Early Game Character Building - Revision history

Draconius: Minor .34 updates

2026-07-11T09:01:14Z

Minor .34 updates

Hordes: /* Beginning */

2026-06-27T21:20:41Z

‎Beginning

Mattlistener: /* Auxiliary Skills */

2025-03-23T03:11:26Z

‎Auxiliary Skills

Mattlistener: /* Beginning */

2025-03-23T03:09:29Z

‎Beginning

Ge0ff at 13:36, 19 January 2024

2024-01-19T13:36:27Z

Patrick2011b: update to 0.31

2024-01-18T21:30:03Z

update to 0.31

Patrick2011b: /* Auxiliary Skills */ remove reference to now-removed AK

2024-01-18T21:10:59Z

‎Auxiliary Skills: remove reference to now-removed AK

Patrick2011b: /* Adventurer */ slight rw Ar

2024-01-08T02:42:08Z

‎Adventurer: slight rw Ar

Patrick2011b: /* Hybrids */ add a Reaver entry

2023-12-20T05:41:14Z

‎Hybrids: add a Reaver entry

Patrick2011b: /* Zealots */ Abyssal Knights were removed in 0.30

2023-12-03T20:43:37Z

‎Zealots: Abyssal Knights were removed in 0.30

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-{{version031}}
+{{version034}}
 This guide gives general character building advice for the early game. Early game generally ends when you've reached the latest [[Ecumenical Temple]] spawn level, Dungeon level 7. However, many of these points still apply when taking on the later Dungeon and [[Lair]].
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 For those wearing light armour like [[robe]]s or [[leather armour]], your (next) primary defense is likely going to be [[Dodging]], which contributes towards [[EV]]. For those in heavier armour like [[chain mail]] or [[plate mail]], the [[Armour]] skill, which boosts your equipment's [[AC]] bonus, is more helpful. Read more below on which sets of body armour you should wear in the first place.
-[[Shield]]s provide an EV-like boost to your defenses, allowing you a chance to block some incoming attacks. Shields are especially useful for species with body armour issues like [[Troll]]s and [[Octopode]]s. For as long as you can still attack at a sane delay (< 1.0 deca-aut) or cast your spells at a reasonable rate (< 10% failure), you should be fine on all things shield related.
+[[Shield]]s provide an EV-like boost to your defenses, allowing you a chance to block some incoming attacks. Shields are especially useful for species with body armour issues like [[Troll]]s and [[Octopode]]s. For as long as you can still attack at a sane delay (< 1.0 deca-aut) or cast your spells at a reasonable rate (< 10% failure), you should be fine on all things shield-related.
 ===A note on hybrids===
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 ===Auxiliary Skills===
-During the ''very'' early game, skills like [[Evocations]] won't be very useful. A strong wand, like a [[wand of paralysis]], works well enough on D:3 with 0 Evocations. However, they are eventually worth investing into. Characters a bit deeper in the Dungeon can afford to train it a little. Five (5) Evocations is enough for now -- save further investment for when you get your main offensive skill up and running.
+During the ''very'' early game, skills like [[Evocations]] won't be very useful. A strong wand, like a [[wand of paralysis]], works well enough on D:3 with 0 Evocations. However, they are eventually worth investing in. Characters a bit deeper in the Dungeon can afford to train it a little. Five (5) Evocations is enough for now -- save further investment for when you get your main offensive skill up and running.
 Don't worry about [[Invocations]] early on. Most gods have 1* abilities that don't require much training to be reliably invoked.
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 A small amount of [[Throwing]] (~2 points) is perfectly fine at this stage to boost the accuracy of [[dart]]s or the damage of blunt weapons. However, their relative scarcity makes them unable to pull weight on their own.
-A little bit of [[Stealth]] (about 5-8 at first) is useful for any character currently wearing light armour, assuming you have a great aptitude for it. Species with low HP, like [[Vine Stalker]]s, [[Deep Elves]], and [[Spriggan]]s will especially benefit from being able to avoid fights with dangerous foes. Species with plain aptitudes can instead get 2-3 points, more so to avoid enemies than to take them down.
+A little bit of [[Stealth]] (about 3-6 at first) is useful for any character currently wearing light armour, assuming you have a great aptitude for it. Species with low HP, like [[Vine Stalker]]s, [[Deep Elves]], and [[Spriggan]]s will especially benefit from being able to avoid fights with dangerous foes. Species with plain aptitudes can instead get 2-3 points, more so to avoid enemies than to take them down.
 ==Stats==
-In addition to occasionally gaining stats as you level up, your character gets two stat points of your choice every 6 levels. Where you put these in the early game depends on your character and often your plans for their future. [[Stat zero]] will eventually be a valid concern for some starting character combinations, but you don't need to worry about it yet.
