Difference between revisions of "Stash"

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(Rewrote to acknowledge that stashes aren't universally adored. If you have further arguments to add, feel free!)
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[[Image:Stash.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Lair:2 stash of a [[Kobold]] [[Artificer]].]]
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{{version012}}
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[[Image:Stash.jpg|right|thumb|200px|An elaborately arranged Lair:2 stash.]]
  
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A '''stash''' is a location for storing items you cannot carry, but may need later. Since intelligent monsters can pick up items like weapons, wands, potions, or scrolls for their own use, it's advised that you choose an area with little or no risk of them showing up.
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Technically, a '''stash''' is any item which has been left on [[the Dungeon]] floor. In more common usage, however, a stash is a location in which a player dumps any items she does not wish to carry around at all times, but which may be useful later. Although there are arguments both for and against creating a massive, centralized stash for all your loot, all players will at some point or other need to drop items. Carrying valuable [[potions]] and [[scrolls]] around puts them at risk of [[item destruction]], and many of these items serve no purpose in the heat of combat anyway. Also, both [[strength]] and [[inventory]] space restrict the amount of gear you can lug around with you. Squirreling away items intelligently can help safeguard your hoarded loot.
  
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Stashes serve multiple purposes. First and foremost they serve as a place to store the large quantities of redundant food, wands, armour, and weapons you'll be finding. Even strong characters will quickly accrue enough loot that they won't be able to carry all of it. Secondly, they serve as a safe deposit for important potions or scrolls. Many monsters have flame and ice attacks that can destroy your items, and losing your last [[potion of cure mutation]] or [[scroll of remove curse]] can be frustrating.
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==Strategy==
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Since intelligent monsters can pick up items like weapons, wands, potions, or scrolls for their own use, and because [[jellies]] will eat anything they come across, stashes are generally established in areas where these monsters are unlikely to generate. After clearing an entire floor, you need only worry about random [[monster generation]] creating a monster capable of using your items, and even then it's unlikely that they'll stumble across your stash; unlike players, monsters do not go out of their way to grab items. You can reduce the odds of monsters finding your stash even further by placing your items in the corners of large rooms; wandering monster AI makes it extremely unlikely for them to be discovered.
  
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Good stash locations include:
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It's very easy to forget where you left a particular item as you explore. Fortunately, pressing '''"CTRL+f"''' brings up a search prompt which allows you to pinpoint where you left your things quickly and easily. This can be used to search for individual items (e.g. bread ration, +1 helmet), item categories (body armour, Maces & Flails, wand), spells (this will bring up all spell books which contain the spell), and even particular resistances or intrinsics.
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*'''The [[Ecumenical Temple]]''' is a fair stash location early in the game. No monsters spawn in the Temple, although they ''can'' follow a character there if they are next to the staircase when the character goes down. On the downside, the Temple is found on the upper floors of the Dungeon, making the trek back when one has progressed to the late-game quite tedious, so it's recommended to move your stuff if you get the chance.
 
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*'''[[The Lair]]''' is a very popular stash location, especially Lair:2. Only beasts spawn there, none of which are capable of picking up your items.
 
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*Once cleared of [[Geryon]] and his allies, the '''[[Vestibule of Hell]]''' makes a great late-game stash since monsters never respawn there. Multiple portals to the Vestibule are found on the last levels of the Dungeon for ease of access. Remember, however, that all portals close when you pick up the [[Orb of Zot]], cutting off access once you're on your ascension run!
 
  
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Should you run out of carrying capacity or inventory space before reaching a decent stash location, make a temporary stash by dropping off some of your excess supplies. You can place it just about anywhere so long as you only drop items that monsters won't pick up (some good candidates include extra food or certain other items such as [[scrolls of enchant armour]] or [[scroll of enchant weapon|enchant weapon]]). Consider inscribing one of the objects you leave behind so you can find it again quickly by using 'Ctrl+F'.
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Some players choose to create a single stash for all of their loot in [[branch]]es which guarantee their safety. Common stash branches include:
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*The [[Ecumenical Temple]]
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**No monsters unless you bring them in yourself
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**Easily reached by all characters
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*[[Lair]]:2
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**No monsters capable of using or eating items can generate here
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**Found roughly halfway through the Dungeon, making it a common area to walk past while exploring the various branches
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*[[The Vestibule of Hell]]
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**Multiple entrances found throughout the late game make it quickly accessible, especially if an entrance occurs on Lair:8
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**Few monsters generate here, and most of them are incapable of using items
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*[[Teleport trap]]
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**Teleport traps only affect players and monsters, not items. So long as you have access to the [[stasis]] intrinsic, any items you place on a teleport trap will be untouchable.
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There are arguments for and against making centralized stash locations, however.
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===Pros===
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*'''Tracking Inventory''' - Keeping all of your consumables in one place allows you to easily take stock of what you have and what you're lacking. Also, poring over your inventory may remind you that you have resources you'd forgotten about, and which would have otherwise gone to waste.
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*'''Spell Decisions''' - Placing all your books in one pile allows you to see all spells currently available to you. While experienced players will often know exactly which spells they intend to use, others may benefit from seeing all their options at once and determining how best to use their available spell levels.
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*'''Convenience''' - Rather than manually typing in an item name each time you need to find one, you can simply autotravel to the branch where you left all your stuff.
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*'''Safety''' - Although stashes placed throughout the Dungeon are generally safe if placed intelligently, putting your items in the Ecumenical Temple, Lair:2, or on top of a teleport trap is slightly safer. It may be paranoia, but no one likes discovering that their last [[potion of cure mutation]] is now jelly food.
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===Cons===
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*'''Unnecessary''' - As stated above, it is perfectly reasonable to drop items wherever you want and to expect them to be there when you get back. This is especially true for items which item-using monsters ignore, such as food, scrolls, and most potions.
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*'''Wasteful''' - If you leave items which are commonly used lying in multiple locations throughout the Dungeon, you'll spend less time reaching them and returning to the area you were exploring than if you haul them all back up a dozen Dungeon floors for deposit. This conserves your food and reduces your turn count.
  
