YAVP: Ranger Speedrun (27k)

[JellySlayer]

Pretty happy with this result, managed to get below 30k turns, which was my goal. I probably could have squeezed below 25k if I hadn't had some really terrible luck in the midgame.

Went for Raven-born Orc Ranger, using a similar strategy to my earlier Farmer game. Stats were okay--To was only 16, but other stats were fine. Got food then dove UD via blanket. Came out pretty stocked up with ~20 PV worth of gear, an adamantium spear and an orcish spear of the sun. I preferentially trained herbalism, so that by the time I found some herbs, I had about 60-70 points in it or so. This meant I could basically gather what I needed in passing, and never needed to wait around for them to restock. Early surge of power yielded Shirt of Saints. Finished UD about level 9 (4k turns), then dove through CoC to Dwarftown. Found more herbs, which was nice, enough to get To/Wi/Dx up to their maxima of 26/24/20. Got Griff quest and asked to kill a troll. Waldenbrook had an AoLS for 5k. Made it to DT about 6k turns in. Retraced my steps and cleared out Griffyard (top level completely, bottom level quickly). Left the sword entirely this game. Exited at level 12 with about 9k turns. Managed to kill a few steel golems with some penetrating arrows to get up to 13, grabbed mummy wrapping and ankh (10k turns). Visited VDDL where I got teleport wand (second one), plus there was a random RoDS on the ground. Wished for rings of regeneration, obviously. My weapon was still pretty poor at this point, and I didn't have any fire protection, so I decided to dive back to DT to claim Griff rewards and RoI from mystic. With this and regeneration, I visited Darkforge, and teleported once or twice until I ended up near the weapon room. Grabbed an eternium two-handed and cleared the place out, getting up to level 16 in the process. Picked up RCT and headed for ToEF (12k turns).

Bad things happened here. I had only fire resist from elemental gauntlets, so I needed double regeneration to maintain HP. I had found a blanket at some point, but it burned early so I had to accept damage to wear my RoI. Only had a couple charges of digging, two teleport wands were at 0 charges. Second level had a big tension room of fire giant kings immediately next to stairs, no way around them. Tried to dig, but couldn't get anywhere before I was too low on charges to dig out and get into Temple later. Forced to retreat. Wasted ~2k turns trying to get some more wand charges. None of the accessible merchants had anything (didn't go back to Waldenbrook, but I was pretty sure he didn't because I usually grab those things), and Bandit town wasn't producing any beggars. Picked up another wand of digging in Darkforge. Eventually just decided I'd go back to ToEF and burn one of my teleport wands to get passed the giants. Did this, got up to ACW at around 14k turns. Used most of my PoEH from Thrundarr killing him, plus the one or two prayers I had accumulated (I had basically no piety for this whole game... I don't think I ever got up to +Luck on an altar). Retreated, and managed to squeeze by the giant kings with invisibility and using a disabler potion. ToEF done at 15k.

Dove down to DT again, grabbed AoLS and saved Khelly for a desperately-needed digging wand... Got Water Orb, killed Banshee. Arrived at eternal guardian. Teleport wand still empty, trying to wrench way too risky. I had found moon sickle, so I started doing chaos alchemy. Dipped probably 30 potions before I came up with something to recharge my wand (dunno what it was: none of booze, boost mana, mana had ever spawned by this point). Got passed eternal just shy of 20k. Found probably 15 PV worth of gear in Casino, plus GoGS and some desperately-needed potions and scrolls. Since I had lots of SoCR (mystic + khelly), I gambled about 1M gold and bought some useful things. Got kitty ring. Skipped Air/Earth, checked the greater vaults (giants on D:46... took at pass as the artifacts weren't easily accessible). Cleared Mana. Archmage got some nasty stat drains on me, and had to use water orb a couple times, but finished without too much trouble. Earth ended up being the roughest... was using eternium 2hander for the fight, meaning only 30 DV/40 PV, so I was taking a beating. I did have 4 items of regeneration, so I was able to retreat and heal as needed. Killed beast, then did Air. Accidentally triggered a huge threat room of ghosts on Air level, got aged to old which mangled my stats a bit. All orbs recovered by turn 23k or so. Headed down to D:50... not diggable again, so I cleared the jellies, the top and bottom areas, then used monster creation to seal the win. Escaped and finished with 27228 turns. Weirdly, I never found an altar below Casino this game, so not only did I never get crowned, but never managed to get piety at all in the endgame. Was dipping water into holy water to keep my supply up. Also, once again finished basically without using missiles or spells (beyond the penetrating arrows for Darkforge and a few quarrels early in the game).

