[Crawl] YAN-Q-ACD - Mungojerry's Grab Bag of Questions

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What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I launched
the fellow whose success has prompted the questions below. Now he's knee deep
in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the two "poison resistance runes." (Snake
Pit and... uh... Hive? Yes, that's right, you heard right, the secret phrase
for tonight is "Erik can't remember where he got something so significant as
a rune.")

The character's a level 20 Vehumet Ice/Air DECj. He's at home, I'm at work
right now.

1) ISTR there being a spellcasting malus for standing in purple smoke (from
the Really Big Magic Dart Spell with the Long Name). Do I recall correctly?

2) Any suggestions on adjustments to my skill strategy? My current spell
skill foci are, in this order, Spellcasting/Conjurations (20ish), Ice
(14ish), Enchantments/Air/Summoning/Translocations (more or less tied for
third at 8ish), Divinations/Poison (levels 3/2, respectively). Fighting is at
level 3, Crossbows at level 1 (thought I might use them as a backup for when
spell points ran out, but despite finding a nice randart hand crossbow, I
hardly ever used it (I simply restore SP using an invocation) and don't even
carry it anymore), Evocations 7ish, Invocations 5ish, Dodging 10, Stealth
7ish.

3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn? Assume here that any spell you
suggest, I can access, as I probably can. Spells are:

Ashkenazy's Deluxe Magic Dart
That Beam-Type Ice Spell
Lightning Bolt (iffy, I guess)
Freezing Cloud
Something Glaciation (can't seem to get this to do anything so far)
Deflect Missiles
Haste
Detect Creatures
Detect Traps
Selective Amnesia (obviously)
Summon Ice Beasts
Controlled Blink
Teleport Self

I may be forgetting one or two (in which case, once I determine which ones, I
should probably literally forget them ;-))

4) Anything silly in the below?

Current equipment setup is:
* -5 artifact robe granting magic resistance, sense surroundings, an evasion
bonus and perhaps something else (I normally wear a +2 robe of resistance,
but at least for doing the Crypt, I'm becoming stuck on this little devil,
and by that I don't mean the curse that's on it)
* Elven cloak (can swap with cloak of darkness)
* stealth-boosting randart gloves
* other, non-notable accessories
* \oW (for cold-resistants), \oC (for others); I also carry, but rarely use,
a randart dagger with a good evasion/AC boost and another with rPoison,
rNegativeEnergy, and some other bonus. Stashed staves include energy, fire,
death, summoning, and perhaps channelling, and there's a stashed fire-based
RoD as well
* RoWiz, RoIce, AoResMut (hell no we won't glow), with AoGour and RoPoisRes
as frequent swaps, and other carried jewelry including Warding, Teleport
Control, +6 Evasion, second Wizardry, a randart with SeeInvis, and other more
forgettable jewellery. No resist corrosion yet. Conservation found in a
store, but not bought -- I am very, very scared to use anything other than
ResMut, as I haste myself a LOT and so I mutate more than I'd like even as it
is.

Anything not mentioned here might be available from a stash.

5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?

6) I've stashed mottled dragon, dragon, and ice dragon hides. Any point to
armorifying one of these? I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really
need is the standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
spellcaster in practice.

Erik
 
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bork bork bork Erik Piper bork 1:22:06 PM bork 11/22/2004 bork bork:

> What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I launched
> the fellow whose success has prompted the questions below. Now he's knee
> deep in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the two "poison resistance runes."
> (Snake Pit and... uh... Hive? Yes, that's right, you heard right, the
> secret phrase for tonight is "Erik can't remember where he got something so
> significant as a rune.")
>
Now I remember. I think. It was the bottom of the Elven Halls, right?

Right?

