Iceforge
Can't get enough of FH
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,861
Copied this from my old JPF-guild-webby and it was copy-pasted into there by Windys, dunno exact source/creator, but here it goes:
Also known as: How you too can make an uber healer that farms Umbroods and Armsmen.
dedicated to Snikvit
Chapter 1. Da Numbers.
A) What race should I be?
Well, most people assume Dwarf is the way to go, but really, the way to go is Norse. The shortest Norse possible, that will allow you to blend in with the the average Midgard group, and even the average Alb Saracen or Hib Celt. More on this later in the Cheating Chapter.
B) How should I spend my 30 stat points?
Well, if you're smart, you'll go throw them into Strength and Constitution. Why not Piety, you ask? Cause Piety is for sissies.
It's pretty inconsequential how you spend those points, really. I've got points in Quickness and Dexterity (it was my first character, give me a break) and I'm overpowered, so that just proves these points don't matter.
But it's a game of inches so hedge your bet by buying up Strength and Constitution.
C) How do I spec?
23 Mending (gives you two insta-heals)
30 Augmentation (gives you celerity, resists, Str/Con buff, Damage Shield, and Decent buffs)
38 Pacification (gives you 4 insta-CC, and yellow mana regen)
D) Why not spec higher in Aug?
Because Augmentation sucks. World Domination is about CONTROL, iron-fisted, ass-kicking, make them break their keyboards in frustration CONTROL.
Chapter 2: Levelling Up
So now you have a short, Norse Seer standing in Aegirhamn. Don't start in Fort Atla, it's a Kobold slum nowadays with Wee Wolves around every corner prowling and feasting on the unwary.
Betya think World Domination starts now, eh?
WRONG!
The next five levels will be some of the toughest ever, throw every point you get into Augmentation, and expect to die anyway.
So you hit 5th season, and now you're a Healer, World Domination starts now, right?
WRONG!
World Domination won't start for another 45 levels, for now you have to get by.
A) How do I get by?
Basically whore yourself out for groups. No one said the road to World Domination is pretty. You'll learn how to manage aggro, CC, and spot bad groups very quickly. If you can't then you're not cut out for World Domination anyway.
B) Should I craft?
Oh yes. Become an Armorcrafter. If you're an overachiever, get yourself a Tailor bot as well. If you're not, then suck up to a Tailor, you'll need him later. I also suggest skilling up a spellcrafter, just to 500ish or so. More on this in the Equipment chapter.
C) Okay, I'm level 50, and have my epic armor, what do I do now?
Salvage every piece of that armor except the Hauberk. You'll need the money.
Addendum to Chapter 1:
38 Pac is of course a fixed number. NO HIGHER, NO LOWER. More Mend is simply not cost effective, since you get no appreciable bonuses until well after Mend 30, whereas Aug pays out for almost every point you spend beyond 20. REMEMBER NEOPHYTE WORLD DOMINATORS, this is not about helping your group out so much as about crushing your enemies. If you're going to Dominate the World, you must first think: ME ME ME.
Chapter 3: How to Spend Your Realm Skill Points
Realm Skill Points are a tricksy matter, it's very difficult to say what order to buy them in. So we'll just jump in and say what you SHOULD have.
A) Augmented Constitution 1. Costs one points, and gives you 6 points of Constitution. Dwarves will no longer laugh at how easily you get the sniffles after a long night camping the AG in Odin's
B) Toughness 1. Costs one point as well, and in conjunction with AugCon1 will give you a 3% bonus to your over all hit points. Now, this is important because Toughness kicks in AFTER you've buffed yourself. So stacking two Con buffs (base and spec) will show a huge increase. Hit points are huge, you won't be dazzling enemies with your footwork, you'll be outlasting them. You should be able to fuel the insecurities of Skalds and Thanes by trotting out your hit points (don't mention you're double buffed).
