Difference between revisions of "Zot:5"

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(The lantern of shadows sets your stealth to 0; Darkness means that you need to get closer to the Orb; Invisibility only works vs draconians and storm dragons)
(as all players trying this know the configuration of the orb chamber, i'd say darkness is helpful - it cuts off something like 1/3 of the space in which crap like aliches and oof's might spot you. Lantern of shadows is a dumb idea though)
Line 192: Line 192:
 
*Fast movement speed: Boots of running, Haste (rather than Swiftness, because the latter sacrifices Stealth).
 
*Fast movement speed: Boots of running, Haste (rather than Swiftness, because the latter sacrifices Stealth).
 
*Very stealthy ([[Agility]] and [[Flight]] can help)
 
*Very stealthy ([[Agility]] and [[Flight]] can help)
 +
*[[Darkness]] can be helpful, in that the reciprocally reduced LOS makes it less likely that you will be spotted by a passing [[ancient lich]] or [[orb of fire]].  However, the reduced LOS also makes apporting the Orb somewhat more difficult.
 
*Several potions of healing and a [[wand of heal wounds]] with scrolls of recharging
 
*Several potions of healing and a [[wand of heal wounds]] with scrolls of recharging
 
*Fire resistance (rElec is also recommended)
 
*Fire resistance (rElec is also recommended)

Revision as of 13:57, 5 July 2013

Version 0.12: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.


Zot:5 is the final floor of the Realm of Zot. Part of the floor is similar to Zot:1-4, but the rest is taken over by the massive Orb chamber, one of several pre-designed vaults containing the Orb of Zot. Picking up the Orb allows you to ascend the Dungeon, escape, and win the game.

The Orb chamber is one of the hardest places you'll have to trudge through, nearly on par with some of the worst Ziggurat floors. It is almost entirely constructed of indestructible walls, prevents teleport control, and has a layout that makes monsters likely to come at you in groups. These monsters include:

Charging in is almost certain suicide. To succeed, consider your build and plan your approach around that. The rest of the page provides helpful information and outlines common strategies.

Orb Chamber Map

##############################################################################
##############################################################################
#
# hall_of_Zot_5
#
##############################################################################
##############################################################################

NAME:       hall_of_Zot
PLACE:      Zot:5
ORIENT:     north
TAGS:       no_dump
LFLAGS:     no_tele_control
LFLOORCOL:  magenta
LROCKCOL:   lightmagenta
LFLOORTILE: floor_rough_magenta
LROCKTILE:  wall_zot_lightmagenta

#traps
SUBST:    C = X:900 c:100
KFEAT:    8 = any trap / w:20 floor
SHUFFLE:  ABab / ^^FF / ^^FF / ^^FF
SHUFFLE:  Aa / Bb
KFEAT:    A = any trap / w:30 floor
KFEAT:    B = any trap / w:10 floor
SUBST:    a=F, b=6 F
SUBST:    ^ = ^ .:10
SUBST:    . = .:500 ^
KMASK:    1! = no_item_gen
SUBST:    ! = ^ .:40

#monsters
MONS:     patrolling Orb Guardian, Killer Klown, electric golem, orb of fire
MONS:     ancient lich, orange crystal statue / silver statue / ice statue
SUBST:    8=8., 8=8., 5=5.
SHUFFLE:  234
SUBST:    ? = .:8 ?
SUBST:    ? : KLM
SUBST:    K = 4:30 5 8 9
SUBST:    L = 4 5:30 8 9
SUBST:    M = 4 5 8:30 9

