I have been playing on/off for a few years now (mostly when I get tired of waiting for an ADOM update) and have not had much success. What is the basic strategy for surviving the early/middle game? If I am correect that the game adjusts the difficulty based on the srtength of the charecter, so having better items and stats actually work against you. Is there an optimal equipment set for balancing this?

Thanks

Hmm. I kind of need more specific information to help you. How do you usually die and where?

There is no optimal equipment set, but I suggest never using armor of great health. It will usually spawn enemies that more than negate the health bonus.

That's about where I always die, so I can't say much

But don't use axes. No point.

For one thing, put on any equipment you find no matter how crappy it is. A leather armor and leather boots will protect you much better than bare flesh. Then of course, gradually replace them as you find better equipment.

Same thing with weapons. You might not like a particular weapon but even a weak one will help. OK, maybe not a balsa spear, but at least get a short sword or dagger or little axe or something. Trying to use fists against the blue carnivorous plants will result in death, I guarantee it.

Armor of Great Health is the main thing to Stay Away from. Most other gear is more beneficial than harmful.

I once got pretty far by just running through every room as fast as i can, but thats not smart, especially when you get to stronger enemies and you've got no equipment.

Difficulty scales up by both stats and game time. So spending a lot of time training your stats just gets you a world of hurt.

I generally just run through and wear the best armor I can. This can backfire though. I've made it through GC4 with the original 10 END. 37 HP is not enough to take on either the Enner Beast (GC5) or the crystal golems UT4. That and facing the sumo are the only situations I use armor of health. (Sumo because there is a bug, when your armor is removed by the subroutine that strips you it doesn't reduce your HP back to your base.)

Save scroll to use with wands of Mirroring. Save ommel fluids for wands of cloning.

Yeah, basically don't stay too long to train stats; rather than that, for example fight Your way through the "less tough" crits with a halberd (to train ASTR) or scroll/peel/whip (to train DEX). Run, to excercise AGI and LSTR.

Be healthy and preferably accompanied when drinking from fountains, beacuse of the dangers they pose.