9-28-09

Posted on August 28, 2009September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

Oh..my. So, it looks as if I’m finally being ‘discovered’ here. Nixxe just found it and went crazy..well, I don’t know if CRAZY is the right word, but it was sure funny. So that makes four or five people now that have commented at all…maybe more see it.

So there’s this staircase in Pandora’s temple. And the railing disappears right up there at the top. And I discovered you can jump off..but it’s not very nice when you jump off. I was going to say something, but then I figured I’d get in trouble for saying anything AGAINST Her, so I didn’t. But this isn’t THERE, is it? I hope not. Because Mischief is trouble…and when you can’t get rescued because of mischievous kill rooms, well, praying is a HUGE hit on one’s experience. So I’ve been spending the last three months trying to get back up to where I WAS in my level. How annoying. How perfectly annoying. Still..it DID do some good because I’ve made about 25000 gold out of it all, which is really really nice.

I’ve been getting ideas about updating my affliction list. There were a few comments as to how nice it is to have. But I haven’t touched that thing for a VERY long time. So I’m not sure..it’s been so long in fact, that I’m not sure I can get everything there is to get.

10-24-08

Posted on October 24, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

I freaked myself out! While searching on lore about the Ka’ahlen Swamp in Xhaiden Dale, I saw my name pop up on a Google search! Well, I’m one to try and follow directions and not give away quest solutions, so I went in to the link to see what I had given away. Turns out it was just a hint that the quest described existed. Whew!

Anyway, big news!! I’ve killed my first grizzly! I’m so excited! Actually, they aren’t that bad, except when they take a bite of your head. Now THAT hurts. I’ll have to go back in the logs to see how much one of those types of attacks hit for. I don’t quite remember. But it was something around 600-800hp. A lot when they’ve already worn you down to 1200hp total. And they’re a little quicker than you might expect. Probably 110-120% faster than I am at regaining balance as an Atavian. So they can hit two times to my one every once in a while.

Eww…it’s almost Mayaween (obviously to correspond with Oct. 31) and there is festivity decor to be sold in New Thera. Well, I bought a jack-o-lantern and a scarecrow for my grove. Well, the scarecrow is going to last through the holiday, but the pumpkin is only good for 5 days, meaning that it will decay before the actual holiday rolls around. So I’ll have to buy another. Anyway, I was just resting to regain endurance here while typing this out and I saw the jack-o-lantern grin dark and wickedly. Even though it didn’t move. Freaky. I suppose waiting around in one room for a long time will cause things like that to happen.

Okay, update – I turned 31 about 6 months ago, and I’m on level 75 (Almighty) and 55% through it. Wow! I may hit 80 pretty soon here, in which case I will gain stability while flying! I can’t wait. And I’m 1606 lessons in to Groves, which means I have 130 left! I’ve never gotten this far in a skill before. I haven’t gotten my hypercure yet, but it’s coming soon. I mean, 8.5 lessons per regular credit = 16 credits to trans in groves, with a few lessons left over! Woo! And I can probably get 2 credits per day if it is a good day, and one if it is slow. And on top of THAT, there’s October’s lesson bonus of one lesson per credit-lesson conversion, meaning that each unbound credit is worth 9.5 lessons! Which doing the math again, comes out to 14 credits instead of 16! A HUGE savings of 2 credits worth. Haha.

I’m thinking…I have a spreadsheet I use to budget my Achaean bank account. Maybe I should attach that somehow. Put it on a public drive somewhere or something. It’s really useful, actually. I have categories for lesson credits, artefact credits, housing, credit sales, mounts and general spending. Plus there are a few columns to allocate where free or unallocated credits will go (if I win or buy one not from either the housing, lessons or artefact funds). It’s not perfect, but it’s really quite useful, as I know that I can’t just pull all the gold from my bank account and spend it frivilously on lessons. I used to, and I still don’t have any artefacts. Of course, the way to do artefacts is to buy them online, but I don’t want to do that just yet. I don’t have enough stupidity to waste real money on that sort of thing.

