DEEKIN'S PIT REVISITED

Advice

Under level four you don't need to worry about the challenges you tackle because you will respawn without penalty, but dying often when you are just getting started can be frustrating. So I've put together this advice to help. You can also find some of this advice in game on the shelf in the Glorious Tent.

Starter Dungeons

Deekin's Pit

Deekin's Pit is not so much a starter dungeon as a connector to other places. Some encounters happen here, but generally this is a place for beginners to safely explore. Two dungeon entrances are obvious. The others require a search. The obvious ones are more appropriate for a beginner, but everything off of this area has something for a low level character.

Cave - Behind the Waterfall

For players new to this module, I highly recommend trying the Cave - Behind the Waterfall in the North-east corner of Deekin's Pit. It has a few basic challenges which become even easier once you figure them out, and you should be able to acquire enough treasure to level up. Even if you are scared of the creatures outside the mouth of the cave at certain times, don't sweat them. Just move past regardless of what happens, rest just inside the cave, and then try tackling it.

Mine

The mine is accessed from the west end of Deekin's Pit. The Mine is too hard to tackle through combat at low level, but you can still find loot here without fighting for it so it is worth exploring, and the living crystals are not hostile to begin with so it gives you an opportunity to experiment with deciding whether you want to rob them or not. The key advice here is to explore, search, experiment, but run away when things get hairy.

Catacombs

The Catacombs are accessible from Deekin's Pit. You will die often here when soloing at low levels, but it has a lot of treasure. Originally this was designed for clerics, a party of three, or higher level characters. Without clerics it's much harder, but doable if you rip and run. If dying a lot is frustrating to you, don't do this one solo at low levels.

Cave

The Cave is accessible from Deekin's Pit. This one you can hack and slash at low levels, but it can quickly overwhelm a solo player, even at the very start if you stir up too much trouble. Know when to run and you'll be fine. Note that due to the potential for some creatures to mob you, even at higher levels a squishy character can get killed here if they are reckless. A party of low level characters could have fun with this one. It is a gateway to higher level challenges, and it can be farmed for a variety of resources.

General Advice

Join a Party

We recommend playing with others, and when you play with others, you should join together in a single party.

Many treasures multiply the number of coins in the horde by the number of player characters in the party. PCs in a party also bleed out more slowly so as to give the other players time to save them with a first aid kit.

Loot

Some treasures can be looted once per visit by your PC, others can only be looted once ever. You will have to figure out which is which, but generally the larger treasures can only be looted once in a PC's lifetime.

Killing the monsters is often not a requirement for obtaining the loot. I recommend looking for the most efficient means to get the treasure, and risking the least amount of combat. Stealing the loot and sneaking away is totally valid - especially if you are worried about the NPCs discovering that you robbed them. Just ripping and running can also work, if you have a clear path to the exit.

The point is that treasure is the prize. Everything else is just in your way.

Dying and Respawning

After "dying", you will usually respawn to the Glorious Tent. Beginners (levels 1-3) respawn without penalty. You can take advantage of that by rushing in, grabbing a bunch of treasure, and allowing the monsters to kill you to send you back here. But I wouldn't get too used to it. At levels 4 and up, your PC's pocket will be picked (50gp per level) when they respawn. They first take your coins, then items. Some starting equipment will be spared, but that is it. While it is possible to restart from nothing, this is "playing on hard mode" as they say.

Read Everything Carefully

While much of the text that shows up in the chat window is flavor text, it also contains useful information. I try to write clear messages and descriptions, but sometimes I can be obtuse. Read the text carefully, and look for hints.

Item descriptions are also often just flavor, but there's plenty of useful hints there too.

Look Around

Just running around while holding the Tab key won't reveal everything. Many objects require a PC be close to them to be interactive.

You can also emote *looks* or *look around* to detect some things that are not obviously interactive. When you do this, you will receive some general description text along side a list of objects which you may investigate further. These objects can be examined for more information by emoting *examine (object name)*.

Other good methods for discovering hidden objects are: walking around with detect mode active and also periodically emoting *searches*. Clicking on objects with detect mode active also can give more information.

Use Your Map

Pin the locations on your map that you want to remember. The pin and the first 50 characters of its text are stored in the database. They will be there the next time you login.

Talk to the NPCs

NPCs can be useful. Some have things to sell, information to share, or can be persuaded to help your PC.

How receptive they are to your PC depends both on your PC's reputation with their group, and on how the individual reacts to your PC. Charisma and Influence can help with reactions, as can a charm spell.

Maintain Your Rep

Many creatures do not start off as hostile, but they will become hostile to your PC, if they are attacked, robbed, or otherwise pissed off by something your PC does. This is usually temporary.

However if your PC kills an NPC, their reputation with the NPC's group will suffer, and the group will remember this across server resets. Sometimes if there are no witnesses, your PC can get away with it, but this is dangerous to rely on as you don't always know if your PC is being watched.

Consider carefully the groups of NPCs with which you want to remain on good terms.

Henchmen

Some NPCs (like the goblins) can be convinced to work for your PC if you Charm them or succeed on an Influence check. Most expect to be paid for the venture.

Ask an NPC for help and see if you can convince them to join you.

To manage your henchman, the best way is to use their rotary menu. Right click them and look for it.

Also, keep in mind that if your PC leads henchman to their death or abandons them far from home, your PC's reputation will suffer. For a better reputation, return them safely, and reward them.