AG answers From: dsaville@vesta.unm.edu (David G. Saville) Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1993 23:09:40 +0000 I have had a little problem with my news reader. Here are my thoughts on a few of the recent AG posts: Pat asked about the blast energy/damage ratio, benefits of heal, and points per level to raise spells. On blast, it is very hard to nail down an energy/damage ratio. For the most part, you will come out ahead be hitting someone with it. The damage as well as the chance to daze your opponent with the blast will outway your energy costs. As your level increases, the damage and daze will increase significantly. Blast is one of the few spells that will increase level with use. So, it is good to train in it early and use it rather often if you want to concentrate on blast. For most characters, especially elves, heal does not seem to be a very good spell. By the time that you are wounded and would like to use heal, you are already hurting in the energy department. Once elves and other low stamina characters start casting heal frequently, the fight is usually over. I do not think many skills are worth using at trained. Some exceptions are initiative, blast, blink, and kick. Cost to raise spell levels vary with race. Elves pay 15, 30, 45, etc. Humans pay 20, 40, etc. Half Elves alternate between 17 and 18 (17, 35, etc). Half Trolls, Minotaurs, Lizardmen, and Goblins pay 25,50, etc. Ogres and Dwarves pay 40, 80, etc. I am not sure about Halflings. I would guess 25. Jeff asked several questions and Keith answered them. The ones I would like to comment on are: Guild to start, general advice, and stat costs. I would echo Kieth on guild to start. Antar and Barstow are the largest guilds and have the larger population of beginners. Ciston is an evil based guild and there are those there who enter the challenge pool with the goal of killing new characters. Barstow would be a good start as Keith has started there recently and is keeping a list of characters in Barstow with net/email access. Matt Burgess maintains a mailing list of AG people, also. To receive the list and add your name, mail him at burgesmw@cnsvax.uwec.edu About the best way to get into pbm gaming is to try one out. As you play, you will come up with more specific questions. As a new character, do not be afraid to ask any and all questions that come to mind. No question is stupid. Look at the group lists and get into one with characters around your power level. AG is more fun when you participate with other characters. Maybe Keith would like to start a new netter group in Barstow. Stat raises depend on race. Mike Lee posted a comprehensive list a while back. Humans are the base and pay 4,8,12, etc to raise stats. If anyone wants to see the list again, I am sure Mike would post it again. His address is: leeme@cnsvax.uwec.edu Stephan asked a few questions on his new elf, Det. 50% is a good record for an elf. They really excel adventuring, not guild fighting. I would be careful with new characters in the challenge pool. I believe the guy you fought was much, much more powerful than you and could have killed Det. Keep your yield setting high to be safe. I belive that the reason Det did not cast spells was his 12 cunning. I think that Combat Magic requires a minimum of a 13 cunning to cast. For new characters, you will not go wrong raising stats. I ususally go for at least 3 turns raising stats before I consisder getting some skills. And, in the long run, a vast majority of all my characters EP's on stats. Some skills do you up with use. Some examples are blast, blink, kick, and headbutt. Daze, Vertigo, and initiative are examples of skills that will not go up with use. The skills that will go up check a percetage chance each time you use the skill successfully. So, using the skill early and often will give you the maximum chance to increase your skill. The turns due date is listed on the back portion of the turn near the fight results. Antar and Barstow are processed on opposite Tuesdays and Ciston is processed on the Thursday after Barstow. Turns can be faxed in prior to 9 am on the due date at NO extra charge. If anyone has any questions at all, just post them. David Saville Up