Are invisibility runes underused and under-appreciated?

[tiger_eye]

Whenever I look through mid to high level characters in the online characters vault, it appears that very, very few of them are using invisibility runes. I don't understand this, because I think they are awesome (and I'm not suggesting that they should be changed). Is there a reason most players don't use invisibility runes? In my experience, each charge of an invisibility rune can be almost as good as an extra life--what could be better than that?!

So, I would like to hear how other people have used invisibility runes to good effect (this topic is in spoilers, so spoil away ). If you don't use invisibility runes, then why not?!

In an effort to give invisibility runes the appreciation they deserve, I will now chronicle a situation in which one was used typically. Character link is here (ghough temporal warden).

The following screenshots are from Rak'shor Pride(2), and it's important to cover the events leading up to the first screenshot. Upon entering the level, I immediately teleported away from the greeting party, because I didn't stand a chance against that particular group (well, perhaps I would have had I used an invisibility rune ). I then attempted to carve out a safe(-ish) corner of the level, and I burned through my two shielding runes and Ghoul/Retch (which can heal about 900 life over 15 turns). Despite my efforts, I was overwhelmed by superior forces, and I needed to escape. I teleported when my life (i.e., hit points) was around two-thirds max. Poor luck teleporting! I was now surrounded by even more enemies--most of them ranged--including several master skeleton archers. I still had a fair amount of life left, but my survival options were very limited at the moment, so I teleported again. This time I ended up on the other side of half the mob that had been chasing me when I first teleported. The skeleton master archer, the blood mage, and one of the melee orcs hit me during the turn I teleported. One of those hits was critical! This hurt. I was now unexpectedly down to 10% life, and one more hit would most likely kill me.

This leads us to the first screenshot: "What to do?"

what_to_do.jpg (158.11 KiB) Viewed 4370 times

One wrong move and my game is over. I need to survive for three more turns, after which a shielding rune becomes available (and other abilities shortly thereafter). What should I do? Teleport again (I have three teleports from equipment available)? Try to run away for three turns (ghouls move slowly, but this is partially offset by celerity and speed)? Try to blind the group? Try to stun the group with chronomancy/stop? All of these options have unmitigated risks and would likely lead to my eventual--or immediate!--demise. So what I ended up doing...

...was use an invisibility rune, of course!

invisibility_rune.jpg (216.24 KiB) Viewed 4370 times

Success! The top image is immediately after I used the invisibility rune. Nobody hit me! I quickly killed the blood mage who had unknowingly moved next to me, and I managed to survive for three turns following my last teleport. The lower image above shows the instant I used a shielding rune ("Damage Shield" in the effects list), and I was now feeling fairly confident.

Much carnage followed, and I was no longer invisible five turns later:

much_better.jpg (227.19 KiB) Viewed 4370 times

Ah, much better! This battle was basically over, and I had emerged victorious--hurrah!! I don't care that invisibility runes have a finite number of charges, because each charge is a wonderful magical gift that keeps my character playing!

Anyway, the above situation isn't the most insane or amazing thing I've done with invisibility runes (do you want to beat the ambush with an incredibly low level character? Use two invisibility runes!), but it is the most recent. It is also a typical survival usage of invisibility runes. To make them even better, they can also be used to good effect as a preemptive offensive measure: go invisible then wreak some havoc!

[budswell]

Interesting... I guess I was always put off by the limited charges, so never tried. Also back in Tome 2 invisibility tended not to work against the things that mattered (undead and magic users) so I guess I am conditioned to discount it as an option.
All my chars tend to end up the same. Definitely Regen and Heal. Then Teleport and Shield (or Movement and Wild for my only anti magic user so far). And the last is either a 2nd Shield, Wild or Manasurge. I may have to look into this though, play around and see how effective it is.

Edit: Just looked at your char. No healing or regen, you're braver than me. I see Ghouls get Retch, but healing opponent undead is a little scary.

[Tom]

I tried one of those the second time I left Dreadfell.
I was perhaps too inexperienced to use the power of the spell. Still I got the feeling the orcs could still see me.
I tried it a second time with an archer and it failed that second time too.

Also, I lost sight of myself during the period I was invisible which felt really silly.

Tom

[darkgod]

Things seeing you is still good, even if they spot you they have a chance to misplace each of their attacks (aka hit a grid near you but not you) !
This can even lead them to attack one an other!

[Postman]

I was put off by uncertainty. Couple of times I've used them (long versions ago) I was discovered in one-two turns and never figured what was safe level of the rune vs critters level and against which critters exactly. From the gripping hand shield is a safe bet vs non-uniques. So I don't think that invisibility rune is bad, that is just shield (and now movement infusion) seems a lot more reliable.

[CaptainTrips]

Wait, you can attack and remain invisible? I always assumed the invisibility ended as soon as you did something besides move. That assumption and the fact that I have a problem bringing myself to actually use an item with charges (on console RPG's I typically never end up using 'special' items out of fear that I may need them later) have led me to never have an invis rune on any character. That said, this does seem very useful, and from about midgame on there are plenty of invis runes to be found, so I may try this out on my next char.

[darkgod]

Invis doesnt break on attack yes.
It's like stealth on steroids

[Grey]

It's great to use in the Dark Crypt - the blood mages start firing all over the place, often hitting each other. You get lots of messages saying "the foo has spotted you" but it makes no difference.

[PowerWyrm]

I never leave Dreadfell without activating an Invisibility rune... makes the Staff quest *much* easier.

[Final Master]

Agreed, I always keep a stash of invisibility runes if I find some before dreadfell. Come dreadfell, I don't care what else I have, I make sure to replace something with an invis rune as it can make the last half/ambush much much easier. However, other than that and the charred scar marathon, I don't see them as all that useful, to me atleast.

[Dwarf_Hammer]

I'm a min-maxing Crawl and Nethack player. I prefer speed runes for the endgame. I rarely find myself in a situation where I'm going to die in the next few turns. And I'd rather avoid getting into those situations in the first place. I only play on roguelike mode, so I'm distrustful of anything that doesn't completely guaranteed my safety or is always useful.