How to reliably have light sources?

[CrabMan]

6000 turns in I have run out of torches. I have oil for a lantern but I don't have a lantern And you can't really survive in Angband without any light, can you? How come light sources are so rare, that I have run out of them? Should every character level some smithing to create light sources?

  [Sil 1.3.0 Character Dump]

 Name   Shibbiry      Age      358       Str   3
 Sex    Female        Height  5'10       Dex   3
 Race   Noldor        Weight   153       Con   5
 House  Fingolfin                        Gra   3

 Game Turn    6,003   Melee   (+8,3d7)   Melee        8 =  9  +3  -5  +1
 Exp Pool     1,005   Bows    (+1,2d9)   Archery      1 =  0  +3  -3  +1
 Total Exp   14,405   Armor [+15,5-14]   Evasion     15 = 10  +3  +2
 Burden       110.6                      Stealth      2 =  1  +3  -2
 Max Burden   172.8   Health     44:49   Perception   5 =  2  +3
 Depth         300'   Voice      34:34   Will         8 =  4  +3      +1
 Min Depth     300'                      Smithing     3 =  0  +3
 Light Radius     0                      Song         3 =  0  +3

 You are one of several children of a bard from the house of Fingolfin.
 You have light grey eyes, wavy brown hair, and a fair complexion.






  [Equipment]

a) a Bastard Sword (-2,3d3) [+1] 3.5 lb
   It does extra damage when wielded with both hands.  
b) a Longbow (+0,2d6) 3.5 lb
   It can shoot arrows 20 squares (with your current strength).
c) (nothing)
d) (nothing)
e) (nothing)
f) a Wooden Torch (0 turns)
g) Leather Armour [-1,1d4]
h) a Cloak [+1]
i) a Kite Shield of Deflection (-2) [+2,1d6]
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
j) a Helm [-1,1d1]
k) a Set of Gauntlets (-1) [+0,1d1]
l) a Pair of Boots [+0,1d2]
m) 82 Arrows
   They can be shot 20 squares (with your current strength and bow).
n) an Arrow (Poisoned)
   It is branded with venom.  It can be shot 20 squares (with
   your current strength and bow).


  [Inventory]

a) a Piece of Dark Bread
b) 2 Fragments of Lembas
c) a Russet Herb
d) a Flask of oil
e) 5 Murky Brown Potions of Orcish Liquor
f) 2 Vermilion Potions of Slow Poison
g) a Smoky Potion {idk, tried}
h) a Sparkling Potion
i) Studded Leather [-2,1d6]
j) a Round Shield [+0,1d3]
k) a Kite Shield (-2) [+0,1d6]
l) a Great Helm [-2,1d3]
m) 2 Daggers (+0,1d5) 1.0 lb
   It can be thrown effectively (13 squares).  
n) a Longsword (+1,2d5) [+1] 3.5 lb
o) a Longsword (+0,2d5) [+1] 2.5 lb
p) a Longsword (+0,2d5) [+1] 3.0 lb
q) a Greatsword (-1,3d5) [+1] 9.0 lb
   It requires both hands to wield it properly.  
r) a Battle Axe (-3,3d4) 4.5 lb
   It does extra damage when wielded with both hands.  
s) a Longbow (+0,2d5) 2.5 lb
   It can shoot arrows 20 squares (with your current strength).


  [Notes]

Shibbiry of the Noldor
Entered Angband on 17 Mar 2018

   Turn     Depth   Note

  1,774    150 ft   (Curse Breaking)
  2,113    150 ft   (Power)
  2,113    150 ft   (Crowd Fighting)
  3,751    200 ft   Fell into a chasm
  4,140    300 ft   (Leaping)
  4,391    300 ft   Fell into a chasm
  5,382    400 ft   Encountered Othrod, the Orc Lord
  5,773    350 ft   Encountered Orcobal, Champion of the Orcs



  ['Score' 006093997]

[seraph]

torches can often be found in orc skeletons or dropped by easterlings.

[CrabMan]

Oh, I didn't know you can pick stuff up from the skeletons

[Quirk]

Originally Posted by CrabMan

Oh, I didn't know you can pick stuff up from the skeletons

Ah, unfortunately that's a Sil-Q feature. Vanilla 1.3 doesn't support it.

You're a bit unlucky to run out of torches, there are usually a few scattered around to pick up so it's quite rare to get into this situation. I note you're descending quite slowly (you are at your minimum depth) which has made your chances of happening on a lantern lower, as those tend to appear more frequently as you go deeper.

[wobbly]

Yeah it's the dive speed doing it(also a tad unlucky). Get to the easterling depth (another 50' - 100') & they'll be dropping torches. Alternatively song of trees is good.

[CrabMan]

Oh, but actually I've been at 400' and 350'. I was lucky to find the way back because a few orc uniques with their escort chased me around.

[Infinitum]

Also, you can try getting 4 Smithing and Jeweler, then smith a Jewel at the first forge along with +1 accuracy/evasion rings at the guaranteed forge. Eventually melt some mithril item and smith a Feanorian Lamp or 2 (you can drop surplus ones to create local light, which is very useful in the deep levels). Maybe an amulet of the blessed realm <+0> eventually should you find grace/smithing gear. Don't actually put more points into smithing for the rest of the game; 1500 xp to smooth light availability and some ID-smithing is plenty.