Okay. I think this is getting long enough. Ta-ta for now!

10-19-08

Posted on October 19, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

Here, I’ve done it again! It seems I can never keep on top of this thing. But oh well. Okay, so I was wondering how I was doing blog-wise. I read a help file on questing a few weeks ago and found that publishing answers and guides to quests is a huge violation and can result in permanent kicking from the entire game. Yikes! So I went through all of my posts and it seems that I’m alright. I mean, I could be getting pretty close to the line by saying which denizen gives gold and such, but I haven’t actually given any information on how to get the gold, so we’re good there.

On another note, all’s going well. For starters, I found a hidden village south of the Muurn river valley about 2 months ago. Can’t quite remember what it’s called, but it sure was interesting. Then I was taken to the bottom of Manara Burrow, into a hidden tunnel and down into a lava-filled place. Not sure what THAT was called either, but I at least died there.

Progress note: I’ve almost transed in Groves. I’m so excited. I gained my golem probably a week ago and just received harmonic dampening about 2 days ago. Now all I have left is hypercure and portability and I’ll be transed! Less than 50% left in the current skill level. As for meta, I’ve gotten my jaguar, which has been REALLY nice, since now everything dies in about 2/3 as many hits.

Apart from the war and my progress, not a lot is happening, so I’ll hang it up here.

Oh, that’s level 74 I think. Things are starting to slow down experience-wise.

6-24-08

Posted on June 24, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

Wow…it seems I’ve forgotten about this for a while. Well, not all that long, compared to other things I forget. But anyway, I’ll do my best to bring you up to date.

So I’ve been hanging out, getting gold and getting stronger too. I found a new place for gold, only it’s a bit higher level than most. You will note that I have mentioned Actar as being good for fresh-out-of-newbie-schoolers. Well, there’s another that I would say is good for those who are fairly strong, and can take out a low-hitting Extrodinary Power denizen.

It turns out that the strongest I can take is probably the wolves and boars in the Black Forest. These are classified as the “Appears to be Extraordinarily Strong” types and I have died frequently to them in the last few months. Most people equate your strength with your level, but I have found that this is not always the case. Defences and experience in certain skills affect your percentage strength also. I mean, I figure a good solid experience-gain denizen should be easy to kill, but not too easy. It should not hit too hard and yet, if it doesn’t hit hard enough, you will not gain much. I have found that most Extraordinarily Strong denizens will hit, and I can hold out just long enough to kill them, but they slowly wear on my health and more often than not I have to retreat in order to regain health. The wolves in Black Forest are this way.

Anyway…back to the place. It’s the island of Ulangi. If you’ve been around a while, you know about it, not only because it’s there, but because IronRealms has included a map with it. So here it is: Ulangi. Very nice for making gold. It includes some rather strong buck deer, and extraordinarily strong moose. Both of these have extremely high gold return, which I really like. They amount to about 8 Actar goats each (a little more than 600 gold). And there are quite a few, so you will get a credit’s worth of gold in no time. Plus there are a few quests that you can discover that have very high return (I just completed the Pirate Treasure one).

So I’ve been hanging out there. In fact, I have my soul “bookmarked” there for when I return because too many people were hanging out and making all the gold in the world, while I struggled to find any serious game to hunt (they hogged it all first).

Another trick I just came up with…that is Grove Vigour. It boosts your health about a third per hit. Very nice. I didn’t remember it and because of it I’ve died I don’t know how many times in my grove when I could have sacrificed a hit on the denizen for a Vigour boost. Unfortunately, last time I tried it, I almost died, so it still didn’t do much good. I think the problem is that I’m not used to using it. I’ll have to practice on them wolves.

I’ve been at level 62 for the past 3 months and can’t seem to get further. I’m hovering at 63 and for some reason keep dying to stuff and dropping below. This happened at least three times just this month. Fortunately I used those 5 lessons before I died the last time, so I had my abilities heightened before I died.

More later…because I can’t think of anything else.