C) Purge. The RA so great I wish I could buy it twice. Purge is ESSENTIAL TO WORLD DOMINATION. We'll mention the many uses of Purge in the Cheating chapter, just go buy it now.
D) Perfect Recovery. Yes, I know, it's a very unselfish RA to buy since it's not usable on yourself (dammit). But we'll discuss how this RA is a key to World Domination in the chapter on how to dominate your friends for fun and profit.
E) Wild Healing. I suggest you eventually get level 2, but start with level 1, because normally you don't even have the chance to crit on a heal. Why buy a crit heal spell? Because you can crit heal and insta and laugh at all those Healers who spent a bajillion points to get 100% insta heals. Wild Healing 2 seems to give a better than 10% chance to crit, so don't go above 2.
F) Mastery of the Arcane. Don't get this until you have points to burn, then go ahead and get it. I mean, why not?
G) Mastery of Healing. It helps your insta heals, get at least level 1.
H) Mastery of Concentration. GET THIS. Remember, world domination is about CONTROL. Being able to cast spells while under attack is as good as having a third insta heal and a fifth insta CC!!!!
I) Battery of Healing. Yeah...right, that doesn't work on you, fergit it.
And NO, HIGH MEND is BAD. You can always trick other people to going high mend.
Chapter 4: In Which We Discuss Equipment.
Now equipment is the third most important thing for a Healer in the World Domination business. It comes after Psychology and Cheating, which will be covered later.
While levelling up, you should have ALSO been skilling up your Armorcrafting. Get up to hinging levels and start hinging, don't bother crafting for profit. There is none. Make hinges, skill to legendary levels.
This is where your Tailor bot of friend/slave comes in.
YOU NEED MP GEAR. Everything you have should be MP. 100% quality armor, you're spending money on youself, no skimping! Remember you will not be meleeing down your enemies, you'll be outlasting them.
Befriend a Weaponcrafter, buy an MP level 51 Shield (should be relatively cheap) and buy yourself TWO MP Hammers.
Yes, two hammers, this will be explained in the Tactics chapter. Get an MP Hammer, and an MP Arcanium Spiked Hammer. I've shown Klaush a couple times that PLAYERCRAFTED Hammer > Legion Hammer.
You're probably thinking you'll need a MP Arcanium Spiked Great Hammer now. Wrong. Get a 99% Duskwood staff, 16.5 DPS, and swings like the seasons change. You won't be using it much of course.
Now, there's some nice quest jewelry out there. Get it. You should have spent level 49 questing.
Dark Souls gives you the Ring of Spun Silk and a Cloak. Salvage the Hauberk and Helm, you NEED the money. Why Salvage the Helm, it's overcharged and MP, you might ask? because it's not alchemized.
The Bracer Quest gives you your Bracers: get the health bracer (forget the name) and the Left Axe Bracer. Yes, Left Axe, even with the nerfs. It's got some fabulous resists on it.
Ancestral Secrets, do that until you get the Resist Necklace.
Lost Maps Quest, get the Glacier jewel. There's a couple other nice jewels out there, so you have room for fudging, of course.
That leaves you with open Belt and Ring slot. You can buy DF to squeeze in there, not too big a deal.
Now, here's where your little spellcrafter comes in. (remember him?) You can spellcraft your own equipment as long as you don't overcharge, and for some of the smaller gems you can craft 99% gems to take to the legendary spellcrafter you've befriended and convinced to make the gems for your armor.
DON'T ASK THE SPELLCRAFTER WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR ARMOR. Let's face it, if he knew what he was doing, he'd be dominating the world. TELL HIM EXACTLY WHICH GEMS YOU NEED, and he better be legendary. Because you'll be overcharging about 4 items by 3-4 points, which is no big deal as long as your spellcrafter is Legendary and you have 99% gems. Overcharge your shield, gloves, boots and sleeves, because they're the cheapest to replace, in the rare occasion that things blow up.
DO NOT SPELLCRAFT YOUR HAMMER.
