Here is a question: why do you think I can succeed at 25 where I failed at 21? According to your own logic my approach is flawed and should lose no matter what. (By the way I have succeeded at 16 where I failed at 21 so I don't think it is just a level issue.)

Your experiences with the game are clearly not mine. Now I am not an Adom player at all and while I have played many games (roguelike and other types) over many years I haven't beaten any of the ones you mentioned. Heck I have trouble beating Civ games past the warlord level.(I can win but the scores are always subpar.) I know I lack patience for true skill in these games. I am not a powergamer. I do not enjoy powergaming.

That said I don't think TOME has to be a powergamer only type of game where only those who play flawlessly get to enjoy it. Flawlessness has a price. What I think is required is patience, which is something I lack. And knowledge which I will acquire.

And no, not "THAT" easy. Fairly easy. I chose my words with some care. It has some randomness which makes life difficult at first. (Equipment varies a lot, what is in stores, what you face in any given level. Even the Trollmire which is the starting area. The reason I don't do TM first normally (though I did at first) is because it gives terrible exp and is a slow slog for a starting character. It is a bit safer I agree but it is also boring. For me 1 death in normal is a fair trade for a faster more satisfying start.)

As for Hardcore, the style is not for me as I do not enjoy spending hours on a game only to have to start from scratch because of a momentary lapse of judgement or a twitchy finger as has happened in this very game to me. That's one reason I never tried to beat the bands. Old Tome had some mods where the danger of that was lesser. And some wacky modes like Lost Souls that were very random and potentially interesting (if doomed.)

That isn't to say I will never try hardcore or infinity mode (since I managed to unlock that today) but it is not how I enjoy playing. I never bothered with ironman in D2/LOD...or any of its mods. If I want that kind of challenge I play M:tg or Chess. For other games I prefer a slightly less frustrating approach.

I am a bit confused on one thing though. If you haven't made a successful mage yet how can you presume to give me advice on the crypt using a mage?

Was running beta 17 when I started and set up profile, then downloaded beta 18 as soon as it came out as my Alchemist got snotted by its golem from accidentally hitting it.

Not running any custom mods/classes.

Last character was a Dwarf Cursed - very impressive until lvl 20, where it was summarily killed by a plethora of drakes, hatchlings and storm drake which filled 60% of the zone with mobs. By the time everything was killed and cleared I was down to only blood left for res, had gained 2.3 levels and 500 gold.

Rereading that I see I was just a bit too snippy there. Just hate condescension even if its only in my head.

Well if you don't think you can beat The Master whatever possessed you to try the Crypt? Also 600 HP sounds too low for that level, you should maybe invest more in the Constitution stat and the Health talents.

I personally think the extra lives mode encourages bad play. Try hardcore mode and you'll hone your roguelike skills much more.

OK if I ever get another chance at it (doubtful as I now seem to be having a run of horrible characters that can't live past level 3) I will give it another shot.

Thanks both for the info. It is always fun to be defeated soundly by the UI (I don't recall seeing any messages when saying no.)

Are you sure you found all poem lines?

The first time I entered the Ruined Dungeon, I found only four poem lines, which once reordered gave a clear order for touching the orbs... and it didn't work. Once I found the fifth poem, which is not obvious to find, the right order appeared and the portal opened.

A shadowblade needs nearly all stats, but the point allocation depends on your playing style: Str/Dex for the attack chance, Dex/Cun for dagger damage and most rogue talents, Con for hit points, Mag for spells, Wil for stamina and mana.

If you want to use stealth and to heavily rely on the magic spells, then don't use the heavy armours. Just put a point in Heavy Armour Training for a full choice of helmets and boots but keep an eye on your fatigue.

If you use a melee approach, put a point in Heavy Armour Training and use the best light or heavy armour available. In the end game plate armours are probably too expensive in term of invested strength points.

Good starting armours of any type are Grounding / of Stability for the stun resistance, later all blue ego armours.

Good artifact light armours are Behemoth hide, Skin of Many, Rogue Plight and Chromatic Harness.

Even found the blood but that didn't keep me alive. Lost quite a few lives vs the house boss. I see what people were complaining about. He's not hard if you have a good tank fighter but otherwise he isn't beatable without at least 1-2 deaths. Ended up again stripped of lives and unable to continue playing without dying so I chose to try and get the tempest unlocked. Forget that... will never happen. Impossible for someone of my meager skills.

Archmage is a tough class to play though having the versatility of lots of different spells is interesting it ultimately fails due to not being powerful enough ironically. I say ironically because it seems to me that the caster monsters in the game are the hardest most vicious unfair mobs. Where as it seems the melee monsters tend to be beatable though some are quite difficult like the (X) and (P) throwers.

Again frustration sets in. Makes me want to punch someone that I spent so much time leveling the character to only have it die all at once on one thing. So, enraging and aggravating. What is the point of the extra lives if they don't help? *shrugs* This is what I hate about roguelikes in general.

Everyone does not play at the same level. (Obviously.) Those who are expert tend to expect everyone else to be. And so the games get ever harder and more frustrating for those who aren't. Even after years I am still clearly a novice with these games. Shamefully dying to things everyone else just walks over.

Bitterness sets in.

I think the problem is you have high fatique if you wear heavy armor and the benefit isn't all that great, and since your stat gains are mostly in dex, cun, and con you won't want to spare points for wil so your stamina will be running out a lot. Particularly if you run any sustained abilities. So I'd say not.

I'm slowly but surely working on a Guide of New Players along with Character Builds while also starting a Zone by Zone strategy bit for general game play and possibly for specific classes [though don't hold your breathe on the last one] and have also contributed to the Wiki. The wiki isn't all spoilers and should be check by everyone.

Give me and the other people working on these things some time - they won't be complete until T4 is complete, and as any developer will tell you, a true game is never complete.

This stuff is optional, it wouldnt make sense for you hear somebody call for rescue, wait a few months and then come to the rescue, obviously the girl is long dead by then :)
The popup should warn you that it really looks dangerous, and maybe I'll up the min level a bit

Atrophy the alch version 3 just met the crypt at level 20.

Had resists all 35-60%, saves at 38 / 52 / 29 respectively...

Encountered a cultist. Took a hit, but thought I was fine considering hitpoints still over 400.
Hit rejuve, to make certain I'd live.

I was very wrong.

It's response was 3 hits over 150 each, as well as a disease and some other affliction - single round.

This death really sucked.
All my gear seemed to add stats and resists, including saves as well.
I'd just found the Spydersilk robe (10arm/10def, 30% nat resist, 5con, -2wis,... and something else), and imbued a lvl 5 gem into it.

Next time I hear a voice crying out to be saved in the crypt, and I'm still only level 20, I think I'll just tell a patrol if I see one :p

Might give the game a break for a couple of days, else try a different difficulty setting until I can unlock the class I really want to play.