Never beat Crawl? Enter here! :-)

[Rabiat]

1) A Ring of Hunger makes you consume more food; a Ring of Sustenance makes you consume less. You'll also consume more if you're wearing an artefact ring/amulet which "(greatly) speeds your metabolism". Others have no influence.

2) I have no idea, really. I don't think that Spellcasting skill and character level strictly influence the number of spell levels to spend. Spellcasting skill increases the power of your spells when cast, and character level limits the level of spells you're allowed to memorize. My best guess is that levels to spend on memorizing spells are assigned when you level up, perhaps based on Spellcasting skill.

3) Wearing an Amulet of the Gourmand and having the Saprovore mutation makes it less likely for you to get ill from eating contaminated or rotten meat. In my experience, separate chunks (even from the same monster) have a disjoint likelihood of making you ill. I.e. whether or not you become ill seems to be determined at the time you eat a chunk, not when the chunk is generated.

4) Wearing heavy armour has a negative effect on casting spells, wearing light armour does not. Bucklers, caps, wizard hats, boots, cloaks and gloves are all considered light armour. (Heavy) shields and helmets are heavy armour. I'm not sure about gauntlets, but my guess is they're heavy, too. Armour enchantment doesn't alter the effect on spellcasting. Racial type does. Dwarven armour has an increased penalty on spellcasting (unless you're a Dwarf). Elven armour has a decreased penalty on spellcasting (more so if you're an Elf), plus all types of Elven armour are considered light.

5) Personally, no. I do need some time to get into the game if I pick it up where I left it, but I usually start playing by checking my stats, inventory, spells, piety, abilities, mutations and resistances. I tend to forget a lot between playing sessions. On the other hand, after an hour or so of playing, I'm inclined to go on autopilot, and make stupid mistakes, which is as dangerous as forgetfulness. True Crawl Zen is a delicate balance between mindfulness, zoning out, and well-timed cigarette breaks.

No notable progress, because I've had very little time to play during the past couple of days. My best char was a L11 Deep Elf Conjurer, Shining Star of Vehumet, slain by Edmund on D:8. I can't really recommend Vehumet for Enchanters, although I've never tried that combination. Vehumet seems more suited for Conjurers, Elementalists, and Venom Mages. Have you considered Sif Muna?

[Anvilfolk]

I met a rock worm the other day.

It wasn't pleasant.

[Omnivorous]

4) Wearing heavy armour has a negative effect on casting spells, wearing light armour does not. Bucklers, caps, wizard hats, boots, cloaks and gloves are all considered light armour. (Heavy) shields and helmets are heavy armour. I'm not sure about gauntlets, but my guess is they're heavy, too. Armour enchantment doesn't alter the effect on spellcasting. Racial type does. Dwarven armour has an increased penalty on spellcasting (unless you're a Dwarf). Elven armour has a decreased penalty on spellcasting (more so if you're an Elf), plus all types of Elven armour are considered light.

Even boots, helmets etc. that gives +1 to Arm and not Ev are considered light too? Abit confusing.. I do NOT want to wear -anything- affecting my spellcasting in a negative way.. Then again, I certainly don't want to NOT make benefit of +1 or +2 to Arm if it doesn't affect spellcasting at all. Sorry if I'm just being stupid, but I am still confused about this matter >.>

5) Personally, no. I do need some time to get into the game if I pick it up where I left it, but I usually start playing by checking my stats, inventory, spells, piety, abilities, mutations and resistances. I tend to forget a lot between playing sessions. On the other hand, after an hour or so of playing, I'm inclined to go on autopilot, and make stupid mistakes, which is as dangerous as forgetfulness. True Crawl Zen is a delicate balance between mindfulness, zoning out, and well-timed cigarette breaks.

Well yeah I spend enough time to study inventory, spells, abilities etc. too when loading a char (especially the '@' and '%' and " commands are handy for this too) but my problem is that I just don't "care" so much for the character anymore, when it's been waiting on my harddrive for 3 days and I pick it back up again When I'm in one session, I -AM- that character! ..ohwell, off to prove that point wrong for once now! This merfolk enchanter is just 20 hours old..I still love him!

