Dungeon Crawl: Stone Soup - The Soupening

Athros: Orc is certainly the easiest of what's left and you may get a book store. Use all ups and downs on every floor as there are often stores on the upper levels too. You need a book store! Your biggest danger in Orc will be crossbow guys and uniques (Nergalle especially). Crossbow guys will kill you without good defense. This phase of the game will be very difficult without some sort of missile protection. Without deflect missile be very very careful around crossbows as 2 turns my kill you. Poison or freezing cloud will make orc laughable.

Snake is second least dangerous. There are hard hitters there, and poison bolts are nasty. Stay off the last level until you need to be there. Freezing cloud and caution will steamroll this branch.

Shoals is nasty for a glass cannon caster. Spear throwers are deadly and harpies surround you fast. Mesmerizers mess with your mobility. The wide open spaces make clouds less effective. IMO, your guy is not ready for this.

Slime is a late game area, requiring potent offense and good all around resistances and utility spells. The Oklobs will probably die to a single freezing cloud.

Blitz: Malor gave great item advice. If it's a weapon take it if you'll use it now or if it could hurt you in the hands of an orc. Armor only upgrades. Rods, wands, potions and scrolls I always take with me and I always throw everything into a pile on lair 1. I think it's very important to stash scrolls and potions on lair 1. Useful ones that is. You don't want to carry 15 ID scrolls around and have them all burned up by a fire guy. Take 2 or 3 and go back for one if you need it. Inventory management takes practice and experience.

For whatever it's worth... I know humanoids can spawn on Lair:2 because I had to deal with a named unique humanoid there during my previous run; use caution creating a stash there. I've been previously told that Lair:3 is the "safe" one to use for a stash.

Also: Crawl Tournament team size is max six, right? So we have room for one more person on each of our three teams? Any other Goodjers out there who want in on hot semi-competitive crawl action?

Homard wrote:

Snake is second least dangerous. There are hard hitters there, and poison bolts are nasty. Stay off the last level until you need to be there. Freezing cloud and caution will steamroll this branch.

In general, the last floor of any branch is a lot harder than the ones above. So the typical pattern is to clear all but the last floor of a branch. Then go back to the main dungeon, or other branch upper floors for a few levels, and then come back to that last floor when you think you can handle it.

I found the poisoner's handbook for my SpEn of Ash, so at least I've got Meph now and can train conjurations and poison. Should be able to make Iron Shot from the book Earth castable pretty soon. I don't have any major AOE in this book set, yet: Earth, Changes, Poisoner's Handbook. But I haven't hit Orc yet, so maybe i'll get lucky in there.

Edit: Oh, wiki says that book of the Earth has Shatter. I'll have to double check that that's actually in my game's book. Shatter sounds awesome.

Malor et al: Thanks for the tips and help! Much appreciated. I'm glad I asked: I figured I could just make a stash anywhere and had started dumping piles of stuff just before I'd go down to the next level. I didn't realize enemies could pick it up. I guess I was getting ahead of myself a bit, as I've yet to make it to the lair.

Do you all use shields with magic casters? I armed one guy with one, but when I did, his casting fail rate went through the roof. I assumed that it was because he didn't have a hand free to gesture with. Would it ever make sense to take the weapon out of a magic caster's hand and just arm him with a shield?

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Malor et al: Thanks for the tips and help! Much appreciated. I'm glad I asked: I figured I could just make a stash anywhere and had started dumping piles of stuff just before I'd go down to the next level. I didn't realize enemies could pick it up. I guess I was getting ahead of myself a bit, as I've yet to make it to the lair.

Do you all use shields with magic casters? I armed one guy with one, but when I did, his casting fail rate went through the roof. I assumed that it was because he didn't have a hand free to gesture with. Would it ever make sense to take the weapon out of a magic caster's hand and just arm him with a shield?

Bucklers, not shields. Bucklers have no penalty to casting.

I also don't stash at all until Lair:1, and that's usually because I'm carrying too much crap. Ctrl+f is my stash - as an example: I know I saw a glowing axe somewhere - ctrl+f "brand" and see what pops up,. Don't grind the interface!

Ok, I'm going to roll back into the Dungeon and head to Orc. Lair is officially, completely, clear. Basic stash on Lair:1. I'll likely start Earth and Nec now as well to get those miscasts down.

Vehumut offers: Delayed Fireball. Hmm...

EDIT: Make that Spellforged Servitor. Very interesting.

Crawl Wiki wrote:

Spellforged servitors are obedient magical constructs created by casting the spell Spellforged Servitor. These beings come into existence knowing a handful of the Conjurations spells known by its summoner.

Update: Ok, Dungeon cleared down to Vaults, Learned PArrow. Character Dump.

