[What did I do wrong?] A Deep Dwarf Healer question list

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

Subj. Apart from quitting the game instead of pacifying all the monsters around with his wand of healing and then quickly finding something to chew.

Tried a Deep Dwarf Healer, and the very first one went quite far. He even managed to defeat Sigmund in melee and had a nice fight against a nigh invulnerable invisible orc wizard.
However, he could not pacify some creatures like Rupert, zombies and slime creatures that were eager to merge with each other.

Almost all the experience went into Invocations.

Was it a wrong choice for a believer of Elyvilon?
I did not plan to switch to The Shining One later, having been inspired with 78291's ascension.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.9.1 character file.

31140 Medic the Purifying Dwarf (level 13, 62/109 (111) HPs)
             Began as a Deep Dwarf Healer on Sept 2, 2011.
             Was an Elder of Elyvilon.
             Quit the game on Level 17 of the Dungeon on Sept 4, 2011.
             The game lasted 02:23:34 (19121 turns).

Medic the Purifying Dwarf (Deep Dwarf Healer)                      Turns: 19121, Time: 02:23:34

HP  62/109 (111) AC  7     Str 17 (19) XL: 13   Next: 19%
MP  22/31        EV 18     Int 14 (15) God: Elyvilon [****..]
Gold 1209        SH  0     Dex 15      Spells:  4 memorised, 13 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : +    k - +3,+6 quarterstaff
Res.Cold  : + . .   Warding    : . .  B - +2 robe {rN+}
Life Prot.: + . .   Conserve   : .    (no shield)
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    C - +2 dwarf helmet
Res.Poison: +       Clarity    : .    (no cloak)
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    (no gloves)
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    (no boots)
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    (no amulet)
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : +    t - ring "Padisask" {rPois rC+ Dex+3}
Saprovore : . . .   Ctrl.Flight: .    w - ring of see invisible

@: non-regenerating, levitating, badly diseased, quite resistant to hostile enchantments, very
stealthy
A: damage resistance, sense surroundings 2, slow healing 3
a: Device Recharging, Lesser Healing, Lesser Self-Healing, Divine Protection, Purification,
Greater Healing, Greater Self-Healing, Restoration, Renounce Religion


You were on level 17 of the Dungeon.
You worshipped Elyvilon.
Elyvilon was greatly pleased with you.
You were starving.

You visited 3 branches of the dungeon, and saw 25 of its levels.

You collected 1109 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 k - a +3,+6 quarterstaff (weapon)
Missiles
 e - 12 +0 stones (quivered)
Armour
 B - a +2 robe of positive energy (worn)
 C - a +2 dwarven helmet (worn)
Magical devices
 b - a wand of healing (5)
 c - a wand of disintegration (4)
 i - a wand of teleportation (2)
 j - a wand of teleportation (6)
 n - a wand of digging (8)
 z - a wand of digging (7)
 F - a wand of enslavement (6)
 H - a wand of polymorph other (3)
 K - a wand of teleportation (4)
 L - a wand of digging (12)
 M - a wand of fireball (10)
Scrolls
 a - 4 scrolls of remove curse
 g - 2 scrolls of detect curse
 h - 3 scrolls of teleportation
 l - 2 scrolls of enchant armour
 o - 6 scrolls of fog
 p - a scroll of enchant weapon II
 q - 2 scrolls of magic mapping
 r - a scroll of amnesia
 u - a scroll of fear
 D - 4 scrolls of enchant weapon I
 G - 2 scrolls of holy word
 J - a scroll of vulnerability
Jewellery
 t - the ring "Padisask" (right hand) {rPois rC+ Dex+3}
   (You found it on level 14 of the Dungeon)   
   
   [ring of protection from cold]
   
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It protects you from poison.
 w - a ring of see invisible (left hand)
Potions
 f - a potion of resistance
 v - 2 potions of healing
Books
 A - a book of Party Tricks   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Summon Butterflies                 Summoning                    1
   *Apportation                       Translocation                1
   Projected Noise                    Hexes                        2
   *Blink                             Translocation                2
   *Levitation                        Charms/Air                   2
   Alistair's Intoxication            Transmutation/Poison         4
Magical staves
 d - a staff of power
 E - a +2 rod of smiting (16/16)
   (You found it on level 2 of the Lair of Beasts)


