Ancient Anguish [LPMUD] Let's Play

The combat, I would say is a very big highlight of the game. The players that have explored the game through still stay for the combat, and have been in game for many many years.

The combat is round based, with each round passing in a real time of about two seconds per round. Within each round, you will autoattack once, and the enemy will auto attack you. Special class abilities, thrown weapons, bows and arrows, spells, etc can be used by reflex, meaning they take effect instantly. This results in high burst damage and high burst healing being allowed in the game which results in some very fast paced and at the very most intense of times twitch based gameplay vs those elite mobs that can do 1/2 or more of your HP in a single round of combat.

So all in all, it's a fast-paced round based combat where there are constant actions and reactions based on the situation. It is barely possible to do as many actions as permitted by the game with regular human input with the following example. (ie: auto attack, then unwield your weapon and wield a bow, then fire an arrow, then throw a thrown weapon, then cast a spell within 2 seconds using text commands)

This, being within a text environment adds a certain mechanical cap to the game that is quite high. Spamming all of these things every round of combat would probably hurt quite a bit over the course of an hour or so(I wouldn't recommend it, besides it would cost a lot of money for all those arrows and thrown weapons which break). So there is a great level of mechanical skill if you wish to push yourself to that level.

There is a VERY large amount of consumables in the game, all providing different costs/angles to play the game. Example for alcohol here(yeah I know you don't really need to care about this not having played the game) https://sites.google.com/site/cosmofanguish/Home/alcoholic-s-almanac.
As a powerplayer I typically just go for big burst heals/sps. All consumables provide equal hp/sp restoration besides potions.
Natural HP/SP regen in the game is extremely low. Effective hps/sps is done in a number of ways using consumables.
Smoking: Yes, smoking your pipe or rolled tobacco HEALS you. You pack a bowl and smoke it over the period of several minutes giving you bonus regen during that period of time.
Medicinals: You can "bind wounds" with medicinals found from fredd's shop or uena, also regen.
Satiation/Drunkenness: when checking your "score" screen, you might see "starving" Don't worry your character can't starve. These two stats cap how much food and drink you can consume for healing. The cap of food/drink is based off of the stat constitution.
Potions: The most powerful burst HP/SP in the game. There is no limit to how much you can drink. The only catch is they are very expensive and you build up a tolerance over time. This tolerance has to be purged by a cleric or from a special sauna in one of the villages.
You can also heal up by sleeping in inns/bedrolls and as a newbie, beds in the newbie areas.

You can move around the game with north, east, south, west, up, down, etc.
Movement happens instantly and game only limits speedwalking(the use of scripts/auto input)
Descriptions of the rooms always incude the exits. Closed doors are shown in the long description, and there may be other hidden exits/ways to climb etc.

By skills I mean weapon skills
Skills are a big reason why players continue to play this game even today. 1700/1700 is coveted and respected amongst players and only insane people get to 1700 on classes other than fighter. Two-weapon is by far the hardest and probably most beneficial to train, especially for fighters. You can train any skill at any time. Skills are capped at level*5 + 5

help skills
SYNOPSIS:
Combat requires you to train your skills to be more effective in that
area of skill. For example, if you want to be good at longswords, you
should train your skill in that area.

Skills are trained in:
longsword, shortsword, axe, curved blade, two-handed sword,
two-handed axe, spear, knife, staff, flail, club, rapier, polearm,
exotic, markmanship, two weapon, and unarmed

Equipment is basically this: Upon quitting out of the game, you drop all of your EQ. The only persistent thing in the game is gold and reagents on the caster classes. Usually you can just sell your eq to the shop and buy it back when you log back in. Certain clans allow for storage, and player houses in the game(rare and expensive).

The other thing about eq: on reboot, all shops are reset. The game essentially resets itself once every 48 hours. The reason this is necessary is because of unique items. The uniques in the game are truly unique, meaning only one instance of them available. These items drop from certain mobs in the game.

Advancement: Levels are 1-50. Nobody has reached the level cap since 1992. One player is level 48, the rest are in the 30s somewhere. After level 18, your character is essentailly "max level" you no longer gain stat points through anything other than traits(one stat trait takes about 25million exp).

Make sure to cap your stats out for every level before you advance level. You have to advance stats individually and manually before each level up. If you level up before maxing your stats, you can just raise them up at the next level. Levels dont make you any more powerful, the stats do.

When you level up past 18, you get a small bonus in hp / sp / can carry a little more / food/drink limit. The biggest advancements after 18 come from traits, which are extremely powerful. The 25 million for 1 stat is well worth it.

+ Show Spoiler [INFORMATION] +

Death in the game, as a mechanic is quite brutal. I played hardcore diablo 2 for a long time so I'm used to harsh death mechanics. For those of you not so fortunate, well, when you suck, you get puinshed for sucking. This can deter players from the game, but I really like that the things I do have an effect in the game. In a game where PvE is the primary focus, these types of things really have to matter for the game to have a sustaining level of fun. So when you die, you lose 33% of current exp I believe it is(you get knocked down one level).

You can take a trait to reduce this xp loss.

+ Show Spoiler [List of Traits] +

Traits are learnt over time, from hard work and experience. All new
players start with 6 'trait points' and get one more per level up to
level 20. After that, one additional point is awarded for every 200,000
experience.

Different traits cost different amount of points to advance. To see how
much each trait costs, type 'thelp list'. If you choose to specialise in
a trait, each additional point in that trait will cost three times more than
the last point you invested in that trait. This inflationary effect will
tail off eventually, however.

Note that you can only have a maximum of 15 different traits. To clarify,
someone with 1 point in 15 different traits can advance any of those 15
further, but cannot gain a new 16th trait.

Type 'thelp cost' or 'tcost' anywhere to see what traits you can learn,
and type 'tadvance <trait name>' to attempt to learn the new trait. You can
also see a list of only the traits you possess by typing 'thelp current'.

Ancient Anguish: FAQ by Ryan_

Serin's Newbie Guide to Ancient Anguish - Version 1.55
==============================================

This is a comprehensive guide to the text-based LP MUD Ancient Anguish. All
information here is copyrighted by me, except for that which was reprinted
with permission from their respective owners. None of this may be reprinted,
in part or by whole, and is made solely for personal use.

If you spot any errors or wish to comment, please feel free to e-mail me at
perringldneyes at yahoo DOT com.

---------------
Version Updates
---------------

Version 1.55 (08-09-07) - Added Traits and Snowfolk, made minor changes.
Version 1.50 (04-21-07) - Finally added Artificers and new Cleric prayer.
Version 1.33 (11-14-04) - Updated Mage, Fighter, Cleric, and Paladin powers.
Version 1.23 (10-19-04) - Updated CX to reflect new Nepeth and fixed errors.
Version 1.22 (06-04-04) - Added newbie weapon info and fixed a few things.
Version 1.12 (09-16-03) - Updated Mage and Ranger info.
Version 1.02 (12-02-02) - Reorganized CX list, fixed Shifter info.
Version 1.01 (10-15-02) - Fixed several small errors and typos.

=================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================

INTRODUCTION

1. LOGGING ON
-Racial Differences

2. NEWBIE GUIDE
-List of Common Commands
-Introduction to Weapons
-Etiquette

3. THE CLASSES
-Fighters
-Clerics
-Mages
-Rogues
-Rangers
-Paladins
-Necromancers
-Shapeshifters
-Artificers

4. GUILDS
-The Black Bear
-Courts of Chaos
-Eldar
-Scythe Clan
-Monks of Antana
-Knights of Drin
-Brotherhood of the Raven
-Snowfolk

5. WEAPONS/ARMOUR
-Uniques

6. MAKING MONEY
-CX
-Treasure Hunting

7. EARNING EXPERIENCE

8. TRAITS

9. QUESTS

10. HEALS

11. DIRECTIONS



============
INTRODUCTION
============



To my knowledge, this is the only FAQ ever written for a Multiuser Domain, or
MUD. This particular MUD, Ancient Anguish, is one of the longest running LP
MUDs, and I have been a part of it for five years. I decided to pool my
knowledge to create an in-depth guide to the world of AA. I hope the following
information will be helpful to your MUDding experience.



==========
LOGGING ON
==========



If you wish to log onto AA:

Host: anguish.org
Port: 2222

You can use Telnet, but you should probably go with GMUD, ZMUD, or Pueblo as
an alternative.

"What is your name?"

This is the first, and possibly the most important question you will be asked.
Please choose a name appropriate to the fantasy theme, as people named
"Dreamgurl" or "BritneySpears" are generally frowned upon. Don't give up if
the name you want is taken already.

"Password?"

Try to choose something a little creative. Passwords like "qwerty" or "123456"
are guessed fairly easily.

"Please enter your e-mail address"

This is completely optional and will only be used if you forget your password.

"Are you male or female?"

Such a simple question, but one you should not take lightly. Newbies sometimes
find it humorous to "gender bend," or choose the opposite sex. They tend to
run into frustration later because of it. Unless you know you can handle that
sort of thing, please choose the correct sex.

"You may now choose a race for your character"

This choice has more bearing on your character than you may think. Different
races excel at different occupations. For instance, a Dwarf would make an
excellent Fighter, but would never be able to cut it as a Mage. Each race has
different maximum stats, showing which would excel in what class:

Note: Maximum stats change slightly when you join a particular class,
emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of that class. These are just base
stats.


Strength Dexterity Intelligence Constitution Wisdom
-------- --------- ------------ ------------ ------
Dwarf: 17 14 12 16 15

Elf: 13 17 17 13 14

Half-Elf: 14 15 16 13 16

Human: 16 15 15 15 14

Orc: 16 16 13 16 13


Which race should belong to which class is described in more detail in the
"CLASSES" section.



============
NEWBIE GUIDE
============



First of all, I cannot stress enough: READ THE HELP FILES! These will answer
99.9% of all your questions. However, there are some things that cannot be
found in the Help files, and that's why I made up this guide for the new
player.

--------
Commands
--------

As you should already know, to move around and interact within a MUD, you must
use simple commands. Here, for your convenience, is a condensed list of all
the commands you should know:

Note: <> denotes an argument that must be given. For instance, you must kill
<monster> to perform the command, <monster> being whatever it is you're trying
to attack.


Movement
--------

north [n]- directional
south [s]- directional
east [e]- directional
west [w]- directional
swim <direction> - Movement through water.
wade <direction> - Movement through shallow water.
sit - Makes you stationary. You cannot move while sitting.
lie - Makes you stationary. You cannot move while lying down.
stand - Allows you to move again.
follow <person> - Forces you to trail someone.
follow - Makes you stop following.
stoplead - Makes someone stop following you.
set riverblock on - Keeps you from accidentally diving into rivers.

Interaction
-----------
say - Used before words to indicate speaking.
sayto <person> - Speaks directly to another player.
tell <person> - Allows you to contact someone from a distance.
whisper <person> - Speaks to someone quietly in the same room.
shout - Voices a message loud enough for everyone to hear.
thistory - Lists the last ten tells you've received.

Items
-----

get <item> - Picks up an item off the ground.
drop <item> - Deposits an item on the ground.
give <item> to <person> - Transfers an item from your inventory to another's.
toss <item> - If a trash can or fire is present, this destroys an item.
sell <item> - Sells an item in a shop.
buy <item> - Purchases an item from a shop.
wield <weapon> - Attempts to wield a weapon.
unwield <weapon> - Ceases wielding a weapon.
wear <item> - Attempts to wear a piece of armour, shield, or pack.
remove <item> - Removes a worn piece of armour, shield, or pack.
powerup - Wears and wields all possible items.

