Originally Posted by
Delta
So is there anything you'd recommend? Pretty much every character I ever got far with were elven wizards, but the lack of hit points always got back at me somewhere along the way. Should I aim for something different? I usually start out in the first levels of the ID, fighting low level monsters and hoping for nice spellbooks while trying to get Treasure Hunter ASAP, because more loot means more books, and for a wizard more books mean more power. Are there better ways to go at this? What would you recommend someone like me, hoping the finally beat the game?
Elven wizards aren't necessarily the best choice. Their Learning and Mana are good, sure, but starting with 6-8 To will make the beginning a real pain. Try a dwarf, drakeling or gnome instead. As long as you end up with >15 Learning (>18 is really ideal, but that will probably mean a lot of drakeling rolls...), you can probably make it work. All of these races have somewhat higher toughness. Drakelings get acid spit as a desperation move if you run out of PP, plus get some great skills.
As far as treasure hunter goes, well, all I will say is this: treasure hunter only starts to make an appreciate difference after you've killed ~500-1000 monsters (statistically speaking). Other talents (PV or speed line in particular) will make a difference much earlier in the game.
On a side note, archers (high elf/hurthling are probably best, though even human isn't bad), beastfighters (dark elf, orc, or hurthling), barbarians (orc, dark elf, maybe troll) are all also pretty easy choices too. Archers have many of the same advantages as wizards--ranged attack, massive damage--as long as you can keep enough ammo. Hurthlings are particularly nice in this respect, since they're pretty wicked with thrown rocks right off the bat. Beastfighters are absolute killing machines, and are much less reliant on finding good gear than other classes. Barbarians play very similar to beastfighters, except use weapons.
In my opinion, the most important things that lead to victory are:
-Survive the early game. Get healing if you need it, get some PV. Avoid the SMC unless you know what you're doing. Get long stride or some speed talents so that you can run away if you need to.
-Find some herbs. Morgia root will buff your toughness to 25+ with enough time. For a weak race like an elf, that can double or even triple your health.
-Use disruption. Most monsters can't fight in darkness. Many monsters can't see invisible. Almost all monsters can be stunned. Almost all monsters can be blinded with thrown potions. Almost all monsters can be paralysed. Almost all monsters can be confused. Monsters that are blind, stunned, confused, paralysed, or standing in darkness they can't see in will not fight effectly or use many special abilities--if at all.
Hoping to win with every class, doomed. Archer, Barbarian, Bard, Beastfighter, Druid, Elementalist, Farmer, Fighter, Monk, and ULE Priest down.