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FantomFang
05-27-2008, 07:36 PM
Any quick and short general advice for a Monk? I'm probably going to go Human, for Food Preservation/Roleplaying purposes (anyone here every hear of Danica Maupoissant?), under the candle starsign.

I know I should avoid packratting, because Burdened and above negatively affects my unarmed fighting, but does armor or anything else do that also, because I can't remember for the life of me. And do you recommend unarmed or armed fighting? One last thing, how good of a spellcaster are monks?

Molach
05-27-2008, 08:01 PM
(Is reminded to finish up his guide already)

Short version:
Shield and burdened affect barehanded fighting
Above + Heavy Armor will affect your natural DV bonus
They have no penalties to weapons, that is beastfighters, so fight with what is the best in your situation (wicked eternium two-handed sword of penetration or davastation means you fight with that...)
Training up barehanded is good idea, you are likely to use it a fair bit anyhow.
Definately keep a weapon in backup in case you get burdened, or you are a sitting duck.

Hurthling or gnome are also strong choices for monk.

They are good spellcasters, but like all chars, need to find them books.

And YAMGU (Yet another monk guide update) they receive +1 speed ever 2 levels.

FantomFang
05-27-2008, 08:54 PM
That would be awesome Molach, and thanks. I had started to put together a Ranger guide, but atm have lost interest in it...i'll probably go back to it sometime soon though

gut
05-27-2008, 10:37 PM
> anyone here every hear of Danica Maupoissant?

Cleric quintet. Yay! I win more geek points!

FantomFang
05-27-2008, 10:45 PM
Whee! Good books, btw

EDIT: The monk I mentioned above btw, just go my first ever surge of power in a game. It was the jet-black glaive...lemme go find out what that is...

EDIT 2: that glaive is lame =(

EDIT 3: Altar on PC:5, hooray early precrown(s)!

FantomFang
05-27-2008, 11:45 PM
Holy *&*&^#^$!! That early precrown i mentioned? I'm sitting here, thinking, "Meh, it'll most likely be some useless weapon, oh well..." when I do my prayer. I check the ground and the words BRACERS shoot out at me. I can hardly believe it, but i got the BoW! Whoo! Now time to go sacrifice some virgins to please the RNG...she can be such a fickle mistress, ya know...

FantomFang
05-27-2008, 11:58 PM
double post.

Grey
05-28-2008, 12:21 AM
Very nice start - now make sure you take proper care of her :)

FantomFang
05-28-2008, 02:46 AM
Unfortunately I got Shezek...w/e as my crowning gift. And here I was hoping for one of the two body armors =(

Silfir
05-28-2008, 03:17 PM
*cough*adomguides*cough*

Molach
05-28-2008, 03:47 PM
Quote:
Body armor: If you find or get crowned with any of the monk artifact armors (shirt of the saints, robes of resistance) they will probably serve you well enough. For YOU, fantom, there exists a very decent alternative: Elven chain mail. This armor starts out at [0,+5], but is fully smithable and made from mithril. Added to this, it only weighs 10s, and lets you keep all monkish martial arts abilities. Perfect for any monk. You might find one in darkforge if none drop randomly for you.

Grey
05-28-2008, 06:06 PM
Elven chain can also be pickpocketed.

Covenant
05-28-2008, 06:12 PM
Personally, I find a good ego elven chainmail better than the monk artifact armours. The Robes of Resistance in particular are very poor in my opinion, due to the -4 melee modifier. My personal favourite for a monk among the armours if Nature's Companion, even though you do sacrifice a bit of -DV to use it. Along with the natural speed increases, your speed will soar to insane heights. Especially if you throw in the Ring of the Master Cat and the Bracers of War.

FantomFang
05-28-2008, 08:39 PM
Heh yea, but I already can't get the RotMC. Killed a cat while in darkness when i was fighting Keethrax =(
Anyways, yea, after you had mentioned the monk guide molach i had gone back and found it on the HoF forums. Unfortunately, I have not found any elven chain mail yet, i've had to stick to [+0, +1] robes. Yech.

