How to get past this stumper?

[mike3]

Hi.

I've got a game of ADOM going here and I'm stuck. I've got several things I could do, but I'm not sure what is best. I did the early quests/places (UD, Jharod, Kenny, Yergius for trap detection), and have gone to the main dungeon, but I'm not sure what to do next. I did the first dwarf quest (easy, it was a ghul), but now I'm faced with the animated forest. There's also the pyramid, but would it be too risky to attempt that at only level 14? This is where I tend to get stuck. I've tried the AF some other times, but I often get surrounded by the trees which never let go and beat me to a pulp. Got teleport control, NO on-demand teleportation except for traps from a wand of trap creation. Right in the very first room of the dwarven halls (with the stairs!) is an ancient karmic dragon (!!!), so I don't think that route is open... What would be the best way to proceed with this?

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

Mike    St:24  Le:14  Wi:27  Dx:20  To:27  Ch: 3  Ap:12  Ma: 6  Pe:15  N=
DV/PV: 39/15   H: 199(199)   P: 32(32)   Exp: 14/136757   M: 45070

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

Melee weapon           Lvl   Hit   Dam   DV   Level          Required marks
---------------------  ---   ---   ---   --   -------------  --------------
Unarmed fighting         4    +3    +1   +1   skilled              94
Daggers & knives         2    +2    +0   +0   basic                19
Clubs & hammers          0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            15
Maces & flails           0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            15
Swords                   8    +6    +4   +2   excellent            159
Axes                     4    +3    +2   +0   skilled              51
Whips                    0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            15
Pole arms                5    +5    +2   +4   skilled              119
Twohanded weapons        3    +3    +3   +1   basic                15
Staves                   0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            15

Missile weapon         Lvl   Hit   Dam   Ra   Level          Required marks
---------------------  ---   ---   ---   --   -------------  --------------
Slings                   4    +8    +6   +1   skilled              26
Bows                     4    +8    +6   +1   skilled              25
Crossbows                0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            7
Thrown axes & hammers    0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            7
Thrown daggers           0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            7
Thrown rocks & clubs     4    +8    +6   +1   skilled              51
Thrown spears            0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            7
Boomerangs & scurgari    0    +0    +0   +0   unskilled            7

Shields                Lvl   DV               Level          Required marks
---------------------  ---   ---              -------------  --------------
Shields                  6   +12              skilled              34


Damage caused with your melee weapons:
--------------------------------------
Right hand: +28 bonus to hit, 2d10+17 damage


Damage caused with your missile weapons:
----------------------------------------
Ammunition: 4, base range: 14, +27 bonus to hit, 1d6+13 damage

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

  Athletics ................ 95    (superb)       [+2d4]
  Bridge building .......... 19    (mediocre)     [+3d5] (ma)
  Climbing ................. 59    (good)         [+3d5]
  Detect traps ............. 15    (mediocre)     [+4d4]
  Dodge ....................100    (superb)       [+2d4]
  First aid ................ 51    (good)         [+3d4]
  Food preservation ........ 18    (mediocre)     [+4d5]
  Haggling ................. 33    (fair)         [+2d4]
  Healing .................. 89    (great)        [+1d3]
  Herbalism ................ 66    (good)         [+3d3]
  Listening ................ 76    (great)        [+3d3]
  Literacy ................. 66    (good)         [+1]
  Pick pockets ............. 55    (good)         [+1d3]
  Stealth .................. 76    (great)        [+1d5]
  Survival ................. 81    (great)        [+3d3]
  Swimming ................. 83    (great)        [+2d4]
  Two weapon combat ........ 21    (mediocre)     [+4d5]
  Woodcraft ................ 18    (mediocre)     [+4d5]

[mike3]

(cont'd)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Inventory
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total weight: 2839 stones                Carrying capacity: 3150 stones

Head          : uncursed helm of beauty [+0, +0] {Ap+1}               [50s]
Neck          : -
Body          : uncursed mithril scale mail (-1, -2) [-1, +6]        [320s]
Girdle        : uncursed mithril girdle [+0, +2]                      [20s]
Cloak         : uncursed cloak of protection [+0, +3]                 [20s]
Right Hand    : uncursed adamantium scimitar of slaughtering (+0, 2d10+6)
Left Hand     : uncursed small adamantium shield [+5, +0]             [36s]
Right Ring    : uncursed ring of cold resistance                       [1s]
Left Ring     : uncursed ring of damage                                [1s]
Bracers       : -
Gauntlets     : -
Boots         : -
Missile weapon: uncursed long bow of accuracy (+5, +2)                [30s]
Missiles      : bundle of 4 cursed arrows (+0, 1d6)                    [8s]
Tool          : blessed pick axe (+1, 1d6+1)                          [75s]


