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___________________________________________________________________________general
tips
CHARACTERS
Pick a character that youÆll
enjoy playing. Each character type has abilities that lend
themselves to group play, but some people, like Fighter classes,
should be able to hold their own from time to time. Of course,
some characters will be weak by themselves, but these ôweakerö
characters can be a lot of fun when used properly in a group
setting. HereÆs a basic, bare-bones party to illustrate the
group dynamic:
Archer: These are the guys who attack from a distance with
ranged weapons. Their job is to lure the enemy in close so that
the melee Fighters can close in for the kill.
Fighter:
They wear the cool armor and sport all the great weapons. In
combat situations, itÆs their job to run in and engage the enemy
up-close so that opponents canÆt attack the weaker members of
the party.
Healer:
Physically weak characters, Healers are extremely important
to have in your group because there are no healing potions in DAoC
ù i.e., no other ways to regain health in a hurry. A
HealerÆs primary job is to sit back away from the fight so that
he can cast healing spells on the Fighters up front.
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Mage:
The magic users. While Mages tend to be physically weak, as
long as the Fighters (or ôTanks,ö as theyÆre often
called) keep the enemy at bay, Mages will be able to cast
powerful, long-ranged magic attacks that do every bit as
much damage ù if not more ù as the Fighters up front. |
| < A
textbook example of teamwork in action. The ôTanksö are
in front, while the ranged attackers and Healers remain on
the sidelines, where theyÆre less likely to take damage. |
HELPFUL
HINTS
Colors
play a huge role in DAoC. The color chart that applies to
enemy strength also applies to weapons and armor. So, no matter
what level you are, look for yellow weapons and armor, and
continue to use them when they turn blue. Then, once they turn
green, get rid of Æem and look for some more yellow gear!
Remember,
all of the characters can be valuable to a group of adventurers
if theyÆre played properly. The Minstrel in Albion is an
example of someone you might scoff at initially and not want to
play as. Not so fast! This character can increase the speed of the
entire party and can help Mages and clerics by regenerating their
power. He also has a ôgroup healö spell, and is even okay in
melee combat situations as long as heÆs got some backup.
Right
from the very start of the game, try to concentrate on one type of
attack and stick with it. For example, a Fighter can opt to
inflict slashing, crushing, or thrusting damage. If you pick more
than one attack, your character wonÆt be nearly as powerful as
he would be if youÆd stuck with only one.
You
and I know that it isnÆt nice to dance on someoneÆs
grave after youÆve killed them in a Player-vs.-Player
confrontation, but other people donÆt seem to have any
problem with it at all! >
Go
out and start killing beasties right off the bat: itÆs fairly
easy at first and youÆll gain levels quickly. Get your first few
levels out of the way before you go on any quests, giving you time
to get a handle on the controls. Remember, only go after blue and
green monsters, and stay close to your starting base.
Since
there are no penalties for dying during your first five levels of
character progression, go crazy and test the extent of your
abilities right at the start of the game.
Always
use your compass and the included printed map ù they really
help! Press Shift + C to pull up the compass.
 Start
joining groups at around level 6 or 7 ù after youÆve got a
good grasp of the game and have decided you like the character
youÆre playing.
Use
the in-game group-finder utility. You donÆt need to have any
friends in the game for people to want to play with you if
youÆre a character type theyÆre interested in.
< Once you start getting into Realm-vs.-Realm combat, expect to see
large crowds of anxious adventurers ready for blood!
Always
play your character correctly. DonÆt try to use magic as a
Fighter ù youÆll die very fast and so will your teammates who
are depending on you.
Experienced
players will expect you to know how to handle monster aggression.
What is ômonster aggressionö? Put simply, the player that
pisses off a monster the most is the one itÆs going to attack
ù and that focus can shift a lot during the course of a battle,
so pay attention and always know your role. For example, if a
monster turns away from your Fighters and goes after a Healer, the
Healer should not attack the monster and risk upsetting it more.
Instead, he should be able to trust his melee Fighters and Archers
to do their jobs and pull the enemy away. Knowing your role and
managing monster aggression will make you very desirable as a
group player.
Here
are some common acronyms youÆre likely to see people using in DAoC:
-
INC
ù Incoming monster. Be prepared!
-
ADD
ù If, during a battle, a new monster joins the fray, ôADDö
alerts everyone in your party to the new presence.
-
OOM
ù Said by Mages and clerics, ôOOMö lets the group know that
they are ôOut Of Mannaö (power). ThereÆll be no more spells
or heals until these characters recharge, so be careful!
-
LFG
ù
Looking For Group. For example, ôlvl 20 LFGö ù i.e.,
ôIÆm a level 20 player looking for a group.ö
-
WTS
ù Used in towns as a broadcast message when a player ôWant(s)
To Sellö something. For example, ôWTS short sword."
-
WTB
ù
Used in towns as a broadcast message when a player ôWant(s) To
Buyö something. For example, ôWTB short sword.ö
-
WTT
ù Used in towns as a broadcast message when a player ôWant(s)
To Tradeö something. For example, ôWTT short sword for axe.ö
All
three realms have horse routes that allow you to move from place
to place very quickly. Five silver buys a ticket for a one-way
trip to a specified destination.
The
world is fairly small, so things are closer than they appear.
Never be afraid to go somewhere ôfar awayö because it probably
isnÆt as distant as you think.
ItÆs
all fun and games until level 5, at which point you need to pick
your career path. For example, an Elementalist can become a Wizard
(physically weak but has a lot of magic power) or a
Theurgist (creates small earth- and air-based ôpetsö and
ôservantsö that attack the enemy). A Fighter can become a
Paladin, Armsman, or Mercenary, each with unique characteristics.
And a Rogue can become an Infiltrator (an assassin), a Minstrel,
or a Scout (good with a bow and at scouting without being seen).
Level 5 is make-or-break time for your character, so donÆt leap
into a career without any thought!
At
level 5, once youÆve picked your career path, youÆre presented
with a series of specialization paths to pick from. You can flub a
few points and still be okay, but try to focus once you know what
sort of character you want to be.
Trade
crafting is a great way to make money, and everyone can learn
trade skills to a varying degree. Once you have around 50 silver,
go to the major city in your realm (Camelot in Albion, Tir na Nog
in Hybernia, Jordheim in Midgard), since it will have all the
resources you need. Find the master of the trade you want to
follow (weapon crafting, armor crafting, tailoring, and so on) and
follow his instructions. YouÆll get better at a skill by using
it, so use it! Focus and specialize ù donÆt spread your skills
too thin.
HereÆs
some Realm-vs.-Realm combat in actionà Ohh, bloody! >
Player-made
weapons are almost always better than anything sold by NPCs. If
youÆre looking to buy something, donÆt be afraid ù just go
into town and ask people what theyÆve got!
You
lose constitution when you die in player-vs.-monster combat
(assuming you havenÆt been resurrected by another player), and
the more you die during a level, the more constitution you lose.
To get it back, you must pay an NPC Healer (usually found in
towns) to heal you. DonÆt forget to do this! Unlike health,
constitution will not replenish on its own.
When you finally have a buff enough character
and/or party to try realm-vs.-realm combat, the only penalty for
death at the hands of another human player is temporary
resurrection sickness, so go out there and kick some butt!
__________________________________________________________________________________links
HELPFUL
DAOC WEBSITES
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