[ndnh] Dungeon layout (where is Sokoban?) and sensible weapon choice?

[Janis Papanagnou]

I'm currently playing a variant labelled "ndnh" at hardfought.

I'm somewhat confused by the levels I visited thus far; below Oracle I
found something that looked like a Sokoban entry level, there's four
boulders in the entry room, two scrolls (of earth?) at known places,
but neither the pits _nor the stairs_ to the next level. Instead, some
(as far as I can judge from my first contact) quite immobile creature
with HP:1000(!) is contemplating in the second room; its name is
something like "?okoban". - Do I have to kill that creature to create
the stairs to the next Sokoban level? Or is that simply a fake level
and I have to look elsewhere for Sokoban (assuming there is one at all
in the first place - but at least for dNetHack, the base for "ndnh",
the Wiki mentions Sokoban below Oracle)?

Early on I got or found (don't recall) something like a (blessed +1)
"circular saw-bladed axe"; is it worth keeping? - On sacrifices my god
had meanwhile enchanted it thrice (to +4) but I also got a (non-silver)
Werebane, some unbreakable (but heavy) lance, and another artifact axe
(was it maybe Giantslayer?); nothing that looks too prominent, though.

Janis

[Janis Papanagnou]

Post by Janis Papanagnou
I'm currently playing a variant labelled "ndnh" at hardfought.
I'm somewhat confused by the levels I visited thus far; below Oracle I
found something that looked like a Sokoban entry level, [...]

Okay, I downloaded the source code to find this comment:
"Sokoban is stupid. I hate sokoban. We lokoban now."
and beyond that strange level stub that I found there are
obviously no further Sokoban levels or a final prize.
(A bit overkill to keep a special level (as a stub) just
for the two scrolls, and for the random wand and ring.)

So I will have to look elsewhere to get some sack or bag.

Janis

[Ron Nazarov]

Post by Janis Papanagnou
I'm somewhat confused by the levels I visited thus far; below Oracle I
found something that looked like a Sokoban entry level, there's four
boulders in the entry room, two scrolls (of earth?) at known places,
but neither the pits _nor the stairs_ to the next level. Instead, some
(as far as I can judge from my first contact) quite immobile creature
with HP:1000(!) is contemplating in the second room; its name is
something like "?okoban". - Do I have to kill that creature to create
the stairs to the next Sokoban level? Or is that simply a fake level
and I have to look elsewhere for Sokoban (assuming there is one at all
in the first place - but at least for dNetHack, the base for "ndnh",
the Wiki mentions Sokoban below Oracle)?

If you kill the Lokoban Pinata, it will death-drop food, gold, and
either an amulet of reflection or a bag of holding depending on what you
already have.
https://github.com/demogorgon22/notdnethack/blob/2023.05.15/changelog.txt
describes this (and other changes) in more detail. You can instakill it
by confusing and blinding yourself, then hitting it with a blunt weapon.

Post by Janis Papanagnou
Early on I got or found (don't recall) something like a (blessed +1)
"circular saw-bladed axe"; is it worth keeping? - On sacrifices my god
had meanwhile enchanted it thrice (to +4) but I also got a (non-silver)
Werebane, some unbreakable (but heavy) lance, and another artifact axe
(was it maybe Giantslayer?); nothing that looks too prominent, though.

The "circular saw-bladed axe" is a diskos. It is an insight weapon that
does extra energy damage at high insight is and almost certainly worth
keeping. https://nethackwiki.com/wiki/Insight describes it in more
detail.

[Janis Papanagnou]

Post by Ron Nazarov
If you kill the Lokoban Pinata, it will death-drop food, gold, and
either an amulet of reflection or a bag of holding depending on what you
already have.

Not having had any of these I (randomly?) got the amulet.

Container was a problem. Some desperate polypiling provided my with
a sack at least. Later at the sunless sea I managed to get another
amulet (hidden in water) of magical breathing; with that I found
the magic lamp and finally got the Wallet of Perseus from the wish.

The 6x capacity from that bag together with an increased carrying
capacity (1500 instead of 1000) from some artifact armor (a shirt?)
makes me travel completely unburdened; that's new to me.

Post by Ron Nazarov
The "circular saw-bladed axe" is a diskos. It is an insight weapon that
does extra energy damage at high insight is and almost certainly worth
keeping. https://nethackwiki.com/wiki/Insight describes it in more
detail.

I skimmed over the "insights" information but, to be honest, didn't
understand it. It seemed to me like I'd have to meet some creatures
that I yet haven't seen, and that the powers of that diskos weapon
will only be effective under these preconditions; not too appealing,
as it appears. Moreover my diskos is only at +1 now, since hitting
some creates new to me removed its enchantment charges.

Some of my other artifacts seems preferable; at the moment I'm using
artifact knives Firebrand and Frostbrand occasionally, but primarily
some artifact mace that pushes most monsters back when it hits.

Janis

[Janis Papanagnou]

Post by Janis Papanagnou
Some of my other artifacts seems preferable; at the moment I'm using
artifact knives Firebrand and Frostbrand occasionally, but primarily
some artifact mace that pushes most monsters back when it hits.

(This "Rod of the Ram", as I just noticed, got "thoroughly rusty
corroded" despite I recall to have recently removed the 'thoroughly'
and 'very' rusty part; strange.)

I also have some very heavy "large +1 crystal sword" (weight: 240),
but I stashed it away because of its weight and lacking proficiency.

Janis