OK, I know there's a lot of guides to being a warrior out there now, but hey, can anyone really do all that crap to get good within a few levels? No, I don't think so. This is what works for me. I'm young, but good.
Stats: Basically, get as good as you can get with Reflexes, Strength, and Constitution. Don't go over 90 on Strength and Constitution, because you get a +10 bonus for a good warrior race. My advice is to be either a giantman or a dwarf. I myself am a giantman, but the only drawback is their size. It makes it incredibly hard to be dragged back to town if you die, unless you have a fellow giant with you. One of my friends weighs in at 365 pounds, although that's rare. Also, their size gives monsters a small boost in AS, making them easier to be hit. Dwarves also have their problems, so take your pick on whichever you like best. Evenly distribute the rest of your stats, probably leaving Charisma and Intelligence the lowest. You should have no stat below 40 or so, if possible. Just take your time and reroll a lot until you get good numbers.
Skills: Warriors love their weapons, so pick a category (edged or blunt) to be the best in. Train as much as possible in your specialty. Pick up two-handed and multi-opponent skills with spare points until you have a real high AS in your specialty. Then you can concentrate on two-handed. That way, when you're a decent level, you can get more damage with a Claidhmore or greatsword. Also, you'll have a good DS without a shield. If you really want to, train in two-weapon combat, though I don't recommend it until you're at least level 5 or 6. Train in combat maneuvers as much as you can, it gives you a higher DS and AS with any type of weapon, including bare knuckles. Train in shield use a little, armor use a little, and physical training as much as you can. It ups your hitpoints fast. Get some hide and ambush sometime early, but not in the first few levels. I like picking up a lot of pickpocket skills, but it's definitely not necessary for warriors. Get some perception, but don't max out on it or anything. Aside from that, get whatever else you want that you can get. Magic item use comes in handy if you can get it. That way, if you're caught with no weapon (it happens) and you're not a good brawler, you can at least wave a silver wand alright. Contrary to just about everyone else, I don't get brawling skills. It's a waste, in my opinion. Combat maneuvers handles it fine.
Items: Like I said, warriors love their weapons. Run a message or two to get enough moolah to buy at least a broadsword or mace, depending on your weapon type. Broadswords hit better than any edged weapon at the armory. If you find one, though, get a falchion, they hit a little bit better. Drake weapons are nice for start, if you want one. Either find one or there's always a good supply of them through the door of the pawnshop, in the back. Most of them run from 500-750 silvers, and give small 5-15 point elemental flares occasionally. Once you get up in levels, if you can easily afford them (I can't), get a mithril, imflass, or weapon of that sort. They're very expensive, but boost your AS. If you ever spot a kregora or krodera sword, buy it if you can! You have to be level 13 to even touch it, but it boosts your AS 25! I have heard of metals that give even more, but have never seen one. Other kinds of weapons can really be better, but they get expensive and are covered in weapons lists, so I won't cover them. Armorwise, I recommend double leather for starters. Once you get enough armor use so it doesn't hurt your RT, get studded leather with a good helm, or Brigandine armor. A lot of this stuff can be found off monsters, so look around. Get a good, big backpack, since you're strong enough to carry alot, especially giantmen. Get whatever other stuff catches your eye. Get a good shield, but until you can afford a mithril one, I'd stick with an ordinary reinforced one. Buy spare stuff when you can and put it in a locker in Moot Hall. That way, you're not stuck if you die. Save up money in the bank. Gems are nice supplements if you're low on cash, but remember they're worth 4 times as much if you're buying deeds.
Experience: A lot of players have a problem getting much experience. I've sorted my advice into sections by level.
Level 0: A lot of people don't know that you don't even have to fight anything to get past level 0. Simply use a downloaded map or DIR to go to all the different stores, taverns, inns, and areas in the town. That will get you plenty of experience to claim your first level. You get experience on 0 the first time you enter and exit a place. Don't claim level 1 at the inn until you've been everywhere. You still get experience for it. If for some incredibly strange reason you can't get to 1 by doing this, run messages from Moot Hall. It gives you exp. and money. The best money comes from the blacksmith, Iron Jack. I've gotten 650 from one message from him before!
Level 1: This level often takes the longest to gain, but don't worry, it's not too hard. You can continue to run messages for money and exp., but once you're fully armed and armored, feel free to step into the forest. Don't go into the stupid catacombs! It's a waste of your time. It's incredibly crowded and the rats are too easy even for level one. Directly outside the gates you'll find an occasional rolton, which is some kind of deranged mutated sheep-thing. To the SW then S you'll find kobolds, which aren't hard at all, either. They also carry items and $$$, so hunt those if you can. Don't go until Hobland yet unless you're in a group with a few level 2 or 3 people. By all means, don't try to kill velnalins, which are to the W of kobold land. They are fast, and often attack in groups of 3 or more. They might not have great AS's, but they hit hard. Also, at the S end of kobland, avoid ANY wolverines or lesser orcs that stray into the area. They are deadly to most level one'ers, although some people can manage wolvies without killing themselves. Don't try it much though.
