This is me at a point where I'd normally swap from Okawaru - 4 runes, Zot cleared, about to switch to TSO, do Crypt, bless a weapon and dive into extended (run mostly carried by the +4 ring of Slaying I got on D:1):
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.25-a0-420-g1cc7eeb (tiles) character file.
Game seed: 7626856827521376516, levelgen mode: deterministic
Gravenous the Slayer (Vine Stalker Fighter) Turns: 52167, Time: 01:39:51
Health: 153/153 AC: 37 Str: 37 XL: 27
Magic: 30/30 EV: 12 Int: 2 God: Okawaru [******]
Gold: 2811 SH: 29 Dex: 16 Spells: 26/26 levels left
rFire + . . SeeInvis + E - +8 arc blade {discharge, rElec}
rCold + + + Gourm . Q - +1 large shield "Ponwiugh" {rPois rC++ Str+8 Int-4}
rNeg . . . Faith . R - +12 gold dragon scales
rPois + Spirit + O - +0 helmet {SInv}
rElec + Reflect . T - +2 cloak {MR+}
rCorr + Harm . I - +2 pair of gloves {Str+3}
MR ++++. X - +0 pair of boots {run}
Stlth .......... u - amulet of the Air {Inacc +Fly rElec EV+5 RMsl}
HPRegen 1.15/turn l - +4 ring of slaying
MPRegen 0.22/turn g - ring of resist corrosion
@: studying Evocations, repel missiles, quick
A: fangs 3, clumsy 1, deformed body, deterioration 2, dopey 1, frail 1,
regeneration 2, weak 1, magic shield, antimagic bite, no potion heal 3, rot
immunity
}: 4/15 runes: decaying, slimy, silver, gossamer
a: Heroism, Finesse, Renounce Religion, Evoke Flight
You are on level 6 of the Lair of Beasts.
You worship Okawaru.
Okawaru is exalted by your worship.
You are not hungry.
You have visited 11 branches of the dungeon, and seen 55 of its levels.
You have visited 2 bazaars.
You have also visited: Trove, Ice Cave and Wizlab.
You have collected 8182 gold pieces.
You have spent 5371 gold pieces at shops.
Inventory:
Hand Weapons
E - the +8 arc blade (weapon) {discharge, rElec}
(Okawaru gifted it to you on level 5 of the Depths)
It insulates you from electricity.
L - a +9 quick blade of draining
Missiles
C - 2 throwing nets (quivered)
Armour
I - a +2 pair of gloves of strength (worn)
M - a +1 pair of boots of flying
N - a +0 large shield of protection
O - a +0 helmet of see invisible (worn)
Q - the +1 large shield "Ponwiugh" (worn) {rPois rC++ Str+8 Int-4}
(You took it off Mennas on level 3 of the Vaults)
It affects your strength (+8).
It affects your intelligence (-4).
It greatly protects you from cold.
It protects you from poison.
R - +12 gold dragon scales (worn)
T - a +2 cloak of magic resistance (worn)
X - a +0 pair of boots of running (worn)
Jewellery
b - an uncursed ring of protection from magic
d - a +4 ring of slaying
g - a ring of resist corrosion (right hand)
l - a +4 ring of slaying (left hand)
o - the ring "Jethry" {rC+ MR- Str+8 Dex-2 Slay+5}
(You bought it in a shop in a bazaar)
[ring of slaying]
It affects your strength (+8).
It affects your dexterity (-2).
It affects your accuracy and damage with ranged weapons and melee attacks
(+5).
It protects you from cold.
It affects your resistance to hostile enchantments.
u - the amulet of the Air (around neck) {Inacc +Fly rElec EV+5 RMsl}
(You found it on level 11 of the Dungeon)
[amulet of inaccuracy]
It reduces the accuracy of all your attacks.
It affects your evasion (+5).
It insulates you from electricity.
It lets you fly.
It protects you from missiles.
z - an uncursed ring of protection from fire
H - an uncursed ring of protection from cold
V - the amulet of Oclaciru {Spirit rElec rF+ Str+4 Dex-5}
(You found it in a treasure trove)
[amulet of guardian spirit]
It causes incoming damage to be split between your health and magic.
It affects your strength (+4).
It affects your dexterity (-5).
It protects you from fire.
It insulates you from electricity.
