CIP GrFi Two spellbooks

[xxx]

I decided to play another GrFi (my last one made it as far as L:2). I was originally planning to play a mostly melee with some magic to back it up, until I found the book of Debilitation (Arcane Marksmen starting book). I started to shift my original plan to that of training a GrAm with some M&F for melee, and now I have found a book of Geomancy. I now have two questions:
1. What spells are valuable for gargoyles from both books.
2. Should I a) continue with my current GrAm style build, b) go back to my original GrFi build w/ magic, or c) go with something else.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.13.0-59-g13bd910 (webtiles) character file.

alchemist the Cudgeler (Gargoyle Fighter)           Turns: 6398, Time: 00:36:10

HP  51/51        AC 15     Str 23      XL: 8   Next: 41%
MP   7/7         EV 10     Int 11      God: Okawaru [*.....]
Gold 278         SH  0     Dex  9      Spells:  2 memorised,  4 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : .   a - bow
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : .   j - +1 ring mail {rPois}
Life Prot.: + . .   Conserve   : .   (no shield)
Res.Poison: +       Res.Corr.  : .   y - +0 orc visored helmet
Res.Elec. : +       Clarity    : .   (no cloak)
Sust.Abil.: . .     Spirit.Shd : .   p - +0 pair of dwarf gloves
Res.Mut.  : .       Stasis     : .   d - +0 pair of orc boots
Res.Rott. : +       Flight     : .   (no amulet)
Saprovore : . . .                    r - +3 ring of strength
                                     i - ring of wizardry

@: slightly resistant to hostile enchantments, extremely unstealthy
A: fangs 1, talons 2, life protection 1, electricity resistance, slow metabolism
1, unbreathing, petrification resistance, AC +5
a: Heroism, Renounce Religion


You are on level 6 of the Dungeon.
You worship Okawaru.
Okawaru is aware of your devotion.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 2 branches of the dungeon, and seen 7 of its levels.

You have collected 258 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 a - an uncursed bow (weapon)
 b - a +0,+0 mace
Missiles
 g - 41 darts
 q - 7 arrows of frost (quivered)
Armour
 c - a +0 shield
 d - a +0 pair of orcish boots (worn)
 j - a +1 ring mail of poison resistance (worn)
 p - a +0 pair of dwarven gloves (worn)
 y - a +0 orcish visored helmet (worn)
Magical devices
 w - a wand of digging (9)
 E - a wand of slowing {recharged}
Comestibles
 k - 2 pears
 n - a choko
 t - 3 bread rations
 z - a meat ration
 C - an apple
Scrolls
 e - a scroll of amnesia
 f - a scroll of enchant weapon I
 l - 7 scrolls of teleportation
 o - a scroll of fear
 B - a scroll labeled WUYMAUSTR NECU
Jewellery
 i - a ring of wizardry (left hand)
 r - a +3 ring of strength (right hand)
 u - an uncursed ring of sustain abilities
 x - an uncursed ring of teleportation
 F - a gilded ring
Potions
 h - a potion of invisibility
 s - 2 potions of curing
 v - a potion of coagulated blood
 A - a pink potion
 D - a purple potion
Books
 m - a book of Debilitation   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Corona                            Hexes                        1
   *Slow                              Hexes                        2
   Inner Flame                        Hexes/Fire                   3
   Enslavement                        Hexes                        4
   Cause Fear                         Hexes                        4
   Leda's Liquefaction                Hexes/Earth                  4
 G - a book of Geomancy   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Sandblast                          Earth                        1
   Stoneskin                          Transmutation/Earth          2
   Passwall                           Transmutation/Earth          3
   Stone Arrow                        Conjuration/Earth            3
   Petrify                            Transmutation/Earth          4
   Lee's Rapid Deconstruction         Earth                        5


   Skills:
 + Level 7.0 Fighting
 - Level 7.5 Maces & Flails
 * Level 4.0 Bows
 - Level 3.2 Armour
   Level 3.2 Shields
 + Level 1.0 Hexes


You have 4 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Corona                Hex            #......      10%         1    ##.....
b - Slow                  Hex            #.......     13%         2    ###....


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (6/27)             Temple (1/1) D:5         
   Orc: D:6-11     

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


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
You are immune to poison.
Your stone body is very resilient (AC +5).
You have very sharp teeth.
You have razor-sharp toenails.
You resist negative energy.
You are resistant to electric shocks.
You have a slow metabolism.
You can survive without breathing.
You are immune to petrification.