If you' have a sense of humor put more melee resists on you shield. That was it will actually be doing something other than giving you an additional slot for your spellcrafting.
MAXX EVERYTHING YOU CAN.
You MUST max your Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Piety, Hit Points, Resists, and Aug.
Yes those stats must be maxxed. Yes your Hit points must be maxxed. Yes EVERY resist must be maxxed. With all MP gear, and Quest jewelry it's very easy (with overcharging of course).
Augmentation is a funny thing. By maxxing your Aug you can squeeze a few more points of dex, con, and str when you buff. That's +11 to Aug, but it only helps when you're buffing, so if you want, make some 99% chain gloves, and have your spellcrafting friend Overcharge them with +7.
You can then pull the gloves on when you buff and then take them off when you're done. Leave them undyed so you don't forget to take them off.
Now, everything is MP, overcharged, and don't forget enchanting. Time to Alchemize.
I used to be a big proponent of putting DDs on every single piece, but I'm starting to lean towards getting Ablative procs on every single piece of armor. Been hearing good things about it. SangerMark3.0 MP armor will be all ablative.
On your shield, put a Lifedrain charge.
On your Hammers put a Dot Proc, some junior World Dominators will wonder if this will counter act out insta mezz, but very rarely does it come up. DoT procs will do more damage over time than a DD, though, so get it.
Chapter 5: How to Dominate Your Friends for Fun and Profit.
Now we come to the psychology of the World Dominator.
As a neophyte levelling up, you should have been building the foundations for your Domination.
In groups you should take charge, you're the healer after all, you have the power of life and death. YOU SHOULD BE IN CHARGE, let your friends get used to it. Start training them early and often. Give more buffs to the tank who protects you. Accidently drop buffs on the Shadowblade who thinks he's a tank. By teaching them in small ways early on to do as you say, you prevent Gross Displays of Domination later.
Be generous. Give people things for free or below cost, and LET THEM KNOW you're cutting them a big break.
If you let them pay for it, they consider things even and stop paying. If you give it to them for free or as a favor, you place them in your debt, and a person who feels indebted to you pays forever!
Perfect Recovery is a wonderful way of putting someone in your debt. I have been offered a blowjob for a Perfect Recovery, and Hoturi better never do that again. Galroth has posted a song glorifying PR. You get a friend forever when you PR.
Don't forget your caster realm mates! No one is more used to laying face down during a skirmish and losing RPs than a cloth caster. Rezz them early and earn their undying gratitude!
Dispensing Purities is NOT a way to get gratitude, though, they'll just think you're a buff dispenser, and keep poking you in the belly.
Buff solo Stealthers. They love to solo, but not all of them have buffthralls. Give them buffs when you see them, and chances are they'll remember and give YOU scouting reports, thereby creating the illusion of omniscience. Don't tell anyone where you got the info, just use it.
I can not stress enough how important putting everyone in your debt is to World Domination.
Chapter 6: The Look, precurser to the cheating chapter
Healers mustn't look like Healers. That's part of the reason you shouldn't be a Dwarf.
Now that you have your armor, go out and dye it black. A little color is alright, but not too much and not too bright, a Rust or Blue is preferrable.
Never turn your torch on, and when you select your face, don't get one with the braids on the mustache. That's just silly.
Don't use guild emblems, not on your shield or your cloak.
Wear a HOODED CLOAK. You must cover up your hair, or your non-spiky hair will be a dead giveaway.
You are creating the illusion of being the every-man, you see. A Celt, a Saracen, it just has to stand up to cursory examination, as most groups zooming by at Speed 5 will only have time to see what they expect.
Part of this illusion is having nerves of steel. Act like you belong there, and most people won't even question you.
Guilty people run, and motion catches the eye.
I've often been stalking prey and had a full group of Mids run right up to me prepared to kill me because they'd seen a saracen. Alternatively, I've killed more than a few Albs on the road and watched their friends run right by as they called for help. I suppose they figured it was a friendly duel.
