3rd Rune

[yoacusna]

I've picked up my first and second runes on the same character, from the snake pit and swamp, and I'm wondering where to go next. Done all of Lair and Orc, Dungeon to 11, all of Swamp and Snake. Most importantly, where should I get my third rune from, and what advice should I know before going for it?

Spriggan Wizard, AC 9, EV 38, level 18. Currently using a staff of energy so I can spam Orb of Destruction without worrying about hunger. Also got Flight, Deflect Missiles (the level 6 one, anyway, think it's "Deflect"), Passage of Golubria, Iskenderun's Mystic Blast, Bolt of Magma. Poison and Fire (++) Resist available, MR very high ("almost entirely"), no rElec or rCold. Got back-up amulets with rCorr, rMut and rN+. Stealth ~ 10, Dodging ~ 23, Spellcasting ~ 18, Conjuration ~ 13, ~85 HP (Fighting ~7).

Just done Orc Mines; very easy; I'm a bit overpowered for it now (I did the Swamp as soon as I found the entrance, against advice, but it was fairly OK- I got the vile temple ending which I think may be one of the easier ones). Poked my nose into Elven Halls, a bit cautiously.

I'm thinking the character is probably fairly well-suited to the Abyss, given the speed and stealth. And Vaults 5 scares me a bit from what I've read. But everyone seems to recommend Vaults for the 3rd rune. Thoughts? Of course, I haven't yet found the entrance to the Vaults, let alone the Abyss.

[le_nerd]

How about you give us a dump? Press # and post the outcome of that here in Code-tags.

From the sound of it you might want to consider clearing vaults for XP/shops, and then going into depths, and after clearing that have a good look at your char and decide which 3rd rune to get.

Welcome to the Tavern!

[greedo]

V5 is basically the best in general if you have a lot of teleport charges or controlled blink, especially if you have regeneration. Get out of the entrance to somewhere safe, start killing

However, your character is nice but lacks crowd killing. Mystic blast kinda sucks for this, and orb is great for killing singular high powered enemies but not masses. I would go to depths before doing the 3rd rune until you have something for clearing out masses of enemies.

Abyss is very dangerous for anyone who isn't lugonu tbh. Less so for high speed characters, but still. the rng could screw you over and never spawn exits/etc

[KoboldLord]

I would recommend that you keep exploring for a while without worrying about your third Rune yet. Once you've explored Vaults 1-4 and Depths, you will be vastly stronger, possibly to the extent of being a qualitatively different character in addition to having higher combat stats in general. Once you actually know what your late-game character is going to be capable of, it should become easier to make a decision.

As far as the choice between Vaults 5 and Abyss, that does depend on the character, including both the build decisions made by the player and the loot provided by the RNG. Abyss is almost always doable unless you're a Chei naga or something, but it is generally going to be a lot less rewarding in terms of loot, xp, and non-mutation than Vaults 5, Slime 6, or Tomb 3 for the characters that can reasonably handle them. Of course, maybe by that point you won't care about incremental improvements that may or may not actually generate as rewards. Future problems are for the future; the toolkit you need to develop to handle Depths isn't going to lock you out of either Vaults 5 or the Abyss, and it isn't like Depths is particularly optional unlike the other two.

In general, sure, spriggans are good at the Abyss. They're good at most things. But it would probably be a misjudgment to make a final decision now.

[yoacusna]

Thanks a lot everyone. Trying this out:

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.14.1 (tiles) character file.

Amy the Acrobat (Spriggan Wizard)                  Turns: 78536, Time: 09:49:18

HP  90/90        AC  8     Str  5      XL: 18   Next: 11%
MP   2/43        EV 37     Int 32      God: Zin [******]
Gold 455         SH  0     Dex 19      Spells: 13 memorised,  5 levels left

rFire  + . .     SeeInvis +     M - staff of energy
rCold  . . .     Clarity  .     D - +1 robe {MR+}
rNeg   . . .     Conserve .     (shield restricted)
rPois  .         rCorr    .     b - +2 hat
rElec  .         rRot     .     x - +2 cloak
SustAb . .       Spirit   .     (gloves unavailable)
rMut   +         Warding  .     (boots unavailable)
Saprov . . .     Stasis   .     P - amulet "Froeq" {rMut Dex+3 Int+5}
MR     +++++                    y - ring of Egalitarianism {rF+ MR+ Int+3}
                                K - ring of wizardry

@: deflect missiles, very quick, almost entirely resistant to hostile
enchantments, extremely stealthy
A: unfitting armour, see invisible, herbivore 3, speed 3, slow metabolism 2
a: Recite, Vitalisation, Imprison, Sanctuary, Cure All Mutations, Renounce
Religion
}: 2/15 runes: decaying, serpentine


You are on level 12 of the Dungeon.
You worship Zin.
Zin is exalted by your worship.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 8 branches of the dungeon, and seen 38 of its levels.
You have also visited: Labyrinth and Bailey.

