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Total Members Voted: 34

[GlyphGryph]

Immediately upon descending, I found a shield of Resistance to Fire with the Guardian Spirit ability. Worth using?

How much does it decrease my casting chance? Significant?

[Un67]

OK, here is some important advice on skills:

- Raise only one skill at a time - it's the most efficient way to train. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, obviously, but there's always one skill more important than the others.
- Raise UC in multiples of five. Always. The reason is that at multiples of five you trim off 10% combat delay. If I were you the first thing I'd do right now is raise UC to ten.
- Are you using the manual mode to micromanage skills? Because if you aren't you definitely should be.
- Forms are awesome, but don't neglect Dodging and Stealth. I would bring them up to 5 or so each for now, because they definitely will help keep you alive. If you feel like your defenses aren't cutting it, raise them.
- Prioritize Ice Form before Blade Hands. It is somewhat easier to cast, if more demanding on skills, and is generally more useful until later in the game.

And I would not use the shield, or in fact any shields for transmuters, due to melding via forms. But even if you weren't a transmuter I wouldn't use that shield. One, because I would prefer to start with a buckler first, and two because guardian spirit is terrible for spellcasters because it is taking up valuable MP you could be using for casting spells. Also to see how much Shields skill is necessary to eliminate penalties look up "shield" in the knowledgebot.

[GlyphGryph]

I only ever train one skill at a time, so manual mode or not is identical, no?
I didn't know about the multiples of 5 thing, And UC to 10 next does sound like a decent plan.

I'll dump the shield then. I was only considering /because/ of the meld, truth be told - the initial moments before I choose a form are when I'm most vulnerable.

[Frumple]

Yeah... the rF's nice, but guardian spirit is pretty deadly for most casters; about the only ones I wouldn't be quite as worried about is sif mummies/necromutation-enabled critters, probably with a heavy summoning focus. Having all your non-consumable escape/attack/defense/utility methods go 'poof' after getting hit particularly hard is a bit of a problem

As for the shield, iirc a plain shield is 10 shield skill to remove the penalty, or at least cut it down to minimum. It's 5/10/15 for medium sized characters, if my memory's not failing.

[Un67]

Hmm, it was just that your skill screen seemed a bit misleading. And manual is not identical because you have direct control over which skills and you can make sure that each skill receives no more and no less EXP than it needs as long as you are careful.

As for the shield, the main problem is the guardian spirit, as Frumple and I have both mentioned, but there is also a major issue in EXP investment. You will need 15 Shields levels to eliminate the significant casting penalty (Frumple, I'm afraid your memory is failing ), and that is... a very substantial amount. The reward, is just not worth the risk and investment.

[GlyphGryph]

Don't draconians have different shield mods, though? I forget. Anyways, enough for tonight. lata!

[Un67]

Nope. Draconians are medium sized.

[Frumple]

Yeah, was misremembering for large size, heh. Too many attempts at naga fighters

Which... even then is inaccurate, but at least I got the max point right, heh.

[GlyphGryph]

Sif Muna, she whispered to me as I slept that she had many secrets for me. When I woke, however, it was to the same old wear dungeon. How deep must I dwell? How many more twisty tunnels, all alike, before I find the orb for Momma?

I'm proud to be a real adult, I am, but inside... I just want to go home. Since I've come here, my life has been in constant danger, neverending kill or be killed situations, relentless, monotonous exploring.

I'm far more powerful, now, I know - this has been an amazing experience.

But I'm tired, and I feel an ever increasing sense of dread coming over me.

But I cannot turn back now - I will push on. I will find the orb, and make Momma proud, and perhaps Sif Muna will grant me my dreams.

Yet I can't shake the feeling that death lurks around the next corner...

                                     Ailert the Changer
                                     Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna *.....
           ......#.                  Health: 60/60     ========================
          #.......#                  Magic:  18/18     ========================
          +.......#                  AC:  6            Str: 13
          #.......#                  EV:  9            Int: 15
          +.......#                  SH: 16            Dex: 13
      #####.......#                  XL:  8 Next:  7%  Place: Dungeon:5
      ............#                  Wp: -) Nothing wielded
         #........#                  Qv: c) 35 darts
.        #..<...@.#####.##
#   #    #.#+#...%......).
#   ...# #   #.######>..##
#  ....#.#   #.#       ##
###.##.#.#   #.#
#.. ..?#.#   #.#
#.#.##.#.#   #.#
#.#.##.#.#   #.#
.....#.#.#   #.#
#.####.#o#
.......#.#

 Welcome back, Ailert the Yellow Draconian Transmuter.
 Sif Muna whispers: I know many secrets...
_Press ? for a list of commands and other information.

[GlyphGryph]

I found a strange glowing drain recently. I do not know what overtook me, but I decided to descend down it.

Inside was some sort of strange artifical set of tunnels full of oozes and rats and a few kobolds. I made short work of them. The water was thick sludge, and difficult to fight in, but my spider form let crawl above it and safely destroy those who would threaten me.

