Dungeon Master
Posts: 182
Joined: Saturday, 18th December 2010, 10:26
Location: Germany
Advice needed for XL15 DECj (equipment, spells)
Hello fellow crawlers!
This is my best spellcaster to date. No runes, but the only previous characters who made it remotely as deep (only one ever survived beyond XL 14) were Berserkers, so I haven't got a clue what I'm doing. This is the first time I got Orb of Destruction castable, in any case, and I love it!
I've cleared the Mines, haven't dared enter either Shoals or Spider Nest (neither of which I've ever visited, though I've got bad memories of the latter's portal vaults) and am currently exploring the Dungeon. D:14 surprised me with a vault containing some rakshasa and a storm dragon, so I fled back to D:13 and am now considering my options.
My main question concerns my equipment but I'd also appreciate advice on spells and anything else you'd like to mention.
- Code:
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.12.1 (tiles) character file.
Dakka the Devastator (Deep Elf Conjurer) Turns: 50473, Time: 04:14:20
HP 72/72 AC 10 Str 9 XL: 15 Next: 42%
MP 41/41 EV 13 Int 26 God: Vehumet [*****.]
Gold 2217 SH 0 Dex 15 Spells: 12 memorised, 8 levels left
Res.Fire : + + + See Invis. : . a - quarterstaff "Fiobalia" {slay orc, rElec r
Res.Cold : . . . Warding : . I - +0 robe {rC+ rF+}
Life Prot.: . . . Conserve : . (no shield)
Res.Poison: + Res.Corr. : . l - +1 wizard hat
Res.Elec. : + Clarity : + s - +2 cloak {rPois}
Sust.Abil.: . . Spirit.Shd : . g - +2 pair of elf gauntlets
Res.Mut. : . Stasis : . V - +0 pair of boots
Res.Rott. : . Ctrl.Telep.: . X - amulet of clarity
Saprovore : . . . Flight : . j - +3 ring of strength
x - ring of wizardry
@: extraordinarily resistant to hostile enchantments, fairly stealthy
A: no striking features
a: Renounce Religion
You are on level 13 of the Dungeon.
You worship Vehumet.
Vehumet is exalted by your worship.
You are not hungry.
You have visited 4 branches of the dungeon, and seen 26 of its levels.
You have collected 2601 gold pieces.
You have spent 404 gold pieces at shops.
Inventory:
Hand weapons
a - the quarterstaff "Fiobalia" (weapon) {slay orc, rElec rF++ rC- MR, was cursed}
(You found it on level 7 of the Dungeon)
It is especially effective against all of orcish descent.
It greatly protects you from fire.
It makes you vulnerable to cold.
It insulates you from electricity.
It affects your resistance to hostile enchantments.
c - an uncursed short sword of electrocution
Y - a blowgun
Missiles
B - 6 curare-tipped needles
Armour
g - a +2 pair of elven gauntlets (worn)
l - a +1 wizard hat (worn)
s - a +2 cloak of poison resistance (worn)
F - the +0 cloak "Zuxkud Otyo" {+Blink Acc+4}
(You found it on level 6 of the Lair of Beasts)
It affects your accuracy (+4).
It lets you blink.
