Post by Tayvius on May 8, 2008 9:59:03 GMT
*WORK IN PROGRESS*
This is an ongoing guide to help people who we may recruit in pre-searing and beyond that may need help when we are not online.
Pre-Searing Ascalon Adventuring
Pre-searing is the equivalent to the starting islands in the other two campaigns. This area is used to familiarize a new player to the various functions and classes in this campaign. The classes that are available at this point in the game are:
If when you were creating a character and was undecided between two classes such as an Elementalist or Monk, don't worry you can choose both. As you progress through pre-searing you will be given access to various secondary profession trainers which as it suggests allows you to explore the secondary professions you were unsure about. The location of these secondary profession trainers are:
With the profession stuff out of the way we can begin with some of the basic functions within the game.
Explorable Areas/Outposts
As you may have noticed upon entering Ascalon, you will be faced by (probably) a map full of blue dots that are located on the radar. These blue dots are other players who are online within the same district as you. Amongst these blue dots you will notice triangular green dots which are various NPC's (Non-Playable Characters) which you can interact with.
These facts are the same for when you are outside in an explorable area except you can only see who is in your party (shown as green dots) and enemy units (shown as red dots). Some NPC's can become hostile if double clicked on or if a quest making them hostile is active.
Using buttons such as "Ctrl" and "Alt" will allow the player to see different typed of NPC units quicker. Ctrl allows you to see other members/enemies and Alt allows you to see friendly NPC's. However be aware when you target the NPC in question you will begin to move towards it which you may not always want to do.
Maps and Enemies
There are other various hot keys that allow you to view various things. These can be found in the manual however a useful one that you should probably consider having on all the time is the mission map which can be activated and deactivated by pressing the "U" key. This map is extremely useful when you want to view a whole area (This map does not show enemy locations like its compass counterpart).
When aggravating an enemy group you are faced with two choices that you can take:
Item Colours and General Storage Information
As you progress through explorable areas and kill various enemies, different coloured drops may appear. These different colours dictate the items value and possible rarity. The different colours are:
However in pre-searing you may never see purple or gold items bit these items will be in abundance in post-searing.
Before selling an item it is advised to buy an identification kit so that before you sell an item you can sell it for it maximum value. Identification kits are also useful for items with colours such as blue, purple or gold as these may contain useful modifications. If you find that an item may have something of value you wish to salvage or is titled with a "highly salvageable" status on the weapom you can use items known as expert salvage kits.
Salvage kits come in different types such as:
While in an outpost outside of pre-searing you will notice xunlai chests dotted around. These are used to store items and materials that you may want to keep rather than sell. You will at first have to pay for the extra storage slots and the ability to store materials but this is a one time charge per character.
As well as this a character can buy additional bags to increase your storage. These can be purchased at a guild hall from a merchant (the bags can be upgraded with runes of holding which increases the storage from 5 slots to 10).
Recommendations
When you are able to afford it i suggest that you buy both an identification/salvage kit and keep them in your inventory as you never know when you might need them.
If your character is born in pre-searing it is suggested that you get belt pouches are got as quick as possible as the extra storage space will be needed. You won't be able to purchase these however until you get out of pre-searing but can be obtained via collectors whilst in the beginning area.
I hope this guide is useful for anybody who may need it.
This is an ongoing guide to help people who we may recruit in pre-searing and beyond that may need help when we are not online.
Pre-Searing Ascalon Adventuring
Pre-searing is the equivalent to the starting islands in the other two campaigns. This area is used to familiarize a new player to the various functions and classes in this campaign. The classes that are available at this point in the game are:
- Warrior
- Ranger
- Mesmer
- Elementalist
- Necromancer
If when you were creating a character and was undecided between two classes such as an Elementalist or Monk, don't worry you can choose both. As you progress through pre-searing you will be given access to various secondary profession trainers which as it suggests allows you to explore the secondary professions you were unsure about. The location of these secondary profession trainers are:
- Warrior:
Van the Warrior (Lakeside County, starting quest only)
Duke Barradin (Barradin's Estate)
Little Thorn (Barradin's Estate)
Warmaster Grast (Green Hills County) - Ranger:
Artemis the Ranger (Lakeside County, starting quest only)
Master Ranger Nente (Regent Valley)
Aidan (Wizard's Folly)
Ivor Trueshot (Regent Valley) - Mesmer
Sebedoh the Mesmer (Lakeside County, starting quest only)
Lady Althea (Lakeside County)
Vassar (Foible's Fair) - Monk
Ciglo the Monk (Lakeside County, starting quest only)
Brother Mhenlo (Ashford Abbey)
Grazdan the Protector (Green Hills County) - Elementalist
Howland the Elementalist (Lakeside County, starting quest only)
Ralena Stormbringer (Air Magic, Foible's Fair)
Elementalist Aziure (Wizard's Follly) - Necromancer
Verata the Necromancer (Lakeside County, starting quest only)
Kasha Blackblood (Green Hills County)
Necromancer Munne (The Catacombs)
Oberan the Reviled (The Catacombs)
With the profession stuff out of the way we can begin with some of the basic functions within the game.
