A new players observations and goal log

[Dolgan]

Many thanks for the suggestions everyone. As a new player I really do appreciate it, thank you.

For my first character I am going to go with duel wield, but I have still not decided whether to go with daggers or swords yet. Still got to cash in my weapon proficiency. I am still looking at everyone's builds and characters in their signature for ideas and suggestions. Thanks ctnbeh 13 for tip about Nyktos and Pyrizzle, I will be doing searches on their posts over the course of this week.

Thanks for all the suggestions, Firenaq. I did look at the Sturdy Leather Cuirass, but decided against it due to the 1 AP attack cost when wearing it. It is why I liked the armour from the Zortak Leader, as it is close to the Cuirass in stats but no penalties. Having taken 2 levels in Increased Fortitude, I do not plan to take any level ups in hit points. I like my attack chance right now, so going to be splitting my level ups between damage and block for the next 10 or so levels. As for skills, my next one (in one levels time) will be put on Combat Speed 2. Having not gone down the cleave route (yet), I will have free skills for lvl 36 and 40 (going to save 44 for Specialization: Duel Wield at lvl 45).

Just want to also update my stats and equipment, as a few changes since my post on Saturday.

Level 31

Gold : 24k

HP: 76 AC: 252% AD 23-28 DR: 2 BC 48%
CHS:55 EFC: 28% CM 3.0
MC: 1 CS: 1 IF: 2 Reg: 1 Duel: 2

Gear :-

Head: Hard steel skullcap (I have not got around to changing this yet)
Armour: Serpent's Hauberk
Neck: Jewel of Fallhaven
Weapon: Dagger of the Shadow Priests
Off-Hand: Blanced Steel Sword
Rings: 2x Polished ring of backstabbing
Gloves: Troublemaker's Gloves
Boots: Vacor's boots of attack


As you can tell from my armour, I have travelled back into the green maze, after getting the dagger I use currently, and was successful in killing the Zortak Leader. With help from the dagger, and 50% more hitpoints than last time, it went surprisingly well. I also acquired 2 Oegth Crystals from the maze as well. I am currently still in the maze, having just reached the first Hirathil Cave. I am going to switch the dagger out for the Flagstone sword, given they are immune to criticals and see how it goes.

Besides that, I have been camping out at gargoyles over the weekend, but no joy as yet for a ring (just over 2k killed and I suspect many, many more to go).

Current goals will be trying to find Lodar (I suspect I will struggle getting past the Hirathil's), go to Blackwater, levelling at Gargoyles again and then around lvl 40 look to travel to Remgard.

[fiernaq]

Whups, I did miss the 1AP cost on the Sturdy Leather Cuirass so you're right, even the Lightweight Chainmail is better and the Serpent's Hauberk is a definite upgrade.

I do find your path interesting. The Green Maze is generally considered at least as difficult if not more difficult for many builds than getting to Remgard and Blackwater is usually done between levels 20-30, long before either Remgard or the Green Maze. Glad to see you're having fun though. With the amount of work you've put into learning the game you're quickly surpassing a lot of the advice we generally give to newbies and I'm sure you can figure out most of the rest of it with just the occasional question for confirmation.

You may want to check out the Curved Dagger that Dunla sells in the Vilegard Tavern (there's a quest series you have to complete to unlock vendors there) at least until you can get to the end of the Charwood mine and get yourself the Blade of the Defiler from Thukuzun

[Dolgan]

I guess I wanted that Serpent's Hauberk really bad, it is why I went for the dagger of Shadow Priest's, for the crit chance and extra damage. It really did come in handy. As for now in the maze.....ghosts....hate them.....

I did use a curved dagger early on, but having not taken any weapon proficiency style yet, a balanced Steel Sword is working better for me for the extra AC. The Blade of the Defiler is one I will be looking to get for sure for my off hand. Going to wait another lvl, then I will get my second Combat Speed skill and another attack. In the meantime, back to ghosts (may have to give up on them soon though, I am just not dealing damage quickly enough to them).

[fiernaq]

Heh, go back to the Iquan caves and level up there. Much easier than the Hirathil and nearly as much XP given. Or start on Charwood if your char can handle it yet. The flame mobs near the end of the mine give a ton of XP plus that's where you get the Blade of the Defiler.

[Dolgan]

Been back to Gargoyles today so far, still no joy, but I will get a ring or two one day.

I have done Destined for Great Things a few levels ago from the Charwood quests. I will be looking at doing the other two quests over the course of this week and also acquire that blade.