The sewers                                                                ∩∩                                                          (Press ? for help)
                              #%#%#≈#≈#   #≈#≈#≈#≈#
                              #≈≈≈#≈≈≈#   #..≈#..≈#
                              ##≈###≈##   ##≈###≈##
                               #≈# #≈#     #≈# #.#
                               #.###≈#     #≈###≈#
                               #≈.≈.≈#     #..≈.≈#
                               ##≈≈≈##     ##≈≈≈##
                                #.≈.#       #..≈#
                                #≈≈.#       #≈..#
                                #..≈##     ##.≈.#
                #######         #.≈..##   ##≈≈≈≈#         #######
                #.≈≈≈.#####     #≈≈≈..#####.≈≈≈≈#     #####≈≈≈≈.#
                #####≈≈≈≈≈########≈.≈.≈...≈.≈≈.########≈.≈.≈#####
                #.≈≈≈≈###≈≈.≈≈≈≈####.≈≈≈≈.≈≈.####.....≈≈###≈≈≈≈.#
                ####### #.≈≈≈≈.≈≈# ##≈≈≈≈≈.≈## #.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈# #######
                #.≈≈≈≈###≈%.≈≈...####≈..≈...####.≈≈....≈###.≈≈≈)#
                #####≈≈.≈≈####≈.≈.##≈≈≈.≈.≈≈.##.≈≈.####.≈...#####
                #.≈≈≈≈#####  ##.≈≈≈≈≈.≈.≈..≈≈≈≈≈≈.##  #####.≈≈≈.#
                #######       ##≈≈≈≈........≈.≈≈≈##       #######
                               #≈≈≈≈...@∩...≈≈.≈≈#
                               #.≈≈≈≈......≈..≈≈.#
                               #≈....≈..∩..≈..≈≈≈#
                #######       ##≈≈.≈..≈≈..≈≈≈.≈≈≈##       #######
                #.≈≈≈.#####  ##≈.≈≈.....≈.≈....≈..##  #####.≈≈≈.#
                #####≈≈≈≈≈####.≈≈≈##.......≈.##≈≈..####≈≈≈.≈#####
                #.≈≈≈≈###≈≈≈≈..≈≈####..≈≈..≈####≈≈≈.....###≈≈≈≈.#
                ####### #≈≈≈.≈≈..# ##.≈.≈≈..## #.≈≈≈≈≈≈.# #######
                #.≈≈≈≈###≈≈..≈.≈####.≈≈.≈≈.≈≈####≈≈..≈.≈###≈%≈≈.#
                #####≈≈)≈≈########...≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.≈########..≈≈≈#####
                #.≈≈≈≈#####     #≈.≈..#####.≈≈≈≈#     #####.≈≈≈.#
                #######         #≈≈..##   ##.≈..#         #######
                                #..≈##     ##.≈.#
                                #≈≈.#       #.≈.#
                                #.≈.#       #≈≈.#
                               ##.≈≈##     ##≈≈.##
                               #≈..≈≈#     #≈≈≈≈≈#
                               #≈###≈#     #≈###≈#
                               #.# #≈#     #≈# #≈#
                              ##.###.##   ##≈###≈##


I crawled out victorious, but with nothing but a few unknown scrolls to show for it. Not the huge treasure vault I was hoping for.

I've also decided to put a hold on my study of magics - I feel I've progressed well enough for now at that which I wish to learn, and it's time to use my spare time practicing my forms, strikes, and dodging. I can reliably take the form I wish in combat now, but I feel that I'm not using those forms to their best use. That needs to change.

[GlyphGryph]

Finishing the floor, I encountered one of the huge man-beasts known as ogres.
                                    Ailert the Changer
                                     Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna *.....
                                     Health: 60/60     ========================
                                     Magic:  19/19     ========================
                    ###         #    AC:  6            Str: 13
                    #.###########    EV: 12            Int: 15
                    #............    SH:  0            Dex: 13
                    #.###########    XL:  8 Next: 59%  Place: Dungeon:5
               ######.#         #    Wp: -) Nothing wielded
               #......#         #    Qv: c) 35 darts
               #@######         #
               #.....O..# #######
               #........ ........    O _ ogre
               #........######...   
               #.#####+#.........
               #..      .######..   
               #..       ........   
               #..       ........
               #..       ........
                         ........
                          .....#+
I knew there blows were heavy, perhaps lethal, so I decided not to risk a direct engagement. I'd gotten a few enchanted darts from kobolds in the sewer, so I quickly decided on a plan - I would bleed the creature with a dozen tiny bites, using my spider form to keep distance.

This plan did not work so well - the ogre healed faster than I could deal damage, and while backpedaling I ran into an orcish priest and his companion. I had to slip by the ogre, and I took quite a bit of damage doing so - they do hit hard, but luckily not hard enough to kill. Not this time, at least. A blast from the priest nearly took me out before I turned the corner, and then I was free. I intended to run for the nearest stairs, and rethink my strategy for dealing with this foe once safe.

