YASD First Real Character, NaFi of Oka

[That Other Guy]

I've been playing DCSS for about a month now, and enjoying it a lot. I feel like I'm getting relatively good at it, and can consistently make it to XP level 10 or so. When .10 came out I tried for a Naga, since they now have the added melee boost of constriction. Got pretty far, ended up dying against a hydra when I forgot my scythe cut off heads. This is my second Naga character, and I feel that I'm doing really well with him, got mostly artifact gear, and max piety with Okawaru, I'mcurrently at XP level 15, and this is the farthest I've gotten, I've cleared the orc mines and the lair, and don't know what to do now. I'm considering switching to Cheibriados, because of the massive attribute bonuses. I'm hoping I'll be able to survive his wrath with some liberal use of slouch and boosted stats. Any advice on how to play this character in such a way that keeps me alive would be groovy.

  Code:

Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.10.0 character file.

The Avenger the Impaler (Naga Fighter)             Turns: 26867, Time: 01:37:06

HP 142/142       AC 38     Str 35      XL: 15   Next: 33%
MP  21/21        EV  2     Int  8      God: Okawaru [*****.]
Gold 692         SH 44     Dex 13      Spells:  0 memorised, 14 levels left

Res.Fire  : + . .   See Invis. : +    t - +10,+7 Wyrmbane {slay drac, +Rage rPois rF
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : . .  z - +2 chain mail {MR}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .    F - +2 elf large shield
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    s - +1 helmet "Picay" {Str+3 Dex+3}
Res.Poison: +       Clarity    : .    G - +1 cloak
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    v - +0 pair of gloves of Buduaruw {+Rage Stlth
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    Q - +2 naga barding {Stlth+} {god gift}
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    q - amulet of the gourmand
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    d - +6 ring of protection
Gourmand  : +       Ctrl.Flight: .    j - +6 ring of strength

@: very slow, very resistant to hostile enchantments, quite stealthy
A: spit poison, constrict 1, see invisible, deformed body, poison resistance,
slowness 2
a: Spit Poison, Heroism, Finesse, Renounce Religion, Evoke Berserk Rage


You are on level 10 of the Dungeon.
You worship Okawaru.
Okawaru is exalted by your worship.
You are completely stuffed.

You have visited 5 branches of the dungeon, and seen 24 of its levels.
You have visited 1 portal chamber: ice cave.

You have collected 1831 gold pieces.
You have spent 1159 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 a - a +1,+0 demon trident of draining {god gift}
 t - the +10,+7 Wyrmbane (weapon) {slay drac, +Rage rPois rF+ AC+5}
   (You found it on level 2 of the Lair of Beasts)   
   
   This legendary weapon is deadly to all dragonkind. It also provides some
   protection from the breath attacks of dragons and other creatures.
   
   It affects your AC (+5).
   It protects you from fire.
   It protects you from poison.
   It lets you go berserk.
 u - a +4,+1 elven spear of venom (quivered)
 O - an uncursed bow
Missiles
 x - 131 arrows
Armour
 h - a +2 orcish plate armour
 s - the +1 helmet "Picay" (worn) {Str+3 Dex+3}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It affects your strength (+3).
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
 v - the +0 pair of gloves of Buduaruw (worn) {+Rage Stlth++}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It lets you go berserk.
   It makes you much more stealthy.
 z - a +2 chain mail of magic resistance (worn)
 F - a +2 elven large shield (worn)
 G - a +1 cloak (worn)
 Q - a +2 naga barding of stealth (worn) {god gift}
Magical devices
 w - a wand of fire {recharged}
 M - a wand of polymorph other (4)
 V - a wand of random effects (10)
 W - a wand of flame (10)
 X - a wand of draining {empty}
Comestibles
 c - a pear
 i - 6 meat rations
 p - 5 chokos
 N - 33 honeycombs
 S - 3 bread rations
 T - 3 apples
Scrolls
 b - 7 scrolls of magic mapping
 e - a scroll of random uselessness
 f - 4 scrolls of remove curse
 g - 2 scrolls of teleportation
 k - 8 scrolls of detect curse
 r - 2 scrolls of fog
 y - 4 scrolls of enchant weapon I
 D - 2 scrolls of blinking
 E - a scroll of immolation
Jewellery
 d - a +6 ring of protection (right hand)
 j - a +6 ring of strength (left hand)
 o - an uncursed amulet of guardian spirit
 q - an amulet of the gourmand (around neck)
 B - an uncursed amulet of resist mutation
 P - an uncursed ring of sustenance
 U - a +2 ring of evasion
Potions
 l - 3 potions of heal wounds
 n - a potion of brilliance
 A - 3 potions of might
 I - a potion of paralysis
 K - a potion of speed
Books
 J - a Young Poisoner's Handbook   
   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Sting                              Conjuration/Poison           1
   Cure Poison                        Poison                       2
   Mephitic Cloud                     Conjuration/Poison/Air       3
   Olgreb's Toxic Radiance            Poison                       4
   Venom Bolt                         Conjuration/Poison           5


   Skills:
 - Level 13.1 Fighting
 - Level 15.8 Polearms
 - Level 9.9 Armour
 + Level 6.0 Stealth
 - Level 11.5 Shields
 - Level 7.1 Traps & Doors
 - Level 4.1 Invocations
 - Level 9.0 Evocations


You have 14 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (10/27)            Temple (1/1) D:7             Orc (4/4) D:8
    Elf (1/5) Orc:4          Lair (8/8) D:9           Swamp (0/5) Lair:2
 Shoals (0/5) Lair:5        Slime (0/6) Lair:6     

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

Shops:
D:4: *[[(+  D:5: (  Orc:4: /==?

