Abyss: "Teleport when you inevitably get surrounded"

[joellercoaster]

So, the only two times I have ever unwielded a distortion-branded weapon, I've ended up Banished.

The first time was no biggie - my character was about level 9 and was never going to make it out alive, so it was interesting trying to see how long he could survive. But my MDFi was level 17 and in pretty good shape, especially given the aforementioned broad axe of distortion and an assortment of resistance armours from Okawaru*. His only problem was that he'd been in the Elven Halls immediately beforehand, and had had his entire stack of scrolls wiped out by unfortunate Sticky Flame experiences. And no wand of teleportation yet.

Even getting mobbed the first few times was not immediately fatal, though he was burning through the potions of heal wounds. The last one was looking sort of maybe survivable too, a Hellwing and a Smoke Demon plus a spam of summons... until the Executioner showed up.

It's never just one event that kills you, is it? It's a glorious chain of little screwups that snowball until you're back at the character selection screen again.

*sigh*

*And slings. Lots and lots of ego slings. Hoorah.

[lucy_ferre]

I usually carry around a ring of teleportation, just in case I get sent to the Abyss.

[Sometimes]

Just lost a really promising MDFi to the Abyss myself. Level 11, with some amazing jewellery. Playing sensibly, slowly and cautiously, but an orc with a distortion hammer banished me with a single hit. Ran about screaming, drank eight (!) heal wounds, smite-d to death by a smoke demon. But I saw the rune! Wasn't able to grab it, but that's the first time I've seen the thing.

[Grimm]

I've never seen an exit portal in the Abyss. It's always a death sentence. Last time it was a surprise Zot trap that banished my MDFi (do I sense a pattern? Devils must hate dwarves. Balrogs in Moria and all that.) even though he had Traps skill of 5 or 6 and should have seen it.

[fnwc]

Erolcha banished me to the Abyss.

I even managed to escape through a portal when she banished me right back again....

[danr]

Yeah, repeated banishments get real old real fast. I don't like the abyss that much.

There are many things I think this game could do without. However, I suspect that if you removed all the things I don't like, it would become a very boring game...

[Zicher]

Erolcha banished me to the Abyss.

I even managed to escape through a portal when she banished me right back again....

Lesson learned: Have some magic resistance handy when fighting her. If this doesn't help, have more magic resistance handy.
Or just go berserk and kill her in three turns .

[fnwc]

Erolcha banished me to the Abyss.

I even managed to escape through a portal when she banished me right back again....

Lesson learned: Have some magic resistance handy when fighting her. If this doesn't help, have more magic resistance handy.
Or just go berserk and kill her in three turns .

Yeah, but I literally appeared before her again, took a step and she banished me right away. :p

[Shade]

I actually have a good relationship with the abyss. I think it's probably 50% of the runes I've gotten. Run on a slight diagonal. Never engage unless you're on a full tank and you can kill the creature in question in no more than a few turns. Rest in nooks. Know your mutators and summoners. Teleport at the first sign you're gummed up. I think I'm probably helped by the fact that I like Elf Casters, and I like my utility spells. swift, haste, levitate, fly, blink, teleport, reflect / repel missiles, and apport are all your friends, depending on your level. Given the fragmented LOS, as long as you can keep moving you're good...

[Zooty]

The problem with abyss is that its difficulty can vary tremendously. Sometimes you can survive even at low-ish levels, sometimes you get an executioner or an ancient lich. My XL 21 DSNe had to cast cast Borgnjor's three times versus an executioner before teleport kicked in and still barely survived. Other times it seems that swiftness + levitation means that you are almost completely safe even with no rMut.

[punpun]

I ended up getting banished to the abyss from zot 5 with no food (I dropped it due to weight issues from switching an amulet, figured I could just pick it up after I killed the shaper, terrible idea...), and what do I see but an altar of lugonu 5 feet away from me. Lucked out so hard.

[Shade]

Also, "Teleport when you inevitably get surrounded" strikes me as being way too late-- "Teleport at the first hint I might get surrounded" has always been my policy.