One more thing I forgot…next month is my birthday. I’ll be turning 22 I think!

6-11-08

Posted on June 11, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

This month was a bit more boring than others I’ve seen. Probably because I’ve been busy with other things. But I did manage to get a few days in the realms later on. And I learned all about prickly pear from the dear fellow Apprentice, Druuna. Actually, we’re no longer titled apprentices, but whatever. Druuna’s the same house ranking, and yet she’s been around a LOT LONGER than me, so she knows her way around.

I finally found the cyclops village in the Vashnars. It’s on the way to Actar, only instead of going southeast from the turnoff, you go east and up the trail aways. I also learned that heading down-river, you can jump off of a waterfall and land near the island in Actar. That was pretty fun. And I didn’t even break anything! It was like and indian canoeing of the waterfall and landing without sinking. Of course, I couldn’t get back up without going all the way around again, but it was exciting!

Other things. Not much else. A quick bit of advice…if going to the Shala’jen Monestary, DO NOT go into the cave down in the canyon below. That is the hangout of the Prince of Thieves, and since I got my vials stolen by an Adventurer a couple months ago, I was not prepared with immunity when the prince hit me with Voyria. Thankfully the others in the house were aware and got me resurrected rather quickly. With all this dying (and I am good at it), I’m finally beginning to learn some strategy in order to get resurrected as quickly as possible. Of course, having the Resurrection ability would be awfully nice, but I’m not there yet.

One big annoyance…people keep killing the cyclops in Actar. He gives good gold! Please don’t!

Anyway, that’s all for now. I bought a new game called Myst Uru…Complete Chronicles, so I have a new deterrent to keep me away, but I’ll try to get as much time in as possible.

And a note to Profit…if he reads this. You may have gotten my journal, but you can’t get my logs. *tongue Profit* I HAVE BACKUP. And you won’t find much in there to help you, so HA!!!

6-10-08

Posted on June 10, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

Wow, I’ve been out of the loop for a few months. Probably just trying to get something actually interesting to talk about. Which I did! Our dear Rinji got engaged this month! Actually it was even on the New Year. And who’s the lucky lady? Why, it’s Miss Linelle! Congratulations to them both! (Oh, and Happy New Year!)

On a different note, before the festivities and a few months ago, I got to kill my first wolf in the Black Forest! I’m so excited. Of course, I had to retreat to heal about five times, because he hit hard and my health elixer could not keep up. But I did it, and gained a bit of experience (more than the usual quarter percent).

A few of you, and others from different houses, have been asking about quests after the newbie area. Well, there are many, many places you can go. From fresh out of newbie training, a good money-maker is the valley of Actar. Experience can be gained there as well as in the Great Rock and the Enverin Marsh. If I’m not busy, you can send me an in-game tell, and I’ll see if I can help you out.

Of course there’s always the little animals like the jarbo and gecko lizard in the Mohjave Desert, as well as rabbits, groundhogs and what not everywhere else. The big advice you will get from anyone is PROBE THE CREATURE before attacking. Recall my previous post showing levels of Denizen strength and their respective descriptions. Figure out what you can handle and stick to that strength until you advance in the circles. Be aware that not all denizens who look “weak and feeble” will have the same attack scheme. A rattlesnake is rather weak, but venomous. Some denizens web in order to trap you so you can’t move. Others hit rather hard but will die within a couple of hits, while others don’t hit that hard but, for some reason, keep on living.

All in all, experiment and if you are getting low in health, get away. Don’t live by the old hunting saying of “put it out of its misery.” Don’t feel sorry for it. Remember that if you leave for a long while, it will go to sleep to regenerate its health, just like you do, and will be chipper and ready for the second round in a few minutes. And if you die, just remember that the Great Mother Maya is waiting for you.

Another idea from leaving the Newbies: if you have not already done so, you can work on your tasks. No doubt you have already seen some, as catching butterflies from Vellis and buying vials from Seasone will accomplish those respective tasks. There are some tougher ones though. You can get hints by looking at TASK DETAILS. Some fun ones for druids are the fire drill and the scavenger hunt tasks.