Combat
------

score - Shows your health and status.
score session - Shows your progress for your current log-in.
kill <monster> - Initiates combat with another entity.
assist <player> - Joins an attack with another player.
rescue <player> - Steps in front of another player, taking the blows.
defend <style> - Chooses a defense style (Dodge, Block, Parry, etc.).
attack <style>- Chooses your style of attack (Chop, Slash, Pierce, etc.).
aim <bodypart> - Concentrates attacks on a specific part of an opponent.
wimpy <percentage> - Forces you to flee from battle when hit points fall low.


-------
Weapons
-------

Just two south from where you log in you'll find Willim's smithy. This area
was created to give newbies tips and a little free equipment. You may "say eq"
up to level 6 to receive a jacket and a weapon. There are several different
kinds, and though you'll receive one tailored to your class (which you should
have chosen already), you may have to try a couple times to get the one you
want. Which one do you want? Well, allow me to tell you:


Thin knife - Rangers, Rogues, and Necromancers.
Crooked spear - Rangers.
Scarred hand axe - Rangers and Fighters.
Short staff - Mages and Necromancers.
Rough club - Fighters, Artificers, and Clerics.
Makeshift flail - Clerics.
Catty - Rangers and Rogues.

If you're a Paladin, none of these weapons will really work for you in the
long term. I'd recommend finding a wooden practice sword to play with until
you either have enough strength for a dark longsword (good for soloing) or
manage to secure a hoe to begin work on your polearm skill (great for
bashing). And if you're a Shapeshifter, of course, you needn't worry about any
of this.


---------
Etiquette
---------

An oft ignored idea by most newer players is the concept of etiquette. There
is nothing quite so aggravating as a newbie who makes it his business to annoy
everyone else. Here are a few tips:

1. Grammar. Use it wisely.

2. Ask politely and thank other players for assistance.

3. Don't overuse shouts or guild chat lines.

4. Please refrain from speaking or shouting in ALL CAPS. It's an eyesore.

5. Try not to beg. Half the fun of the game is working for what you want.

6. Remember, no one is required to help you. Most will, but not all.

Follow these rules and you should have an enjoyable experience. Just remember,
everyone has to start somewhere!



===========
THE CLASSES
===========


Eventually, every character will join a class. Each class has its own
disadvantages and advantages which will be addressed in full. Choose yours
wisely, because if you ever decide to leave your class, it will cost you one
level of experience.

--------
Fighters
--------

Ah, Fighters, the true hack and slashers of the game. Fighters are the masters
of any and all weapons, not only able to wield them skillfully, but also to
evaluate and determine their use and value. A Fighter's primary stats are
strength, dexterity, and constitution. A Dwarf or an Orc would make excellent
Fighters, but even an Elf with a high dexterity could do the job.

Directions to the Fighter's guild - 2n, w

Evaluate

Cost: None

[eval <weapon> or eval <weapon> for <player>] - A Fighter is able to see with
what proficiency he or another player could wield a weapon. The accuracy of
the eval is based on his experience and skill with the weapon.

Will

Cost: All sps (must have at least half)

will - Drawing on his intense powers of concentration and endurance, a Fighter
can temporarily ignore all pain and continue to fight. In effect, it saps all
of their sps and converts it into hps. The effect will not last forever, and
all of the healing will disappear. The time it lasts is based on your
intelligence.

Disarm

Cost: 10 sps

disarm <monster> - Using his skill with a weapon, a Fighter can attempt to
knock the opponent's weapon away from him, making an enemy easier to fight.
The better the Fighter's dexterity and skill with the weapon, the better
chance that this will work.

Outflank

Cost: 5 sps

outflank <monster> - Using his dexterity and intelligence, a Fighter can
attempt to keep an enemy from attacking him while fighting multiple enemies.

Sharpen

Cost: varies depending on weapon

sharpen weapon's blade/point - With the use of a Ranger-foraged whetstone, a
Fighter can make his weapon even more deadly. The effect will not last
forever, but for a limited time a sharpened blade will do more damage for
slashing attacks, and a sharpened point will do the same for piercing attacks.
The amount of time it lasts can be extended by a strop (another Ranger-made
item). The sps cost varies based on the length of the weapon.

-------
Clerics
-------

Clerics are the good Samaritans of Ancient Anguish. They can heal the sick,
cure poison, and even regrow lost limbs, all with the help of their deity. A
Cleric can pray to the gods for the power to smite his enemies and protect his
friends. A Cleric's most important stat is wisdom, which will allow him access
to more prayers. Half-elves will someday learn all the powerful prayers, but
Dwarven Clerics are known to make the best leaders of parties.

Directions to Cleric's Common church - 3w, n, e, n, e

List of prayers
---------------

Light [2 wis] - Causes a Cleric's holy symbol to glow, lighting a room.
Cure [3 wis] - Heals minor wounds.
Wound [4 wis] - Lightly injures an enemy.
Detect [5 wis] - Checks to see if a piece of armour or weapon is cursed.
Purge [5 wis] - Attempts to cleanse a player of magical addiction.
Tolerance [5 wis] - Checks the level of magical addiction in a player.
State [6 wis] - Gives the Cleric information about an opponent.
Transform [6 wis] - Changes water into alcohol.
Slow [7 wis] - Slightly heals poison.
Uncurse [8 wis] - Removes the curse on an item.
Fix [9 wis] - Heals major wounds.
Cold [10 wis] - Temporarily increases resistance to cold.
Fire [10 wis] - Temporarily increases resistance to fire.
Truesight [10 wis] - Makes a Cleric more aware, spotting hidden things.
Turn [11 wis] - Attempts to make undead flee.
Dispel [12 wis] - Temporarily increases magic resistance.
Purify [12 wis] - Similar to purge, but painful.
Remake [12 wis] - Changes a stick to a snake to fight for you.
Waterwalk [12 wis] - Allows the Cleric to cross lakes and rivers.
Hammer [13 wis] - Conjures a hammer to be thrown at an opponent.
Curse [14 wis] - Places a curse on an item in your inventory.
Wrath [14 wis] - Calls on divine power to strike an opponent.
Bless [15 wis] - Makes a piece of armour in your inventory a bit better.
Disinfect [15 wis] - Cures an infection in a player, such as the plague.
Neutralize [15 wis] - Heals serious types of poison.
Destruct [16 wis] - Attempts to destroy undead.
Cleanse [17 wis] - Similar to purge, but VERY painful.
Heal [19 wis] - Can heal lost or mangled limbs.

-----
Mages
-----

Mages are the great minds of Ancient Anguish, not relying on weapon skills and
brute strength to do the job, but magical spells. Mages depend on intelligence
and dexterity to get them through their careers. Elves, by far, make the best
Mages, as they have naturally high dexterity and intelligence scores.

Directions to Mage Tower - 3w, s, w, up

Spells
------

As Mages get experience, they earn spell hours which they use to learn new
spells. Upon reaching level 10, they are allowed to study spells from
different schools of magic, and even join one. The cost of spells for the
school you belong to are halved. If at any time a Mage should leave his
current school of magic, he could lose spells that he has learned from that
school.



Basic Spells
------------

Light - 1
Cantrip - 3
Identify - 5
Mark - 10
Flame Dart - 20
Know Alignment - 35
Blur - 50
Knock - 80
Rope Trick - 100
Charm - 150
Comprehend Languages - 200
Scry - 300
Magic Missile - 400
Locate Object - 500
Protection from Elements - 700
Fear - 750
Ice Flurry - 450


Alteration
----------

Uglify - 1800
StoneSkin - 2200
Burning Hands - 2600
Lock Portal - 3200
Tongues - 3800
Enhance Magic - 4400
Strength - 5000
Dispel Magic - 6000
Power Word: Harm - 7000
DeepPockets - 9000
Teleport - 10000
Haste - 12600
Permanency - 18000
Enhance Skill - 8000
FrostTouch - 3000

Pros: Alteration is the only school to have access to the VERY useful spell,
Permanency. It can extend the duration of a spell to a full 25 hour period. On
top of that, they can learn several other handy little spells for a low cost.

Cons: Alteration lacks a truly good offensive spell, forcing them to use more
expensive versions of other schools' spells.


Conjuration
-----------

Armour - 1800
Hero's Feast - 2200
Tiny Hut - 3600
Flame Arrow - 4000
Wizard Eye - 4600
Choke - 5600
Secret Chest - 6000
Acid Arrow - 7000
Secure Shelter - 8000
Instant Summons - 10000
Gate - 14000
Find Familiar - 18000
Ice Spear - 4500

Pros: Conjuration Mages can use the spell Acid Arrow for a very cheap cost in
sps. Acid Arrow is the strongest instant offensive spell in the game, and
gives them quite an advantage over most monsters.

Cons: Unfortunately, Conjuration Mages don't have much else. Granted, Tiny Hut
and Hero's Feast can have their uses, but that's about the extent of their
arsenal.


Invocation
----------

Continual Light - 1800
Alarm - 2000
Gust of Wind - 2400
Fireball - 3200
Solid Fog - 4200
Anti-Magic Shield - 5000
Magic Mouth - 5600
Cloudkill - 6000
Globe of Invulnerability - 6600
Power Word: Heal - 7000
Lightning - 8000
Mystic Sword - 14000
Dimension Door - 20000
Iceblast - 3600

Pros: Invocation Mages are well-suited for killing other players, or PK. They
make excellent bounty hunters with Lightning and Anti-Magic Shield, and Power
Word: Heal can come in handy in a pinch.

Cons: Fireball, though, is a poor substitute for Acid Arrow. If you're not
planning on taking the road of the bounty hunter (or joining the Society of
Killers) you should probably stick with Conjuration.


Drowgar
-------

Web Hands - 1500
Poison Shield - 1800
Web Ladder - 2400
Silk Armour - 3000
Silk Pack - 4000
Spider Legs - 5000
Web Wall - 5400
Expose Hidden - 6000
Venom Spit - 7000
Spider Bite - 9000
Web Shield - 10000
Web Defender - 14000
Web Mouth - 18000

Pros: Venom spit is even more powerful than Acid Arrow, giving this school a
decided advantage. Spider Bite, Spider Legs, and Web Defender are quite useful
for heavy combat, and Web Shield has some very nice applications.

Cons: Every single Drowgar spell has a time delay before casting. Forget
bounty hunting, the Society of Killers, or hit and running, because you are
SLOW. Not to mention most spells are component heavy, so you'll take a hit to
your bank account.

------
Rogues
------

Also known as "the other class" or "the class that does not really exist
according to the Ancient Anguish Tourism Council," Rogues thrive in the
deceptive arts. Skilled at underhanded combat and the transfer of wealth,
Rogues are ideal for the slightly shadowy player. A Rogue's primary stats are
dexterity and intelligence. An Elf is an obvious choice for a good thieving
Rogue, but if you want a Rogue that can lead a party with confidence, you
might want to consider an Orc.

Directions to Thieves' Den - 2e, 2s, w

Rogues, like Mages, earn training hours as they gain experience. These hours
can be used to increase their thieving abilities:

Alert combat - Discussed below.
Ambushing - While hiding, a Rogue can backstab an unwary opponent.
Cityspeak - A secret Rogue language, known only to them.
Dispossession - The ability to lift items off of another player or creature.
Lock manipulation - Rogues are able to pick locks with this ability.
Poisoning - Using a nightshade, a Rogue can poison food or drinks.
Seclusion - Rogues thrive in the dark; this ability hides them from sight.
Stalking - Rogues can discreetly follow a target with this ability.
Stealth - While in hiding, a sneaking Rogue is not seen if they advance this.

Alert combat

Cost: Gradual sps drain

alert <on or off> Alert combat is the crowning glory of the Rogue fighting
system. A Rogue's parrying ability, defense, and secondary offense goes
through the roof. The secondary weapon is utilized to block and get in extra
attacks, making Rogues excellent leaders for a party. To set a knife or other
small weapon as a secondary, type secondary <weapon>.

