How should I "build" my character?

WagesofSin · **Joined:** Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:14 am **Posts:** 6

What I mean by the title is: How should I go about training/leveling/increasing stats with my characters?

In many other MUDS, it's best to max WIS, INT, and CON right away. Should I go about doing the same here? If not, what is the best order in which to raise your stats? Do characters have enough attribute points to max out at their final rank?

What about training your skills/spells? Do you train faster if you are a higher level and the skill you want to train is at a lower level? When should I focus on training skills/spells? Should I try to level up as fast as I can at first and then worry about training? Is it worth training skills/spells that are a higher level then myself?

Also, how about gear/weapons? Is there a "standard set" that every newbie should know about? How reliable/good is the store bought stuff and should it be replaced ASAP?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm kinda clueless...

Thanks for the help.

ilkaisha · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:16 pm

All of this, un/fortunately (depending on how you look at it) depends on the type of character you want. Pretty much every single answer to the questions you've posed will be determined by what you've chosen to make.

Alignment, race, class, starting kingdom, and the style in which you intend to play all come into effect.

Will you give us a bit more to work with, please?

WagesofSin · **Joined:** Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:14 am **Posts:** 6

Alright.

Human, Principled, Priest, Zhenshi

-and-

Giant, Anarchist, Barbarian, Zhenshi

Forsooth · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2003 9:55 pm **Posts:** 1365

Unlike other ROM MUDs, you don't have to rush to train your INT, WIS, or CON. You get just as many benefits if you train them later, as if you train them at low level.

You will have to pick and choose attributes. You can't max all your stats, let alone also max hp/mana/art which are sometimes more valuable.

Being of higher level than a skill decreases the experience cost of learning it. Experience and money are the only costs of such training. Combat XP is based on damage done, with a bonus for spell use and grouping. So do learn skills/spells (of your own level) that will increase your ability to kill efficiently. Learning skills/spells beyond your level is normally a bad idea.

Storebought stuff in Zhenshi is generally good. Indeed, you may not be able to keep some items too long, because you're not high-level enough to protect them from NPC thieves. So don't buy a 5 platinum item at Amateur.

For a priest, I'd start with training intelligence, so you can hold more spells at once. (We have a concentration scheme here.) A giant barbarian's prime stat would be strength.

But for the best advice as well as the best training, seek a mentor. "Help mentor" is definitely worth reading.

ilkaisha · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:05 pm

Yep, i tried to edit this and I hit reply instead. The complete edited response is located below. Sorry!

ilkaisha · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:08 pm

ilkaisha wrote:

WagesofSin wrote:

Alright.

Human, Principled, Priest, Zhenshi

Okay, I know nothing of barbarians, but I'll tackle the priest.

I'm going off of my "I want to be a healer" priest prototype, you'll have to tweak if you want to be a "I'm a crusader, fear me" priest.

Start with WIS and INT. You get an attribute point every even level . . . so 25 from the beginning of your training to the end. You won't be able to max them all. CHA and CON shouldn't be ignored, but DEX and STR are pretty easy to augment with items if you find yours to be rather low. Human's always a very nice newb-friendly race, as the strongest attribute works with your choice of class, rather than your race.

It is almost NEVER worth it to learn a spell before you are supposed to. I did with resurrection, but that was sort of a dire situation. I concur with Forsooth about training skills/spells, but at the same time realize that it will be hard to "wait" to train some of them until you're higher than they are to use/cast. I personally learn as I go along. It's a lot harder to level without the skills.

EQ . . . especially as a priest . . . is pretty much a non-issue. You will be able to enchant everything you own, and make it elite. For a low-level character, it's better just to find things that are going to protect you and not worry about the enchants/quality/etc. If you're going up against mithril weapons, grab a steel breastplate. (I don't know what armor class the priest in question is, but I'm just making an example) . . . Also, use magical vestment. Just do it. It's probably the most underused spell in the spellset, but it's good!

You're going to want to use combat pretty heavily in the form of "with a pole mace, behind a pet" until you get some of your J-man spells. You also probably won't have to worry about leaving Zhenshi until about that time, also.

Anything else I can try to help with?

WagesofSin · **Joined:** Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:14 am **Posts:** 6

Thanks for the replies so far.

You say I should stay in Zhenshi 'till J-man? Well, where do I hunt after the newbie area?

Pushing40 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:26 pm

With my barbs, I've generally trained essential combat skills a level or two before they're in my "range". Things like second attack (if non-griffon) and wild fighting (if griffon) help speed things up. Of course, the comparably higher exp cost per train gets a bit tough when you train 21 times just to get barely into the "very good" range. Other skills can wait till later.

On my priests, I generally forget about CON altogether, provided my priest has a minimum of healthy con. High int and wis are much more important. Getting gear for your priest as an ultra-low level char is relatively easy since you really don't need to worry too much about enchants on it. Stick to the leather in the nearby shops or find some brass or silver stuff. Stay away from the heavy armor like steel until you have a patron god. HELP ARMOR2 comes in handy here.

Pushing40 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:28 pm

WagesofSin wrote:

Thanks for the replies so far.

You say I should stay in Zhenshi 'till J-man? Well, where do I hunt after the newbie area?

Nerina's pretty centrally located so virtually everyone goes there to relax from time to time. Go to the inn and hang out for a while, certainly there'll be someone who happens along and you can ask that question ICly there.

ilkaisha · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:35 pm

You know, you're right about CON. I guess you don't need to dump any points into it unless you're planning on playing Public Enemy #1 . . . :lol:

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How should I "build" my character?

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