Go with short blades?

[A boy and his god]

Say hello to my level 2 Gargoyle Artificer (because, why not?)
It´s still very early days. I haven't even left D:1 yet but somehow I find myself the proud owner of a +7 short sword. My original intentions were to build a M&F-based hybrid. But should I ditch those?

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.18-a0-29-gce27f3c (webtiles) character file.

Ijustatesigmund the Charlatan (Gargoyle Artificer)   Turns: 706, Time: 00:04:51

Health: 16/17      AC:  9    Str: 14    XL:     2   Next: 66%
Magic:  4/4        EV: 11    Int: 12    God:   
Gold:   58         SH:  0    Dex: 10    Spells: 0 memorised, 1 level left

rFire  . . .     SeeInvis .     l - +7 short sword
rCold  . . .     Clarity  .     b - +0 leather armour
rNeg   + . .     SustAt   +     (no shield)
rPois  ∞         Gourm    .     m - +1 helmet
rElec  +         Spirit   .     j - +0 cloak
rCorr  .         Warding  .     (no gloves)
rMut   .         Stasis   .     (no boots)
MR     .....                    (no amulet)
Stlth  +.........               (no ring)
                                i - ring of sustain attributes

@: not resistant to hostile enchantments, very unstealthy
A: negative energy resistance 1, electricity resistance, unbreathing,
petrification resistance, rot immunity, AC +2
a: no special abilities


You are on level 1 of the Dungeon.
You are not hungry.

You have visited 1 branch of the dungeon, and seen 1 of its levels.

You have collected 58 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand Weapons
 l - a +7 short sword (weapon)
Missiles
 h - 8 needles of slowing
Armour
 b - a +0 leather armour (worn)
 j - a +0 cloak (worn)
 m - a +1 helmet (worn)
Jewellery
 i - a ring of sustain attributes (left hand)
Wands
 c - a wand of flame (13)
 d - a wand of enslavement (21)
 e - a wand of random effects (11)
Potions
 g - an orange potion
 k - a dark potion
Comestibles
 f - a bread ration


   Skills:
 + Level 1.8 Fighting
 + Level 1.0 Short Blades
 + Level 1.3 Armour
 - Level 1.5 Dodging
 + Level 1.6 Stealth
 - Level 2.6 Evocations


You have one spell level left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (1/15)           

Altars:


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
Your stone body is resilient (AC +2).
You are immune to poison.
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.


Message History

You closely miss the rat. The rat misses you.
You puncture the rat!
You kill the rat!
No target in view!
Things that are here:
a dagger; a goblin corpse
You see here a rat corpse.
The bat is too close now for your liking.
The bat hits you but does no damage.
The bat hits you but does no damage.
You hit the bat.
You kill the bat!
No target in view!
A bat comes into view.
The bat closely misses you.
You hit the bat.
You kill the bat!
No target in view!
No target in view!
Saving game... please wait.

##..........,,,*,***,,,**,*
##.#.####..#*#.,,* **,***,*
##.#.#  *,.###.#*****,***,*
##.#.##**.......,,,,,,,**,*
##....##........,****,,**,*
..........#**#.#**  *,,**,*
##....##.#####.#    *,,**,*
 #..#..........######..#*,*
 ##....#.####...@†......,,*
#####.#........######..#***
....(###.####..#   *,,,*
#####.#.##  #..#   *,*,*
    #..##   #..### *,*,*
    #..#    #....# *,*,*
#####..#######.#.# *,*,*
..........##...#.# *,#,*
#####...#+##†###.###.#.#


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  2 giant cockroaches (D:1)
  A goblin (D:1)
  4 hobgoblins (D:1)
  4 bats (D:1)
  4 kobolds (D:1)
  3 rats (D:1)
18 creatures vanquished.

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Ijustatesigmund the Gargoyle Artificer began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 12/12 MP: 2/2
   168 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Armour
   168 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 6/16 MP: 4/4
   645 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades


Action                   || total
-------------------------++-------
Melee: Short sword       ||    54
Evoke: Wand              ||     6
  Use: Scroll            ||     4



[daggaz]

SB for the most part are horrible unless you are stabbing. A +7 short sword is nice to have in the early game, but is nothing at all to be excited about in the run of things. Definitely dont change your build strategy for it. I would use it but switch to a mace/flail once you find something with a decent brand, putting points in M&F the whole time. The shortsword has a low enough delay you can use it unskilled for a while.