#.#.#.#......#.#.#.#.#    #####      Ailert the Changer
#.#.#.###.##.#.#.#.#.#               Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna *.....
#.#.#.#......#.#.#o#.#               Health: 17/60     ======------------------
....#.#.#.##.#.#.#.#.#               Magic:  15/19     ==================------
#.#.#.#.#.##.#.#.#o#.#               AC:  2            Str: 13
#.#........#.#O#.#.#.#               EV: 20            Int: 15
#.#.#.#.####.#.#.#.#.#               SH:  0            Dex: 18
#.#.#...%)...#.#.#O#.#               XL:  8 Next: 59%  Place: Dungeon:5
#.#.#.#'####..<#.#.#.#               Wp: -) Fangs (venom)
#.#.#.#%≈≈≈#.#.#.#.#.#       ####    Qv: -) Unavailable
#.#...#≈≈≈≈#....s....###     #...    Contam Spider
#.###.#≈.≈≈#(...........#    #.##
    #.#≈≈≈≈#............#    #.#
    #.#≈≈≈≈#.......#.#..#    #.#
    ..######.......#.#..#    #.#
       ............#.#..#    #.#
      ##########'#.#.#..#    #.#
         #######.#.#.#..#    #.#
        ................#    #.#
         ......#.#.#.#.##    #.#
          ####.#.#%#.#[#######.##

I rested a bit and went down another set of stairs. For now, I would explore a bit more and weigh my options, but be ready to run. That's when I came across, miracle of miracles, a friendly face! Well, I never saw his face, technically, but he invited me inside and offered to sell me his wares, and for some reason his shop was literally surrounded with money waiting to be spent.

I suspected some sort of trap, but the idea of being able to purchase a powerful scroll to take out the ogre was too tempting. I let myself be drawn inside.

##.#.#   ####.#.#.......             Wp: -) Tentacles     
...#.#      #.#.$$###.#              Qv: B) 20 darts (frost)
.....#      #.#$@$..!.#              App
######      #.#$$$.(..#         
            #.#.#####.#         
             .#.#     #     

There is an entrance to Gual's Magic Scroll Shoppe here.


I ended up only purchasing two scrolls of identify, but I figured I could always use those things. Now having quite I stack, I use the bulk of them to identify my /other/ scrolls and potions. I discard the poisonous potions and the scrolls of curses, glad to be rid of them, leaving me with:

g - a scroll of recharging
 i - 2 scrolls of identify
 n - a scroll of detect curse
 o - 6 scrolls of remove curse
 p - a scroll of enchant weapon II
 t - a scroll of teleportation
 w - a scroll of magic mapping
 y - 2 scrolls of fog
 F - a scroll of blinking
 I - a scroll of enchant weapon III

Not to bad, really- a few there that will potentially save my life in an emergency.

No scrolls of "Kill Ogre", sadly.

I do wonder if its even worth carrying around the scrolls of enchant weapon - My lethality comes from my own body and the body I gain with my various forms, and they won't help with any of those.

I found a ring of levitation near the shop, as well - not as good as the ring of strength or regeneration, I think, but good to have on me just in case.

And I think I've got the perfect way to deal with the Ogre - I'm going to ignore him and go to the next floor.

[Un67]

Firstly, very nice update - your writing style is very captivating, keep it up. I have some advice for you below, though:

You should probably drop the enchant weapon scrolls, yeah, they have no real use for you. Actually, you should almost always drop them even as a melee character because you want to save them for a powerful nonartefact weapon and carrying them around risks their destruction. Also, a tip for the ID minigame - use ID scrolls, and use identify scrolls on potions and rings. The reason that you should use ID scrolls is because none of them have any long term negative effects while use IDing potions can potentially set you up with mutations that will almost certainly screw you over for the rest of the game, and use IDing rings isn't usually that helpful in identifying them and can give you some negative effects early on. Finally, ditch that ring of strength ASAP - stat rings are not very useful (especially not strength and dexterity rings), and almost anything is preferable. Obviously they are still better than nothing, but it is almost always a bad idea to let them take priority over other rings.

[GlyphGryph]

I currently have +str, Lev, and Regen.

Str boost is minimal, but more likely to help than Lev, which can be put on on an as-needed basis after all.

Though I suppose the good thing about the ring of levitation is that my controlled flight completed eliminates the drawbacks of being levitated, so the only question is whether or not there are any actual benefits to levitation in places without lava or deep water or anything like that.

And yeah, I generally use-id scrolls, but I had a lot of these things and a lot of single scrolls, so why not. A few of those scrolls might have saved my life - wouldn't want to use my only teleport scroll, after all!

Thanks for the compliments, I will try to keep it up.

[Delta Foxtrot]

I like the cut of your jib.

You inspired me to roll a few DrTMs. A pretty kickass combo.

[Un67]

Well, yeah, I didn't really want you to get rid of the strength ring now, just once other options open up. As for the scrolls, I agree that in the early game, every consumable matters, however I find that the potions are generally much more likely to directly save your life than scrolls. A stack of identified heal wounds potions in the early game is potent - very likely to save your life, and I would take IDing heal wounds over any item early game.