COLOUR:   c = magenta
TILE:     c = dngn_stone_wall_magenta

KITEM:    Z = Orb of Zot

MAP
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.............XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.............XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX...................XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX...................XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX..........3...........XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX...........3..........XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX..8.....................XXXXXXXXXXXXX.....................8..XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX.......?..?.....8.8.....XXX...1...XXX.....8.8.....?..?.......XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX.8...........?.........XX..1...1..XX.........?...........8.XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX......................X1...!!!...1X......................XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX.....4....2....8.8......1.!Z!.1......8.8....2....4.....XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX....?...?.....?...?...X1...!!!...1X...?...?.....?....?...XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX.......?....?..........XX..1...1..XX..........?....2.......XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX.....8..........8.8.....XXX...1...XXX.....8.8..........8.....XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX...8....................cXXXXXXXXXXXc....................8...XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX.....8.8.8..8.........ccccccccccccccc........8...8.8.8.....XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX...............8...XcccccccccccccccccX...8............8..XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX........8..8...XXXXcccccccccccccccccXXXX...8..8........XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXa111accCCCCCCXXXXXcccccccccccccccccXXXXXCCCCCCccb111bXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXcc...............AA1.ccccccccccccccccc.1BB...............ccXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXcc...8.8..8.8.....cc1...ccccccccccccc...1cc.......8..8.8.8.ccXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXcc.8...8......8.8...ccc...ccccccccccc...ccc...8.8.8..8.......ccXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXc.8..8....8.8........ccc...............ccc.....8....8..8.8....cXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXc..8..8.8....8.8.8.5.cXcc.............ccXc.5.8.8.8....8.8...8.cXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXc..8.....8.8.......8.cXXc.............cXXc8........8.....8.8..cXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXc.8...8......8.8.....cXXcc.1...1...1.ccXXc......8.......8.....cXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXc8..8...8.8.8.8...8.8cXXXc...........cXXXc8.8..8..8.8.8...8.8.cXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXc.....8.........8....cXXcc...........ccXXc....8.8.............cXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXcc...5..8..8.8....8.ccXXc.............cXXcc8.....8....8..5.8.ccXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXcc8......8....8.8.ccXXcc.............ccXXcc.8.8....8....8..ccXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXcc..............ccXXXc...............cXXXcc..............ccXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXccccccccccccccccXXXXcccccccc@ccccccccXXXXccccccccccccccccXXXXXXXXXXX
ENDMAP

Please note that this layout is not the only one possible. While the general layout will always be very similar, the final chamber with the Orb may be different.

Legend:

  • X - Permanent rock walls that cannot be affected in any way
  • x - Diggable rock walls
  • c - Shatterable stone walls
  • C - Usually permanent rock walls (10% chance of stone walls)
  • A, B - Floor with a 33% chance of being a trap
  • a, b - Floor or granite statues with a 1/100 chance of being an orange crystal, silver, or ice statue.
  • . - Floor with a 1/51 chance of being a trap
  • 1 - Orb Guardian, also 1/3 chance of a trap
  • 2/3/4 - Random monsters (Killer Klowns, electric golems, or orbs of fire)
  • 5 - 1/2 chance of an ancient lich
  • 8 - 1/4 chance of a random hard monster, 1/3 chance of a trap
  • ? - 1/2 chance of anything that can generate in Zot, weighted toward the above listed monsters

Preparations

The following items, abilities, and intrinsics are recommended for surviving the Orb chamber. They are ordered in terms of importance. A more experienced player can clear the chamber with fewer, while a player who just reached Zot:5 for the first time will probably want to have as many of them as possible.

Preliminaries

  • Clear Zot:1-4. This is optional, but it gives a large amount of experience and makes the ascension run safer.
  • If you have one, use a scroll of magic mapping once you reach Zot:5 to see the layout of the chamber.
  • Clear everything outside the chamber first. This will be just like the upper floors of Zot. Doing this will make teleport escapes much safer.

Monster Strategies

  • Killing off ancient liches should be your top priority.
    • Haste yourself whenever dealing with them. They can summon brutal demons with torment and hellfire, or cast Iron Shot or Crystal Spear for massive damage. Some of the best ways of killing them are: good weapons of antimagic (a short sword of antimagic is not a good weapon) or holy wrath, Dispel Undead, Orb of Destruction, Shatter, Iron Shot, Tornado, Summon Horrible Things, Summon Dragon, or Shadow Creatures.
    • Once you've cleared out the ancient liches, then you can worry about anything they summoned. Abjuration/Mass Abjuration will make short work of anything they call up, but if you lack it, consider your actions on a case by case basis. Most undead summons shouldn't be a major concern, but hellions should be killed as quickly as possible. The more durable demons with torment or hellfire may merit a hasty retreat until they unsummon on their own.
    • Remember that they won't cast anything if they can't see a target; try not to spend too long with them in your LOS without attending to them.
  • Orbs of fire are next on the list (but if you're facing ancient liches and orbs of the fire at the same time, you should strongly consider making an escape). If you lack at least rF++, they can deal incredible damage very quickly, and they will almost certainly mutate you several times if you don't resist mutations. There's no safe way to deal with them, since they chew through summons fast and resist almost everything. Melee fighters should use antimagic weapons, while ranged fighters can deal significantly increased damage with silver ammunition. Conjurers should cast their most powerful non-elemental Conjurations, such as Iron Shot, Crystal Spear, Orb of Destruction, Tornado, Ice Storm, or Fire Storm.
  • Whenever you come across a melee monster (Killer Klown, Orb Guardian, etc.), grab its attention and retreat towards a safe place to kill it. Keep in mind that dragons and electric golems will shoot their breath/special attacks at you, so you may have to hide behind a corner to force it follow you.
  • Speaking of Orb Guardians, they are fast and strong, but they can be confused. If you're swarmed by a bunch, it's often a great idea to have them bashing one another instead of you.
  • Moths of wrath may berserk monsters or you. Try not to be there when this happens to a pack of Orb Guardians.