You have collected 2868 gold pieces.
You have spent 2127 gold pieces at shops.
You have donated 286 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Armour
 b - a +2 hat (worn)
 j - the +2 robe "Egubue" {Dam+4 SInv}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It affects your damage with ranged weapons and melee attacks (+4).
   It enhances your eyesight.
 x - a +2 cloak (worn)
 D - a +1 robe of magic resistance (worn)
Magical devices
 c - a wand of fireball (6)
 g - a wand of digging (17)
 s - a wand of cold (7)
 u - a wand of paralysis (16)
 B - a wand of lightning (8)
Comestibles
 m - a choko
 n - 4 bread rations
 o - 3 apples
 p - an apricot
 r - a pear
 J - 2 lemons
Scrolls
 e - a scroll of magic mapping
 h - a scroll of blinking
 l - 4 scrolls of remove curse
 t - a scroll of identify
 A - a scroll of teleportation
Jewellery
 a - an uncursed ring of flight
 f - an uncursed ring of poison resistance
 i - an uncursed ring of magical power
 k - an uncursed amulet of warding
 y - the ring of Egalitarianism (right hand) {rF+ MR+ Int+3}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 1 of the Elven Halls)   
   
   [ring of protection from magic]
   It affects your intelligence (+3).
   It protects you from fire.
 F - an uncursed amulet of resist corrosion
 K - a ring of wizardry (left hand)
 P - the amulet "Froeq" (around neck) {rMut Dex+3 Int+5}
   (You found it in a labyrinth)   
   
   [amulet of resist mutation]
   It affects your intelligence (+5).
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
Potions
 d - 3 potions of porridge
 q - a potion of cure mutation
 w - 3 potions of curing
 z - a potion of heal wounds
 E - a potion of invisibility
 I - 2 potions of haste
 O - a potion of brilliance
Books
 v - a book of the Sky   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Flight                            Charms/Air                   3
   *Airstrike                         Air                          4
   Silence                            Hexes/Air                    5
   *Deflect Missiles                  Charms/Air                   6
   Conjure Ball Lightning             Conjuration/Air              6
   Tornado                            Air                          9
Magical staves
 M - an uncursed staff of energy (weapon)
 R - an uncursed staff of fire


   Skills:
 - Level 7.8 Fighting
 + Level 21.7 Dodging
 - Level 10.0 Stealth
 + Level 18.9 Spellcasting
 + Level 12.0 Conjurations
 - Level 5.1 Charms
   Level 0.7 Summonings
 - Level 7.0 Translocations
 - Level 3.5 Fire Magic
 + Level 6.7 Air Magic
 - Level 4.2 Poison Magic
 - Level 9.4 Invocations
 - Level 6.0 Evocations


You have 5 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
a - Magic Dart            Conj           ####         0%          1    None
b - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          1%          2    None
c - Repel Missiles        Chrm/Air       ######       1%          2    None
d - Mephitic Cloud        Conj/Pois/Air  ######..     1%          3    None
e - Passage of Golubria   Tloc           N/A          1%          4    None
f - Conjure Flame         Conj/Fire      ######..     1%          3    None
g - Flight                Chrm/Air       ######....   1%          3    None
h - Iskenderun's Mystic   Conj           #######.     1%          4    None
i - Bolt of Magma         Conj/Fire/Erth ######....   2%          5    None
j - Orb of Destruction    Conj           #######...   4%          7    None
k - Deflect Missiles      Chrm/Air       ######....   7%          6    None
l - Airstrike             Air            ######....   1%          4    None
m - Venom Bolt            Conj/Pois      ######....   1%          5    None


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (12/15)            Temple (1/1) D:4             Orc (4/4) D:10
    Elf (2/3) Orc:4          Lair (8/8) D:9           Swamp (5/5) Lair:5
  Snake (5/5) Lair:4        Slime (1/6) Lair:6     