Hiding

Command: hide

Using their seclusion ability, a Rogue can attempt to disappear in the
shadows. Whether or not they are seen is dependant on their seclusion ability
and the other person's intelligence. To return from the shadows, type emerge.

Steal

Command: steal from <person>

Obviously, a Rogue knows how to lift coins and items from an unwary mark. If
the Rogue is caught, however, he could be attacked or bountied, so use with
caution. With use of the ccard command, he can also leave behind his calling
card on the unlucky victim.

Conceal

Command: conceal <item>

To protect his items from other would-be thieves, a Rogue can hide his items
on his person until he needs it. He can retrieve the item by using produce
<item>.

Judge

Command: judge <item>, judge mark <person>

A Rogue is also able to determine the worth of a particular item or the wealth
of a mark.

Palm

Command: palm <item>

In addition to stealing an item from a person, a Rogue may attempt to palm an
item off the ground away from prying eyes. If caught, however, there can be
serious legal consequences.

Plant

command plant <item> on <player>


Sort of the opposite of stealing, plant attempts to place an item on another
player. As usual, there can be legal consequences if caught. Nobody said being
a Rogue would be easy.

Trip

Cost: 25 sps

trip <person> - Another useful combat device. A Rogue whose dexterity,
strength, and alert combat is high can attempt to knock an opponent (or
unlucky civilian) to the ground. Once on the ground, their combat ability is
severely impaired, making them easy targets. Tripping a player who is fighting
something else is grounds for demotion in serious cases.

Vision

Command: vision <on or off>

If they stand still long enough in a dark room, a Rogue can force his eyes to
adjust to the dim lighting. This can come in quite handy if you forgot to
bring a torch along.

-------
Rangers
-------

Rangers are at home in the woods. They live off the land, making their own
weapons, armour, and foraging for their own food. They can also tame dogs or
wolves to serve as companions. A Ranger's primary stat is wisdom, which is
vital to his woodcraft abilities. Half-elves will someday be able to raise the
most powerful of wolves, all the way up to a gigantic trained wolf. Dwarves
have also been known to make excellent Rangers.

Directions to Ranger Camp: 31n, 9w, 10n, 16e, s, enter camp

Rangers have an extensive list of skills, the foremost of them being the
ability to tame a wolf or dog. Wolves were once simply tameable until their
death, serving as little more than a punching bag to stand in front of you
while you fought safely from behind. Thanks to Paldin, wolves are now much
more complicated, and I get to update this section. Hurrah.

You may now bond a wolf for life, effectively having it survive reboots and
logouts. For starters, you must spend about thirty minutes to an hour with
your wolf before it bonds, making sure you have tamed a small enough wolf that
it will bond. The sylvanthic pups in Lelyia's area are usually a good bet, as
are wandering large wolves around the woods of Tantallon. You will need to
keep your wolf well-fed and healthy; just because it survives reboots doesn't
mean it will survive anything.

As your wolf grows from a smaller size to a larger one, it will gain abilities
and a description, all of which will grow and improve. The description is just
for show, of course, and is completely random. It adds quite a lot of flavor
to separate wolves. The abilities, on the other hand, are quite handy. Wolves
may now carry, guard, and rescue. They gain the carrying ability at "large,"
the guarding ability at "very large," and the rescue ability at "huge." These
abilities may be trained Zhou-style by speaking to Graddam, Norich, and
Marika, respectively. In other words, if you "train carry" with Graddam, you
will be able to raise it with more ease for a certain amount of time.


Carry - point <object>, say <wolfname> carry


The carrying ability does just was it says. A wolf can carry a certain amount
in its mouth equivalent to its strength. It can only carry one item or a
container holding several items.


Guard - point <object>, say <wolfname> guard


Using this ability, a wolf may prevent people from taking an item or items off
the ground. The better a wolf's ability, the better it will be in protecting.
You may "say <wolfname> identify" to see which items your wolf is guarding,
and "say <wolfname> ignore" to cease.


Rescue - say <wolfname> rescue


This is definitely the most helpful new ability, as a Ranger can now get his
wolf to tank hostile creatures. You will have to command your wolf to rescue
for several rounds, however, while its skill is still low. Also, a wolf may
rescue you, his loyal owner, automatically if your hit points fall low enough.


On top of these trainable abilities, wolves may now dodge attacks just as if
they had the "dodge" defense. They will improve this ability naturally as they
grow and fight.


And, of course, wolves can still perform all of their old tricks (fetch, roll
over, play dead, speak, etc.). And they can even designate a person as a
friend or an enemy. Simply point at the person, then "say <wolfname>
friend/enemy." Some of your wolf's actions towards an enemy are quite
entertaining.


Lastly, a wolf may also sense a hiding Rogue in the room. Watch for signs that
your wolf seems uncomfortable or especially alert.


Wisdom for Wolf/Dog List
------------------------

Wis Name Location Size
1 Small puppy Greenhaven small .. dog
2 Dog named Bud Music Cottage small .. dog
2 Royal dogs Andeli small .. dog
2 Wild dog Forest small .. dog
2 Whimpering dog Nepeth small .. dog
3 A dog Balan .. dog
3 Large wolf Forest .. wolf
4 Maned wolf Forest .. wolf
5 Arctic wolf Yeti Cave .. wolf
5 Timber wolf Greenhaven .. wolf
6 Dire wolf Anasazi large .. wolf
6 Diseased wolf Village Dump large .. wolf
6 Grey wolf Forest large .. wolf
7 Camp dog EDF Camp large .. dog
8 Harrke wolf Harrke portal large .. wolf
9 Arctic wolf Northern Tundra very large .. wolf
9 Guard dog Orc Slaver Camp very large .. dog
10 Timber wolf Northern forest very large .. wolf
11 Dire wolf Southern Swamp very large .. wolf
12 Ferryman's dog Following Norich huge .. dog
12 Timber wolf Star Caverns huge .. wolf
13 Shadowy Protector Ilderia huge .. wolf
13 Winter wolf Steading huge .. wolf
14 Huge dog Arcadia huge .. dog
14 Snow wolf Northern Tundra huge .. wolf
14 Winter Wolf Ebon Manor huge .. wolf
14 Zubin Following Marika huge .. wolf
14 White wolf Academy huge .. wolf
14 Sylvanthic wolf(f) Elven Forest huge .. wolf
15 Sylvanthic wolf(m) Elven Forest enormous .. wolf
15 Arctic wolf Star Caverns enormous .. wolf
16 Grey wolf Star Caverns enormous .. wolf
17 Dread wolf Star Caverns enormous .. wolf
17 Red wolf Star Caverns enormous .. wolf

Wolves are not listed in order of strength.

Spatial abilities
-----------------

Memorize

Cost: 10 sps

memorize <name of area> - A Ranger can mentally fix a point in Ancient Anguish
in his memory, and by using bearings, he can find out his general distance
from that location. You can only have four places memorized at once. To remove
one, type forget <name of area>.

Bearings

Cost: 3 sps

For a minimal cost in sps, a Ranger can determine his approximate distance
from a previously memorized location. You can only use this ability while
outdoors.

Survey

Cost: 2 sps

This command peers in all directions for you, making a small map. This command
is useful when in uncertain or dangerous territory. When visibility is poor,
however, it may be useless.

Combat
------

Strike

Cost: 6 sps (if successful)

strike <enemy> - Rangers can use this ability to strike at a weak point on
their foes. The success of this extra attack is based on their woodcraft
ability and the target's dexterity and intelligence. If their strike is
countered or deflected, the attempt will only cost 1 sps.

Observe

Cost: 30 sps

observe <entity> - This will give you detailed information on a creature's
strengths and weaknesses. The higher your woodcraft ability, the more accurate
the information will be. A weaker, and much cheaper, version of observe is
glance.

Skin, Carve, Gut, Pluck

skin corpse, carve corpse, gut corpse, pluck corpse

These commands allow you to extract pelts, meat, sinew, and feathers from a
corpse, respectively. The pelts and sinew can be used to fashion other items,
and the meat can be used to feed your wolf (or yourself, for that matter).
Feathers are also a necessary component for some items.


Outdoors
--------

Forage

Cost: 2 sps

Using his innate ability to spot useful things in the wilderness, a Ranger can
discern what may be gathered or cut to good use.

Cut [staff, torch, beam, firewood, shaft, bowstave]

Gather [herbs, food, flowers, salt, flint]

Whittle

Cost: 40 sps for a pipe, 10 sps for a toy, flute, or whistle

whittle [toy, flute, whistle, pipe]

A pipe can be filled with tobacco or pipeweed and smoked to regain health. A
whistle, when blown, summons a Ranger's wolf or dog from afar. Toys and flutes
are just for fun.

Build [fire, shelter, snare, tent]

Using varying amounts of materials, a Ranger can construct buildings, traps,
and a fire. Shelters require twelve wooden beams and three lengths of sinew to
tie them together. To build a tent, you'll need three wooden beams, some
pelts, and a length of sinew. After a time, these structures may begin to fall
apart. You can renew them with the repair command. Also, to hide your
structure from non-Rangers (or city folk, if you prefer) you can conceal
<shelter or tent> to do so.

To construct a snare, you need only tie a length of sinew to a tree. The trap
will capture anything that happens to move across it (including other
players!).

Fires require a bundle of firewood and a flint to strike a spark. You will
need to continually feed wood into the fire to keep it burning.

Cook and Distill

cook <food>

Simplicity itself. Simply forage yourself some food, grab a frying pan, and
fry up something delicious. There is a constant fire burning at the Ranger
Camp, so you don't even have to make your own to cook.

attach <bottle, jar, flask>, distill <herbs, whiteleaf, fruit, root> (twice
for a full bottle), detach <new substance>

A little more complicated, but very rewarding, distilling can create a free
and effective heal for no cost at all. Simply buy some copper tubing and jars
from the tinker you'll see wandering around. Forage up something to distill.

Herbs >>> Medicine
Fruit >>> Brandy
Roots >>> Root Beer
Bananas >>> Daiquiris
Whiteleaf >>> Essence

Just distill them twice for a full bottle of whatever it is you want, then
detach what you've created. Sound like fun? It is.

Mark

Cost: 5 sps

mark <direction, name, safety, danger>

For a small cost in sps, you can make a trail mark that eventually only other
Rangers will be able to spot. You can warn someone of a dangerous area, point
them back towards town, or just mark it as a way of saying "I was here." If
you want to get rid of a mark, type obscure <mark>.

Braid [rope, belt, stringer, seine, whip]

Using lengths of sinew, a Ranger can fashion some helpful items for a quiet
day of fishing, a reasonably good weapon, or just an all-purpose rope. The
amount of sinew needed is different for each.

Make (with pelts) [cap, collar, vest, sleeves, gloves, leggings, boot, cloak,
stole, coat, pouch, sack, pack, quiver, shield, sheath]

(With other materials) [arrow, arrowhead, bedroll, necklace, fishing pole,
wineskin, mending fid]

With just a few animal pelts, a Ranger can fashion an extensive list of
clothing and armour. Success at making a quality item or possibly failing is
based on a Ranger's woodcraft ability.

For the "other" items, different materials are needed. For instance, a bedroll
requires both pelts and a large amount of feathers. An arrow requires a flint,
shaft, feathers, and a length of sinew. A necklace requires a sinew and a
seashell. A fishing pole requires a beam, staff or spear, and a sinew.
A wineskin requires pelts and sinew. For a mending fid, you need a piece
of firewood and a sinew.

