Best race?

[Jeril]

Just curious what all people think on this and why. There are a couple obvious reasons to pick dark elf, CS and bolt AS. In another thread Gib says dwarves make the best sorcs, best spirit regen, can carry more, racial ETD bonus, more health, more stamina(for those picking GoS). Those are also the differences I see between those two races, so what else do people consider when picking race? What other races have people chosen and why did you choose it?

[subzero]

I went with krolvin for my Shattered sorcerer. Never been a big fan of dwarves, giants don't generally fit the mold of sorcerer in my mind, and there are probably less krolvin sorcerers than either giant or dwarven. That they are the next hardiest race after the giants and dwarves was another factor.

[Darcthundar]

Before Malok chimes in. Giants are a good choice. Most hitpoints, +5 to Spirit TD, decent spirit regen, can carry a ton (not literally) and did I mention lots of hitpoints.

I think I recall capped people die more from hp loss then from crits, so to me hp would be one of the most important factors.

If I am wrong I am sure someone will tactfully tell me otherwise

[nindon]

Just curious what all people think on this and why. There are a couple obvious reasons to pick dark elf, CS and bolt AS. In another thread Gib says dwarves make the best sorcs, best spirit regen, can carry more, racial ETD bonus, more health, more stamina(for those picking GoS). Those are also the differences I see between those two races, so what else do people consider when picking race? What other races have people chosen and why did you choose it?

You didn't even mention halflings. Nobody ever mentions us. :)

We have better spirit regen than dwarves, better ETD racial bonus than dwarves and better bolt AS than elves.

The two main issues with halflings are CS and encumbrance.

Here are the races listed in order of max CS from best to worst. For each group, I show in parenthesis at the end of the line the difference between that group and the one above it.

(1) Dark Elf
(2) Burghal Gnome, Sylvankind, Elf, Forest Gnome (5)
(3) Aelotoi, Half Elf, Erithian, Human (3)
(4) Halfling, Half Krolvin, Giant (2)
(5) Dwarf (3)

The CS difference between dark elf and halfling is 10. That's huge. Even so, with my modest collection of enhancives (enough for 12 points of sorcerer CS) and a quartz orb (another 10 points), my CS is just fine in the highest level areas.

When it comes to encumbrance, a halfling sorcerer is probably going to concentrate on demonology instead of necromancy. Toss the fluff. Get light and large containers. Max out your strength stat. Save up black crystals and disk scrolls. Use the strength spell. And phase those boxes!

On the issue of health, I'll just say that a sorcerer can do a lot with prophylactic casts of bloodburst on critters that are unable to tend themselves. Thanks to that tactic, I got out of this alive:


>[The Rift]
Walls comprised of stacked skulls rise into the starless black sky. The ground below seems to cradle you as you move, and a quick glance downward explains the reason. Skeletal hands make up the floor, reflexively clutching and releasing as the weight they carry shifts. In the center of the room stand three staves of tall femurs, bound together by still-bloody veins.
Obvious exits: east, southwest, northwest
>You feel a rumble come from beneath your feet.
The floor begins to shiver slightly, casting thin ripples across the landscape. As the protuberances increase in intensity, an enormous rift crawler launches to the surface from within! The crawler's massive maw lies agape, its glistening obsidian teeth gnashing at everything in their path!
A brief flash of teeth and shadow is all you are able to perceive before you are caught in the path of the crawler's deadly jaws!
... 40 points of damage!
Spectacular slash!
Your left arm is neatly amputated!
You are stunned for 8 rounds!
You catch one last glimpse of your surroundings as darkness closes in on you...
[The Belly of the Beast]
The murky interior of the crawler's stomach is comprised of amorphous walls that have a nearly insubstantial texture, yet manage to restrict all but the most minor of movements. A pervasive cold bites at your extremities, while the minimal volume of air twists and shudders, churning violently all around you. You also see the crawler's stomach wall.
Obvious exits: none
>Your disk arrives, following you dutifully.
>l[The Belly of the Beast]
The murky interior of the crawler's stomach is comprised of amorphous walls that have a nearly insubstantial texture, yet manage to restrict all but the most minor of movements. A pervasive cold bites at your extremities, while the minimal volume of air twists and shudders, churning violently all around you. You also see the Nindon disk and the crawler's stomach wall.
Obvious exits: none
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Icy chill to your midriff. A bowl of nice hot stew would hit the spot right now.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Chilly blast to the chest causes heart to skip a beat.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 5 points of damage!
Legs wobble slightly!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 10 points of damage!
You just got the cold shoulder!
>l[The Belly of the Beast]
The murky interior of the crawler's stomach is comprised of amorphous walls that have a nearly insubstantial texture, yet manage to restrict all but the most minor of movements. A pervasive cold bites at your extremities, while the minimal volume of air twists and shudders, churning violently all around you. You also see the Nindon disk and the crawler's stomach wall.
Obvious exits: none
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 5 points of damage!
Back pops as muscles resist the vacuum!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 5 points of damage!
Fingernail explodes!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Chilly blast to the head. Where is that cap Mom knitted for you!?
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Icy chill to your midriff. A bowl of nice hot stew would hit the spot right now.
>l[The Belly of the Beast]
The murky interior of the crawler's stomach is comprised of amorphous walls that have a nearly insubstantial texture, yet manage to restrict all but the most minor of movements. A pervasive cold bites at your extremities, while the minimal volume of air twists and shudders, churning violently all around you. You also see the Nindon disk and the crawler's stomach wall.
Obvious exits: none
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>get kni from my jacketYou need a free hand for that.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 5 points of damage!
Back pops as muscles resist the vacuum!
>get kni from my jacketYou need a free hand for that.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>You feel less drained.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 10 points of damage!
Ribs crack as chest swells!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>put runestaff in my jacketYour veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>You put an ancient orase runestaff in your black-trimmed jacket.
>get kni from my jacketYou remove a butternut hilted rolaren knife from in your black-trimmed jacket.
>at wallA sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 10 points of damage!
You just got the cold shoulder!
>You strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 6 sec.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>at wallA sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Chilly blast to the chest causes heart to skip a beat.
>You strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 5 sec.
>at wallYou strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 10 points of damage!
Blood vessels in leg burst!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>at wallYou strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Icy chill to your midriff. A bowl of nice hot stew would hit the spot right now.
>at wallYou strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>at wallYou strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 5 sec.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 5 points of damage!
Veins in arm stand out briefly!
>at wall...wait 1 seconds.
>at wallYou strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 5 sec.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>The air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 15 points of damage!
Back strains under sudden decompression!
You are stunned for 1 round!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>l[The Belly of the Beast]
The murky interior of the crawler's stomach is comprised of amorphous walls that have a nearly insubstantial texture, yet manage to restrict all but the most minor of movements. A pervasive cold bites at your extremities, while the minimal volume of air twists and shudders, churning violently all around you. You also see the Nindon disk and the crawler's stomach wall.
Obvious exits: none
>at wallThe air shifts and is sucked violently away from around you!
... 5 points of damage!
Veins in neck stand out briefly!
>You strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 5 sec.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>at wallYou strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
>A sudden burst of cold flares from the walls surrounding you!
Some plain green leathers partially deflects the onslaught of the frigid attack.
... 5 points of damage!
You wince as the blast numbs your right arm.
>at wallYour veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>You strike at the stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife managing to cut a small way into the crawler's stomach wall.
Roundtime: 6 sec.
Finally, you manage to slice through the crawler's stomach wall with your hilted rolaren knife, creating a hole large enough to escape through!
Suddenly, you feel your body getting pushed rapidly through the inner anatomy of the beast until it is finally violently expelled.
[The Rift]
The walls are a deep red color, pulsating and constricting. At times you wonder if they will crush you, but you are only soundly squeezed between them as they contract and release, over and over. Blood flows in rivers over the floor, forced out of the chamber by the movement of the walls and into a corridor to the north. You also see an enormous rift crawler and a polished modwir box.
Obvious paths: east, southwest, northwest
>Your disk arrives, following you dutifully.
>put my kni in my jacket...wait 4 seconds.
>get fae runestaff from my jacketA high-pitched hum fills the air as an enormous rift crawler twists along the ground. As if in response, the earth beneath it ripples impossibly, like the face of a still pond in the wake of a thrown stone. The greyed interior of the crawler's body roils, and it flings itself backward only to dive into the ground, disappearing entirely.
>...wait 3 seconds.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>An inquisitive mottled white imp scampers into the area.
>l[The Rift]
The walls are a deep red color, pulsating and constricting. At times you wonder if they will crush you, but you are only soundly squeezed between them as they contract and release, over and over. Blood flows in rivers over the floor, forced out of the chamber by the movement of the walls and into a corridor to the north. You also see an inquisitive mottled white imp, the Nindon disk and a polished modwir box.
Obvious paths: east, southwest, northwest
>
Tha-thump.

