CIP - VpEn of Kiku

[defen]

So, I've cleared out Orc and all of Lair save for the ungulate vault - Death Yaks and Catos are just too resistant to bother with. The weapon is better than anything I can reasonably expect to pain-brand (unless a quickblade falls from the sky), so I'm thinking of taking the Necronomicon for Haunt, scumming the wrath in the temple, and switching to Ash? Sif? Makhleb? I do not know how I will be able to kill high-HD critters when they are awake and I cannot land confusion.

Is the shortsword nearly as effective as a weaker dagger for stabbing in light of its enchantment level? Should I keep a dagger swap just for the stabs? How much stabbing skill is needed for a 3-5 rune game?

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.11-a0-600-g8f855e2 character file.

Vokial the Bewitcher (Vampire Enchanter)           Turns: 28460, Time: 01:54:59

HP  89/89        AC 13     Str  8      XL: 13   Next: 95%
MP  30/30        EV 17     Int 24      God: Kikubaaqudgha [******]
Gold 893         SH 13     Dex 14      Spells:  7 memorised, 12 levels left

Res.Fire  : + . .   See Invis. : +    q - +7,+12 short sword of Amorality {freeze, r
Res.Cold  : + . .   Warding    : . .  c - +2 robe {MR}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : +    G - +2 buckler {rflct}
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    m - +2 wizard hat {Int+3}
Res.Poison: .       Clarity    : .    t - +0 cloak
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    I - +2 pair of gauntlets
Sust.Abil.: + .     Stasis     : .    i - +2 pair of boots {run}
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    g - amulet of conservation
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    d - ring of protection from cold
Saprovore : . . .   Ctrl.Flight: .    x - ring of sustain abilities

@: regenerating quickly, quick, quite resistant to hostile enchantments,
extremely stealthy
A: bottle blood, fangs 3, see invisible, unbreathing, Int +1
a: Bottle Blood, Receive Corpses, Torment, Renounce Religion


You are on level 12 of the Dungeon.
You worship Kikubaaqudgha.
Kikubaaqudgha is exalted by your worship.
You are full.

You have visited 4 branches of the dungeon, and seen 26 of its levels.
You have visited 1 portal chamber: sewer.

You have collected 2138 gold pieces.
You have spent 1265 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 q - the +7,+12 short sword of Amorality (weapon) {freeze, rF+}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It has been specially enchanted to freeze those struck by it, causing extra
   injury to most foes and up to double damage against particularly susceptible
   opponents. It can also slow down cold-blooded creatures.
   
   It protects you from fire.
 R - a runed dagger {Psyche}
Missiles
 p - 16 stones (quivered)
Armour
 c - a +2 robe of magic resistance (worn)
 i - a +2 pair of boots of running (worn)
 m - a +2 wizard hat of intelligence (worn)
 t - a +0 cloak (worn)
 G - a +2 buckler of reflection (worn)
 I - a +2 pair of gauntlets (worn)
Magical devices
 a - a wand of flame {zapped: 3}
 l - a wand of digging (4)
 n - a wand of fire {zapped: 1}
 A - a wand of heal wounds (6)
 C - a wand of frost
 P - a wand of lightning {recharged}
Scrolls
 o - 2 scrolls of blinking
 s - 4 scrolls of teleportation
 u - a scroll of fear
 y - a scroll of detect curse
 B - 4 scrolls of remove curse
 D - 3 scrolls of fog
 J - a scroll of enchant weapon I
 K - a scroll of magic mapping
Jewellery
 d - a ring of protection from cold (right hand)
 g - an amulet of conservation (around neck)
 x - a ring of sustain abilities (left hand)
 H - an uncursed ring of levitation
 O - a cursed ring of teleportation
Potions
 b - 5 potions of agility
 e - 3 potions of might
 h - 2 potions of heal wounds
 j - 4 potions of curing
 k - a potion of resistance
 v - a silvery potion
 w - a potion of brilliance
 z - a potion of restore abilities
 E - 2 orange potions
 F - a potion of speed
 L - a pink potion
 M - a metallic pink potion
Books
 Q - a glowing papyrus book


   Skills:
 + Level 6.4 Fighting
 - Level 12.1 Short Blades
 - Level 0.7 Throwing
 - Level 8.7 Dodging
 - Level 10.4 Stealth
 - Level 14.1 Stabbing
 - Level 5.1 Shields
 - Level 6.0 Traps & Doors
 - Level 10.0 Spellcasting
 - Level 15.3 Hexes
 - Level 2.9 Charms
 - Level 4.1 Necromancy
 - Level 3.1 Ice Magic


You have 12 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Confuse               Hex            #######..    1%          3    None
b - Ensorcelled Hibernat  Hex/Ice        #######      1%          2    None
c - Enslavement           Hex            #######..    1%          4    Sultana
d - Pain                  Necr           #####        1%          1    None
e - Regeneration          Chrm/Necr      #####.....   3%          3    None
f - Apportation           Tloc           ###.......   6%          1    None
h - Invisibility          Hex            #######..    1%          6    Honeycomb


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (13/27)            Temple (1/1) D:5             Orc (4/4) D:8
    Elf (0/5) Orc:4          Lair (8/8) D:9          Shoals (0/5) Lair:3
  Slime (0/6) Lair:8        Snake (0/5) Lair:3     


[That Other Guy]

Seconding pain. It's a huge advantage, train necromancy as much as you can, as the damage scales with necromancy skill. As far as stabs go, always open with a dagger, though confusion/unaware stabs aren't as important to hit with a dagger, but if you feel you have a turn to spare then go for the switch there, too.

[defen]

Sweet merciful crap. Pain is indeed incredible.