--------
Paladins
--------

Paladins embody all that which is noble and good in Ancient Anguish. They are
skilled warriors who have taken vows to rid the land of evil and impurity.
They are much like Fighters in many ways, but are given special powers to
combat the dark forces. A Paladin's most important stats are dexterity and
wisdom. Dwarves and Humans make the best Paladins, but Half-Elves have also
been known to take on the responsibility of the holy warriors.

Paladins must strive to remain nice, good, or saintly at all times. If they
fall to neutral or worse, their powers will no longer work. Also, they are
strictly forbidden to initiate combat against creatures of nice or better
alignment. On top of all of this, they have to do chores for Samantha before
they may advance in level.

Directions to Paladin Hall: 16n, 2e, enter hall

As opposed to Clerics, Paladins do not earn their powers by advancing a
particular stat, but by reaching levels of experience.


Level: 1
Power: Detect
Command: detect
Cost: 3 sps

Plain and simple, this power detects players and monsters of the evil
alignment. You'll see a visible glow around any that qualify.

Level: 2
Power: Turtle
Command: turtle (to toggle on or off)
Cost: Constant drain on sps

In effect, turtle mode increases a Paladin's blocking ability, making it
easier for them to ward off blows. The use of it is draining, however, and
will eat away at sps until they are completely gone. Once this happens, the
Paladin will return to normal.

Level: 5
Power: Call
Command: call
Cost: All sps (must be at full)

Paladins, like Rangers, are allowed to have an animal companion. Paladins may
call a warhorse to assist them. They can assist in combat, and carry your
equipment in saddlebags (give saddlebags to horse, remove saddlebags to take
them off). To ride around on your horse, mount it and move as normal. And, you
guessed it, type dismount to get off. Your horse cannot enter buildings or
caves, and must wait outside for you. If tragedy strikes and your horse is
killed, you will not be able to call another one until the MUD is rebooted
(every 25 hours).

Level: 8
Power: Cure
Command: cure <person>
Cost: 30 sps

A Paladin is able to heal others using this ability. By that, I mean others
and only others. The better his alignment, the more effective the healing will
be.

Level: 11
Power: Aura
Command: aura
Cost: 75 sps

With this ability, a Paladin can bring into an existence a very useful aura of
protection. Not only does it soften the blows of enemies, but it also provides
enough light to see by in dark rooms. The strength of your aura, as with all
your other powers, is based on alignment.

Level: 11
Power: Relax
Command: relax aura
Cost: none

This command will relax the aura that currently surrounds the Paladin. This is
useful for switching auras should the need arise.

Level: 14
Power: Harm
Command: harm <monster>
Cost: One fourth of your maximum sps.

This attack can only hurt undead. And it does, plain and simple.

Level: 17
Power: Smite
Command: smite <monster>
Cost: One third of your maximum sps.

This incredibly powerful attack may only be used on nasty, evil, or demonic
creatures. This attack is so powerful, in fact, that some Paladins have been
known to bounty hunt players of evil alignment with it.

Level: 18
Power: Retribution
Command: retribution
Cost: Full sps

This aura deals damage to unarmed undead when they hit the Paladin.

Level: 19
Power: Sense
Command: sense
Cost: 30 sps

Weak for a level 19 power, you can sense evil creatures at a distance. Whee.


------------
Necromancers
------------

Some call them the antithesis of Paladins, others call them evil Clerics, most
just call them lords of the undead. Necromancers use wicked rituals to drain
the life and soul out of their enemies, usually with the help of undead that
have been reanimated to serve them. A Necromancer's main statistics are wisdom
and intelligence, as the higher they are, the more rituals they can utilize.
Half-elves and Elves will eventually have access to the most deadly of
rituals, but some believe that Dwarves and Humans can make fair Necromancers
as well.

Directions to Necromancers: 16w, 4n, 3w

Necromancers can learn a variety of rituals, all are listed here:


Ritual Int+Wis Component Effect
------------ ------- --------- -----------------------
Detect Good 2 - Detects nice or good creatures.
Nettle 2 - Afflicts someone with vermin.
Skeleton 2 Unholy water Animates a skeletal servant.
Will o'Wisp 3 Glowing phial Turns a corpse into light.
Summon 4 - Summons one's undead from afar.
Lifedrain 4 Grave dirt Weakens living creatures.
Renewal 5 Unholy water Renews an undead creature.
Preserve 6 Oily salve Heals one's undead servant.
Zombie 6 Voodoo Doll Creates a zombie servant.
Chill Touch 7 Chunk of ice Chills a living creature.
Hold Undead 8 - Stop an undead from attacking.
Warts 9 - Afflicts someone with warts.
Shade 10 Silk square Creates a fetch from a corpse.
Feign Death 11 - Creates the illusion of death.
Lifesteal 12 Grave dirt Steals health from an opponent.
Pox 14 - Causes a harmful disease.
Weakness 15 - Reduces strength of the target.
Mummy 16 Wrapping Animates a mummy undead servant.
Darkness 17 - Makes a room unnaturally dark.
Disease 18 - Causes a debilitating disease.
Fetch 20 Cloudy mirror Creates a fetch undead servant.
Empower 21 - Drains hps to increase sps.
Rot 22 Dried worms Causes flesh to rot and decay.
Insect Plague 24 Small scarab Calls a swarm of deadly insects.
Mindkiller 26 - Creates a deadly illusion.
Revenant 28 Runed plate Creates a strong undead servant.
Pestilence 30 - Causes a deadly disease.
Lich 32 Steel crown Creates a strong undead servant.
Doom 32 Yellow sign Calls forth the "Creeping Doom".


Necromancer Commands
--------------------

prepare <ritual> - Must be done before any ritual is cast.
animate <corpse> - Completes a ritual to create a undead creature.
command <command> - Directs an undead.
wave wand at <target> - Choose the target for a ritual.

-------------
Shapeshifters
-------------

Shapeshifters are the newest and most unique of all the classes. Rather than
depending on weapons or armour for their hunting, Shapeshifters learn and
master the forms of animals. A shapeshifter's primary statistic is dexterity.
All races can exploit a different bonus of the Shapeshifter class, with the
possible exception of Half-elves.

Directions to Shapeshifter's Enclave: 12w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, 12e, 11s,
3e

There is also often a Dimensional Door linked to the Enclave at Salty John's:
2e, n, enter door. Make sure to check there first!

To learn new forms, a Shapeshifter must spend time in other forms, gaining
experience and learning all there is to know about each. All forms can be
advanced to stronger, more durable forms with time.

Basic Forms
-----------

Opossum

This is your first, and possibly cutest form. Your combat abilities will be
fairly weak, but you will have a handy pouch on your person that you can store
items in (pget <item> to put an item directly into your pouch). There are five
levels of opossum.

sfeels: ball, curl, wrinkle

Frog

Frog will probably be next on your list. You will be a little stronger, but
not much. The best advantage is that you can cross lakes and streams without
having to swim. There are five levels of frog.

sfeels: hop, lick, spring, warble, pickup

Rock

Rock is an interesting form. You move slowly, don't attack, but your defense
goes through the roof. If anything, it's useful for exploring a new area.
Rocks also have the ability to roll long distances via roll <number>
<direction>. It's a much faster way to get around if you know your directions
well. There are four levels of rock.

sfeels: hop, tap, twiddle, wobble

Advanced Forms
--------------

Feline (cat, panther, Xaerre)

This form makes a decent primary clan. Felines tend to have a low defense, but
their offense is very advanced. Higher forms of panthers can hit up to three
times per round. Plus the Xaerre can wear light armour and wield a weapon.

Reptile (chameleon, Nelitos, drakon)

This is the "middle" clan, with a well-balanced attack and defense. The
drakon's are able to wear some types of armour (rings and amulets) and have a
very powerful breath weapon.

Forest (flower, tree, treant)

If you're looking for an insanely high defense, you've found the right clan.
Trees and treants have some of the highest armour classes around. Plus the
flower form is extremely useful as it heals you while "planted" outside, so to
speak.

----------
Artificers
----------

The Artificers are an experienced band of Smithcrafters and Spellcrafters,
each able to use their innate abilities of creating and altering items to fit
whatever need may arise. They're able to build weapons and armour, brew
potions and pen scrolls, and, most importantly, imbue items with intense
magical power and craft gigantic constructs to fight for them. An Artificer,
with enough practice, is everyone's best friend.

Directions to class hall: n, enter door if it is there. If not, travel to
Drakhiya and seek them out.


Concentration
-------------

This is what an Artificer uses to create items. You can only have so many
items created at once until the Concentration of maintaining them all is
strained. You can regain Concentration by scrapping items or joining an
appropriate specialization.

Specializations
---------------

A new Artificer is faced with two choices: Smithcraft or Spellcraft. Whichever
one you choose will have a profound effect on your ability to use the class.
For instance, a Smithcrafter will learn the art of building gigantic
constructs much earlier, and it will cost less Concentration to create them.
However, a spellcrafter can pen as many scrolls as they want without even
needing to spend a point of Concentration. Choose your speciality wisely; you
will not be able to change your mind without leaving the class.


Formulas and Research
--------------------

Before you can make anything, however, you'll need to find the appropriate
formula. When you log on, you'll be given a few basic ones which you can
examine using "recite all." To get new ones, simply visit libraries (there is
one right next to the Artificer class hall) and type "research" to see what's
available. If you find one you want, just "study <formula>."


Assay and Dissect
-----------------

You may notice that certain formulas require certain ingredients. The primary
way to get these is through assaying and dissecting. To assay, simply walk
into a room and type "assay" to see what is available. You can then "collect
<item>" depending on what you want. Different parts of the MUD will have
different things to collect, so don't be shy to explore around!

As for dissecting, you gain this ability when you learn alchemy (Level 5 for
Spellcrafters, level 7 for Smithcrafters). With a knife equipped, simply
"dissect corpse" and see what you can pillage from it.


Abilities
---------

An Artificer depends first and foremost on their abilities. The more they use
them, the more experienced they get and the more impressive the result.

Craftsman - The first ability gained by any Artificer, this allows you to make
basic armour and weapons. This is an excellent way to gain some experience
right off the bat, so feel free to go collect some basic metals and smith to
your heart's content. You'll need a hammer and a fire to smith by, and both of
these are found in the class hall.

Rune Lore - Learned at level 4. This allows you to inscribe wards and glyphs
on the ground, and also to pen scrolls. Some very handy beginning scrolls to
watch for are the Scroll of Arrow Summoning and the Scroll of Firebolt. Be on
the look out for these formulas!

Alchemy - Learned at level 5 for Spellcrafters, 7 for Smithcrafters. This
gives you the ability to make basic healing potions, exploding bombs, or even
stat enhancements! The more impressive the potion, the tougher the ingredients
will be to acquire.

Staves and Wands - Learned at level 12 for Spellcrafters, 14 for
Smithcrafters. This useful ability lets you create various magical devices,
some of which can be very handy. A Wand of Extra Healing will make you
everybody's favorite party member!

Spellsmith - Learned at level 12 for Smithcrafters, 14 for Spellcrafters. This
allows you to imbue weapons and armour with magical abilities. Who doesn't
love a weapon that increases your skill faster?

Artifice - Learned at level 16 for Smithcrafters, 18 for Spellcrafters. This
powerful ability gives you the option to create devastating constructs that
obey your every command. Build a gigantic metal scorpion (or two!). Then
proceed to wreck havoc on the MUD!

======
GUILDS
======



-----------------------
Realm of the Black Bear
-----------------------

"The Realm of the Black Bear dominates all the woodland and
forest areas on the continent of AA. This is their home
and playground, and to desecrate it, is to summon the wrath
of the Black Bear. Therefore, the members of the Black Bear
must hold a certain spirituality about the land and the
wilderness. The amount of spirituality found is up to the
member to decide. The member can choose to live with the
savage mentality of kill or be killed by dominating the
land or learn to coexist peacefully with the wildlife by
only taking what is needed to survive."

