I think we learned an important lesson today.

[Grimm]

Infusion? What does that do? Turn a monster into a nice cup of tea?

[Hirsch I]

(joke) it is like Fullsome Distilation, but actually boils the monster alive, extracting it's essence. but you must drink the resulting tea while it's still hot.
of course the self righteous gods hate this spell. (/joke)

if you find pearl dragon armor early with your VpEn, elrocha will banish you on the next 100 turns. RNG is evil.

[argonaut]

?Immolation works great on the royal jelly retinue!

[tompliss]

You know what works even better ?
?immo then ?torment.
Damn, when I tried it, it was nearly a one-shot kill for the whole pack and TRJ

[MDvedh]

Pro tactics for swamp:5 hydrae and dragons circular vault. Trog might be required.

Ctele in, ?tele, ac, ac, ?immo, tele out.

[xxx]

Phial of floods makes dealing with Azrael a piece of cake (At least if you're a Berserker).

[MDvedh]

Don't use Phial of Floods to disengage The Lernaean Hydra

[Schussel]

on the win side:
red fiery draconian + 2 rings of fire and immolation scrolls ... combined with conversation amulet = a room sweeper
Recite! .. Kill one .. watch the mayhem
double the fun in lair 8 forest ending

on the FAIL side:

It is unwise to eat something bigger (like bread) in midst of the battle after seeing a 5 headed hydra dusting away into fog not 7 tiles away

even if you got the charging Elephants down to 5% earlier .. and you got plenty of mana for 2-3 more bolt of fire ..

if you starve .. get away ...

eating a loaf of bread takes ages ... and hydras are fast! .. and dont care for flameclouds too much ...

way to ruin a pretty promising caster dragon ...

btw .. is there a way to abort eating mid-bite?

  Code:

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


The elephant barely misses you. You block the elephant's attack.
The five-headed hydra is engulfed in roaring flames.
You block the five-headed hydra's attack.
The five-headed hydra bites you.
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The five-headed hydra bites you.
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The five-headed hydra bites you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The five-headed hydra bites you.
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
You continue eating.
You block the elephant's attack. The elephant closely misses you.
The five-headed hydra is engulfed in roaring flames.
The five-headed hydra bites you.
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The five-headed hydra bites you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The five-headed hydra bites you!
You die...

 #..##  ###   #.Y##,,**,,,,,,,,,,
##.## ###.##  #....****,,,,,,,,,,
...####....## #.%P#* *,,,,,,,,*,*
...P##......###.%.## *,,,,,,,,,,,
#P%.#....%.###.fYPf# ***,,,,,,*,*
##.....##..# #P.Y..####.,,,,,,,,,
 ###.###...# #..Y........,,,,,*,*
#######...## #..YD.......,,,,,,,,
#..###...## ####@#.......,,,,,*,*
##......## ##.#.#.#......,,,,,,,,
###......###...##....D...,,, ,*,*
#......8.................,,,,,,,,
...8...........#..........,,,,*,*
......8.......###...<.....,,,,,,,
.8...........##...........,,,,*,*
........8.......#..ff...P.,,,,,,,
....#......f.......ff..P..,,,,*,*


You could see a five-headed hydra, 2 elephants and 3 yaks.


[BlackSheep]

No, it was requested at one point back when they added an interrupt for donning/doffing armor, but never implemented. I imagine a patch that lets you stop eating, or at least warns about eating around monsters, would be accepted.

[crate]

crawl food is the tastiest thing you can imagine. Once you start eating, there is nothing short of death that will ever convince your character to stop stuffing his face with the nutritious goodness of that bread ration.

[duvessa]

No, it was requested at one point back when they added an interrupt for donning/doffing armor, but never implemented. I imagine a patch that lets you stop eating, or at least warns about eating around monsters, would be accepted.

If by "would be accepted" you mean "was already explicitly rejected," then yes.

[mikee]

crawl food is the tastiest thing you can imagine. Once you start eating, there is nothing short of death that will ever convince your character to stop stuffing his face with the nutritious goodness of that bread ration.

One of my plans for mcrawl was to rename them hostess fruit pies.

[BlackSheep]

No, it was requested at one point back when they added an interrupt for donning/doffing armor, but never implemented. I imagine a patch that lets you stop eating, or at least warns about eating around monsters, would be accepted.

If by "would be accepted" you mean "was already explicitly rejected," then yes.

Well that's dumb. A warning should still be added so that an errant mouse-click doesn't kill tiles players.

[duvessa]

Oh, I wasn't referring to the warning idea, just making eating interruptible.

[Sandman25]

How about making eating take always 1 turn no matter what you eat? I am not sure if description of food makes it obvious to new players to eat beef jerky instead of meat ration when in dangerous area.

