The Official "What Should I Train, Why, and Where?" Thread

[corpsestomp]

Why? To maybe cut down on the multiple threads asking these questions, or possibly just give people tips on what's important, and what's not.

This thread assumes you'll be mastering weapons and defenses, whether at the fields, or another training place of your choice. In certain classes cases, namely warrior, ranger and monk, list order you'd master defenses in.

It also assumes you'll be mastering (or close to mastering), some things while leveling. Dirt, damaging spells, etc. It won't take into account things that take excessive time, like mana charge or warcry, things that naturally just take time on the character to up.

Feel free to add your own tips, and why.

Any class that has sanctuary or protective shield should master it, simply because you don't want to fail it mid-fight and get pummeled without either or both.

Cancellation is an amazing spell, specifically for invokers who may need to change their mana/fire/ice shield quickly, you don't want to get stuck with the wrong one.

[Croyvern]

first, to all new players, when deciding what to train, read the essays about your class.

second, train all weapons and all defenses allowed to you. Unless you have a role play reason not to train them, for instance; I desire to become a crusader and believe the Lord is my shield against harm, or, I lost my left arm as a child so I can not utilize two handed weapons, ect.

third master all skills that will lag or slow your opponent, bash, trip, blind, poison, ect.

last but most important, master your environment, learn where your opponent will have the advantage and do not fight them there. If you can gain an edge do it, but NEVER let them have the advantage. For instance, take dirt kickers out on the water if you can (provided they are not Storm Giants), or lure evil characters near aggressive good mobs (like Kesrick).

As for where to train, the practice fields were built for training defenses, but a berserker can master every weapon there before he masters dodge. If he uses swing. Weapons can be trained along the way, but a fair understanding of all the weapons you can get will aid you on your way to the top.

[corpsestomp]

Mastering defenses 101:

Doing defenses in a specific order will ease frustration and speed up the process quite a bit. I've found that doing them in this order is quickest for me.

Dual parry

Riposte

Parry/shield block

Dodge

Obviously exclude what you don't have.

Where is up to you, but generally scarecrows and crows are fastest. THere are a decent number of higher level mobs that have multiple attacks.

Why? Because dual parry is awful. And it seems to take forever. After you master it, all you have to do to get rid of it is not dual wield. From there riposte is easy with a pair of whips(just don't practice the skill beforehand). Parry and shield block together until you master one or the other, then take off the shield or weapon to finish. Finally, go no shield or weapon for dodge.

[mya]

Mastering weapons:

Hand to Hand. Buy a flute that you wield with both hands, proceed to fight it off in some far off place.

All other weapons, buy a practice weapon. The dummy quest in Maelbrim will teach you. If you can dual wield always use two weapons. You don't need to buy two of the same, just wield a mace and dual a whip for example. Next find a mob with high AC, like scarecrows/crows, or one with lots of them, like the undead in tombs. Use eq to lower Hitroll and STR and just keep missing on them. "miss" is still hitting, but for zero damage, so you will learn.

[Demiterracotta]

For training weapons and if you are higher level and you don't want to go through everything for gathering oak rings and demon talismans etc. Just equip a normal (regular damage) weapon and go find the ghosts near volcano.

There is also a lot less traffic around that area and you won't have to remove your armor to do it.