[MainiacJoe]

Am I correct that one advantage of short blades in the early game is that they have high accuracy bonuses, or am I overestimating this bonus' importance?

[tabstorm]

Use it for the first few floors until you find a better 2nd-3rd tier weapon on the floor like a broad axe, greatsword, etc.

[WingedEspeon]

I would train it to min delay and use it to clear lair. by then it will fall off and you will need another weapon, but the huge slaying will be good untill at least 1/2 way though lair and by that time the game is a not easier than it is now.

[MainiacJoe]

I get the impression that with Short Blades, unlike the other weapon classes, it is not enough for the whole game to simply train that skill. To use Short Blades effectively in the mid to late game you need to commit to a stabbing lifestyle, which involves investing in Stealth too, making armor choices that don't destroy that stealth, and also coming up with a way to debilitate enemies so that stabbing opportunities are more common: Hexes, or Throwing for blowguns/nets. And it's prudent to have a back-up plan, too. So I'd say Short Blades become viable if these latter conditions present themselves, but that it's probably foolish to assert to the RNG, "I will become a stabber!"

But WingedEspeon is right that this is an excellent weapon for the early game and that the XP spent to get it to mindelay will be well spent.

[daggaz]

Short swords have such a low delay anyhow that investing 12 points into SB to get it to mindelay is almost pointless, and actually a bad thing to do if you are planning to use any other weapon class later. Those 12 points are 12+ points (he has a nice M&F apt remember) he wont have when he does find a good flail/mace/whip/whatever.

@ManiacJoe : You can do the whole game, including extended, only training SB but its way harder. Stabbing helps immensely but you can flat out melee things. A fully enchanted, branded quickblade is good enough but its not as good as a greatsword by any means unless you are able to stack on a significant amount of slaying bonuses.

[MainiacJoe]

A fully enchanted, branded quickblade is good enough but its not as good as a greatsword by any means unless you are able to stack on a significant amount of slaying bonuses.

Oh, lots of slaying instead of stabbing. That makes sense, thanks!

[Dharmy]

http://crawl.berotato.org/crawl/morgue/ ... 235840.txt

Short blades were decent for my nightstalker demonspawn until I realized I didn't have anything for orbs of fire. You might consider transitioning into long blades as well.

[Lasty]

When you are stabbing, short blades output good damage, and even just Confuse can set you up to stab most of a 3 rune game. Only when you hit V:5/Zot do you start regularly running into enemies that Confuse or Invis won't solve and that are too big to net. At that point, pain brand and dispel undead will solve all of those monsters except electric golems, shadow dragons, and orbs of fire. You can take out those last things with berserk or !might/haste, or dip into summonings (summon horrible things, summon greater demon, malign gateway) or conjurations (iron shot, orb of destruction).

Switching to long blades is a pretty viable strategy too.

In this particular case, I would agree with the advice already given: use the +7 short sword w/o training it (or with light training -- 4-6 levels, say) and then swap to a M&F or long blade once you find a good one. +7 short sword is strong enough to get you through Lair if you train it to 12, but will start to taper off quickly after that.

[A boy and his god]

Just realized this should probably be moved to yavp/yasd/cip [feel free to do so]

Thanks for the advice, all. Couldn't resist the temptation and went with SB. After an early Oki conversion, I've taken SB to 7, giving me 12 (min delay) with Heroism. It's served med well. My short sword (now +8) has taken out everything so far, though I've had close calls. I really, really love the idea of stabbing but getting a win with a stalker seems beyond me. Untill now, progress has been easy but I still don't see this character making it to Zot. Casting? Any suggestions much appreciated.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.18-a0-29-gce27f3c (webtiles) character file.