I really should sleep more often when playing them roguelike games. :0(

Erik
 
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bork bork bork Erik Piper bork 5:48:55 PM bork 11/22/2004 bork bork:

> bork bork bork Erik Piper bork 1:22:06 PM bork 11/22/2004 bork bork:
>
> > What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I launched
> > the fellow whose success has prompted the questions below. Now he's knee
> > deep in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the two "poison resistance
> > runes." (Snake Pit and... uh... Hive? Yes, that's right, you heard right,
> > the secret phrase for tonight is "Erik can't remember where he got
> > something so significant as a rune.")
> >
> Now I remember. I think. It was the bottom of the Elven Halls, right?
>
> Right?
>
> I really should sleep more often when playing them roguelike games. :0(
>
> Erik

"Search Result 1
From: Jukka Kuusisto (jkuusist@cc.hut.fi)
Subject: [Crawl] YAVP (Demonspawn Hunter)
View: Complete Thread (20 articles)
Original Format
Newsgroups: rec.games.roguelike.misc
Date: 2004-09-05 16:52:40 PST


So I managed to get a 6th victory before completing the
first round of playing all race-class combinations.
A demonspawn hunter and just the regular 3 rune victory
(Snake Pit, Swamp, Vaults)."

Oh. Now I see. The swamp. Right. Slithering, slimy. I was thinking it
couldn't be slimy, because that would have to come from the slime pits. ;-)

I Will Now Stop Replying to Myself.

Erik
 
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"Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote in message news:<30e3vdF2t172bU1@uni-berlin.de>...
> 1) ISTR there being a spellcasting malus for standing in purple smoke (from
> the Really Big Magic Dart Spell with the Long Name). Do I recall correctly?
I dont think there is any malus from standing in any sort of smoke. I
usually play draconians and get a Mottled Draconian once in a while,
and when i stand in the black smoke the sticky flames create, i get no
problems with visibility or with weapon accuracy/power.

> 3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn?
Not really. They can all come in handy in one way or another.

> 4) Anything silly in the below?
not that i can see. a good collection, indeed!

> 5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?
Anything. So long as you can summon what you want or need, it's a good
choice (earth elementals could be a bad idea if there arn't enough
dirt walls; undead if there arn't many usable corpses; etc etc)

> 6) I've stashed mottled dragon, dragon, and ice dragon hides. Any point to
> armorifying one of these? I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really
> need is the standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
> spellcaster in practice.
Dragon armor gives 8 AC, -2 EV, as well as +2 fire resistance and -1
ice resistance.
Ice Dragon armor gives *9* AC, -2 EV, as well as +2 ice resistance and
-1 fire resistance.
Mottled Dragon armor gives 5 AC, -1 EV (just a little bit better then
leather armor, really) and gives some protection against sticky flames
the lower the EV penalty the easier it is to cast in.

However, if you were to find and skin a GOLD dragon, then you would
get a +1 to Fire, COLD, AND POISON... with 13 AC and -10 EV. 8P
FYI, Storm, Swamp, Steam, and Mottled dragon armors protect against
only one thing, and it's a +1, usually. And, on that topic, steam
dragon armor will DECREASE your resistance against steam/cloud effects
by 1, for SOME reason. 8/
 
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"Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote:

> What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I
> launched the fellow whose success has prompted the questions
> below. Now he's knee deep in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the
> two "poison resistance runes." (Snake Pit and... uh... Hive? Yes,

It would have to be the Snake Pit and the Swamp.

> 2) Any suggestions on adjustments to my skill strategy? My current
> spell skill foci are, in this order, Spellcasting/Conjurations
> (20ish), Ice (14ish), Enchantments/Air/Summoning/Translocations
> (more or less tied for third at 8ish), Divinations/Poison (levels
> 3/2, respectively).

You'll want Earth Magic. You can do without it, but it's so good to
have crystal spear.

> Evocations 7ish,

I'd suggest you turn this off.

> 3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn?

Ice storm. Crystal spear. Do you have a staff of conjuration yet?

> Something Glaciation (can't seem to get this to do anything so
> far)

Sounds like metabolic englaciation. Not very useful unless you have
good stealth and stabbing skills.

> Current equipment setup is:
> * -5 artifact robe granting magic resistance, sense surroundings,
> an evasion bonus and perhaps something else (I normally wear a +2
> robe of resistance, but at least for doing the Crypt, I'm becoming
> stuck on this little devil, and by that I don't mean the curse
> that's on it)

What kind of evasion bonus are we talking? Unless it's something
like +8, it doesn't sound worth it.

> 5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?

Summon horrible things. Temporary summoning spells are close to
useless because the boss mummies can cast abjuration.

It might be a good idea to leave the Tomb alone. It is extremely
dangerous.

