Difference between revisions of "Temple diving"

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Many adventurers like to thoroughly explore the beginning levels, reliably gaining enough experience to successfully tackle the next level. A temple diver takes a different path.
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'''Temple diving''' is the process of reaching the [[Ecumenical Temple]] as quickly as possible, in order to reach a desired [[god]]. Instead of fully clearing out the beginning floors, a temple diver will skip levels until D:4. After obtaining a god, a diver goes back up and explores the skipped levels.
  
A temple diver intends to worship a particular god, and wants to gain piety with that god as quickly as possible. The temple diver takes each stairs down as soon as they find them, in search of the [[Ecumenical Temple]]. After taking service with their god of choice, the temple diver returns to the first level of the dungeon, and proceeds more methodically, gaining experience and piety.  
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==Strategy==
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The idea behind temple diving is that it gives more piety. Generally, a [[rat]] gives the same piety as a [[dragon]], and exploring D:1 gives the same piety as D:5 or D:6. So if you get a god before you kill D:1 rats, you get piety you otherwise would've missed.
  
Temple diving gains piety more quickly than the usual strategy, as a lowly rat on dungeon level one generally gives as much piety as a dragon or tier one demon. This approach is particularly useful if the chosen god gives abilities or rewards at early levels. [[Sif Muna]]'s [[Channel energy]] and [[Okawaru]]'s [[Heroism]] are commonly sought after.
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However, it is a low winrate strategy, as you are not guaranteed to find the Temple before a too-difficult monster just kills you. It also leaves you vulnerable to [[sourceless malevolence]] traps, since you'll lack items and XP that could let you survive the trap. So if you care about winrate or winstreaking, diving is ill advised. If you don't care about those things, though, you can always start another character.
  
== Hints and Tricks ==
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Of course, you are not married to this strategy. If you find a dangerous monster, you can revert to plan A: go back to D:1, kill all the monsters for XP, and come back stronger.
  
This strategy works because the vast majority of monsters before the temple are pretty easy. Even so, this approach calls for extreme cowardice. A temple diver should run away from pretty much anything not found on the first floor of the dungeon.
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===Character Choice===
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[[Delver]], as its name suggests, is a natural background for temple diving. You start on D:5 - where the Temple can spawn - along with a [[scroll of magic mapping]] to scout out the level. High [[stealth]] and a few escape items also help. Also, Delvers are very easy to [[Scumming#Start Scumming|start scum]] until you get good temple RNG.
  
Spriggans are the quintessential divers. Their speed gives them the ability to run away from the vast majority of dangerous enemies.
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For species, [[Spriggan]]s are the quintessential divers. Their speed gives them the ability to run away from the vast majority of dangerous enemies. Other stealthy races may also be good choices for temple diving. Just remember that you are below your normal depth, and higher level monsters will usually see through your stealth pretty easily.
  
Stealthy races may also be good choices for temple diving. Just remember that you are below your normal depth, and higher level monsters will usually see through your stealth pretty easily.
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===Tips & Tricks===
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*Make sure to check any [[faded altar]]s you encounter. You could get a desirable god that way.
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*While diving, only use stairs to descend levels. Using trapdoors means you have no reliable way to run away.
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*If you get to the temple and your god's altar isn't there, it's often best to revert to Plan A. Overflow altars will be found between D:3 and D:10.
  
While diving, only use stairs to descend levels. Using trapdoors means you have no reliable way to run away.
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==History==
 
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*In [[0.27]], monsters in the Dungeon were made more difficult overall. Therefore, this strategy is less reliable than before.
If all pathways to the temple are blocked by difficult monsters, you can always revert to Plan A, return to level one, and start killing your way down. But there is usually a way through for the persistent.
 
 
 
If you get to the temple and your god's altar isn't there, it's often best to revert to Plan A. Overflow altars will be found between level two and level nine.
 
 
 
Note this is not for the faint-hearted, and players on a streak may wish to employ a different strategy. The low level mortality rate among temple divers is quite high. Fortunately, you probably haven't spent much time on a failed diver. Just start another!
 
  
 
[[Category:Strategy Guides]]
 
[[Category:Strategy Guides]]
 
 
[[Category:Tips]]
 
[[Category:Tips]]

Latest revision as of 07:09, 27 November 2023

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
This article contains advice from other players, which may be subjective, outdated, inaccurate or ill-advised. Take advice as you see fit, and read at your own risk!

Temple diving is the process of reaching the Ecumenical Temple as quickly as possible, in order to reach a desired god. Instead of fully clearing out the beginning floors, a temple diver will skip levels until D:4. After obtaining a god, a diver goes back up and explores the skipped levels.

Strategy

The idea behind temple diving is that it gives more piety. Generally, a rat gives the same piety as a dragon, and exploring D:1 gives the same piety as D:5 or D:6. So if you get a god before you kill D:1 rats, you get piety you otherwise would've missed.

However, it is a low winrate strategy, as you are not guaranteed to find the Temple before a too-difficult monster just kills you. It also leaves you vulnerable to sourceless malevolence traps, since you'll lack items and XP that could let you survive the trap. So if you care about winrate or winstreaking, diving is ill advised. If you don't care about those things, though, you can always start another character.

Of course, you are not married to this strategy. If you find a dangerous monster, you can revert to plan A: go back to D:1, kill all the monsters for XP, and come back stronger.

Character Choice

Delver, as its name suggests, is a natural background for temple diving. You start on D:5 - where the Temple can spawn - along with a scroll of magic mapping to scout out the level. High stealth and a few escape items also help. Also, Delvers are very easy to start scum until you get good temple RNG.

For species, Spriggans are the quintessential divers. Their speed gives them the ability to run away from the vast majority of dangerous enemies. Other stealthy races may also be good choices for temple diving. Just remember that you are below your normal depth, and higher level monsters will usually see through your stealth pretty easily.

Tips & Tricks

  • Make sure to check any faded altars you encounter. You could get a desirable god that way.
  • While diving, only use stairs to descend levels. Using trapdoors means you have no reliable way to run away.
  • If you get to the temple and your god's altar isn't there, it's often best to revert to Plan A. Overflow altars will be found between D:3 and D:10.

History

  • In 0.27, monsters in the Dungeon were made more difficult overall. Therefore, this strategy is less reliable than before.