Ijustatesigmund the Nimble (Gargoyle Artificer)    Turns: 10029, Time: 00:46:33

Health: 50/68      AC: 17    Str: 14    XL:     11   Next: 47%
Magic:  16/16      EV: 21    Int: 14    God:    Okawaru [****..]
Gold:   733        SH:  0    Dex: 13    Spells: 0 memorised, 10 levels left

rFire  . . .     SeeInvis .     l - +8 short sword
rCold  . . .     Clarity  .     C - +2 leather armour "Betumax" {Stlth+}
rNeg   + + .     SustAt   .     (no shield)
rPois  ∞         Gourm    +     m - +1 helmet
rElec  +         Spirit   .     j - +0 cloak
rCorr  .         Warding  .     y - +0 pair of gloves
rMut   .         Stasis   .     (no boots)
MR     .....                    I - amulet of the gourmand
Stlth  +++.......               G - ring of positive energy
                                v - +5 ring of evasion

@: not resistant to hostile enchantments, fairly stealthy
A: negative energy resistance 1, electricity resistance, unbreathing,
petrification resistance, rot immunity, AC +7
a: Heroism, Renounce Religion


You are on level 10 of the Dungeon.
You worship Okawaru.
Okawaru is greatly pleased with you.
You are full.

You have visited 1 branch of the dungeon, and seen 10 of its levels.

You have collected 733 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand Weapons
 l - a +8 short sword (weapon)
 s - the +3 hunting sling of Untimely Demise {flame, rC- Str+4 Int+4 Dex+4}
   (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It causes projectiles fired from it to burn those they strike, causing extra
   injury to most foes and up to half again as much damage against particularly
   susceptible opponents.
   
   It affects your strength (+4).
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
   It affects your dexterity (+4).
   It makes you vulnerable to cold.
 t - a +0 blowgun
 A - a long sword of protection
Missiles
 h - 16 needles of slowing
 u - 63 poisoned needles
 E - 22 sling bullets
Armour
 j - a +0 cloak (worn)
 m - a +1 helmet (worn)
 y - a +0 pair of gloves (worn)
 C - the +2 leather armour "Betumax" (worn) {Stlth+}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It makes you more stealthy.
 K - a +1 ring mail of poison resistance
Jewellery
 i - an uncursed ring of sustain attributes
 v - a +5 ring of evasion (left hand)
 G - a ring of positive energy (right hand)
 H - an uncursed ring of ice
 I - an amulet of the gourmand (around neck)
Wands
 c - a wand of flame (8)
 d - a wand of enslavement (15)
 e - a wand of random effects (11)
 F - a wand of lightning {zapped: 10}
Scrolls
 o - 3 scrolls of amnesia
 q - 2 scrolls of magic mapping
 J - a scroll of identify
Potions
 g - 3 potions of might
 k - a clear potion
 p - 2 potions of mutation
 w - a potion of lignification
 z - a potion of flight
 N - a fizzy puce potion
Books
 r - Sif Muna's Almanac of Augmentations
   (You found it on level 7 of the Dungeon)   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Infusion                     Charms                        1
 D - a book of the Dragon   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Flame Tongue                 Conjuration/Fire              1
    b - Cause Fear                   Hexes                         4
    c - Bolt of Fire                 Conjuration/Fire              6
    d - Dragon Form                  Transmutation                 7
    e - Dragon's Call                Summoning                     9
Miscellaneous
 x - a plain deck of cards
Comestibles
 a - 2 fruits
 b - 8 slices of pizza
 f - 4 bread rations
 n - 4 beef jerkies
 B - 2 meat rations
 L - a royal jelly


   Skills:
 - Level 7.8 Fighting
 - Level 7.0 Short Blades
 - Level 3.3 Throwing
 - Level 4.0 Armour
 - Level 9.1 Dodging
 - Level 3.3 Stealth
 + Level 7.8 Invocations
 - Level 2.6 Evocations


You have 10 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (10/15)            Temple (0/1) D:6            Lair (0/8) D:8
   Orc: D:9-12     

Altars:
Dithmenos
Fedhas
Kikubaaqudgha
Nemelex Xobeh
Okawaru
Sif Muna
Trog
Xom

Shops:
D:9 (


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
Your stone body is resilient (AC +7).
You are immune to poison.
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.