> 6) I've stashed mottled dragon, dragon, and ice dragon hides. Any
> point to armorifying one of these?

Dragon armour is good.

> I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really need is the
> standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
> spellcaster in practice.

The extra AC is really useful for spellcasters. Go for it. The
effect on your spell failure rates won't be too bad, considering
you've got Vehumet to give you a boost and you're level 20.

Darshan
 
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"Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote in message
news:30e3vdF2t172bU1@uni-berlin.de...
> What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I launched
> the fellow whose success has prompted the questions below. Now he's knee deep
> in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the two "poison resistance runes."

Do runes confer resistances? If so, I feel very stupid.

>
> 3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn? Assume here that any spell you
> suggest, I can access, as I probably can. Spells are:
>
> Ashkenazy's Deluxe Magic Dart

Never used it much, but it doesn't seem worth it.

> That Beam-Type Ice Spell

Naturally.

> Lightning Bolt (iffy, I guess)

Kinda a waste.

> Freezing Cloud

Good.

> Something Glaciation (can't seem to get this to do anything so far)

Ensorcelled Hibernation is more useful (Metabolic Englaciation casts an
ensorcelled hibernation on everything on the screen. Ensorcelled Hibernation
attempts to put one monster to sleep). The trouble is that once something wakes
up from the spell once, it's resistance goes way up, so it's difficult to get it
to work. Having everything asleep with ME means that there's more monsters with
a chance to wake up, and when things wake up, most of them shout, or buzz, or
whatever, and wake everything else up, too. Plus you need high stealth and
stabbing skills to get maximum effect.

> Deflect Missiles
> Haste
> Detect Creatures
> Detect Traps
> Selective Amnesia (obviously)
> Summon Ice Beasts
> Controlled Blink
> Teleport Self

All good. Since you're an ice mage wearing a robe, you might want to memorize
Ozocubu's Armor.

[...]

> * \oW (for cold-resistants), \oC (for others);

Why don't you use Mystic Blast on cold-resistants?

I also carry, but rarely use,
> a randart dagger with a good evasion/AC boost and another with rPoison,
> rNegativeEnergy, and some other bonus. Stashed staves include energy, fire,
> death, summoning, and perhaps channelling, and there's a stashed fire-based
> RoD as well

I'd carry around the rod.

[...]

> 5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?

Horrible Things. Anything that's not permanent will get Abjured by the Mummy
Priests and Greater Mummies.

The Tomb is pretty tough. I don't usually go there with wizards at all.

> 6) I've stashed mottled dragon, dragon, and ice dragon hides. Any point to
> armorifying one of these? I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really
> need is the standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
> spellcaster in practice.

You can probably google old discussions. I think it's an excellent idea -- with
an ice mage, wear a dragon armor and two rings of ice, and you'll have a net +1
ice resistance and no fire susceptibility. I think I'm in the minority,
though -- most people seem to prefer light armor for their spellcasters.
Mottled Armor is light, though, so there's no drawback to that.

--
Jeremey
 
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Erik Piper wrote:
> bork bork bork Jeremey Wilson bork 4:09:29 AM bork 11/23/2004 bork
bork:

> > > Ashkenazy's Deluxe Magic Dart
> >
> > Never used it much, but it doesn't seem worth it.
>
> You've never used Mystic Blast much? :)) That's the name I was
trying to
> say. Or did you know what I meant, and still wanted to say it's not
worth it?
> Y'know, I dunno, this spell is cheap among the stronger spells,
always hits,
> and is unresistable (that's why I called it Deluxe Magic Dart when I
couldn't
> remember its name). True, it's just a bolt, but so is Ice Bolt, and
otherwise
> I can't find much fault with the spell.

Not a lot of damage, and it only hits one thing at a time. If you're
ok with it, I'm ok with it, though. I'd probably use Iron Bolt as my
unresistable attack.

> > > Lightning Bolt (iffy, I guess)
> >
> > Kinda a waste.
>
> It seems I will have some points to blow anyway (see below), so I
think I'll
> let this sit a bit. It is, after all, an unresistable (if highly
inaccurate)
> beam spell. Or at least, I haven't seen anything resist it yet.

Some things can. Mostly demons, but some other stuff, too. Again, not
a lot of damage, though if you hit something multiple times it's ok.
That's a wee dangerous and not always possible, though.

