SAngBand

Skill-based AngBand, a variant of AngBand, similar in style to OAngBand (rewritten by the author of OAngBand). However, there are no preset classes, but a set of skills which you can raise mostly independently. There are 4 types of magic, Wizardry, Necromancy, Pious, and Driudic. Each magic school has it's own oath which grants a better spellcasting stat, and increases mana at the cost of hitpoints and combat ability. There is also an Oath of Iron, for warrior-types, which grants extra str, dex, con, and increases combat ability. As of the most recent version, there is also a burgulary oath, though I don't know what it's good for. SAngBand also supports 2 weapon combat (with no shield, though).

The available skills include: Swordsmanship, Clubbing, Jousting, XBows, Bows, Slings, Throwing, Karate, Wrestling, Spellcasting, Magical Power (mana), Wizardry, Holy Alliance, Nature Lore, Blood Dominion, Magic Device, Burglary, Perception, Stealth, Disarming, Dodging, Spell Resistance, Weaponsmithing, Bowmaking, Armor Forging, Alchemy, and Magical Infusion.

The late game of SAngBand is comparatively easier in my mind, as forging allows for the creation of many good pseudo-artifacts in the midgame, and very powerful pseudo-artifacts in the late game, making it easier to win.

Druids seem to be fairly easy to win with, at least given my experience. Ignite blaze is very powerful, even at high levels, and druidic transformations helps a lot with getting speed (cheetah) or ESP (hound) early, both of which help immensely.

Just found the Glaive of Pain.  It's truly awesome in O-style combat.
                 [Sangband 0.9.9, beta 15b Character Dump]

       Momar III         Age    :             16  STR!  18/200
   the Shadowstrike      Height :     5 ft, 9 in  INT!  18/160
                         Weight :         143 lb  WIS!  18/130
Gender : Male                                     DEX!  18/160
Race   : Human                  Slayer of         CON!  18/190
                            Hoarmurath of Dir     CHR!  18/200

Max Hit Points      905  Power                93  Max Mana            0
Cur Hit Points      905  Score               153  Cur Mana            0

       (Melee)           Unspent Exp        3747         (Missile)
Blows/Round           5  Gold            1822264  Shots/Round       3.5
+ to Skill           13                           + to Skill         22
Deadliness (%)      169  Max Depth        Lev 70  Deadliness (%)    137

                          (Character Abilities)
Melee     : Superb     Saving Throw: Legendary  Magic Device: Excellent
Shooting  : Heroic     Stealth     : Excellent  Dodging     : Fair
Throwing  : Fair       Perception  : Good       Fame        : Immortal
Digging   : Excellent  Disarming   : Superb     Infra-Vision: 40 feet

   Speed       : +21
   Armour      : 152
   Kills       : 8644
   Time Elapsed: 27 days, 0 hours, 7 minutes   (2700555 turns)


  [Character Attributes]

      abcdefghijkl@        Stat Intrnl abcdefghijkl@ Adjust
Stlth:..1...23.....        STR! 18/100 .21.......2.5 18/200
Invis:.............        INT! 18/100 ..1......2.3. 18/160
Aware:.............        WIS! 18/100 ..1.....s2... 18/130
Disar:.............        DEX! 18/100 .21.........3 18/160
Devic:.............        CON! 18/100 ..1.2.2...2.2 18/190
Speed:...7....4..*.        CHR! 18/100 .61........3. 18/200

      abcdefghijkl@                           abcdefghijkl@
Infra:.4...........                     NFuel:.....+.......
Tunnl:............3                     Steal:.............
Save :.4....2......                     NoMag:.............
Mana :.............                     Telep:.............
Light:.....3.......                     Aggra:.............
                                        Drain:.............

                                        Curse:.............

      abcdefghijkl@       abcdefghijkl@       abcdefghijkl@
Acid :........+.... Light:.+.........+. Food :......+....+.
Elec :......+.+.... Dark :......+....+. Feath:.............
Fire :........+..+. Sound:...........+. Shine:.+...........
Cold :........+.... Shard:............. Regen:......+....+.
Pois :..+.......... Nexus:......++..... ESP  :.........+...
Fear :............. Nethr:......+...... SeeIn:......+......
Blind:.........+... Chaos:............. FrAct:.+...........
Confu:......+...... Disen:............. HLife:.............