Message History

The yak is heavily wounded.
The yak completely misses you.
You hit the yak but do no damage.
The yak is heavily wounded.
The yak completely misses you.
You barely miss the yak.
The yak is heavily wounded.
The yak misses you.
You puncture the yak!
The yak is severely wounded.
You hit the yak.
The yak is almost dead.
The yak gores you.
You hit the yak.
You kill the yak!
Okawaru accepts your kill.
Saving game... please wait.
Welcome back, Ijustatesigmund the Gargoyle Artificer.
Okawaru says: Bring me glory in combat!
Press ? for a list of commands and other information.

#.#..#..#.#    #....####..
#...#)#.(.#   ##..........
.#.#...#.#.##.# .........
###..#..###.#.# .........
.###...###...#  #........
#.#.###.#.#..#  #.......)
...##.##...#.## #........
..##...##...##.##†.......
##..#.#..#####.#@#.......
..#######..#..#.##.......
..#######...##.## ..####.
##.......####.##  ..#
.............#### #.#
.................# .#
...######...........#
##.#    #.#####.####
...#    #.#    .#


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Pikel (D:7)
  A cyclops (D:10)
  Psyche (D:8)
  The ghost of Hanyuu the Insei, a novice OpTm of Makhleb (D:5)
  2 trolls (D:10)
  A deep elf mage (D:10)
  A hog (D:7)
  A human (D:7)
  13 yaks
  2 hungry ghosts (D:8)
  A wyvern (D:9)
  A hippogriff (D:10)
  A porcupine (D:8)
  A water moccasin (D:5)
  Duvessa (D:4)
  2 ice beasts
  3 black bears
  2 orc warriors
  5 centaurs
  3 phantoms
  3 ogres
  A crocodile (D:8)
  A big kobold (D:10)
  Dowan (D:4)
  2 scorpions (D:9)
  8 giant frogs
  3 killer bees (D:9)
  6 wights
  4 crimson imps
  2 quasits (D:8)
  A centaur zombie (D:10)
  5 jellies
  4 giant frog skeletons
  10 hounds
  4 orc wizards
  5 orc priests
  A giant frog zombie (D:6)
  An iguana (D:4)
  3 worker ants
  12 sheep
  A hound skeleton (D:9)
  13 adders
  6 river rats (D:8)
  A shadow imp (D:9)
  3 worms (D:2)
  An adder skeleton (D:4)
  3 giant geckos
  17 orcs
  2 ball pythons
  8 giant cockroaches
  9 goblins
  11 hobgoblins
  5 jackals
  12 bats
  6 giant newts
  15 kobolds
  2 quokkas
  12 rats
  3 rat zombies (D:4)
251 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  2 orcs
2 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A slave (D:7)
  A phantom (D:4)
  A sheep (D:7)
  2 orcs
  2 bushes (D:8)
  A fungus (D:8)
  2 plants (D:8)
10 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 263 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Ijustatesigmund the Gargoyle Artificer began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 12/12 MP: 2/2
   168 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Armour
   168 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 6/16 MP: 4/4
   645 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades
   862 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 21/21 MP: 5/5
  1164 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 21/26 MP: 6/6
  1232 | D:2      | Found a faded altar to an unknown god.
  1788 | D:2      | Found a shadowy altar of Dithmenos.
  2039 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 22/31 MP: 7/7
  2415 | D:3      | Reached skill level 3 in Stealth
  2649 | D:4      | Noticed Duvessa
  2650 | D:4      | Noticed Dowan
  2736 | D:3      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 37/37 MP: 8/8
  3072 | D:4      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  3072 | D:4      | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
  3132 | D:4      | Became a worshipper of Warmaster Okawaru
  3373 | D:4      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  3409 | D:4      | Killed Duvessa
  3409 | D:4      | Reached * piety under Okawaru
  3409 | D:4      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
  3409 | D:4      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 35/43 MP: 9/9
  3458 | D:4      | Killed Dowan
  3645 | D:4      | Got a crude hunting sling
  3788 | D:4      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  4163 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4168 | D:5      | Noticed Hanyuu's ghost (novice OpTm)
  4287 | D:5      | Killed Hanyuu's ghost
  4287 | D:5      | Reached ** piety under Okawaru
  4287 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 48/48 MP: 10/10
  4434 | D:5      | Got a bloodstained leather armour
  4747 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Short Blades
  4907 | D:5      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  4929 | D:5      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
  5211 | D:6      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  5228 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  5239 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Invocations
  5371 | D:6      | Reached *** piety under Okawaru
  5434 | D:6      | Reached skill level 6 in Fighting
  5439 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 55/55 MP: 11/11
  6169 | D:7      | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
  6286 | D:7      | Identified the +3 hunting sling of Untimely Demise {flame, rC- Str+4 Int+4 Dex+4} (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)
  6298 | D:7      | Identified the +2 leather armour "Betumax" {Stlth+} (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)
  6381 | D:7      | Noticed Pikel
  6400 | D:7      | Killed Pikel
  6400 | D:7      | Reached **** piety under Okawaru
  6400 | D:7      | Reached skill level 7 in Fighting
  6400 | D:7      | Reached skill level 5 in Invocations
  6610 | D:7      | Identified Sif Muna's Almanac of Augmentations
  6765 | D:8      | Found a bloodstained altar of Trog.
  6778 | D:8      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 64/64 MP: 14/14
  6817 | D:8      | Found a staircase to the Lair.
  7021 | D:8      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  7027 | D:8      | Reached ***** piety under Okawaru
  7122 | D:8      | Noticed Psyche
  7133 | D:8      | Killed Psyche
  7720 | D:9      | Received a gift from Okawaru
  7871 | D:9      | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
  8089 | D:9      | Reached skill level 8 in Dodging
  8300 | D:9      | Found Vibaleh's Antique Weapon Emporium.
  8327 | D:9      | Reached XP level 11. HP: 49/68 MP: 15/15
  8927 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
  9188 | D:10     | Reached skill level 9 in Dodging
  9397 | D:10     | HP: 3/68 [cyclops/large rock (36)]