+In addition to occasionally gaining stats as you level up, your character gets two stat points of your choice every 6 levels. Where you put these in the early game depends on your character and, often, your plans for their future.
 ===[[Strength]]===
 Strength increases most physical damage (everything not boosted by Dex) and alleviates some of the penalties of wearing armour. A ''strong'' choice for any physical attacker, especially those who (will) wear heavy armour.
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 ===Warriors===
-Whether ranged or hand to hand, Warriors kill by using weapons or [[unarmed combat]].
+Whether ranged or hand-to-hand, Warriors kill by using weapons or [[unarmed combat]].
 In order to deal as much damage as quickly as possible, all warriors should focus on training their primary weapon skill. As a rule of thumb, they should improve the weapon skill to at least 1.0 delay. After that, begin to branch out into Fighting, Throwing, Armour, or Shields depending on class and character design, but always leave weapon skill turned on during the early game.
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 A small exception to this are [[spriggan]] spellcasters. Spriggans can use their considerable speed to escape almost anything in the early dungeon, so mere survival is not the necessarily first objective - consider [[Fighting]] to raise your measly HP.
-*[[Hedge Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s should focus on getting their low level attack spell(s) and [[Mephitic Cloud]] to <10% failure rates. Two or three points into out-of-the-way schools (Conjuration for Al, Alchemy for HW, Air for both) are useful. These classes, particularly Alchemists, may wish to branch into a weapon so they can kill confused low-level enemies more effectively.
+*[[Hedge Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s should focus on getting their low level attack spell(s) and [[Mephitic Cloud]] to <10% failure rates. Two or three points into out-of-the-way schools (Conjuration for Al, Alchemy for HW, Air for both) are useful. These classes may wish to branch into a weapon, especially [[Short blades]], to more effectively kill confused enemies.
-**Alchemist: [[Alchemy]]'s early spells and skill levels are quite cheap, and are often worth it for their boost for survival and early game offense. [[Sting]] conserves more MP early on, but [[Mercury Vapours]]' smite-targeted [[weak]]ening effect becomes more useful as you gain more MP.
+*[[Conjurer]]s can focus almost entirely on Conjurations. [[Searing Ray]] gives you good killing power in the early game and works wonders in corridors; packs of jackals, gnolls, or orcs will succumb to it quickly. The [[Alchemy]] skill is also used for [[Fulminant Prism]], which deals great damage to nearby monsters after 20 [[aut]]s.
-*[[Conjurer]]s can focus almost entirely on Conjurations. [[Searing Ray]] gives you good killing power in the early game and works wonders in corridors; packs of jackals, gnolls or orcs will succumb to it quickly. The [[Alchemy]] skill is also used for [[Fulminant Prism]], which deals great damage to nearby monsters after 20 [[aut]]s.
+*[[Fire Elementalist]]s want to get [[Scorch]] up very quickly - [[Foxfire]] lacks effectiveness in the many, many hallways of the dungeon. Then, your next (and lesser) priority should be to get to [[Flame Wave]].
 *[[Earth Elementalist]]s should, in a similar vein, get [[Stone Arrow]] for a quick-casting attack spell. [[Sandblast]] deals good damage, but its slow attack speed is an issue with stronger monsters.
-*[[Ice Elementalist]]s should try and get [[Frozen Ramparts]], which deals high and 100% accurate passive damage, as soon as possible.
+*[[Ice Elementalist]]s should try to get both [[Frozen Ramparts]], which deals high and 100% accurate passive damage, and [[Summon Ice Beast]] as soon as possible.
-*[[Summoner]]s hit another key level 3 spell with [[Call Canine Familiar]].
+*[[Summoner]]s get key spells at level 3 with [[Call Canine Familiar]], and one of the best movement spells at level 4 in [[Eringya's Surprising Crocodile]].
 *[[Air Elementalist]]s are fine with their level 1 and 2 spells, offensively. However, both [[Swiftness]] and [[Airstrike]] will be useful to have later down the road.
-*[[Necromancer]]s can focus on their spells, though they have a shorter shelf life than most. If the character wants to dabble in melee, branch out to a weapon skill. If you (plan to) worship [[Kiku]], Short Blades are good option, recieving the most benefit from the [[pain (brand)|pain]] brand. Otherwise, Polearms can reach through your undead slaves, while a [[staff of death]] can justify investing into Staves.
+*[[Necromancer]]s can focus on their spells, though they have a shorter shelf life than most. If the character wants to dabble in melee, branch out to a weapon skill. If you (plan to) worship [[Kiku]], Short Blades are a good option, receiving the most benefit from the [[pain (brand)|pain]] brand. Otherwise, Polearms can reach through your undead minions, while a [[staff of death]] can justify investing in Staves.
 ===Adventurer===

