Playing mistakes (mage)

Best practices and optimistic theories.
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PowerWyrm
Balrog
Posts: 1574
Joined: Sun 27.11.2005, 15:57

Playing mistakes (mage)

Post by PowerWyrm » Tue 24.08.2010, 13:16

Here's a good example of what NOT to do when playing MAngband as a mage...

The character: HE mage, level 35

[Character Equipment]

a) a Long Sword of Gondolin (2d5) (+9,+15) {!*t ESP}
b) a Long Bow (x3) (+9,+9) {!*t}
c) a Ring of Speed (+10) {!*t}
d) a Ring of Speed (+10) {!*t}
e) an Amulet of Trickery (+4) {!*t}
f) a Feanorian Lamp {!*t}
g) Balance Dragon Scale Mail (-2) [30,+17] {!*t}
h) a Cloak of the Magi [1,+16] (+2) {!*t}
i) a Small Metal Shield of the Avari [3,+9] (+2) {{!*t shards}
j) a Hard Leather Cap [2,+6]
k) a Set of Cesti of Free Action [5,+5] {!*t}
l) a Pair of Metal Shod Boots of Speed [6,+8] (+4) {!*t}

Impressive at level 35... but unfortunately not enough to survive.
Look at the resists covered: res blind and res confusion missing, and the character is a mage! Don't tell me you cannot afford a crown of seing when you're using such endgame gear... I would also replace the trickery with a magi amulet to cover res confusion (res poison can be obtained by casting Resistance, or by buying a res poison avari).
What's the bow for? At level 35, you have plenty of mana and offensive spells...
Character inventory didn't mention Raa'ls: at level 35, you MUST get this book!

Now fighting Gorlim...

"Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir hits you.
You feel a little better.
You feel better."

Sounds like you're casting Cure Light Wounds... are you sure curing 2d8 hps will really help here???

"Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir casts a water bolt.
You are confused!
You are too confused!"

See... you should check what specific monsters can do before engaging in battle. Don't fight stuff that can confuse you if you don't resist confusion to avoid losing a turn to cure the status (especially as a mage).

"You miss Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir.
You miss Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir.
Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir casts a water bolt.
You are confused!
Gorlim, Betrayer of Barahir casts a mana bolt.
You die."

Mages should not use melee but spells. Get Raal's. Macro the best offensive spell for your level (usually Meteor Swarm at level 35) and Rift. Cast spells. When the monster comes close, cast Rift. Use free turns to heal and restore mana.

[Scene of Death]

+#####
+@+..##
++p....
.....##

Sigh... why the doors? Looking at Gorlim's description would say that he doesn't summon. At worst, you would die in a room, get rescued and lose no vital equipment. I don't think you will get more than 2 items back when you die in such spot...

A good piece of advice... don't overload your character with goodies until you feel confident with your character at your depth. For example, I would have stored those +10 speed rings and used a +4 int and +6 con rings instead. Mana and hp are more important than speed during midgame. Same goes with the BDSM: very few critters can breathe chaos, disenchantment or shards powerfully at 2000ft, and only resist sound would be helpful here.

Ace
Crystal Ooze
Posts: 368
Joined: Fri 15.02.2008, 12:50

Re: Playing mistakes (mage)

Post by Ace » Thu 26.08.2010, 09:22

great words of wisdom lie here for the ones able to read them :)

PowerWyrm
Balrog
Posts: 1574
Joined: Sun 27.11.2005, 15:57

Re: Playing mistakes (mage)

Post by PowerWyrm » Mon 30.08.2010, 12:53

Just saw a mage dying at level 41 with 18/110 CON using a ring of damage. I'm sure that death could have been avoided with a ring of con instead...

PowerWyrm
Balrog
Posts: 1574
Joined: Sun 27.11.2005, 15:57

Re: Playing mistakes (mage)

Post by PowerWyrm » Fri 04.01.2013, 11:54

http://www.mangband.org/Main/HighScoreC ... 3063578196

Carelessness. You should always detect traps every time you change sector.

http://www.mangband.org/Main/HighScoreC ... 3063991308

At this depth, having 18/120 CON is pure suicide. The Ring of Lightning is completely pointless, use a CON ring instead.

PowerWyrm
Balrog
Posts: 1574
Joined: Sun 27.11.2005, 15:57

Re: Playing mistakes (mage)

Post by PowerWyrm » Tue 18.11.2014, 11:52

http://mangband.org/Main/HighScoreChart ... 7432387126

Another midlevel char loaded with endgame gear (+26 speed, PDSM) that doesn't have INT and CON maxed. Fighting a Greater Balrog with 560 hps is pure suicide. The Mace of Disruption (Holy Avenger), the Amulet of Trickery and the Small Metal Shield of Preservation are pointless for a mage (especially with PDSM): replace these with items that boost INT and CON (westernesse, *slay animal* or *demon*, amulet of magi, Carlammas, Avari shield...). With the RoS +12, the boots +10 and the Haste spell, you're fast enough to kill anything that doesn't pass/kill wall, summons and cast heavy spells (this means ONLY Tselakus and Morgoth) with your spells (Rift + Meteor Swarm, then Mana Storm).

It seems that the char didn't have double res on anyway. Another big mistake... it took only one fire breath and one fire ball from the GB to kill that character.

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