[Rabiat]

You're safe with boots, hats, and caps. Helmets are heavy, so wearing one gives a penalty to spellcasting. I'm not sure about gauntlets, but I think there's a penalty; try gloves instead. If I'm not mistaken all armour types are described as either light or heavy; that's all you need to care about. Keep in mind racial exceptions, though. Anyway, spellcasters can have decent Armour Class, given enough enchant armour scrolls or some luck with artefacts.

I think I can relate to 'caring' about characters, and losing interest if you pick up an old game. To me, the key is playing one character at the time, and taking some time to get back to the character between loading and setting off. Also, and this may sound silly, in some games I like taking notes (with the ":" command) to write an in-character report of my progress. This is essentially a waste of time, but making up a background story as you go, and reading it back before you continue a saved game ("?:" command) may strengthen the bond to your character. I've been a psychotic dwarf in search of his brothers, who hollered down staircases and mistook the echoes for answers; an absent-minded milkman who fell down the basement stairs; and a hideously arrogant trollish third grade teacher explaining the health benefits of a strict corpse diet. You get the idea.

[Archaalen]

Hah!  This time it was the ice beast who died and not me! 

admittedly, this character is 8th level, so it was a bit easier.

This character is doing well, 8th level Kobold Stalker of Okawaru, and he's got a named artifact short sword with +Blink, +Tele, rElec, rPois, and rF++!  I found a store for antique weapons, and it was only ~160 gp.

[Karzack]

I'm inclined to go on autopilot, and make stupid mistakes, which is as dangerous as forgetfulness.

I've been doing this a lot lately.  I can't seem to get the ball rolling.  When it actually starts, this happens.  The last time I had a nice run going, I reloaded and I think I died in under 50 turns.   

[Omnivorous]

Hah!  This time it was the ice beast who died and not me!  

admittedly, this character is 8th level, so it was a bit easier.

This character is doing well, 8th level Kobold Stalker of Okawaru, and he's got a named artifact short sword with +Blink, +Tele, rElec, rPois, and rF++!  I found a store for antique weapons, and it was only ~160 gp.

Nice..! Watch your step!

Edit: Btw guys.. I thought, maybe from now on (just for fun ofcourse =P) we can start posting scores, dungeon level of death and class/race for those characters we find is worth mentioning, and I can post and update a "highscore" list for this thread. I think the highscore list ingame is pretty bad. I know you can use the -h parameter, but I'm usually too lazy for that. Also, if you write a small story about the character in the thread where you announce its death, the highscore-entry can perhaps link to that post.. I'd love that!

[Karzack]

If I ever get any characters worth posting, I will post them.  I've had a couple, but...I really suck at this game.    I get too impatient or gung ho.  I need to learn to slow down and take a little more time playing. 

My best was the one I posted earlier in the thread.

[Archaalen]

Sigh.

4300 Karis the Slicer (level 10, -2/56 HPs)
             Began as a Kobold Stalker on Oct 25, 2009.
             Was a Priest of Okawaru.
             Slain by a yak (13 damage)
             ... on Level 9 of the Dungeon on Oct 26, 2009.
             The game lasted 01:06:05 (10963 turns).

Karis the Slicer (Kobold Stalker)                                  Turns: 10963, Time: 01:06:06

HP  -2/56        AC 11     Str 12      Exp: 10/5827 (26), need: 1933
MP  15/15        EV 18     Int 15      God: Okawaru ***
Gold 222         SH  4     Dex 16      Spells:  4 memorised,  5 levels left

Res.Fire  : + + .   See Invis. : .   c - +5,+7 short sword "Duyhiyl" {+Blink +Tele
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : .   w - +0 leather armour (curse)
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .   z - +1 buckler
Res.Poison: +       Res.Corr.  : .   m - +0 helmet {Int+3}
Res.Elec. : +       Clarity    : .   D - +0 cloak
                                     G - +1 pair of gloves (curse)
Sust.Abil.: +       Rnd.Telep. : .   (no boots)
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .   (no amulet)
Res.Slow  : .       Levitation : .   N - +4 ring of protection
Saprovore : + + .   Ctrl.Flight: .   r - ring of sustain abilities

@: overloaded, somewhat resistant to magic, very unstealthy
A: carnivore 3, saprovore 2
a: Might, Renounce Religion, Evoke Blink, Evoke Teleportation


You were on level 9 of the Dungeon.
You worshipped Okawaru.
Okawaru was greatly pleased with you.
You were overloaded with stuff.
You were very full.

You visited 2 branches of the dungeon, and saw 10 of its levels.
You visited 2 portal chambers (including bazaars).

You collected 490 gold pieces.
You spent 294 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 a - a +2,+2 dagger
 c - the +5,+7 short sword "Duyhiyl" (weapon) {+Blink +Tele rElec rPois rF++}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   It greatly protects you from fire.
   It insulates you from electricity.
   It protects you from poison.
   It lets you blink.
   It lets you teleport.
 g - a cursed +0,+0 sling
 l - a +0,+0 bow
 n - a +0,+0 club
 x - a -1,+0 orcish blowgun
 H - a +3,+1 elven dagger of venom
 P - a +0,+0 blowgun
 Q - a +0,+0 bow
 T - a +0,+0 mace
 Y - a +0,+0 bow
Missiles
 b - 4 +0 darts of flame
 f - 17 +0 orcish arrows
 h - 21 poisoned +0 orcish arrows
 i - 61 +0 stones
 k - 76 +0 darts
 q - 12 poisoned +0 orcish needles
 s - 28 poisoned +0 needles
 J - 36 +4 elven arrows
 L - a +1 dart
 M - 13 +0 dwarven darts (quivered)
 U - 12 poisoned +0 orcish darts
 V - 31 +0 arrows
 X - 29 +3 dwarven darts
Armour
 m - a +0 helmet of intelligence (worn)
 w - a cursed +0 leather armour (worn)
 z - a +1 buckler (worn)
 D - a +0 cloak (worn)
 G - a cursed +1 pair of gloves (worn)
 R - a +1 dwarven scale mail of positive energy
Magical devices
 o - a wand of slowing (9)
Comestibles
 e - 4 meat rations
 t - a rotting chunk of giant iguana flesh
 y - 10 honeycombs
 C - a royal jelly
 K - 4 chunks of giant brown frog flesh
Scrolls
 p - 7 scrolls of teleportation
 u - 3 scrolls of detect curse
 O - a scroll of immolation
 Z - a scroll of acquirement
Jewellery
 r - a ring of sustain abilities (left hand)
 B - an uncursed ring of protection from cold
 N - a +4 ring of protection (right hand)
 S - a +4 ring of evasion
 W - an uncursed amulet of resist mutation
Potions
 j - a potion of speed
 v - a potion of restore abilities
 A - a potion of resistance
 F - a potion of confusion
 I - a potion of degeneration
Books
 d - a book of Stalking   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   *Sting                             Conjuration/Poison           1
   *Sure Blade                        Enchantment                  2
   Projected Noise                    Enchantment                  2
   *Poison Weapon                     Enchantment/Poison           2
   *Mephitic Cloud                    Conjuration/Poison/Air       3
   Petrify                            Enchantment/Earth            4
   Invisibility                       Enchantment                  6
   
 E - a book of Wizardry   
   Spells                             Type                      Level
   Detect Creatures                   Divination                   2
   Summon Elemental                   Summoning                    4
   Magic Mapping                      Divination/Earth             4
   Teleport Self                      Translocation                5
   Fireball                           Conjuration/Fire             6
   Identify                           Divination                   6
   Haste                              Enchantment                  6
   


 You had 26 experience left.

   Skills:
 + Level 4 Fighting
 + Level 10 Short Blades
 + Level 4 Darts
 + Level 1 Throwing
 + Level 8 Dodging
 + Level 5 Stealth
 + Level 4 Stabbing
 + Level 2 Traps & Doors
 + Level 2 Unarmed Combat
 + Level 2 Spellcasting
 + Level 4 Conjurations
 + Level 1 Enchantments
 + Level 4 Poison Magic


You had 5 spell levels left.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power          Success   Level
a - Sting                 Pois/Conj      ###..          Great       1
b - Sure Blade            Ench           #.........     Fair        2
c - Poison Weapon         Pois/Ench      N/A            Very Good   2
d - Mephitic Cloud        Pois/Air/Conj  ##........     Fair        3

[Numeron]

I just picked up my first rune in snake

Im wandering around swamp and wondering if removing the amulet of the gourmand requires me to re-attune myself to it, if i want to switch out to clarity when fighting swamp dragons, and the put it back on?

EDIT: actually Im down on the last level of swamp and dont seem to be having a trouble with conf attacks as the wiki suggested i might. The question still remains though I guess

[Rabiat]

Good work, Numeron.

I visited the bottom level of the Swamp recently and found that it was different than in previous versions of DCSS. I didn't have to deal with confusion attacks, and packs of hydras and dragons, but instead, there were slowing gas clouds, an oklob plant with corrosion attacks, spectral dragons and zombies. The older version of the Decarying Rune level may still be in there, but it may as well have been replaced by a newer version. What did the level look like when you played it?

Don't worry about taking off your gourmand amulet. It takes some time to get re-attuned to it, but you won't starve in the meantime.

Archaalen: that's one hell of an artefact weapon you got there. Great set of resistances for Swamp and Snake. You should've used blink or teleport to flee from that yak a lot earlier though; it can gore you for a lot more damage than 13HP if it has it in for you. I'm interested in the portal chambers you visited; which ones did you enter, and what were they like?

[Numeron]

The bottom of swamp was jsut like the the other levels, but with a small circular chamber, and loads of hydras and swamp dragons, not much else...

now I have 2 runes, woohoo!

whats a good place to get my third? slime pits? for now Ive skipped them and am poking around the vaults...

[Numeron]

nevermind, i met Boris, and got absolutely ruined. I swear he knocked me in 2 hits... i mean seriously, 111 damage whats up with that? I should have removed my ring of fire, I was weak to cold Still, its my best toon so far, first time I got a rune and I actually ended up with 2




 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.5.2 (crawl-ref) character file.

210030 Numeron the Severer (level 18, -26/163 HPs)
             Began as a Minotaur Berserker on Oct 27, 2009.
             Was the Champion of Trog.
             Killed from afar by Boris (111 damage)
             ... with a bolt of cold
             ... on Level 4 of the Vaults.
             The game lasted 06:40:30 (61376 turns).

Numeron the Severer (Minotaur Berserker)                       Turns: 61376, Time: 06:40:30

HP -26/163       AC 31     Str 29      Exp: 18/329907 (723), need: 492
MP   8/8         EV  7     Int  8      God: Trog ******
Gold 3068        SH  0     Dex 11      Spells:  0 memorised, 17 levels left

Res.Fire  : + . .   See Invis. : .   r - +7,+4 battleaxe (freeze) {god gift}
Res.Cold  : x . .   Warding    : .   g - +0 plate mail of Lupp {rElec Int+2}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .   (no shield)
Res.Poison: +       Res.Corr.  : .   (helmet restricted)
Res.Elec. : +       Clarity    : .   L - +2 cloak {rPois}
                                     U - +1 pair of gloves {Str+3}
Sust.Abil.: .       Rnd.Telep. : .   H - +1 pair of boots
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .   T - amulet of the gourmand
Res.Slow  : .       Levitation : .   A - ring of regeneration
Gourmand  : +       Ctrl.Flight: .   R - ring of fire

@: praying, somewhat resistant to magic, extremely unstealthy
A: sense surroundings 1, horns 3, screaming 2, AC +3, Int -1
a: Sense Surroundings, Burn Spellbooks, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms, Renounce
Religion


You were on level 4 of the Vaults.
You worshipped Trog.
Trog was exalted by your worship.
You were not hungry.

You visited 8 branches of the dungeon, and saw 52 of its levels.