Also interesting: The only two permanent intrinsics I acquired this game were -TCtrl and -Poison. I did have -Curse for awhile as well, but managed to treat it with a scroll of luck from Casino.

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                                 Screenshot
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SpeedRanger   St:27  Le:13  Wi:28  Dx:32  To:24  Ch: 3  Ap:12  Ma: 7  Pe:11 NL
DV/PV: 31/35   H: 438(438)    P: 81(118)     Exp: 28/4226133   DrCh   M: 27228
Satiated
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Background Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: SpeedRanger         Race: male Orc            Class: Ranger
Eye color: black          Hair color: brown         Complexion: black
Height: 6'                Weight: 198 pounds
Age: 40 (old, 23 years of unnatural aging added in)
Star sign: Raven          Birthday: 11/Raven (day 11 of the year)

YOUR HISTORY:
        Your parents are traveling adventurers. Both are competent,
 talented and doing very well.
        As a young child you were often alone. You did not have any
 friends. You do not like to remember those times. They were very sad.
        As a kid you often watched the adult adventurers preparing for new
 exciting journeys. They sparked your imagination.
        As a young adult you were a credit to your family. Your parents
 supported your plans and were very understanding. They tried to help you
 along your way with all means at their disposal.
        You decided to become a Ranger.


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                                  Inventory
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Total weight: 3202 stones                Carrying capacity: 4372 stones

Head          : blessed crown of fire [+1, +5]                        [65s]
Neck          : uncursed ankh                                          [3s]
Body          : uncursed adamantium ring mail of life (-1, -2) [+3, +8]
Girdle        : blessed girdle of giant strength [+0, +0] {St+12}     [30s]
Cloak         : uncursed cloak of defense [+3, +0]                    [20s]
Right Hand    : uncursed eternium two-handed sword (+18, 6d5+20) [-1, +0]
Left Hand     : -
Right Ring    : blessed ring of the master cat [+0, +5] {Dx+16} (+16 spd)
Left Ring     : uncursed ring of regeneration                          [1s]
Bracers       : blessed bracers of regeneration [+0, +0]              [18s]
Gauntlets     : uncursed elemental gauntlets (-1, +0) [+0, +3]        [10s]
Boots         : uncursed eternium boots [+1, +5]                      [55s]
Missile Weapon: -
Missiles      : uncursed drakish scurgar (+2, 1d8+2)                  [10s]
Tool          : -


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                                    Stuff
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Total weight: 2723 stones   Carrying capacity: 4372 stones

Helmets ('[')
   blessed crown of regeneration [+0, +0]                             [55s]
Armor ('[')
   uncursed Shirt of the Saints [+8, +4] {Le+2}                       [20s]
   uncursed ancient mummy wrapping [+1, +5] {Ap-8}                    [60s]
   uncursed black dragon scale mail (-2, -4) [-2, +13]               [200s]
Gauntlets ('[')
   blessed thick gauntlets (-1, -2) [+1, +1]                          [15s]
   uncursed blue dragon-hide gauntlets (-2, +0) [+0, +5]              [10s]
Bracers (',')
   heap of 2 uncursed pairs of bracers of regeneration [+0, +0]       [36s]
Two-handed weapons ('(')
   blessed rune-covered trident (+6, 3d12+6) [+4, +4] {Dx+12}         [80s]
   uncursed scythe of corruption "Moon Sickle" (+6, 10d4+6) [+2, +2]  [70s]
Rings ('=')
   blessed ring of ice                                                 [1s]
   heap of 2 uncursed rings of regeneration                            [2s]
   uncursed ring of slaying (+6 melee damage, +6 missile damage)       [1s]
   uncursed ring of mental stability [+3, +1] {Le+1}                   [1s]
Scrolls ('?')
   heap of 2 blessed scrolls of corruption removal                     [4s]
Books ('"')
   blessed spellbook of Identify                                     [100s]
   blessed spellbook of Teleportation                                [100s]

