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Longarm Strikes Again!! That's right., Rangers and Sorcs, its.....

Longarm Fineblade's Ultimate Beginner's Update NUMBER FIVE!!!!
 

First off...lemme get this outta the way (wince)
OOPS! Longarm's goofs, admissions of error, and other embarrassments....

I stated in the collection update forum that monster cannot enter
buildings during monstie invasions...it ain't so. They tend to dislike
buildings, and rarely enter them, but it has been known to happen. As a
general rule, though; stick to the buildings. They're not perfect, but
its safer than lying down in TS Central!

Now for a much more enjoyable (and less embarrassing) subject:

Longarm's Q&A !!
 

Q: "What do the soldiers and guards do when Weihnmer is invaded?
"Teterias/Unknown

A: LAUGH! Boy, the mayor is gonna be mad if he hears I said this...and
the guard at the gate will probably start double charging me now....
They hide. Turn tail, run, cower in a shadow, and otherwise beat feet.
To this day, no one has ever heard of the town gate guard doing anything
more impressive than keeping a kobold out of town, and that's when he's
not sleeping, or gone altogether.

Q: "Can you earn go deeds for doing good deeds? "Malaby/Kmage

A: Nope. Lorminstra is kinda stingy about that. The only way you can get
them deeds is by shelling outta yer pocket mucho bucks....although it is
cheaper to do it earlier. Refer to my recent collection for more info on
deeds.
 

LONGARM'S FORUM OF THE UPDATE: A MONSTER COMPILATION LIST!!!!!!

This one has been ringing my ears, its been asked for so much. And yes,
for those of you who keep bugging me about it, I'm still planning on
doing a forum on the pros and cons of metals, but this one was ready
first. This is an unfinished list of beasties and the things known about
them; some have comments by them because I've met them personally,
others don't, because I'm not crazy enough to go looking for them yet.

The statistics you see are the optimal stats for the creature. That
means: standing up, unwounded, unaffected by any spell, any shields or
helms or whatever in place, and basically ready to rumble. Any changes
in those variables can drastically change an AS or DS, so keep that in
mind. This list is unfinished; and the original list that I'm starting
with is so old it refers to Roltons as Torkaans (for those of you who
don' t know, thats OLD!!!) as research in this area continues, I may add
it onto another guide as a section of its own.

Anyone who wants to help out, can. Send in your beastie with the correct
stats, and I'll note you in the next update. Note: if I get multiple
copies of the same info on a beastie, I may not recognize everyone. And
be sure you are ABSOLUTELY sure about what you say...I hate having a
OOPS section! So, without further ado, let us begin:

Giant Rat: AS:10/DS:8.   Pretty much everyone who plays Gemstone dances
with these little vermin at the start of their career. Depending on your
class, you may spend several years fighting them, although the more
battle-intense classes tend to move on sooner. They really aren't too
much of a threat, provided your stance isn't too berserk, and you have
some general idea of what armor and shields are for. You can find these
little monsties in the Catacombs.

Rolton: AS 20/DS 0. Rolton? Lets call em what they are, okay? SHEEP.
Nothing big or ferocious here. Just sheep. So that fellow who calls
himself Roltonkiller....that's about as tough as naming yourself
Daisysniffer. You can find these fine beasties around the wilderness
immediately outside of town, particularly in the south, although they
are known to go into the woods as well.

Kobold:  AS: 18/DS:Depends....   These fellows are usually just barely
out of the convenient reach of a first year wanderer, but later on they
can become the mainstay of your diet. If you find them in the kobold
village, they wave javelins and sport little in the way of armor. The
ones in the woods west of Weihnmer, on the other hand, are a wee bit
more ferocious, packing a wooden shield, and short swords. Kobolds DO
carry items and silver.

Sea Nymph: AS:?(Believe list is incorrect)DS:(Sorry, same story...send
me info if ya likes!) Sea Nymphs are often worth the trek out to the
Coastal Cliffs. Not heavy on the armor (Flowing Robes...not real tough)
and packing a terrifying DAGGER (oooh) the nymphs aren't too much to
worry about, even though they toss around a spell once in a while.
Nymphs DO carry items and silver. One note: be careful where you wander
when hunting these. A little too far south, and you are in Leaper
territory, which is certain death for young rookies. More on them later.