> > > Freezing Cloud
> >
> > Good.
>
> Y'think so? From what I've read of the spoilers, its damage doesn't
go up
> with skill... but maybe the duration does, and maybe it has more
tactical use
> than I've attributed to it. OK, I'll keep trying it a while longer.

Cleverly used in conjunction with Detect Creatures, you can clear a
level without ever making eye contact with a monster. It's one of my
favorite spells, but that's probably mostly from playing as a
fighter/evoker, where it's easy to stand at the end of a corridor
freeze everything trying to come after you.


> > Why don't you use Mystic Blast on cold-resistants?
>
> I do. :) The above are what *staves* I use on what monster types.
So, enter
> the Crypt, swap in \oWizardry, fire Mystic Blast.

Isn't Mystic Blast Conjuration? I still don't follow.

> > I'd carry around the rod.
>
> I kept on not using it... well, I can try again I guess.

If it's got fire spells, that's a nice balance without having to learn
anything. But if you never use it, no reason to carry it around, I
guess. Rings of Ice will affect spells you cast from it.


> I think I will try, but thanks for the warning. If I die, I'll think
of you.

That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.


> Nice. Does a Staff of Cold have the same attributes as a Ring of Ice?
I think
> I only have one such ring.

Yes.

--
Jeremey
 
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bork bork bork Jeremey Wilson bork 4:09:29 AM bork 11/23/2004 bork bork:

>
> "Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote in message
> news:30e3vdF2t172bU1@uni-berlin.de...
> > What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I launched
> > the fellow whose success has prompted the questions below. Now he's knee
> > deep in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the two "poison resistance
> > runes."
>
> Do runes confer resistances? If so, I feel very stupid.

No, but sometimes resistances confer runes. ;-)

> >
> > 3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn? Assume here that any spell
> > you suggest, I can access, as I probably can. Spells are:
> >
> > Ashkenazy's Deluxe Magic Dart
>
> Never used it much, but it doesn't seem worth it.

You've never used Mystic Blast much? :)) That's the name I was trying to
say. Or did you know what I meant, and still wanted to say it's not worth it?
Y'know, I dunno, this spell is cheap among the stronger spells, always hits,
and is unresistable (that's why I called it Deluxe Magic Dart when I couldn't
remember its name). True, it's just a bolt, but so is Ice Bolt, and otherwise
I can't find much fault with the spell.

> > Lightning Bolt (iffy, I guess)
>
> Kinda a waste.

It seems I will have some points to blow anyway (see below), so I think I'll
let this sit a bit. It is, after all, an unresistable (if highly inaccurate)
beam spell. Or at least, I haven't seen anything resist it yet.

> > Freezing Cloud
>
> Good.

Y'think so? From what I've read of the spoilers, its damage doesn't go up
with skill... but maybe the duration does, and maybe it has more tactical use
than I've attributed to it. OK, I'll keep trying it a while longer.

>
> > Something Glaciation (can't seem to get this to do anything so far)
>
[Explanation of this and its counterpart E.H.]

Aha. Doesn't seem worth it for one whose main activity is blowing things to
bits from a distance. I'll dump it.

> > Deflect Missiles
> > Haste
> > Detect Creatures
> > Detect Traps
> > Selective Amnesia (obviously)
> > Summon Ice Beasts
> > Controlled Blink
> > Teleport Self
>
> All good. Since you're an ice mage wearing a robe, you might want to
> memorize Ozocubu's Armor.

I might be missing the book for this one, but if not, I'll go straight ahead.

> [...]
>
> > * \oW (for cold-resistants), \oC (for others);
>
> Why don't you use Mystic Blast on cold-resistants?

I do. :) The above are what *staves* I use on what monster types. So, enter
the Crypt, swap in \oWizardry, fire Mystic Blast.

> I also carry, but rarely use,
> > a randart dagger with a good evasion/AC boost and another with rPoison,
> > rNegativeEnergy, and some other bonus. Stashed staves include energy,
> > fire, death, summoning, and perhaps channelling, and there's a stashed
> > fire-based RoD as well
>
> I'd carry around the rod.

I kept on not using it... well, I can try again I guess.

