At 04:00 PM 2/8/00 -0500, you wrote:

>
>Under 9? thats impressive... what backpacks/boxes do you use... if any?
>
>I generally am at 14 or so... of course I carry an Sewn Evil Eye Pack
>(3wt) and a few Large bags which are 1 wt each
>
>I know its very un-monk of me but I have never abided by the 14 stone
>rule. By this I mean that many monks will never loot past 14 stones but
>I think thats stupid and you will never make money. Sure your losing AC
>and can potentially die faster but its a risk you take to actually make
>some money in the game. I am currently fighting in High Keep which
>rules because its a short job upstairs to the bank =)
>
>Anyone, personally I would never take 2ac for and additional 2.4 wt...
>one thing that is important for monks is ac/wt ration, not ac in itself
>
>Cured Silk Shoulders: 3ac 0.1wt 30ac/wt
>Lizardscale Mantle: 5ac 2.5wt 2ac/wt
>
>In that respect it is much more favorable to take the shoulders
>
>Its all a matter of preference though
>

Well, aside from occasionally carrying a large sewing kit (1.0 WT). I do not
carry any bags. I also only loot gem stones, words and runes or other low
weight items. Lately, I have been adventuring in Unrest, so all of my fine
steel goes to my allies, and I try to horn in on the occasional piece of
amber,
pearl or topaz. They have similar sell back rates to merchants, so it does not
affect the kind of income you bring in. Weight to AC ratio has never been a
qualifying factor for me. If we have learned anything these past few weeks, it
is that physical attributes have little affect on melee classes, while AC
keeps
us all alive. The higher AC I can fit on me and still remain under 14 stones,
the better. But, as you say, it is personal preference.

In Quellious's Name,

Manjushri Bodhisattva
Bearer of the Red Sash of the Ashen Order
(Fennin Ro)