Elf:5, at which case you should read a !Magic Mapping and stop outside the vault. Hopefully you'll come across rPois by then.
Since your Earth Magic is @ 5, and you don't have any summoning spells, if you want to venture into summoning Summon Elemental will net you a wall of Earth Elemental buddies/meat shields, which is probably a good idea (you worship Vehumet).

I'm sorry sir_laser, but your post is full of IMO bad information. I'm no expert but first off, LRD is very powerful and quite valid for use as a primary nuke, let alone a back up spell for fire resistant enemies. It is unresistable, smite targeted damage, with the drawback that it needs a wall to do serious damage. I agree that fire storm is more powerful but he had LRD up and running already.
rPois is almost useless. If you need it at all, it's only for the orb chamber on Snake:5 so that you don't blow through too many curing potions after getting deep red poison. I'd be far more concerned with constriction than poison there. sInv is far more useful for melee than for nukers since area of effect spell will take out invisible targets without the accuracy penalty and they probably have clouds to help, but saying something like "unseen horrors won't kill you" is flat out wrong. They hit hard and fast and if you chance on one out in the open without sInv, run/create a cloud because they will easily kill any dodging based mid-teens character.