I - a +0 robe of resistance (worn)
V - a +0 pair of boots (worn)
Magical devices
o - a wand of digging {zapped: 4}
r - a wand of heal wounds (3)
t - a wand of fire {zapped: 2}
y - a wand of hasting
A - a wand of cold
G - a wand of teleportation (1)
H - a wand of lightning {zapped: 1}
K - a wand of polymorph (5)
L - a wand of hasting (1)
Comestibles
p - an apricot
z - an apple
E - a meat ration
Q - a bread ration
R - a pear
Scrolls
h - a scroll of fog
v - 2 scrolls of fear
C - a scroll of summoning
D - a scroll of magic mapping
P - a scroll of vorpalise weapon
Z - 2 scrolls of teleportation
Jewellery
e - an uncursed ring of protection from fire
j - a +3 ring of strength (right hand)
k - an uncursed amulet of resist mutation
q - an uncursed ring of poison resistance
u - an uncursed amulet of warding
x - a ring of wizardry (left hand)
X - an amulet of clarity (around neck)
Potions
d - 3 potions of curing
i - a potion of restore abilities
m - a potion of speed
n - a potion of heal wounds
w - a potion of brilliance
J - a potion of invisibility
M - a potion of agility
S - a potion of might
U - a potion of magic
Magical staves
b - an uncursed staff of channeling
Skills:
- Level 2,4 Dodging
- Level 2,4 Stealth
- Level 7,0 Traps
+ Level 20,2 Spellcasting
* Level 22,7 Conjurations
- Level 1,1 Hexes
- Level 3,4 Charms
- Level 6,5 Fire Magic
- Level 3,0 Air Magic
- Level 5,0 Evocations
You have 8 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:
Your Spells Type Power Failure Level Hunger
a - Magic Dart Conj ##### 0% 1 None
b - Force Lance Conj ####### 0% 2 None
c - Iskenderun's Mystic Conj ########. 0% 4 None
d - Iskenderun's Battles Conj/Chrm ########. 1% 4 None
e - Fulminant Prism Conj/Hex #######.. 1% 5 None
f - Freezing Cloud Conj/Ice/Air #######... 1% 6 ##.....
g - Flame Tongue Conj/Fire ###### 0% 1 None
h - Conjure Flame Conj/Fire ########. 0% 3 None
i - Sticky Flame Conj/Fire ########. 1% 4 None
j - Venom Bolt Conj/Pois #######... 1% 5 None
k - Olgreb's Toxic Radia Pois #####.... 2% 4 None
l - Orb of Destruction Conj ########.. 1% 7 ####...
Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations
Branches:
Dungeon (14/27) Temple (1/1) D:4 Orc (4/4) D:11
Elf (0/3) Orc:4 Lair (7/8) D:9 Shoals (0/5) Lair:3
Spider (0/5) Lair:3 Slime (0/6) Lair:7
Shops:
D:14: [ Orc:3: ? Orc:4: (=[**
Annotations
D:14 exclusion: storm dragon
Lair:7 exclusion: 2 oklob plants
Vanquished Creatures
Rupert (D:14)
Agnes (D:14)
An orc warlord (Orc:4)
Gastronok (Orc:1)
A stone giant (Orc:4)
Azrael (D:14)
The ghost of Cornelius the Markscentaur, a powerful CeHu of Okawaru (D:11)
A hydra (Lair:3)
A wolf spider zombie (D:12)
3 death yaks
3 orc high priests (Orc:4)
Urug (D:12)
2 centaur warriors
6 orc knights
3 unseen horrors
8 hill giants
5 orc sorcerers (Orc:4)
The ghost of Deacon the Thaumaturge, an experienced DECj of Vehumet (D:8)
A griffon (D:14)
Maurice (Orc:1)
4 cyclopes
An elephant slug (Lair:3)
4 spiny frogs
3 black mambas
15 elephants
A queen ant (shapeshifter) (D:14)
2 hill giant zombies
14 ugly things
Grinder (D:6)
Sonja (D:13)
7 komodo dragons
5 trolls
2 two-headed ogres
26 blink frogs
A basilisk (Lair:2)
4 wyverns
3 jumping spiders (Lair:3)
Eustachio (Orc:2)
3 fire elementals (D:14)
8 hippogriffs
A wraith (D:12)
20 yaks
...
1164 creatures vanquished.
Notes
Turn | Place | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
0 | D:1 | Dakka, the Deep Elf Conjurer, began the quest for the Orb.
357 | D:1 | Learned a level 2 spell: Force Lance
1994 | D:2 | Learned a level 4 spell: Iskenderun's Mystic Blast
2991 | Temple | Became a worshipper of Vehumet
3130 | D:4 | Learned a level 4 spell: Iskenderun's Battlesphere
4273 | D:4 | Offered knowledge of Flame Tongue by Vehumet.
4322 | D:4 | Learned a level 1 spell: Flame Tongue
5969 | D:6 | Offered knowledge of Sandblast by Vehumet.
7352 | D:6 | Learned a level 5 spell: Fulminant Prism
7416 | D:6 | Offered knowledge of Stone Arrow by Vehumet.