Message History

You offer a prayer to Okawaru.
The kobold corpse slowly burns to ash.
Okawaru is aware of your devotion.
a - an uncursed bow (weapon)
Your sedimented red potion coagulates.
v - a potion of coagulated blood
Found a stone staircase leading up.
Found a stone staircase leading down.
There is an open door here.
You open the door.
There is an open door here.
Found a stone staircase leading down.
G - a book of Geomancy
Read which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
Unknown command.
Read which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
Okay, then.
Okay, then.
Char dumped successfully.
Saving game... please wait.

.........#
.........#
.........#
...#####.#
...#####'##
...#......#
...#......########
...#......'......#
..........######@#
###.......#    #.#
###.####.##    #.#
.>........     .>.
..#.......     ...
#.# #####     #####
 .#
 .#
  #


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  A necrophage (D:5)
  A sky beast (D:5)
  A phantom (D:5)
  An ogre (D:6)
  A centaur (D:5)
  A goliath beetle (D:6)
  2 crimson imps
  A yellow wasp zombie (D:6)
  An orc priest (D:5)
  2 hounds
  4 orc wizards
  A worker ant (D:5)
  An iguana (D:5)
  3 scorpions
  Ijyb (D:3)
  Jessica (D:2)
  An ogre zombie (D:5)
  4 gnolls (D:4)
  6 adders
  2 worms
  A giant eyeball (D:5)
  4 giant geckos
  13 orcs
  A ball python (D:4)
  10 goblins
  8 hobgoblins
  9 jackals
  12 bats
  5 giant cockroaches
  A giant gecko zombie (D:6)
  6 giant newts
  2 goblin skeletons (D:4)
  9 kobolds
  A kobold skeleton (D:5)
  An orc skeleton (D:4)
  6 rats
125 creatures vanquished.

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | alchemist, the Gargoyle Fighter, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 14/14 MP: 0/0
   235 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 19/19 MP: 1/1
   747 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 24/24 MP: 2/2
  1145 | D:2      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
  1256 | D:2      | Noticed Jessica
  1452 | D:2      | Killed Jessica
  1452 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 25/29 MP: 3/3
  1921 | D:3      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
  2131 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 19/33 MP: 4/4
  2460 | D:3      | Noticed Ijyb
  2474 | D:3      | Killed Ijyb
  2594 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Maces & Flails
  3062 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  3062 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 36/39 MP: 5/5
  3850 | D:4      | Reached skill level 6 in Maces & Flails
  4315 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4349 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 41/44 MP: 6/6
  4392 | D:5      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  4414 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  4457 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Warmaster Okawaru
  4705 | D:5      | Reached skill level 7 in Maces & Flails
  5317 | D:5      | Noticed a necrophage
  5335 | D:5      | Killed a necrophage
  5335 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 47/50 MP: 7/7
  5558 | D:5      | Learned a level 1 spell: Corona
  5561 | D:5      | Learned a level 2 spell: Slow
  5644 | D:6      | Acquired Okawaru's first power
  5856 | D:6      | HP: 2/50 [goliath beetle (21)]
  5861 | D:6      | HP: 1/50 [goliath beetle (13)]
  5874 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Hexes


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Mace              |    92 |   195 |   238 ||   525
 Fire: Bow               |       |       |    32 ||    32
Throw: Dart              |    10 |    16 |       ||    26
 Cast: Slow              |       |       |     4 ||     4
       Corona            |       |       |     1 ||     1
Evoke: Wand              |       |     1 |     2 ||     3
  Use: Potion            |     1 |     4 |     5 ||    10
       Scroll            |       |     8 |     3 ||    11
 Stab: Invisible         |       |     2 |       ||     2


[Sandman25]

As GrFi of Okawaru you want to wear the heaviest body armour you find so branching into spell casting makes your game harder unless it is done very late in the game when your natural armour is very high already. Haste is the main reason to use magic but with Okawaru you do not need it so much

[tompliss]

Yeah, mostly this.

You already worship Okawaru, and you do'nt want to face his wrath. He should give you some nice armors, most of which will greatly impede your spellcasting.
Moreover, your two books share no magic school (Leda's doesn't count, as it is too high level), and stoneskin is not as useful on a gargoyle than on another character (nerfed for them, as part of their original AC boost).
You already learnt the two most efficient low-level spells you have access to, so I would say that there is no need to forget them, and, as your previous character "only" went to lair, you should focus on the fighter part of your gargoyle, for now.
You've got a ring of wizardry so you may still be able to cast later in the game, especially if Oka gift you a nice "medium-light" armor, but that's not something you should focus on

[EDIt] Yeah, my bad, I misread :/

[Sandman25]

stoneskin is not as useful on a gargoyle than on another character (nerfed for them, as part of their original AC boost

What do you mean? wiki does not list any limits for Stoneskin, just for Statue Form.