The Black Bear happens to be my favorite guild. It's a very clean, very
friendly environment that I've grown to love. I've tried every guild in AA at
least once, but I always come back to the Bears. Personal feelings aside,
here's what you need to know.

Only Fighters, Clerics, Mages, Rangers, and Shapeshifters are allowed to join
the Bears, but all races are welcome. To join, ask Ewani for a knife to skin a
bear, or request that a current member sponsor you.

Directions to the Bear Guild: 31n, 9w, 2n, 2w, 2s


Powers
------

Guardian Spirit

When someone first joins the Black Bear, they must visit
the vision cave to find their Guardian Spirit. If they are
lucky, they will be visited by an animal or elemental who
will become their guardian spirit from then on. Each spirit
has different abilities which may be seen by typing bhelp
<spirit name>.


nirvana - When you offer corpses or feed things to the guild mascot, Growle,
you can earn nirvana. Nirvana can be used for a guild title, for
your guardian spirit's powers, or for guild abilities.

offer - To dispose of corpses, a member of the Black Bear may "offer" them
to his guardian spirit.

bmark - Using bmark <message>, a Bear can conjure up a spirit to warn
people to stay away from an area they've claimed. Once you're done
with it, you may "dismiss spirit"

bfeather - You can also conjure up a nifty feather to tickle people with.

btrap - Need to leave an item on the ground for a minute? Make yourself a
"btrap" and then "arm trap" with the item inside. You can "disarm
trap" when you need it back.

bgrow - If you're feeling the need for some facial hair, you can "bgrow" a
beard or goatee. To grow a beard, type "bgrow <length> <type>
<color>" and for a goatee, simply "bgrow goatee".


Chutes
------

A very important part of the Bear guild is the Chutes, which members can store
items for other Bears to use. You may borrow anything you want, provided you
bring it back. To see what is in the Chutes, type "list" standing next to
Sequin, and he'll tell you what is currently available. To take an item, type
reclaim <item>. To return an item to the Chutes, give <item> to Sequin.
Whenever you take things out of the Chutes or put them back in, it effects
your encumberance. The higher your encumb, the more likely that you will not
be able to withdraw anything from the Chutes. Strive to keep a light encumb by
donating things you don't need any longer.


Bear Nobility
-------------

If you manage to attain a large amount of spiritual nirvana, you will be
granted a title for your efforts. It's difficult to attain, so it is very
prestigious.

10000 Nirvana - Mugwai
25000 Nirvana - Chieftain/Chieftess
50000 Nirvana - Prince/Princess
125000 Nirvana - Pooh-Bah

If you ever manage to earn the rank of Pooh-Bah, you'll be granted the use of
_all_ the guardian spirits. It's something to work for, wouldn't you say?

---------------
Courts of Chaos
---------------

The infamous Courts of Chaos, site of a twisted, embryonic religion that
advocates the return of everything from Order to Chaos. Inside, sacrificial
offerings to the gods of Chaos take place every hour. This is not a guild for
the faint of heart.

Only those who are of the evil persuasion may join (that means nasty or
worse). Also, only Mages, Clerics, Necromancers, Shapeshifters, Rangers, and
Rogues are allowed to enter the Courts. All races are welcome, though. To
join, you must ask a current member to mentor you.

Directions to the Courts of Chaos: 16w, 4n, 2w, n

Karma: Much like the Bear's nirvana, a Chaoser's standing within the guild is
measured partly by his Karma. If he wishes to raise his level of Karma, he may
donate items to the Vaults of Karma or consecrate corpses.


Vaults of Karma
---------------

For half the cost of an item in Karma instead of coins, a player may receive
<item> from the Vaults of Karma. Similarly, if he wishes to submit an item to
raise his Karma level, he can donate <item>. Taking "uniques", or one-of-a-
kind items from the Vaults to sell or auction is considered _highly_
offensive, and invites the forces of evil to punish you.


Powers
------

mesmerize - A Chaoser carries with him always the symbol of the Courts of
Chaos. If he wishes, he may attempt to mesmerize another player,
forcing them to speak what he wills. mesmerize <player> <message>

channel - If one has his guildline on, he may attempt to transfer his spell
points to another Chaoser in need. Some spell points are always
lost in the transfer, but the more evil both of you are, the
better it will work. channel <number of sps> to <player>

haunt - Summons a spook to temporarily haunt an area, with or without a
personalized message, for 15 sps. You may not have more than one
spook active at one time, and it will eventually disappear after a
short time. haunt <message>

award - If you feel another Chaoser is deserving, you may award them Karma
as a gift. award <amount> <name>

blood - For 666 Karma, you may receive an empty bowl from Maleficio. You
may use this to play with blood like the evil Chaoser you are.


Chaos Nobility (if such a thing exists)
--------------

Unlike Bear titles, when you attain a rank in Chaos, it subtracts it from your
total. Therefore, you need 210000 Karma total to reach the rank of Prince.

10000 Karma - Master/Madam

Upon attaining the rank of Master, you are allowed to register colours for a
badge that other mortals can wear to show you support. In effect, their
wearing your badge gives you extra Karma.

50000 Karma - Lord/Lady

When you become a Lord, you receive quite a few more abilities. You can crush
worthless items to dispose of them, use "ctell <player>" instead of the
regular tells, and remotely donate items to the Vaults of Karma.

50000 Karma - Comte/Contessa

Once you've become a respected Comte, you may "ctell salome list" for a list
of the current items in the Vaults. You'll also be allowed to customize your
title a bit.

100000 Karma - Prince/Princess

If you manage to earn the highest title in the guild, you will be granted the
power to receive items from the Vaults even if Salome is not present.

-----
Eldar
-----

The Eldar are a nestled in the small community of Duendar southwest of the
Lullingstone. They are a group of noble elves, half-elves, and humans
dedicated to upholding long-standing principles of cooperation and peace.
Obviously, you cannot join this guild if you are a Dwarf or Orc, but all
classes are encouraged to join.

Directions to the Eldar: 12w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, sw

When you join the Eldar, you will be assigned to one of the five houses:
Glendoriel, Turgon, Amros, Sethic, and Midiar. Whenever you kill something, it
affects the rank of your particular house.

Powers
------

autoget - This nifty little ability, with the cost of 1 sp per use, will
automatically get all the equipment from a corpse after you kill
it. You can toggle it on or off with autoget <on or off>

conjure - Eldar can conjure a few nifty things for kill markers or just for
fun. For only 10 sps they can creates leaves, flowers, and pixies.

decorpse - This is how the Eldar dispose of corpses. Doing so will effect your
house's standing on the Eldar Cat Board.

find - Similar to the Ranger ability "track", Eldar can find other Eldar,
guildless players, and players half their level with the use of the
find ability. To find Duendar, find Namril. It costs 2 sps to use.

listen - This ability lets you hear all there is to hear in a room for 5
sps.

look - For 2 sps, you can examine other objects held by monsters or other
players. There are a few limitations, however.

rush - If you need to quickly get out of a sticky situation, you can rush
<direction 1> <direction 2> to quickly exit the room with the
trouble in it. It costs 5 sps to use.

shield - For 10 sps you may create a shield around an item that will keep
people from taking it. Just shield <item>. To lower the shield, use
lower shield <item>.

-----------
Scythe Clan
-----------

Are you consciously barbaric? Does nothing tickle your fancy so much as
squashing puny elves and their half-breed brethren? Then perhaps you'd be best
suited to join the Scythe Clan. A warning, though, the Scythe are the least
tolerant of new players.

"The concept of the Scythe is not complicated at all: The clan
is meant for people that are self-confident, who don't feel
the need to rely on vast numbers for protection, nor like to
waste time on their way to glory. A member of the Scythe has
often been through many phases before finding the one truth:

A barbaric lifestyle without false pretensions is simply the
most fun. You only live once, why waste your time pondering
upon such abstract matters as principle and honour? Plenty of
time to feel sorry when you've turned your toes up to the
daisies!"

Not surprisingly, Elves and Half-elves are not allowed to join the Scythe
Clan. Neither are Paladins, who would have a little trouble fitting in.
Shapeshifters are also banned from entering the clan hut. To join, you must
bring the corpse of a monster you defeated. It had better be a good one, or
you won't satisfy Boki.

Directions to the Clan Hut: all s, w, s, w, walk

Powers
------

sheal - Donates some of your health to another Scyther. sheal <person> <l,
m, h>

conjure - Scythe are able to conjure up a few items for a little fun, or to
show off kills. "conjure button" creates a button that a you can
place a message on. To make yourself a kill marker, type
"conjure marker". Need to send someone a message? Conjure yourself
a voodoo doll (conjure doll) for a little fun. If you want a trophy
belt for your scalps, conjure belt. And last, but not least,
brighten up someone's day with a festive party hat, just conjure
hat.

eat - You can eat trash to dispose of it. Works with corpses, too!

trophy - With trophy <scalp>, you can add a scalp to your belt.

xi - Shows all you carry, even in containers.

xs - A shortened version of the "score" command.

xsell - A handy selling mode that goes through all your items.

xwield - Automatically wields the best weapon you have (Fighters only).

---------------
Monks of Antana
---------------

An established religion, the Monks of Antana worship the goddess Antana. Only
those who are pure of heart and mind will be allowed to join. Therefore, no
Necromancers of any kind. Neither will they accept Dwarves, Orcs, or
Shapeshifters. You also must be nice or better to join.

Directions to Monks of Antana: 10n, 3e, 7n, e, 2n, enter waterfall

Rules
-----

Unlike most guilds, the Monks have their rules spelled out in a simple list
for all to read. You must have read the rules before joining.

"1. Do not kill/attack other players! Player killing/attacking is a most
grievous offense to Antana, and will result in a review for banishment
from the order by your guildmasters.
a) You may defend yourself if you are attacked.
** This does not mean you can hunt the attacker!!
** This does not mean that if someone approaches you about
collecting a bounty that if they attack first, you have
not broken the rules. Bounty Hunting is as frowned upon
as Player Killing.

2. Stealing from other members of the order is also a serious offense, and
and will result in a review for banishment from the order by your
guildmasters.

3. You should always be kind and polite to other monks and players, and play
the 'role' of a peaceful and calm monk. (Not so much shouting and so on.)

4. Foul language of all types is not appreciated in the order. Please don't
use it over the lines.

5. The order of the monks requires loyalty from its members. If you leave the
order, Antana may start to lose her faith in you.

6. If problems of theft from the storage room or defacing of the temple
occur, please mail the Guildmasters, and file a complaint with
Dibbs.

7. Abusing the storeroom (i.e. getting a large negative balance) can
result in banishment from the guild.

8. Excessive spamming of the monkline will result in silencing.

9. Guildmasters are always right!

10. If you need to contact the guildmasters, you may mail Monks if they are
not on. (Yes, with a capital M)

Such is the will of Antana...."


Powers
------

Mana rating


Like most other guilds, the Monks have a system of guild points. You can earn
extra points by carrying a trash bag around and stuffing junk in, burying
corpses, donating gold, or cremating corpses and scattering the ashes north of
the Monk gardens.

mpray - You can pray to Antana for special abilities. One of which is
converting sps into hps or vice versa. To do this, use mpray for
<number of hps/sps> and it will convert automatically. It costs 2 mana
for every point converted in this manner. You can also pray for a kill
marker with mpray mark <monster>.

Storage
-------

The Monk's storage system is fairly straightforward. You can take items in
exchange for mana, low level storage room is open to levels 6 through 13,
upper is reserved for 14 through 19. Simplicity itself.