Chapter 7: Knowing All.
I won't screw around with you. Knowing All is hard work, it is an illusion that requires a lot of preparation and work.
Starting at about level 48, neophyte World Dominators MUST begin exploring. First get yourself a map. Then run all over that map until you know every nook and cranny.
Go alone, wouldn't do to have ANYONE see you when you don't KNOW ALL.
You'll die to Monsters. That's GOOD. It means you'll remember where not to go next time.
You'll die to Guards. That's GOOD. It means you've just learned a guard route and to avoid it.
You'll die to Albs and Hibs. That's GOOD, on two levels. First, they'll remember you later on in lie as that stupid Healer who was running solo, by then you'll be prepared to destroy them. Secondly, you'll learn their travel routes and hunting spots, which is important for ambushing and killing them later in life.
When you die to any of these, LAUGH. Laugh long and hard, because SOON they'll ALL PAY! When an Alb Monster kills you, blame the Albs for living in such a crappy country, get mad at them. When a Hib guard kills you, blame the Hibs, if they didn't own these keeps you wouldn't be killed by roving guards, GET MAD AT THEM!
Take notes on the world, remember the monsters and guard routes, and KNOW THE DAMN KEEP NAMES. Nothing is more magical to Joe Midgard than when you know the difference between Boldiam and Berkstead.
Take the lead, have everyone AF on you. IF YOU GET LOST DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE LOST. If you need to turn around make long gentle U-turns so no one notices. Do not stop in place, if you need to consult the map, hold it up by the screen while you steer and try not to hit aggro, or better yet, run into guards and look at the map while they're fighting.
Infallibility is KEY to World Domination! Don't ever seem to be lost, and if something strange happens, blow it off as business as usual, "Yeah, I need coin, that's why we ran through that Guard route."
You will die A LOT, you will take experience deaths A LOT. But the slavish devotion and blind faith of your friends and countrymen will be well worth it.
Remember, you're investing in WORLD DOMINATION here, it's worth a little blood and tears.
Also known as: How you too can make an uber healer that farms Umbroods and Armsmen.
dedicated to Snikvit
Chapter 1. Da Numbers.
A) What race should I be?
Well, most people assume Dwarf is the way to go, but really, the way to go is Norse. The shortest Norse possible, that will allow you to blend in with the the average Midgard group, and even the average Alb Saracen or Hib Celt. More on this later in the Cheating Chapter.
B) How should I spend my 30 stat points?
Well, if you're smart, you'll go throw them into Strength and Constitution. Why not Piety, you ask? Cause Piety is for sissies.
It's pretty inconsequential how you spend those points, really. I've got points in Quickness and Dexterity (it was my first character, give me a break) and I'm overpowered, so that just proves these points don't matter.
But it's a game of inches so hedge your bet by buying up Strength and Constitution.
C) How do I spec?
23 Mending (gives you two insta-heals)
30 Augmentation (gives you celerity, resists, Str/Con buff, Damage Shield, and Decent buffs)
38 Pacification (gives you 4 insta-CC, and yellow mana regen)
D) Why not spec higher in Aug?
Because Augmentation sucks. World Domination is about CONTROL, iron-fisted, ass-kicking, make them break their keyboards in frustration CONTROL.
Chapter 2: Levelling Up
So now you have a short, Norse Seer standing in Aegirhamn. Don't start in Fort Atla, it's a Kobold slum nowadays with Wee Wolves around every corner prowling and feasting on the unwary.
Betya think World Domination starts now, eh?
WRONG!
The next five levels will be some of the toughest ever, throw every point you get into Augmentation, and expect to die anyway.
So you hit 5th season, and now you're a Healer, World Domination starts now, right?
WRONG!
World Domination won't start for another 45 levels, for now you have to get by.
A) How do I get by?
