Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)
Hi Folks. First time poster so I beg your indulgence.
I've been playing NetHack on and off for a couple years now, never
consistently enough to make real progress in the game, but I'm
generally able to bring a character to the bottom of the mines and back
before succumbing to YASD.
Recently I decided to try the "Protection Racket" with a number of
characters, and I'm finding it a lot tougher than I thought it would
be. I've tried it both with wizards and Valyries, and while I have no
trouble getting through the initial dungeon levels and leveling my pet
up to a large cat/dog, I just can't make it through the mines.
Invariably one of the following happens:
-My Pet dies a sad death, negating my pacifist approach. Even if I
survive, I end up being at least 4-5th level by the time I hit Mine
Town.
-My pet does great, but I get barraged with gnomes, hobbits, and
dwarves with missile weapons. They make short work of me, Elbereth be
damned.
-I'll make it to mine town, but my gold and treasures are so lacking I
can't afford to pay the priest. (this would be true in a lot of the
above cases too, had I/my pet survived.
I feel like I'm really doing something wrong here. In fact, I'm
thinking this is related to my inability to get deeper in the dungeon
(I rarely, if ever, survive the big room). I can't tell if I'm playing
too recklessly (moving too fast, not searching each level thoroughly
enough) or too cautiously (not experimenting enough with
potions/scrolls, and thus not getting crucial armor enchantments).
Any ideas? Particularly in regards to having the gold to pay the
priest? Is this scenario not even worth it, and should I go back to
fighting naturally?
Your humble and obedient Renaissance Man,
Bard
Hi Folks. First time poster so I beg your indulgence.
I've been playing NetHack on and off for a couple years now, never
consistently enough to make real progress in the game, but I'm
generally able to bring a character to the bottom of the mines and back
before succumbing to YASD.
Recently I decided to try the "Protection Racket" with a number of
characters, and I'm finding it a lot tougher than I thought it would
be. I've tried it both with wizards and Valyries, and while I have no
trouble getting through the initial dungeon levels and leveling my pet
up to a large cat/dog, I just can't make it through the mines.
Invariably one of the following happens:
-My Pet dies a sad death, negating my pacifist approach. Even if I
survive, I end up being at least 4-5th level by the time I hit Mine
Town.
-My pet does great, but I get barraged with gnomes, hobbits, and
dwarves with missile weapons. They make short work of me, Elbereth be
damned.
-I'll make it to mine town, but my gold and treasures are so lacking I
can't afford to pay the priest. (this would be true in a lot of the
above cases too, had I/my pet survived.
I feel like I'm really doing something wrong here. In fact, I'm
thinking this is related to my inability to get deeper in the dungeon
(I rarely, if ever, survive the big room). I can't tell if I'm playing
too recklessly (moving too fast, not searching each level thoroughly
enough) or too cautiously (not experimenting enough with
potions/scrolls, and thus not getting crucial armor enchantments).
Any ideas? Particularly in regards to having the gold to pay the
priest? Is this scenario not even worth it, and should I go back to
fighting naturally?
Your humble and obedient Renaissance Man,
Bard