Wands
j - a wand of scattershot (10)
q - a wand of iceblast (49)
B - a wand of digging (30)
F - a wand of clouds (12)
G - a wand of acid (43)
Scrolls
a - 2 scrolls of holy word
c - 11 scrolls of enchant weapon
m - 17 scrolls of remove curse
n - 6 scrolls of magic mapping
r - 7 scrolls of fear
v - 39 scrolls of identify
y - 39 scrolls of teleportation
D - 3 scrolls of fog
P - 2 scrolls of blinking
W - 3 scrolls of enchant armour
Potions
e - a potion of invisibility
h - 2 potions of haste
i - 21 potions of curing
k - 6 potions of ambrosia
p - 7 potions of lignification
s - 2 potions of agility
t - 5 potions of berserk rage
w - 3 potions of cancellation
A - 15 potions of mutation
J - 4 potions of resistance
K - 4 potions of flight
S - a potion of magic
Books
U - a manual of Evocations
Comestibles
f - 66 rations
Skills:
- Level 26.0 Fighting
* Level 19.9 Short Blades
+ Level 15.3 Armour
- Level 25.0 Shields
- Level 8.0 Invocations
- Level 6.6 Evocations
You have 26 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.
Your spell library contains the following spells:
Spells Type Power Failure Level Hunger
Animate Skeleton Necr N/A 99% 1 ##.....
Apportation Tloc #..... 99% 1 ##.....
Beastly Appendage Tmut #..... 99% 1 ##.....
Corona Hex #...... 99% 1 ##.....
Foxfire Conj/Fire #... 99% 1 ##.....
Freeze Ice #... 99% 1 ##.....
Infusion Chrm #... 99% 1 ##.....
Magic Dart Conj #... 99% 1 ##.....
Pain Necr #... 99% 1 ##.....
Sandblast Erth #..... 99% 1 ##.....
Shock Conj/Air #... 99% 1 ##.....
Sting Tmut/Pois #... 99% 1 ##.....
Summon Butterflies Summ #....... 99% 1 ##.....
Summon Small Mammal Summ #... 99% 1 ##.....
Blink Tloc N/A 100% 2 ###....
Call Imp Summ #....... 100% 2 ###....
Corpse Rot Necr/Air N/A 100% 2 ###....
Ensorcelled Hibernation Hex/Ice #..... 100% 2 ###....
Poisonous Vapours Pois/Air #..... 100% 2 ###....
Searing Ray Conj #..... 100% 2 ###....
Shroud of Golubria Chrm/Tloc #..... 100% 2 ###....
Slow Hex #....... 100% 2 ###....
Song of Slaying Chrm #....... 100% 2 ###....
Sticks to Snakes Tmut #....... 100% 2 ###....
Sublimation of Blood Necr #......... 100% 2 ###....
Swiftness Chrm/Air #....... 100% 2 ###....
Call Canine Familiar Summ #....... 100% 3 ####...
Confusing Touch Hex #....... 100% 3 ####...
Conjure Flame Conj/Fire #....... 100% 3 ####...
Dazzling Flash Conj/Hex #..... 100% 3 ####...
Gell's Gravitas Tloc #......... 100% 3 ####...
Ignite Poison Fire/Tmut/Pois #....... 100% 3 ####...
Inner Flame Hex/Fire #....... 100% 3 ####...
Lesser Beckoning Tloc #......... 100% 3 ####...
Mephitic Cloud Conj/Pois/Air #....... 100% 3 ####...
Ozocubu's Armour Chrm/Ice #....... 100% 3 ####...
Portal Projectile Hex/Tloc #..... 100% 3 ####...
Recall Summ/Tloc N/A 100% 3 ####...
Spectral Weapon Hex/Chrm #....... 100% 3 ####...
Spider Form Tmut/Pois #......... 100% 3 ####...
Static Discharge Conj/Air #....... 100% 3 ####...
Stone Arrow Conj/Erth #..... 100% 3 ####...
Summon Guardian Golem Hex/Summ #....... 100% 3 ####...
Teleport Other Tloc #....... 100% 3 ####...
Tukima's Dance Hex #....... 100% 3 ####...
Vampiric Draining Necr #......... 100% 3 ####...
Airstrike Air #......... 100% 4 #####..
Animate Dead Necr N/A 100% 4 #####..
Cause Fear Hex #......... 100% 4 #####..
Dispel Undead Necr #....... 100% 4 #####..
Fulminant Prism Conj/Hex #......... 100% 4 #####..