8207 | D:7 | Learned a level 4 spell: Airstrike
8367 | D:7 | Offered knowledge of Conjure Flame by Vehumet.
8372 | D:7 | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
10649 | D:8 | Offered knowledge of Venom Bolt by Vehumet.
12113 | D:9 | Learned a level 5 spell: Venom Bolt
13393 | D:7 | Identified the cursed quarterstaff "Fiobalia" {slay orc, rElec rF++ rC- MR} (You found it on level 7 of the Dungeon)
13703 | D:10 | Offered knowledge of Sticky Flame by Vehumet.
13804 | D:10 | HP: 1/50 [hill giant/giant spiked club (39)]
14861 | D:11 | Learned a level 4 spell: Sticky Flame
15605 | D:11 | HP: 2/50 [poisoned by a centaur]
15659 | D:11 | HP: 2/50 [poisoned by a centaur]
17425 | D:11 | Offered knowledge of Olgreb's Toxic Radiance by Vehumet.
20217 | D:12 | Learned a level 4 spell: Olgreb's Toxic Radiance
22243 | Lair:2 | Offered knowledge of Delayed Fireball by Vehumet.
25033 | Orc:1 | Offered knowledge of Poisonous Cloud by Vehumet.
28574 | Lair:3 | Identified the -2 buckler of Chaurghy {rF+} (You acquired it on level 3 of the Lair of Beasts)
29400 | Lair:3 | Offered knowledge of Orb of Destruction by Vehumet.
29451 | Lair:3 | Learned a level 7 spell: Orb of Destruction
32684 | Lair:5 | Offered knowledge of Freezing Cloud by Vehumet.
33663 | Lair:5 | Learned a level 6 spell: Freezing Cloud
34678 | Lair:6 | Identified the cursed +0 cloak "Zuxkud Otyo" {+Blink Acc+4} (You found it on level 6 of the Lair of Beasts)
40208 | Orc:3 | Bought a scroll of blinking for 82 gold pieces
40556 | Orc:3 | Offered knowledge of Bolt of Fire by Vehumet.
43762 | Orc:4 | Offered knowledge of Lehudib's Crystal Spear by Vehumet.
43762 | Orc:4 | Offered knowledge of Fire Storm by Vehumet.
43762 | Orc:4 | Offered knowledge of Chain Lightning by Vehumet.
44235 | Orc:4 | Bought a wand of teleportation (1) for 195 gold pieces
45198 | D:13 | Noticed Sonja
45215 | D:13 | Killed Sonja
46232 | D:13 | Noticed a centaur warrior
46236 | D:13 | Killed a centaur warrior
46735 | D:13 | Reached skill level 22 in Conjurations
47799 | D:14 | Entered Level 14 of the Dungeon
48641 | D:14 | Noticed Rupert
48647 | D:14 | Killed Rupert
49150 | D:14 | Noticed Agnes
49713 | D:14 | Bought a +0 robe of resistance for 127 gold pieces
49962 | D:14 | Killed Agnes
50209 | D:14 | Noticed Azrael
50241 | D:14 | Killed Azrael
50371 | D:14 | Noticed a storm dragon
Action | 1- 3 | 4- 6 | 7- 9 | 10-12 | 13-15 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Short sword | | 4 | 8 | | 23 || 35
Quarterstaff | | | | 60 | 44 || 104
Cast: Magic Dart | 83 | 151 | 242 | 450 | 224 || 1150
Force Lance | 1 | 33 | 50 | 51 | 9 || 144
Iskenderun's Myst | | 9 | 89 | 388 | 657 || 1143
Flame Tongue | | | 6 | 1 | || 7
Conjure Flame | | | | 10 | 2 || 12
Sticky Flame | | | | 18 | || 18
Iskenderun's Batt | | | | 25 | 9 || 34
Olgreb's Toxic Ra | | | | 2 | 3 || 5
Venom Bolt | | | | 1 | 1 || 2
Airstrike | | | | 1 | 1 || 2
Orb of Destructio | | | | | 139 || 139
Fulminant Prism | | | | | 8 || 8
Freezing Cloud | | | | | 2 || 2
Evoke: Wand | | | 1 | 10 | 8 || 19
Use: Scroll | | 8 | 10 | 21 | 13 || 52
Potion | | | 5 | 12 | 5 || 22
I've been pumping Spellcasting first to get the slots needed for the spells Vehumet kept offering me and now to reduce the hunger cost of OoD, which is causing me to dip into my permafood rather more often than I'm comfortable with. If I had a ring of sustenance, I'd be wearing that one. As it is, I'm wearing the ring of strength because it was the only useful ring I had on hand, so to say. I'm unencumbered if I take it off, though I tend to get burdened whenever I pick up two or three chunks.