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Short sword       |    95 |   146 |   263 |   525 ||  1029
 Fire: Blowgun           |       |    13 |    10 |       ||    23
Invok: Heroism           |       |       |     1 |     8 ||     9
       Finesse           |       |       |       |     1 ||     1
Evoke: Wand              |    10 |     2 |     7 |     2 ||    21
  Use: Scroll            |     5 |     4 |     7 |     5 ||    21
       Potion            |       |       |     5 |     2 ||     7
 Stab: Sleeping          |     2 |     5 |     6 |     4 ||    17
       Distracted        |       |     1 |     1 |     2 ||     4
  Eat: Chunk             |     1 |     6 |       |    25 ||    32
       Fruit             |       |     1 |     4 |       ||     5
       Meat ration       |       |       |     2 |       ||     2
       Bread ration      |       |       |       |     1 ||     1



[WingedEspeon]

I'm pretty sure you have enough invo for now. I would work on defensive skills now and think about switching to m&f. The advice I gave about using the short sword was based around the short sword being a really good early game weapon that would fall off later. since the game gets easier as you progress and skill exp gets much more abundant as you progress spending a little exp on short blades to have a really good early game weapon is a good idea even if the weapon would fall off later. I still wouldn't switch to m&f right away, but I would probably look to follow through with your original plan of being a m&f based hybrid eventually.

[A boy and his god]

^
I hear you, but I'm seeing hydras now. With no way of killing them. But will focus on defensive. Thanks.

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.18-a0-29-gce27f3c (webtiles) character file.

Ijustatesigmund the Warmonger (Gargoyle Artificer) Turns: 14872, Time: 01:01:53

Health: 73/73      AC: 21    Str: 14    XL:     12   Next: 36%
Magic:  20/20      EV: 20    Int: 15    God:    Okawaru [****..]
Gold:   1895       SH: 11    Dex: 14    Spells: 0 memorised, 11 levels left

rFire  . . .     SeeInvis .     l - +8 short sword
rCold  . . .     Clarity  .     C - +2 leather armour "Betumax" {Stlth+}
rNeg   + + .     SustAt   .     q - +1 shield {AC+3}
rPois  ∞         Gourm    +     m - +1 helmet
rElec  +         Spirit   .     j - +0 cloak
rCorr  .         Warding  .     y - +0 pair of gloves
rMut   .         Stasis   .     (no boots)
MR     .....                    I - amulet of the gourmand
Stlth  +++.......               G - ring of positive energy
                                v - +5 ring of evasion

@: not resistant to hostile enchantments, fairly stealthy
A: negative energy resistance 1, electricity resistance, unbreathing,
petrification resistance, rot immunity, AC +8
a: Heroism, Renounce Religion


You are on level 4 of the Orcish Mines.
You worship Okawaru.
Okawaru is greatly pleased with you.
You are completely stuffed.