Level 2: By the time you reach this point, you can customize weapons. Feel free to buy something you can call your own, although it's something of a waste of money. In my experience, a plain broadsword hits just as well as a metal or iron one. Colors do NOTHING, so just pick one you like. Feel free to go after hobgoblins now. If in a good group, venture into Upper Trollfang for lesser orc, wolvie, and cockatrice hunting. Be careful though! Stay in stance defensive until one attacks, then hop into offensive to attack, and then back to defensive until it attacks again. You might not get many kills, but you leech off the other person's experience from being in the group if you hit it once. Don't go too far, though. You don't want to get caught with 2 GREATER orcs around you. I was stupid enough to go to hill troll land once at level one. To put it simply, I got BBQ'd. Good example of going too far. Also, you can head down to the Gnoll lair and gnome mine, off the fire pit hob area. Be careful if you climb the slope to mountain snowcat land. They're easy to kill, but they swarm like velnalins and also get lucky hits like them. They're a bit slower, but not much. Try picking up some Brigandine armor and 2-handed swords in the area. They sell for decent money at the pawn. If you find a gold ring (lucky you), set it to the pawnshop and collect stuff, transport there; then, after selling your stuff, and WITHOUT moving from that screen, use it again, and it'll take you right back where you were. Quick way to make money. That's about it for 2, I think. Just be smart.
Levels 3-7: First off, don't be surprised when you reach level 5 that levels take twice as much experience to get to 6. It happens. Then it eventually reaches 50,000 per level once you're a lord or lady. Now, from about level 3, you can be pretty much safe from the lucky hits of vels, snowcats, and wolverines. Now they don't give quite as much experience, and none of them have items (although I once found an anklet on a snowcat!?), so they're pretty useless unless you like them. At level 4 or 5, you can try your hand at greater orcs in a small group of at least two in case one of you gets hurt. Try to find or buy a gold ring, so you can get back quickly if you're bleeding badly. Try out forest trolls, but you might want to keep away from hill trolls for now. Go for the coastal cliffs and graveyards, but remember that some things there are undead, so you'll either need a good cleric with you, or have your blade blessed. Have fun in the kob mines, too. There's a couple of decent puzzles in there. Try to find a secret entrance to it... I once had a map to it, but I died, so now it's somewhere else. Don't try Dangirland yet unless you're a good level 7, real good. Castle Claedsbrim is also off limits. Levels get a bit easier since you can kill things better. Maybe by now you'll have an enchanted weapon or some such. If you do, you're fairly well off. You should also have plenty of money in the bank. Just keep plugging away at what you kill best. If you can consistently kill something in one good slice, it's time to move on. You can do better.
Levels 8 and up: By now, you can be fairly safe in Dangirland, Silver Lake, that area. But PLEASE stay away from the spider temple and areas like that until you're a lord or lady. It hurts. Trust me. It's not nice to have a level 23 Draken Hound staring you in the face. Can you say, "extra tasty crispy"? Also, wait a while to stay away from the fire realm. But basically, if you're already this far, you know what's going on and don't really need much of my advice. And, if you're on Teras Island, you're a lord or lady, and I wish you luck and Godspeed. Don't get killed too much by those +300 AS lizards and stuff. I'm not there, and I'm glad.
The Last Words: General Advice: Just a couple of random thoughts. Always try to tip your empaths. This gives them incentive to heal you next time. If you have no cash on you, most healers accept gems, spare weapons, etc. After a while, you'll start feeling like a few people are your own personal healers. Always look in the pawnshop if you're looking for new weapons and armor. Never eat yellow snow. Make lots of good friends that you can trust and depend on to hunt with. Be careful in the gemcutter's, as lots of pickpockets hang out there. Some also hang around the pawn. You don't need a shovel THAT big. If you get trapped somewhere and you're lost, for goodness sake, yell for help. Somebody is always willing to show you the way back. If you're heading into a new, dangerous area, ALWAYS have someone with you at least the first time. There are lots of places where people don't go often: ex. Spider Temple - ung... If you die, you have someone there to take you back in that case. Have fun, and enjoy your time on Elanthia.
P.S. My name is Veralidaine Sarrasri, if you didn't like this, I don't care, if you did like it, you have good taste, and remember: donations are always gladly accepted (hint hint wink wink). If you have a question, just email me at Phaster999@aol.com and I'll try to help. This concludes a fairly young warrior's rantings and ravings. We now continue with our regularly scheduled Gemstone III, provided that it isn't "Down for Maintenance."
Final Note to Simultronics : I know this wasn't In Character, but could I PLEASE have one of those little experience modifiers??? Pretty please? I love you all, even when the game's down.