FantomFang
05-29-2008, 03:37 AM
I was wondering if I could get a little advice for my monk here. I have 2 wishes, and I'm trying to decide what to do with them. I'll post the snipped VLG to help. If it helps, and its probably obvious by the Screenshot, I am preparing to do some smithing (Forge the ingots to train smithing, come back after a few more levels to do the actual equipment smithing). Also, I already have an AoLS, from a pool.

My current ideas:

Elven Chain Mails - hope for ego
Alchemy - a useful skill
Phase Daggers - I have a very hard time killing high PV monsters still
Girdle of Giant Strength - more strenght = more fun

and that's all that has come to mind so far



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screenshot
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########################### ####
#****....*....*.***...*.*.# ######### ##########*.#
#.........*.*...../.......# #.......# #.......###.#
#.*...<....*....*.*.......#############.......# #################.......###.#
#........*/.*..*../.*...../.........../.......# #........./...../...........#
#*........*.*.*......@.*.*##################### #.........###########.#####.#
#*...**.*...*........*...*# #.........# #.# #*#
#**.*...............*..**.######################## #.........# #.# #*#
#.......*.....*..*.*...*.*..../.................../.........# #.# #.#
#*.*.*..........*.*...........#################### #.........# #####/### #.#
#**...*...../.*..*/...........# #.........# #.......# #*#
#.*......*.*....*.............# ########### #.......# #.#
#....****..*...**.............# #.......# #*#
#..*.......*.......*......###/#####################################.......# #.#
#**..*........../........*......................................../.......# #.#
#*.**.*................*..######################## ######################### #.#
#.*.............**..**....# #.#
#.*...*...***.*..*.*..*...######################## ###########################*#
#*.*.*...*.*....***..*..*...**.*...........**...*. .*.**...*...*.....**.***....#
################################################## #############################
HuMon5 St:23 Le:19 Wi:27 Dx:37 To:26 Ch: 9 Ap:13 Ma:13 Pe:14 L+
DV/PV: 49/20 H: 214(214) P: 71(71) Exp: 17/304105 OC Sp: 117
Blessed Burdened
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Character Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

HuMon5 St:23 Le:19 Wi:27 Dx:37 To:26 Ch: 9 Ap:13 Ma:13 Pe:14 L+
DV/PV: 49/20 H: 214(214) P: 71(71) Exp: 17/304105 M: 61840

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weapon Skills
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Melee weapon Lvl Hit Dam DV Level Required marks
--------------------- --- --- --- -- ------------- --------------
Unarmed fighting 9 +6 +4 +3 excellent 321
Swords 4 +3 +1 +1 skilled 98
Axes 7 +5 +4 +1 skilled 29
Pole arms 8 +8 +4 +8 excellent 360

Missile weapon Lvl Hit Dam Ra Level Required marks
--------------------- --- --- --- -- ------------- --------------
Slings 4 +8 +6 +1 skilled 39
Bows 7 +14 +10 +2 skilled 112
Crossbows 4 +8 +6 +1 skilled 23
Thrown rocks & clubs 1 +2 +1 +0 basic 8

Shields Lvl DV Level Required marks
--------------------- --- --- ------------- --------------
Shields 2 +4 basic 13


Damage caused with your melee weapons:
--------------------------------------
Right hand: +30 bonus to hit, 1d3+11 damage


Damage caused with your missile weapons:
----------------------------------------
Ammunition: 4, base range: 11, +50 bonus to hit, 1d6+22 damage

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spells
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Light: 297, 3pp (Effectivity: +0)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skills
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alertness ................100 (superb) [+2d4]
Athletics ................ 99 (superb) [+2d4]
Climbing ................. 41 (fair) [+2d4]
Concentration ............100 (superb) [+2d4]
Dodge .................... 72 (great) [+1d5]
Find weakness ............ 77 (great) [+1d3]
First aid ................ 78 (great) [+3d3]
Food preservation ........100 (superb) [+2d4]
Haggling ................. 26 (mediocre) [+3d4]
Healing ..................100 (superb) [+2d4]
Herbalism ................ 83 (great) [+1d5]
Listening ................ 99 (superb) [+2d4]
Literacy .................100 (superb) [+1d5]
Pick pockets ............. 51 (good) [+1d5]
Smithing ................. 33 (fair) [+3d3]
Stealth .................. 84 (great) [+1d5]
Swimming ................. 43 (fair) [+3d3]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventory
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total weight: 3960 stones Carrying capacity: 5018 stones