[Siegurt]

Stoneskin isn't effected by gargoyle-ness:

  Code:


static int _stoneskin_bonus()
{
    if (!player_stoneskin())
        return 0;

    // Max +7.4 base
    int boost = 200;
    if (you.species == SP_LAVA_ORC)
        boost += 20 * you.experience_level;
    else
        boost += you.skill(SK_EARTH_MAGIC, 20);

    // Max additional +7.75 from statue form
    if (you.form == TRAN_STATUE)
    {
        boost += 100;
        if (you.species == SP_LAVA_ORC)
            boost += 25 * you.experience_level;
        else
            boost += you.skill(SK_EARTH_MAGIC, 25);
    }

    return boost;
}



[Siegurt]

The spells are probably ultimately useful, but the fact is your short term goals should be to focus on one method of killing stuff (branch out later)

I'd get M&F and armour up and running, none of the spells you'll be able to cast will be as effective in the short term as training more of your killing/defending skills.

Once you're comfortable with your ability to beat things up, re-evaluate your spell options and decide what's going to be effective to work on from there.

[DracheReborn]

You don't need a bow to make the AM book effective. All those Hex spells (except maybe Inner Flame) are perfectly fine for melee dudes.

Both books will be useful to you. Looks very suitable for the GrFi with magic build you say you wanted. Oka is a good god for that too - Heroism means you don't have to train as much weapon/Fighting/Armour/Dodging.

Btw, find better armour. You realize that Gr have innate rPois right?

Edit:

I'd get M&F and armour up and running, none of the spells you'll be able to cast will be as effective in the short term as training more of your killing/defending skills.

With Heroism, his M&F is at 12.5, just 1.5 away from min delay for a mace. Fighting at 12, Armour at 8.2. Seems pretty decent to me, especially considering he's only in ringmail. Maybe need more Dodge. But I think it's pretty close to the time to hybridrize to magic, if you want to go that way.

I just realized OP was asking which spells would be good for this character. I'd say Corona, Slow, Enslave, Cause Fear in AM book (not sure about Leda's). Stoneskin, Stone Arrow, and eventually LRD from Geomancy.

[xxx]

Thanks for the help!

Btw, find better armour. You realize that Gr have innate rPois right?

Yeah, but this armor had better AC then the one I had before.

[rebthor]

Leda's is really good. I never knew how good until someone told me that you can use it under Che to outrun things:

Moving on liquefied ground has a -3 player movement malus (slightly more than one item of ponderousness). Applies slow effect to monsters. Doesn't affect flying, clinging, insubstantials; cannot be cast by these.
You will see a lot of "Your unstable footing causes you to fumble your attack."
<elliptic> it's really a very similar spell to double haste

[crate]

Leda isn't good if you're going to be meleeing things, especially since it no longer action-slows monsters (just movement-slow). It might not be double-haste any more, I don't know how the movement slow works and removing the action-slow may have messed with how it slows monster movement.

[rebthor]

Can you !learn del ledas_liquifaction[3] please? It is now probably a terrible spell for Che worshipers .

[xxx]

I was changing armor when an orc priest showed up. I tried to use Heroism to run away. Did not work out so well.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.13.0-59-g13bd910 (webtiles) character file.

1914 alchemist the Basher (level 8, -8/51 HPs)
             Began as a Gargoyle Fighter on Nov 19, 2013.
             Was a Follower of Okawaru.
             Killed by divine providence
             ... invoked by an orc priest
              (13 damage)
             ... on Level 6 of the Dungeon on Nov 21, 2013.
             The game lasted 00:45:02 (7750 turns).

alchemist the Basher (Gargoyle Fighter)             Turns: 7750, Time: 00:45:02

HP  -8/51        AC  8     Str 23      XL: 8   Next: 93%
MP   7/7         EV 11     Int 11      God: Okawaru [*.....]
Gold 321         SH  0     Dex  9      Spells:  2 memorised,  4 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : .   a - +0 mace
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : .   (no armour)
Life Prot.: + . .   Conserve   : .   (no shield)
Res.Poison: +       Res.Corr.  : .   y - +0 orc visored helmet
Res.Elec. : +       Clarity    : .   (no cloak)
Sust.Abil.: . .     Spirit.Shd : .   p - +0 pair of dwarf gloves
Res.Mut.  : .       Stasis     : .   d - +0 pair of orc boots
Res.Rott. : +       Flight     : .   (no amulet)
Saprovore : . . .                    r - +3 ring of strength
                                     i - ring of wizardry

@: slightly resistant to hostile enchantments, very unstealthy
A: fangs 1, talons 2, life protection 1, electricity resistance, slow metabolism
1, unbreathing, petrification resistance, AC +5
a: Heroism, Renounce Religion


You were on level 6 of the Dungeon.
You worshipped Okawaru.
Okawaru was aware of your devotion.
You were not hungry.