   Skills:
 + Level 7 Fighting
 - Level 2 Staves
 - Level 1 Throwing
 + Level 9 Dodging
 - Level 9 Stealth
 - Level 1 Stabbing
 - Level 1 Traps & Doors
 - Level 4 Spellcasting
 - Level 1 Translocations
 * Level 23 Invocations
 - Level 1 Evocations


You had 13 spell levels left.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power        Success   Level  Hunger
a - Apportation           Tloc           ##........   Very Good   1    None
b - Blink                 Tloc           N/A          Good        2    Strawberry
c - Levitation            Air/Chrm       #.........   Fair        2    Strawberry
d - Freezing Aura         Ice/Chrm       #.........   Fair        2    Strawberry


Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (17/27)            Temple (0/1) D:4            Lair (8/8) D:9
  Swamp (0/5) Lair:4        Snake (1/5) Lair:3     
   Orc: D:6-11       Slime: Lair:6-8      Hive: D:11-16      Vault: D:14-19

Altars:
Kikubaaqudgha

Shops:
D:10: (

Annotations
D:13 exclusion: door
D:14 exclusion: large zombie


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to damage.
You can recharge devices by infusing magical energy.
You passively map the area around you.
You do not heal naturally.


Message History

The vampire mosquito closely misses you.
The vampire mosquito barely misses you.
You miscast Blink. Strange energies run through your body.
The vampire mosquito closely misses you.
The vampire mosquito bites you. The vampire mosquito misses you.
The vampire mosquito barely misses you.
Use which ability? (? or * to list)
Press: ? - help, Dir - move target cursor, f - draconian, p - centaur
Heal: A draconian
Elyvilon supports your offer of peace. The draconian turns neutral.
You are starving!
The vampire mosquito bites you but does no damage.
The vampire mosquito misses you.
The vampire mosquito closely misses you.
You feel very buoyant.
You gently float away from the floor.
The vampire mosquito bites you but does no damage.
The vampire mosquito completely misses you.
The vampire mosquito bites you but does no damage.
Are you sure you want to quit without saving? (Confirm with "yes".)

      #.##.#.#...#.##  D
     ##..........### **
     #..........## *,
 *#.  #..........##
  ...####.#.T.....#* ,*
  #....###........# ,
   #....#..........#*
   #...#..........## , ,
* *   #...(........#,  ,
  ##..##............
  #.$...............
  ##......Cdy.c......
  ,.........@........
 , ..#!.......c...#..**
   ........<>.......
   ,.........#......  **
     .##...#####.##. **
      *#####   *##* *


You could see a rock troll, a hill giant, a vampire mosquito, a neutral draconian (wandering), a neutral centaur warrior (wandering) and a neutral centaur (wandering).

