Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)
With a great deal of good luck, I've finally gotton an illiterate
caveman (lawful Dwarf). down to the vibrating square, and am now trying
to go back up. (He's found the VS, but not Vlad's tower). I'm hoping
to get him all the way (not sure if he will make it).
On the way back up again, though, he's run into a small problem -
Demogorgon. Plus another self-created problem (more later).
Fortunately, the blessed unicorn cured his sickness, and he was able to
get a square away and dig downstairs with a wand of digging to escape D
and give him time to think.
Question 1 is: what is the best way to eliminate D, without engraving
Elbereth?
I don't think I have enough holy water on hand to fight him in a
slugfest,esp with +0 weapons. (Snickersee, Mace of Might, and
Excalibur. Excalibur may or may not have a plus left after hitting a
disenchanter by mistake, but it's probably pretty close to +0).
No scrolls of scare monster are on hand. I've could try to polypile for
them with what scrolls I have (which isn't very may, about 6). Or look
for more scrolls, taking the time to scour the levels I can reach.
So far this seems to be the best bet, explore for more scrolls, look for
scrolls of scare monster, which are fortunately still ID'd even after an
encounter with a mind flayer.
Potential problems: if D summons monsters, and gets a fire-breather, the
scroll may go poof :-(.
Other ideas, from the Demogorgon FAQ, involve polymorphing. The caveman
has a ring of polymorph control, and 1 tin of chameleon meat, plus a
wand of polymorph (hopefully that still has charges).
#1 Polymorph into a black dragon, and breathe on him with monster.
The idea sounds great, but some quick tests in wiz mode indicate I have
about three shots and may not hit. It doesn't seem very sure-fire.
#2 Polymorph into a cockatrice/chickatrice, lay some eggs for stoning
gernades, and stone him.
#2 seems to have more appeal, but I'm not sure how to pull it off as a
male caveman. I thought I could poly into a chickatrice and lay eggs,
but it looks like that's a no go, it seems chickatrice don't lay eggs,
and I'd have to be a female to start with and polymorph into a
cockatrice.
Also, I'm not sure about my chances of hitting with a stoning gernade, I
haven't done that much, wiz mode tests were not very encouraging.
I have some amulets, but no way to identify an amulet of changing
without breaking #conduct.
Other risks: I've been bosting the character up levels as much as I
can, using polymorph on potions and alchemy, so he's level 21. If I
polymorph I risk turning into a new dwarf.
The other little problem isn't a problem yet. On the level below D is
an ex-pet, a peaceful 37th level arch lich with 296 hp and an ac of -20
(so says the stethoscope). I had to ditch him when he became confused.
A solution that could take care of this possible future menace would be
good, too.
I do have a blessed magic lamp which I have been keeping in reserve, I
suppose I could always use it to wish for a cockatrice corpse (there
aren't any around), or three blessed scrolls of scare monster, but it
seems like a waste.
I was hoping to use it to wish for a blessed +2 shield of reflection
(Perseus didn't have one) so that I could wear an amulet of life saving
instead of an amulet of reflection (I'd pick one of the amulets from
Vlad's tower and #pray if necessary to get rid of the strangulation).
With a great deal of good luck, I've finally gotton an illiterate
caveman (lawful Dwarf). down to the vibrating square, and am now trying
to go back up. (He's found the VS, but not Vlad's tower). I'm hoping
to get him all the way (not sure if he will make it).
On the way back up again, though, he's run into a small problem -
Demogorgon. Plus another self-created problem (more later).
Fortunately, the blessed unicorn cured his sickness, and he was able to
get a square away and dig downstairs with a wand of digging to escape D
and give him time to think.
Question 1 is: what is the best way to eliminate D, without engraving
Elbereth?
I don't think I have enough holy water on hand to fight him in a
slugfest,esp with +0 weapons. (Snickersee, Mace of Might, and
Excalibur. Excalibur may or may not have a plus left after hitting a
disenchanter by mistake, but it's probably pretty close to +0).
No scrolls of scare monster are on hand. I've could try to polypile for
them with what scrolls I have (which isn't very may, about 6). Or look
for more scrolls, taking the time to scour the levels I can reach.
So far this seems to be the best bet, explore for more scrolls, look for
scrolls of scare monster, which are fortunately still ID'd even after an
encounter with a mind flayer.
Potential problems: if D summons monsters, and gets a fire-breather, the
scroll may go poof :-(.
Other ideas, from the Demogorgon FAQ, involve polymorphing. The caveman
has a ring of polymorph control, and 1 tin of chameleon meat, plus a
wand of polymorph (hopefully that still has charges).
#1 Polymorph into a black dragon, and breathe on him with monster.
The idea sounds great, but some quick tests in wiz mode indicate I have
about three shots and may not hit. It doesn't seem very sure-fire.
#2 Polymorph into a cockatrice/chickatrice, lay some eggs for stoning
gernades, and stone him.
#2 seems to have more appeal, but I'm not sure how to pull it off as a
male caveman. I thought I could poly into a chickatrice and lay eggs,
but it looks like that's a no go, it seems chickatrice don't lay eggs,
and I'd have to be a female to start with and polymorph into a
cockatrice.
Also, I'm not sure about my chances of hitting with a stoning gernade, I
haven't done that much, wiz mode tests were not very encouraging.
I have some amulets, but no way to identify an amulet of changing
without breaking #conduct.
Other risks: I've been bosting the character up levels as much as I
can, using polymorph on potions and alchemy, so he's level 21. If I
polymorph I risk turning into a new dwarf.
The other little problem isn't a problem yet. On the level below D is
an ex-pet, a peaceful 37th level arch lich with 296 hp and an ac of -20
(so says the stethoscope). I had to ditch him when he became confused.
A solution that could take care of this possible future menace would be
good, too.
I do have a blessed magic lamp which I have been keeping in reserve, I
suppose I could always use it to wish for a cockatrice corpse (there
aren't any around), or three blessed scrolls of scare monster, but it
seems like a waste.
I was hoping to use it to wish for a blessed +2 shield of reflection
(Perseus didn't have one) so that I could wear an amulet of life saving
instead of an amulet of reflection (I'd pick one of the amulets from
Vlad's tower and #pray if necessary to get rid of the strangulation).
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