[BlackSheep]

Oh, I wasn't referring to the warning idea, just making eating interruptible.

Yeah, I got that. I disagree with the reason he gave, but hey. A warning will be easier to implement once I finally have free time again.

[thevogonpoet]

It is entirely possible that the spectral elf which just hit you with a crystal spear will choose to hit you again with a crystal spear next turn. Taking one more step away from said spectral sadist is therefore not exercising adequate caution. A scroll of semi controlled blinking might have been better?

[Psiweapon]

Don't bring scrolls into the Elven Halls unless you have conservation or resist sticky flame. You'll just cringe. If you bring a few emergency scrolls, chances are they'll be burned BEFORE you need to use them. If you bring a lot, well, you will lose a lot and/or end dumping them outside the branch. Alternatively, abuse them.

[Sandman25]

Taking Hatch to Vaults 5 is a viable tactic especially when you have Control Tele active, scroll of teleportation, scroll of mapping and ring of invisibility.

  Code:

You become transparent for a moment.
j - a ring of invisibility (left paw)
Casting: Regeneration
Confirm with . or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
You feel in control.
Read which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
Okay, then.
You slide downwards. The hatch slams shut behind you.

       #
      #.#
     #.#
    #.#
## #.#
#.#.#
 #@#
#.#.#
## #.#
    #.#
     #.#
      #.#
       #


There are no monsters in sight!


[Sandman25]

  Code:

You miscast Deflect Missiles.
You are very lightly contaminated with residual magic.
A red film seems to cover your vision as you go berserk!
You feel yourself moving faster! You feel mighty!

[Jarlyk]

Lajatangs are staves, but their blades are apparently large enough to sever hydra heads.

[Hirsch I]

I discovered that with a Lajatang of flaming. I was so very happy... but I guess your discovery did not went that smootly, did it?

[Chainer]

Gargule Berserker is OP =)
but still Mara is worst enemy - so many times I got killed by illusions or my illusion =(

[Jarlyk]

I discovered that with a Lajatang of flaming. I was so very happy... but I guess your discovery did not went that smootly, did it?

Wasn't really paying attention at the time (had enough AC that I should be able to take the hydra, I thought) and it got to 14 heads before I realized what was happening. I wound up using a blink scroll and blasting it with a wand of cold to finish it off. Later on I got the spell to apply a temporary Flaming brand to a weapon, though, which was fun.

[Confidence Interval]

Quaffing lignification when you don't have good ranged options and there are enemies nearby with polearms is not a good idea.

[bastard]

Going Chei and subsequently ignoring the fact that he gives you abilities is not the optimal playstyle, even as a troll.

[Hirsch I]

Going Chei is not the optimal playstyle, even as a troll.
FTFY

[Sandman25]

You can be mesmerized even if you are invisible.

[Jarlyk]

When you encounter three orc priests at the same time upon first entering D:3, it's probably smarter to run away than to rush at them with a spear.

[rchandra]

When you encounter three orc priests at the same time upon first entering D:3, it's probably smarter to run away than to rush at them with a spear.

I learned that that's true on orc:4 also.

[argonaut]

A blademaster that picks up an amulet of rage on E:3 is terrifying.
A master archer that picks up an amulet of rage is hysterical.

[duvessa]

I almost died to a berserk deep elf sorcerer with Bloodbane once.

[Abominae]

I don't know if this is new or not, but Xom can animate your weapon. Since he can also swap your weapon with a monster's, it is a really good idea to carry a secondary weapon when worshiping Xom.

[xxx]

I don't know if this has already been said, but never go down a staircase confused.

[ontoclasm]

I don't know if this is new or not, but Xom can animate your weapon. Since he can also swap your weapon with a monster's, it is a really good idea to carry a secondary weapon when worshiping Xom.

My HeHu of Xom had a +8 longbow of velocity. Xom gave it to a draconian in the middle of a huge pack with several orbs of fire and golden dragons nearby, and I had to retreat without it.

No problem - I have a +6 demon blade as a backup, I'll just use that!

Xom gave it to a second draconian in the same pack, then sent me on a teleportation roulette.

I had to kill half the monsters on Zot:3 with a floor-trash +0 longbow to get them back.

[skyspire]

Never underestimate the power of darts of dispersal. Those things are worth their weight in gold, especially when you are low in health and about to die with a 27-headed hydra adjacent to you, with deep water all around. Those things were the only thing in my inventory with applicable use. Thanks to those undervalued little things, I had time to read a teleport scroll and my character went on to slay that hydra another day, and cleared Slime and Tomb.