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 At the very start, focus on your primary killing skills. If you can't reliably kill things, a few extra turns of survival don't mean much. Melee [[to hit|accuracy]] and magic success rates are naturally low, and thus, important to raise.
-For melee characters, this involves raising your weapon skill until it can kills your foes at a 'comfortable' rate. How much is comfortable?
+For melee and ranged weapon characters, this involves raising your weapon skill until it can kills your foes at a 'comfortable' rate. How much is comfortable?
-* There is an important threshold at <code>(base delay - 1.0) * 20</code> skill. This is the skill required to consistently swing at 1.0 turn, assuming you don't have a [[shield]] (as opposed to 1.1 or 1.5 turn). That's 6 skill for [[hand axe]]s, 10 skill for [[war axe]]s, etc.
+* There is an important threshold at <code>(base delay - 1.0) * 20</code> skill. This is the skill required to consistently swing at 1.0 turn (as opposed to 1.1 or 1.5 turn) before penalties from [[shield]] or [[armour]]. For example, this is 6 skill for [[hand axe]]s, 10 skill for [[war axe]]s, etc.
-* Your ultimate goal is to hit a weapon's minimum delay, i.e. where no more training can increase your swing speed. You can view this by selecting the weapon in the '''i'''nventory.  But, while it is certainly possible to only train your weapon until you hit mindelay, you may not want to do this. (Skills get more expensive as you level up; e.g. 10 -> 14 Axes could mean 0 -> 10 Fighting.)
+* Your ultimate goal is to hit a weapon's minimum delay, i.e., i.e. where no more training can increase your swing speed. However, it is not a wise choice to solely train weapon skill until mindelay, due to skills getting exponentially more expensive per level (e.g. 10 -> 14 Axes could mean 0 -> 10 Fighting.)
 For magic-based characters, this is getting the useful spells in your starting book to acceptably low - at least less than 10% - failure rates by training their respective spell schools. Depending on your class, it may require training towards a level 2 spell (like [[Scorch]]) or level 3 (such as [[Frozen Ramparts]]). More details below.

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 ===Auxiliary Skills===
-During the ''very'' early game, skills like [[Evocations]] won't be very useful. A strong wand, like a [[wand of paralysis]], works well enough on D:3 with 0 Evocations. However, they are eventually worth investing into. However, characters a bit deeper in the Dungeon can afford to train it a little. Five (5) Evocations is enough for now -- save further investment for when you get your main offensive skill up and running.
+During the ''very'' early game, skills like [[Evocations]] won't be very useful. A strong wand, like a [[wand of paralysis]], works well enough on D:3 with 0 Evocations. However, they are eventually worth investing into. Characters a bit deeper in the Dungeon can afford to train it a little. Five (5) Evocations is enough for now -- save further investment for when you get your main offensive skill up and running.
 Don't worry about [[Invocations]] early on. Most gods have 1* abilities that don't require much training to be reliably invoked.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 For melee characters, this involves raising your weapon skill until it can kills your foes at a 'comfortable' rate. How much is comfortable?
-* There is an important threshold at <code>(base delay - 1.0) * 20</code> skill. This is the skill required to consistently swing at 1.0 turn, assuring you don't have a [[shield]] (as opposed to 1.1 or 1.5 turn). That's 6 skill for [[hand axe]]s, 10 skill for [[war axe]]s, etc.
+* There is an important threshold at <code>(base delay - 1.0) * 20</code> skill. This is the skill required to consistently swing at 1.0 turn, assuming you don't have a [[shield]] (as opposed to 1.1 or 1.5 turn). That's 6 skill for [[hand axe]]s, 10 skill for [[war axe]]s, etc.
 * Your ultimate goal is to hit a weapon's minimum delay, i.e. where no more training can increase your swing speed. You can view this by selecting the weapon in the '''i'''nventory.  But, while it is certainly possible to only train your weapon until you hit mindelay, you may not want to do this. (Skills get more expensive as you level up; e.g. 10 -> 14 Axes could mean 0 -> 10 Fighting.)