>put my kni in my jacketYou put a butternut hilted rolaren knife in your black-trimmed jacket.
>get orase runestaff from my jacketYou remove an ancient orase runestaff from in your black-trimmed jacket.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>group openstandYour veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your group status is already open.
>You stand back up.
>A spectral fog rolls through the area.

>The ground seems to distort and shudder beneath your feet.
>l[The Rift]
The walls are a deep red color, pulsating and constricting. At times you wonder if they will crush you, but you are only soundly squeezed between them as they contract and release, over and over. Blood flows in rivers over the floor, forced out of the chamber by the movement of the walls and into a corridor to the north. You also see an inquisitive mottled white imp, the Nindon disk and a polished modwir box.
Obvious paths: east, southwest, northwest
>e[The Rift]
Grey-green worms tunnel in and out of the crimson walls of the chamber. In their wake pour miniature waterfalls of blood which sluice north with the liquid running over the floor. The walls squeeze in on you, in predictable rhythm, but it almost seems that each constriction is less forceful than the last, as if whatever force is driving them weakens with each push.
Obvious exits: east, southwest, northwest
>nw>[The Rift]
Blood pours in from the corridor to the northeast. Unlike the blood you are used to seeing, this blood is blue, the color of suffocation and death. Indeed suffocation is a good metaphor, for the walls close in on you in regular constrictions, only to move back out and repeat the process. The azure slime is forced southward, turning a deep violet as it moves.
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast, west
>Your disk arrives, following you dutifully.
>w[The Rift]
Purple liquid oozes over the floor, moving southward as the walls contract in on you and out again. Slowly, it dawns on you that this is blood, turning from indigo to a more healthy red. Worms an unwholesome shade of grey-green play in the liquid, drilling through the pulsing scarlet walls with sharp teeth.
Obvious paths: northeast, southeast, west
>
Tha-thump.

>The ground seems to distort and shudder beneath your feet.
>ne[The Rift]
The walls are a deep red color, pulsating and constricting. At times you wonder if they will crush you, but you are only soundly squeezed between them as they contract and release, over and over. Blood flows in rivers over the floor, forced out of the chamber by the movement of the walls and into a corridor to the north. You also see an inquisitive mottled white imp and a polished modwir box.
Obvious paths: east, southwest, northwest
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>e[The Rift]
Grey-green worms tunnel in and out of the crimson walls of the chamber. In their wake pour miniature waterfalls of blood which sluice north with the liquid running over the floor. The walls squeeze in on you, in predictable rhythm, but it almost seems that each constriction is less forceful than the last, as if whatever force is driving them weakens with each push.
Obvious exits: east, southwest, northwest
>nw[The Rift]
Blood pours in from the corridor to the northeast. Unlike the blood you are used to seeing, this blood is blue, the color of suffocation and death. Indeed suffocation is a good metaphor, for the walls close in on you in regular constrictions, only to move back out and repeat the process. The azure slime is forced southward, turning a deep violet as it moves. You also see the Nindon disk.
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast, west
>w[The Rift]
Purple liquid oozes over the floor, moving southward as the walls contract in on you and out again. Slowly, it dawns on you that this is blood, turning from indigo to a more healthy red. Worms an unwholesome shade of grey-green play in the liquid, drilling through the pulsing scarlet walls with sharp teeth.
Obvious paths: northeast, southeast, west
>ne[The Rift]
The walls are a deep red color, pulsating and constricting. At times you wonder if they will crush you, but you are only soundly squeezed between them as they contract and release, over and over. Blood flows in rivers over the floor, forced out of the chamber by the movement of the walls and into a corridor to the north. You also see an inquisitive mottled white imp and a polished modwir box.
Obvious paths: east, southwest, northwest
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>The ground seems to distort and shudder beneath your feet.
>e[The Rift]
Grey-green worms tunnel in and out of the crimson walls of the chamber. In their wake pour miniature waterfalls of blood which sluice north with the liquid running over the floor. The walls squeeze in on you, in predictable rhythm, but it almost seems that each constriction is less forceful than the last, as if whatever force is driving them weakens with each push.
Obvious exits: east, southwest, northwest
>eYour disk arrives, following you dutifully.
>[The Rift]
The walls are a deep red color, pulsating and constricting. At times you wonder if they will crush you, but you are only soundly squeezed between them as they contract and release, over and over. Blood flows in rivers over the floor, forced out of the chamber by the movement of the walls and into a corridor to the north. You also see an inquisitive mottled white imp and a polished modwir box.
Obvious paths: east, southwest, northwest
>nw[The Rift]
The corridor is narrow, difficult for anyone taller than the average human to make their way through. Very little light filters in to illuminate your path. Your feet splash with each footstep, and the floor is slick, made not of stone or soil, or anything else you have likely encountered before. A low pulsing sound fills your ears, rhythmic and oddly familiar. You also see a slender silvery thread.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, west
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>An inquisitive mottled white imp scampers into the area.
>
Tha-thump.