Head : uncursed helm of teleportation [+0, +1] [50s]
Neck : uncursed ankh [3s]
Body : uncursed clothes [+3, +0] [40s]
Girdle : uncursed adamantium girdle [+3, +3] [18s]
Cloak : uncursed cloak of protection [+0, +3] [20s]
Right Hand : -
Left Hand : -
Right Ring : uncursed ring of acid resistance [1s]
Left Ring : uncursed ring of fire resistance [1s]
Bracers : uncursed bracers of war [+8, +4] {Dx+8} [10s]
Gauntlets : uncursed archery gloves (+0, +4) [+2, +0] [6s]
Boots : uncursed boots of sneakiness [+0, +2] {Dx+3} [20s]
Missile weapon: uncursed long bow (+6, +2) [30s]
Missiles : bundle of 4 uncursed arrows (+3, 1d6) [8s]
Tool : -

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stuff
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total weight: 3753 stones Carrying capacity: 5018 stones

Helmets ('[')
uncursed metal cap [+0, +3] [50s]
Armor ('[')
cursed ancient mummy wrapping [+1, +5] {Ap-8} [60s]
Shields ('[')
uncursed tower shield (-2) [+10, +0] [150s]
Gauntlets ('[')
blessed gauntlets of eternal peace "Shezestriakis" (-15, -15) [+15, +3]
uncursed gloves of dexterity [+0, +0] {Dx+2} [6s]
uncursed elemental gauntlets (-1, +0) [+0, +3] [10s]
Cloaks ('[')
cloak of defense [+3, +0] [20s]
Necklaces (''')
uncursed amulet of petrification resistance [3s]
uncursed amulet of greed [3s]
blessed amulet of order [3s]
blessed amulet of life saving [3s]
heap of 2 uncursed amulets of light [6s]
uncursed amulet of protection from undead [3s]
uncursed amulet of perseverance {Wi+3} [3s]
blessed necklace of rabies resistance [2s]
uncursed necklace of the eye [3s]
onyx amulet [3s]
One-handed weapons ('(')
blessed broken pick axe (+0, 1d6+1) [75s]
uncursed adamantium warhammer (+0, 2d3+6) [43s]
blessed dwarven rune axe "Rolf's Companion" (+3, 3d6+6) [+4, +4] {To+3}
uncursed pick axe (+2, 1d6+1) [75s]
uncursed pick axe of vampirism (+0, 1d6+1) [75s]
uncursed eternium warhammer (+0, 4d3+8) [29s]
blessed eternium spear (+2, 2d8+8) [25s]
blessed sword of Nonnak (+2, 4d3+2) [+2, +2] {Wi+5} [80s]
hand axe [50s]
dagger [10s]
short sword [30s]