> [...]
>
> > 5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?
>
> Horrible Things. Anything that's not permanent will get Abjured by the
> Mummy Priests and Greater Mummies.

Thanks for the tip.

> The Tomb is pretty tough. I don't usually go there with wizards at all.

I think I will try, but thanks for the warning. If I die, I'll think of you.

> > 6) I've stashed mottled dragon, dragon, and ice dragon hides. Any point to
> > armorifying one of these? I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really
> > need is the standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
> > spellcaster in practice.
>
> You can probably google old discussions. I think it's an excellent idea --
> with an ice mage, wear a dragon armor and two rings of ice, and you'll have
> a net +1 ice resistance and no fire susceptibility. I think I'm in the
> minority, though -- most people seem to prefer light armor for their
> spellcasters. Mottled Armor is light, though, so there's no drawback to
> that.

Nice. Does a Staff of Cold have the same attributes as a Ring of Ice? I think
I only have one such ring.

If I do find and take a second RoI, you will also have gotten me using Ice
Bolt instead of Mordenkain's Deluxe Magic Dart, which was your secret plan
all along, wasn't it, you weasel?? :)

Thanks once again.

Erik
 
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bork bork bork Darshan Shaligram bork 11:24:38 PM bork 11/22/2004 bork bork:

Hi Darshan. Thank you for creating The Patch.

> "Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote:
>
> > What an exhilirating weekend! It was on Friday, I believe, that I
> > launched the fellow whose success has prompted the questions
> > below. Now he's knee deep in the Crypt/Vault, and already has the
> > two "poison resistance runes." (Snake Pit and... uh... Hive? Yes,
>
> It would have to be the Snake Pit and the Swamp.
>
> > 2) Any suggestions on adjustments to my skill strategy? My current
> > spell skill foci are, in this order, Spellcasting/Conjurations
> > (20ish), Ice (14ish), Enchantments/Air/Summoning/Translocations
> > (more or less tied for third at 8ish), Divinations/Poison (levels
> > 3/2, respectively).
>
> You'll want Earth Magic. You can do without it, but it's so good to
> have crystal spear.
>
> > Evocations 7ish,
>
> I'd suggest you turn this off.

Yeah. Actually, it is, and the boom in the skill was a while back. Mostly
scum-training, like most of my training is. ;-) It was for the Rod of
Destruction, but I've found in the meantime that Mystic Blast does just fine
without diluting my skills. Well, and I was also hoping that I could easily
reach a point where a Crystal Ball of Energy would start doing more good than
harm. I couldn't. ;-)

> > 3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn?
>
> Ice storm.

Interesting thought. Don't think I have it, though. I have a hunch I'm
missing some important ice book.

> Crystal spear. Do you have a staff of conjuration yet?

Nope, though I've informed Santa Claus. :) I'm a bit surprised by the
suggestion. I mean I know about that spell's reputation and I understand the
reasons for it (unresistable, high cap). But you can hardly kill things with
a spell without training the skills involved, so this would mean opening up a
whole new skill just for this one spell (unless I expand and use other Earth
spells, of course), and I already am worried that I'm spread a bit too thin.
Also, the spell will be kind of weak for a long time/forever (if I leave
Earth off), due to the low Earth skill, won't it?

I'm open to persuasion; I'm just a bit surprised is all.

[...]

> > Current equipment setup is:
> > * -5 artifact robe granting magic resistance, sense surroundings,
> > an evasion bonus and perhaps something else (I normally wear a +2
> > robe of resistance, but at least for doing the Crypt, I'm becoming
> > stuck on this little devil, and by that I don't mean the curse
> > that's on it)
>
> What kind of evasion bonus are we talking? Unless it's something
> like +8, it doesn't sound worth it.

I don't know, but definitely not +8. But the thing is, I'm not yet convinced
I care about AC. (This is my problem with the dragon armors as well.) My
biggest fear is ranged attacks.

> > 5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?
>
> Summon horrible things. Temporary summoning spells are close to
> useless because the boss mummies can cast abjuration.
>
> It might be a good idea to leave the Tomb alone. It is extremely
> dangerous.

Heh, nearly word for word (on both points) from two sources. Still, unless
the stairs disappear when you walk down them or something, I can always get a
feel for it and leave if it looks unmanageable.