Annotations
Lair:7 exclusion: oklob plant
Port exclusion: ice statue


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You cannot wear boots.
You can spit poison.
You can use your snake-like lower body to constrict enemies.
Your serpentine skin is tough (AC +5).
You have supernaturally acute eyesight.
Armour fits poorly on your strangely shaped body.
Your system is resistant to poisons.
You cover ground very slowly.

[TehDruid]

I'll suppose you don't have a first win yet.

You don't have to change your god for no reason (unless you're on top of a Lugonu altar in the Abyss and surrounded by a boatload of Ancient Liches or something silly like that) if you're going for a few runes and a win. Okawaru wrath is pretty tame, you'll be fine I think. But I wouldn't really advise that you go the Cheibriados route, better The Shining One and stick with melee.

I had my first win with a HO of Okawaru wielding the same weapon. It grows in power when you kill Dragonkin some times, but I'm sure you've noticed that since yours is non-vanilla. it can go up to +18 +18. A very nice piece of equipment for the resists and AC bonus although crappy base type and brand. It will kick ass in Zot though, trust me.

My take; You should wear the heaviest armour you can get your hands on for more AC. Chain mail sucks pretty much unless it's a great randart and by your level I suppose some orc warriors must have dropped a plate armour. You should probably aim to make a fully enchanted Gold dragon armour (stash away any enchant armour scrolls). Do mind if you make a normal (fire) dragon armour your rC will go to minus and that's bad so fix it. Gold dragon armour's rPois overlaps with Naga racial rPois, but still a good choice for the resists to fire and ice and great base AC. Okawaru also tends to gift Crystal plate although it happens rarely.

But I'm a heavy armour warmonger so feel free to choose something else like... Spellcasting with Chei. Ugh.

[That Other Guy]

Thanks for the advice!

I'm exploring the vaults now, and I've found another dragon to feed my lance. I also found 3 potions of mutation, and have fast regen, a poisonous tail, and go berserk at bad times. I'm feeling pretty good right now, may go until vault:8 then go explore in the main dungeon some more or raid those dumb elves!

[TehDruid]

Keep us posted!

[That Other Guy]

I finished the first 7 levels of the vault, then went back to the main dungeon, saw mara, and ran all the way back to the elven halls. I was doing pretty well until I got banished to the abyss! I'm exploring the abyss, looking for a way out now. I'm at level 19, and have a high enough stealth score to pick my fights. I think I can make it out.

UPDATE: Snagged a rune, and hauled ass out of there! Huzzah!

[TehDruid]

Woo nice! This runs seems to be getting better and better, huh?

[rebthor]

Berserkitis is one of the worst mutations you can get on a fighter. If you have any potions of cure mutation, I'd advise that you drink them to try to get rid of it.

[That Other Guy]

Recap of last night's work: Went back to elven halls, got to D5; I dragged my sorry ass out of there 100 turns later with 30 hp. I mutation gambled some more, I now have 3 different colors of scales, and I move *even slower* then before. This is countered by my brand new naga barding of speed though, so I'm not feeling the pain on that too much. Went to shoals, and had a really close (3HP) shave, but got the rune after raping and pillaging everything! I need one more rune now before I can raid Zot, though I'm thinking I could get a few more.

More as it happens.

[TehDruid]

Sounds like you're having a nice time. Mutation gambling is not huge unless you get some game-breaking mutations but still, if berserkitis annoys you you can use an item that provides clarity which is pretty cool. Also, those Yaktaurs with silver bolts will hurt you more when you have a decent amount of non-intrinsic mutations.

[That Other Guy]

Got the rune from Swamp, swept the vaults easily, took a nice detour to the hall of blades, encountered a mummy priest in the crypt I died in 2 turns. Such is crawl..

[tasonir]

Ouch....sorry to hear it. One thing that might help future runs though is simply don't ever step foot in the crypt It's not a required area for a 3 rune run. General branch order for a typical first win:

Main dungeon down to lair
lair
orc
more main dungeon to 15-20, some vaults (not vaults:8),
swamp/shoals/snake pits for 2 runes, you only get 2 of these 3 possible sub branches.
finish main dungeon/elf halls/hall of blades (last two are optional but usually fairly easy at this point)
Vault 8 or do abyss until abyssal rune (usually when you get banished there against your will)
Zot 5, grab the orb, run.

You can finish the main dungeon earlier also if you want. Crypt isn't nearly as bad as the tomb but I'd still avoid it. I've got only one 3 rune victory to my name and I've never cleared the crypt, although I think I cleared a level or two of it once. Curse skulls are pretty nasty.

[TehDruid]

Curse skulls are immobile so that's no big issue, however the treasure vaults of Crypt can be very nasty on occasion, like the one with the liches.