You have visited 2 branches of the dungeon, and seen 16 of its levels.

You have collected 1895 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand Weapons
 l - a +8 short sword (weapon)
 s - the +3 hunting sling of Untimely Demise {flame, rC- Str+4 Int+4 Dex+4}
   (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It causes projectiles fired from it to burn those they strike, causing extra
   injury to most foes and up to half again as much damage against particularly
   susceptible opponents.
   
   It affects your strength (+4).
   It affects your intelligence (+4).
   It affects your dexterity (+4).
   It makes you vulnerable to cold.
 t - a +0 blowgun
 A - a +0 long sword of protection
 S - a morningstar
Missiles
 h - 16 needles of slowing
 u - 63 poisoned needles
 E - 22 sling bullets
Armour
 j - a +0 cloak (worn)
 m - a +1 helmet (worn)
 q - a +1 shield of protection (worn)
 y - a +0 pair of gloves (worn)
 C - the +2 leather armour "Betumax" (worn) {Stlth+}
   (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It makes you more stealthy.
 K - a +1 ring mail of poison resistance
Magical Staves
 R - an uncursed staff of fire
Jewellery
 i - an uncursed ring of sustain attributes
 v - a +5 ring of evasion (left hand)
 G - a ring of positive energy (right hand)
 H - an uncursed ring of ice
 I - an amulet of the gourmand (around neck)
Wands
 c - a wand of flame (8)
 d - a wand of enslavement (15)
 e - a wand of random effects (11)
 F - a wand of lightning (0)
 M - a wand of disintegration {zapped: 3}
Scrolls
 o - 3 scrolls of amnesia
 J - 3 scrolls of identify
Potions
 g - 3 potions of might
 k - a potion of cancellation
 p - 3 potions of mutation
 w - a potion of lignification
 z - a potion of flight
 N - a potion of ambrosia
 O - 3 potions of curing
Books
 r - Sif Muna's Almanac of Augmentations
   (You found it on level 7 of the Dungeon)   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Infusion                     Charms                        1
 D - a book of the Dragon   
   
    Spells                             Type                      Level
    a - Flame Tongue                 Conjuration/Fire              1
    b - Cause Fear                   Hexes                         4
    c - Bolt of Fire                 Conjuration/Fire              6
    d - Dragon Form                  Transmutation                 7
    e - Dragon's Call                Summoning                     9
Miscellaneous
 x - a plain deck of cards
Comestibles
 a - 2 fruits
 b - 8 slices of pizza
 f - 5 bread rations
 n - 4 beef jerkies
 B - 2 meat rations
 L - a royal jelly


   Skills:
 - Level 7.8 Fighting
 - Level 7.0 Short Blades
 - Level 1.1 Maces & Flails
 - Level 3.3 Throwing
 - Level 4.0 Armour
 - Level 9.1 Dodging
 - Level 3.3 Stealth
 + Level 6.7 Shields
 + Level 10.7 Invocations
 - Level 2.6 Evocations


You have 11 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (12/15)            Temple (0/1) D:6            Lair (0/8) D:8
    Orc (4/4) D:12       
   Elf: Orc:3-4     

Altars:
Dithmenos
Fedhas
Kikubaaqudgha
Nemelex Xobeh
Okawaru
Sif Muna
Trog
Xom
Beogh

Shops:
D:9 (


Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are resistant to torment.
Your stone body is resilient (AC +8).
You are immune to poison.
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.


Message History

You continue eating. x2
Things that are here:
a mace; a leather armour
All of the chunks of flesh in your inventory have rotted away.
Items here: )) [ ÷
a dagger; an embroidered robe; a short sword; an orc skeleton
Done exploring.
(D) Dungeon        (T) Temple         (L) Lair           (O) Orcish Mines   
Where to? (Enter - Orc:3, ? - help)
Items here: )) [ ÷
a dagger; an embroidered robe; a short sword; an orc skeleton
Things that are here:
a hand axe x2
You see here a flail.
There is a stone staircase leading down here.
You climb downwards.
2 orcs come into view.
Found 66 gold pieces. Found a stone staircase leading up.
There is a stone staircase leading up here.
Saving game... please wait.