Strategies

WARNING: The strategies below call for specific abilities and tactics, and may not apply to your character!

Clear the Chamber Gradually

The most straightforward strategy is to simply walk into the chamber, wake up as few monsters as possible, then retreat and kill them one by one. Repeat.

Lure Monsters Out

By careful use of noise (shouting and spells are the most reliable means of generating this), you may be able to wake up a few monsters, get them chasing you, and run away. Note that due to the chamber layout and the patrolling Orb Guardians, this may be hard to do without getting swamped.

Go In With an Army

If you can, summon as many creatures as possible. You can then hang back as they fight the enemies. This may be accomplished in many ways:

It's worth noting that in Zot, almost any permanent servant will be annhilated quickly, especially when the orbs of fire start tossing around fireballs. Hordes of minions can certainly take down any given local, but you'll be going through a lot of minions! Since these "permanent" servants are comparatively short-lived, this makes summons and divine companions that much more attractive, especially as they depend less on limited resources like corpses.

Blast Your Way Through

A Conjurations specialist with a reliable means of recharging MP (potions of magic, Sif Muna's channeling, etc.) can often simply blast his way through with high-end spells like Lehudib's Crystal Spear, Fire Storm, or Ice Storm. Mind the noise and don't attract more monsters than your MP can handle.

Lugonu's Corruption

Worshiping Lugonu can make the Orb chamber trivial. If you corrupt the level at the entrance of the left or right side of the chamber (at "AA" or "BB" on the map), you will likely break through a path to the Orb room and in the meantime create walls and demons blocking the path of monsters. Once you get in sight of the Orb, apport it, read a scroll of teleportation and grab the Orb. Banishing yourself to the Abyss can save your life and give you a chance to heal, but don't forget that you will return to the exact same spot you left from.

Shatter/Lee's Rapid Deconstruction

If you don't worship Lugonu, but can cast Shatter or Lee's Rapid Deconstruction, you may use them to dig through the shatterable stone walls. Note, however, that this is much slower and will make a lot of noise, enough to instantly awaken almost every monster on the floor. As a bonus, however, both spells deal great damage to low-AC electric golems. Once you clear a path to the Orb, grab it quickly and teleport away as described above. Zin's Sanctuary ability is a nice addition.

Stealth/Stabbing

Walk into the orb chamber and try to stab any sleeping monsters (Orb Guardians, ancient liches, orbs of fire, etc.). Be sure to have a way to escape, preferably Haste, and make sure you are extremely stealthy if you want to try this approach. If an Orb Guardian wakes up, lure it outside the chamber before fighting it to avoid waking up any other monsters. When you're in sight of the Orb, grab it and teleport away.

Teleport with Safety System

If you worship Nemelex Xobeh, you can randomly teleport around and entomb yourself with a Tomb card in case of failure. If you land near enemies, blink away before entombing. If you worship Zin, you may use Sanctuary for a similar effect. Borgnjor's Revivification, Death's Door, or Elyvilon also work fairly well with this strategy.

Run and Teleport

The fastest and riskiest approach involves simply teleporting on Zot:5 until you land near the Orb, grabbing it, and teleporting repeatedly until you find an up staircase. Be hasted for as much of this as possible, using a scroll of vulnerability when you can to purge glow. Expect to take some damage as you flee. It's somewhat suicidal, but possible.

Requirements:

  • Fast movement speed: Boots of running, Haste (rather than Swiftness, because the latter sacrifices Stealth).
  • Very stealthy (Agility and Flight can help)
  • Darkness can be helpful, in that the reciprocally reduced LOS makes it less likely that you will be spotted by a passing ancient lich or orb of fire. However, the reduced LOS also makes apporting the Orb somewhat more difficult.
  • Several potions of healing and a wand of heal wounds with scrolls of recharging
  • Fire resistance (rElec is also recommended)
  • Apportation (high failure rate, but can save you some very critical turns)
  • The ability to teleport several times in a row (two teleport wands and a few scrolls of recharging will suffice)
  • Several scrolls of fog and/or Summon Butterflies to avoid combat

History

Prior to 0.12, digging out everything outside the Orb chamber would increase the chances of landing somewhere safe after a random teleport.