Thank you Fiernaq

[Duke]

I guess I wanted that Serpent's Hauberk really bad, it is why I went for the dagger of Shadow Priest's, for the crit chance and extra damage. It really did come in handy. As for now in the maze.....ghosts....hate them.....

good call, that armor rocks and is not too difficult to get.

[Dolgan]

Trial by fire now done and Blade of the Defiler acquired. It will be very useful camping out at Gargoyles and doing the easier monsters.

I cannot start the last Charwood quest (Long Lost Memories), which I think will be the easier of the three because I errr... still haven't done the Blackwater Quest(s), so Lleglaris will not give me it yet, lol. Guess I had better get myself down to Blackwater next then.

Some of the quest reward experience does seem a bit strange. Some of the easier quests to do give more exp than a few of the harder ones I have found so far. What I am really liking about AT currently is nothing is easy, you really do have to grind for those levels. With it taking time, it keeps you interested and hooked.

Still yet to decide what to use my weapon proficiency on. I can see daggers being useful for some time, but they will not be my end goal items. Something for me to think about, short term gain and go for dagger profiency, or use them in preparation for my end goal weapons.

[r0tt3nj4ck]

You keep saying "gargoyles" when you are talking about hunting a ring.

I assume you mean RoLS.

Gargoyles don't drop it. The ghost looking mobs do (gargoyle trainers and gargoyle masters I think are the names)

Good luck.

[Dolgan]

Aye, I meant the Gargoyle trainers and masters in the final few rooms.

Currently at Blackwater, trying to decide who to side with. The equipment is tempting me, but I am sure their leader is evil Saying that, already picked up 2 daggers from drops.

[Dolgan]

Just an update on gear and quests.

Trekked up to Remgard (love how long it takes to get there, great exp to be had) and completed all quests I could there. On the second trip up, managed to get Valugha's shimmering hat, my first big drop so to speak. Think I got very lucky, given I have only killed 12 Plaguestrider Masters to get it. Just clearing up a couple of other quests now and then camp at imps or Gargoyle trainers for a week or two, before trying for the green maze quests.

Current stats are :

Level 41

Gold : 38k

HP: 99 AC: 242% AD 33-39 DR: 5 BC 74%
CHS:50 EFC: 26% CM 3.0
MC: 1 CS: 2 IF: 3 Reg: 1 Duel: 2 AProf (Light): 1 (Free:1)

Gear :-

Head: Dark Protector
Armour: Serpent's Hauberk
Neck: Marrowtaint
Weapon: Dagger of the Shadow Priests
Off-Hand: Blanced Steel Sword
Rings: 2x Polished ring of backstabbing
Gloves: Arulir Skin Gloves
Boots: Boots of the Guardian


Gone for the boots and gloves mainly for the DR they give. I am currently using a crit build, but my final goal is to not use criticals at all. I have not taken my weapon proficiency yet for this reason. I have sacrificed a bit of critical chance to get damage reduction, but not that much and I like this gear balance currently. I will have to change it for the ghosts though, I need to work on that still.

Also using dark protector but it was a tough choice at the end of that quest. Hey, the cleric was wearing black (a sure sign of evil) and trying to corrupt me...honest!! That is my (very weak) justification anyway, lol). Oh, speaking of that quest series, for the Involuntary Carrier quest, it was annoying killing the demon and then the lich, heading back to Ulirfendor only to find I needed to take a step forward after killing the lich to get the message I needed to continue the quest. Not sure if this was deliberate or not.

I almost made a mess of being able to start the five idols quest, had to go back to a previous saved game to be able to start it. It just feels very delicate regarding how far you can go in Remgard before you pass the point of no return and not being able to do that quest.

Not sure this line should be in the spoiler, but erring on the side of caution. I have acquired all 8 Oegyth crystals and going to not spend any if I can in case a further use for them comes out.

Just loving the quests so far but soon will be grinding for a RoLS and ROL drop before heading into the green maze again. Need to get my damage up before I tackle those ghosts. Also need to sort out my skill progression going forward, as I do not have a definite clear path yet of when I take certain skills. SKills I would like to pick up eventually will be Item Find (x2), Corpse Eater (x2-3) and Quick Learner, but currently I do not need them.

I am annoyed I needed to drink that bonemeal potion (only one I have used so far). I am sure it will come back to bite me in future updates.

Like I have said before, for new players, regen is great at low levels and also save the game often between a couple of slots, in case you mess up. Finding I am not using the regen much now, due to it taking a long time to get all my HP's back. Up until lvl 25ish, it was probably the skill I replied upon the most, as I camped at Haunted House/Snakes/Flagstone for gold and used regen to fully heal me at those spots.