Remuz wrote:What did I miss, and what do you think it takes to be succesfull at that game?
Thanks!
Sorry if some of it seems like advice to total newbies, but that way everybody can use my guide:
1) Always be cautious,
never grow arrogant, no matter how powerful you get. Newer play when irritated or tired. You will just lose a character you have invested a lot of time playing cautiously.
2) Always have escape options. Teleport spell/rune or psychoport tool (usable when silenced!), don't be afraid to have both, useful when you first manage to "escape" from frying pan to fire. If you cant have runes and don't haven't found psychoport yet (because if you have, there's no excuse to wear another tool), then have movement infusion and always be aware of the exit to back.
3)
Never be afraid to run. It's the unfair world of an roguelike, there
will be unfair monsters who you can't defeat even with a good build, you are a powerful adventurer, but not the Chosen One destined to succeed, who every enemy in the game is balanced for, like in normal RPGs. You can, most of the time, come back later higher leveled
4) Open the vaults only after the rest of the level is cleared, or preferably the whole dungeon and you are on a track back to the world map. Teleport away and immediately leave the level if the vault happens to be to dangerous. You can, most of the time, come back later higher leveled.
5) Save the merchant from the Assassin Lord and make special orders from him in the late game once you return to the West from the East for the money sink.
What to look from items is:
1) teleport/psychoport/blink
2) Health and/or resource bonus,
3) Stun/freeze or confusion resist (if there looks like you could get at least one of them high),
4) Separately powered abilities (not general "charm"),
5) Attribute bonus items to store at the vault (so that you would have some room to play around with prodigy requirements)
6) Defense/Armor if your class has any point to raise it.
7) At least one waterbreathing item if you breathe.
8) Mana regen, if you plan to use invisibility.
9) Movement speed bonus.
10) Bonus damage and damage penetration for your main element.
11) Bonus saves (only if very good ones)
Prefer simpler yet effective bonuses over stuff you don't really understand or see use for.
6) There's
always something to buy, did you visit all the stores (use the new store wish list addon for helping to make a list to yourself)? Angolwen has best jewelry, Zigur has highest leveled stores in the west, Last Hope has everything, other towns often have good stuff (look for rare psyhoports from mindstar shops, cheap wands and poison/disease removers)
7) You are going too early into Dreadfell at lvl20. Finish all the starting dungeons first (go up stairs if the game skips, or download the choice addon, even if experience is not great, you can get good money and items + vaults). My recommendation: Trollmire first 3 levels > Norgos' Lair > Trollmire 4. level > Heart of the Gloom > Kor'Pul > Scintillating Caves > Rhaloren Camp. (trust me, the last two can be at least of some challenge even 10+ level).
Be ready for the Assasin Lord encounter lvl 6+, Cursed event near and north of Last Hope and Derth event, of course, 14+.
After that (you might need to explore the entire map to find all them): Old Forest > The Maze > Sandworm Lair > Golem Graveyard > Daikara > Ruined Halfling Complex > Ruined Dungeon > Lake Nur > Hidden Compound > Tempest Peak > then finally Dreadfell.
Only things in the West to leave after the Dreadfell should be the Mark of Spellbalze, Ancient Eleven Ruins (highest level West ruins), Last Hope Graveyard and Dogroth Caldera and the lvl30+ Oozemancer encounter, should either or both appear.
You might want to get in Dreadfell before lvl 24 though and do the rest in the West after the Ambush, if you want more levels to prepare for the Crypt encounter. Don't be afraid to jump into your fortress and farportal (before you kill the Master). If you meet an impossible boss, just use the rod and force through the portal. Better to break it, than to not use it at all.
8) After you return from the east, there will be interesting bonus bosses in some of the old dungeons, Sandworm Lair one will give extra category point!
9) Try to do foundation and focus elixirs for alchemy quests and the Derth Arena quest before lvl12
10) Don't forget constitution.
11) Jewels are the best fuel to the fortress. Try not to sell them before you get it and transfigure them then. Don't sell anything after getting a fortress, always transfigure.
11) Don't fight adventurers and Zigur/Orc patrols if you can even remotely avoid it.
), I do not consider myself to be a good player, mostly because I lack the attention span required to make it through such a long and perilous adventure. 
I always end up being careless or willing to start yet another character that sounds appealing at the time.