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                                Weapon Skills
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Melee weapon           Lvl   Hit   Dam   DV   Level          Required marks
---------------------  ---   ---   ---   --   -------------  --------------
Clubs & hammers          1    +1    +0   +0   basic                1
Axes                     3    +2    +1   +0   basic                19
Pole arms               11   +12    +7  +14   Mastery              2158
Twohanded weapons       11   +12   +16   +4   Mastery              2034

Missile weapon         Lvl   Hit   Dam   Ra   Level          Required marks

---------------------  ---   ---   ---   --   -------------  --------------
Bows                     3    +6    +4   +1   basic                20
Crossbows                2    +4    +3   +0   basic                6

Shields                Lvl   DV               Level          Required marks

---------------------  ---   ---              -------------  --------------
Shields                  8   +16              excellent            475

Damage caused with your melee weapons:
--------------------------------------
Right hand: +82 bonus to hit, 6d5+54 damage

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                                   Skills
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  Alertness ................100    (superb)       [+1d5]
  Archery .................. 28    (mediocre)     [+3d5]
  Athletics ................100    (superb)       [+2d4]
  Backstabbing ............. 52    (good)         [+2d4]
  Climbing ................. 50    (fair)         [+4d5]
  Dodge .................... 85    (great)        [+1d5]
  Find weakness ............100    (superb)       [+1d5]
  First aid ................ 88    (great)        [+1d5]
  Food preservation ........ 95    (superb)       [+2d4]
  Haggling ................. 25    (mediocre)     [+2d4]
  Healing ..................100    (superb)       [+1d5]
  Herbalism ................ 96    (superb)       [+3d4]
  Listening ................100    (superb)       [+2d4]
  Literacy ................. 64    (good)         [+1]
  Metallurgy ...............  7    (poor)         [+4d5]
  Mining ................... 12    (mediocre)     [+4d4]
  Survival ................. 46    (fair)         [+4d5]
  Swimming ................. 47    (fair)         [+3d3]
  Two weapon combat ........ 51    (good)         [+4d4]
  Woodcraft ................ 23    (mediocre)     [+4d5]

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                              His further life:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

After he leaves the Drakalor Chain he is welcomed by his people with great
honors. They acknowledge his noble deeds, his valor, his cunning and his
great skills that helped to prevent the complete destruction of the world he
knows. He returns to his lands victorious and is hailed as a great leader.
Eventually he becomes king and settles the many differences among his
people, allowing his people to prosper and grow.

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              His achievements during his battles:
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SpeedRanger, the orcish ranger, saved the world with his brave efforts and
became a great ruler without even stopping to save himself.
He scored 59821204 points and advanced to level 28.
He survived for 0 years, 49 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes and 34 seconds (27228
turns).
SpeedRanger visited 87 places.
His strength score was modified by -7 during his career.
His learning score was modified by +3 during his career.
His willpower score was modified by +17 during his career.
His dexterity score was modified by +2 during his career.
His toughness score was modified by +8 during his career.
His charisma score was modified by -3 during his career.
His appearance score was modified by +5 during his career.
His mana score was modified by -3 during his career.
His perception score was modified by -1 during his career. [Stat loss here mostly due to aging, a bit from Archmage]
He was unnaturally aged by 23 years.
He made a little water dragon very happy.
He adhered to the principles of the Cat Lord and thus rose to great fame.
He saved Khelavaster from certain death.
He left the Drakalor Chain after completing his quest and became a great
leader and famous hero.
1781 monsters perished under his attacks.
The following 17 artifacts were generated during his adventure:
  the si
  the scythe of corruption "Moon Sickle"
  the ring of the master cat
  the potion of literacy
  the Aylas Holy Scarf [never saw: greater vault, I guess]
  the Chaos Orb of Elemental Water
  the Chaos Orb of Elemental Air
  the Chaos Orb of Elemental Fire
  the Chaos Orb of Elemental Earth
  the rune-covered trident
  the elemental gauntlets
  the crown of science
  the ancient mummy wrapping
  the ankh
  the Shirt of the Saints [surge in UD]
  the Chaos Orb of Elemental Mana
  the rune-covered halberd "Wyrmlance" [never saw: greater vault, I guess]
He possessed the following intrinsics:
  He was fire resistant (gained through an item). 
  He was poison resistant.
  He was cold resistant (gained through an item).
  He was lucky (gained through an item).
  Fate smiled upon him (gained through items).
  He was able to control teleportation.
  He was shock resistant (gained through an item).
  He was able to see invisible things (gained through an item).
  He was immune to fire attacks (gained through an item). 
He had the following talents: Alert, Hardy, Immune to Pain, Iron Skin,
Miser, Porter, Quick, Steel Skin, Tough Skin, Treasure Hunter.
He had a final speed score of 136 (final base speed: 125).
He was not very pious.
He asked for 5 divine interventions.
He was neutrally aligned.