Velnalin: AS:41/DS:45 Velnalins are kinda ferocious little buggers. They
tend to pack a little more wallop than your average town area nasty, and
tend to hang out near the hilltop in lower Trollfang. Avoid them unless
you are tough enough; they have no items, and the hides aren't worth
much, even if you do skin them successfully.

Carrion Worm: AS:34/DS:40  Not too easy anymore. They're not exactly
heavy duty fighters, but they are rather annoyingly hard to hit. I've
heard of rookies spending almost five to ten minutes on a single worm!
No items, and the hides are worth a decent amount, but nothing
spectacular.

Lesser Ghoul:AS:20/DS:10 This may look really easy, and, frankly it is.
With one minor detail: you need a blessed weapon to hit them. So unless
you're a cleric with a weapon from the clerical shop, or have had your
blade recently blessed by one of the Faith, stay away from the
Graveyard, where these nasties hang out. If you can kill them, though,
(and magic will do the trick, as well, so wizards, enjoy!), they DO
carry items and silver.

Skeleton: AS 25/DS:0 Lotsa punch and no defense here. Just whack him
fast, and you have no worries. Same problem as the Ghouls, however;
Skeletons are undead, and you need a blessed weapon to lay a hurting on
them. They carry items and silver, so if you think you're "Bad To The
Bone", go right ahead!

Leaper:AS:55/DS:55 ROOKIES STAY AWAY!!! Probably the number one rookie
killer, especially for those who like to hunt nymphs and worms. These
little fellows live south of the former two, in the ruined village in
the coastal cliffs. They are nearly ALWAYS more than a rookie can
handle, so if you see one, get out of there fast, they tend to be quick
to attack, as well. For those with a suicidal streak, the hides are
worth a good bit (in rookie terms), but no items  are found on them.
 

        That's a list to start with, at any rate. I'll add a few more
        next time around, and then I'll let it stand.  Granted, I could
        talk about orcs, hobs, and such, but those are  a little more
        advanced,  and I'll hit those next time....And now.........FOR
        THE NEW SECTION!!!!!!!
 

<<<<<<ASK AN EMPATH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<< LONGARM NOTE: I found that the Horror Story section was moving
kinda slow, so its going to only come up when something really good
comes along. But Longarm has an assistant in the guide now; Quidex the
Empath! You've seen him in TS, mending your wounds, listening to your
screams with a jolly grin, not because he's a sick demented soul
(although he might be.....) but because its experience for him, and now,
as the second member of the hopefully growing staff of Longarm
Fineblade's ULTIMATE Beginner's Guides, he joins me with his column, ask
an empath!!!! So, take it away, QUIDEX!!!!!!!
 
 

This scroll is for non-empaths (if you are an empath you may find the
Empath scroll by Eillie more helpful)

The goal is to help you learn how empaths work so that you can use that
knowledge to help you get healed faster.

This scroll does not discuss herbs, the healers tent, or any other means
of healing.  This scroll is also my opinion, as a third year empath, and
some empaths may disagree with me. Remember empaths are people too and
they are entitled to do things their own way...

I'll use myself, Quidex, in the examples so I don't offend anyone...

Alright lets say I've got a fractured and bleeding right arm and I'm
pretty low on blood...what to do?  Tend my wound and head to town square
center...no surprise. But how do I get the empaths there to help me?  I
could try the popular method...

Quidex Exclaims "help me!"
Quidex Exclaims "help me!"
Quidex Exclaims "help me!"
Quidex Exclaims "help me!"
Quidex Exclaims "help me!"
Quidex Exclaims "help me!"
Quidex Exclaims "help me!"

Alright that doesn't work...by the way, most empaths really hate this
and will ignore you until you quiet down or bleed to death. Most people
don't really use this method, but sometimes it seams like it.

What should I do...

Quidex lays down
Quidex Exclaims "I've got a fractured and bleeding right arm!"

Will this get an immediate response? Maybe.  It is more likely to get a
response then the "help me!" example.  There are several reasons why:

     1) Why should you lay down? Well that lets anyone who has skill at
     first aid prevent you from bleeding to death. An empath or
     non-empath may tend your fracture until proper care can be
     rendered.  Remember your can tend yourself!  I've seen people bleed
     to death because they stood around yelling "Help me!" If they would
     have just lain down someone could have tended their injury.

