london@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP (David London) (01/15/85)
<> I have only played hack for three days now, but: here are some comments, questions and spoilers re: Hack. Comments: Re: starting characters: I have had the most success with a C (killed on level 27 by a &), but I have started to believe that a T is best. With a T, I quit unless I start with a tin (or 2). I eat the tins, and quit unless I get strength 18 or better. That way I have the camera (one of the best pieces of equipment), and the strength of a caveman (so I can pick up a lot). Also, it's pretty hard to starve to death running a T. Re: enchanting weapons/armour: I found out the hard way that too much enchanting can cause weapons or armour to "glow violently and then evaporate". With weapons, there's not much you can do. With armour, be sure not to enchant one piece only. Spread out the enchantment among the armour, the cloak, the helmet, the gloves and the shield (if you have any of them). Re: ghosts: If you don't get cornered by them, they're not too bad, since they move so slowly. I have killed quite a few (with good strength). Also, wands of cold/fire/death work well on them (watch the bouncing!). Even if you can't kill them, walk around them, and go to their stash of goodies (they don't carry it around). I'm not sure, but I think that their stuff is usually cursed (i.e. has the same enchantment as when they were killed, but cannot be removed). However, I think that if you kill them, the stuff becomes uncursed. Comments, anyone? Questions: In my second best game, I had a K, and by a fluke, I got my armour class down to Ac -8 (!). However, R's could still hit me, and rust my armour. (In rogue, they can't hit Ac -5 or better). Since then, I have started genociding R's. (I used to genocide k's, then c's). However I have also had a lot of trouble with x's (for those of you who haven't seen them, I won't ruin it by telling you what they do). What do you people usually genocide? Re: ring of teleport control: I thought (by the name) that this ring just allows you to decide where you teleport to, once you teleport. I thought that this ring did not do the teleporting. However, in my last game, I ate an L early, which helped in shops. When I identified the ring later, it was even better. However, when I got very low in the dungeon, I started teleporting even more (like 10 times a level). I was wearing the ring at the time. Was this the ring, or still the effects of the L I ate 20 levels earlier? When you either raid several shops, or kill some ghosts, what (in general) do you do with all the stuff you cannot carry? SPOILER: I found that x's pricks didn't do anything to me when I had strength 18/** (i.e. 18/100). Also potions of speed cure the x's pricks. Are there any other ways of dealing with x's? David London ..!ihnp4!oddjob!london