From: dgreen@jarthur.claremont.edu (David Green)
Subject: Re: Inventory Questions
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 01:39:58 GMT

In some article boucher@csl.sri.com (Peter K. Boucher) writes:
->Kinda makes ya wonder, don't it?  What is a wand of
->wonder?

I don't know whether this question is serious or not, but:
A wand of wonder produces a random wand effect each time it is used.

->Also:
->You are using -
->a) Wielding   : a Broadsword (HA) (2d5) (+14,+14) [+4] (+3 to STR).  15.0 lb
->b) On head    : a Metal Cap of Infra-Vision [3,+11] (+4).             2.0 lb
->c) On body    : Soft Leather Armor (R) [4,+13].                       8.0 lb
->d) On arm     : a Medium Leather Shield (RL) [3,+15].                 7.5 lb
->e) On hands   : a Set of Gauntlets of Free Action [2,+7].             2.5 lb
->f) On right h : a Ring of Increase To-Hit (+11).                      0.2 lb
->g) On left h  : a Ring of Protection [+10].                           0.2 lb

Where in the *heck* did you find those rings?!  In fact, all of this armor
seems preternaturally enchanted...

->h) On feet    : a Pair of Soft Leather Boots of Stealth [2,+11] (+3)  2.0 lb
->i) About body : a Cloak of Protection [1,+6].                         1.0 lb
->j) Light s    : a Brass Lantern with 5052 turns of light.             5.0 lb
->
->And:
->a) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Beginners-Magik].            6.0 lb
->b) a Book of Magic Spells [Magik I].                     3.0 lb

It would be a good idea to get more of these--if it's stolen or toasted, you're
kind of SOL...

->c) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Magik II].                   6.0 lb
->d) 2 Books of Magic Spells [The Mages Guide to Power].   6.0 lb
->e) 5 Rations of Food.                                    5.0 lb

If you know "create food," these are somewhat redundant.

->f) 3 Mushrooms of First-Aid.                             0.3 lb

These are next to utterly worthless.  Ditch them.

->g) 2 Mushrooms of Cure Confusion.                        0.2 lb
->h) a Hairy Mold of Cure Serious Wounds.                  0.2 lb

The preceding two are, while nice, not necessaries.  Eat them if you want more
room in your inventory.

->i) 4 Flasks of oil.                                      4.0 lb
->j) a Potion of Restore Life Levels.                      0.4 lb
->k) a Potion of Heroism.                                  0.4 lb

Mostly useless.  Occaasionally helpful, but not worth taking up a slot in your
inventory on the chance that it will be.

->l) a Potion of Restore Strength.                         0.4 lb

Unless you've been losing strength an awful lot, you may be better off just
buying these only when you need them.

->m) 2 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds.                    0.8 lb
->n) a Potion of Healing.                                  0.4 lb
->o) 2 Scrolls of Word-of-Recall.                          1.0 lb

I don't know how many of these you usually carry, but I normally have five of
them when beginning any trip down to the dungeon if I can.  One for getting
down, one for getting back up, two for doing that again in case the shops don't
have any WoR's when I get back up (it does happen), and one as a backup in case
one gets swiped or charcoaled.

->p) a Scroll of Recharging.                               0.5 lb

This will become redundant when you get "Recharge Item I."

->q) 4 Scrolls of Magic Mapping.                           2.0 lb

Niceties, but not really essential.  You can learn a lot from "detect traps and
doors" and "detect monsters."

->r) a Wand of Lightning Balls (5 charges).                1.0 lb
->s) a Wand of Polymorph (8 charges).                      1.0 lb

Dangerous.  There are methods of making sure it's safe to use, but polymorphing
monsters is never absolutely safe.  My personal opinion is not to use this, but
this one is best left to personal opinion.

->t) a Ring of Resist Cold.                                0.2 lb

Sell it.  Covered by your armor.

->u) 4 Wooden Torches with 4000 turns of light.           12.0 lb

Since you've got oil and a lantern, these are not necessary.

->Which of these are useless or redundant?  What do I need before
->facing down Mr. B?  All my stats are in the 18's.  I'm a level
->26 human mage at 1900 feet.

First off: speed.  The Balrog is thrice as fast as your character without speed
(i.e., speed +2).  After that, Potions of Invulnerability and scrolls of Rune
of Protection are near-vital, as well.  The potions protect you from Balrog
Breath, while the Runes keep the Balrog from draining charges from your pack,
as well as preventing anything he summons from draining, say, life levels.
Furthermore, a Staff of Curing is nice for covering blindness and confusion.
The 'shrooms you have can cover the latter, of course, and Potions of Cure
Light Wounds can cover the former and are cheap and easy to get ahold of, if
you can't find a staff. In the case you run out of Invul Potions, a couple of
Potions of Resist Fire might be useful.  If you think you can hang onto them
without their getting drained by the Balrog, Wands of Drain Life are quite nice.

Okay, I think I've babbled enough.  Have fun.
-- 
dgreen@jarthur.claremont.edu				   David "Mishael" Green
		    Have you scritched your local Furry today?
***********************Who ordered the muon? -- I. I. Rabi**********************
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