[Balanor]

I have added the following to Tips and Tricks but wanted to make sure it is brought to everyone's attention. Moving forward, use of preventative potions/scrolls/wands is going to be very important and useful.

-Potions, just as bandages, can mean all the difference in a life-or-death struggle. While everyone is likely aware of the potions used to cure aliments, many people overlook the potions used to *prevent* ailments, negative effects, or even death!
Therefore, the following is a list of important preventative potions, and example situations for which they can be vitally important:
1. Elixir of Life - Use before battling undead or other creatures that can cast death magic or have death-causing abilities
2. Potion of Unfettered Progress - Use before battling spiders or spellcasters that have the ability to paralyze or hold an opponent in place
3. Potion of Spirit Shielding (Lesser, Normal, Greater) - Use before battling virtually any type of undead or other creature that has ability or level draining capabilities
4. Elixirs of Vileness and Goodness - Very cheap potions that can be used before battling good or evil creatures who have either abilities or spells which can cause undesired effects on your mind
5. Elixir of Clarity - A short-lived but relatively inexpensive potion used for protection against mind-affecting spells and abilities. Especially useful against enemy spellcasters
6. Potion of Unbending Will - A powerful potion used to protect the individual drinking it, and all nearby allies, against mind-affecting spells and abilities. Especially useful when in groups against more powerful enemy spellcasters

[dremora]

Some advice for those adventuring for whatever reason or about to enter a combat situation with randomely spawned NPCs. Unlike some other servers where AI is kinda lame and spawns are pre-set and often only vary in what level of spawns and classes appear for what players that trigger them, Thay is a different beast. Creatures spawn with very little homogeny, they can wield all sorts of weapons that may have hidden, nasty surprises. They may even have more attacks per round than they should, be immune to things they normally would'nt and in some cases you may find some real nasty things appearing when before they didnt. Its randomized and makes combat much more uncertain. I personally greatly appreciate this and it served me right when Sirien got knocked down and out for the count by a couple of goblins that had daze on hit weapons and immune to sneaks while I was more of a noob to this (he recovers alot.. tough ass elf).

My point: Do not go into an area thinking the grind will be systematic and clockwork. Be prepared for a nasty shock if you get cocky .. and enjoy the fact that its a small step closer to reality where looks do not always corrospond with capability.

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Oh one more tip, read Thayan's signatures.. you might learn something *evil grin*