I'm not sure why I still carry that short sword. Originally used it to bash plants blocking my way but recently I've used spells for that, too. I'll drop the vorpalise scroll, too. It's not like I'm going to need it anyway.
Also, I've never used the staff of channeling so far. From the formula given in the learndb, it sounds like resting is cheaper hunger-wise but maybe someone could shed some light on that?
I've trained Evoc to be able to use the +Blink on that other cloak (14% now, I believe) because at that time I hadn't found any ?blinking. Never used it, though. The quarterstaff is the only artefact weapon I've found so far, if you discount a long sword in an antique shop.
Here's an abridged list of things I could buy from the various shops:
- Code:
a +2 robe of magic resistance (261 gold)
an uncursed ring of life protection (280 gold)
a +4 ring of intelligence (405 gold)
the ring "Xuoxuoraga" {-Tele Acc+5 SInv} (403 gold)
[ring of see invisible]
It affects your accuracy (+5).
It prevents most forms of teleportation.
an uncursed ring of protection from magic (375 gold)
the ring "Toeghiko" {+Inv rPois MR Str+1} (589 gold)
[ring of strength]
It affects your strength (+1).
It protects you from poison.
It affects your resistance to hostile enchantments.
It lets you turn invisible.
an uncursed ring of magical power (300 gold)
the +3 crown of Dyrovepreva {Hunger rElec Int+2 SInv} (1846 gold)
It affects your intelligence (+2).
It insulates you from electricity.
It enhances your eyesight.
It speeds your metabolism.
the +0 cloak of Starlight {rElec rC+ EV+4 Stlth--} (853 gold)
It affects your evasion (+4).
It protects you from cold.
It insulates you from electricity.
It makes you much less stealthy.
a +3 leather armour of positive energy (853 gold)
I'm definitely going to buy a scroll each of recharging and enchant armour to burn on my robe of resistance (I think) and one of my high-tier wands, respectively - not sure which one, though.
As for my spells, I've finally reached the highest tier with Vehumet (first time ever, whoohoo!) and he's offered me the following three spells: Chain LIghtning (11% Fail), Lehudib's Crystal Spear (24%) and Firestorm (54%). Yikes! The hunger rates are bound to be worse.
I could destroy my starting spellbook to forget one of my first five spells but, as far as I see it, the only real candidate would be Force Lance, which has recently dropped in usefulness but would only free up 2 slots. However, there's also a scroll of amnesia on sale, which I could use to forget... uh, Venom Bolt maybe? Olgreb's? Freezing Cloud? And what should I learn instead?
Here's a list of the books I have at my disposal:
- Code:
a book of Conjurations
a book of Cantrips
a book of the Dragon
a book of the Earth
the Almanac of Poisonous Enchantment
Spells Type Level
Sting Conjuration/Poison 1
Confusing Touch Hexes 1
Poison Weapon Charms/Poison 3
Enslavement Hexes 4
*Venom Bolt Conjuration/Poison 5
Invisibility Hexes 6
a book of Control
a book of Debilitation
a book of Unlife
a book of Transfigurations
Continuing down the Dungeon is probably my best option for now, though I'm not sure whether I should skirt the storm dragon or whether I can take it. Are rakshasa dangerous?
I'm rather proud of myself for remembering to use my consumables so far. Up to now, I've employed speed/hasting a couple of times, defeated a pack of centaurs and an unseen horror using scrolls of fog, used a wand of cold against Azrael and entourage and a wand of digging to get out of a dangerous mini vault, and burned my only scroll of blinking to get away from Agnes when I got into the red zone. (Changed my warning setting to 50%, and yes, it does make a difference!)
Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance!