CIP: First real weapon?

[Rast]

DrWn^Gozag, just bought weapon shop as my first shop. There are four decent options, all in the $500-$700 range:

+6 scimitar of electrocution (504 gold)
+5 scythe "Finisher" {speed, Str+3} (567 gold)
+6 hunting sling "Ethub" {freeze, *Drain rElec Dex+4} (594 gold)
+6 shortbow of Okawaru's Approval {freeze, *Drain rElec rC+ Str+2}

So, which one should I buy?

Finisher seems the obvious choice, as it's the most Zot-viable. But I know I'm going to find and switch to a better weapon before then.
My inclination is to go with the shortbow and train it up to 10 or 12 while I wait for my endgame weapon.
The scimitar is nice, but ranged >> melee, and I don't have a shield.
The sling is nice also, but only 33 bullets vs 175 arrows.

My current skills (not that they matter):
a + Fighting 10.0
e - Maces & Flails 5.1
f - Polearms 4.3
g - Staves 7.3
k - Dodging 6.4
n - Evocations 4.7
o - Stealth 3.1

[Airwolf]

*Drain would piss me off on a ranged weapon so I vote scimitar.

[Siegurt]

I would also vote scimitar, its also enchantable, which is another point in its favor

[Reptisaurus]

I like the bow if you have 175 arrows. None of those are gonna be your end-game weapon, unless you get super unlucky. But bows are (overall) the best weapon class of the 4, and that will tide you over 'till you find a longbow.

[4Hooves2Appendages]

Normally these questions have someone say 'How often are you going to find unrandart X? Just use that, it's fun!' Unfortunately, 'Finisher' is really quite boring, and not even that great. Sure, 14 base damage at 0.5 speed is nice, but it's only +5 and requires way too much XP. The best I can say is: How often are you going to kill things with a scythe?

The bow is the best weapon there I guess. Arrows are usually pretty available as well, especially once Centaur bands start showing up.

[Rast]

Thanks all. I went with the bow, found vamp laj on Lair:3, waited until finishing lair and orc to switch to it.

http://crawl.akrasiac.org/rawdata/rast/ ... 061740.txt

[Airwolf]

Congrats! Nice win.