Basically whore yourself out for groups. No one said the road to World Domination is pretty. You'll learn how to manage aggro, CC, and spot bad groups very quickly. If you can't then you're not cut out for World Domination anyway.
B) Should I craft?
Oh yes. Become an Armorcrafter. If you're an overachiever, get yourself a Tailor bot as well. If you're not, then suck up to a Tailor, you'll need him later. I also suggest skilling up a spellcrafter, just to 500ish or so. More on this in the Equipment chapter.
C) Okay, I'm level 50, and have my epic armor, what do I do now?
Salvage every piece of that armor except the Hauberk. You'll need the money.
Addendum to Chapter 1:
38 Pac is of course a fixed number. NO HIGHER, NO LOWER. More Mend is simply not cost effective, since you get no appreciable bonuses until well after Mend 30, whereas Aug pays out for almost every point you spend beyond 20. REMEMBER NEOPHYTE WORLD DOMINATORS, this is not about helping your group out so much as about crushing your enemies. If you're going to Dominate the World, you must first think: ME ME ME.
Chapter 3: How to Spend Your Realm Skill Points
Realm Skill Points are a tricksy matter, it's very difficult to say what order to buy them in. So we'll just jump in and say what you SHOULD have.
A) Augmented Constitution 1. Costs one points, and gives you 6 points of Constitution. Dwarves will no longer laugh at how easily you get the sniffles after a long night camping the AG in Odin's
B) Toughness 1. Costs one point as well, and in conjunction with AugCon1 will give you a 3% bonus to your over all hit points. Now, this is important because Toughness kicks in AFTER you've buffed yourself. So stacking two Con buffs (base and spec) will show a huge increase. Hit points are huge, you won't be dazzling enemies with your footwork, you'll be outlasting them. You should be able to fuel the insecurities of Skalds and Thanes by trotting out your hit points (don't mention you're double buffed).
C) Purge. The RA so great I wish I could buy it twice. Purge is ESSENTIAL TO WORLD DOMINATION. We'll mention the many uses of Purge in the Cheating chapter, just go buy it now.
D) Perfect Recovery. Yes, I know, it's a very unselfish RA to buy since it's not usable on yourself (dammit). But we'll discuss how this RA is a key to World Domination in the chapter on how to dominate your friends for fun and profit.
E) Wild Healing. I suggest you eventually get level 2, but start with level 1, because normally you don't even have the chance to crit on a heal. Why buy a crit heal spell? Because you can crit heal and insta and laugh at all those Healers who spent a bajillion points to get 100% insta heals. Wild Healing 2 seems to give a better than 10% chance to crit, so don't go above 2.
F) Mastery of the Arcane. Don't get this until you have points to burn, then go ahead and get it. I mean, why not?
G) Mastery of Healing. It helps your insta heals, get at least level 1.
H) Mastery of Concentration. GET THIS. Remember, world domination is about CONTROL. Being able to cast spells while under attack is as good as having a third insta heal and a fifth insta CC!!!!
I) Battery of Healing. Yeah...right, that doesn't work on you, fergit it.
And NO, HIGH MEND is BAD. You can always trick other people to going high mend.
Chapter 4: In Which We Discuss Equipment.
Now equipment is the third most important thing for a Healer in the World Domination business. It comes after Psychology and Cheating, which will be covered later.
While levelling up, you should have ALSO been skilling up your Armorcrafting. Get up to hinging levels and start hinging, don't bother crafting for profit. There is none. Make hinges, skill to legendary levels.
This is where your Tailor bot of friend/slave comes in.
YOU NEED MP GEAR. Everything you have should be MP. 100% quality armor, you're spending money on youself, no skimping! Remember you will not be meleeing down your enemies, you'll be outlasting them.
Befriend a Weaponcrafter, buy an MP level 51 Shield (should be relatively cheap) and buy yourself TWO MP Hammers.
Yes, two hammers, this will be explained in the Tactics chapter. Get an MP Hammer, and an MP Arcanium Spiked Hammer. I've shown Klaush a couple times that PLAYERCRAFTED Hammer > Legion Hammer.
