Wednesday, 17th October 2012, 05:10 by BountyHunterSAx
So, I'm gonna go out on a limb and contradict the repost of Cerebovssquire's advice. I think it's actually a really bad idea - at your current level of play - to follow it. Doing that sort of thing assumes you have a lot of skill and can work without the padding of bonus EXP.
In general, the way I view it, you are looking for *every* source of experience you can stack in order of how safe it is to get that exp as you go, at least until your main skills are trained. I've recently successfully run an MiBe (my first try - woot), so here's some specific advice.
* Fighting, Axes/Polearms (whatever you're using), Unarmed Combat, Armor, and Dodging are all you'll need to level until Orc:4 is cleared. 8-12 levels in T&D is nice eventually but yeah.
* The "easiest" order in *general* to clear things is D:1->13, Lair:1-3. When you're ready to deal with hydras and spiny frogs, push Lair:4->8. If you're not ready, break for just Orc:1 to buff out your trog piety so you can have brothers in arms and/or a new gifted weapon to deal wit with. DO NOT give in to the temptation to try Orc:2 yet, as the odds of you getting into a nasty situation are too high. Once you've finished clearing out the Lair, head on over to the Orcish mines. DO NOT feel obligated to complete Orc:4. If the layout isn't good, or your defenses are still crap you can come back here later. Being banished to the abyss or swarmed by hostile High Orc Priests/Sorcerer summons will likely prove fatal! Still, if you've got tele scrolls, control blink, reasonable defenses, or are "good enough to handle it", then Orc:4 should be clearable at this time.
*Now's the point you're getting stuck at, right? IF (big if!) you have poison resist, Snake:1 poses almost no challenge. Worst will be 2-3 anacondas and a viper or two (barring uniques). Snake:2-4 are similar, but you'll have to contend with some legit fighters and mages as well. Snake:5 you should avoid for now. This branch will help you level your skills and possibly find good items/consumables. DO NOT ATTEMPT without rPois!
The Swamp is simpler, but trickier. Simpler in that the enemy roster (vampiric mosquitoes, blink-clouds, swamp leech, swamp worm, bog mummy, swamp drake, swamp dragon, alligators/crocodiles, hydras) is decidedly less dangerous in general. More complicated in that terrain is a real pain to work through... and mistakes can get you killed. In particular: fighting an alligator while it is in the water is a death sentence. Being mephitic'd by a swamp dragon/drake is a likely death sentence.
Still, swamp will likely be where you can get your first rune. If you're strong enough to kill hydras, and swamp dragons reliably then you've got the strength you need to win it. Again, in general, I only recommend 1-2 floors worth of "exp-scumming" at this point, unless you're confident.
[[SideNote: DO NOT engage Wiglaf, Aizul, Mennas, or Sant Roka at this time! They are suited better for Lvl18 (minimum) and up. I repeat: if you see these fellows in snake/swamp DROP that branch and go elsewhere!]]
* Main Dungeon -> vaults next. You're really looking to get into the vaults sooner here. ALso, be sure you leave yourself a cache of scrolls in the Lair including your enchant armour/weap I,II,IIIs, and your cure mutation pots. I also like to keep at least a1 restore abilitiy and 2 or so wound/curing in stock. This is because you are VERY LIKELY to start suffering consumable loss due to cold/hot as you proceed and there's little you can do about it barring preservation.
* When clearing the Vaults, I *strongly* recommend a side-stop in the Crypt. ESPECIALLY if you're not planning on an extended endgame with a TSO-switch later on. Bone Dragons, Rotting Ghouls, and Skeleton Knights are the toughest customers you're regularly encounter here. While Ancient Lich's and such may be on floor 5, and curse skulls (avoidable) are here too, these are kind of a non-factor. Clearing Crypt 1-4 is a really easy source of bonus EXP to help you pad out your skills along with get some more consumables. ... Just do *NOT* attempt to do the Tomb. You will regret it...or die. Quite possibly both.
*Do not do Vault:8. Vault:8 requires planning and is best saved for later. Go back and get runes from Snake/Swamp now. You are also strong enough to attempt shoals, assuming you can levitate as well as spider pit. Once you have 2 lair runes, come up with a V:8 strategy and clear it.
-AHMAD
My Wins (>25):15-runer: OPWz, DECj, DEWz x2, VpWz
Other: DEWz, DrWz, DjWz, GnIE, KeCj, SpEn, SpWz, SpCj, MuWz, FeWzx2, MiBe x7.
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