Fio
This is going to be an odd guide, more focused on making your character than actually playing the game. I don't like to reveal strats on tough bosses or anything, my biggest tip for that would be… try it out. You might die 10 times to get the kill, but you'll learn and next time you will die 5 times, and so on until you get good. If you are going out of your comfort zone and starting to try harder content/bosses, I highly recommend carrying a backup weapon on you if you rely on weapons for damage. I see people die and drop their weapon and need rescueing pretty often… carry a backup, it's going to happen.
Let's start with creating your class - here's a few things to keep in mind before you start on EA…
You only get 152 build points total - how you spend them matters, that being said what you start with for skills also matters.
In general you want a few specific skills in order to be a functional character and not be gimped at higher levels or having to reroll because of a bad mistake in building your skillset.
Wizards - If you are going all intel, or mostly intel you want to GM all magic… don't waste points on anything else, whatever you have left is best spent on Shield Usage, or Acrobatics.
All other chars here are some skills to aim for…
GM whatever Weapon you are going to use (I recommend 2h/axe/thrower/dagger/longsword for your options)
GM Thaum (specifically for invuln, but also a nice boost to power in your heals)
Expert Acro (so you can move across the screen in 1 turn)
Expert Sorcery (see invis/invis/shift/extension/teleport)
Familiar Med (will help you with mana regen, if you are going GM thaum over GM theurgism, go Expert Med)
Expert Necro (curses increase your damage output big time, which helps fights end quicker, which helps you stay alive)
GM Critical Strike (chance to crit/crit damage goes up with every level, get this as high as you can if you rely on weapon as your main source of damage)
GM Theurgism (I say if you aren't getting thaum, get Theurgism so your potions/orbs etc work better, also Fireball/Lightning wands are great damage)
As I mentioned before your starting skills, and build points spent, matter a LOT. Class strength goes in this order
Wiz > Adv > Thief > A Ratling NPC > A Mouse NPC > Warriors
You are probably thinking but Spicy, I wanna hit hard, I NEED to make a Warrior. Unfortunately Warrior's start with lvl 2 of every weapon skill, and not much else that's gonna help you, so you waste a lot of build points leveling up on stuff you need.
A good alignment wizard starts with lvl 2 Thaum, Lvl 1 Med, Lvl 1 Sorc, Lvl 1 Acro and even Lvl 1 Theurgism. Now i'm not saying an all str wiz is gonna be the best tank, but he will sure be more useful at lvl 150.
Adv's take the #2 spot, and are THE BEST choice if you are making any hitter, not only do you get combat stance, but you get lvl 1 crit, and lvl 1 acro to start, as well as lvl 2 longsword/shield if you're going sword and board, and lvl 1 sorc.
Thief's take the #3 spot because they start off with throwing/dagger, as well as lvl 2 crit and acro.
and Warriors, like I said, pending some change in how starting skills are distributed… don't do it.
Stats…
This server is completely gear based, endurance doesn't matter as much because over 150 levels, 10 more endurance is only 1500hp different but a significantly weaker character because you are lacking in your dmg attribute (s/d/int). Elfs are the race of choice based on this, but really as a general rule, just don't put points into end and you wont suck too badly. All Int if you're gonna cast, All Str if you wanna hit, or All Dex if you wanna use a dagger/thrower.. all good choices. Mix it up if you want, it's your character in the end.
General Gameplay Tips
Aim lower with mobs when leveling, it's better to get 400-500xp quick, than it is to get 900xp and have to sit and wait for mana/use half an orb of healing after. Also you increase your chance for drops with more kills, and decrease your chances of dying. All around a win win situation to just stick to mobs your level or a couple levels lower when leveling. Unless you're a beast and can powerhouse through a group of 10 warriors, then just do that.
Make a buff wiz… just an all intel wiz on a second account that can buff/invuln your hitter before he goes hunting is a big help, better yet… just make a wiz main.
To start leveling, go to Ratling Run (right from the EL Teleport), and as you get higher level work your way around leinster counter clockwise to North Havenwood, then West Havenwood, then South Havenwood, that should get you around level 25 without too much risk.
Hunt in areas where enemies heal you up, the Havenwoods have faerys/Guardians, Bloodwoods have Seraphs, and West FoD has Wardens, they can help if you are struggling with funds to buy potions, and have no orbs left.
If you guard round 1 vs Snakes, you will get a full round of attacks off as a hitter without getting hit.
Shift is a lifesaver, even for a hitter. All chars need to have level 3 sorc. Say you are fighting a King Kilrog, and you shift as a hitter. He attacks you then runs out of moves chasing you, then you run in and finish off your attacks. Very good strat if you are planning on going a level 5 acro and crit char.
General Server Suggestions
Level 1 weapons, and ALL of their high level counterparts (sucks leveling with a maul only to find out your best weapon is an EA or a Wrath only. Hitters get the shaft having to not only be max level, but down Fufu or Tulor and be extremely lucky to get their best weapon, whereas a wiz doesn't need one (but should have a mageblade <3), and a dex based char can go get their best weapon in Fenris Caves or Thieve's Hole. We'd need more high level bosses for that which brings me to my next suggestion…
More high level content, everyone farming the 2 weapon dropping bosses isn't great. Would be nice to have swamp area, and some tougher content to fight than KK's/Tulors maybe dragon pit or something like that.
Super rare functional items, glow helms with stats, glowie boots with stats.
More PvP areas… it should be just open pvp, it is Elphame's Arena after all, and a challenge server. Obviously town, and RR/Havenwood safe zones, but after level 25 you should be ready to have to fight other players on the server. It's part of the fun of it. That being said, penalties would need to be like gold insurance drop, item if you can't cover it for that. Dropping a chanted fin item to a player is enough to make someone rage quit.
2 person groups. Solo is a challenge but it is very very boring. Season 2 might be designed more around being solo, but in the future 2 person max on a group is perfect.