Vanquished Creatures
  A weapon mimic (D:10)
  3 vampire mosquitoes (D:16)
  5 yaks
  A sky beast (D:11)
  A manticore skeleton (D:13)
  A yellow wasp (D:11)
  Sigmund (D:6)
  A water moccasin (D:13)
  A giant frog (D:11)
  A giant frog zombie (D:13)
  A big kobold (D:12)
  8 two-headed ogre zombies
  A water moccasin zombie (D:6)
  2 orc wizards
  An eye of draining (D:11)
  A big kobold zombie (D:9)
  A jellyfish (Lair:5)
  4 killer bees (D:12)
  3 big kobold skeletons
  A hound (Lair:4)
  A shadow (D:13)
  A hound skeleton (D:11)
  An iguana (D:11)
  A porcupine (Lair:2)
  3 jellies
  3 snakes
  A giant centipede (D:12)
  A gnoll (D:5)
  A snake skeleton (D:5)
  A giant centipede zombie (D:12)
  4 worms
  A sheep simulacrum (D:13)
  A giant eyeball (D:5)
  2 oozes
  An orc (D:11)
  2 hobgoblins
  4 kobolds
  3 bats
  A giant gecko zombie (D:10)
  2 goblin skeletons (D:7)
  A kobold skeleton (D:4)
  2 orc skeletons
  4 orc zombies
  A rat (D:1)
  4 ballistomycetes (D:9)
  6 fungi
  3 plants
95 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  Nessos (D:13)
  Josephine (D:13)
  A hydra (Lair:7)
  8 death yaks
  A hill giant (D:13)
  An unseen horror (D:11)
  12 slime creatures
  An ugly thing (D:16)
  A giant toad (Lair:5)
  24 yaks
  A hippogriff (D:13)
  A porcupine (Lair:7)
  A manticore zombie (D:13)
  3 centaurs
  An ice beast (D:11)
  A warg (D:16)
  2 giant slugs (Lair:7)
  3 giant frogs
  An agate snail (Lair:8)
  A water moccasin (D:17)
  A two-headed ogre zombie (D:11)
  3 killer bees (D:12)
  7 wights
  A quasit (D:6)
  3 orc priests
  A shadow (D:14)
  A big kobold skeleton (D:13)
  2 hounds
  An iguana (D:11)
  3 scorpions
  9 sheep
  3 orc wizards
  A giant mite (D:10)
  4 gnolls
  4 green rats (Lair:3)
  A giant centipede zombie (D:12)
  A snake zombie (D:10)
  A giant eyeball (D:5)
  17 orcs
  2 giant cockroaches
  4 hobgoblins
  5 jackals
  11 bats
  3 giant newts
  A giant spore (D:9)
  15 goblins
  6 kobolds
  3 rats
  A rat simulacrum (D:13)
  A bush (Lair:8)
  3 toadstools
185 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 280 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Medic, the Deep Dwarf Healer, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 19/19 MP: 2/2
   324 | D:1      | Reached skill level 6 in Invocations
   541 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 26/26 MP: 5/5
  1454 | D:2      | Reached skill level 7 in Invocations
  1774 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 29/32 MP: 5/7
  2248 | D:3      | Reached skill level 8 in Invocations
  2315 | D:3      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 18/40 MP: 1/10
  2343 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Staves
  2343 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Stealth
  2343 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 37/46 MP: 1/12
  2730 | D:3      | Reached skill level 9 in Invocations
  3642 | D:4      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  4338 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4427 | D:5      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 54/54 MP: 12/16
  4446 | D:5      | Reached skill level 1 in Spellcasting
  4448 | D:5      | Acquired Elyvilon's third power
  4508 | D:5      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  4536 | D:5      | Reached skill level 1 in Traps & Doors
  4581 | D:5      | Reached skill level 10 in Invocations
  4582 | D:5      | Paralysed by a giant eyeball for 3 turns
  4589 | D:5      | Paralysed by a giant eyeball for 4 turns
  4619 | D:5      | Learned a level 1 spell: Apportation
  4622 | D:5      | Learned a level 2 spell: Blink
  4857 | D:5      | Paralysed by a giant eyeball for 2 turns
  5339 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 60/60 MP: 18/18
  5416 | D:6      | Noticed Sigmund
  5433 | D:6      | Defeated Sigmund
  5433 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Translocations
  5579 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Evocations
  5589 | D:6      | Reached skill level 11 in Invocations
  6212 | D:7      | Noticed Bandage's ghost (average DrHe)
  6220 | D:7      | Noticed an ogre zombie
  6221 | D:7      | Noticed an ogre zombie
  6221 | D:7      | Noticed a wraith
  6223 | D:7      | Noticed an ogre zombie
  6281 | D:7      | Noticed an ogre zombie
  6427 | D:8      | Noticed Eustachio
  6564 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Throwing
  6824 | D:8      | Learned a level 2 spell: Levitation
  6829 | D:8      | Found a flagged portal.
  7051 | D:8      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 65/68 MP: 20/20
  7099 | D:8      | Reached skill level 12 in Invocations
  7287 | D:9      | Found a staircase to the Lair.
  7354 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
  7431 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 5 in Stealth
  7542 | Lair:1   | Found a crumbling entrance.
  8279 | Lair:2   | Acquired Elyvilon's fourth power
  8385 | Lair:2   | Gained mutation: You passively map the area around you.
  8385 | Lair:2   | Reached XP level 9. HP: 68/74 MP: 22/22
  8415 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  8436 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 13 in Invocations
  8491 | Lair:2   | Identified a +0 rod of smiting (14/14) (You found it on level 2 of the Lair of Beasts)
  9168 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 14 in Invocations
  9203 | Lair:3   | Found a staircase to the Snake Pit.
  9376 | Lair:3   | Reached XP level 10. HP: 77/81 MP: 20/25
  9993 | Lair:4   | Reached skill level 15 in Invocations
 10006 | Lair:4   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 10331 | Lair:5   | Reached skill level 16 in Invocations
 10443 | Lair:5   | Found a labyrinth entrance.
 10583 | Lair:5   | Noticed Rupert
 10817 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 17 in Invocations
 11170 | Lair:7   | Reached XP level 11. HP: 84/91 MP: 26/26
 11178 | Lair:7   | Reached skill level 18 in Invocations
 11834 | Lair:8   | Entered Level 8 of the Lair of Beasts
 11838 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 19 in Invocations
 11864 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 20 in Invocations
 12265 | Snake:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Snake Pit
 12283 | Snake:1  | Got a steaming splint mail
 12295 | Snake:1  | Identified the +4 splint mail of Pantim (You found it on level 1 of the Snake Pit)
 12639 | Snake:1  | Noticed Sonja
 12744 | Snake:1  | Reached XP level 12. HP: 95/99 MP: 29/29
 12767 | Snake:1  | Reached skill level 21 in Invocations
 13280 | D:9      | Noticed Grum
 13520 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 13896 | D:10     | Found Ukhlirghi's Weapon Boutique.
 14822 | D:11     | Reached skill level 1 in Stabbing
 15431 | D:11     | Got a slimy spear
 15813 | D:11     | Reached skill level 22 in Invocations
 16246 | D:12     | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
 16679 | D:12     | Noticed Urug
 17134 | D:13     | Noticed Gastronok
 17290 | D:13     | Noticed Nessos
 17293 | D:13     | Noticed Josephine
 17300 | D:13     | Defeated Josephine
 17313 | D:13     | Defeated Nessos
 17532 | D:13     | Noticed Psyche
 17545 | D:13     | Noticed a necromancer
 18146 | D:14     | Noticed Nergalle
 18150 | D:14     | Reached skill level 23 in Invocations
 18183 | D:14     | Got a crude platinum ring
 18184 | D:14     | Identified the ring "Padisask" (You found it on level 14 of the Dungeon)
 18274 | D:14     | You fall through a shaft!
 18356 | D:17     | Reached XP level 13. HP: 76/109 MP: 31/31
 18530 | D:16     | Got a yellowed book
 18531 | D:16     | Identified the Reference Book on Lucky Ice (You found it on level 16 of the Dungeon)
 18534 | D:16     | Learned a level 2 spell: Freezing Aura
 18634 | D:16     | Noticed Louise
 19121 | D:17     | Quit the game