     2) To take your damage empaths need to know where it is.  By
     telling the empath WHERE your injury is, you save them the step of
     looking at you or diagnosing you. Be as specific as possible: if it
     is your hand say so.

     3) In this case, my injury requires the attention of a highly
     trained empath, by describing my injury I have a better chance of
     getting the empath I need.  Also, I will have alerted the younger
     empaths that I've lost blood and they may tend my arm and replace
     my blood so I don't bleed to death. So it is also important to say
     WHAT your injury is.

Lets say I also have minor cuts and bruises on my left arm, should I
mention this? Yes, BUT after my right arm has been fixed.  In other
words, triage yourself, worry about the worst injuries first.  Cuts and
bruises can wait, you won't die from them.  If your worried about scars;
minor wounds won't becomes scars right away, it takes some time. After
your right arm is fixed, then:

Quidex exclaims "I've got minor cuts and bruises on my left arm!"

So here are the high lights: What? Where? and How Bad?

Also look around, see what the empaths are doing. If they are all busy
taking injuries wait your turn.  Announce your problem and give the
empaths time to respond.  Watch to see if any empaths heal you.  I have,
on several occasions, had a person who was so busy commenting on their
condition that they did not notice that I healed them.

How often should I mention my problem and what else should I do:

Serious Bleeds and/or multiple bleeds:  You can be vocal.  But remember, the more noise you make the more you may be disrupting the healers who are trying to help you.  Screaming people are very distracting and they tend to slow down the transfer process. Don't do yourself a disservice, but don't let yourself bleed to death... THE BEST THING TO DO: Lay down, say WHAT and WHERE your problem is, and start trying to tend your bleeder(s).  This has two advantages:

     1) Everyone can see your in trouble and someone may help you. Yes,
     we can see you trying to tend your fracture(s), whether you succeed
     or fail. This also shows that you are trying to help yourself and
     thus may attract more people to help you.

     2) You may succeed in stopping the bleeding, thus buying yourself
     valuable time.

Minor bleeds:   Lay down, say WHAT and WHERE your problem is, and start
trying to tend your bleeder. When you tend a fracture everyone in the
room will see what and where you are trying to tend.  Each time your
bandages come loose say WHAT and WHERE your problem is and then try and
tend it again. Remember you are stable while you are not bleeding.
Relax.

Other Major problems without bleeding:  Sit down or lay down, state your
what and where your problem is, and wait.  If your not in danger of
dying have patience so we can deal with those who are about to die.
repeat your problem and description every 30 seconds or so...if things
are busy wait longer please don't add to the confusion.

Minor Cuts and Bruises:  (With additions by Leinna) Sit down or lay
down, state your what and where your problem is, and wait. Please be
patient for an empath to heal those wounds.  Be aware that, if an empath
already has a wound in that area, and takes your cut, he/she will start
to bleed.  Sometimes the empath needs time to recover manna and heal
themselves in that area, before they can take your wound.  If you don't
have time to wait, just use an herb or try alternate healing area (see
below). You can repeat your condition every so often, but more then once
every 30 seconds is too often. NOTE: The scar from a minor wound will
not hurt you, and the next time you have a cut in that same area, if an
empath takes the wound, they will also take the scar.

Just blood loss: same as Minor Cuts and Bruises. State you've lost some
blood.  If things look really bad, meaning there are lots of injured
people around, try alternate healing areas (see below).

IN ALL CASES: Once an empath has started helping you, quit asking for
help. If the empath who is helping you can't fix all your damage, let
them fix what they can and THEN state what and where your other injuries
are. If an empath sees major damage on you he or she will probably alert
the other empaths. Also keep tending your bleeders...tending does not
interfere with empaths.

But no one is helping me!!!! Trust me, most empaths don't ignore you. If
they don't respond it is probably because they are unable to help you.
Either there is no one present who can handle your level of damage or
everyone who can is busy.  Either wait or try alternate areas.  Give the
empaths some time, lay down and tend your wounds.  Someone will help
you.

