Character Startup Guide

[Lyrehc]

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post this but I've been wondering some things about the Character Startup Guide and thought I'd throw some ideas out there for discussion. I don't know how often it gets revamped and if these things have already been discussed than please disregard them, but I thought I'd share my thoughts in case someone finds them helpful.

I started playing Sryth in February and found the wiki almost immediately. I tried to use the startup guide as a road map for what powers to have, what adventures to do in what order, etc.

I had several characters that I played with for a while to learn things before restarting to "do things right." For example, the startup guide never mentions the Sword of Merzekk so it took me 3 characters before I realized that I needed to purchase the rusty longsword before the events which happen in Kolnia later in the game.

Also, I find that after doing A Cold Winter's Night that the best adventures to do next are the ones in Mirgspil. They're much easier for someone with lower MR/SP than the Caves of Westwold.

When I started playing I followed the recommendation of the wiki for acquiring new skills. It might be helpful to mention that if someone chooses to wait to acquire skills until they purchase Weaponry:Staves that they can get it much cheaper (and be able to add it into any AS&P rewards) than if they wait until later.

Another thought that I have is that new players may be discouraged if say they have all 18s or something - but with the introduction of Tarlaro's elixir's that's not nearly as bad. In fact, 3 of my 4 characters have or will have all 20s after Castle Baleward - but even a couple of the characters I deleted would have been okay (except for the rusty longsword) but the warning of needing only one with 18 and the rest of the stats higher scared me and caused me to reset.

I know I'm new and I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes by posting this, but I thought it might be helpful for discussion.

[texlaw1992]

Title is "good points," just a play on your sn being "Cheryl" backwards.

Your advice is sound. Still, as I've said before, even if you start less than optimally (as I did, not knowing any better then), you can still succeed. Just have patience.

[Lyrehc]

I agree - you can succeed even if you have to do more grinding to have the XP to raise your skill and power levels. The biggest issue of what I mentioned is the part about the rusty longsword.

And congratulations on figuring out what my user name means. I use it a lot of places, and you wouldn't believe the number of people who think I'm talking about music.

[scout1idf]

Title is "good points," just a play on your sn being "Cheryl" backwards......

......And congratulations on figuring out what my user name means. I use it a lot of places, and you wouldn't believe the number of people who think I'm talking about music.

Leave it to a lawyer to see things backwards... JUST KIDDING!!!! but I couldn't resist.

[Oldschool]

Excellent points Lyrehc.

I'll try to take them in order.

First I don't think there was a startup guide on the old wiki at least not in the same format it is on the current one. So I'm not sure how much it's been revamped but its history shows some editing. Either way it could probably do with some updating. Especially considering changes that have occurred "in game" since it was initially created.

The Sword of Merzekk has changed since the startup guide first appeared. The razing of Kolnia and the later Merzekk events weren't in existence until fairly recently - definitely after the startup guide was created. Although the GM has indicated that players missing any of the cloudy blues/rusty sword will have an opportunity to get them. It is mentioned (spoilered) in the hints thread here though. Still it bears mentioning in the guide.

The Caves of Westwold is required for several adventures. Still it's not necessary for all nor the ones you mention. Again changes "in game" no longer require you to do Westwold to get the Enchanted Map since characters now start with it in their inventory.

Good point about getting Staves before the other skills since it's considerably cheaper that way. Actually I did just that with Voltan, my fourth character, for the cost consideration.

And regarding stat/attribute scores - more changes "in game" since the guide was created. Initially only the Elixir of Torrent could permanently boost stats. Now not only are Talaro's Elixirs available but so is the Fogbough bonus.

No toes stepped on as far as I'm concerned and you bring up a good topic for discussion with valid points. Nice to have some newer perspective - keep posting.

And I completely missed the play on your handle (nice btw) but I also never thought about music or bard characters either. :rolleyes:

[Young Ned]

Yes, the startup guide was pretty good when first created, but it hasn't been updated for a good while and a lot of things have changed in the game since then, as Oldschool says. So it's due for some updating; thanks for bringing up several issues that should be addressed.

If you like, feel free to edit the wiki page and add some of those updates yourself. The beauty of a wiki is that you don't have to worry about getting things "perfect" when you make changes, because other folks will come along and fix technical issues, or grammatical issues, or clarify things... it's a collective effort, and every little bit helps.

BTW, I noticed your name was "Cheryl" backwards the first time I read one of your posts, over in some other thread. Certain letter combinations like "hc" really jump out at me as signals that something might be backwards... no doubt in part because my own name backwards would be Sirhc (which I don't think works as well as Lyrehc... :D).

[Oldschool]

my own name backwards would be Sirhc (which I don't think works as well as Lyrehc... :D).

I dunno. Especially considering your avatar it might work - Sir Hopping Croaker.

Groans not withstanding.... :cool:;)

[thingirl]

First I don't think there was a startup guide on the old wiki at least not in the same format it is on the current one. So I'm not sure how much it's been revamped but its history shows some editing.

There was. Alanne used it. It was really bad. It didn't make ANY mention AT ALL of it being a good idea to put off AS&P quests until you have AS&P. The new one is MUCH better.

And Lyrehc, you make some good points.

[texlaw1992]

It never even crossed my mind that it might refer to music. "Cheryl" was the first thing I noticed. Guess it goes to show how left-brained I am.

Lawyers do not see things backwards. They see them forwards, backwards and upside down. How else can you have so many arguments? (lol)

[Scarbrow]

Good points indeed, Lyrehc

I wrote or rewrote most of that guide. At that moment, I was more or less current with game development, but that was way back on early 2009. The PG VI hadn't started. Nor Fogbough, by the way. Nor a lot of other things. The guide is badly outdated right now, and would benefit from a heavy revision.

You can also find good advices from Wetheril on the talk page that I was too lazy to apply.

I've stabbed at some egregious outdated facts (like the "completed" Legendary Magical) in the introduction, but I've still not tackled the "guide" section.

There is still much to do. Join the effort!

[zmflavius]

I'd like to mention that last I checked, the guide was outdated, but not invalidated. It's for the most part still applicable, sine the problem is that most of the new material needs to be added. So the problem is expansion, not correction.

[kzero]

Sounds like a lot of stuff that should be amended to the start-up guide. I'd like to ask a moderator to move this to the wiki subforum though, since it seems better suited as more wiki-related than a game suggestion. I also would be more likely to see it again when I get the urge to tackle this update since it would be very useful for the wiki.

[Scarbrow]

Sounds like a lot of stuff that should be amended to the start-up guide. I'd like to ask a moderator to move this to the wiki subforum though, since it seems better suited as more wiki-related than a game suggestion. I also would be more likely to see it again when I get the urge to tackle this update since it would be very useful for the wiki.

quite right, and so moved. Hope somebody gets to it, since my playing and editing time is so limited lately

[Lyrehc]

quite right, and so moved. Hope somebody gets to it, since my playing and editing time is so limited lately

I'm happy to edit it so that new players have the two options Jodelle and I came up with and can follow either path. It will be about 3 weeks before I get to it though.

[thingirl]

*Runs out of excuses*

OK. I'll do it. But I don't have time to get started tright now. I'll probably do it "some time later today". (Seriously. I have 2-3 hours of school today, then I'm free until Sunday. And I might have some time on Sunday.)

Anyway, enough stalling...

*5 hours later...*

And that is why I don't like mom interfering on my independent stuff!