---------------
Knights of Drin
---------------

The Knights are strict fraternity devoted to preserving the peace and
eliminating the Orc threat upon Ancient Anguish. The Knights of Drin follow a
strict code of chivalry that guides them throughout their careers. Of course,
no foul Orcs are allowed to join the noble Knights of King Drin. Neither may
Mages, Necromancers, Shapeshifters, or Rogues enter into their ranks.

Directions to the Guild hall: 13n, 6w, 10n

Powers
------

trophy - Knights take the ear from their kills as a trophy and deposit it
in a special ear bag. when you are done with your adventuring for
the day, you can turn them in to Albert to earn guild credits.

Orc sense - Knights have the natural ability smell the stench of Orcs in the
air. By typing sense orcs, a Knight can detect where the creatures
are hiding. As your nobility rises, so does your Orc sense.


The Knights have a special shoppe all their own where they can buy excellent
packs, armour, and the like. No one else has access to this!

Racks
-----

Much like the Chutes and the Vaults, the Racks allow items to be shared among
guild mates. A member may choose <item> or donate <item> to receive and
return, respectively. You can only withdraw so many items during one reboot
period before you will be cut off, though.

Nobility
--------

Baron/Baroness - 20000 credits
Count/Countess - 40000 credits
Earl/Earless - 90000 credits
Marquis/Marquess - 150000 credits
Duke/Duchess - 220000 credits
Prince/Princess - 300000 credits

------------------------
Brotherhood of the Raven
------------------------

A very secretive society nestled somewhere in the heart of Tantallon, the
Brotherhood of the Raven is open only to experienced, proven Rogues. If you
seek them, you do so at your own risk.

Powers
------

hack - Using a secondary weapon, a Raven may hack a corpse to pieces
to dispose of it.

scavenge - An alternate way of disposing corpses, this can only be done
outside.

rsponsor - Allows you to lend support to a fledgling member of the Ravens.

rs - An expanded sc command.

protection - Most people do not like to be stolen from. If you can find one
of these, sell him a contract of protection. First, visit
Spiros in the guild and "acquire contract." Once done, you can
give it to the person and ask them to "sign up for <number>
days". You will earn one guild point for every gold coin
collected this way.

guild points - The other way to earn guild points is by giving stolen items to
Spiros and Victor in the guild.

Storage
-------

In the cellar of the hideout, there is a large stash of items to be had,
separated by Ruby into different rooms. Simple walk in, pick up what you need
(contributing the proper amount of rpoints automatically) and then be on your
way.

--------
Snowfolk
--------

The Snowfolk are a group of people living in harmony in a giant igloo far to
the north. Their powers and skills have been shaped by the proximity to the
cold lands, but their hearts are warm. The Snowfolk welcome anyone (other
than necromancers and those who enjoy killing others) into their ranks.

The precepts of the Snowfolk are as follows:

1) Have fun, but not at the expense of others.

2) Only kill other sentient beings if ABSOLUTELY necessary.

3) Share your knowledge of survival with others, unless they
prove unworthy of that knowledge.

4) Survive.

Directions: The guild is extremely far to the north. The best way to find it
is to buy a map and get to the NW corner of the continent. Then follow these:
10e 6s 6e 2s 4e 3n

Powers
------

Snowmen - Snowfolk can build a snowman, which will stay around for a while
until it melts away into a pool of water.

Carve sculpture -There is a sculpture gallery in the guild hall, where you can
carve sculptures and submit them to be viewed and rated by your guildmates.

Cold resistance - The higher your level, the higher will be your resistant to
the cold. Unfortunately, your weakness to fire will increase as well.

fsball - throw a snowball at someone

fshatter - can be used to dispose of litter


Freezing
--------

The 'freeze' command can do three entirely different things. You can 'freeze
<food>' to freeze raw meat or a freshly caught fish.
This will keep it from spoiling for a while, or as long as you stay in
a really cold area, like on top of a glacier. You cannot eat frozen meat,
but wolves can. You can cook it.

You can 'freeze <object>' to freeze an object you are carrying into a
block of ice. If you then drop the block, nobody else will be able
to pick up the object. The ice block will melt after 10 minutes, unless
you store it in the deep freezer in the guild.

You can also 'freeze <number>' to store spell points in your snowflake
for later use. Freezing in warmer climates is less efficient. The best
place to freeze sp is in the guild freezer, but be careful - if you stay in
there too long you can die from hypothermia! Freezing sp nearly
doubles your effective sp.


Storage
-------

There are two current storage systems for Snowfolk. The most informal is a
large hide crate in the guild board room. Any guild member can add
or remove items from the crate. There is no point system, so there's no
need to build up any credit before you can use stuff your guildmates have
stashed there for public use.

The deep freezer offers personal storage. You can freeze your items and drop
the blocks of ice in the deep freezer so they stay frozen. No one else can
pick them up, so when you're ready to play again you just thaw them and go.
You can also "get small icicle" for a free ice knife and "get large icicle"
for the club version.

The guild hall also has a bar (in the main hall), an ice cream shop, a
library, a game room, and the store which sells warm fur clothing that gives
additional cold resistance bonuses.

The guild guardian, Frosty, is not killable, so the guild hall is
comparatively safe from pillaging.


==============
WEAPONS/ARMOUR
==============


Obviously, one cannot go traipsing around a world full of monsters, danger,
and raging battles without the proper equipment, right? But with so many
quality armours and weapons to choose from, which do you pick? And which will
be the best deal for your coin? Here, you cannot see what weapons are
appropriate for which classes, and what armour you should be sporting.

-------
Weapons
-------

Weapons are divided into different types. You will master certain weapons at
different speeds, depending on your class.


Longswords - This is one of the most popular weapon types. They do
decent damage and there are lots of unique longswords.
Fighters can use longswords with amazing proficiency as can
Paladins. Rogues and Rangers can also to a lesser extent.
The proper attack method for longsword is Slash.

Shortswords - These tend to do less damage than their larger brethren,
and are thus ignored by most people. There are a couple
unique shortswords, but nothing to write home about.
Fighters, Paladins, and Rangers tend to do okay with
shortswords. As with longswords, use Slash.

Clubs - Hefty, bulky, and severely damaging weapons, Clubs are
also extremely popular. There are some impressive unique
clubs out there which make this type attractive. Fighters
are excellent with a good club, and this is the primary
weapon for Shapeshifters, Clerics, and Artificers. You
should use Crush when wielding a club.

Flails - Flails do impressive damage, and the addition of several
new, powerful flails have made them a very attractive
weapon skill. Fighters and Clerics learn skills the fastest
and should definitely consider trying them out. When using
a flail, use Crush.

Rapiers - Rapiers don't do a lot of damage, but their defensive value
is priceless. Fighters like them because they're great for
disarm, and Rogues who lead parties couldn't live without
them. Rapiers are best while using Pierce.

Staffs - Staffs do decent damage on average. There are a few unique
staffs that are effective enough to attract Fighters. Mages
should use them exclusively, and Necromancers work well
with them too. When wielding a staff, use Crush.

Knives - Knives tend to get a bad rap, mostly because they don't do
a heck of a lot of damage. For Rogues and Rangers, though,
this skill goes up at an insane rate. Necromancers
sometimes use them for a primary weapon, too. Knives, of
course, work well with Pierce.

Spears - Another unpopular weapon skill, spears are only valuable to
Rangers (partly because they can make their own). Spears
should be wielded with Pierce.

Curved Blade - This weapon tends to do okay damage, but I wouldn't
recommend it to anyone but a Rogue who prefers to follow
in a party instead of lead. Slash works best with this
type of weapon.

Polearms - Not a bad skill at all, but not actively pursued by a lot
of classes. Paladins and Fighters can work wonders with a
good polearm. Polearms should be used with Slash.

Axes - Axes aren't wonderful for damage, so many people tend not
to bother with them. Rangers can use them very well, and
even some Fighters use them. Not surprisingly, Chop works
for axes.

Two Handed Axe - These weapons do an obscene amount of damage. They are very
hard to learn, so only Fighters tend to use them, but I
encourage Rangers to try as well. These weapons use Chop.

Two Handed Sword - Another excellent weapon type, but still very hard to
master. Only Fighters should try their hand. Slash is the
appropriate attack.

Marksmanship - This encompasses thrown weapons and archery. Rangers and
Rogues can use this skill with amazing proficiency,
although every class can benefit from learning it.

Exotic - This is pretty much for weapons that don't fit into any
category. None of them do very much damage, so only learn
this if you're extremely bored.

------
Armour
------

There are many kinds of armour in the game, but there are few that you should
actually consider wearing. When your strength is low, I would suggest wearing
Bezainted Armour for your primary. Adding anything else besides a pack for
your things would probably weigh you down too much. After you've become a
little stronger, I _highly_ recommend cuirboilli leather armour, because it
defends very well and weighs little. You can also throw in some secondary
armour, like the robe of turkey feathers, and perhaps steel-toed boots. Once
your strength is high, it's time to break out the fine platemail. This is all-
purpose, excellent armour, but very heavy. If you're a Fighter, Cleric, or
another class that has a high strength, add in as much secondary armour as you
can (gloves, robes/cloaks, medallions, etc.). The less damage you take, the
better.

-------
Uniques
-------

Curious about what kind of uniques are out there? Here's an incomplete list
that might interest you! Also, it's possible to find documents that tell you
how to assemble even greater uniques. Be on the lookout for these throughout
your adventures.

*semi-unique

Armour of Ichor: Allows you to drain corpses for healing.
*Black Robe: +20 cold and fire resistance, +35 magic resistance.
Blackened Staff: +1 dexterity, -1 constitution.
Blade of Sethic: Bonus for Elves depending on runes.
Bracers of Skill: Shows when a weapon skill is approaching.
Crosier of Pain: +2 wisdom, -1 strength and constitution.
Destructor: +1 dexterity to Dwarves.
Dragon Platemail: +15 fire and magic resistance.
Draqisfang: Transforms into the weapon your skill is highest in.
Drute's Bauble: Allows you to use feelings from a distance.
Elvenheart: +4 strength to Elves, +3 to Half-elves.
Evil Eye: Works just like the Mage spell scry.
Flail of Ancient Demolition: Gigantic flail that topples opponents.
Flying Shield: You can ride it, performing the same function as speed-walking.
Glimmer: Gives a Mage extra hours when it flashes.
*Golden Amulet: Protection during combat.
Magic Surcoat: +20 to fire, cold, magic, and poison resistance.
Malign Pikestaff: +1 strength to Orcs, -1 wisdom regardless of race.
Medallion of Night: +15 cold and fire resistance, +10 magic resistance
Morning Star: Bonus vs. humanoids.
Nightblue Cloak: +2 intelligence, lowers alignment.
Pendragon: Damage bonus for Humans with a positive alignment.
Rakar, Mattock of the Giants: Immensely destructive two-handed axe.
Rowen Staff: Utilizes a wind attack.
Shield of Gralain: +20 blocking for Dwarves, +5 for everyone else.
*Shroud of Gustando: A weightless shield.
Silver Longbow: +20 to Archery.
Spidermedallion: +2 to intelligence.
Spiked Shield: Gets in an extra attack.
Star Armour: +5 to magic, fire, cold, and poison resistance. Source of light.
Starblade: +20 to magic, fire, cold, and poison resistance. Source of light.
Strangely-patterned Cloak: Increases seclusion ability.
Wigwog Skin: +10 to fire and cold resistance.




============
Making Money
============


Now that you're aware of the equipment, uniques, and other things you'll need,
you're probably wondering where you're going to come up with all the money to
buy them. Obviously, the best way to turn a profit is just to make more than
you spend, but there are two tried and true methods that I use to make some
extra coins.

