what to throw away (and other noob questions)

[calenth]

Being somewhat in the same boat (enjoying an angband relapse with a dunedain ranger, although i don't think i've ever gotten a character past about level 35), the only thing I see right off is you should grab some enchant armor scrolls and enchant up your cloak and boots to +8 or +9 or so at least.

Otherwise, find some gauntlets that have free action or agility (I'm trying to do the same thing right now). Artifacts might count on this; I think you'll know if the gloves are ok because your mana won't drop when you put 'em on.

[Zero]

Originally Posted by zaimoni

certainly as far back as the V2.9.x series missile launchers multiplied both base damage and damage bonuses by both the damage multiplier and the brand multiplier.

Thanks for the update.

Wow, so if I had a Long Bow x3 (+X,+15) and an Arrow of Flame 1d4 (+Y,+15), the total damage would be ((3+3)*1)d4 + ((3+3)*(15+15)), or 6d4+180? Holy shit.

[Psi]

Originally Posted by Zero

Thanks for the update.

Wow, so if I had a Long Bow x3 (+X,+15) and an Arrow of Flame 1d4 (+Y,+15), the total damage would be ((3+3)*1)d4 + ((3+3)*(15+15)), or 6d4+180? Holy shit.

I may be wrong but I think it is:

3 * 3 * (1d4 + 15 + 15) = 9d4 + 270

Just imagine what you can do with a x5 or x6 bow with better ammo and plusses...

[roustk]

Originally Posted by Psi

Just imagine what you can do with a x5 or x6 bow with better ammo and plusses...

For example, my Half-Troll Mage is getting ready to take on Morgoth and has:
* the Heavy Crossbow of Umbar (x4) (+18,+18) (+2)
* 30 Seeker Bolts of Holy Might (4d5) (+18,+24)

The (+2) on Umbar is "shooting power" and the only Morgoth slay is evil (x2), so the calculation here is:
((4+2)*(2)) * (4d5 +18 +24) = 12*4d5 + 504
Minimum damage for a hit is 552 and maximum is 744, with a suberb hit going to 2247.

For comparison, my melee weapon:
* Mace of Disruption 'Deathwreaker' (7d8) (+18,+18)

[EDIT: screwed up the slay calculation on Deathwreaker.]
The calculation is somewhat different, but still has the x2 slay evil:
(4 blows) @ ((2) * (7d8) + 56) = 2*28d8 + 224 per round
Minimum is 280, maximum is 672 per round.

If I'm doing the to-hit calculations right, I should be hitting about 5/8 of the time with either weapon (K is 309 for Deathwreaker and 319-dist for the Xbow, against Morgoth's 150 AC), so my 30 bolts should score about 20 hits before being destroyed by mana storms. That is some 12,000 damage, out of Morgy's 20,000.

(I'm at 4750' and almost out of uniques, so should be done this week.)

Kevin

[roustk]

Originally Posted by roustk

(I'm at 4750' and almost out of uniques, so should be done this week.)

Just took out Huan, the last non-questor unique, using: one out-of-LOS splash by mana storm, one (+9,+9) seeker arrow of frost (resisted), 17 (+13,+14) seeker arrows of venom (13 hits, not resisted) from Bard (x3+2,+17,+19), and 2 phase doors to hop away.

The arrows of venom would do (5*3)*(4d4+33) = 15*4d4+495 or 555 to 735 per round, so Huan's 8000 HP fell quickly.

Kevin

[roustk]

Originally Posted by roustk

(I'm at 4750' and almost out of uniques, so should be done this week.)

Winner -- see AAR thread. I found Cubragol, so I took the 50% cut in shooting power (to x3 rather than x4+2) to increase burdened base speed to +29.

[aeneas]

Originally Posted by Zero

Thanks for the update.

Wow, so if I had a Long Bow x3 (+X,+15) and an Arrow of Flame 1d4 (+Y,+15), the total damage would be ((3+3)*1)d4 + ((3+3)*(15+15)), or 6d4+180? Holy shit.

That's pretty low damage for a V ranger actually (and would be low for any class, deep, except maybe a Priest who can stay in combat longer in compensation)... Let's say you have Bard, which is a x5 bow which is +19 to_dam (as far as I know it is not possible to get a x6 bow in V, at least without randarts). You are over clvl 40, so you get 3 shots. Your enemy is vulnerable to your branded ammo (which is 4d5 seeker, +15 to_dam of course... nothing but the best for _this_ ranger.. seeker bolts and cristal, all the way). In that case the total damage per round (assuming everything hits which is the normal way of calcing this, though it is not always the best way to do so) is 45*total damage... that is 45*(12+15+19). I could do the math, but I'd rather let you figure it out for yourself . And by the way.. that is conservative.. should actually be 12.5...

Note that this only holds if you have ammo that is x3 against your opponent. And also note that while that stratospheric damage is not possible for non-rangers, they can still do very well with a good bow- in NPP they can do almost that well, with the right randart- and in NPP rangers only get 2 shots. Check out an NPP rogue with a good sling of Buckland. I have one on the backburner, though he didn't find the sling until 4950'... Not as bad as a V ranger, but... the quiver really compensates.