> > 6) I've stashed mottled dragon, dragon, and ice dragon hides. Any
> > point to armorifying one of these?
>
> Dragon armour is good.
>
> > I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really need is the
> > standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
> > spellcaster in practice.
>
> The extra AC is really useful for spellcasters.

Will I soon be having to face more melee attacks, due to hard-to-kill
monsters, fast monsters, summoners, or something?

Erik
 
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bork bork bork Jeremey Wilson bork 2:54:03 PM bork 11/23/2004 bork bork:

> > > Why don't you use Mystic Blast on cold-resistants?
> >
> > I do. :) The above are what staves I use on what monster types.
> So, enter
> > the Crypt, swap in \oWizardry, fire Mystic Blast.
>
> Isn't Mystic Blast Conjuration? I still don't follow.

It is. Pure conjuration. But since I don't have a staff of conjuration, the
best thing remaining to wield when casting it is a staff of wizardry. Also,
since it's not tied to one spell school, it means I can cast, say, haste,
deflect missiles, mystic bolt until I'm out of SP, recharge using Vehumet
power and continue, haste, deflect missiles... with no breaks to switch
staves, all with at least SOME staff-based benefit.

> > > I'd carry around the rod.
> >
> > I kept on not using it... well, I can try again I guess.
>
> If it's got fire spells, that's a nice balance without having to learn
> anything.

It's what I was thinking too, but so far mystic bolt has been handling the
need nicely.

> But if you never use it, no reason to carry it around, I
> guess. Rings of Ice will affect spells you cast from it.

And that was the other thing.

> > I think I will try, but thanks for the warning. If I die, I'll think
> of you.
>
> That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.

You must have had awful parents.

Erik
 
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"Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote:

> bork bork bork Darshan Shaligram bork 11:24:38 PM bork 11/22/2004
> bork bork:

> Hi Darshan. Thank you for creating The Patch.

You're welcome. :)

>> "Erik Piper" <efrniokr@sdky.cz> wrote:

>> > 3) Any suggestions on spells to learn/unlearn?

>> Ice storm.

> Interesting thought. Don't think I have it, though. I have a hunch
> I'm missing some important ice book.

The book of Annihilations. Vehumet should give it to you sooner or
later.

>> Crystal spear. Do you have a staff of conjuration yet?

> Nope, though I've informed Santa Claus. :) I'm a bit surprised by
> the suggestion. I mean I know about that spell's reputation and I
> understand the reasons for it (unresistable, high cap). But you
> can hardly kill things with a spell without training the skills
> involved,

That's why you need the staff of conjuration. With a high enough
conjuration skill (think 20+) and the staff, you can memorise and
use crystal spear, and it'll still do tons of damage without a
single point of earth skill.

Crystal spear is *really* useful to sort out the lovable citizens of
Zot. Sure, you could ice storm or mystic blast them, but that gets
very tricky when you have low hp.

> Also, the spell will be kind of weak for a long time/forever

Not at all. Try it and see. :) But that's all kind of moot without
the staff of conjuration. You know where to spend your next scroll
of acquirement.

> I don't know, but definitely not +8. But the thing is, I'm not yet
> convinced I care about AC. (This is my problem with the dragon
> armors as well.) My biggest fear is ranged attacks.

Yes, right now it is, but that might change at any point. Zot traps
are fond of sending you to the Abyss.

>> > 5) What's a good summoning spell to use for the Tomb?

>> Summon horrible things. Temporary summoning spells are close to
>> useless because the boss mummies can cast abjuration.

>> It might be a good idea to leave the Tomb alone. It is extremely
>> dangerous.

> Heh, nearly word for word (on both points) from two sources.
> Still, unless the stairs disappear when you walk down them or
> something, I can always get a feel for it and leave if it looks
> unmanageable.

Try not to kill any mummies yourself. :)

>> > I've read the armor spoilers, but what I really need is the
>> > standpoint of someone who's tried a dragon-armor-wearing
>> > spellcaster in practice.

>> The extra AC is really useful for spellcasters.

> Will I soon be having to face more melee attacks, due to
> hard-to-kill monsters, fast monsters, summoners, or something?

You can be dumped into the Abyss at any time, which is generally
crawling with demons, grey snake zombies and skeletal dragons.

Darshan