[dpeg]

I believe that a pure pacifier plays a fun, but challenge game. There are monsters immune to pacification on purpose, so you should train some method of killing them (it is possible to avoid them to a large extent, but that makes the game just more challenging). Could this have been the problem?

[KoboldLord]

Why did you pump invocations to 23, while none of your other skills hit double digits and you have no other offensive ability? Pacification isn't supposed to carry the entire game on its own. There are monsters that are resistant, and while you can brute-force them with stronger healing powers or higher invocations, it isn't efficient to do so.

If you're spamming high-hunger invocations that prevent corpses from dropping at everything that moves, it shouldn't be any real surprise that you're going to end up running out of food. Next time pick up weapon skill or some offensive magic to work with.

[dpeg]

Since you can pacify many monsters, including demons and ancient liches, there's not so terribly much needed in the damage department, in my opinion. Dedicated conjurations would do, probably also axe murder. But you should learn something, unless you're zipcode on the run.

[dpeg]

minmay: As I said, you can play a pacifist as a conduct game. Of course, we don't design around conducts, but it is possible in a sense. Check zipcode's tournament game (64 kills), and there are others which were even more efficient. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, of course.

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

Well, this one was the first DDHe of mine ever. I couldn't remember any other character of mine reaching such a skill level as Medic did. =)
So I did this, well, partially because of curiosity and partially because of thinking it would help the adventurer move everyone off his way. Which was a wrong thought. =)
And, of course, the whole idea of playing the game pacifist way is quite attractive for me. When I played my first hintmode characters, I found my characters destroying, killing and confusing others very often. And I don't like it this way.
On the other hand, those who are really peaceful should probably seek another source of power and do not go for the Orb of Zot. (sad chuckle)

Thanks for hints, Dpeg: it's always nice to see a developer helping you despite you're a regular forum member. =)
Well, Medic grabbed a nice quarterstaff and improved it with almost every scroll of enchant weapon he could find. Though the only tough creature killed with it was Sigmund. =) I liked the pacifism idea so much that I literally hesitated to order Medic to attack other creatures unless he was starving.

The wand of healing is an incredibly powerful pacifying gun for the beginning-to-middle Dungeons. =) It saved Medic's life more than once, both in healing and persuation.