 
[[Category:Item]]
 
[[Category:Item]]
 
[[Category:Strategy]]
 
[[Category:Strategy]]

Revision as of 21:50, 12 September 2013

Version 0.12: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
An elaborately arranged Lair:2 stash.

Technically, a stash is any item which has been left on the Dungeon floor. In more common usage, however, a stash is a location in which a player dumps any items she does not wish to carry around at all times, but which may be useful later. Although there are arguments both for and against creating a massive, centralized stash for all your loot, all players will at some point or other need to drop items. Carrying valuable potions and scrolls around puts them at risk of item destruction, and many of these items serve no purpose in the heat of combat anyway. Also, both strength and inventory space restrict the amount of gear you can lug around with you. Squirreling away items intelligently can help safeguard your hoarded loot.

Strategy

Since intelligent monsters can pick up items like weapons, wands, potions, or scrolls for their own use, and because jellies will eat anything they come across, stashes are generally established in areas where these monsters are unlikely to generate. After clearing an entire floor, you need only worry about random monster generation creating a monster capable of using your items, and even then it's unlikely that they'll stumble across your stash; unlike players, monsters do not go out of their way to grab items. You can reduce the odds of monsters finding your stash even further by placing your items in the corners of large rooms; wandering monster AI makes it extremely unlikely for them to be discovered.

It's very easy to forget where you left a particular item as you explore. Fortunately, pressing "CTRL+f" brings up a search prompt which allows you to pinpoint where you left your things quickly and easily. This can be used to search for individual items (e.g. bread ration, +1 helmet), item categories (body armour, Maces & Flails, wand), spells (this will bring up all spell books which contain the spell), and even particular resistances or intrinsics.

Some players choose to create a single stash for all of their loot in branches which guarantee their safety. Common stash branches include:

  • The Ecumenical Temple
    • No monsters unless you bring them in yourself
    • Easily reached by all characters
  • Lair:2
    • No monsters capable of using or eating items can generate here
    • Found roughly halfway through the Dungeon, making it a common area to walk past while exploring the various branches
  • The Vestibule of Hell
    • Multiple entrances found throughout the late game make it quickly accessible, especially if an entrance occurs on Lair:8
    • Few monsters generate here, and most of them are incapable of using items
  • Teleport trap
    • Teleport traps only affect players and monsters, not items. So long as you have access to the stasis intrinsic, any items you place on a teleport trap will be untouchable.

There are arguments for and against making centralized stash locations, however.

Pros

  • Tracking Inventory - Keeping all of your consumables in one place allows you to easily take stock of what you have and what you're lacking. Also, poring over your inventory may remind you that you have resources you'd forgotten about, and which would have otherwise gone to waste.
  • Spell Decisions - Placing all your books in one pile allows you to see all spells currently available to you. While experienced players will often know exactly which spells they intend to use, others may benefit from seeing all their options at once and determining how best to use their available spell levels.
  • Convenience - Rather than manually typing in an item name each time you need to find one, you can simply autotravel to the branch where you left all your stuff.
  • Safety - Although stashes placed throughout the Dungeon are generally safe if placed intelligently, putting your items in the Ecumenical Temple, Lair:2, or on top of a teleport trap is slightly safer. It may be paranoia, but no one likes discovering that their last potion of cure mutation is now jelly food.

Cons

  • Unnecessary - As stated above, it is perfectly reasonable to drop items wherever you want and to expect them to be there when you get back. This is especially true for items which item-using monsters ignore, such as food, scrolls, and most potions.
  • Wasteful - If you leave items which are commonly used lying in multiple locations throughout the Dungeon, you'll spend less time reaching them and returning to the area you were exploring than if you haul them all back up a dozen Dungeon floors for deposit. This conserves your food and reduces your turn count.
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