[Aerich]

I can confirm that the Wand of Trap Detection is random. You can also get a dagger, a cloak, a shield, and maybe a couple other things.


Part of the little disagreement, NobleNick, may be because I've played the last couple times on Insane - that means I hit lvl 9 with fighters sometime in Dragon's Eye or shortly thereafter - for sure in DE if I rest for a wee bit on the 3rd lvl or avoid taking out the summoner quickly on lvl 4. That means you get thief skills round about the time the traps start getting nasty. I forgot to take difficulty level into account.

I guess the point is that there are plenty of options (most quite good) when you have the capability to dual 4 different characters in a single party. Either the cleric or the thief should be dualed at lvl 9 or before; I agree about lvl 9 cleric dualing, btw, but the cleric should definitely not wait until lvl 13 to dual. The focus here was that a thief can wait to dual if you have a bard and cleric (or druid, I suppose) in the party. It isn't easy, and can be frustrating, but it can be done - in fact, I did the last two levels of Dragon's Eye and the majority of the Severed Hand without a thief - but I had massive clerical power to take the strain off.

I happen to disagree about with the statement that an extra fighter will save you as much damage as a cleric would. It's not necessarily about saving damage, it's about what you do once you've taken it. I personally find it a lot nicer to enter combat with fully healed tanks, if I can manage it. And it's not always that easy to find a safe spot to rest.

Additionally, that extra fighter isn't strictly necessary - just make sure the bard casts area of effect hindering spells (Grease, Web). You don't need the bard to contribute a Magic Missile or Acid Arrow, unless you are up against trolls or weapon-immune undead.