Altars:
Ashenzari
Dithmenos
Elyvilon
Fedhas
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Okawaru
Sif Muna
Trog
Vehumet
Xom
Yredelemnul
Zin
The Shining One
Beogh
Jiyva

Shops:
D:6 (   D:7 =   Orc:1 :   Orc:4 !:=(=   Elf:1 =   Snake:2 (}?(}

Annotations:
D:9 exclusion: oklob sapling
Lair:3 exclusion: ice statue
Snake:4 Kirke


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are tiny and cannot use many weapons and most armour.
You have supernaturally acute eyesight.
You are a herbivore.
You cover ground extremely quickly.
You need consume almost no food.


Message History

The orb of energy explodes! The mystic blast hits the orc.
You kill the orc!
Casting: Iskenderun's Mystic Blast
Confirm with . or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
Aiming: Iskenderun's Mystic Blast
Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f - orc
Aim: an orc, wielding a hand axe
The orb of energy hits the orc.
You kill the orc!
Things that are here:
a falchion; a scale mail
You see here an orc corpse.
Things that are here:
a flail; a leather armour
You pay a tithe of 1 gold.
You now have 455 gold pieces (gained 9).
Saving game... please wait.
Welcome back, Amy the Spriggan Wizard.
Zin says: Spread the light, my child.
Press ? for a list of commands and other information.