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

Total weight: 2250 stones   Carrying capacity: 3150 stones

Shields ('[')
   uncursed medium adamantium shield [+7, +2]                         [72s]
   uncursed small crystal shield [+5, +0]                             [72s]
Necklaces (''')
   uncursed pendant of beauty {Ap+4}                                   [3s]
   blessed amulet of petrification resistance                          [3s]
   uncursed amulet of perseverance {Wi+3}                              [3s]
   heap of 2 cursed necklaces of the eye                               [6s]
   heap of 2 uncursed amulets of protection from undead                [6s]
   uncursed necklace of the silver tongue {Ch+3}                       [2s]
   uncursed amulet of perseverance {Wi+3}                              [3s]
   uncursed necklace of rabies resistance                              [2s]
   uncursed amulet of light                                            [3s]
Bracers (',')
   cursed bracers of toughness [+0, +0] {To+4}                        [10s]
One-handed weapons ('(')
   uncursed dagger (+0, 1d4)                                          [10s]
   blessed hatchet (+0, 1d6+1)                                        [50s]
   uncursed adamantium dagger (+0, 1d4+5)                              [7s]
   blessed hefty long sword (-1, 1d8+5)                               [48s]
   uncursed stone spear (+0, 1d8)                                    [120s]
   uncursed mithril spear (+1, 1d8+3)                                 [40s]
   uncursed chaotic orcish spear (+1, 1d8+2)                          [75s]
   uncursed swift mithril battle axe (+0, 1d6+5)                      [56s]
   cursed hand axe (+0, 1d6+2)                                        [50s]
Missile weapons ('}')
   heap of 2 uncursed slings (+0, +1)                                  [6s]
   heap of 3 uncursed short bows (+1, +0)                             [60s]
Missiles ('/')
   blessed arrow of slaying (+0, 1d6)                                  [2s]
   heap of 51 uncursed rocks (+0, 1d4)                               [255s]
   bundle of 4 uncursed arrows of undead slaying (+5, 2d4+3)           [8s]
   bundle of 5 uncursed arrows of thunder (+0, 1d6)                   [10s]
   bundle of 26 uncursed arrows (+0, 1d6)                             [52s]
   bundle of 17 uncursed arrows (+0, 1d6+1)                           [34s]
   uncursed arrow (+3, 1d6)                                            [2s]
   bundle of 2 blessed arrows (+0, 1d6)                                [4s]
   uncursed arrow (+1, 1d6)                                            [2s]
   uncursed arrow of thunder (+0, 1d6+1)                               [2s]
   uncursed winged arrow (+0, 1d6)                                     [2s]
   uncursed arrow of hunting (+0, 1d6)                                 [2s]
   cursed arrow (+3, 1d6)                                              [2s]
   bundle of 5 uncursed arrows of undead slaying (+3, 2d4+3)          [10s]
   bundle of 14 cursed arrows (+0, 1d6+2)                             [28s]
   bundle of 21 uncursed arrows (+2, 1d6)                             [42s]
   cursed quarrel (+1, 2d6)                                            [2s]
Tools (']')
   uncursed torch                                                     [10s]
   uncursed torch (1067 turns of fuel remaining)                      [10s]
   uncursed box with flint and steel (24)                              [5s]
   uncursed tinderbox (8)                                              [3s]
   heap of 2 uncursed waterproof blankets                             [20s]
   heap of 2 uncursed triangular keys                                  [2s]
   uncursed square key                                                 [1s]
   blessed fireproof blanket                                          [10s]
   blessed waterproof blanket                                         [10s]
   uncursed hexagonal key                                              [1s]
   uncursed small key                                                  [1s]
   uncursed tiny key                                                   [1s]
   uncursed magical writing set (5)                                    [5s]
   blessed climbing set                                              [180s]
   uncursed si                                                        [10s]
Rings ('=')
   heap of 3 uncursed rings of stun resistance                         [3s]
   heap of 2 uncursed rings of defense +1                              [2s]
   cursed ring of speed [+0, +1] (+5 spd)                              [1s]
   cursed ring of searching                                            [1s]
   uncursed ring of mental stability [+0, +1] {Le+1}                   [1s]
   cursed ring of fire                                                 [1s]
   uncursed ring of protection +1                                      [1s]
   uncursed ring of searching                                          [1s]
   heap of 2 uncursed rings of acid resistance                         [2s]
   uncursed ring of the clear mind                                     [1s]
Wands ('\')
   uncursed wand of trap creation (6 charges)                          [3s]
   uncursed wand of webbing (2 charges)                                [3s]
   uncursed wand of paralyzation (5 charges)                           [3s]
   uncursed wand of trap detection (6 charges)                         [3s]
   uncursed wand of webbing (1 charge)                                 [3s]
   uncursed wand of door creation (6 charges)                          [3s]
   uncursed wand of knocking (9 charges)                               [3s]
Potions ('!')
   heap of 3 uncursed potions of healing                              [12s]
   heap of 4 uncursed potions of booze                                [16s]
   uncursed potion of balance                                          [4s]
   cursed oil of rust removal                                          [2s]
   heap of 2 uncursed potions of cure poison                           [4s]
   heap of 2 blessed potions of invisibility                           [8s]
   cursed potion of cure poison                                        [2s]
   blessed potion of healing                                           [4s]
   uncursed potion of boost dexterity                                  [2s]
   uncursed potion of ultra healing                                    [2s]
   uncursed potion of uselessness                                      [2s]
   cursed potion of booze                                              [4s]
   heap of 3 uncursed potions of invisibility                         [12s]
   heap of 2 uncursed potions of poison                                [8s]
   heap of 3 uncursed potions of carrot juice                         [12s]
   cursed potion of potential learning                                 [4s]
   cursed potion of carrot juice                                       [4s]
   uncursed potion of potential beauty                                 [4s]
   uncursed potion of boost learning                                   [2s]
Scrolls ('?')
   [snip, some scrolls of vermin control and increase melee accuracy/
   damage -- should I use the latter two?]
Books ('"')
   blessed manual of bridge building                                 [100s]
   blessed spellbook of Remove Curse                                 [100s]
   uncursed spellbook of Slow Poison                                 [100s]
   uncursed spellbook of Stun Ray                                    [100s]
Food ('%')
   [snip, unfortunately I don't have a supply of stomafilia herbs :( ]
Valuables ('$')
   2020 gold pieces                                                   [20s]

