I'm curious to see what kind of strategies people use when playing. I know that every game can be different depending on what loot you acquire, but I find myself resolving to using the same kind of strategy every run.

My Strategy:

For me, my main strategy is based deeply around the first five levels. My main objective is to get past the Goo and ID as many item's as possible while I'm on the lower levels.

I tend to favour the warrior as he is the easiest to use. But I also like using the Mage because the wands can be quite useful (if you have the right ones) and thanks to new battlemage subclass he gained.

Depth 1

I explore the first level thoroughly until every unexplored pixel is either blocked by a barricade or surrounded by piranha. I always ID all the potions I find on the first floor before moving onto the second floor. With the enemies at a low level I don't get too worried if I set myself on fire. And if I do I am usually around water except for the rare occasion that there isn't any around the barricade I want to burn down. Unless I know 100% that it's a potion of liquid flame I will drink it in fear that I'm throwing away a strength potion.

I tend to not care much for trap rooms and romp into the traps head on (poisonous gas doesn't kill much of my HP, and if the floor is cleared than being paralyzed isn't too much of a problem) unless I've already used up all the other potions on the level and know for sure the un-ID'd potion is a levitation potion.

Depth 2

Once I get to level two, I immediately ID any scroll's I've gained. I would do so on the level before but I don't want to waste a scroll of magic mapping or mind vision. I upgrade my sword/wand immediately if I get a scroll of upgrade (which is very common to get in the first level I find). One of the main reasons I love the Warrior and the Mage so much is that I can re-purpose that upgrade for a later weapon while at the same time using it to help me immediately. I guess for a Rouge I would upgrade the ring of shadow's if I stumble upon it, but that's because I always choose the Assassin as his subclass.

Depth 3

Once I get to the third level, I only ID scrolls. Potions can become a great liability if I happen to drink a negative one with a crab around, so I only ID potions if I come across a special room that requires it (and I know it has a fairly decent chance of not killing me for being the wrong potion). The only really bad scroll is the scroll of challenge. Once I ID it I hold onto them to sell them off to the vendor on level six.

I keep going until I find scroll's of identity and I hoard them up until I find some good armour, a good weapon, or a ring to use them on. And even then if I have a known scroll of curse removal (or I see a well of healing) then I will just equip them all on. If they are cursed I can remove them afterwards and toss them away. If not, I can find out later what they are. This way I can use the scrolls of identity on potions once I'm happy with knowing (ish) what my equipment is. Gotta prep for that tricky Goo!

Depth 5

Come level five and I look around the stairs for water both on level five itself and level four above it. Often there will be water within a block of the stairs leading down to level five which is perfect to fight off that nasty acid if I'm stair jumping.

Goo

If I'm feeling confident against Goo, I will wake him and lead him away, until I'm on a water tile and he's on a normal floor tile (but ONLY if I'm confident and I have really good gear).  If not, I will use the stair-jumping technique to fight Goo.  Of course, any potions of toxic gas, or liquid flame, will be used as well!

Once I'm past Goo, it's fairly smooth sailing until I get to level 17.  The Monks and the Fire Elemental are just killer, and if I don't have ranged weapon, or something to take out the spiders easily, I'm just dead at that point.

I've been thinking lately about hoarding a potion of Strength, or a Scroll of Upgrade, until right before the boss battle too, just in case I find a well of transmutation to use them on.  The downside is that I've had scrolls burn up (;~;) and deaths happen that might have been avoided, had I used them earlier.

What are your thoughts?

Sorry for the wall of text.  :P  I'd love to hear the different kind of strategies you guys use in your games, especially for the later depths/stages!