>A n'ecare rises up behind you fading into view out of the shadows!
>cli threYour disk arrives, following you dutifully.
>You begin to climb up the silvery thread. You climb up, further and further. All of a sudden, up and down reverse and before you can shift your grip and balance your weight, you tumble to the ground! Yeouch!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
>You feel a rumble come from beneath your feet.
The ground begins to shiver slightly, casting thin ripples across the landscape. As the protuberances increase in intensity, an enormous rift crawler launches to the surface from within! The crawler's massive maw lies agape, its glistening obsidian teeth gnashing at everything in their path!
A brief flash of teeth and shadow is all you are able to perceive before you are caught in the path of the crawler's deadly jaws!
... 45 points of damage!
Off-balanced slash!
Enough force to sever your right hand!
Amazing!
You are stunned for 10 rounds!
Your surroundings become a blur as you are sent careening awkwardly through the air! Finally, you come crashing painfully to the ground!
... 15 points of damage!
Nasty blow to your right arm!
The crawler lurches through the air before finally landing with a solid thud.
>l[The Rift]
The corridor is narrow, difficult for anyone taller than the average human to make their way through. Very little light filters in to illuminate your path. Your feet splash with each footstep, and the floor is slick, made not of stone or soil, or anything else you have likely encountered before. A low pulsing sound fills your ears, rhythmic and oddly familiar. You also see an enormous rift crawler, the Nindon disk, a n'ecare, an inquisitive mottled white imp and a slender silvery thread.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, west
>A n'ecare glows with an ice blue light!
A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +491 vs DS: +425 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +79 = +174
... and hits for 38 points of damage!
Bones in right arm crack.
A dark shadowy tendril rises up from your skin, writhes its way up a long blackened jeddart-axe towards a n'ecare and lashes out malevolently...
CS: +532 - TD: +342 + CvA: -6 + d100: +6 == +190
Warding failed!
A n'ecare contorts in excruciating agony!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>An enormous rift crawler tries to bite you!
AS: +469 vs DS: +414 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +5 = +92
A clean miss.
>l[The Rift]
The corridor is narrow, difficult for anyone taller than the average human to make their way through. Very little light filters in to illuminate your path. Your feet splash with each footstep, and the floor is slick, made not of stone or soil, or anything else you have likely encountered before. A low pulsing sound fills your ears, rhythmic and oddly familiar. You also see an enormous rift crawler, the Nindon disk, a n'ecare, an inquisitive mottled white imp and a slender silvery thread.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, west
>The silvery thread drops to the ground suddenly. The thread writhes and twists for a moment, then slithers off!
>
Tha-thump.

>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>An enormous rift crawler charges at you!
AS: +479 vs DS: +414 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +43 = +137
... and hits for 11 points of damage!
Blow leaves an imprint on your chest!
A dark shadowy tendril rises up from your skin, writhes its way towards an enormous rift crawler and lashes out malevolently...
CS: +532 - TD: +441 + CvA: +25 + d100: +35 == +151
Warding failed!
An enormous rift crawler contorts in excruciating agony!
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>l[The Rift]
The corridor is narrow, difficult for anyone taller than the average human to make their way through. Very little light filters in to illuminate your path. Your feet splash with each footstep, and the floor is slick, made not of stone or soil, or anything else you have likely encountered before. A low pulsing sound fills your ears, rhythmic and oddly familiar. You also see an enormous rift crawler, the Nindon disk, a n'ecare and an inquisitive mottled white imp.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, west
>group openstandYour group status is already open.
>You are still stunned.
>
Tha-thump.