[Silfir]

A couple of things:

- DH is out of the question. Ancient karmic dragon sounds as bad as it is.
- Care to tell us what race and class you are? I'm assuming a human barbarian, but I can't be sure.
- Please start by swapping the small adamantium shield for the completely superior one in your pack, and equipping the bracers of toughness possibly.
- Your character is fully-equipped to brave the animated forest - maybe you just don't have the technique down. The key is to never attack any trees, unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, only those that are already hostile. Use 'l' to check out the trees.
- Sadly you haven't shown us your scrolls. If one of item detection is among them and you already ate a blink dog you might want to get the teleportation wand from the VDDL (second level of the dungeon near the pyramid). It eases the animated forest a great deal.
- You should also be able to do the pyramid. Sadly you don't have any water to bless your sword with (blessed stuff does +50% damage to undead, making your already quite decent sword really powerful indeed). Consider getting some, for instance in the ID (you have to go a bit further than ID:1 for that). That's also a place to find blink dogs if you want to.

[JellySlayer]

One of the better ways to cross the forest is to dual-wield two shields on coward. You can't attack anything, but most of the trees won't bother you--even if you bump into them accidentally. The hostile ones you can kill if they get in your way. If you get in trouble, you have 5 potions of invisibility, which make things much easier too.

Pyramid should be okay to do as well. You don't need the fireball wand normally... if you have a few extra spenseweed and curaria, that's great (but still probably not needed). Use those undead slaying missiles if you need to.

[fazisi]

There is a guaranteed wand of teleportation in the VDDL. Since you snipped your scrolls, I don't know if it will be easy for you to find it though. If you have a scroll of item detection, it's very easy. If you have a scroll of magic mapping, blessed makes it very easy. If it's not blessed, just explore the level completely then read it and it should fill in a couple squares where the wand should be.

After that, if you feel unprepared for the pyramid, you could try going to the dwarven graveyard. Otherwise, I am confident that with that weapon, you should be able to demolish the pyramid anyways, though completing the second dwarf quest for the wand of fireballs would make it even easier.

Just for general tips though:
Definitely read those two scrolls. Chances are the only replacement weapons you will find for that beauty will be artifacts.
Equip the adamantium medium shield instead of the adamantium small shield.
Equip your ring of damage on your right finger instead of your left, it gives a bigger damage bonus that way.

[warheart]

Also, equip an amulet (perseverance), put ring of damage in the right ring (they add more damage in that position) and use the ring of speed instead of the cold resistance one.

I see you're a hurthling, so maybe that's why you keep rocks in your backpack. I'd drop them though, as your skill in bows is at the same level and you don't lack ammo. Still that's just my opinion, not the best thing to do. I just don't like rocks.

And no, don't use scrolls of increase melee damage, those will be wasted in that weapon.

[Krogg]

I pretty much agree with what others have said. If I read correctly you still have to kill a ghul for the quest? I would do that before I crossed the animated forest, or else he's going to give you another kill quest. I would just go do the graveyard and then the pyramid. Then you should be even better equipped to cross the forest.

[mike3]

I pretty much agree with what others have said. If I read correctly you still have to kill a ghul for the quest? I would do that before I crossed the animated forest, or else he's going to give you another kill quest. I would just go do the graveyard and then the pyramid. Then you should be even better equipped to cross the forest.

Already did the ghul quest (that was real easy). I also just got some holy water from the dwarven shop and used that to bless the sword. I'll see what happens with the pyramid. Couldn't get the wand of teleportation out of the VDDL as I had no scrolls of item detection.

[mike3]

Just got to the top of the pyramid. Besides the usual monsters (Rehetep, greater mummies, and regular mummies, and a couple daemons of some type), there's an iron golem, a corruptor, two vortices (acid and lightning), a dark elf wizard (spider factory), and a jackalwere (jackal factory). The stairs are nearby. Should I try it, or retreat?

[Dudley]

Try, after drinking one invisibility potion. if the golem or corruptor annoy you too much (which they usually do) flee, but you should be able to kill Rehetep before that