FantomFang
05-29-2008, 03:37 AM
Two-handed weapons ('(')
uncursed glaive "Long Sting" (+4, 7d3) [+4, +0] {Pe+6} (+6 spd) [100s] [40s]
Rings ('=')
uncursed ring of searching [1s]
heap of 2 blessed rings of djinni summoning [2s]
uncursed ring of acid resistance [1s]
uncursed ring of teleport control [1s]
uncursed ring of stun resistance [1s]
uncursed ring of invisibility [1s]
heap of 2 uncursed rings of fire [2s]
Wands ('\')
uncursed wand of digging (1 charge) [3s]
uncursed wand of monster creation (5 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of fire (7 charges) [4s]
uncursed wand of item detection (3 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of lightning (2 charges) [4s]
uncursed wand of item detection (2 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of trap detection (4 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of teleportation (0 charges) [4s]
blessed wand of magic missiles (0 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of trap detection (6 charges) [3s]
cursed wand of item detection (3 charges) [3s]
blessed wand of poison (3 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of door creation (0 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of door creation (1 charge) [3s]
uncursed wand of light (11 charges) [4s]
uncursed wand of far slaying (6 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of light (3 charges) [4s]
uncursed wand of monster detection (1 charge) [3s]
uncursed wand of teleportation (0 charges) [4s]
uncursed wand of knocking (10 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of monster detection (5 charges) [3s]
blessed wand of door creation (1 charge) [3s]
blessed wand of fireballs (12 charges) [3s]
uncursed wand of lightning (4 charges) [4s]
wand of digging [3s]
wand of fireballs [3s]
Potions ('!')
heap of 3 uncursed potions of healing [12s]
heap of 2 uncursed potions of booze [8s]
heap of 6 uncursed potions of carrot juice [24s]
blessed potion of cure corruption [2s]
heap of 2 uncursed potions of insight [4s]
heap of 2 uncursed potions of cure poison [4s]
uncursed potion of extra healing [2s]
uncursed potion of ultra healing [2s]
uncursed oil of rust removal [2s]
uncursed potion of boost strength [2s]
uncursed potion of exchange [4s]
cursed potion of blindness [2s]
heap of 2 uncursed potions of boost willpower [4s]
uncursed potion of boost dexterity [2s]
blessed potion of confusion [2s]
uncursed potion of raw mana [2s]
uncursed potion of uselessness [2s]
potion of holy water [4s]
potion of water [4s]
potion of carrot juice [4s]
heap of 6 potions of extra healing [12s]
Scrolls ('?')
heap of 3 uncursed scrolls of magic mapping [6s]
heap of 3 uncursed scrolls of increase melee damage [6s]
heap of 4 uncursed scrolls of item detection [8s]
heap of 2 uncursed scrolls of monster detection [4s]
cursed scroll of uncursing [2s]
heap of 2 uncursed scrolls of gold detection [4s]
heap of 2 uncursed scrolls of power [4s]
uncursed scroll of darkness [2s]
cursed scroll of increase melee accuracy [2s]
cursed scroll of increase melee damage [2s]
uncursed scroll of balance [2s]
uncursed scroll of increase melee accuracy [2s]
cursed scroll of magic mapping [2s]
blessed scroll of gold detection [2s]
uncursed scroll of peace [2s]
uncursed scroll of great identify [2s]
uncursed scroll of cure blindness [2s]
scroll of identify [2s]
scroll of peace [2s]
Books ('"')
uncursed spellbook of Light [100s]
Food ('%')
heap of 5 cursed curaria mancox herbs [10s]
blessed curaria mancox herb [2s]
cursed stomacemptia herb [2s]
heap of 30 uncursed cooked lizards [90s]
heap of 8 uncursed pepper petals [16s]
heap of 2 cursed stomafillia herbs [4s]
uncursed stomafillia herb [2s]
heap of 6 blessed pepper petals [12s]
heap of 8 uncursed spenseweeds [16s]
heap of 6 cursed alraunia antidotes [12s]
blessed stomafillia herb [2s]
Gems ('*')
uncursed crystal of power [1s]
heap of 3 uncursed crystals of darkness [3s]
uncursed crystal of fire [1s]

Soirana
05-29-2008, 06:38 AM
eternium halberds should be an a option unless you are sold on bare hands

Kato
05-29-2008, 02:15 PM
Bah..been playing this game for so long but I still sometimes feel like a noob....

Elven Chain Mails - hope for ego

I've seen the ego term get tossed around a bit out here a few times...I know what an ego is. But what is an ego for an item in this game?

Silfir
05-29-2008, 02:30 PM
I have no idea where the term came from, but an "ego" weapon is a weapon with magical prefixes and suffixes, Diablo-style. Some of these magical prefixes and suffixes can be enormously powerful. To find out what they do, you have to pay close attention, or sometimes just read a scroll of greater identify, but it's not hard to figure out.