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#[)[..@#
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#......#
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There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  A thorn hunter (Swamp:5)
  11 greater nagas
  Louise (Swamp:2)
  Snorg (Lair:5)
  A minotaur (Lab)
  2 green deaths (Swamp:5)
  2 death oozes (Swamp:5)
  14 anacondas
  19 naga warriors
  22 hydras
  5 alligators
  6 death yaks
  2 thrashing horrors (Swamp:5)
  8 naga sharpshooters
  5 shock serpents
  An unseen horror (D:11)
  2 sea snakes (Snake:3)
  A catoblepas (Lair:8)
  3 very ugly things (Swamp:5)
  3 salamander mystics
  A hell beast (Swamp:5)
  3 spriggan druids
  7 naga ritualists
  8 swamp dragons
  2 large abominations (Swamp:5)
  2 ice devils (Snake:3)
  A necromancer (Swamp:2)
  4 orc sorcerers (Orc:4)
  An orc knight (Bailey)
  A red wasp (Swamp:1)
  The ghost of Heather the Covert, a powerful NaBe of Trog (Orc:4)
  10 mana vipers
  2 griffons
  15 elephants
  12 salamanders
  13 guardian serpents
  29 black mambas
  2 orange demons (Swamp:5)
  22 naga magi
  13 spiny frogs
  2 fire drakes
  2 swamp worm zombies (Swamp:2)
  A centaur zombie (D:10)
  8 komodo dragons
  10 polar bears
  A brown ooze (Lair:6)
  3 wandering mushrooms (D:9)
  9 giant fireflies
  3 trolls
  9 giant leeches
  13 blink frogs
  10 bog bodies
  11 baby alligators
  A two-headed ogre (D:10)
  An alligator zombie (Swamp:2)
  3 ravens
  6 deep elf magi
  16 slime creatures
  3 thorn lotuses
  9 grizzly bears (Lair:8)
  10 spriggans
  19 yaks
  A giant leech zombie (Swamp:2)
  4 shadows
  A wraith (D:11)
  12 hippogriffs
  A wyvern (Lair:8)
  Eustachio (D:5)
  3 ugly things
  A hungry ghost (D:11)
  3 sharks
  A deep elf fighter (Elf:1)
  An elephant slug (Lair:8)
  26 wolves
  9 wargs
  Menkaure (D:7)
  A mottled dragon (D:11)
  60 nagas
  27 vampire mosquitoes
  4 hell hounds (Lair:8)
  47 water moccasins
  22 swamp worms
  5 porcupines
  9 ice beasts
  7 swamp drakes
  31 orc warriors
  A yellow wasp (D:9)
  15 ogres
  3 sky beasts
  4 phantoms
  4 giant goldfish
  7 black bears
  3 boring beetles
  15 crocodiles
  9 centaurs
  Sigmund (D:7)
  17 big kobolds
  11 giant slugs
  4 gnoll sergeants
  Blork the orc (D:8)
  A brain worm (Lair:2)
  29 giant frogs
  9 insubstantial wisps
  A yak zombie (D:8)
  2 scorpions
  5 wights (D:9)
  An eye of draining (D:9)
  6 killer bees
  3 electric eels
  8 crimson imps
  22 hounds
  3 jellies
  37 orc priests
  A goliath beetle (D:7)
  2 quasits (D:9)
  3 big fish
  Crazy Yiuf (D:7)
  A giant frog skeleton (D:10)
  14 iguanas
  10 worker ants
  58 orc wizards
  5 sheep
  2 gnoll shamans
  An ogre zombie (D:5)
  Ijyb (D:4)
  Terence (D:2)
  39 green rats
  35 adders
  A big fish zombie (Swamp:2)
  A swamp drake zombie (Swamp:2)
  2 shadow imps
  44 gnolls
  2 giant mites
  A hound simulacrum (D:8)
  4 white imps
  4 worms
  A goliath beetle zombie (D:6)
  An ufetubus (D:8)
  3 orc skeletons
  A giant eyeball (D:8)
  10 giant geckos
  An ooze (D:1)
  218 orcs
  7 giant cockroaches
  38 goblins
  44 hobgoblins
  13 quokkas
  4 ball pythons
  22 bats
  A giant gecko skeleton (D:7)
  10 giant newts
  2 giant spores (D:8)
  27 jackals
  37 kobolds
  5 orc zombies
  32 rats
  A rat simulacrum (D:8)
  A rat skeleton (D:8)
  4 ballistomycetes (D:8)
  3 fungi
  3 plants
1631 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A swamp worm (Swamp:2)
  A human (D:3)
  A jackal (D:8)
  7 fungi
  22 plants
32 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 1663 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Amy, the Spriggan Wizard, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 9/9 MP: 6/6
     1 | D:1      | Noticed a merfolk
     5 | D:1      | Noticed a draconian
     9 | D:1      | Noticed an elf
     9 | D:1      | Noticed a formicid
    11 | D:1      | Noticed an ogre
    11 | D:1      | Noticed an octopode
    13 | D:1      | Noticed a vine stalker
    13 | D:1      | Noticed a troll
    15 | D:1      | Noticed a centaur
    15 | D:1      | Noticed a vampire
    17 | D:1      | Noticed a naga
    17 | D:1      | Noticed a human
    19 | D:1      | Noticed a demigod
    19 | D:1      | Noticed a dwarf
    21 | D:1      | Noticed a gargoyle
    21 | D:1      | Noticed a spriggan
    23 | D:1      | Noticed a ghoul
    23 | D:1      | Noticed a demonspawn
    25 | D:1      | Noticed a tengu
    25 | D:1      | Noticed a felid
    27 | D:1      | Noticed a minotaur
   447 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 13/13 MP: 4/9
   603 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Blink
   606 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Repel Missiles
   633 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Conjurations
  1116 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 16/16 MP: 13/13
  1215 | D:2      | Noticed Terence
  1557 | D:2      | Killed Terence
  1620 | D:2      | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
  1637 | D:2      | Learned a level 3 spell: Mephitic Cloud
  2052 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 21/21 MP: 17/17
  2753 | D:3      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  2753 | D:3      | Noticed a human
  2756 | D:3      | Killed a human
  2894 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Charms
  2937 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 20/24 MP: 6/19
  3653 | D:4      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  3659 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 28/28 MP: 21/21
  3696 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  3726 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Zin the Law-Giver
  3726 | Temple   | Acquired Zin's first power
  3836 | D:4      | Reached skill level 6 in Spellcasting
  4181 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4352 | D:5      | Noticed Ijyb
