I've been playing Nethack for like 10 years now, on and off. I usually play Wizards since the days when he used to start out with an athame. Being accustomed to engraving, I still use the E word a lot. I've ascended with Wizard many times, Samurai few times, and Monk once. I ascended once this year.
It's a strange game, you make one stupid mistake and you die. Period. I used to cheat saving in the beginning, but I have come to accept that it really takes away from the joys of playing.
I steal with pet, occasionally polypile (not recently), and sometimes wish for things. I often raise black pudidngs for food, and once I get fireproof do the magic trap charisma thing
My most recent nethack kick was this summer/fall, when I was playing it 3 - 4 hours a day for 4 months straight. I'm better now.
If you are dying at level 6, maybe you are going down too fast. Slow down. Get organized and keep the stuff you are not likely to need in a box, and if you are really paranoid, put a boulder over it.
Keep working on getting good armors. Once you get to the shops in the gnomish mines, you are all set. You become harder to kill. Get money, buy protection from priest. I'm usually level 9 by that time. I go up and down several times by then.
Fight judiciously and run away sometimes. Speed is very good if you can get it....
Happy hacking!
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