You visited 2 branches of the dungeon, and saw 8 of its levels.

You collected 301 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 a - a +0,+0 mace (weapon)
 b - a +2,+0 bow
Missiles
 g - 55 darts (quivered)
 o - 38 arrows
 q - 4 arrows of frost
Armour
 c - a +0 shield
 d - a +0 pair of orcish boots (worn)
 j - a +1 ring mail of poison resistance
 p - a +0 pair of dwarven gloves (worn)
 v - a +0 orcish ring mail
 y - a +0 orcish visored helmet (worn)
 A - a +0 orcish plate armour
Magical devices
 w - a wand of digging (9)
 E - a wand of slowing (14)
Comestibles
 k - 2 pears
 n - a choko
 t - 2 bread rations
 z - a meat ration
 C - an apple
Scrolls
 e - a scroll of amnesia
 f - a scroll of enchant weapon I
 l - 8 scrolls of teleportation
 B - a scroll of fog {unknown}
Jewellery
 i - a ring of wizardry (left hand)
 r - a +3 ring of strength (right hand)
 u - an uncursed ring of sustain abilities
 x - an uncursed ring of teleportation
 F - a cursed -2 ring of dexterity {unknown}
Potions
 h - a potion of invisibility
 s - a potion of curing
Books
 m - a book of Debilitation   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Corona                            Hexes                        1
   *Slow                              Hexes                        2
   Inner Flame                        Hexes/Fire                   3
   Enslavement                        Hexes                        4
   Cause Fear                         Hexes                        4
   Leda's Liquefaction                Hexes/Earth                  4
 G - a book of Geomancy   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Sandblast                          Earth                        1
   Stoneskin                          Transmutation/Earth          2
   Passwall                           Transmutation/Earth          3
   Stone Arrow                        Conjuration/Earth            3
   Petrify                            Transmutation/Earth          4
   Lee's Rapid Deconstruction         Earth                        5


   Skills:
 + Level 7.6 Fighting
 * Level 8.7 Maces & Flails
 - Level 4.0 Bows
 - Level 3.2 Armour
   Level 3.2 Shields
 - Level 1.0 Hexes


You had 4 spell levels left.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Corona                Hex            #......      10%         1    ##.....
b - Slow                  Hex            #.......     13%         2    ###....


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (7/27)             Temple (1/1) D:5         
   Orc: D:6-11     

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


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
You are immune to poison.
Your stone body is very resilient (AC +5).
You have very sharp teeth.
You have razor-sharp toenails.
You resist negative energy.
You are resistant to electric shocks.
You have a slow metabolism.
You can survive without breathing.
You are immune to petrification.


Message History

You see here an orcish club.
Things that are here:
an orcish leather armour; an orcish dagger
The orc priest utters an invocation to Beogh.
You feel troubled.
You see here a giant club.
The orc priest unwields an uncursed runed orcish mace.
The orc priest drops an uncursed runed orcish mace.
The orc priest picks up an orcish halberd.
The orc priest wields an orcish halberd.
The orc priest calls down the wrath of Beogh upon you.
Something smites you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
A giant mite zombie comes into view.
A rat comes into view.
The orc priest becomes somewhat translucent.
You feel like a meek peon again.
The orc priest invokes the aid of Beogh against you.
Something smites you!
You die...

#.......#########..........##..
########.z.....##..........##..
       #.......#########...##..
       #.......#       #...##..
       #.......#       #...##..
       #.......#       #...##..
       #.......##############..
   #####.......#..............#
   #.......o..@................
   #.......###.#...........####
   #.......# #.###########.#  #
   #.......# #.#         #.#  #
   #.......###.#####     #.#  #
   #.......#.......#     #.#  #
   #.......#.#.....#######.#  #
   #.......#.#.....+....##.#  #
   #.......#.#.....###.###.#  #


You could see an orc priest.

