I'm having trouble trying to decide between several options for my KoAe's melee weapon. I'm somewhat familiar with the various stats but I'm just not sure about the intricacies:
The options are +7/+4 Quick Blade, +2/0 Sabre of Speed, +5/+4 Sabre, or +2/+4 Dagger of Speed. Learn says base damage is king, so probably the dagger isn't viable, but is base damage functionally different from +damage (e.g. the dagger is essentially 6/6, whereas the saber is 9/11)? Learn says sabres are the best common blade, but I guess quick blades aren't considered common, and that even if I heavily enchant the sabre of speed, the quick blade would be better? Is the best option the quick blade and permanently vorpalize it with freezing or fire, presuming I can find a book with one of those brands?
I guess the question is pretty moot. I only melee things that are relatively easy or confused, the rest of the time I'm using a staff of wizardry or a rod of destruction.
Edit: Unrelated note: On Lair:8, in the lower left corner of the map, is a stone-walled area with some water, an altar, and a shop (or so the map shows, could be a portal). Since I'm not an EE my earth skill is not nearly enough to dig or LRD the wall, and apparently I can't Passwall through it either (what a waste of amnesia). Wands of digging and disintegrate obviously don't work. How are you supposed to get in there? Is it intended only to be accessible with high earth skill/Lugonu's Corrupt?