You're probably thinking you'll need a MP Arcanium Spiked Great Hammer now. Wrong. Get a 99% Duskwood staff, 16.5 DPS, and swings like the seasons change. You won't be using it much of course.
Now, there's some nice quest jewelry out there. Get it. You should have spent level 49 questing.
Dark Souls gives you the Ring of Spun Silk and a Cloak. Salvage the Hauberk and Helm, you NEED the money. Why Salvage the Helm, it's overcharged and MP, you might ask? because it's not alchemized.
The Bracer Quest gives you your Bracers: get the health bracer (forget the name) and the Left Axe Bracer. Yes, Left Axe, even with the nerfs. It's got some fabulous resists on it.
Ancestral Secrets, do that until you get the Resist Necklace.
Lost Maps Quest, get the Glacier jewel. There's a couple other nice jewels out there, so you have room for fudging, of course.
That leaves you with open Belt and Ring slot. You can buy DF to squeeze in there, not too big a deal.
Now, here's where your little spellcrafter comes in. (remember him?) You can spellcraft your own equipment as long as you don't overcharge, and for some of the smaller gems you can craft 99% gems to take to the legendary spellcrafter you've befriended and convinced to make the gems for your armor.
DON'T ASK THE SPELLCRAFTER WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR ARMOR. Let's face it, if he knew what he was doing, he'd be dominating the world. TELL HIM EXACTLY WHICH GEMS YOU NEED, and he better be legendary. Because you'll be overcharging about 4 items by 3-4 points, which is no big deal as long as your spellcrafter is Legendary and you have 99% gems. Overcharge your shield, gloves, boots and sleeves, because they're the cheapest to replace, in the rare occasion that things blow up.
DO NOT SPELLCRAFT YOUR HAMMER.
If you' have a sense of humor put more melee resists on you shield. That was it will actually be doing something other than giving you an additional slot for your spellcrafting.
MAXX EVERYTHING YOU CAN.
You MUST max your Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Piety, Hit Points, Resists, and Aug.
Yes those stats must be maxxed. Yes your Hit points must be maxxed. Yes EVERY resist must be maxxed. With all MP gear, and Quest jewelry it's very easy (with overcharging of course).
Augmentation is a funny thing. By maxxing your Aug you can squeeze a few more points of dex, con, and str when you buff. That's +11 to Aug, but it only helps when you're buffing, so if you want, make some 99% chain gloves, and have your spellcrafting friend Overcharge them with +7.
You can then pull the gloves on when you buff and then take them off when you're done. Leave them undyed so you don't forget to take them off.
Now, everything is MP, overcharged, and don't forget enchanting. Time to Alchemize.
I used to be a big proponent of putting DDs on every single piece, but I'm starting to lean towards getting Ablative procs on every single piece of armor. Been hearing good things about it. SangerMark3.0 MP armor will be all ablative.
On your shield, put a Lifedrain charge.
On your Hammers put a Dot Proc, some junior World Dominators will wonder if this will counter act out insta mezz, but very rarely does it come up. DoT procs will do more damage over time than a DD, though, so get it.
Chapter 5: How to Dominate Your Friends for Fun and Profit.
Now we come to the psychology of the World Dominator.
As a neophyte levelling up, you should have been building the foundations for your Domination.
In groups you should take charge, you're the healer after all, you have the power of life and death. YOU SHOULD BE IN CHARGE, let your friends get used to it. Start training them early and often. Give more buffs to the tank who protects you. Accidently drop buffs on the Shadowblade who thinks he's a tank. By teaching them in small ways early on to do as you say, you prevent Gross Displays of Domination later.
Be generous. Give people things for free or below cost, and LET THEM KNOW you're cutting them a big break.
If you let them pay for it, they consider things even and stop paying. If you give it to them for free or as a favor, you place them in your debt, and a person who feels indebted to you pays forever!
