Hello fellow Moria players! I've just started playing again this month after many years. This is my favorite Rogue-like game because it's difficult, yet winnable.
I'm playing a half-elf Paladin (35th level) right now and can give you some advice on your character.
OK, I like your primary weapon, but I see your shield is at -1. You should replace that. That's a good Ring of Protection, but as soon as you find a ring of Increase Damage, you should use that instead. Later, AC won't mean as much as being able to do lots of damage.
Check the shops frequently for scrolls to increase your AC, to hit, or to damage.
You're carrying an awful lot of oil. Did you know you can Fill your lamp up to 15,000 turns? (Also, when you're playing a low level character, you can actually throw oil at opponents, doing a bit of damage and increased if it's susceptible to fire.)
You're also carrying a lot of food. I actually don't carry food anymore. Being a Paladin, you can caste the Create Food spell. Also, drinking the odd potion or eating any innocuous mushroom/hairy mold counts as a few hundred turns of food. Eat and drink anything you find that won't harm you.
You're also wearing an Amulet of Slow Digestion. Since you can create food, this spot would be better for an Amulet of Searching, if you can find one. That would be ideal, considering your Searching ability is Poor and Perception is Bad I think the Super Heroism and Heroism potions are a waste. In addition to temporarily adding to your HPs, they merely increase your fighting ability, which is already Superb. Replace them with wands/staves.
You need a spare weapon, preferably a bow. When combined with bonuses for the bow, the arrows/bolts, and your strength, these can do a tremendous amount of damage.
Forget the Cure Serious Wounds potion. As you wander around, you'll heal up. Besides, as a Paladin you can cast healing spells. Purchase at the shops lots of Cure Critial Wounds potions for their ability to cure Confusion and Blindness. The Cure Serious does this, too, but doesn't heal as many HPs, and is taking up a valuable spot in your backpack.
Be on the lookout for any ego weapons. On rare occasions, you can actually find them in the shops.
SD--Slay Dragon (4x damage). You'll encounter lots of dragons, and the ancient variety are fast can can kill you with one breath.
HA--Holy Avenger. In addition to its Slay Undead and Slay Evil abilities, it will sustain a stat (depending on its +) and, best of all, lets you see invisible monsters.
SU--Slay Undead. If you can't find a HA, keep one of these. It also lets you see invisible.
DF--Defender. This is nice if you don't have any other armor that gives you Resistance. Its Free Action ability prevents you from being slowed, paralyzed, slept, charmed, or stunned. You will also regenerate, but consequently will use up food faster.
SE--Slay Evil. Nice if you can't find any other ego weapon, as most of the baddies are evil.
The remaining ego weapons--Slay Animal (SA), Flame Tounge (FT), and Frost Band (FB), are better than nothing, but some monsters are resistant. For example, don't use a FT weapon against a red dragon.
Whenever you find the following items, you'll want to find permanent spots in your backpack for them:
Restore Mana potion--Liches love to drain your mana
Haste Self potion--Emperor Liches, ancient dragons, and the Balrog move fast
Cure Critical Wounds potion--cures confusion and blindness and restores some HPs
Healing potion--restores all your HPs, cures confusion and blindness
Ring of Sustain Dexterity--Liches and Quasits drain dexterity
Ring of Lordly Protection (Fire)--adds to AC and resists fire (use for the Balrog)
Restoration mushroom--restores lost attributes
Invulnerability potion--use against Balrog
Other useful items to have when found:
Ring of Sustain Wisdom
Wand of Stinking Cloud--use this against those pesky monsters that breed fast; can hold lots of charges, so use Recharge scrolls on this
Wand of Lightning Balls--use against undead; they're susceptible to light attacks
Wand of Fire Balls
Staff of Dispel Evil
Staff of Curing
Since you're lacking in gold, sell any wands and staves you find in the shops. These can bring in lots of money. Naturally, magic arms and armor (once identified) can also fetch a high price.