So here’s the rest of the story…late into the month, I attended an anti-theft class. Hopefully I’ll be able to deter any more attempts at this sort of thing, as I have been targetted by a few others lately. I won’t tell my secrets, as that will give them strategy on how to circumvent them. Heh. But I will say this. It’s going to be harder from here out.

6-5-08

Posted on June 5, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

Early in the month, I spent my time learning the Grove skill from the dear Druidess Nixxe. After attaining the Rain ability, we discussed a few things before she moved on. That was in the early month.

Later in the month, I travelled to the deep Southern Vashnars where I climbed Mount Nicator to enter Erymanthus – The flying island above the mountin. I had visited it before while gaining my Voyager status, but it turns out I had not seen it all. I had only experienced the lower level of Erymanthus above the misty ascent from the gates. Here there was a waterway and a huge forest. But after wandering around some, I came upon a steep rise of a mountain. Finding that I could climb it, I did and discovered at the top a village known as Arcadia, where winged Atavians live. Of course, me being an Atavian, everyone there made me feel welcome.

Arcadia was reached by first wandering around the Erymanthus forest for a while, and then finding a cave, which I entered. This cave deepened into a long tunnel, which came out on the face of a hill. Climbing the hill, and following the path, I soon came to the gates, where I was greeted by the gatekeeper and addressed as “Dear Sister.”

Inside were somewhere around four to five different levels of city. Each level contained guards and archers. The first level consisted of the Plebians. Second was the farmers. Third level was the royalty. Fourth level was a market (in which the merchants did not sell anything). Fifth level was a university. In the middle of the university was a path that led to the top of Erymanthus and into the clouds where Lord Vastar’s Arcadian Temple was located. The temple is called the Sky Tower in which Cassandra, the healer-priestess resides. Of course why should I tell you about it. You can read it all for yourself at http://www.achaea.com/lore/Arcadia.

Wed. June 4, 2008 – Denizen Afflictions List Part 1

Posted on June 4, 2008September 5, 2019 by samakhulis

Denizen Afflictions List Part 1

Here is a list I’ve been working on that puts together some specific Denizens and their afflictions that they can hit you with:

Minia:
Imp – None
Pixie – None
Hellcat – None
Pygmy – None
Kobold – None

Actar Valley:
Goat – None
Rabbit – None
Crow – Runs away
Deer – None
War Goat – None
Cyclops – None
Halfling – None
Fish – None
Ghost – None
Owl – None

Savannah:
Hare – None
Gour – Unknown

Mohjave Desert:
Rattlesnake – None (Can Flay)
Sidewinder – None (Can Flay)
Hyena – None
Monitor Lizard – None
Gecko Lizard – Unknown (too weak and dies after first hit)
Jarbo – None
Coyote – None
Unformed Thing – Stun (may also have venom)
Scorpion – Paralyse, Stupidity (yellow are aggressive)

Great Rock:
Stirge – None
Cerberus – None
Cultist – None
Bearnath – Shield
Beastlord – Shield
Ophidians – Loki (can flay Sileris)
Beetle – Unknown
Arinas – Unknown
Kasha – Unknown
Lotash – Unknown
Slug – Electricity (no effect, but strong)

Black Forest:
Boar – Runs away
Wolf – None
Grizzly – Equilibrium strip
Woodsnake – Curare (following command not followed) and Epilepsy
Fisher – None; causes a lot of bleeding

Aalen:
Fox – None
Rabbit – None
Basilisk – Paralysis
Grizzly – Equilibrium Strip
Black Bear – Leg Break

Western Vashnars:
Sheep – None
Mt. Lion – None

Dun Valley:
Opossum – None
Frog – None
Crab – None
Lion – None
Snake – None
Gorilla – None
Hippo – Stun
Elephant – Stun
Elephant – Stun
Soul – Freezing
Wight – None
Warthog – None
Rat – Venom
Beetle – None
Water Strider – Venom
Mud Crab – None
Swamp Wyvern – Flame
Crocodile – None
Parrot – None
Jaguar – None
Piranha – None