Alternate healing areas (places to find healers other than Town Square)
1) Land's end (near the gate)

2) Cul-De-Sac lots of young empaths here ready to take your minor damage

3) The Well: there always seems to be at least one empath here

If all else fails:

1) rub your amulet and announce your location and problem. Only announce
it ONCE, someone will either show up or reply. Please DO NOT abuse the
amulets in this regard.  Otherwise you'll make everyone miserable.

2) buy some herbs or find someone who has some.

3) try the healers tent.

OLD INJURIES: (Old Injuries is by Eillie)
Scars, missing limbs and missing eyes:
No empath can transfer scars, missing (as opposed to severed) limbs,
etc., no matter what level they happen to be.  Even High Lord Strom
can't do it with his 90 or so years of experience.  It's just not
possible.  Busy empaths get pretty frustrated when somebody insists
repeatedly that someone must heal their mangled limbs, when they got
mangled because the person went to Surtey or ate Ephlox moss instead of
coming to an empath back when we could have done something about it.
Scars disappear when an injury on the same area is transferred, however
-- so if their leg is severed they can go ahead and eat moss, but don't
heal it all the way; LEAVE THOSE MINOR WOUNDS THERE.

Tree jumpers, sword lickers and other self abusers:
Why?  Follow the directions for bleeders but expect to be last in line.
You injured yourself... If I were you I'd have some herbs on hand so I
could rescue myself at the last second.  The more noise you make the
less likely you are to be helped-- if any empaths decide to help you at
all. Jump at your own risk!

The Future: Rumor has it that there may be a special healing area
created near Towns Square Center, my suggestions should help you to
spend as little time as possible there.

Health,
Quidex
 
 

NOTES ON SCARS: by Leianna
Head scars - a minor scar across the face seems to have no effect.
Several facial scars will stop your ability to channel to others. Old
mutilation wounds eliminate your ability to skin and search and to cast
certain spells.

Limb scars - mangled limbs, as far as I can tell, have no effect
whatsoever, other than making you look mangled ;) Missing limbs affect
you in the obvious ways... lowering your AS in battle, not allowing you
to hold things.. and making it awfully hard to stand up sometimes ;)

Chest, abs and back - No problems with old battle wounds, or painful
looking scars,  but I've had times when I've had terrible permanent
mutilation scars on all three and not been able to cast certain spells.
I'm not sure if it was these, or other scars that were stopping me
though.

Nerve scars - slurred speech has no effect. (I never bother to cure that
one.. everyone knows I can never speak well anyway)   Constant muscle
spasms eliminate searching, skinning, and casting certain spells.
Problems with muscle control do the same, also making it impossible to
swing a sword, accept things, and oddly enough, wave to people. ;)

Eye scars - these are the hardest ones to figure out. I've had them
affect me, and not affect me. Black and blue eyes don't seem to be a
problem, but severe bruises and swelling on both eyes has sometimes
eliminated searching, skinning and casting outside empath.  On the other
hand, sometimes with only one severe bruise, I've had no problems.
Blinded and missing eyes are the same.  However, I've had eyes blinded
in battle and haven't had it affect my searching abilities.  It only
seems to affect me if I've taken a blinded eye from others.
 

<<<<<<<NOT BAD, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. ANY NOTES BY LONGARM IN OTHER'S
SECTIONS WILL APPEAR LIKE THIS, FOR FUTURE REFERENCE>>>>>>
 

Well, this one was a LOT larger than normal, and we apologize for that,
but Ol' Quidex runs on a bit when he's excited.....he promised to keep
it a little shorter in the future, though! I'm sure that all of you will
enjoy his works, and any questions you have for him can be sent to me,
and I'll pass them along! Remember: DATASILVER@AOL.COM.

A few points before WE (not I) go:
1: There has been rumors of a little copycats going around. If it
doesn't say ULTIMATE Beginner's xxxxxxxx then its not the genuine
article!

2: I finally got that monster list in that everyone's been howling for.
Next up: the metals discussion!

3: If you are an experienced player: AT LEAST level 5, BARE minimum, we
might be interested in you coming aboard. Send something that might
resemble your Elanthia resume to me.
 
 

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ There is no knowledge that is not power. //////////////// Raiden
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ I have taken all knowledge to be my province. //////////////// Francis Bacon