ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I continue to die to things that suddenly kill me in a couple of hits (when everything else basically doesn't touch me or I don't allow to touch me).

Most recent a stone warden:
http://te4.org/characters/66232/tome/71 ... dbc30af3fe

What is a defense against such things (other than a heroism which I didn't find an early one of this time)?

Most things on normal difficulty can't kill you in a few hits. If it happens, pay careful attention to what killed you, and what talent(s) it used to do so. Then you research those classes/talents and try to work out how not to be killed by that in future.

After a break (ADOM) I am back to TE4.

I think for my playstyle I need more defence.

So I am trying a Mindslayer again.

http://te4.org/characters/66232/tome/a0 ... 2e5acc9d71

Goal is (at least):
Charged Mastery 5/1/1/5
Absorption 5/3/3/1
Voracity 1/0/2/0
Focus 1/1/3/5
Projection 1/1/1/1
Psi-fighting 1/3/5/1

I have really nice rings. I intend to open up an inscription slot at 20. I am thinking to put the Wild or Teleport instead of Phase Door. I think I have gotten rid of better armor, but not better armor that gives 88 life.

I keep thinking about using bows in my TK and mainhand but haven't tried it out yet.

I am doing really well. I think the Mindslayer must be easy in the way I need it to be.

Current (http://te4.org/characters/66232/tome/a0 ... 2e5acc9d71)
Absorption 3/0/3/0
Voracity 1/0/0/0
Focus 1/1/1/4
Charged Mastery 1/1/1/4
Projection 1/1/1/3
Psi-Fighting 1/3/4/0
Fin. En. Manip. 2/4/1/5
Aug. Mobility 1/1/2/1
Shalor 1/2/1/1
Combat Training 0/3/0/0/0

I was thinking to get Mindstars, but then haven't found any good ones recently. Although maybe I should still be using Morningresolve (lvl5 mindstar)? I use to use Fuledralach with 30% slow on hit (neck) but now have something with better other stats. Is the slow more important (particularly with frenzy focus)?

Is using a shield a good idea?

I am about to face the Master. I can purchase http://te4.org/wiki/Steel_Helm_of_Garkul but have a nice artifact helm, should I purchase Garkul? I am currently using http://te4.org/wiki/Borfast%27s_Cage but that doesn't seem to be a Mindslayer armor.

I got Stone instead of Dex +1 from the Alchemist. Not sure if I have the Category point for it or the Generics.

I had originally intended to take Kinetic Mastery. But I am low on Class points.

I got the Rune of Rift which gives OK damage and is maybe some mitigation by pushing the enemy 4 turns into the future.

I am thinking to change my inscriptions to:

Movement
Regen
Shield
Rift

instead of

Movement
Regen
Shield
Phase Shift

I did some other fighting instead of facing the Master.

Defeated Master easily. Defeated Celia easily.

I got a Heroism and am not using Rifts (apparently to hit depends on spellpower). So movement, regen, shield, heroism. That means that Leap (And items but I Do not have charm mastery) is really my only escape.

My current attack routine is:

Grace of the Eternals
Static Net (possibly)
movement (possibly)
Transcendent Electrokinesis
regen (possibly)
Frenzied Focus
Timeless
Charge Leech

http://te4.org/characters/66232/tome/a0 ... 2e5acc9d71

My main 'escape' is to escape death by using Heroism after Heartstart procs and recover the situation during the 10-12 turns that the two provide me.

Did the bearscape. Awesome equipment, more useful than that from the ruined dungeon.

http://te4.org/characters/66232/tome/a0 ... 2e5acc9d71

I could mention that I have really wanted Warding Weapon 5 for a long time but do not get it because I am afraid that I will run out of psi for Frenzied Focus.

I have been playing again. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not. I am not very good at the game.

I like having a shield to show me when I can see enemies.

I am doing paradox mage, which is my first real castor. I admit to not completely understanding the defence, but it seems strong and I don't take much damage (usually). I haven't had my contingency go off yet (is time stop).

I am about to do the Master. I don't expect to have problems. I think that my equipment needs improvements though.

See my character:

http://te4.org/characters/66232/tome/9d ... 8a74863815

Staff of Destruction seems special. But maybe I can't really use it well? Shantiz seems to be really great offhand for everyone who dislikes projectiles, but I don't have a good shortstaff.

My spell power seems low. I feel like I need better armor. I got rid of a nice peice earlier but I didn't have the strength...

I could add a magic ring? I don't use my item heal often, I could find some magic amulet? My hat seems subpar too.