The following monsters were vanquished:
      1 Ancient Chaos Wyrm
      1 Ancient Stone Beast
      2 balors
      1 banshee
      2 black baby dragons
      2 black dragons
      1 black slayer
      1 black wizard
     30 blink dogs
      5 cave fishers
      1 Chaos Archmage
     43 chaos mutants
     87 chaos servants
     10 chaos warriors
      6 chaos wizards
      1 dark elven priestess
      1 dark elven princess
      4 dark elven wizards
     19 dire wolves
     32 earth elementals
      2 farmers
      8 fire demons
      7 fire elementals
      4 fire giants
      3 fire grues
      7 frost giants
      2 frost giant berserkers
      1 frost giant jarl
     63 ghosts [yeouch]
      2 ghost bats
      9 ghost lords
      3 giant slugs
      1 greater air elemental
     42 greater chaos servants
      1 greater mimic
      1 greater moloch
      1 greater water elemental
     43 jackals
     13 jackalweres
      2 karmic lizards
     21 large spiders
      5 liches
      4 magebane eyes
      8 magedoom eyes
      1 master lich
      1 master mimic
      1 master necromancer
      1 Master Summoner
      4 mimics
      1 mimic hivemind
      4 necromancers
      1 ogre magus
     14 pit vipers
      1 quickling king
      1 Snake from Beyond
     29 steel golems
      2 steel horrors
      2 steel zombies
     31 stone grues
     17 tarantulas
      1 undead chaos dwarven berserker
      4 vampires
      5 water demons
      6 water grues
      5 water snakes
      5 wererats
      2 werewolves
      4 werewolf lords
     51 writhing masses of primal chaos

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                               Playing Time
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You played for 4 hours, 56 minutes and 23 seconds.


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                             Version Information
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Ancient Domains Of Mystery
Release 60

[Blasphemous]

Impressive result. I did a count and got to almost 700 monsters slain. Is that the complete list?
If yes then no wonder you finished the game at level 28.
I see a couple of close calls there.
Also, with a bit more luck with items and altars, I suspect a sub 25k result would be possible.
I gotta wonder though, you played a ranger yet used almost no missiles.
Wasn't melee more time consuming that that, at least in the beginning?

Playing an archer, I get the impression of being handicapped in melee department so I shoot stuff.
Rangers make good archers though which is why I'm wondering.

[JellySlayer]

Yes, the kill list is trimmed to save space. I usually only include notable things (summoners/summons, common problematic monsters, bosses, temple monsters, etc.). Total kill count is supposedly 1781, though I know that those numbers don't always match up (or was that fixed?)

I think 25k was definitely in the cards. I wasted 2k turns around the ToEF, and my early game was quite slow--I've done the UD in 1.5k turns in some previous runs. I don't remember why this one took so long. Probably herb-related if I had to guess. I didn't do much intensive farming, but any level where I spotted herbs I would map out completely and pick as much as I could.

I find missiles to be very awkward in speedruns because you have to go out of your way to collect things and use lots of autopickup. It's also hard to accumulate a lot of them early on since all of the missile scumming techniques are fairly turn-intensive. As an orc, I've got high St and low Dx in early game anyway, so missile to-hit and damage aren't fantastic. For an archer, yeah, I'd probably do more shooting.