Neoquest II, Evil

[persephone_kore]

Notes to supplement http://www.livejournal.com/users/persephone_kore/68991.html and the IDB maps at http://www.digifort.com/idnq/index.php?page=maps&rel=nq2 -- also trying aphromeda's skills distribution guide.

Level 8 was fine for the Miner Foreman.

I got to the second level of the Mysterious Tower before getting further than level 9, however, and was starting to run low on healing potions, so I backtracked to try to level up in the caves or on the way back to them. May want to go slower next time to avoid that. Also, if I try this on Insane level, make sure not to take risks in terms of letting my health get low before taking a potion. (Actually, if I'm using potions faster than I'm gaining them, back off.)

Try to hit 9 before entering the cave, 10 before entering the tower. (Actually, for insane... maybe try to hit 9 or 10 for the Miner Foreman, 12 or 13 before the cave, 15 by the upper level...? But still, upper limit of 60 at the end... hmm.)

I wound up getting killed by Zombom once. I defeated him when I was level 13 (having deviated from Aphromeda's recommendations and put 3 in Critical Attacks, 7 in Damage Increase, and one each in Magic Resistance and Melee Haste) -- but I only had two health left at the end, and only got that far because he didn't start out with Decimate. I think. The Blast Potions, I think, were a waste of gold. Bought at full price and didn't use them.

Got Mipsy, who started same level as Rohane. Does this always happen?

Note that things are more expensive in Evil (and presumably Insane) than the IDNQ says. I wound up getting to level 17 and killing the Sand Grundo pretty easily. Seaside is okay, but the inn is probably unnecessary (especially in Insane) unless good for healing.

Level 19 (full health) was fine for Ramtor in the castle -- key is to get a good hit in from Mipsy within a few rounds, I think.

I forgot to record my level when I got Talinia; I was at 32 when I got Velm. I am not actually following all Aphromeda's recommendations -- I've got Mipsy doing Direct Damage instead of Group Direct Damage, and other than that the same, and I've varied a bit -- gone ahead and upgraded other things while I had a weapon that put a bonus on some skill or another. No disasters so far, anyway. With the full party and Velm healing, I've mostly just stayed on Hunting instead of switching around, which is a relief.

Well, I haven't been saying much... I got to level 60 (230,100 xp, apparently, at least on Evil) on the way to the second pant devil and beat Terask with relative ease. Now for the big one.

Geography:
Start in the Western Plains of Meridell, in Trestin. Nearby hills are the Hills of Trest. Just southward is the Hearthwood (where there are Bearogs). North of the Hills of Trest (which get impassable rocks in the middle) and just south of the Dark Cave is the Golden Forest. The woods next to the land bridge are, astonishingly enough, the Bridgewood. Cross the land bridge to the Northern Marches. The hills east of the landbridge and west of a lake are the Ringing Hills. The forest NE of White River City on the way to the underground cave is the Foothill Forest, and there's a tree-filled mountain path leading to the cave. (Which leads of course to Lost Island and the mysterious tower.) White River is the boundary between the Northern Marches and the White River Floodplain. The Flooded Forest rings the Roaring Hills just south of the river. If you continue east, you'll reach the Plain of Twilight and the Festering Swamp. (Actually, you have to do this, as there are mountains in the way otherwise.) South of the Festering Swamp is the Plain of Calm; the hills to the southwest are the Sea's Cradle Hills, and the little patch of forest is the Nestwood. Head west, going either north (through the Flooded Forest) or south around the high mountains; north will take you to the Plain of Storms, with the Tempest Hills just west of the mountains. The hills up to the north next to the mountains that blocked you from coming directly south are the Hills of Faraway. Head southwest for the Eye of Meridell; it is surrounded by high mountains, with hills inside called the Hills of the Eye and a ring of forest inside them called the Forest of the Eye. Lakeside is on the SW side of the lake. The desert east of the Eye is called the Trackless Wastes; the teleporter in there is the only way to get across to Southeast Meridell, and for some reason it drops you in the Tower on a Hill, which is in the middle of the Dead Hills. Go north and around the mountains to get onto the Great Eastern Plain. The northern woods on the other side of the mountains, north and south of the lake, are the Vast Woods; the Northern Seawood over to the east contains the Seawatch Hills and connects to the Southern Seawood at (creatively) Seaside. There's a land-neck into southern Meridell, where Illusen's Glade on the west and the Guardian Hills on the east flank the Plain of Order. Meridell Castle is between two lakes surrounded by the King's Preserve.