Also, I can complete the Alchemist quest and get the Emerald. I could put that into the Maul and use it... but is that really that good? It seems like it wouldn't give much spellpower but might be good defence.

Anyways, ideas? This is my strongest character since the Mindslayer and strangely enough isn't an Ogre (what I have mostly been playing).

I accidentally did the Dark Crypt but managed to save Melinda. That makes 2/2 for survival and 1/2 for rescue.

It was not difficult.

I did have disintegrate and dug to the stair.

I did come close to dying on the Orc ambush though, I had easily defeated everyone but the boss and then my wife said she wanted to play. I am not entirely sure what she did, but I was down to half life and no sustains...

I decided to go with the Maul because when I put in the T3 gem it gave me a T4 weapon with no requirements(?) and +9 Magic. Still not sure it is the best option, but it is definitely a great weapon.

I could also get the LifeBinding Emerald and put it in... not sure if that gives more Magic or less (is there any way to know?).

I found
+10 Mag, Cun, Dex
+15 Con
+5 AP
+6% Phys. Crit.
+15% Aff. Nature
+10% Res. Blight
+30% Stun Imm.
+2.00 Life Regen
+30% Heal Mod.
Damage type: Nature
Burst (radius 2) on crit: +60 spydric poison
Changes damage: +20% nature
Base power scales with gem tier, up to 68.0-88.4 with a tier-5 gem.

Not sure if that is worth it... or if I should put the gem into a ring or just do some other alchemist quest that is better for me than +4% Phys Crit. (with the chance that I lose out on any final reward).

What I would try to take next is Mysticism (I already have Foundations and Focus and my opponent has Fox and Avoidance) if I forget about the Emerald.

It doesn't seem like anyone else is following my (hopefully successful?) path. But if you are, what about Maul versus current rand. artifact staff versus gravitational staff (the 'cheapest' option).

I also don't have a lot I want to spend on right now for class talents. I guess maybe Temporal Bolt 4 (to get the increased cooldown effect). Maybe I wait and get some unlocked category.

I'd hazard to say that a staff is far and away your best option. Finding +physical or +temporal damage really shines with PM.

I thought the goal was to maximize spell power?

I am not sure how to rate the Masteries on the gravitational staff. It doesn't do well as far as spellpower goes.

Now I have done the back up bosses. Almost ready to start the Orcs properly. Need to make some decisions on equipment though. I might still not win but I am going to give my perspective from here.

I followed the basics of bpat (viewtopic.php?f=59&t=46126) and found them to be very true. Matter Weaving, Reality Smearing, Web's of Fate, Energy Decomposition and 'Spin' makes your defence amazing. Induce Anomaly and Twist Fate do a good job of paradox control. Attenuate is a strong attack and also provides a decent HoT. Get those going, and supplement with the additional attacks (and Echoes from the Past is a good one) and you are good to go, you can almost forget about everything else including infusions. I was a bit lucky to get 3 Healing Lights so that has been all the healing I have needed.

I found that disintegrate was useful for positioning. I think it is also useful for removing enemies 'buffs'. Entropy also seems useful although I am not certain how necessary it has been (I am not playing on Insane).

I am not a good player, I tend to not be careful. So I used a shield rune most of the time to visually inform me if I saw enemies, I just recently got Stasis partially to get 1 in Time Shield so that I could free up that infusion slot (also to get Stop, supposedly another decently strong attack). I put 4 into Temporal Bolt so that I could get 2 cooldowns per enemy, I may end up regretting that if Stop is really great.

I also have only had it go off usefully once, but because I am a week player I have really appreciated Contingency and Time Stop.

I only have 16 more class points, I intend to put 1 more into Stop and then at least 3 into Empower, Extension and Matrix. Matrix is going to be on Seal Fate, Extension on Webs of Fate, and Empower on Attenuate.

If I don't get Hidden Resources I probably need Static History. It seems a bit 'gamey' to get Hidden Resources, but I should probably do it. I am also thinking about Cauterize because I am bad. That and a nice Heroism should really help me stay alive even after mistakes. I could have Heroism, Controlled Teleport, and a Wild (currently just Physical, I should get Physical/Mental). Or I could have Movement, Controlled Teleport, Wild?

I have enough to get an Artefact made for me. Should I do so before heading back East? Should I get the Ring of Dead? I don't have any Blood of Life.

What is obviously missing from my setup?

I have all these items I want one of my Rogue/Wyrmic/etc runs to have. I should drop it or just donate more (I have the game on Steam but not a 'donator' with Vault slots).