Hailstorm Conj/Ice #....... 100% 4 #####..
Ice Form Ice/Tmut #....... 100% 4 #####..
Iskenderun's Mystic Bla Conj/Tloc #....... 100% 4 #####..
Leda's Liquefaction Hex/Erth #......... 100% 4 #####..
Olgreb's Toxic Radiance Pois #....... 100% 4 #####..
Passage of Golubria Tloc N/A 100% 4 #####..
Petrify Tmut/Erth #....... 100% 4 #####..
Sticky Flame Conj/Fire #....... 100% 4 #####..
Summon Ice Beast Ice/Summ #....... 100% 4 #####..
Summon Lightning Spire Summ/Air #....... 100% 4 #####..
Agony Necr #....... 100% 5 ######.
Alistair's Intoxication Tmut/Pois #....... 100% 5 ######.
Blade Hands Tmut #......... 100% 5 ######.
Bolt of Magma Conj/Fire/Erth #......... 100% 5 ######.
Borgnjor's Vile Clutch Necr/Erth #......... 100% 5 ######.
Excruciating Wounds Chrm/Necr #......... 100% 5 ######.
Fireball Conj/Fire #......... 100% 5 ######.
Irradiate Conj/Tmut #......... 100% 5 ######.
Iskenderun's Battlesphe Conj/Chrm #....... 100% 5 ######.
Lightning Bolt Conj/Air #......... 100% 5 ######.
Silence Hex/Air #......... 100% 5 ######.
Summon Demon Summ #......... 100% 5 ######.
Yara's Violent Unravell Hex/Tmut #......... 100% 5 ######.
Conjure Ball Lightning Conj/Air #......... 100% 6 #######
Darkness Hex #......... 100% 6 #######
Death Channel Necr #......... 100% 6 #######
Deflect Missiles Chrm/Air #......... 100% 6 #######
Dispersal Tloc #......... 100% 6 #######
Eringya's Noxious Bog Tmut/Pois #......... 100% 6 #######
Invisibility Hex #....... 100% 6 #######
Iron Shot Conj/Erth #......... 100% 6 #######
Shadow Creatures Summ N/A 100% 6 #######
Simulacrum Ice/Necr #......... 100% 6 #######
Dragon Form Tmut #......... 100% 7 #######
Haunt Necr/Summ #......... 100% 7 #######
Malign Gateway Summ/Tloc #......... 100% 7 #######
Monstrous Menagerie Summ #......... 100% 7 #######
Orb of Destruction Conj #......... 100% 7 #######
Ring of Flames Chrm/Fire #......... 100% 7 #######
Spellforged Servitor Conj/Summ #......... 100% 7 #######
Summon Greater Demon Summ #......... 100% 7 #######
Borgnjor's Revivificati Necr #......... 100% 8 #######
Chain Lightning Conj/Air #......... 100% 8 #######
Controlled Blink Tloc N/A 100% 8 #######
Death's Door Chrm/Necr #......... 100% 8 #######
Discord Hex #......... 100% 8 #######
Disjunction Tloc #......... 100% 8 #######
Ignition Fire #......... 100% 8 #######
Infestation Necr #......... 100% 8 #######
Lehudib's Crystal Spear Conj/Erth #......... 100% 8 #######
Necromutation Tmut/Necr #......... 100% 8 #######
Summon Horrible Things Summ #......... 100% 8 #######
Dragon's Call Summ #......... 100% 9 #######
Fire Storm Conj/Fire #......... 100% 9 #######
Glaciate Conj/Ice #......... 100% 9 #######
Shatter Erth #......... 100% 9 #######
Tornado Air #......... 100% 9 #######
Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations
Branches:
Dungeon (15/15) Temple (1/1) D:6 Lair (6/6) D:11
Swamp (4/4) Lair:3 Spider (4/4) Lair:2 Slime (5/5) Lair:6
Orc (2/2) D:10 Elf (3/3) Orc:2 Vaults (5/5) D:13
Crypt (0/3) Vaults:3 Depths (5/5) D:15 Zot (5/5) Depths:5
IceCv (visited) WizLab (visited)
Altars:
Ashenzari
Cheibriados
Dithmenos
Elyvilon
Fedhas
Gozag
Hepliaklqana
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Nemelex Xobeh
Okawaru
Qazlal
Ru
Sif Muna
Trog
Uskayaw
Vehumet
Wu Jian
Xom
Yredelemnul
Zin
The Shining One
Beogh
Jiyva
Shops:
D:7 ( D:8 [ D:9 * D:13 (([ Orc:2 ([[: Elf:3 * Vaults:3 [
Depths:1 *
Portals:
Hell: Depths:1 Depths:2 Depths:3 Depths:4 Depths:5
Abyss: Depths:3 Depths:4
Pandemonium: Depths:1 Depths:3
Ziggurat: Depths:3
Annotations:
D:14 2 transporters, Gravenous's ghost, journeyman VSFi
Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations
You have razor-sharp teeth.
