Shield?

[arandomperson12]

http://crawl.berotato.org/crawl/morgue/ ... rson12.txt> in this circumstance, should I train shields, as I have one that gives MR+. Also, I have not yet found a book of earth. What is supposed to be my main attack spell right now? What should I train?

[tasonir]

that hyphen you typed got sucked into the link, but his actual morgue is here:

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.18.1-47-g9310371 (webtiles) character file.

arandomperson12 the Geomancer (GrEE)               Turns: 48046, Time: 04:11:09

Health: 84/84      AC: 28    Str: 14    XL:     14   Next: 85%
Magic:  18/30      EV: 17    Int: 19    God:    Vehumet [*****.]
Gold:   925        SH:  2    Dex: 15    Spells: 9 memorised, 10 levels left

rFire  . . .      SeeInvis .    I - staff of earth
rCold  . . .      Gourm    .    G - +2 robe {MR+}
rNeg   + . .      Faith    .    (no shield)
rPois  ∞          Spirit   .    M - +2 helmet
rElec  +          Dismiss  .    z - +0 cloak
rCorr  .          Reflect  .    v - +0 pair of gloves
SustAt .          Harm     .    q - +2 pair of boots
MR     ++...                    (no amulet)
Stlth  +++.......               F - +3 ring of protection
                                K - +5 ring of dexterity

@: flying, repel missiles, very resistant to hostile enchantments, fairly
stealthy
A: big wings, large bone plates 1, camouflage 1, negative energy resistance 1,
electricity resistance, unbreathing, petrification resistance, rot immunity, AC
+9
a: Stop Flying, Renounce Religion


You are on level 12 of the Dungeon.
You worship Vehumet.
Vehumet is extremely pleased with you.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 4 branches of the dungeon, and seen 22 of its levels.
You have also visited: Labyrinth, Ossuary and Volcano.

You have collected 1900 gold pieces.
You have spent 975 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand Weapons
 E - a +3 whip of flaming
Missiles
 b - 572 stones (quivered)
 r - 6 throwing nets
 V - 8 tomahawks of dispersal
Armour
 q - a +2 pair of boots (worn)
 v - a +0 pair of gloves (worn)
 z - a +0 cloak (worn)
 G - a +2 robe of magic resistance (worn)
 M - a +2 helmet (worn)
 X - the +1 shield of the Good {MR+ Str+2}
   (You found it in a labyrinth)   
   
   It affects your strength (+2).
   It affects your resistance to hostile enchantments.
Magical Staves
 I - an uncursed staff of earth (weapon)
Jewellery
 c - an uncursed ring of ice
 F - a +3 ring of protection (right hand)
 J - an uncursed ring of positive energy
 K - a +5 ring of dexterity (left hand)
 U - an uncursed ring of sustain attributes
 W - an uncursed ring of fire
Wands
 a - a wand of heal wounds (7/9)
 m - a wand of digging (10/24)
 n - a wand of disintegration (14/24)
 O - a wand of teleportation (4/9)
 T - a wand of heal wounds (3/9)
 Y - a wand of lightning (8/15)
Scrolls
 i - 7 scrolls of remove curse
 k - 2 scrolls of recharging
 t - 5 scrolls of teleportation
 S - a scroll of fear
Potions
 e - 4 potions of curing
 g - 2 potions of berserk rage
 j - a potion of heal wounds
 u - a potion of brilliance
 x - 2 potions of haste
 A - 2 potions of cure mutation
 C - a potion of ambrosia
 H - a potion of agility
 L - a potion of resistance
 N - 2 potions of magic
Books
 p - a Fen Folio   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Corpse Rot                   Necromancy                    2
    b - Stone Arrow                  Conjuration/Earth             3
    c - Leda's Liquefaction          Hexes/Earth                   4
    d - Summon Forest                Summoning/Translocation       5
    e - Hydra Form                   Transmutation                 6
    f - Summon Hydra                 Summoning                     7
Miscellaneous
 o - a phial of floods
 s - a box of beasts
Comestibles
 d - 8 bread rations
 f - 4 chunks of flesh
 l - a meat ration


   Skills:
 - Level 8.0 Fighting
 - Level 5.2 Maces & Flails
 - Level 7.0 Armour
 - Level 8.0 Dodging
 - Level 2.1 Stealth
 - Level 4.1 Shields
 - Level 12.0 Spellcasting
 - Level 9.1 Conjurations
 - Level 4.0 Charms
 - Level 3.1 Summonings
 - Level 0.7 Transmutations
 + Level 8.0 Fire Magic
 - Level 3.3 Air Magic
 - Level 12.0 Earth Magic


You have 10 spell levels left.
You know the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Failure   Level  Hunger
b - Stone Arrow           Conj/Erth      ######       1%          3    None
c - Lee's Rapid Deconstr  Erth           ######....   1%          5    ####...
d - Fulminant Prism       Conj/Hex       ####......   3%          4    ##.....
e - Passwall              Trmt/Erth      ######....   1%          2    None
f - Conjure Flame         Conj/Fire      #####...     1%          3    None
g - Repel Missiles        Chrm/Air       ##....       1%          2    None
h - Swiftness             Chrm/Air       ##......     1%          2    None
i - Summon Butterflies    Summ           ###.....     1%          1    None
j - Fireball              Conj/Fire      #####.....   1%          5    ####...


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (13/15)            Temple (1/1) D:5            Lair (7/8) D:8
 Shoals (0/4) Lair:4       Spider (0/4) Lair:3        Slime (0/6) Lair:7
    Orc (1/2) D:10       
Vaults: D:13-14     

Altars:
Ashenzari
Cheibriados
Dithmenos
Elyvilon
Fedhas
Gozag
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Nemelex Xobeh
Okawaru
Pakellas
Qazlal
Ru
Sif Muna
Trog
Vehumet
Xom
Yredelemnul
Zin
The Shining One
Jiyva

Shops:
D:8 *

Portals:
Trove: D:12 (give +7 demon whip)


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
Your stone body is resilient (AC +9).
You are immune to poison.
Your large and strong wings let you fly indefinitely.
You resist negative energy.
You are resistant to electric shocks.
You can survive without breathing.
You are immune to petrification.
You are immune to rotting.
You are partially covered in large bone plates (AC +2, SH +2).
Your skin changes colour to match your surroundings (Stealth).


Message History

Confirm with . or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
Aiming: Stone Arrow
Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f/p - cyclops
Aim: a cyclops (heavily wounded)
You feel a surge of power! The stone arrow hits the cyclops.
The cyclops is almost dead.
Casting: Stone Arrow
Confirm with . or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
Aiming: Stone Arrow
Press: ? - help, Shift-Dir - straight line, f/p - cyclops
Aim: a cyclops (almost dead)
You feel a surge of power! The stone arrow hits the cyclops.
You kill the cyclops!
Vehumet accepts your kill.
Your Shields skill increases to level 4!
You see here a cyclops corpse.
You butcher the cyclops corpse.
You see here 4 chunks of flesh.
f - 4 chunks of flesh
Save game and exit?

       #.#   ####.#####
       #.#      #.####
       #.#      #....#
       #(#      ####.###
       #.#         #...#
########'###    ######.##
#..........#  ###.......#
#..........####.(.......#
#........@.'....#.......#
#..........######...).).##
#..........#    #.>)......
#..........#    #..†.)(.##
#..........#    #.......#
############    #########


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  A minotaur (Lab)
  Josephine (D:11)
  Harold (D:11)
  Erica (Lair:1)
  2 hydras
  Urug (D:11)
  Nergalle (Lair:1)
  A fire crab (Lair:7)
  2 skeletal warriors (D:12)
  2 unseen horrors
  2 hill giants
  Pikel (D:7)
  A wolf spider (Lair:3)
  A cyclops (D:12)
  The ghost of Zeor the Archer, a novice HEHu (Ossuary)
  An oklob plant (Lair:6)
  A griffon (Lair:6)
  2 manticores (D:11)
  8 elephants
  Maurice (D:9)
  A salamander (Volcano)
  Joseph (D:7)
  A torpor snail (Lair:6)
  10 spiny frogs
  3 black mambas
  4 rime drakes
  4 gargoyles (Lab)
  7 komodo dragons
  A jumping spider (Lair:3)
  2 two-headed ogres
  A troll (shapeshifter) (D:12)
  2 trolls
  Grinder (D:3)
  3 polar bears
  8 blink frogs
  Sigmund (D:4)
  A spriggan (Lair:3)
  5 wyverns
  3 redbacks (Lab)
  5 wraiths
  46 yaks
  Grum (Lair:1)
  7 basilisks
  2 fire bats (Volcano)
  5 humans
  7 hungry ghosts
  2 vampire mosquitoes (D:12)
  5 hippogriffs
  5 steam dragons
  13 water moccasins
  A warg (Orc:1)
  9 porcupines
  3 sky beasts
  2 slaves (D:7)
  4 black bears
  An eye of draining (D:11)
  15 orc warriors
  2 wasps
  7 ice beasts
  3 phantoms
  2 necrophages
  8 wolves
  13 centaurs
  12 ogres
  15 crocodiles
  2 big kobolds
  Blork the orc (D:4)
  29 giant frogs
  A wyvern zombie (D:9)
  2 scorpions
  19 killer bees
  5 electric eels
  4 crimson imps
  2 jellies
  3 giant frog zombies
  2 quasits (D:12)
  7 giant frog skeletons
  16 orc priests
  Crazy Yiuf (D:7)
  4 centaur zombies
  6 hounds
  18 orc wizards
  A human zombie (Ossuary)
  10 iguanas
  Ijyb (D:2)
  9 worker ants
  14 sheep
  2 big kobold zombies (Ossuary)
  A hound zombie (D:7)
  3 hound skeletons
  2 mummies (Ossuary)
  A worker ant zombie (D:8)
  A gnoll (D:6)
  22 adders
  59 river rats
  3 shadow imps (D:5)
  4 adder skeletons
  3 worms
  4 dart slugs
  10 giant geckos
  76 orcs
  A bat zombie (D:2)
  4 giant cockroaches
  2 gnoll zombies (Ossuary)
  17 goblins
  6 hobgoblins
  9 jackals
  3 quokkas
  2 ball python skeletons
  A ball python zombie (D:3)
  27 bats
  A giant cockroach zombie (D:2)
  2 giant gecko skeletons
  2 giant gecko zombies (D:2)
  20 giant newts
  2 goblin zombies (Ossuary)
  3 hobgoblin zombies (Ossuary)
  21 kobolds
  3 orc zombies (Ossuary)
  A quokka skeleton (D:2)
  18 rats
  A bush (Lair:6)
  A fungus (Lair:6)
  3 plants
784 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  2 slaves (D:7)
  5 orcs (D:7)
  10 fulminant prisms
  17 fungi
  57 plants
91 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 875 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | arandomperson12 the Gargoyle Earth Elementalist began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 10/10 MP: 3/3
   346 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 15/15 MP: 1/5
  1340 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 19/19 MP: 5/7
  1471 | D:1      | Learned a level 3 spell: Stone Arrow
  2011 | D:2      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  2415 | D:2      | Reached skill level 5 in Earth Magic
  2415 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 20/24 MP: 0/8
  3202 | D:2      | Found a stormy altar of Qazlal.
  3504 | D:2      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  3647 | D:2      | Noticed Ijyb
  3654 | D:2      | Killed Ijyb
  3654 | D:2      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 28/28 MP: 6/10
  4067 | D:3      | Noticed Grinder
  4067 | D:3      | Paralysed by Grinder for 5 turns
  4240 | D:2      | Noticed a water moccasin
  4253 | D:2      | Killed a water moccasin
  4253 | D:2      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 25/32 MP: 1/12
  5542 | D:3      | Killed Grinder
  5542 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Conjurations
  5542 | D:3      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 17/36 MP: 2/13
  6428 | D:3      | Found an oddly glowing altar of Pakellas.
  6674 | D:4      | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
  6725 | D:4      | Noticed Blork the orc
  7242 | D:4      | Killed Blork the orc
  7242 | D:4      | Reached skill level 1 in Armour
  8226 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Fighting
  8624 | D:4      | Noticed Sigmund
  8629 | D:4      | Killed Sigmund
  8629 | D:4      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 40/47 MP: 14/14
  8925 | D:4      | Learned a level 5 spell: Lee's Rapid Deconstruction
  8946 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  8946 | D:5      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  9016 | Temple   | Entered the Ecumenical Temple
  9106 | Temple   | Became a worshipper of Vehumet
 11304 | D:6      | Found a shadowy altar of Dithmenos.
 11424 | D:5      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 48/52 MP: 0/16
 11537 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
 11895 | D:6      | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
 12028 | D:6      | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
 13126 | D:7      | Found a sand-covered staircase.
 13136 | Ossuary  | Entered an ossuary
 13139 | Ossuary  | Noticed Zeor's ghost (novice HEHu)
 13206 | Ossuary  | Killed Zeor's ghost
 13223 | Ossuary  | Reached * piety under Vehumet
 13223 | Ossuary  | Offered knowledge of Sting by Vehumet.
 13632 | D:7      | Noticed Crazy Yiuf
 13833 | D:7      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 56/56 MP: 12/23
 13995 | D:6      | Offered knowledge of Freeze by Vehumet.
 14124 | D:6      | Reached ** piety under Vehumet
 15215 | D:7      | Noticed Joseph
 15244 | D:7      | Killed Joseph
 15244 | D:7      | Reached skill level 5 in Armour
 15455 | D:7      | Noticed Pikel
 15495 | D:7      | Killed Pikel
 15911 | D:7      | Killed Crazy Yiuf
 16687 | D:7      | Reached skill level 1 in Maces & Flails
 16753 | D:7      | Offered knowledge of Throw Frost by Vehumet.
 17701 | D:8      | Reached *** piety under Vehumet
 18875 | D:8      | Reached XP level 11. HP: 61/61 MP: 14/24
 18877 | D:8      | Offered knowledge of Fulminant Prism by Vehumet.
 18883 | D:8      | Learned a level 4 spell: Fulminant Prism
 18976 | D:8      | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 19005 | D:8      | Reached skill level 5 in Maces & Flails
 19128 | D:8      | Found Ykkuucoa's Elemental Accessories.
 19140 | D:8      | Bought an uncursed staff of earth for 375 gold pieces
 19905 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 20016 | Lair:1   | Noticed Grum
 20042 | Lair:1   | Killed Grum
 20200 | Lair:1   | Found a dark tunnel.
 20214 | Volcano  | Entered a volcano
 20369 | Volcano  | Noticed a salamander
 20383 | Volcano  | Killed a salamander
 20713 | Volcano  | Noticed a salamander
 21107 | Lair:1   | Noticed Nergalle
 21114 | Lair:1   | Killed Nergalle
 21526 | Lair:1   | Noticed Erica
 21537 | Lair:1   | Killed Erica
 21537 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 10 in Earth Magic
 22420 | D:8      | Reached **** piety under Vehumet
 23200 | Lair:1   | Learned a level 2 spell: Passwall
 23238 | Lair:1   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 43/66 MP: 16/25
 23423 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
 24156 | Lair:2   | Offered knowledge of Conjure Flame by Vehumet.
 24166 | Lair:2   | Learned a level 3 spell: Conjure Flame
 25339 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 1 in Fire Magic
 25905 | Lair:3   | Found a hole to the Spider Nest.
 26374 | Lair:3   | Got a heavily jewelled robe
 26386 | Lair:3   | Identified the cursed +0 robe of Protective Custody {Int+4} (You took it off a spriggan on level 3 of the Lair of Beasts)
 26831 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 5 in Fire Magic
 26835 | Lair:3   | Learned a level 2 spell: Repel Missiles
 26838 | Lair:3   | Learned a level 2 spell: Swiftness
 26943 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 1 in Air Magic
 27123 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 1 in Charms
 28770 | Lair:4   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 74/78 MP: 17/26
 29105 | Lair:4   | Found a staircase to the Shoals.
 29279 | Lair:4   | Reached ***** piety under Vehumet
 29279 | Lair:4   | Offered knowledge of Force Lance by Vehumet.
 29800 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 10 in Spellcasting
 30491 | Lair:5   | Learned a level 1 spell: Summon Butterflies
 30756 | Lair:5   | Reached skill level 1 in Summonings
 36567 | Lair:7   | Found a staircase to the Slime Pits.
 36567 | Lair:7   | Found a viscous altar of Jiyva.
 37286 | D:9      | Noticed Maurice
 37289 | D:9      | Killed Maurice
 37806 | D:9      | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
 38420 | D:9      | Gained mutation: Your skin changes colour to match your surroundings (Stealth). [potion of beneficial mutation]
 38611 | D:8      | Bought a phial of floods for 600 gold pieces
 38631 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 38757 | D:10     | Offered knowledge of Fireball by Vehumet.
 38765 | D:10     | Learned a level 5 spell: Fireball
 39240 | D:10     | Identified the Handbook of Creative Stones (You found it on level 10 of the Dungeon)
 39384 | D:10     | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 39805 | D:10     | Gained mutation: You are partially covered in large bone plates (AC +2, SH +2). [potion of beneficial mutation]
 40689 | D:10     | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
 40876 | D:10     | Gained mutation: Your large and strong wings let you fly indefinitely. [Gargoyle growth]
 40876 | D:10     | Reached XP level 14. HP: 84/84 MP: 15/30
 41176 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 41226 | Orc:1    | Noticed an orc warlord
 41509 | D:11     | Noticed Harold
 41660 | D:11     | Offered knowledge of Poison Arrow by Vehumet.
 41668 | D:11     | Killed Harold
 42340 | D:11     | Noticed Josephine
 42344 | D:11     | Killed Josephine
 42626 | D:11     | Noticed Urug
 42632 | D:11     | Killed Urug
 44158 | D:12     | Found a labyrinth entrance.
 44203 | Lab      | Entered a labyrinth
 45124 | Lab      | Got a heavily runed shield
 45130 | Lab      | Identified the +1 shield of the Good {MR+ Str+2} (You found it in a labyrinth)
 46854 | D:12     | Reached skill level 1 in Shields
 47130 | D:12     | Found a portal to a secret trove of treasure.
 47367 | D:12     | Offered knowledge of Orb of Destruction by Vehumet.

Skill      XL: |  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 |
---------------+-------------------------------------------+-----
Earth Magic    |  4     5              8     9 12          | 12.0
Spellcasting   |        3     4           9          12    | 12.0
Conjurations   |              3  5              9          |  9.1
Dodging        |                    3                 5  8 |  8.0
Armour         |                    3        7             |  7.0
Fighting       |                    3  4           8       |  8.0
Maces & Flails |                             4  5          |  5.2
Fire Magic     |                                   5     8 |  8.0
Air Magic      |                                   3       |  3.3
Charms         |                                   4       |  4.0
Summonings     |                                      3    |  3.1
Shields        |                                         4 |  4.1
Stealth        |                                           |  2.1
Transmutations |                                           |  0.7

Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 | 13-15 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Dagger            |     4 |    14 |    47 |    45 |       ||   110
       Whip              |       |       |       |    21 |       ||    21
       Staff             |       |       |       |    78 |   141 ||   219
Throw: Stone             |     1 |     2 |       |     7 |    29 ||    39
 Cast: Sandblast         |    68 |   114 |   301 |     5 |     1 ||   489
       Stone Arrow       |       |       |    57 |   528 |   681 ||  1266
       Fulminant Prism   |       |       |       |     5 |     5 ||    10
       Conjure Flame     |       |       |       |     6 |    21 ||    27
       Repel Missiles    |       |       |       |     1 |     7 ||     8
       Lee's Rapid Decon |       |       |       |       |    34 ||    34
       Summon Butterflie |       |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
       Fireball          |       |       |       |       |    24 ||    24
 Abil: Fly               |       |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
Evoke: Wand              |       |     3 |     4 |       |    20 ||    27
  Use: Scroll            |     3 |     5 |     8 |    15 |    17 ||    48
       Potion            |       |       |     1 |     4 |     3 ||     8
 Stab: Sleeping          |     1 |     1 |       |       |     1 ||     3
       Distracted        |       |       |       |     1 |     1 ||     2
  Eat: Chunk             |     5 |     9 |    21 |    25 |    43 ||   103
       Bread ration      |       |       |     1 |     1 |       ||     2
       Pizza             |       |       |     1 |     1 |     3 ||     5
       Beef jerky        |       |       |     1 |     1 |       ||     2
       Royal jelly       |       |       |       |     2 |       ||     2
       Fruit             |       |       |       |     1 |     6 ||     7
       Meat ration       |       |       |       |     2 |     4 ||     6
Armor: Robe              |     1 |       |       |   153 |   247 ||   401
       Leather armour    |    17 |    56 |   173 |   164 |       ||   410
Dodge: Dodged            |    32 |    56 |   219 |   408 |   258 ||   973
       Deflected         |       |       |       |       |    14 ||    14
Block: Other             |       |       |       |       |    14 ||    14


Also for character dumps (rather than actual morgues of dead characters) this will get overwritten the next time you dump, so usually people post them on code blocks like I did. In general, don't assume that just because you started as an EE, that you're going to get high level earth spells. You may have to branch out, and it's generally a good idea to do so. If you have any decent fire/ice/air damage spells, consider them. Stone arrow/LRD are a pretty good package and you can go further on them, although it'll get somewhat harder in a while. Veh should gift you something useful before too long, though.

And raising up melee is always a good idea, imho. A staff of earth is not typically considered a melee weapon, although with high enough skills it can be decent. The problem is why train 30* skills for a weapon when you can find a normal weapon and train 15 skills for 'full' damage? As a gargoyle you might actually have the AC to get away with it, but eh. You should probably use a shield, you have some shield skill, and it wouldn't be too hard to get enough that your spell success rate doesn't tank completely. A buckler is basically free defenses for you, a shield is still a bit of an investment, but that shield of the good has some MR, which is always nice, especially if you ever change your robe, you'll need it.

*The staff only becomes good at roughly min delay for staves (I think this is 14? been a while), 20 earth, and 20 evocations. Most melee weapons ask for around 14-20 skill. I only mention this because you seem to be using it in melee but you haven't trained any staff skill or evocations, which seems very odd. It needs both, as well as earth.

[arandomperson12]

I'm not really using the staff for melee that much, except for some popcorn. It helps increase power for lrd. Should I train more fire magic for fireball? Also, I corrected the dump. I think that it auto updates whenever I save.
Edit: Found Book of Earth in shoals, after managing to escape abyss (MR high enough to make banishment spell unlikely, but a merfolk had a distortion trident).