With the "ego" elven chain mail they're referring to they probably mean an elven chain mail of life, or an empored elven chain mail, or an empowered elven chain mail of life. I really wouldn't waste a wish on the slim chance on getting a good prefix or suffix - it's too damn rare to get one. I'd rather spend two wishes on potions of strength (eight points in total, if you bless all four), they are not as easily destroyed as the girdle.

I'd be in favour of Alchemy, incidentally, since you are pretty low level and your Learning is decent. You can live without better armor; the other parts can make up for it while you are looking for the elven chain mail, and I guess an eternium plate or dragon scale mail will also be good enough. Did you do Darkforge already? I forget.

Also, the robes of resistance are DEFINITELY worth the measly four points of to-hit lost. Especially if they mean that you can stop wearing rings of fire or acid resistance, and exchange them for rings of slaying.

Incidentally, do the Tomb of the High Kings. No one that powerful should still be wearing rings of element resistance :)

Nezur
05-29-2008, 02:34 PM
Bah..been playing this game for so long but I still sometimes feel like a noob....

Elven Chain Mails - hope for ego

I've seen the ego term get tossed around a bit out here a few times...I know what an ego is. But what is an ego for an item in this game?

A special item: An empowered robe or a trapped eternium plate mail of damnation for example.

Don't worry - if you don't play other roguelikes I think it is likely that you don't know what an ego item means.

EDIT: Gah, Silfir beat me to it.
EDIT2: I'm not sure but the ego term may originate from Angband.

FantomFang
05-29-2008, 07:41 PM
Went ahead and used one on alchemy, haven't done the other yet. But I just got screwed by he Greater Daemon quest. He killed Bart! And I hadn't given him the Golden Gladius yet! *cry*

He also drained my strength down to 19 from 22, the bastard, and 1 Willpower, while i was dancing around trying to get him to kill Glod. Shame on me, I guess.

EDIT: Used 2nd wish on Spellbooks of Frost Bolt. I didn't have and wands of cold for the High Kings, so I said screw it and used the wish. May seem silly, but it was worth it to me.

FantomFang
05-29-2008, 11:20 PM
Ok, I need a hand here. I accidently stole from the dwarftown shop, so i was forced to kill Waldenbrook and every muscular dwarf on the level. No problem. Now I'm just wondering if there is going to be any more repercussions. Like, can I now loot all the stuff i had sold to him in the past and sell it at the HMV shop, for example? Just wondering.

Grey
05-29-2008, 11:49 PM
It's a capitalist world - feel free to loot and sell :) Be careful, you might be cursed or doomed.

Covenant
05-30-2008, 12:13 AM
Also, the robes of resistance are DEFINITELY worth the measly four points of to-hit lost. Especially if they mean that you can stop wearing rings of fire or acid resistance, and exchange them for rings of slaying.

Incidentally, do the Tomb of the High Kings. No one that powerful should still be wearing rings of element resistance :)

Surely you just defeated your own point? The robes of resistance, in context, aren't very good for a monk, in my opinion. Anyone likely to get them should, by that point, have the Ring of High Kings. Or the Elemental Gauntlets. Both of which would stop someone needing elemental resistances (although really, I'd assume they'd have them already!

Obviously, if someone finds them early in the game, they're good - as is nearly any artifact. But I'd say the high PV is not as useful in the late-game (though of course this is subjective - some builds really go for PV, but generally not Monks), and the +5 To, while beneficial, is of limited usefulness - I'd rather not be being hit at all, either by having a high DV or by being able to dispatch my enemies before they can hit me (i.e, no negative melee modifier) than being able to withstand a couple extra hits.

I realise my lauded Nature's Companion is even worse on the DV front, but I rate it for the positive melee modifier, increased speed, and shock immunity (much more useful than resistance, which is relatively easily gained).

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 12:56 AM
Would there have been a special message if i had been cursed or doomed? Because there wasn't any as far as I could tell when I initially robbed it (teleported out without paying, doh, for an item that I realized afterwards was the one i didn't need, double doh) and when I killed Waldenbrook below Dwarftown (just in case it made the inhabitants angry). Apparently they have no problem with the wanton slaughter of muscular dwarfs though.

