Metastrategy

A metastrategy is a strategy aimed not at increasing the odds of survival of one particular character but on being able to put one of a set of characters in a position of strength for the balance of the game. Specific metastrategies which are commonly favoured by new players are start scumming (repeatedly quitting and restarting until you get the starting equipment or stats you want) and drinking from every fountain until they either die or receive a wish from a grateful water demon. These are generally frowned upon by experienced players, who feel that novices who play in this way are not developing the important skill of keeping a marginally viable character alive.

Metastrategies which are favoured by some experienced players are the protection racket (reaching Minetown with as low an experience level as possible so as to be able to buy protection cheaply) and digging for victory (digging down so as to reach the Castle and its wand of wishing as quickly as possible). What these strategies have in common is that they kill off a large number of characters but put those that survive at a tremendous early game advantage.

As many strong players suggest every game is ascendable, metastrategies are looked down upon as sacrificing viable characters for a one-time benefit to a specific character.

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