You collected 3951 gold pieces.
You spent 897 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 r - a +7,+4 battleaxe of freezing (weapon) {god gift}
 s - the +3,+5 war axe "Hykaeg" {god gift, rN+ MR AC+4 Int+2}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 17 of the Dungeon)  
   It affects your AC (+4).
   It affects your intelligence (+2).
   It protects you from negative energy.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
 y - a +2,+2 hand axe
 z - a +2,+7 dwarven war axe of flaming {god gift}
 C - a +3,+2 hand axe of venom {god gift}
 F - a +0,+6 war axe of freezing {god gift}
 M - a +1,+5 vampiric battleaxe {god gift}
Missiles
 a - a +0 elven javelin (quivered)
Armour
 g - the +0 plate mail of Lupp (worn) {rElec Int+2}
   (You found it on level 1 of the Swamp)  
   It affects your intelligence (+2).
   It insulates you from electricity.
 H - a +1 pair of boots (worn)
 L - a +2 cloak of poison resistance (worn)
 O - the +3 cloak of the Gardener {Dex+2}
   (You found it on level 1 of the Vaults)  
   It affects your dexterity (+2).
 U - a +1 pair of gloves of strength (worn)
Magical devices
 d - a wand of teleportation (
 h - a wand of healing (3)
 o - a wand of magic darts (19)
 x - a wand of digging (
 B - a wand of healing (7)
 N - a wand of random effects (19)
Comestibles
 n - 13 grapes
 q - 5 bread rations
 w - 5 royal jellies
 D - 3 meat rations
Scrolls
 i - 2 scrolls of teleportation
 k - a scroll of identify
 m - 2 scrolls of blinking
 t - 2 scrolls of acquirement
 u - 2 scrolls of remove curse
 I - a scroll of detect curse
Jewellery
 c - an uncursed amulet of resist mutation
 e - an uncursed ring of ice
 f - an uncursed ring of poison resistance
 j - an uncursed amulet of resist slowing
 A - a ring of regeneration (right hand)
 J - an uncursed amulet of controlled flight
 K - an uncursed amulet of resist corrosion
 Q - an uncursed amulet of clarity
 R - a ring of fire (left hand)
 T - an amulet of the gourmand (around neck)
 Z - an uncursed ring of poison resistance
Potions
 b - a potion of invisibility
 l - 2 potions of levitation
 p - 6 potions of healing
 v - 4 potions of heal wounds
 E - a potion of restore abilities
 V - 6 potions of might
 X - 2 potions of speed


 You had 723 experience left.

   Skills:
 + Level 15 Fighting
 + Level 25 Axes
 + Level 9 Throwing
 + Level 13 Armour
 + Level 2 Dodging
 + Level 3 Traps & Doors
 + Level 12 Unarmed Combat


You had 17 spell levels left.
You didn't know any spells.

Overview of the Dungeon

Branches:
Temple: D:6       Orc   : D:7       Elf   : Orc:4     Lair  : D:11  
Swamp : Lair:5    Slime : Lair:8    Snake : Lair:6    Hive  : D:14  
Vault : D:18      Crypt : Vault:4  

Altars:
The Shining One: Vault:2
Kikubaaqudgha: Lair:1
Xom: D:16
Makhleb: D:5
Elyvilon: D:11

Shops:
D:6: =!/![  D:8: [  Lair:1: [  Lair:3: %  Lair:9: (  Lair:10: [  Vault:1: /


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You have a pair of large horns on your head.
You are dopey (Int -1).
You can sense your immediate surroundings.
You sometimes yell uncontrollably.
You are partially covered in blue scales (AC +1).
You are partially covered in orange scales (AC +1).
You are partially covered in patterned scales (AC +1).


Message History

You headbutt Boris, but do no damage.
Boris is lightly damaged.
The centaur warrior hits you but doesn't do any damage.
Boris points at you and mumbles some strange words.
The bolt of cold hits you!
You feel a terrible chill!
Some of the potions you are carrying freeze and shatter!

...#
...############
................
............<....
..................
..................
..................
..........Lc.$.....
..........@........
..........(........
...................
...................
....>)..[......[..
..................
..................
.................
................


You could see Boris and a centaur warrior.

Vanquished Creatures
[snip]
Grand Total: 2067 creatures vanquished

[Rabiat]

111 damage!?

That's just not fair.

Boris is a formidable spellcaster though. I looked him up in the Crawl Wiki and he has no less than 22 hit dice of power. From the description of the Bolt of Cold spell I figured out he can hurl one at you for 32d3 (32 to 96HP). Which is multiplied by some number if you're vulnerable to cold...

So it's not even a bug.

[Omnivorous]

REST IN PEACE EXPLORERS OF THE DUNGEON.. THESE BRAVE ADVENTURERS SHALL BE REMEMBERED...(1) 210030 Numeron the Severer (level 18, -26/163 HPs)
(2) 4300 Karis the Slicer (level 10, -2/56 HPs)   (Player: Archaalen)

I'm no expert with html, or forum-tags.. How do I turn a word in the post into a link? Without the entire URL being visible? And I think I'll color the entries in a simple fashion, just according to how many runes they collected with YORGBP (No Runes, One Rune, Two Runes, Three Runes, Orb of Zot, All Runes+Orb, Winner!)