cjh (06/14/82)
In response to your message of Mon Jun 14 02:13:52 1982: Nope; genociding Umber Hulks is \definitely/ not necessary in the older version (you're better off genociding either Wraiths (so you get to a high enough level to kill Xorns and have a chance of saving against UH's) or Rust Monsters (if you have good armor W's are less likely to drain you, and you can wear your armor on the levels where X and UH first appear)) and the magic arrow is an unecessary form of cheating (we have something like 8 total winners on the old rogue without funny arrows). In the new version, on the other hand, genociding UH's is probably a better idea, since the whole game is deadlier---you hit less often even under the best conditions and offensive sticks (fire, ice, drain life) don't do nearly as much damage.
jcwinterton (06/15/82)
One of the greatest skills you can develop is knowing when to save the game and play another time after some rest. Also, the time to read scrolls and quaff potions is critical. Like Brad Templeton, I don't continue low level games if something yucchy like a potion of blindess strikes the character. It is better to quit and start over.
prg (06/15/82)
bad happens... Like a potion of blindness or poison. I would prefer to find these early in the game and "tag" them. Can't think of anything much worse than going blind in troll, xorn, and umber hulk teritory. I have found that when I quaff the potion of blindness, if I move into a hallway and do an 850(sp), your chances of coming out alive are pretty good. There are only two fronts that critters can attack you on. You have a 50/50 chance of hitting in the right direction the first time. Should someone attack, you do battle, if you survive, I then use 100(sp) over and over until the vail of blindness lifts.. This sometimes leaves you a little short of food, but I think getting rid of the vail is worth it. Phil Gunsul lime!we13!prg
sjb (06/16/82)
When I am in Troll and above territory, I always wait to drink potions (if I have not yet drunk the blindness beauty) until I have a healing potion (they nullify the blindness) or an identify scroll (I usually use them on rings and sometimes sticks)
govern (06/16/82)
Re: When do you drink potions to avoid going blind ANother thing I tend to do is save each potion until I have two of them. If You drink two "haste self" potions, you faint from exhaustion, but (assuming nobody kills you while you're fainted) you are then permanently hasted!! Which is really nice when dealing with Trolls and Xorns. Cheers! Bill PS: I really should figure the probability of that one: I've done it once or twice, so it's non-zero, and it makes it easy to identify "unlabeled" potions, but it may be counter-productive in the long run.