Vanquished Creatures
  Eustachio (D:6)
  An orc warrior (D:6)
  A necrophage (D:5)
  A sky beast (D:5)
  A phantom (D:5)
  An ogre (D:6)
  A centaur (D:5)
  A giant frog (D:6)
  A goliath beetle (D:6)
  3 crimson imps
  A yellow wasp zombie (D:6)
  An orc priest (D:5)
  2 hounds
  4 orc wizards
  3 worker ants
  An iguana (D:5)
  3 scorpions
  Ijyb (D:3)
  Jessica (D:2)
  An ogre zombie (D:5)
  4 gnolls (D:4)
  7 adders
  2 green rats (D:6)
  3 white imps (D:6)
  2 worms
  2 ufetubi (D:6)
  A giant eyeball (D:5)
  6 giant geckos
  19 orcs
  2 ball pythons
  11 goblins
  A grey rat (D:6)
  9 hobgoblins
  10 jackals
  2 quokkas (D:6)
  14 bats
  5 giant cockroaches
  A giant gecko zombie (D:6)
  6 giant newts
  2 goblin skeletons (D:4)
  A jackal zombie (D:7)
  9 kobolds
  A kobold skeleton (D:5)
  An orc skeleton (D:4)
  An orc zombie (D:6)
  8 rats
160 creatures vanquished.

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | alchemist, the Gargoyle Fighter, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 14/14 MP: 0/0
   235 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 19/19 MP: 1/1
   747 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 24/24 MP: 2/2
  1145 | D:2      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
  1256 | D:2      | Noticed Jessica
  1452 | D:2      | Killed Jessica
  1452 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 25/29 MP: 3/3
  1921 | D:3      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
  2131 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 19/33 MP: 4/4
  2460 | D:3      | Noticed Ijyb
  2474 | D:3      | Killed Ijyb
  2594 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Maces & Flails
  3062 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  3062 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 36/39 MP: 5/5
  3850 | D:4      | Reached skill level 6 in Maces & Flails
  4315 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4349 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 41/44 MP: 6/6
  4392 | D:5      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  4414 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  4457 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Warmaster Okawaru
  4705 | D:5      | Reached skill level 7 in Maces & Flails
  5317 | D:5      | Noticed a necrophage
  5335 | D:5      | Killed a necrophage
  5335 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 47/50 MP: 7/7
  5558 | D:5      | Learned a level 1 spell: Corona
  5561 | D:5      | Learned a level 2 spell: Slow
  5644 | D:6      | Acquired Okawaru's first power
  5856 | D:6      | HP: 2/50 [goliath beetle (21)]
  5861 | D:6      | HP: 1/50 [goliath beetle (13)]
  5874 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Hexes
  6931 | D:6      | Noticed Eustachio
  7236 | D:7      | Reached skill level 8 in Maces & Flails
  7403 | D:6      | Killed Eustachio
  7750 | D:6      | Killed from afar by an orc priest


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Mace              |    92 |   195 |   432 ||   719
 Fire: Bow               |       |       |    35 ||    35
Throw: Dart              |    10 |    16 |       ||    26
 Cast: Slow              |       |       |     4 ||     4
       Corona            |       |       |     1 ||     1
Invok: Heroism           |       |       |     3 ||     3
Evoke: Wand              |       |     1 |     2 ||     3
  Use: Potion            |     1 |     4 |     8 ||    13
       Scroll            |       |     8 |     4 ||    12
 Stab: Invisible         |       |     2 |       ||     2


[Sandman25]

Heroism (also AC/EV/SH) does not help vs Orc Priest. Potion of invisibility would help.

[BlackSheep]

Heroism to run away

<insert Brave Sir Robin joke here>

I don't know what you meant by that exactly, but you had 8 scrolls of teleportation you could have used to escape instead.

[Jarlyk]

Can a priest smite you while you're invisible?

[BlackSheep]

I think they have to guess at your location like other ranged attacks.

[xxx]

I kind of panicked due to the lack of armor and thought that I would be killed by the smite attack before i would teleport. In hindsight, I should have read the scroll and cast Heroism.

[Sandman25]

Armour does not help vs Orc Priest. Its smiting attack ignores AC, EV, SH and all resistances. Only HP is "defense" vs smiting attacks. It is similar to hellfire in this regard.

That's why Heroism does not help vs smiting attacks.

[duvessa]

heroism helps you kill the smiting thing to make it stop smiting you

[Sandman25]

I am sure it is a bad idea to spend a turn on Heroism instead of attacking/retreating/approaching the monster with 9-21 HP.

[xxx]

I thought Heroism increased your speed as well as your attributes? Or maybe I am mixing Heroism up with berserk?

[nordetsa]

I thought Heroism increased your speed as well as your attributes? Or maybe I am mixing Heroism up with berserk?

Nope, the only thing heroism does is +5 to some skills. Even finesse doesn't make you faster; that is, if you define speed as a movement speed.

[Sandman25]

Also note it is not a good idea to berserk when you are trying to run away because berserk ends really fast if you don't attack monsters and thus you better just run instead of spending an extra turn on activating the ability.