You heal very quickly.
When hurt, damage is shared between your health and your magic reserves.
Your bite disrupts and absorbs the magic of your enemies.
Potions cannot restore your health.
You are immune to rotting.
You are clumsy. (Dex -2)
Armour fits poorly on your strangely shaped body.
Your body often deteriorates upon taking damage.
You are dopey. (Int -2)
You are frail. (-10% HP)
You are weak. (Str -2)
I remember now why I didn't like it before. It's because the character doesn't work
With
VsFi^Usk, you do damage not so much with your weapon, but with the interaction between your antimagic bite, the speed of Short Blades, Usk's paralysis (which procs a ton, especially with Faith), shortblade stabbing, and Usk forcing enemies to share damage.
The damage of your weapon isn't that major a factor - you just need to hit one dude quickly enough to bite him a few times, paralyse him, stab him, proc Pain bond and wipe the screen. The main benefit is that Pain bond procs on all enemies in Line of sight, meaning that if you're safely tucked in the lip of a corridor, by the time Pain bond comes, the entire screen is taking massive damage without (mostly) being able to retaliate, unlike with Axes, where you need to be in the melee to cleave the bad mans. Also while Usk's telefrag does require some investment to be able to be cast reliably, paralysis and Pain bond really don't, meaning you get nearly full benefit from your god from the moment you start worshipping.
You're also not gated by gear - you want a quick weapon, and a ton of defenses so you don't get popped before you can paralyse. All you need for end-game is a Quickblade (or Rapier of Speed/Frost), Gold Dragon Armour for resists (craftable), a Shield (I like large shields but eh), 3 pips of Magic Resist, and some Negative resist. Slaying, a scarf of Resistance, and 3 pips of rNeg are more or less luxury items. You can always juggle rings to ensure the appropriate elemental resist is high enough for the branch you're at.
Contrast with
VsFi^Oka, where you do damage by hitting one guy with Short Blades.
Now you're just a relatively bad melee combo - Vine Stalkers are fragile, Short Blades have low damage even for the highest tier, you have no AoE and you're at the mercy of gifting and/or spamming Finesse. Now, Finesse is wonderful for a VS, because low weapon delay means a ton of bites, but you're still missing on the paralysis/stabbing/Pain Bond synergy. Meaning you might as well go with an actual weapon - mace or sword, where the damage of the weapon itself is much higher.
Now let's look at
Okawaru Gifts. Here are screenshots of all the gifts I got over this run. I didn't use an amulet of Faith because I got the Amulet of Air early on, and rElec is great. (Not sure why I can't imbed Imgur images, oh well)
https://imgur.com/ZAWC5ZChttps://imgur.com/lcjDNziOf all gifts, I'm carrying a Large shield of protection (not worn), boots of running (really nice, gifted in Zot), Gloves of strenght (meh), Quickblade (was +4 unbranded when gifted, there are a few other quickblades this game) and the Arc Blade (really nice, helped me in Zot and Slime to offset the lack of AoE). The Arc Blade is potentially end-game, but a blessed quickblade will be better.
From the other gifts, notable items are:
+6 short sword of speed - pretty decent mid-game weapon, can potentially struggle through end-game and extended if you're brave
+3 Crystal Plate of Regen - not bad, but a Gold Dragon Armour will always be better, as you're squishy and want to maximise resists, leaving as many slots open for potential slaying - meaning GDA and Scarf of Resistance is hella good
+4 Vamp Quickblade - would be great for mid-game, but was sadly gifted in Zot
All in all, pretty mediocre, trending to bad. No slaying, no great randarts. Of course, gifting will always be a gamble, and in general I really enjoy Okawaru for the randomness of gifts and the rush of getting a great item early on, but in this particular case, it's just inferior.