  [Skills]

Swordsmanship     : 100%
Clubbing          :  38%
Jousting          :  78%
Archery - Xbows   :  51%
Archery - Bows    :  96%
Wrestling         :  88%
Magical Device    :  50%
Burglary          :  77%
Perception        :  33%
Stealth           :  36%
Disarming         :  59%
Dodging           :  31%
Spell Resistance  :  93%
Armor Forging     :  93%

You have taken the Oath of Iron.


  [Character Equipment]

the Glaive of Pain (6d7) (+5,+28) [8,+0] {BlDragPit69}
the Long Bow of Tinuri (x5) (+14,+15) (+2, +4, +6) {Marilith51}
the Ring of Barahir (+1) {Lokkak, the Ogre Chieftain}
a Steel Ring of Speed (+7) {GSW59}
the Amulet of Carlammas (+2)
the Phial of Galadriel [3] {@A1 25Bolg, son of Azog}
Mithril Chain Mail (mithril) (-1) [28,+14] (+2 to stealth)
the Cloak 'Colannon' [1,+15] (+3 to stealth) {Trolls33}
a Wicker Shield (iron) [2,+13] (+4 to speed)
the Hard Leather Cap of Thranduil [2,+10] (+2)
the Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg' (+8,+8) [1,+12] (+2) {PersonPit41}
a Pair of Dwarven Boots (mithril) [5,+13] (+10, +3)
3 Arrows of Frost (1d8) (+11,+10) {Baphomet the Minotaur Lord}
10 Arrows of Acid (1d4) (+5,+8)
3 Seeker Arrows of Hurt Animal (1d9) (+10,+10)
20 Seeker Arrows (1d9) (+1,+6) {Thuringwethil}
18 Seeker Arrows of Frost (1d9) (+8,+11)
19 Seeker Arrows of Poison (1d9) (+7,+11)
20 Seeker Arrows of Acid (1d9) (+9,+9)


  [Character Inventory]

10 Metallic Purple Potions of Healing
9 Scrolls titled "oxyerg hydta" of Teleportation
2 Iron Rods of Perception {@z7}
4 Sapphire Rods of Recall {@z0!z}
4 Zinc-plated Rods of Sense Surroundings {@z9}
an Aluminum Rod of Restoration {@z8!z}
a Steel Rod of Teleport Away {@z1}
5 Rusty Rods of Blinking {@z4}
9 Chromium Wands of Teleport Away (9 charges) {@a0!a}
a Locust Staff of Cure Medium Wounds (7 charges) {@u3}
a Sequoia Staff of Healing (7 charges)
an Ivory Staff of Speed (8 charges)
a Dragon's Claw Amulet of Sustenance (charging)
the Dagger of Rilia (2d4) (+8,+12) {AWD62}


  [Home Inventory]

17 Red Mushrooms of Restoring {Ulfang the Black}
33 Slimy Mushrooms of Heroism
17 Sprigs of Athelas {25% off}
86 Greenish Potions of Speed
8 Metallic Purple Potions of Healing
4 Tangerine Potions of *Healing* {Itangast the Fire Drake}
14 Light Green Potions of Restore Experience
5 Red Speckled Potions of Enlightenment
a Scroll titled "wergblu ab" of Questing
24 Scrolls titled "srival doeplu" of Genocide {Draebor, the Imp, 25% off
5 Scrolls titled "eep so vivdoe" of Mass Genocide
a Locust Staff of Cure Medium Wounds (17 charges)
a Scarab Amulet of the Magi [+7] (+5 to awareness) {Muar, the Balrog}
the Amulet of Ingwe (+3) {GSW69}
the Brigandine Armour of the Rohirrim (-2) [18,+15] (+2) {ABD +FA}
the Chain Mail of Arvedui (-3) [14,+15] (+2) {BlackDragonPit48}
the Full Plate Armour of Isildur [25,+25] (+2) {Solar62}
a Robe of Permanence [2,+21] {RegenBlind}
the Small Leather Shield of the Elements [3,+15] {PersonVault41}
a Dragon Helm (runegold) [8,+18] (+6, +2)
a Dragon Helm (runegold) [8,+10] (+6, +4, +1)
a Bluesteel Blade (2d11) (+8,+7)
the Pike of the Eorlingas (2d13) (+3,+21) (+2) {GSW49 +Con+Regen}
the Whip of Gothmog (3d10) (+13,+15) (-3, +2) {GWP68, cursed}


  [Special advantages and disadvantages]
(none)