Perfect Recovery is a wonderful way of putting someone in your debt. I have been offered a blowjob for a Perfect Recovery, and Hoturi better never do that again. Galroth has posted a song glorifying PR. You get a friend forever when you PR.
Don't forget your caster realm mates! No one is more used to laying face down during a skirmish and losing RPs than a cloth caster. Rezz them early and earn their undying gratitude!
Dispensing Purities is NOT a way to get gratitude, though, they'll just think you're a buff dispenser, and keep poking you in the belly.
Buff solo Stealthers. They love to solo, but not all of them have buffthralls. Give them buffs when you see them, and chances are they'll remember and give YOU scouting reports, thereby creating the illusion of omniscience. Don't tell anyone where you got the info, just use it.
I can not stress enough how important putting everyone in your debt is to World Domination.
Chapter 6: The Look, precurser to the cheating chapter
Healers mustn't look like Healers. That's part of the reason you shouldn't be a Dwarf.
Now that you have your armor, go out and dye it black. A little color is alright, but not too much and not too bright, a Rust or Blue is preferrable.
Never turn your torch on, and when you select your face, don't get one with the braids on the mustache. That's just silly.
Don't use guild emblems, not on your shield or your cloak.
Wear a HOODED CLOAK. You must cover up your hair, or your non-spiky hair will be a dead giveaway.
You are creating the illusion of being the every-man, you see. A Celt, a Saracen, it just has to stand up to cursory examination, as most groups zooming by at Speed 5 will only have time to see what they expect.
Part of this illusion is having nerves of steel. Act like you belong there, and most people won't even question you.
Guilty people run, and motion catches the eye.
I've often been stalking prey and had a full group of Mids run right up to me prepared to kill me because they'd seen a saracen. Alternatively, I've killed more than a few Albs on the road and watched their friends run right by as they called for help. I suppose they figured it was a friendly duel.
Chapter 7: Knowing All.
I won't screw around with you. Knowing All is hard work, it is an illusion that requires a lot of preparation and work.
Starting at about level 48, neophyte World Dominators MUST begin exploring. First get yourself a map. Then run all over that map until you know every nook and cranny.
Go alone, wouldn't do to have ANYONE see you when you don't KNOW ALL.
You'll die to Monsters. That's GOOD. It means you'll remember where not to go next time.
You'll die to Guards. That's GOOD. It means you've just learned a guard route and to avoid it.
You'll die to Albs and Hibs. That's GOOD, on two levels. First, they'll remember you later on in lie as that stupid Healer who was running solo, by then you'll be prepared to destroy them. Secondly, you'll learn their travel routes and hunting spots, which is important for ambushing and killing them later in life.
When you die to any of these, LAUGH. Laugh long and hard, because SOON they'll ALL PAY! When an Alb Monster kills you, blame the Albs for living in such a crappy country, get mad at them. When a Hib guard kills you, blame the Hibs, if they didn't own these keeps you wouldn't be killed by roving guards, GET MAD AT THEM!
Take notes on the world, remember the monsters and guard routes, and KNOW THE DAMN KEEP NAMES. Nothing is more magical to Joe Midgard than when you know the difference between Boldiam and Berkstead.
Take the lead, have everyone AF on you. IF YOU GET LOST DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE LOST. If you need to turn around make long gentle U-turns so no one notices. Do not stop in place, if you need to consult the map, hold it up by the screen while you steer and try not to hit aggro, or better yet, run into guards and look at the map while they're fighting.
Infallibility is KEY to World Domination! Don't ever seem to be lost, and if something strange happens, blow it off as business as usual, "Yeah, I need coin, that's why we ran through that Guard route."
You will die A LOT, you will take experience deaths A LOT. But the slavish devotion and blind faith of your friends and countrymen will be well worth it.
Remember, you're investing in WORLD DOMINATION here, it's worth a little blood and tears.