Any use for Plate Mail?

[Netbrian]

Hi! Lately, I have been trying to ascend a Samurai, being unsatisfied
with my Valkeriye ascension. The closest I have gotten is the Plane
of Air, and that is after several rather silly mistakes (for instance,
I should have noted my complete dearth of Enchant Weapon scrolls, and
focused the ones I DID have on the Tsurugi.) In the course of my
play, one thing I started wondering is "Does anyone USE the three
different platemails?" For me, they've always been so heavy, the
benifit over Mythril is neligable. Plus, Dragon Scale Mail is
strictly superior in all respects ANYWAYS! So, is there something I'm
missing that gives the poor Tankos a leg up on the competition?
Thanks!

Netbrian

[Xraal[rot13]]

On 25 Feb 2003 11:18:13 -0800, netb...@subdimension.com (Netbrian)
scribbled randomly:

I've never used them, because, as you said, they have only a small
advantage over mithril, and the DSMs are much better in all regards.
Plus they're too heavy, I usually play the lower strength classes, ie.
wizards and archeologists...
--
Reality.sys corrupt. Reboot Universe?(y/n/q)
http://polarbbs.mine.nu/
telnet://polarbbs.mine.nu/

[Florian]

netb...@subdimension.com (Netbrian) writes:

(snip)

> In the course of my play, one thing I started wondering is "Does
> anyone USE the three different platemails?" For me, they've always
> been so heavy, the benifit over Mythril is neligable. Plus, Dragon
> Scale Mail is strictly superior in all respects ANYWAYS! So, is
> there something I'm missing that gives the poor Tankos a leg up on
> the competition? Thanks!

If you have a spellcasting melee fighter type character, crystal plate
can be useful until you can get dragon scale.

A priestess I started a few days ago came across a bronze plate +2
early on and actually wore it for a while, later exchanging it for a
crystal plate +0 so that she could cast Identify without having to
strip down first. She's planning to keep the crystal plate on until
she can go dragon-hunting. While the weight is a minor inconvenience,
the protection and easy spellcasting make up for it. She just has to
squirrel her loot away a little more often and remember to put heavy
objects in her Sack of Dropping-Before-Fights.
--
odoratusque est Dominus odorem suavitatis

[Roger Broadbent]

"Xraal[rot13]" <eid...@polarbbs.mine.nu> wrote in message
news:fpgn5v8nfpv9c27a6...@4ax.com...

> On 25 Feb 2003 11:18:13 -0800, netb...@subdimension.com (Netbrian)
> scribbled randomly:
>

> > [plate mail]

>
> I've never used them, because, as you said, they have only a small
> advantage over mithril, and the DSMs are much better in all regards.

Except MC. Not that that makes them attractive, IMO. After all, MC2 (or
better) cloaks aren't exactly rare.

> Plus they're too heavy, I usually play the lower strength classes, ie.
> wizards and archeologists...

This rules them out for me, except maybe for an 18/something high-con
character at the very start of the game, with nothing else available. I'd
ditch it quick as soon as weight was an issue and I had any kind of
alternative though.

Roger

[Nan Wang]

I guess if you are going after some crazy conduct combination like illiterate
and wishless you would have to stick to (crystal) platemail.

But otherwise, they are not worth their weight.

[nyra]

Roger Broadbent schrieb:

>
> "Xraal[rot13]" <eid...@polarbbs.mine.nu> wrote in message
> news:fpgn5v8nfpv9c27a6...@4ax.com...
> > On 25 Feb 2003 11:18:13 -0800, netb...@subdimension.com (Netbrian)
> > scribbled randomly:
> >
> > > [plate mail]
> >
> > I've never used them, because, as you said, they have only a small
> > advantage over mithril, and the DSMs are much better in all regards.
>
> Except MC. Not that that makes them attractive, IMO. After all, MC2 (or
> better) cloaks aren't exactly rare.

Being as heavy as they are (i think compared to dragon scale mail
they're roughly equivalent to lugging around two crystal balls and a
broadsword without ever using them), the only uses i've found for them
is in the _very_ early game with high-strength characters, and for a
low-difficulty challenge game - ascend in plate mail.

[Doug Freyburger]

Netbrian wrote:
>
> In the course of my
> play, one thing I started wondering is "Does anyone USE the three
> different platemails?" For me, they've always been so heavy, the
> benifit over Mythril is neligable. Plus, Dragon Scale Mail is
> strictly superior in all respects ANYWAYS! So, is there something I'm
> missing that gives the poor Tankos a leg up on the competition?

MANY versions ago dragon scales and mithril had not been added to the
game. Crystal plate armor was the best armor in the game just like a
crysknife was the best weapon. There is (was?) a guaranteed crystal
plate armor near Vlad in memory of these old versions. They are are
polypile fodder.

Versions of nethack have a type of arms race. Better armor and weapons
are introduced. Stronger and more dangerous monsters are also introduced.