Explorable Areas/Outposts
As you may have noticed upon entering Ascalon, you will be faced by (probably) a map full of blue dots that are located on the radar. These blue dots are other players who are online within the same district as you. Amongst these blue dots you will notice triangular green dots which are various NPC's (Non-Playable Characters) which you can interact with.
These facts are the same for when you are outside in an explorable area except you can only see who is in your party (shown as green dots) and enemy units (shown as red dots). Some NPC's can become hostile if double clicked on or if a quest making them hostile is active.
Using buttons such as "Ctrl" and "Alt" will allow the player to see different typed of NPC units quicker. Ctrl allows you to see other members/enemies and Alt allows you to see friendly NPC's. However be aware when you target the NPC in question you will begin to move towards it which you may not always want to do.
Maps and Enemies
There are other various hot keys that allow you to view various things. These can be found in the manual however a useful one that you should probably consider having on all the time is the mission map which can be activated and deactivated by pressing the "U" key. This map is extremely useful when you want to view a whole area (This map does not show enemy locations like its compass counterpart).
When aggravating an enemy group you are faced with two choices that you can take:
- Fight: Depending on the size of the enemy group this can be either a wise choice or a stupid one. However in pre-searing there is no death penalty so you can find this out on your own. When you leave to go to post searing be aware that there is death penalty which reduces health and shows a counter in the corner which tops out at -60% DP which if the whole group reaches this will result in a team wipe out.
- Run Away: This choice carries its own risks in itself but can prove to be useful in a no win situation. When you start running the enemy will chase you for quite a distance before giving up.
Item Colours and General Storage Information
As you progress through explorable areas and kill various enemies, different coloured drops may appear. These different colours dictate the items value and possible rarity. The different colours are:
- White: Most common low value item.
- Blue: Common low-mid value item.
- Purple: Frequent mid value item.
- Gold: Uncommon High value item (can contain good modifications for other weapons which can be salvaged using salvage kits)
- Green: Rare items that are most commonly dropped from bosses (with exception to a few enemies) and can be obtained from a quest reward.
However in pre-searing you may never see purple or gold items bit these items will be in abundance in post-searing.
Before selling an item it is advised to buy an identification kit so that before you sell an item you can sell it for it maximum value. Identification kits are also useful for items with colours such as blue, purple or gold as these may contain useful modifications. If you find that an item may have something of value you wish to salvage or is titled with a "highly salvageable" status on the weapom you can use items known as expert salvage kits.
Salvage kits come in different types such as:
- Salvage Kit: Only able to salvage crafting materials from items with a chance of breaking it.
- Expert Salvage Kits: Allows you to salvage both mods and crafting materials with a chance of breaking the item.
- Superior Salvage Kits: These salvage kits have a higher usage count than the expert type but does the same job.
- Perfect Salvage Kit: These kits are only available in the "Eye of the North" expansion game and allow the player to salvage anything from an item that is a mod without breaking it.
While in an outpost outside of pre-searing you will notice xunlai chests dotted around. These are used to store items and materials that you may want to keep rather than sell. You will at first have to pay for the extra storage slots and the ability to store materials but this is a one time charge per character.
As well as this a character can buy additional bags to increase your storage. These can be purchased at a guild hall from a merchant (the bags can be upgraded with runes of holding which increases the storage from 5 slots to 10).
Recommendations
When you are able to afford it i suggest that you buy both an identification/salvage kit and keep them in your inventory as you never know when you might need them.
If your character is born in pre-searing it is suggested that you get belt pouches are got as quick as possible as the extra storage space will be needed. You won't be able to purchase these however until you get out of pre-searing but can be obtained via collectors whilst in the beginning area.
I hope this guide is useful for anybody who may need it.