--------------------
Commodities Exchange
--------------------

Affectionately known as CX, the Commodities Exchange allows you to deliver
packages for a small amount of coins and experience. You can make up to 3,000
coins per reset, and you earn half that much in experience. The following is a
list of possible destinations and the directions to reach them:

Note: As always, all directions are given from the Crossroads (or Xroads),
which are s, and 6e from where you log on.

Ancient Bliss Bar: 13n, 6w, 6n, 2w, n, w, n
Ancient Inn in northeastern village: 10n, 3e, 5n, e, s
Auction Hall: 3s, 4w, s
Bank in Hobbitat: 33n, ne, 2n, e, ne, n, 3w
Bank in Tantallon: 3w, s, e
Barber shop in Hobbitat: 33n, ne, n, e, n, ne, n, 2e
Bard in Ancient Bliss Inn: 13n, 6w, 6n, 2w, n, e
Brawling arena: n, e, n
Butcher shop in Nepeth: 13n, 6w, 6n, 3e, n, e
Canticle offices: 8w, enter hut
Clan hut entrance in Scythe camp: 11s, w, s, w, walk
Clerics' Common Church: 3w, n, e, n, e
Coachline offices: 5w, 2s, w
Constabulary in Neville: 10n, 3e, 5n, 2e, s
Doctor's office in Dwarven mines: 16n, 3w, 2n, nw, 2w
Eastroad Inn: 10n, e, enter
Eastroad Inn reception desk: 10n, e, enter, e
Flower shop in Nepeth: 13n, 6w, 6n, 2w, s
Fredd's Equipment Shop: 5w, 4s
Goblin Alchemist in Ravel: 12w, n, nw, 4w, 2n, 3w, n, enter
Grandfather Goblin in Ravel: 12w, n, nw, 4w, 3n, enter, w
Hall of Audience in Nepeth: 13n, 6w, 12n, w
Hanza's Map Shop: 3s, 6w
Infirmary in Dwarven mines: 16n, 3w, 2n, nw, w, n
Ironman and Willim's Smithy: 6w, s
Knights of Drin guildhall: 13n, 6w, 13n
Library in Nepeth: 13n, 6w, 3n, e, n
Library in Tantallon: 3w, n, w
Magic Shop: 5w, 2s, e
Nursery in Dwarven mines: 16n, 3w, 2n, nw, 2n, e
Nurse's station in Dwarven mines: 16n, 3w, 2n, nw, 2n, w
Oterim the Sage: 10n, 3e, 5n, 2e, n
Paper boy: 3w
Pub in Tantallon: 3w, 2n
Ranger camp: 31n, 9w, 10n, 16e, s
Scythe camp shop: 11s, w, s, w, walk, w, n, w, s
Scythe camp tobacco seller: 11s, w, s, w, walk, w, n, 2w, n
Sheriff's office in Nepeth: 13n, 6w, 6n, 4e
Shop in Hobbitat: 33n, ne, e
Shop in Nepeth: 13n, 6w, 10n, 2w, n
Shop in Tantallon: w, n
Taverna in Dalair: 16w, 7n
Training academy: n, e
Tower of the Magi: 3w, s, w, u


----------------
Treasure Hunting
----------------

Probably my favorite activity on Ancient Anguish, treasure hunting is an
excellent way to stock your bank account. Before you can set out on your
adventure, though, you're going to need a map. There are two locations to get
one: Dalair, the orc city, and Neville, also known as the Northeastern
village. You need to visit the pubs in each town, and if the dark stranger is
standing around, you can buy a map from him.

When you first read the map, the "thunt" is created somewhere on the map of
Ancient Anguish. The difficulty and presence of guardian monsters is shaped by
your level and alignment. For instance, if you're an evil, level 8 character,
you may be given directions to a hidden shrine with a holy priest inside.

The directions will be in increments call ed "stadia". Moving from one room to
the other is a movement of 5 stadia. Remember, moving within a town or quest
area does not count as moving around in the whole of the world.

Once you've found your personal area (you will know when the map says it is
found "right around here" or when you can actually see it) simply enter and
take a look around. Thunts consist of two rooms, and there may not always be
guardians in the first.

Note: In tombs or crypts, simply attempting to move to the second room may
trigger the guardians, so be careful.

Once you've defeated the first guardians, or if you were just lucky enough not
to fight anyone, head to the second room. In there should be either one or a
group of guardians that will present a considerable chall enge. Once you've
laid waste to everyone, you will need to search something in the room to find
the chest or coffer full of goodies. Just picking out a few random nouns in
the room description will usually work (e.g. search tapestry, search bones).

You had better grab that chest quickly, because right after you find it, the
thunt will begin to collapse. Head outside with all your things before it
does, because anything left in the pile of rubble will be lost.

Now you'll probably be left with the problem of a locked chest of goodies. You
can smash the chest, or attempt to pick the lock with a lockpick. I would
recommend that you buy some fine tools from the fence in Neville, because some
chests can include a nasty trap for the unwary.

After you've gathered the equipment from the monsters you've defeated and the
wonderful things in your chest, it's time to find a friendly Mage. Items from
thunts can be identified by a Mage, showing that they may be much more than
they seem. For instance, that rapier the holy priest was wielding could be a
vorpal rapier, which would sell for three times as much!

Remember, have fun on your thunts! If you can't seem to defeat the monsters
yourself, get a friend or guildmate to help you out and agree to split the
treasure. If you're anything like me, you'll find it to be an enjoyable part
of the game.

A warning: The dark stranger will now occasionally sell you "something
special." This is a large treasure map, a thunt that is much larger and filled
with more dangerous guardians. Do NOT attempt to do this alone! Find a couple
friends and seek out that highly valuable treasure!



==================
Earning Experience
==================


You'll probably spend most of your time in the game trying to make yourself
stronger. The best way to do this is by seeking out powerful monsters to kill,
or finding an area with creatures around your level to take on. Here are a few
areas you should be spending time in:


Newbie Park: 8w, s, enter park

This is the ideal place for someone level 1-5. There are fuzzy animals to
fight for the extreme newbie, and some NPCs (Non Player Characters) for the
ambitious player. There's also a quest to be done in this area, so you should
be occupied for a while.

Haunted Manor: 8n, e, ne

Also an extremely good newbie spot, this particular house features a free
bedroom for players below level 6 to sleep in. So if you have to take a break
from fighting Thing or the butler's ghost, you can heal at no charge. Free is
a good thing.

Harlan's Trap: 17w, 6s, ne

In this area, an evil ranger lures paladins to their deaths. He won't bother
you unless you start anything, though, so feel free to use the eagle's nest to
sleep in for free and to kill insect swarms to your heart's content.

Haunted Ship: 29n, all e, enter hole

One of my favorite places to level, the Haunted Ship is well-suited to someone
level 6-9. There are mid-level creatures everywhere, and there is a room that
doubles your healing rate while you are inside.



======
TRAITS
======



One of the newest big projects to hit Ancient Anguish are traits. Basically,
you begin with 6 trait points and earn an extra one for each level up to 20,
then one more for every additional 200,000 experience. These points can be
spent on customizing your character, adding stats, improving abilities, and
giving your character unique powers. Some traits can be increased more than
one rank for a greater effectiveness at a higher cost. For a complete
breakdown, see "thelp."

To read any of the below help files just type "thelp <topic>." A good place
to start would be "thelp introduction."


introduction A brief explanation of what traits are all about.
list A list of all traits available and a brief
description of what they do.
<name of trait> A more detailed description of the specific trait.
cost A table of the traits you have, what traits you can
gain and how much it all costs.
advancement How to gain new traits.
topics A list of all the help topics related to traits.
current A list of the traits you currently have.
commands A reference list of all the commands available from
the traits project.
bugs A list of known bugs and progress on fixing them.


Recommended newbie traits:

Common Sense - For only two trait points, this allows you to "analyse" any
enemy to determine how difficult they would be for you.

Easy Sleeper - For 10 trait points, this trait gives you the ability to "rest"
anytime and anywhere. This is handy for any player, even at
high levels.

Fast Talker - The first rank costs only one trait point and will protect you
from small monsters who would attack first and ask questions
later.

Relaxed Mind - For only three traits points for the first rank, Relaxed Mind
increases your sps regeneration. This is handy for any class
that relies heavily on special abilities.

Sense of Direction - This functions like a built-in compass; you always know
your relative distance from Tantallon, helping you find
your way back.

Skill Focus - For eight trait points, the first rank of this trait will
improve the rate that you earn weapon skills with the weapon of
your choice. For instance, if you decide to play a mage, Skill
Focus (staff) would be a great choice!



======
QUESTS
======


Perhaps hack and slash is not really your thing. Maybe you're the type who
prefers to enter into some of the storyline, and affect the outcome. Scattered
throughout the game are "quest areas", or places where you have to solve a
problem through exploration and experimentation. Questing isn't for everybody,
but some enjoy it immensely. If you ever want to advance beyond the realm of
the mortals, however, you will have to quest at least a little bit.

1. Help a young lady of Tantallon (15 points, by Piper)

"A young lady is greatly troubled by a loss of an object of great value to
her. Help her relieve her concerns. Seek her in the town of Tantallon. This
quest requires a minimum of fighting, and would be appropriate for low
level adventurers."

2. Explore the Forsaken Lighthouse (25 points, by Sully)

"Along the shores of Ancient Anguish is hidden a story of love and betrayal.
Northeast of Tantallon lies a Forsaken Lighthouse, which awaits the bold
adventurer whose spirit and intelligence lift him or her far above his
low-to-mid level. Lift the curse that sits upon it!"

3. Assist the tree sprites of Sydryth (25 points, by Aisha)

"The goblins have been working their way south and are terrifying the tree
sprites of Sydryth. They have recently stolen the sprites' sacred medallion
and Ryltar, the sprite leader, is in need of help. He's calling for all
low-level adventurers to assist him in his time of need. Return the Medallion
of Sydryth to the tree sprites so they may once again prosper."

4. Assist Moosah in the Dragon's Playground (25 points, by Malire)

"At the northwest corner of the park just south of the western gates, Moosah
whittles in the Dragon's Playground. He had crafted a beautiful puppet for
Prissy, for whom his unrequited love burns bright. However, the puppet has
been torn apart by a jealous bully and is now lost. The search may be
difficult, but Moosah needs you to find those two puppet parts so he may
rejoin them, and have you return the repaired puppet to Prissy. This quest is
designed for all levels, and your curiosity will be rewarded."

5. Recover the gremlin leader's lost property (30 points, by Redwolf)

"In the northern forest lies a small village inhabited by mischievious
critters known as gremlins. The leader of the gremlins, Zibzib needs your
help. Someone has stolen his favorite toy. He will wage war against the
Hobbits if his toy is not recovered. It is up to you to recover Zibzib's toy
and prevent a terrible war."

6. Bring good powers into this world. (35 points, by Gwendolyn)

"There are rumours about a convent by a lake where there is a sealed portal
keeping good powers out of this world. Help the nuns open the portal.
Recommended for players of medium level."

7. Return the Azhads' prized relic. (35 points, by Larina)

"In the Kazari desert, far to the south of Tantallon, the Azhads, a tribe
of nomads, have lost a prized relic. A cunning adventurer who could assist
these desperate people would win great favour from their chief. All should
be warned however, that so great is the Azhads' distrust of outsiders that
only those who combine diplomacy with ingenuity are likely to succeed."

8. Help August find his mother's necklace. (35 points, by Jerusulum & Llandra)

"A miner's son has lost his necklace while playing in the lake, rumoured to be
near the site of an underwater village. Daring and intelligent adventures are
needed to recover it."