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 A small exception to this are [[spriggan]] spellcasters. Spriggans can use their considerable speed to escape almost anything in the early dungeon, so mere survival is not the necessarily first objective - consider [[Fighting]] to raise your measly HP.
-*[[Hedge Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s should focus on getting their low level attack spell(s) and [[Mephitic Cloud]] to <10% failure rates. Two or three points into out-of-the-way schools (Conjuration for Al, Poison for HW, Air for both) are useful. These classes, particularly Alchemists, may wish to branch into a weapon so they can kill confused low-level enemies more effectively.
+*[[Hedge Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s should focus on getting their low level attack spell(s) and [[Mephitic Cloud]] to <10% failure rates. Two or three points into out-of-the-way schools (Conjuration for Al, Alchemy for HW, Air for both) are useful. These classes, particularly Alchemists, may wish to branch into a weapon so they can kill confused low-level enemies more effectively.
 **Alchemist: [[Alchemy]]'s early spells and skill levels are quite cheap, and are often worth it for their boost for survival and early game offense. [[Sting]] conserves more MP early on, but [[Mercury Vapours]]' smite-targeted [[weak]]ening effect becomes more useful as you gain more MP.
 *[[Conjurer]]s can focus almost entirely on Conjurations. [[Searing Ray]] gives you good killing power in the early game and works wonders in corridors; packs of jackals, gnolls or orcs will succumb to it quickly. The [[Alchemy]] skill is also used for [[Fulminant Prism]], which deals great damage to nearby monsters after 20 [[aut]]s.

