by Sidestepper on Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:09 am
I've posted this before, but here's a simple recipe for beating Naga City that's suitable for an inexperienced player:
Orc Rogue
Dwarven Gauntlets
Quicksilver, Strength, Mana, and Health for potions
Compression Seal
Patches
Shop Scroll (converted at first level for cheap piety)
Glowing Guardian
Extra Attack Bonus
Perseverance Badge
This is a simple, monotheistic strategy that requires no god switching and relies on heavy conversion. Because you're junking most glyphs and items, you don't need to worry about tricky combos. It's also designed to avoid aggravating inventory issues.
The idea is that you convert almost everything you find. Hold onto utility glyphs until the exploration phase is over, and keep one repeatable combat glyph (Fireball, PISORF, or HALPMEH). Everything else gets junked. Search the shops for the Venom Ward, Soul Orb, and maybe the Fine Sword. Troll Heart is good if found at first level. Any left over cash goes to buying conversion fodder. Don't worry about saving gold for the altars downstairs.
Use the Strength and Quicksilver potions to kill a level 3 or higher monster right from the start. Don't try to save those potions for later, their purpose to break open the beginning of the game and then leave your inventory.
Take 5-ish doses of Absolution, and do not forget to take Humility at level 2. Patches will be aggravating, but you should be able to shrug off most of his maledictions using level ups. If you get stuck, use a Burn Salve or Fortitude, or a Cleansing if you get really stuck. Get rid of Patches before entering the arena, but try to keep him until right before going down.
Most classes try to preserve their dings for the arena, but you won't need to. Kill almost everything topside. Aim to be level 8 (effectively level 9 because of Humility) and at least 14 points away from 9 so that your first bosskill will level you up. If you can get closer, all the better. Take Enlightenment when your piety starts to overflow. The extra mana is useful.
You will destroy the arena. You'll have 20-ish extra health from Absolution, 8 buffs from Patches, 18 mana because of Enlightenment, and damage ranging somewhere between 140-160. Your first bosskill will give you enough gold to unlock GG's altar. Use Cleansing to deal with Tower of Goo and the Tormented One if you have to, although with 18 mana you probably don't.