Need some beginner help.

[Calantyr]

Hi, I've run into a bit of a problem. I've reached level 8 but everywhere I go I end up dying.

The Graveyard, wolves, bandits, and kobold/bladeling dungeon no longer give much xp. However if I go to the Cloakwood I die in about 12 seconds (due to shamans surrounding me and all casting Inflict Wounds), if I go to the Wood of Sharp Teeth I get cut in half by the high BAB orcs, and if I go south the goblins along the Trade Way swarm me while their shamans magic me to death.

The only place I've found where I can reliably gain XP and/or gold (without risking serious setbacks due to death) are the aforementioned graveyard and bladelings. I'm having trouble exploring further, and partying up with people is hard due to the timezone I'm in.

So is there an area of low/no-magic enemies I can fight that are around my level? Several years back I think I can remember ogres somewhere along the Trade Way, but I can't find a single one now.

Edit: And yes, I've spent the last day RP'ing in character to find out the answer. Either no one knows or they aren't telling me.

[mrm3ntalist]

What build you play?

In general, ption of barkskin,mage armor and shield help a lot at the cloakwood. The potion can be bught from BG

[Calantyr]

What build you play?

In general, ption of barkskin,mage armor and shield help a lot at the cloakwood. The potion can be bught from BG

Sword and Board. I'll grab some Barkskin and try the orcs again.

Last time I went to the cloakwood I was surrounded by 4 shamans within twenty seconds or transitioning, they all cast Inflict (Light?) Wounds on me, each did 20+ damage, and I died in less than 12 seconds. Is there anything I can do to stop that?

Edit: I'm pretty good at luring spawns, but they all seemed to spawn around me while I was fighting the first Talosi I came up against. It's not worth me going there if I'm going to lose 800xp just for visiting.

[mrm3ntalist]

Last time I went to the cloakwood I was surrounded by 4 shamans within twenty seconds or transitioning, they all cast Inflict (Light?) Wounds on me, each did 20+ damage, and I died in 12 seconds. Is there anything I can do to stop that?

Unfortunatly you can only try to run. Other than that, a death ward casted on you can help, but most likely it will be dispelled quickly. So... only run.

Dont just buy barkskin. Buy mage armor as well. Cure wounds potions will help as well especially with harm

[Thorsson]

At level 8 you should be killing these guys in Cloakwood quickly. There's a word - tactics.

So, no running around like a headless chicken. Check out your surroundings and make sure it's a 1 on 1 fight if possible. Then realise that the Shaman will self-buff for 2 rounds if you don't get within melee range and take advantage of that by launching a couple of ranged attacks before you close. Then it's all about hitting and the amount of damage you do per hit. I normally start soloing these guys at level 6.

[Calantyr]

Unfortunatly you can only try to run. Other than that, a death ward casted on you can help, but most likely it will be dispelled quickly. So... only run.

Dont just buy barkskin. Buy mage armor as well. Cure wounds potions will help as well especially with harm

Cheers, I'll give it a go. Of course it may not work when you drop 60+ HP in a single round. I'm still bitter about that.

At level 8 you should be killing these guys in Cloakwood quickly. There's a word - tactics.

So, no running around like a headless chicken. Check out your surroundings and make sure it's a 1 on 1 fight if possible. Then realise that the Shaman will self-buff for 2 rounds if you don't get within melee range and take advantage of that by launching a couple of ranged attacks before you close. Then it's all about hitting and the amount of damage you do per hit. I normally start soloing these guys at level 6.

All of which I did. And still got killed in a round and a half.

[Rhifox]

Go to the goblin caves. Goblins on the trade way have those annoying mages, but there are none of them in the caves. My level 7 fighter could solo that place pretty easy (at least until I forgot to move away from a dead sapper while fighting the worg boss pack, but that was just me being stupid).

[Calantyr]

Go to the goblin caves. Goblins on the trade way have those annoying mages, but there are none of them in the caves. My level 7 fighter could solo that place pretty easy (at least until I forgot to move away from a dead sapper while fighting the worg boss pack, but that was just me being stupid).

Sounds good! Is that the cave labelled 'ruin' one area north of Beregost?

[Rhifox]

Yup. Just take it slow and pull with ranged weapons to avoid getting swarmed.

[ShortRedandLoud]

Cloakwood should be doable, although I haven't played much of it since they switched out the lizardfolk. Four shamen is retreating time for most characters, for sure, though.

Goblins could be a viable alternative, since their primary offense is AC-based until you get to the murderboss.

There's also the Cloakwood mines. The first floor's not too bad and has treasure. The second floor is a bit tougher, though, so use caution, due to mages. If you can manage it, you can do the ore quest on the second floor, too (Quest starts in east district of BG). If you don't have tumble, I wouldn't recommend going for the third floor egg quest. (Quest starts in the Friendly Arm Inn interior), as the tumble check basically just murders you and any party members you might have.

Additionally, there is the Island off Ulgoth's Beard, which has the berry quest (Quest starts in the east district of BG). The fishmen aren't too bad, especially at 8.

Obviously partying increases your ability to group places. If you get a solid party, I'd recommend gnolls or high hedge. If you get an exceptional party, xvarts or orcs.

Being able to solo Cloakwood, in my experience, also has good chances of others looking for exp eventually showing up to join you.

[Calantyr]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've since found the Goblin Mines and Sharp Teeth Orcs to be far, far, far safer areas than the Cloakwood Talosi (even managed to kill the Goblin shaman and his Warg cavalry). The difference is like night and day.

[Hawke]

You can do orcs at level 8? Dang, I do play gimped builds LOL!

Cloakwood should be very viable until like level 12 or so. The xp gets lighter, but the spawn rate (or it used to be) is pretty high. After that goblins, then orcs, then xvarts (or xvarts in a group, they swarm).

In orc cave, just be careful of the "caster" same with kobold... they don't play fair.

[Theodore01]

and the troll cave near candlekeep is not to difficult, you need something to finish them however.

[V'rass]

If you transitioned into the cloakwood and there were a bazillion enemies hanging out there then in all likelihood somebody else drew them there and then left. Very few of the dungeons on the server have even 1 mob at the entrance much less 5 or more. People go in, get overwhelmed, and then flee with an army of mobs behind them or in some cases they go in and deliberately draw them to the entrance and then leave just to grief low lv characters. The latter is usually the case. Simply leave, wait for a while then go back in... the mobs will either despawn or somebody will kill them while you were waiting.

[Kiran]

Hi Calantyr!

I have a level 8 dwarf tank and happy to team up, we can also discuss build since you are able to rcr 100% now and see if something can be fixed perhaps.

at level 8 I am currently running 40 ac buffed, so orcs are not a problem, xvarts however when they hit hit hard, and their mages are just impossible for me to solo properely as I cant get them down fast enough before they cocoon.... otherwise is all good, usually whatever time it is there is someone else your level looking to group.

But otherwise couple of scrolls of barkskin goes a long way