I have got to clear out some inventory. Too much hauling around. Other than that, I'm doing alright. Need a couple more levels in Spellcasting, then back to Earth and Poison.

athros wrote:
Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Malor et al: Thanks for the tips and help! Much appreciated. I'm glad I asked: I figured I could just make a stash anywhere and had started dumping piles of stuff just before I'd go down to the next level. I didn't realize enemies could pick it up. I guess I was getting ahead of myself a bit, as I've yet to make it to the lair.

Do you all use shields with magic casters? I armed one guy with one, but when I did, his casting fail rate went through the roof. I assumed that it was because he didn't have a hand free to gesture with. Would it ever make sense to take the weapon out of a magic caster's hand and just arm him with a shield?

Bucklers, not shields. Bucklers have no penalty to casting.

Ah, many thanks. I just walked past a buckler and didn't pick it up because I figured I couldn't use it.

athros wrote:

...Don't grind the interface!

Most. Useful. Post. Ever.

My head just exploded, but in a good way. Thanks again.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:
athros wrote:
Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Malor et al: Thanks for the tips and help! Much appreciated. I'm glad I asked: I figured I could just make a stash anywhere and had started dumping piles of stuff just before I'd go down to the next level. I didn't realize enemies could pick it up. I guess I was getting ahead of myself a bit, as I've yet to make it to the lair.

Do you all use shields with magic casters? I armed one guy with one, but when I did, his casting fail rate went through the roof. I assumed that it was because he didn't have a hand free to gesture with. Would it ever make sense to take the weapon out of a magic caster's hand and just arm him with a shield?

Bucklers, not shields. Bucklers have no penalty to casting.

Ah, many thanks. I just walked past a buckler and didn't pick it up because I figured I couldn't use it.

athros wrote:

...Don't grind the interface!

Most. Useful. Post. Ever.

My head just exploded, but in a good way. Thanks again.

Anytime! I might not have won a game yet, but I got better when I didn't have to fight the interface (as much).

athros wrote:

...Don't grind the interface!

DCSS can be a very efficient game to play once you understand the interface (or lack there-of). Once you learn to use autoexplore, autofight, autorest and autotravel, you can cut your game time by about 80%.

I also just discovered | (that's the vertical pipe over your backslash symbol) which removes everything from the screen except terrain. Helps me evaluate my best move in a crowded fight.

Dammit, was playing as a Troll and got a ring that lowers hunger, but on D3 I ran into a Wyvern. That was fun.

Edit: Btw, I'm terrible at running away. That kills me 75% of the time. I suck at it.

Athros, you're about at the point in the game where poison becomes less useful. Think about not putting any skill into poison at all. It's a dead end and if you can cast poison cloud and arrow without it, all the better. Fire, Ice or Earth will see a conjuror through until the end. I watched a guy using that servitor spell in Zot 5. Man, I think I'll try to get some casters to use it before they seriously nerf the overpowered goodness of it.

Homard wrote:

Athros, you're about at the point in the game where poison becomes less useful. Think about not putting any skill into poison at all. It's a dead end and if you can cast poison cloud and arrow without it, all the better. Fire, Ice or Earth will see a conjuror through until the end. I watched a guy using that servitor spell in Zot 5. Man, I think I'll try to get some casters to use it before they seriously nerf the overpowered goodness of it.

Damn. I skipped Servitor for PArrow. Ok, I'll likely swap to Earth for Iron Shot and Shatter(?). My success rates with PArrow are in the single digits, so I'm comfortable with it.

I feel like half the stuff in this thread is in a language I don't understand yet.

But I'm *really* excited for Friday. This promises to be a lot of fun.

athros wrote:
Homard wrote:

Athros, you're about at the point in the game where poison becomes less useful. Think about not putting any skill into poison at all. It's a dead end and if you can cast poison cloud and arrow without it, all the better. Fire, Ice or Earth will see a conjuror through until the end. I watched a guy using that servitor spell in Zot 5. Man, I think I'll try to get some casters to use it before they seriously nerf the overpowered goodness of it.

Damn. I skipped Servitor for PArrow. Ok, I'll likely swap to Earth for Iron Shot and Shatter(?). My success rates with PArrow are in the single digits, so I'm comfortable with it.

If your going earth, don't overlook Lee's Rapid Deconstruction. I've cleared Elf with this spell alone. It's usefulness due to smite targeting, AOE and the ability to target things on the other side of walls cannot be understated. Used while worshiping Ashenzari it can be brutally effective.

Orc Cleared. Rod of Clouds, Freezing Cloud, PArrow and Mystic Blast are life savers. Volcano was easy, Orc:4 had me stair dive a couple of times to separate a pack of Orc Knights (4) and Orc Warriors (6).

I found a jewelry shop, a Ring of SInv and a Ring {rF++, rN+, Slth+} are calling my name, though I don't know if I should. I'm also unsure if the Acc +5 on my current amulet effects my accuracy with spells. Thoughts?