>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +376 vs DS: +414 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +41 = +32
A clean miss.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>l[The Rift]
The corridor is narrow, difficult for anyone taller than the average human to make their way through. Very little light filters in to illuminate your path. Your feet splash with each footstep, and the floor is slick, made not of stone or soil, or anything else you have likely encountered before. A low pulsing sound fills your ears, rhythmic and oddly familiar. You also see an enormous rift crawler, the Nindon disk, a n'ecare and an inquisitive mottled white imp.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, west
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +376 vs DS: +423 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +15 = -3
A clean miss.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>An enormous rift crawler charges at you!
AS: +469 vs DS: +414 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +94 = +178
... and hits for 15 points of damage!
Cut over your left eye.
A dark shadowy tendril rises up from your skin, writhes its way towards an enormous rift crawler and lashes out malevolently...
CS: +532 - TD: +441 + CvA: +25 + d100: +89 == +205
Warding failed!
An enormous rift crawler contorts in excruciating agony!
>
Tha-thump.

>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A n'ecare pads in silently!
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +376 vs DS: +414 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +8 = -1
A clean miss.
>group openstandYour group status is already open.
>You are still stunned.
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +388 vs DS: +408 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +93 = +102
... and hits for 1 point of damage!
Blow glances off your shoulder.
A dark shadowy tendril rises up from your skin, writhes its way up a long blackened jeddart-axe towards a n'ecare and lashes out malevolently...
CS: +532 - TD: +345 + CvA: -6 + d100: +33 == +214
Warding failed!
A n'ecare contorts in excruciating agony!
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +376 vs DS: +423 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +27 = +9
A clean miss.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>
Mmm-Mmmph.

>An enormous rift crawler charges at you!
AS: +449 vs DS: +408 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +35 = +105
... and hits for 1 point of damage!
Weak strike to your eye makes it bloodshot.
A dark shadowy tendril rises up from your skin, writhes its way towards an enormous rift crawler and lashes out malevolently...
CS: +532 - TD: +441 + CvA: +25 + d100: +98 == +214
Warding failed!
An enormous rift crawler contorts in excruciating agony!
As the rift crawler dies, the beast's massive body curls in on itself, convulses once, and stills.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +376 vs DS: +417 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +90 = +78
A clean miss.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>Your veins pulsate slightly as your bloodstream responds to an infusion of new blood from an enormous rift crawler.
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +378 vs DS: +418 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +68 = +57
A clean miss.
>l[The Rift]
The corridor is narrow, difficult for anyone taller than the average human to make their way through. Very little light filters in to illuminate your path. Your feet splash with each footstep, and the floor is slick, made not of stone or soil, or anything else you have likely encountered before. A low pulsing sound fills your ears, rhythmic and oddly familiar. You also see a n'ecare, an enormous rift crawler that appears dead, the Nindon disk, a n'ecare and an inquisitive mottled white imp.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, west
>
Tha-thump.

>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +376 vs DS: +418 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +86 = +73
A clean miss.
>You feel less drained.
>A n'ecare swings a long blackened jeddart-axe at you!
AS: +378 vs DS: +428 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +75 = +54
A clean miss.
>sign healingYou shudder as your life force is torn and reshaped!
You feel drained!
>group openstandYour group status is already open.
>You stand back up.
>w[The Rift]
Slime and liquid drip from the close walls of the circular tunnel. Your footing is precarious, as a rivulet runs through the area. Low, regular thudding fills your ears, and a smell not unlike a slaughterhouse drifts in on a breeze. You also see a vaespilon and a lost soul.
Obvious paths: north, east, southeast, southwest
>A vaespilon draws an ancient sigil in the air.
>A n'ecare pads in silently!
>Your disk arrives, following you dutifully.
>sw[The Rift]
Blood pours in from the corridor to the northeast. Unlike the blood you are used to seeing, this blood is blue, the color of suffocation and death. Indeed suffocation is a good metaphor, for the walls close in on you in regular constrictions, only to move back out and repeat the process. The azure slime is forced southward, turning a deep violet as it moves. You also see a lost soul.
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast, west

[Malok]

I'm speaking purely from a Gemstone 3 perspective of experience regarding the following remarks (some things may have changed with the release of Gemstone 4):

As Darcthundar posted, its hard to make up hitpoints in the end.

