Recommendations for the "Protection Racket?"

[bard]

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

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

Bard wrote:

> Hi Folks. First time poster so I beg your indulgence.

Welcome in our midst!

You'll notice that as long as you adhere to the normal usenet
conventions, this is a very friendly newsgroup.

> -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.

If you play a healer, you can heal your pet, keeping it strong to fight
on your behalf.

> -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.

Play a dwarf or gnome yourself, then, and they'll mostly leave you
alone. Even playing a non-gnome, non-dwarf lawful character helps
enormously.

> -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.

A healer starts with lots of cash.

> 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?

Combine above solutions, and you'll get a dwarven or gnomish lawful
healer.

Now, healers are neutral and cannot be dwarfs, so your best bet is to
play a gnomish healer: good starting cash, you can heal your pet, and
the Mines' denizens are normally peaceful to your race.

Added benefits are that you start with the spell of sleep, very good for
avoiding combat or blocking passages when you're being chased. Also, you
start with lots of potions of (extra) healing, enabling you to raise
your maximum HP at first level to at least 23, still keeping one potion
in reserve for emergencies.

Let us know if this works for you...

Boudewijn.

--
"I have hundreds of other quotes, just waiting to replace this one
as my signature..." - Me

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

In article <dfft87$f6e$1@news4.zwoll1.ov.home.nl>, Boudewijn Waijers
<kroisos@REMOVETHISWORD.home.nl> says...
> Now, healers are neutral and cannot be dwarfs, so your best bet is to
> play a gnomish healer: good starting cash, you can heal your pet, and
> the Mines' denizens are normally peaceful to your race.
>
> Added benefits are that you start with the spell of sleep, very good for
> avoiding combat or blocking passages when you're being chased. Also, you
> start with lots of potions of (extra) healing, enabling you to raise
> your maximum HP at first level to at least 23, still keeping one potion
> in reserve for emergencies.
>
Also, gnomes have infravision, which should help in open dark areas.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

"Bard" <bardofawen@gmail.com> was moved to say:

>-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.

Upon reaching the first mine level, you would do well to stay on the
stairs. (Sometimes the stairs will be exposed on all sides - that is
bad luck.) The point is to have an instant escape path when you get
hit two or three times in a row.

Let your pet do the killing, of course, but every time you can reach a
piece of armor, grab it and carry it upstairs. Before you can
progress in the mines, you absolutely must get armored. Even the most
placid of dungeons should supply you with an iron helm, iron boots,
chain mail and cloak. Most times, you will be able to get an elven
mithril instead of the chainmail. This will allow you to survive more
missile blows and reach the Minetown temple.

--

JPD

SGFN