How to "level" on this server? Players wanted!

[BPMasher]

Hey,

I'm not a new player on this server, I know the basics of D&D, but I find it hard to navigate towards acceptable level quests on this server. All the challenge ratings are way too much for a single character, and I'm having trouble enjoying the game grinding the bandit cave and wolf quest over and over. I have a couple of quests from NPCs, particularly challenging for a level 4 cleric to clear by himself.

I've got some gear, half-plate and an arfifact mace, but gear can take me only so far.

If anyone wants to party up for early levels that would be appreciated, and probably more fun than soloing the game all the time.

[Steve]

Hello!

Best bet is you list your regular game time and time zone, so that Players can know where and when to find you on a regular basis. Regularity is often the key ingredient to forming a Group in-character to explore the Server.

[bharring]

If you haven't already, talk to the odd old man collecting bones by the cemetery. He has a pen pal, and no decent mail delivery contact.

After talking to him, head south, over the large bridge, then check out the hill on your right (west). Explore this hill - Hilltop - slowly, carefully. Don't be afraid to run away as needed. You will frequently run into strangers tending to their own business, some of which may join you.

I recently created a cleric, although he got lucky with gear and is rather combat-focused. I assume you're using a shield and self-buffs? At level 4, he could handle the first "level" under Hilltop.

I have a couple characters that pass through that way for different reasons, but they're a bit too high to be of help anymore. Who's your character (not just name, but also diety, goals and purpose)? I have a number of characters I've started who are about level 4, if I see you I might join you.

I've found that once you can do Hilltop and below, getting to level 6-8 just sorta happens. I've had trouble narratively finding somewhere else for my Druid after that (for narrative reasons), but my cleric is less picky, and he finds challenges easily.

Another option seems to be the sewers under the East Gate. But for narrative reasons I haven't been down there much.

[Mallore]

If you have Discord. There is a Looking For Group tab where you can post to tag team with others. If your grinding wolves and bandits you should be able to start taking on zombies in the graveyard, kolbolds at hilltop and bandits in the BG Sewer whim have two or three quests linked to it.

[BPMasher]

If you haven't already, talk to the odd old man collecting bones by the cemetery. He has a pen pal, and no decent mail delivery contact.

After talking to him, head south, over the large bridge, then check out the hill on your right (west). Explore this hill - Hilltop - slowly, carefully. Don't be afraid to run away as needed. You will frequently run into strangers tending to their own business, some of which may join you.

I recently created a cleric, although he got lucky with gear and is rather combat-focused. I assume you're using a shield and self-buffs? At level 4, he could handle the first "level" under Hilltop.

I have a couple characters that pass through that way for different reasons, but they're a bit too high to be of help anymore. Who's your character (not just name, but also diety, goals and purpose)? I have a number of characters I've started who are about level 4, if I see you I might join you.

I've found that once you can do Hilltop and below, getting to level 6-8 just sorta happens. I've had trouble narratively finding somewhere else for my Druid after that (for narrative reasons), but my cleric is less picky, and he finds challenges easily.

Another option seems to be the sewers under the East Gate. But for narrative reasons I haven't been down there much.

Yeah my dwarf is called Bondor Stoutfoot, he's a follower of Clangeddin. As for goals, he's out to make a name for Clangeddin among the human folk, and hopefully convert a dude or two

I use a shield and cure wounds spells, no buffs (what are there available?) as of yet. I just go to monsters and start bashing, and run away if it's too difficult.

[BPMasher]

I'm on at this time forward if I pick this game up again, plus mornings on the weekends, timezone gmt +2.

Whether I will keep playing will depend upon my character progress and multiplayer possibilities.

[Winterborne]

It is worth noting that a new shop opened recently in the Wide (merchant area of the east gate district) which sells a lot of items that will grant you +5 hp. You can wear a lot of these for a very significant boost in health which will let you survive much better at early levels.

Buffing yourself makes a big difference at lower levels. Things that grant you a little extra AC or something like protection from evil can be the difference between taking no damage and being unable to survive.

I would suggest barkskin and mage armor potions for starters. Clerics are fairly reliant on their magic for effectiveness.

[bharring]

You might want to consider using heal kits for healing, and your spells for other things. Heal kits are absurdly generous and cheap, whereas healing spells are a bit weak compared to "real" d&d (people get a lot more HP, so each healed HP is less impactful).

If you're bashing skulls, Bulls Strength goes a long way - +2 to hit means 10% of your attacks would have missed, but now hit. More impact fully, if you were hitting on 16s, for instance, you'd now be hitting on 14s. That's a 50% increase in hits. And that's before considering the +2 damage.

Same thing for defenses. +1 AC doesn't sound like a lot, but if you're fighting something that hits you on a 19+, a +1AC actually *halves* your chance of being hit.

+con, like Bears Endurance, can also help. But it can be dangerous, as you lose the HP when it expires. I died in a clearing by resting once, because losing the +con took my remaining HP negative.

You'll need 5th level for Protection from Evil (or any alignment). Its great. And it practically never expires (its duration is so long I've never seen it happen). That'll help, too.