Here's a shot of me in the Rift (back when it was actually dangerous before it became easy mode):
Vvrael witch releases a flash of anti-mana at you!
CS: +521 - TD: +478 + CvA: +12 + d100: +99 - -5 == +159
Warding failed!
A Vvrael witch blasts you for 190 points of damage.
... 40 points of damage!
Strike to left arm shatters elbow and severs forearm!
You are stunned for 8 rounds!
>You are still stunned.
>A Vvrael witch exudes sickly black tendrils of anti-mana.
>heal
You have a completely severed left arm.

Bleeding:
Area Health per Round
----------------------------------
Left arm 2

Maximum Health Points: 235
Remaining Health Points: 5
You are feeling faint.

Maximum Spirit Points: 10
Remaining Spirit Points: 10

>A Vvrael witch swings a razor-sharp green-black scimitar at you!
AS: +532 vs DS: +463 with AvD: +28 + d100 roll: +10 = +107
... and hits for 2 points of damage!
A nice bruise on your neck!

I managed to live through a 230 hitpoint shot (190 + 40), and then took another 2 point shot and lived. My friend unstunned me, and I kept on hunting. If I had been any other race, I would have been toast.



Also, Giants are the ONLY race to have a TD bonus against spirit based spells, along with good spirit regeneration.

And if you like money/treasure boxes, etc: giants are great for hauling in loot.

Only other race that I would have considered as an alternative was dwarf: 55 less hitpoints than giants but they do offer excellent spirit regen, and carrying capacity. Plus they have an attractive +30 TD for elemental spells.

In the end, 55 hitpoints was too much for me to give up. But they definitely are a great choice.

[Gibreficul]

You didn't even mention halflings. Nobody ever mentions us. :)

We have better spirit regen than dwarves, better ETD racial bonus than dwarves and better bolt AS than elves.

The two main issues with halflings are CS and encumbrance.

Um... nobody mentioned halflings because they're stupid. Dwarves and halflings have THE SAME spirit regen, (along with forest gnomes.)

Relative to the dwarf, a halfling has +10 ETD, +15 SorcTD, and +20 Spirit TD according to Krakiipedia. From my experience, spell defense isn't a sorcerer's main concern.

The one thing I'll give a halfling a 1-up on is maneuver defense, which they have a pretty hefty bonus to. Pick up a box and see how fast that encumbrance neutralizes that though.



Here are the races listed in order of max CS from best to worst. For each group, I show in parenthesis at the end of the line the difference between that group and the one above it.

(1) Dark Elf
(2) Burghal Gnome, Sylvankind, Elf, Forest Gnome (5)
(3) Aelotoi, Half Elf, Erithian, Human (3)
(4) Halfling, Half Krolvin, Giant (2)
(5) Dwarf (3)

The CS difference between dark elf and halfling is 10. That's huge. Even so, with my modest collection of enhancives (enough for 12 points of sorcerer CS) and a quartz orb (another 10 points), my CS is just fine in the highest level areas.

13 TD at cap relative to the best to the worst isn't going to make or break any CS caster... It's a luxury that will let you skimp some spell ranks for more tertiary skills earlier on. I struggled a little mid-game, but I managed to grind through it as a dwarf, and was happy I did.


When it comes to encumbrance, a halfling sorcerer is probably going to concentrate on demonology instead of necromancy. Toss the fluff. Get light and large containers. Max out your strength stat. Save up black crystals and disk scrolls. Use the strength spell. And phase those boxes!

On the issue of health, I'll just say that a sorcerer can do a lot with prophylactic casts of bloodburst on critters that are unable to tend themselves. Thanks to that tactic, I got out of this alive:

So, you say concentrate on demon lore and not necro lore, but you advocate using an ability that requires necro lore. Wow... just wow.

I'm not trolling, Nindon usually has good info to share and I usually agree with it. I'm just trying to bring light to the initial question, lay facts on the table, and let the person make an informed decision.

If I keep typing, it's going to be useless babbling. I love my dwarf sorcerer, it's by far my favorite character I've ever had. That's saying a lot.

[Allereli]

I think I recall capped people die more from hp loss then from crits, so to me hp would be one of the most important factors.

If I am wrong I am sure someone will tactfully tell me otherwise

For me it depends on the hunt. Bandits cheat maneuver and groin kick/hamstring/nick me to death, crawlers mostly crit, unless I'm swallowed.