So the idea of a Sensible Healer is:
- improve your weapon skills (Staves, in Medic's case, and the regular Fighting) until it reaches something like level 10;
- get a not so heavy unit of body armour and learn to walk in it (up to level 5-7);
- improve Spellcasting a bit, and continue on if you find a nice spellbook;
- and be ready to attack something that cannot be pacified with a single Greater Healing at seven Invocation levels... yields enough experience to be a good target.
Correct?

[Curio]

my last ddhe got zotsplatted. Ran out of juice prior end game. Was not able to pacify even draconians with around 25 invocations. And melee was vastly underpowered due to lack of xp(healed too often for piety). Basically, i disappointed in him and suicided on next drac-pack.

[dpeg]

I disagree with minmay's last clause. You can play an Elyvilonite like he suggests but you can also put a lot of emphasis on Invocations and pacification. You should just not think that pacification will solve all trouble, so you should definitely train something else. I played a 3-runer who was pretty pure in his approach, you can do that.
Regardless of that, it is good to pacify low xp monsters like all the rats in Lair. Nobody cares about the xp loss but you can gain piety cheaply.

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

Which powerful weapons would you suggest to prepare the adventurers for? Something like Eveningstars or double swords?
And I guess somebody would suggest me to order the adventurer to stash a demon weapon somewhere in case he would find it helpful to switch over to The Shining One, right? =)

[cerebovssquire]

Axes are also a good choice. Look out for some strong battleaxes or executioner's axes. Long Blades and the eveningstar you mentioned are fine too, but the latter is sadly very rare.

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

Just as I thought. =)

I think swords and maces are better flavour-wise: it is hard for me to imagine a healer with a huge axe. The Dungeons give them few chances to choose the weapon, though.

[cerebovssquire]

Just as I thought. =)

I think swords and maces are better flavour-wise: it is hard for me to imagine a healer with a huge axe. The Dungeons give them few chances to choose the weapon, though.

It makes a lot of difference if you crush your enemy to pulp with a mace, slice him to pieces with a sword or decapitate him with an axe.

[Yet Another Stupid Noob]

It is also worth mentioning that if you are not casting spells, I would reccomend the heaviest armor you can find. As a DD you get str/int on level ups so you will have the strength you need reguardless of where you chose to put your points.

On a similar note, I don't think Evocations takes armor into account either, so wands/rods could nicely suppliment your gear (both direct damage and blink/levitation). As a DD you start with a good apt and a wand of healing.

Stick with maces and flails. I picture you with plate armor and an eveningstar. Go, go, DnD cleric.

Also, 25 levels and no boots, cloak, gloves, or amulet. Tough luck.

Since I can't play Octopodes offline, this will be my next character after I finish abusing tornado in .8 and upgrade.

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

Thank you for your advice. =)

Why do you picture me with plate armour and eveningstar? It's not me who is exploring the Dungeons, after all. =)

There was an amulet of berserk rage... which I ordered my deep dwarf to throw away and forget about. (chuckle)

[frankhovis]

minmay: As I said, you can play a pacifist as a conduct game. Of course, we don't design around conducts, but it is possible in a sense. Check zipcode's tournament game (64 kills), and there are others which were even more efficient. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, of course.

I couldn't find zipcode's tournament game. I couldn't find a player called zipcode! The most pacific game on CAO is splat's 420 kill effort:
http://crawl.develz.org/morgues/0.8/spl ... 220533.txt

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

The "zipcode" is 78291. This number resembles an American zip code (postal code), thus he was called like this. =)
Check out his recent victory. Only sixty-four creatures were killed by this dwarf himself.

[njvack]

Those 64 creatures included two fungi and a plant. Awesome.

[Curio]

I would also count out all mindless creatures.

[frankhovis]

The "zipcode" is 78291. This number resembles an American zip code (postal code), thus he was called like this. =)
Check out his recent victory. Only sixty-four creatures were killed by this dwarf himself.

Right, I'd already seen that game but didn't put two and two together, zipcode sounds like the sort of name someone would come up with! Postal codes where I'm from are of the form AB1 2CD.
So the 427 Vanquished Creatures (others) is a list of all pacified monsters? Though it probably also includes monsters that were killed by pacified enemies.

[MyOtheHedgeFox]

The Others list includes creatures which died when 78291 ran through the Dungeons. I think most of them were killed by traps or by pacified monsters that really wanted to escape.
The pacified ones are not vanquished, they are just pacified. Though if you pacify an unique monster, and it gets killed by a pack of yaktaurs, the log says you defeated the unlucky one.