DCSS -- A few questions from a beginner.
OneOpossumGame
important is that? What about this halberd of dragon slaying I just
got, that doesn't specify either stat?
2) What would be a good god choice for my Crusader? I'm considering
Zin, but I'm not sure what magic qualifies as unholy.
3) Is it a safer bet to stay in the main Dungeon, or head down into
the Orcish Mines? I'm level 8, and able to cast most of the starting
Crusader book at Very Good/Great.
Stefan O'Rear
> 1) When a weapon is 'better used by the Dextrous/Strong', how
> important is that? What about this halberd of dragon slaying I just
> got, that doesn't specify either stat?
Not important at all. Generally speaking, stats take second stage to
equipment and skills.
> 2) What would be a good god choice for my Crusader? I'm considering
> Zin, but I'm not sure what magic qualifies as unholy.
Yredelemnul, Makhleb, and Okawaru have worked well on my past crusaders.
Unholy magic is anything which relates to Necromancy or demonology.
> 3) Is it a safer bet to stay in the main Dungeon, or head down into
> the Orcish Mines? I'm level 8, and able to cast most of the starting
> Crusader book at Very Good/Great.
The orcish mines have orc warriors, who have equipment that's often
useful for player warriors. So it can pay to check out the branch.
Don't hesitate to run if things get ugly; they will, sooner or later.
Stefan
Harald Korneliussen
>
> 3) Is it a safer bet to stay in the main Dungeon, or head down into
> the Orcish Mines? I'm level 8, and able to cast most of the starting
> Crusader book at Very Good/Great.
Did you meet any orc warriors yet? Are they popcorn? If so, orc can be
profitable... but be sure to run if there are more than one priest at
a time. If you see any Orc Sorcerers or Orc High Priests run or blink
as they summon demons. Trolls, Iron Trolls, Ogres and similar can
probably kill you in one turn if you get next to them. If you have bad
luck and meet one of these just below stairs, you can easily die
before reaching the top. Orc Knights or Orc Warlords and Stone Giants
hit just as hard, but may have lethal ranged attacks as well, and the
two orc bosses drive their allies berserk.
I prefer diving a bit further in the main dungeon - carefully - before
doing orc. Lair is the breathing room you want to reach - it's not
safe by any means, but it's got the best risk/reward ratio of all
branches (except maybe Hive, but that's so small). Quite often Lair is
so deep it's better to do a level or two of orc, though.
OneOpossumGame
I made it to the second floor of the Orcish Mines before I had to beat
a rapid retreat. It's a good thing I had a wand of slowing. Died
shortly after, on Dungeon level 9, when I accidentally quaffed a
potion of slowing in the presence of several yaks, then miscast twice
in a row trying to berserk myself back up to speed. Note to self: yaks
= tough.
Peter Huebner
ff3a30...@d20g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>, variet...@gmail.com
says...
And "Death Yaks" ..... well, make sure you're close to stairs and
preferably in a corridor. Often to be found in the deeper levels of The
Lair. Funnily enough, by the time I encounter THEM, I don't usually have
too much trouble dispatching them. But!
All my recent deaths have been due to multiple miscasts ... 3 miscasts
of mephitic cloud in a row at 'good' or better is a pita if that orc
priest doesn't miscast his smiting attacks... or the orc warlord whips
out his crossbow of flaming "Ouch, that really hurt". RIP Dorian the
Grey #5.
-P.