  4384 | D:4      | Killed Ijyb
  4418 | D:5      | Got a creamy pearl robe
  4424 | D:5      | Identified the +2 robe "Egubue" {Dam+4 SInv} (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)
  4436 | D:5      | Noticed Eustachio
  4908 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 32/32 MP: 24/24
  4926 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Stealth
  5136 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  5488 | D:5      | Acquired Zin's second power
  5531 | D:5      | Killed Eustachio
  5625 | D:5      | Reached skill level 7 in Spellcasting
  6285 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 36/36 MP: 16/26
  6726 | D:5      | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
  6852 | D:6      | Found a radiant altar of Vehumet.
  6928 | D:6      | Found a shattered altar of Ashenzari.
  7124 | D:5      | Learned a level 2 spell: Call Imp
  7231 | D:5      | Reached skill level 1 in Air Magic
  7592 | D:6      | Was placed under penance by Zin
  7601 | D:6      | Found a bloodstained altar of Trog.
  7814 | D:6      | Found Zeuwn's Antique Weapon Boutique.
  7851 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Translocations
  7915 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Charms
  8320 | D:7      | Noticed Sigmund
  8333 | D:7      | Killed Sigmund
  8333 | D:7      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 39/39 MP: 12/28
  8392 | D:7      | Noticed Crazy Yiuf
  8685 | D:7      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  8726 | D:7      | Found a flagged portal.
  8731 | D:7      | Reached skill level 8 in Stealth
  8757 | Bailey   | Entered a bailey
  9701 | Bailey   | Noticed an orc knight
  9863 | Bailey   | Killed an orc knight
  9863 | Bailey   | Reached skill level 9 in Stealth
 10273 | Bailey   | Noticed an orc warlord
 10341 | Bailey   | Noticed an orc knight
 10417 | Bailey   | Noticed an orc knight
 10648 | D:7      | Found Ifikhli's Jewellery Shop.
 10926 | D:7      | Noticed Menkaure
 11152 | D:7      | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
 11191 | D:7      | Was forgiven by Zin
 11292 | D:7      | Reached skill level 10 in Stealth
 11292 | D:7      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 38/44 MP: 7/30
 11494 | D:7      | Killed Menkaure
 11720 | D:7      | Reached skill level 5 in Air Magic
 12936 | D:7      | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 13075 | D:7      | Killed Crazy Yiuf
 13956 | D:8      | Reached skill level 10 in Spellcasting
 14035 | D:8      | Noticed Blork the orc
 14252 | D:8      | Killed Blork the orc
 14302 | D:8      | Reached skill level 11 in Dodging
 16558 | D:8      | Reached XP level 11. HP: 47/47 MP: 28/32
 17432 | D:9      | Reached skill level 12 in Dodging
 17521 | D:9      | Reached skill level 5 in Conjurations
 17997 | D:9      | Learned a level 4 spell: Passage of Golubria
 18001 | D:9      | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
 18330 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 18330 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 18330 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 18330 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 18330 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 18330 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 18421 | D:9      | Reached skill level 1 in Evocations
 18815 | D:9      | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 18961 | D:9      | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
 18990 | D:9      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 19705 | D:9      | Noticed a fire crab
 19725 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 19968 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 20428 | Lair:1   | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
 20495 | Lair:1   | Found a labyrinth entrance.
 20505 | Lab      | Entered a labyrinth
 20675 | Lab      | Noticed a minotaur
 20716 | Lab      | Killed a minotaur
 20743 | Lab      | Got a warped pewter ring
 20743 | Lab      | Got an ancient golden amulet
 20765 | Lab      | Learned a level 5 spell: Venom Bolt
 20770 | Lab      | Learned a level 4 spell: Iskenderun's Mystic Blast
 21049 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 1 in Poison Magic
 21278 | Lair:1   | Acquired Zin's third power
 21420 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 13 in Dodging
 22365 | Lair:2   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 51/51 MP: 20/35
 23386 | Lair:3   | Noticed an ice dragon
 25593 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 14 in Dodging
 26040 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 1 in Invocations
 26399 | Lair:4   | Noticed an eight-headed hydra
 26411 | Lair:4   | Killed an eight-headed hydra
 27680 | Lair:4   | Identified a scroll of acquirement
 27841 | Lair:4   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 55/55 MP: 15/36
 28488 | Lair:4   | Found a staircase to the Snake Pit.
 28501 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 1 in Fighting
 28501 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 15 in Dodging
 29062 | Snake:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Snake Pit
 31281 | Snake:2  | Found Zaovoez's Weapon Emporium.
 31555 | Snake:2  | Found Vasepn's Gadget Shoppe.
 31671 | Snake:2  | Found Coanuuz's Magic Scroll Emporium.
 31677 | Snake:2  | Bought a scroll of identify for 34 gold pieces
 31677 | Snake:2  | Bought a scroll of blinking for 127 gold pieces
 31677 | Snake:2  | Bought a scroll of identify for 34 gold pieces
 31677 | Snake:2  | Bought a scroll of identify for 34 gold pieces
 31677 | Snake:2  | Bought a scroll of identify for 34 gold pieces
 31935 | Snake:2  | Found Fahaer's Gadget Emporium.
 31990 | Snake:2  | Noticed a greater naga
 32136 | Snake:2  | Killed a greater naga