Dun Fortress:
Ogre – None
Orc – None
Xulu (Orc Witchdoctor) – Flame
Ogre Mage – Freezing
Water Snake (Sewer) – Unaffecting venom (only really hard health hit)

Zanzibaar Island:
Cobra – Loki, Paralysis due to hypnotism

Green Lake:
Bear – None
Python – None
Fox – Runs away
Mosquito – Lose Footing
Horned Toad – Lose Footing
Clam – None
Eel – None
Pelican – Lose Footing
Flies – None
Qurnok – DSTAB Loki
Muskrat – Loki (got me with Voyria)
Troll – Unknown
Crocodile – None
Frog – None
Catfish – None

Siroccian Mountains:
Wolverine – None
Skunk – Stink
Treesnake – Voyria
Dwarves – None
Orcs – None

Water:
Salmon – Blindness
Oyster – Blindness
Carp – None

North Ithmia:
Lamassou – None
Tamarin – None
Buckawn – None

East Ithmia:
White Elk – None

Manara:
Gnoll – None
Mingruk – None

Mesmerium:
Dream Horror – Web, Venom (can flay)

Mhaldor Isle:
Leviathan – Doesn’t need any tricks.
Lycopod – Lose Footing, Web

Isle of Harae:
Wasp – Unknown, VERY nasty

Gypsy Village and Enverren Marsh:
Gypsy – Unknown
Mosquito – None
Slugfish – None
Rat – None
Glubber – None
Salamandrin – Venom (cannot flay)
Glubbian – Unknown
Enverren – Unknown
Bubblefish – Stun

Forestwatch:
Slugbeast – Flame, Lose Footing, Web
Buckawn – None
Buckawn Mage – Freezing
Zombie – None

Xhaiden Dale:
Weasel – None
Yak – Loose Footing, Crushes Limbs
Rajamala Villager – Unknown
Coyote – NoneMole – None
Ishkynd Worm – Venom, Breaks Legs (can result in lost footing)
Water Strider – Flame from Acid, Blindness
Crane – None
Caribou – Loose Footing
Veshina – Cold

Ulangi/Mysia:
Balai – Freezing
Moose – Lose Footing
Stag – Lose Footing
Fawn – Flees
Doe – Flees
Bobcat – None
Buck – None
Balai – Frost
Drunken Pirate – None
Jarvace – Chases
Oyster – Blindness

Magma Caverns:
Beetle – Blackout
Wyrm – Flame
Ancient Wyrm – Deafness, defoot
Leech – Flame (I think)
Nuskuwen – None
Spindly Fire Centipede thingy – Flame
Wyrm Lord – Holocaust super-hit (3000+ health)
Whelp – None

Southern Vashnars:
Drake – Freeze
Grizzly – Equilibrium Strip
Manticore – None (Rear Cave Manticores are VERY hard-hitting)

Here is a list of the denizen probe descriptions in descending strength.
Almost glows with nearly god-like power
Does not even register your presence as a threat
Exudes an aura of overwhelming power
Has an air of extreme strength
Looks to be crushingly strong
Appears to be extraordinarily strong*
Is quite powerful
Is not one to be trifled with
Seems strong and confident
Exudes a quiet confidence
Seems to be unafraid
Appears to lack strength
Does not look particularly dangerous
Is a humble-looking creature
Looks relatively helpless
Looks weak and feeble

Note: as the Help scroll says, these descriptions are absolute. They are not based off of your current strength. They will be the same for everyone.

So, at Level 59, being a 20-year-old Druid with a Hyena Morph and a flailed quarterstaff, I have found that I can take out the White Elk of the Eastern Ithmian Forest, which registers as a Strong and Confident Denizen. I tried a Black Lamassou of North Ithmia, but she brought me down into the red at Not One to be Trifled With. I have a feeling that some Denizens hit harder than others, even if they have the same strength.

Samakhulis of the Druids

Tag: denizens