I didn't realize that they do not check against MR or HD, they will blink the foe, every time they hit. Of course, maybe there is a small chance they will blink right next to you. If that is the case, I was lucky.

EDIT, (thanks to Duvessa) they only blink the mob if the darts do damage, so in that sense i'm lucky hydras have 0 AC.

[duvessa]

Actually dispersal darts fail very often because they only blink the target if they do damage. If the target's AC is positive, this will happen a lot, because dart damage is really bad. Hydra is one of the few monsters with 0 AC.

[skyspire]

I just learned that gateway to another region of pandemonium can take you 3-4 tiles proximity to Gloorx Vloq. Fortunately, I was able to kill him and his minions, but it felt very unfair that I would pop up there with no warning, within his fortress surrounded by him and his executioner/soul eater minions. I am just happy this didn't happen with Cerebov and his Balrugs and Brimstone Fiends.

[Sar]

I think at least 2 characters of mine who were doing Pan landed on hellion island.

[Sandman25]

Yes, this is why it is a good idea to have Necromutation in Pan - you can cast Haste before entering every level. All characters should cast other buffs also: foo missiles/stone skin etc.

[Mulzaro]

Don't hit a hydra simulacrum in melee while wearing a fire dragon armour without cold resist.

-Best regards, 240hp ogre

[Sandman25]

Spectral +1,+2 trident of freezing kills a Hydra easily, vampiric +5,+5 glaive makes you waste scroll of blinking no matter if you use spectral weapon or not.

[Sandman25]

Don't wear a fire dragon armour without cold resist

ftfy

[Mulzaro]

Don't wear a fire dragon armour without cold resist

ftfy

I knew it was a bad idea, but I was desperate to get more AC. You know ogres.

[Lasty]

Yes, this is why it is a good idea to have Necromutation in Pan - you can cast Haste before entering every level. All characters should cast other buffs also: foo missiles/stone skin etc.

You don't need Necromutation to cast Haste before entering every level in Pan. Is the idea that this defrays the food cost or that it makes it more safe to have contamination? In either case, those aren't particularly relevant concerns.

[Sandman25]

You don't need Necromutation to cast Haste before entering every level in Pan. Is the idea that this defrays the food cost or that it makes it more safe to have contamination? In either case, those aren't particularly relevant concerns.

I have problems waiting for contamination to disappear when there are wandering fiends on current pan level. Food is an issue for me too unless I am playing DE or Chei.
Also one of the greatest advantages of Necromutation for me is that I can spam Haste as much as I need because lich cannot mutate. I like quaffing potions of beneficial mutation and going lich to keep them forever.

[Grujah]

Don't fight Maurice if your starting bow is the only bow that spawned the whole game and you don't have a melee option backup yet.

Had to scum a lot (game summoned a Tengu Reaver on D:8) , than poly-ed Maurice into a centaur (oh the irony) and he was still bitch to kill with unarmed combat only (those blinks were annoying as hell, as level had water pool in middle full of electric eels that I couldn't get near him ever).

[Hirsch I]

how the hell did you not have backup weapon in D:8 yet?

[Sar]

Skill 0 UC has something like 2 base damage and is pretty awful, a club would be a better weapon (not to mention all other weapons you skipped while descending to D:8).

[Sandman25]

Scroll of immolation is an escape tool.

  Code:

You open the door.
3 orcs, an orc priest and an orc wizard come into view.
The orc shouts!
The orc wizard shouts! The orc priest shouts! The orc shouts!
The orc priest glows brightly for a moment.
The orc wizard casts a spell.
The orc wizard seems to speed up.
The orc wizard casts a spell at you.
You feel yourself slow down.
The orc priest invokes the aid of Beogh against you.
Something smites you!
Ouch! That really hurt!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
Huge Dmg: -56%(-14hp) hp: 44%(11hp)
Read which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
Really read m - a scroll of immolation {!r}?
As you read the scroll of immolation {!r}, it crumbles to dust.
The creatures around you are filled with an inner flame!
The orc wizard casts a spell.
The orc wizard blinks! The orc closely misses you. The orc misses you.
Firing (i - inventory. (,) - cycle): c - 36 bolts (quivered)
Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f - orc
Aim: an orc, wielding an orcish trident (inner flame)
You shoot a bolt. The bolt hits the orc.
The orc is heavily wounded.
The orc barely misses you.
Firing (i - inventory. (,) - cycle): c - 35 bolts (quivered)
Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f/p - orc
Aim: an orc, wielding an orcish trident (heavily wounded, inner flame)
You shoot a bolt. The bolt hits the orc.
The orc explodes!
The fiery explosion engulfs the orc priest.
The orc priest dies!
You hear an explosion!