Hi Smiley! Hlad to have you join us! Guess you have internet access now, huh? I sent you an e-mail when we started.

Syd, did you get the quest for the dwarves? I've been playing arcomage for a couple of days. It can be frustrating. The inns in Harmondale, Tularean Forest, & Erathia only take a tower of 50 to win, but when they get to where you need 200, it's tough! It's like any other card game--the luck of the draw is all-important.

I had to give up for awhile on Colony Zod -I'm only level 45. I'm usually around L60 when I do it.

Pokey & Syd - have you gotten to the point where you have to choose a side? I went with the Light side this time. I think it's a little easier.

Barb

Yup I'm finally online again Yeah, I saw your email and it looks like I've got lots of catching up to do

I was about to ask about that--the easier way. Not there yet. I just got the trumpet. The shops in Erathia give some really good armor for your ore. I sold what I couldn't use and have quite a bit of money now.

Nope Barb haven't made it that far yet - my little group is trapped in Barrow Downs [sigh] We aren't really strong enough to be there and yet, here we are I think we are only level 9 or so - I figure I'll be another 6 months at the rate I'm going

I haven't hit a tower that requires 200 yet - 100 was my max so far. The tower that required 100 took me a few tries before I beat it.

VHL - I haven't been paying attention - do you lose money when you play acromage? I don't recall betting any gold -

Hi Smiley - welcome

Syd, I hope you didn't go into the underground Barrows like I did when I was really supposed to be at Stone City. The Barrows are very difficult. I don't plan to go back there.

I'm ready to chose a side. I assume I can still finish up quests later.

The Barrows aren't too hard. You can run through it for most quests.

I'm not doing too well at Arcomage. It seems like my opponent gets all the good cards!

Pokey, you can still do most of the quests no matter which side you choose, but there are some that are different for Light & Dark parties. You'll find a few quests that can only be done with a light party & some only with a dark party. After you choose a side, the quests for advancing are different.

It's been a long time since I chose the Dark side, so I started another game with a dark party.

How's it going, Smiley?

It's going well so far. I'm currently rescuing some dwarfs and trying to avoid the medusas

How's it going for everyone else?

Barb, you mean the underground Barrows aren't too difficult? Above ground I could run through, but the underground with narrow corridors and lots of enemies I couldn't get through without a lot of battles and I gave up on it. Maybe when I am at a higher level. I am at level 12 now and got some great armor in trade for ore so maybe I could do it now. I am trying to progress to Wizard but can't get the arm from the island off Avlee without dying.

[Pokey don't tell Barb but the Barrows are hard!]
I'm trying to get past the zombies to get to the lantern that's somewhere in there and it's kill one, run away and heal, kill one, run away and heal. These suckers are blocking the entrance so I can't get around them and they don't move when you yell at them to - trust me I've tried

Syd, that is hard work. I'm saving that for later when I'm stronger. Did you rescue the dwarves?

I was talking about the above-ground part of the Barrow Downs. There are a few quests, like the Haunted Mansion, that you can run to, but you still have to kill whatever is inside. The different barrows are full of monsters that are fairly low level. I wouldn't attempt them without Ice Bolt or Acid Burst. Acid Burst will take out a skeleton or ghost with one shot. I hope everyone is developing their Water skill. You need expert to use acid burst.

Smiley, did you finish the game last time? I remember when you rescued the swarves, I told you to run through. If you go back to Hothfarr & he says you haven't completed the mission, you know you missed a dwarf. There are 7 of them.

Pokey, that arm on the island in Avlee is the hardest one to get! That's where I put all my money in the bank, swim out & get the arm, die, & when I end up back in Harmondale, I just get my gold out of the bank, & I have the arm!

Barb, I wouldn't have thought of that. Nice to have a Might and Magic veteran to give advice. I'll try it if all else fails. I am on the Path of Light now and heading back to the desert--what a confusing place. It took me about an hour last time to find the tavern.

Well I finally got the lantern at least. If there's anything else in that place it's going to have to wait

Nope Pokey I haven't rescued the dwarves yet. That's where I'm going next. I figure since Smiley has been there cleaning out the medusas I will have clear sailing

Acid burst - I knew there was one spell I had the last time I played this that I don't have now. Thanks Barb - I'm off to find someone that has it for sale. I think I have enough gold to buy it.

The Water Guild in the Tularean Forest usually has acid burst, & sometimes Town Portal. The Air guild there usually has Fly & Invisibility.

Well..... I didn't manage to kill any medusas, got 1 turned to stone and 1 killed

There's a lot of gold to be had in Barrow Downs. I was running around lost as usual and came upon a chest filled with lots of gold and goodies. Much on the ground too. Unfortunately I got killed so need to go back and find it again.

I need to seriously get my Disarm Traps skill up. There are chests in the Haunted Mansion in Barrow Downs that kill me every time I try to open them. There are also a couple in the Tularean Caves that I would love to be able to get into also.

Found Acid Burst and my it does a nice job

Well found the Red Dwarf mines - guess it's time to wade in - wish I had a mirror to use on those blasted medusas.

I am at the Walls of Mist. This looks like it is going to be a pain. Any tips here? Am I going to have to have invisibility?

Arrrggghhh - Pokey and Barb how on earth did you make it through the Red Dwarf Mines??? I am toast after about three steps.

I swear I heard Smiley moaning from somewhere in there.

I just ran through and had little trouble. I don't recall being hit much at all. What is your armor rating?

My armor rating is probably in the cellar. Everyone but my knight is in leather. From the sounds of the question, me thinks I need to invest a bit more in armor. Off I go shopping

Thanks Pokey

All my crew has leather too except for the Paladin in chainmail. Do you have expert in leather and anything else you can find to raise armor? I should think you could do it with leather with a high armor rating--but you need to dodge those globs. There are some quiet places where your cleric can heal you

Pokey, I never attempt the Walls of Mist without Invisibility. On the path of light, you aren't supposed to kill any of the creatures in there, so I think it would be impossible without it. If I were you, Syd, I'd print the map of the Red Dwarf Mines & just run through & rescue the dwarves, mark on the map which ones you've done. Pokey is right - there are a couple of places where you can rest. If you have your game set to "always run," it isn't too hard to avoid the oozes. The hardest part is leaving the mines & getting back to the stables without getting killed!

I think I did the mines with no armor at all. The sorcerer can never wear anything except leather, but the cleric & thief can learn chain.

Found the two legs at Deyja and just need the correct head to finish off my golem and then I will be able to use the invisibility spell. The moors is not a pleasant place.

Hi all,

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth.

The nicest armor that I have seen in this game is in Celeste (the place in the clouds) and the Pit in Deyja.

My mouth dropped a mile when I first saw the armor there and drooled.

Very very expensive though so save up.

Training is also very expensive and this game has a way of sucking up your
money very fast.

Sounds like you guys are doing good and having a lot of fun.

****how dare they have so much fun without me...hmpt