9. Aid the Alatacirians in their time of crisis! (35 points, by Sylwen)

"Travelers from an island off the coast of Anguish have recently arrived in
the harbour of Tantallon, in search of aid. A disaster has recently intruded
into their peaceful lives and they require outside assistance to deal with
it."

10. Help the monks. (45 points, by Profezzorn)

"The monks in the monastery south of the evil temple need your help to perform
their sacred duties."

11. Restore the soul to Listhalia's maiden (50 points, by Deric & Willow)

"In the village of Listan a beautiful maiden has been trapped by a demon. Her
priestess is powerless to help, and her lover can do nothing to aid them. With
the sage's help, one such as yourself might be able to free the maiden. A
clever adventurer, no matter how inexperienced, can give aid."

12. Relieve a poor servant of his problems (50 points, by Florin)

"A poor servant has lost an object his master needs. Their small cottage can
be found somewhere to the south of the river that flows from Crescent lake to
the ocean. This quest involves a minimum of fighting and is suited for anyone
with a vivid imagination level 8 and up."

13. Help Khmoram to walk again (50 points, by Trixx)

"'Khmoram, the lame who walks, doesn't walk anymore. Find out why he is lame
and try to help him.'

This is a quest that requires more brains than muscles, and you should be able
to solve it even if you are a low level player. A good start could be to visit
Khmoram in his home in the small northeastern village and get some information
on how to help him. So GOOD LUCK ALL! And do not forget to remember ALL
information you could get and that the most obvious solution COULD be the
right one..."

14. Zhamarr (50 points, by Musashi)

"In the northwest of the continent there lies Zhamarr, the cruel kingdom in
the death-grip of the demonic ruler, Sorcerer King Zarakan.

'...Zarakan, the king's relative, was once a trusted man. Who would have known
that he was the one to slay the firstborn. With foul deeds, with murder and
lie, he cleared his way to the throne. And now there's none who can defy the
dark powers of that dark souled demon-lord. But maybe no more is needed than a
single daring adventurer going alone...'"

15. Assist the King! (50 points, by Amante)

"Help King Philip get a good night's sleep. The start of this
quest is located just outside the castle in the northeast
corner of Burnham Wood."

16. Assist the princess of Andeli (50 points, by Tigress & Saerdan)

"Princess Irene has lost her royal vestments, and is threatened by a band of
orcs. Help her find her clothes and remove the threat. You can find Irene in
Andeli Castle to the northwest of the main village. Players of medium level
are encouraged to attempt this quest."

17. Investigate the Scythe plot to invade Nepeth (50 points, by Salliver)

"On my recent reconnaissance of the evil Scythe Clan's camp, I have uncovered
a plot to overthrow Nepeth! Unfortunately I fear my cover has been blown and
I dare not make the return journey to Nepeth to inform Drin, but instead must
hastily scribble it here before I am found and killed -- so please forgive my
haste!

On the western side of the Scythe camp I have uncovered a tunn...

[hmm, that's it, except for a few splatters of blood]

This area ranges from low level right through to mid-high level, but the quest
itself can be solved by nearly any thinking player.

You should follow your own conscience when solving this puzzle."

18. Release the Music Man's trapped soul (50 points, by Levi)

"He fled his noble life in Andeli to seek a more meaningful existence with his
wife near Crystal Lake. Sudden tragedy would leave him unable to find any
meaning in life from that point on, however. Only an adventurer with an
abundance of imagination and cunning can restore inspiration to the house
which once thrived, but is now deadened with silence. Remaining is the solemn
memory of the great couple that once filled the dwelling with music and joy.

You must free the Music Man's spirit. Good luck."

19. Thwart the wizard in the Star Caverns (70 points, by Timber & Rebelheart)

"Attention all! Belirane, Rebelheart, and I have just gotten back from
exploring the new areas of the Star Caverns up in the mountains northwest of
Hobbitat. We have found the lair of an elemental wizard who is trying to
unravel the mysteries of nature. A strange voice told us to stop him because
the power would drive him crazy, and that he would destroy the world! We were
exhausted from chasing the packrats who kept stealing our booty and had to
return to town for rest, so we must pass on the responsibility to you. Stop
the elemental wizard before it is too late. We left some information around
the caverns that might help. Good luck.

-Timber, of the Wolves
-Rebelheart, of the Wolves"

20. Kill the warlock and restore the balance. (75 points, by Asyvan & Ged)

"Kill the evil warlock in the mountains north of Nepeth and restore the
balance of the world."

21. Brave adventurers, I call you one and all! (75 points, by Greyson)

"Nights ago, I was testing a newly-acquired scrying orb, sending my ethereal
form over the southern parts of the lands. From my rather unique vantage
point, I thought I spied something off of the edge of the southeastern
peninsula, shrouded in the eternal mists that lay there. I sent my form
closer, and used my magical arts to dissipate some of the mists. However, upon
approaching what had become clear to me as a structure of some sort, I felt a
presence there, pulling at my ethereal form. It did not seem malicious or
malevolent, but there was such a great want within it, I feared my spirit
would be sucked into that place and never released! My ethereal form is highly
susceptible to outside influences, and I cannot risk approaching that area
again. My physical form is much too weak to survive a journey to that area.
Therefore, I call upon you to seek out this presence and all eviate the great
pain and want that exists within it...

- Alizarkanon"

22. Unravel the legend of the Whisper Geyser. (75 points, by Taver)

"Dwell in the footsteps of an age long forgotten and unravel the legend behind
the Whisper Geyser from village folklore. The small village of Greenhaven can
be found in the northern region.

Recommended for exploration by all levels, but only the highest level
champions will be able to complete this quest."

23. Solve the mystery of Cyrano's Lament (75 points, by Elad)

"Cyrano the fisherman lives along the shore northeast of Tantallon. He awaits
a brave adventurer who is willing to help he and his wife Eleonora find their
missing children. You will find this old man of the sea eager to share his sad
tale of the recent hardships he has endured. The sea holds her secrets well
and those brave enough to explore her depths may come to meet their own
fateful tragedy if not careful.

This quest was made for all levels of players and for the enjoyment of those
whose hearts are warmed by the mysteries of the sea.

'Before one can discover new lands, he must first consent to lose sight of the
shore.'

Elad The Dreamer...@>-`--,---"


To become a Wizard, you must earn 752 Quest points.



=====
Heals
=====


Well, you know what weapons to get, what armour you should be wearing, and you
know where to kill things. But what do you do when you get hurt, lie there and
wait for it to go away? Unless you're extremely patient, this probably isn't
going to suit you at all. You need heals, and you need a lot. The following
information is invaluable to the hopeful adventurer. But be cautioned, never
spend more on heals than you think you can make back.


Tobacco: Smoking is good for you. Really, it is. One of the most effective
ways to regain sps and hps is to grab a pipe and some quality
pipeweed. You can purchase both from Kzoaki in the Scythe Camp or
Puffy in Neville.

Kzoaki - 11s, w, s, w, walk, w, n, 2w, n
Puffy - 10n, 3e, 5n, w

Medicinals: Fredd provides a wonderful little item call ed medicinals. You can
purchase some for 250 gold coins, or "bribe fredd" if she cuts
you off and you're willing to pay extra.

Fredd - 5w, 4s

Potions: Shanni jealously guards the secrets to her potent potions that she
sells to the public at an inflated price. These potions work
wonders for the health and well-being of your character, but they
are quite expensive.

Shanni - She can be found wandering around Nepeth.

Edibles: There are many places where you can buy food or drinks to carry
around with you. The most popular of which is the Knights of Drin
serving hall, tended by Misha.

Misha - 13n, 6w, 8n, 2e, 2n

Medicine: This ranger-made heal is _extremely_ useful, and you should take
any opportunity to buy it. You can either drink the whole bottle,
or "apply" to rub it on your wounds.

Bedrolls: A very cheap heal that can be used over and over again are
bedrolls. These handy little things are also made by Rangers. Just
drop them on the ground, unroll them, and curl up for a snooze.
You have to wait a little bit between each nap session. Also, make
sure to only buy soft bedrolls, as they heal you the most.




==========
DIRECTIONS
==========


To help you find your way around the world of Ancient Anguish, I've made a
list of directions to various points of interest. As always, I advise caution
when exploring any new area. Recklessness can make yours a short career.


Alton's Caves : 9w, 2s, 11w, 7n
Amazon's Castle : 2e, d, enter atlantis (if it's there), leave ship, 2e, 4s
Asyvan's Temple : 11s, w, s, d
Andeli Castle : 31n, all w, 3u
Balan : 12w, 3n, 2w
Blor's Hideout : 20n, all w, s, w, s, 2w, n, 4w, all n
Chaos Tower : 12w, 7n, 5w, d
Convent : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, 4e, 2n
Drakhiya : To Shifter Camp, 2w, 5s, 4w, all s, w, s, w, s, w, s, w
Drute's Tomb : 31n, 9w, 13n, 6e, 3n, w, n, 3w, n, e, 2nw, climb cliff, 2e
Drow Caverns : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, 8e, 2s, enter cave
Dwarven Mines : 16n, 3w, all n
Ebon Manor : 31n, 9w, 10n, 16e, s, 3w, 4s, enter
Elven Camp : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, e, 4s, w, nw, n
Faerie Ring : 15n, w, all n, enter ring
Flame Pit : 24n, all w, all n, e
Fort Vaughn : 20n, all w, s, w, s, w, climb rope, climb vine
Fub's Fortress : 7n, e
Gnoll Temple : 31n, 9w, 10n, 6e, ne
Gralain's Tomb : 21n, 3w, n, all w, sw, w
Gremlin Village : 31n, 9w, 10n, 17e, 2n, 2e
Haunted Manor : 8n, e, ne
Haunted Ship : 29n, all e, enter hole
Ilderia : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, sw, se, s, w, 7s, e
Lighthouse : 11n, 6e, enter
Listhalia : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, sw, se, s, w, 4s, 4e, sw
Lizard Village : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, 12e, 11s, e, 4s, 2w, 6s, se
Merrick's Castle : all s, w, s, w, all s, swim s, s, e, s, swim e
Monastery : 10w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, all e, enter monastery
Mount Kresh : 20n, all w, s, w, s, 2w, n, 4w, all n
Mountain Orcs : 17w, n, w, all n
Music Man Manor : 31n, 9w, 7n, e
Newbie Park : 8w, s, enter park
Orc Fortress : 14w, n, enter waterfall
Orphanage : 13n, 4w, n, e
Paladin Estates : 16w, 9s, nw
Puffin Beach : 31n, 9w, 10n, 21e, 5n, 2e
Shifter Camp : 12w, 4s, all w, all s, e, s, 12e, 11s, 3e
Star Caverns : 31n, 9w, 6n, 4w
Thranarack : 31n, 9w, 2n, 4w, 3n
Windmill : 11w, 4n, enter mill
Zhamarr : 31n, w, 2n, all w, sw



========================================================================
I sincerely hope that, with this knowledge,
you can become as familiar with the game as
I am. I also wish you hours and hours of
engaging gameplay. Happy adventuring!

Special Thanks to...

Methos, for his Ranger wolf list. (http://users.mikrotec.com/~speters/)
Ionstar, for his page refreshing my memory on locations.
The Ancient Anguish help files, of which I have seen _all_ now.
Dr. Wilcox, for letting this double as a research paper.
Erithywen, Mog, and anyone else who e-mailed me.
Mike for the nifty ASCII art.
All of the helpful comments and advice from friends.
========================================================================



Ancient Anguish: FAQ by Ryan_
Version 1.55, Last Updated 2007-10-18 View/Download Original File Hosted by GameFAQs
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