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-{{version030}}
+{{version031}}
 This guide gives general character building advice for the early game. Early game generally ends when you've reached the latest [[Ecumenical Temple]] spawn level, Dungeon level 7. However, many of these points still apply when taking on the later Dungeon and [[Lair]].
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 ===Hybrids===
-[[Transmuter]]s should pour their XP into a bearable amount of [[Unarmed Combat]]. Later, get Spider Form -- it easily suffices for a killing tool for a while.
+[[Shapeshifter]]s have more complex initial skilling than usual. They should start by training [[Unarmed Combat]] and later train [[Shapeshifting]] to gain access to [[Flux Form]]. However, with a great early weapon, it may be advisable to start training that weapon's skill instead.
 [[Enchanter]]s should train Hexes and a little Ice Magic to increase the effectiveness of [[Ensorcelled Hibernation]] and [[Confusing Touch]]. Once your Hexes have enough power to reliably mess up your enemies, you should pour some XP into Stealth and Short Blades.
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 A small exception to this are [[spriggan]] spellcasters. Spriggans can use their considerable speed to escape almost anything in the early dungeon, so mere survival is not the necessarily first objective - consider [[Fighting]] to raise your measly HP.
-*[[Hedge Wizard]]s and [[Venom Mage]]s should focus on getting their low level attack spell(s) and [[Mephitic Cloud]] to <10% failure rates. Two or three points into out-of-the-way schools (Conjuration for VM, Poison for Wz, Air for both) are useful. These classes, particularly Venom Mages, may wish to branch into a weapon so they can kill confused low-level enemies more effectively.
+*[[Hedge Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s should focus on getting their low level attack spell(s) and [[Mephitic Cloud]] to <10% failure rates. Two or three points into out-of-the-way schools (Conjuration for Al, Poison for HW, Air for both) are useful. These classes, particularly Alchemists, may wish to branch into a weapon so they can kill confused low-level enemies more effectively.
-**Venom Mage: [[Poison Magic]]'s early spells and skill levels are quite cheap, and are often worth for their boost for survival and early game offense. Sting conserves more MP early on, but Poisonous Vapours' full screen range becomes more useful as you gain more MP.
+**Alchemist: [[Alchemy]]'s early spells and skill levels are quite cheap, and are often worth it for their boost for survival and early game offense. [[Sting]] conserves more MP early on, but [[Mercury Vapours]]' smite-targeted [[weak]]ening effect becomes more useful as you gain more MP.
-*[[Conjurer]]s can focus almost entirely on Conjurations. [[Searing Ray]] gives you good killing power in the early game and works wonders in corridors; packs of jackals, gnolls or orcs will succumb to it quickly. The [[Hexes]] skill is also used for [[Fulminant Prism]], which deals great damage to nearby monsters after 20 [[aut]]s.
+*[[Conjurer]]s can focus almost entirely on Conjurations. [[Searing Ray]] gives you good killing power in the early game and works wonders in corridors; packs of jackals, gnolls or orcs will succumb to it quickly. The [[Alchemy]] skill is also used for [[Fulminant Prism]], which deals great damage to nearby monsters after 20 [[aut]]s.
 *[[Fire Elementalist]]s want to get [[Scorch]] up very quickly -- [[Foxfire]] lacks effectiveness in the many, many hallways of the dungeon. Then, your next (and lesser) priority should be to get to [[Flame Wave]].
 *[[Earth Elementalist]]s should, in a similar vein, get [[Stone Arrow]] for a quick-casting attack spell. [[Sandblast]] deals good damage, but its slow attack speed is an issue with stronger monsters.
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 ===Adventurer===
-[[Artificer]]s should focus on a weapon, as their wands will have respectable power against early Dungeon monsters even at their starting Evocations skill.
+[[Artificer]]s should focus on a weapon they find (a [[club]] is not worth training for), as their wands will have respectable power against early Dungeon monsters even at their starting Evocations skill.
 [[Wanderer]]s should wing it. Take a look at your early possessions and try to make a plan based on what you've got available.
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 ==Weapons==
-In the early dungeon, most characters will find wielding a one-handed weapon with good accuracy to be more effective than trying to hit anything with a large, but slow weapon. [[Dagger]]s and [[whip]]s often have good [[brands]] on them, while [[hunting sling]]s (with or without [[sling bullet]]s) are universally effective in the hands of any character that can find them.
+In the early dungeon, most characters will find wielding a one-handed weapon with good accuracy to be more effective than trying to hit anything with a large, but slow weapon. [[Dagger]]s and [[whip]]s often have good [[brands]] on them, while [[sling]]s are universally effective in the hands of any character that can find them.
 Once you have started training a particular weapon skill, you should usually favour weapons of that skill unless you find something incredible that makes the switch pay off.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:41, 20 December 2023
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	[[Warper]]s and [[Hexslinger]]s should focus on improving their weapon skill. The former can then invest in getting [[Blink]] reliably castable, while the latter can boost the spellpower of [[Slow]] and later [[Cause Fear]] with Hexes training.		[[Warper]]s and [[Hexslinger]]s should focus on improving their weapon skill. The former can then invest in getting [[Blink]] reliably castable, while the latter can boost the spellpower of [[Slow]] and later [[Cause Fear]] with Hexes training.
		+
		+	[[Reaver]]s should start by training their weapon skill, as they are essentially melee warriors with a few situational spells. However, if you find an early book with useful [[Conjurations]] spells (e.g. [[Book of Conjurations]]), it may be worthwhile to train for those spells.

	===Mages===		===Mages===

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 ===Zealots===
-Like the warrior classes, by far the main focus is to improve weapon skill. [[Cinder Acolyte]]s can also invest a little in magic, but [[Scorch]] alone can only go so far. When [[Abyssal Knight]]s begin branching out to other skills, [[Invocations]] should be turned on as well.
+Like the warrior classes, by far the main focus is to improve weapon skill. [[Cinder Acolyte]]s can also invest a little in magic, but [[Scorch]] alone can only go so far.
 ===Hybrids===