 32136 | Snake:2  | Reached skill level 16 in Dodging
 32707 | Snake:2  | Found Erhyge's Weapon Shop.
 33874 | Snake:3  | Reached XP level 14. HP: 51/66 MP: 1/38
 34449 | Snake:3  | Noticed a greater naga
 34466 | Snake:3  | Killed a greater naga
 35199 | Snake:3  | Noticed a greater naga
 35210 | Snake:3  | Killed a greater naga
 35210 | Snake:3  | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
 35968 | Snake:3  | Reached skill level 15 in Spellcasting
 36133 | Snake:3  | Reached skill level 17 in Dodging
 38908 | Snake:4  | Noticed Kirke
 39261 | Lair:1   | Learned a level 5 spell: Bolt of Magma
 39271 | Lair:1   | Learned a level 7 spell: Orb of Destruction
 39322 | Lair:5   | Noticed Snorg
 39367 | Lair:5   | Killed Snorg
 41328 | Lair:5   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 41366 | Swamp:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Swamp
 41895 | Swamp:1  | Reached XP level 15. HP: 60/74 MP: 21/39
 42189 | Lair:5   | Reached skill level 5 in Evocations
 42447 | Swamp:1  | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 42526 | Swamp:1  | Reached skill level 18 in Dodging
 43918 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Louise
 44321 | Swamp:2  | Reached skill level 10 in Conjurations
 45510 | Swamp:2  | Identified the amulet "Froeq" {rMut Dex+3 Int+5} (You found it in a labyrinth)
 45569 | Swamp:2  | Killed Louise
 45569 | Swamp:2  | Reached skill level 1 in Fire Magic
 49881 | Swamp:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Swamp
 49898 | Swamp:5  | Reached skill level 19 in Dodging
 49899 | Swamp:5  | Noticed a thorn hunter
 50068 | Swamp:5  | Killed a thorn hunter
 50209 | Swamp:5  | Acquired Zin's fourth power
 51260 | Swamp:5  | Reached XP level 16. HP: 81/81 MP: 21/40
 52495 | Swamp:5  | Reached skill level 5 in Invocations
 54979 | Swamp:5  | Got a decaying rune of Zot
 56697 | Lair:6   | Found a viscous altar of Jiyva.
 56697 | Lair:6   | Found a staircase to the Slime Pits.
 57041 | Slime:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Pits of Slime
 58043 | Lair:8   | Entered Level 8 of the Lair of Beasts
 58389 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 20 in Dodging
 62424 | Snake:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Snake Pit
 62599 | Snake:5  | Reached XP level 17. HP: 85/85 MP: 0/42
 66602 | Snake:5  | Reached skill level 21 in Dodging
 69733 | Snake:5  | Got a serpentine rune of Zot
 70861 | D:10     | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 70897 | D:10     | Found a roughly hewn altar of Beogh.
 71147 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 71147 | Orc:1    | Found Skyzol's Book Boutique.
 71159 | Orc:1    | Bought a book of the Sky for 650 gold pieces
 71167 | Orc:1    | Learned a level 6 spell: Deflect Missiles
 71172 | Orc:1    | Learned a level 4 spell: Airstrike
 71177 | Orc:1    | Learned a level 3 spell: Flight
 73548 | Orc:3    | Reached XP level 18. HP: 90/90 MP: 39/43
 74336 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 74490 | Orc:4    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 75112 | Orc:4    | Found Ymuedgh's Antique Weapon Boutique.
 75112 | Orc:4    | Found Baest's Distillery.
 75112 | Orc:4    | Found Uteihabe's Jewellery Boutique.
 75116 | Orc:4    | Found Duacifei's Book Shop.
 75624 | Orc:4    | Bought a book of Air for 490 gold pieces
 76178 | Orc:4    | Found a roughly hewn altar of Beogh.
 76328 | Orc:4    | Noticed Heather's ghost (powerful NaBe)
 76335 | Orc:4    | Killed Heather's ghost
 76773 | Elf:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Elven Halls
 76773 | Elf:1    | Found Pnimer's Jewellery Shop.
 76894 | Elf:1    | Bought the ring of Egalitarianism {rF+ MR+ Int+3} for 724 gold pieces
 77153 | Orc:4    | Found Guawes' Jewellery Emporium.
 77497 | D:10     | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Whip              |    35 |       |       |       |       |       ||    35
       Quarterstaff      |       |     3 |     2 |     1 |       |       ||     6
       Staff             |       |       |       |     1 |    39 |     2 ||    42
Throw: Dart              |     2 |     2 |     2 |       |       |       ||     6
       Tomahawk          |       |       |     3 |     4 |       |       ||     7
 Cast: Magic Dart        |   142 |   309 |   886 |  1603 |   103 |   484 ||  3527
       Blink             |     1 |     2 |    21 |    23 |    15 |     9 ||    71
       Mephitic Cloud    |       |     6 |    36 |    45 |     8 |    13 ||   108
       Call Imp          |       |       |     3 |       |       |       ||     3
       Repel Missiles    |       |       |     1 |     5 |     4 |     2 ||    12
       Iskenderun's Myst |       |       |       |   277 |   792 |   690 ||  1759
       Conjure Flame     |       |       |       |    32 |    79 |     3 ||   114
       Venom Bolt        |       |       |       |     6 |    12 |     4 ||    22
       Passage of Golubr |       |       |       |     1 |     2 |     3 ||     6
       Bolt of Magma     |       |       |       |       |   191 |   259 ||   450
       Orb of Destructio |       |       |       |       |       |   138 ||   138
       Deflect Missiles  |       |       |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
Invok: Vitalisation      |       |       |       |     1 |       |     1 ||     2
       Recite            |       |       |       |       |     3 |    11 ||    14
       Imprison          |       |       |       |       |       |     2 ||     2
 Abil: Evoke Flight      |       |       |       |     1 |    10 |     1 ||    12
       Stop Flying       |       |       |       |     1 |       |       ||     1
Evoke: Wand              |       |       |    20 |    17 |    15 |    10 ||    62
  Use: Scroll            |    10 |     5 |     8 |    14 |    18 |     8 ||    63
       Potion            |       |     5 |     3 |     7 |     3 |     5 ||    23