New Goal! At some point, even if it makes me a fallen champion, I'm going to kill off Dwarftown in its entirety. Maybe I'll take the long way back up if i can close the gate =p

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 01:52 AM
So far so good, just beat the ToEF. Wand of Poison + Wand of Stunning + Penetrating Arrows of Darkness + Melee while he staggers = no healing needed.

May the dive begin!!!

Btw, has anyone ever seen this happen? I had a +3, +12 Eternium Plate Mail, and a Fire Elemental critically hit me, and reduced it to +3, +4 in ONE FREAKING STRIKE. All I got to say is wtf.

Grey
05-30-2008, 01:55 AM
You poisoned, stunned and blinded the wyrm? Man, you really didn't give him a chance at all :P

As for the damaged armour, I seriously suggest you sac a big amount of gold at a coaligned altar to get to very close in case you're doomed. An unlucky crit like that cane happen normally, but they're far more likely if you're cursed or doomed.

gut
05-30-2008, 02:03 AM
If you kill a shopkeeper, without initially making him hostile
by means of ventriloquism, then you are cursed.

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 02:54 AM
Yea, I just realized that I have been cursed and doomed since that event in Dwarftown. So I did the entire ToEF while Cursed and Doomed. I didn't notice a huge difference, although it did seem like a lot of enemies were spawning (plenty of yummy strength corpses though, woot). I may go there again before I start the dive to farm for easy strength increases. Fire giants ftw.

Grey
05-30-2008, 03:10 AM
You... you... ah never mind. Well done - doing the Tower whilst doomed and NOT EVEN NOTICING is quite impressive. Don't let it go to your head though ;)

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 04:01 AM
I just about shit my pants. I've destroyed soooo many cats during this game, and upon diving to the Cat Lord's level i realize.....THAT HE IS RIGHT FREAKING NEXT TO ME. I hadn't prepared at all yet! Luckily, I was able to climb back up, teleport, prepare, and then use poison + stunning + penetrating arrows of darkness combo to beat up, but i was just surprised to see that he had spawned right next to me and the stairs. That, my friends, could've been bad.

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 06:04 AM
Well, made it to D50, buts its late, i'll finish it tomorrow. No weakling WoD ending for me this time! (Although I may use it to get a few easy kills). Sadly, I'm not LVL50 yet. The only exp rich vault i have found thus far was a Greater Undead vault. I took one look, and skipped. Im ready to rock though! *Yawn* First thing in the morning...

Grey
05-30-2008, 08:30 AM
Killing balors will very easily get you to L50. Best of luck!

Covenant
05-30-2008, 05:30 PM
On that note, I know people typically wish for the Emperor Moloch when hoping to gain experience, but what about wishing for balors? From anecdotal experience, I remember getting much more experience from killing a single one of them than a whole bunch of Greater Molochs.

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 06:40 PM
I don't think you can match the sheer amount of Greater Moloch's you get from that wish with Balors. Speaking of Greater Moloch's though, they have soo much PV that my monk, berserked, using demon slaying ammo, could barely breach his PV. Damn. How much PV do Balors have?

Grey
05-30-2008, 06:46 PM
Balors have much less PV, demon slaying ammo makes short work of them. I should note though that you should always bless demon and undead slaying ammo - it does 50% more damage against those enemies, and that lets it easily puncture through any PV.

FantomFang
05-30-2008, 08:15 PM
Woo, I did it! I'll post the Memorial file and details in the YAVP forum..

Molach
05-30-2008, 08:34 PM
Regular balors do not yield as much exp as the D:50 ones. Might be something with exp levels.

Like arena fights alwaysgive 10 times as much exp as from a regular ...thing.

And grats on the win! Yavp us

gut
05-30-2008, 10:13 PM
I think the safest wish for exp. points, comes in the way of
an AKW. Make this wish in the highest danger level you can.
Use invis, to keep safe, and magic missile for offense. Before
the killing blow, slow yourself, and make the AKW invis, to
increase the exp. point gains.