             ..
            o$.
           ....
          #.#..
         #....o
      ###.....<
#######........
.......@.......
....#..........
. $............
....$..........
#$.............
##.............
 #.............
 ##............


You can see 2 orcs.

Vanquished Creatures
  A centaur warrior (D:12)
  Pikel (D:7)
  A hill giant (D:12)
  A cyclops (D:10)
  2 ugly things (D:12)
  Maurice (Orc:2)
  Psyche (D:8)
  The ghost of Hanyuu the Insei, a novice OpTm of Makhleb (D:5)
  4 trolls
  A deep elf mage (D:10)
  A hog (D:7)
  A human (D:7)
  2 wraiths
  13 yaks
  2 hungry ghosts (D:8)
  A wyvern (D:9)
  A hippogriff (D:10)
  A porcupine (D:8)
  A water moccasin (D:5)
  Duvessa (D:4)
  2 ice beasts
  3 black bears
  A sky beast (D:12)
  11 orc warriors
  5 centaurs
  4 phantoms
  7 ogres
  A crocodile (D:8)
  A big kobold (D:10)
  Dowan (D:4)
  2 scorpions (D:9)
  9 giant frogs
  3 killer bees (D:9)
  6 wights
  4 crimson imps
  2 quasits (D:8)
  4 centaur zombies
  5 jellies
  4 giant frog skeletons
  10 hounds
  24 orc wizards
  25 orc priests
  A giant frog zombie (D:6)
  2 iguanas
  5 worker ants
  12 sheep
  A hound skeleton (D:9)
  16 adders
  6 river rats (D:8)
  A shadow imp (D:9)
  3 worms (D:2)
  An adder skeleton (D:4)
  3 giant geckos
  144 orcs
  2 ball pythons
  8 giant cockroaches
  13 goblins
  11 hobgoblins
  5 jackals
  12 bats
  6 giant newts
  15 kobolds
  2 quokkas
  12 rats
  3 rat zombies (D:4)
456 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  2 orcs
2 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A slave (D:7)
  A phantom (D:4)
  A sheep (D:7)
  2 orcs
  2 bushes (D:8)
  A fungus (D:8)
  2 plants (D:8)
10 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 468 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | Ijustatesigmund the Gargoyle Artificer began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 12/12 MP: 2/2
   168 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Armour
   168 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 6/16 MP: 4/4
   645 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades
   862 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 21/21 MP: 5/5
  1164 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 21/26 MP: 6/6
  1232 | D:2      | Found a faded altar to an unknown god.
  1788 | D:2      | Found a shadowy altar of Dithmenos.
  2039 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 22/31 MP: 7/7
  2415 | D:3      | Reached skill level 3 in Stealth
  2649 | D:4      | Noticed Duvessa
  2650 | D:4      | Noticed Dowan
  2736 | D:3      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 37/37 MP: 8/8
  3072 | D:4      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  3072 | D:4      | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
  3132 | D:4      | Became a worshipper of Warmaster Okawaru
  3373 | D:4      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  3409 | D:4      | Killed Duvessa
  3409 | D:4      | Reached * piety under Okawaru
  3409 | D:4      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
  3409 | D:4      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 35/43 MP: 9/9
  3458 | D:4      | Killed Dowan
  3645 | D:4      | Got a crude hunting sling
  3788 | D:4      | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
  4163 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  4168 | D:5      | Noticed Hanyuu's ghost (novice OpTm)
  4287 | D:5      | Killed Hanyuu's ghost
  4287 | D:5      | Reached ** piety under Okawaru
  4287 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 48/48 MP: 10/10
  4434 | D:5      | Got a bloodstained leather armour
  4747 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Short Blades
  4907 | D:5      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  4929 | D:5      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
  5211 | D:6      | Found a staircase to the Ecumenical Temple.
  5228 | D:6      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  5239 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Invocations
  5371 | D:6      | Reached *** piety under Okawaru
  5434 | D:6      | Reached skill level 6 in Fighting
  5439 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 55/55 MP: 11/11
  6169 | D:7      | Found a deep blue altar of Sif Muna.
  6286 | D:7      | Identified the +3 hunting sling of Untimely Demise {flame, rC- Str+4 Int+4 Dex+4} (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)
  6298 | D:7      | Identified the +2 leather armour "Betumax" {Stlth+} (You found it on level 5 of the Dungeon)
  6381 | D:7      | Noticed Pikel
  6400 | D:7      | Killed Pikel
  6400 | D:7      | Reached **** piety under Okawaru
  6400 | D:7      | Reached skill level 7 in Fighting
  6400 | D:7      | Reached skill level 5 in Invocations
  6610 | D:7      | Identified Sif Muna's Almanac of Augmentations
  6765 | D:8      | Found a bloodstained altar of Trog.
  6778 | D:8      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 64/64 MP: 14/14
  6817 | D:8      | Found a staircase to the Lair.
  7021 | D:8      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  7027 | D:8      | Reached ***** piety under Okawaru
  7122 | D:8      | Noticed Psyche
  7133 | D:8      | Killed Psyche
  7720 | D:9      | Received a gift from Okawaru
  7871 | D:9      | Found a blossoming altar of Fedhas.
  8089 | D:9      | Reached skill level 8 in Dodging
  8300 | D:9      | Found Vibaleh's Antique Weapon Emporium.
  8327 | D:9      | Reached XP level 11. HP: 49/68 MP: 15/15
  8927 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
  9188 | D:10     | Reached skill level 9 in Dodging
  9397 | D:10     | HP: 3/68 [cyclops/large rock (36)]
 10355 | D:11     | Noticed a five-headed hydra
 10662 | D:12     | Found a shadowy altar of Dithmenos.
 10832 | D:12     | Noticed a four-headed hydra
 10873 | D:12     | Noticed a centaur warrior
 10895 | D:12     | Killed a centaur warrior
 10895 | D:12     | Received a gift from Okawaru
 10895 | D:12     | Reached skill level 10 in Invocations
 11213 | D:12     | Reached skill level 1 in Shields
 11576 | D:12     | Reached XP level 12. HP: 46/73 MP: 19/19
 11753 | D:12     | Reached skill level 5 in Shields
 11761 | D:12     | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 11888 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 11953 | Orc:1    | Reached skill level 1 in Maces & Flails
 12379 | Orc:2    | Noticed Maurice
 12409 | Orc:2    | Killed Maurice
 12929 | Orc:2    | Found a roughly hewn altar of Beogh.
 14290 | Orc:3    | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 14871 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines


Action                   |  1- 3 |  4- 6 |  7- 9 | 10-12 || total
-------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------++-------
Melee: Short sword       |    95 |   146 |   263 |  1400 ||  1904
 Fire: Blowgun           |       |    13 |    10 |       ||    23
Invok: Heroism           |       |       |     1 |    14 ||    15
       Finesse           |       |       |       |     2 ||     2
Evoke: Wand              |    10 |     2 |     7 |     3 ||    22
  Use: Scroll            |     5 |     4 |     7 |    13 ||    29
       Potion            |       |       |     5 |     2 ||     7
 Stab: Sleeping          |     2 |     5 |     6 |    13 ||    26
       Distracted        |       |     1 |     1 |     4 ||     6
  Eat: Chunk             |     1 |     6 |       |    45 ||    52
       Fruit             |       |     1 |     4 |       ||     5
       Meat ration       |       |       |     2 |       ||     2
       Bread ration      |       |       |       |     1 ||     1



[A boy and his god]

Never mind. The game is broken. Says "hit any key to exit..." Then: "unfortunately your game ended unexpectedly."

[WingedEspeon]

you really should stop training invo, you probably only need like 9 invo for zot with oka. Hydras with a short shords are an issue if your defences aren't good, not because of the short sword. Hydras have 0 AC so fast weapons like a short sword work well on them. short blades don't chop hydra heads. Hydras are often dangerouse enough when you first see them that you don't want to fight them anyway. You might also think about using some heavier armour and training armour as Gr have a good armour apt.