EDIT: Bought the jewelry I wanted, and on my way to the Vaults, I get this:

Vehumet accepts your kill.
_Vehumet offers you knowledge of Lehudib's Crystal Spear, Fire Storm, and Chain Lightning. These spells will remain available as long as you worship Vehumet.

Crystal Spear: 80% failure
Chain Lightning: 98%
Fire Storm: 100%

Looks like I have a goal. *cracks knuckles*

EDIT 2: Hm...I need a Rune to enter the Vaults. Time to pick a branch. Current Dump

Recommendations?

I would go with Snake for my first rune if I were you.

athros wrote:

I'm also unsure if the Acc +5 on my current amulet effects my accuracy with spells. Thoughts?

Acc+5 will not help you with spellcasting.

Copingsaw wrote:
athros wrote:

I'm also unsure if the Acc +5 on my current amulet effects my accuracy with spells. Thoughts?

Acc+5 will not help you with spellcasting.

Well, bleh. Then I've been holding onto that Amulet for waaaaaaay to long. Current Dump. Outside of Snake, being told in IRC and Tavern I should start some melee, work on survivability - EV, AC, HP, utility spells - the only Utility spell I can think of is Deflect Missiles, anything else?

Hrm, with <100hp, you don't want to be starting any melee IMO. My deep elf caster goal is to not get hit once in melee all game. Congrats on clearing orc. You've got a great caster going there. Stay cautious and don't let things next to you in snake. They constrict...if you get constricted by a warrior, you may die before you can get away, so take you time with moves if you do. There's probably a way out in your pack or spell list somewhere.

I think I'll play to win in a few games but the banner list looks like it could encourage some interesting playing choices. I might just see how many I can rack up.

Current Dump. Found a unique I'm moderately worried about - Nikola. Snake has been relatively easy, since I'm taking it slow. I hit Snake:3, grates drop around the stairs, and I come around a corner to see Nikola.

Taking a breather to regroup.

Bah. Died. Anaconda, Black Mamba and a Guardian Serpent. Constricted, out of mana and couldn't get away.

Athros, you're about at the point in the game where poison becomes less useful. Think about not putting any skill into poison at all.

The various poison clouds plus Ignite Poison can be extremely powerful. You get the upfront poison damage, and then Igniting the poison badly hurts any enemy that's already poisoned, plus turns poison clouds into fire clouds, which most creatures won't care for.

Plus, enemies that are poison-proof will walk right into the clouds, and then usually won't move out of the ensuing fire.

If it's any consolation to you Athros, my berserker just died on Snake 5. It all started with me thinking Snake had 6 levels instead of 5. Got teleported into the rune vault without realizing it was the rune vault. I still thought I might make it out, but 2 blinks and 3 teleports later I was dead. Carelessness killed me for sure, but my excuse is that none of my 3 teleports took me more than 5 spaces from where I was. The new Snake is a lot tougher, but certainly more interesting. Those ritualists are scary. especially when coupled with greater nagas. Even with poison resist, I had 2/3 of my health bar left and was lethally poisoned twice.

Homard wrote:

If it's any consolation to you Athros, my berserker just died on Snake 5. It all started with me thinking Snake had 6 levels instead of 5. Got teleported into the rune vault without realizing it was the rune vault. I still thought I might make it out, but 2 blinks and 3 teleports later I was dead. Carelessness killed me for sure, but my excuse is that none of my 3 teleports took me more than 5 spaces from where I was. The new Snake is a lot tougher, but certainly more interesting. Those ritualists are scary. especially when coupled with greater nagas. Even with poison resist, I had 2/3 of my health bar left and was lethally poisoned twice.

That really sucks.

The problem I'm having with my death is I blinked twice, and both times, the Anaconda either stayed with me, or blinked with me so I couldn't get out of the constriction. About the only thing I can think of is that I should have read a teleport scroll, but even then, I'd be concerned being out of mana with a random teleport.

Ugh. It feels like a cheap death, whereas most of the deaths I have aren't. I was being careful, working through carefully, and just couldn't get out of it long enough to reach the up stairs, 3 steps away.

Ok, new start. VpEn I got lucky and found an Altar to Dithmenos on D3. I really like sneaky stabbers, and so far I'm really liking the Vampire. One shotting Sigmund was a very very good feeling!

EDIT: and a Book vendor on D:4 with the Book of Annihilation in stock, along with a boatload of other books.

I'm on D:8 and going strong. I'm likely going to need to find a better weapon, even though this Dagger of Speed is doing well. Current Dump. I'm done with the opening book, knowing Hibernation, Confuse, Enslavement, and Invisibility. Now to figure out if I want to go spells with Stealth or something else - bows/ranged or something.