> have a lot of teleport charges or controlled blink, especially if you have regeneration

I do have a ring of teleport control, I think (I may have left it in my stash), but I'm not actually very sure how it works.

> lacks crowd killing.

Yes, it's true. IMB is kind of area-effect, but only at very close range, where I don't really want to be. Bolt of Magma can hit multiple targets, but again, only at really close range. Which spells should I look out for?
OoD was really useful in Snake 5, though (the hardest level I've been on, by far, I think; had some very hairy moments with guardian serpents); I don't think I'd have managed it without.

> explored Vaults 1-4 and Depths

Is that the right order? I wasn't sure, actually.

The eagle-eyed might spot a newbie mistake here:

7124 | D:5 | Learned a level 2 spell: Call Imp
7592 | D:6 | Was placed under penance by Zin

Oh, and I probably should have mentioned I'm playing 0.14, though I don't know how much difference that makes.

[greedo]

Well for ring of teleport you just need to hit a to use ability, and then teleport. However, to use it reliably you'd need a bunch more evocations, and don't forget to take the darned thing off haha. Luckily, as a spriggan, you shouldn't have any trouble raising evocations. Generally better is to save a wand of teleport and recharge scrolls and also use teleport scrolls.

As for crowd control, hard to say. Cloud spells are good, ozoc freezing, summon spamming, I've seen poison arrow to good effect. Really we'd have to see what books you have available.

But honestly, I would also get a weapon. You're probably going to have a hard time keeping mana up as a spriggan of zin towards the end game.

As for the "right" order, V1-4, then depths, then 3rd rune is generally it yeah.

But yeah, as for abyss, what kills you in the abyss is that you can't just hit 5 and refill health on abyss 3-5. Without regeneration or relaible healing sources like a wand of healing, you can be in serious trouble. The wand of digging will help a lot there, but it's not a cakewalk for any character.

[Airwolf]

Clear the rest of the Dungeon, then Vaults:1-4, then all of Depths. Then post another dump for more advice. Also, pick up a good short blade or demon blade and train it a bit.

[Turukano]

I'm thinking the character is probably fairly well-suited to the Abyss, given the speed and stealth. And Vaults 5 scares me a bit from what I've read. But everyone seems to recommend Vaults for the 3rd rune. Thoughts?

You might be interested in tasonir's topic What 3rd rune is easiest for most characters to get? as well.

Good luck!