(hope Brain will like my translation)

Text in red and italic has been added by myself and is not a translation of the original text

06/02/98

Hi all

I think that my own experience might be usefull to you.

As a matter of fact, I have already killed 4 DREAD LORDS !!!!! Three warriors and a mage. But I have also been killed often. So if my own experience, could help you to avoid those nasty situations.... 

NEWBIES

Fisrt of all protect yourself as much as possible. Evaluate situations which are always differents. Often the best solution is to run away and brig some reinforcements .

But i think that under 50 of HP (and even 60/70)  never engage a fight gainst one or more PKS, even if you are in a team.

If you are under this limit keep on using the allnames macro, and do as Carl (Lewis -not Lagarfeld-) run away as fast as you can.

The safest is to have always a ùarked rune to twon and a recall scroll (-I would add, BRAIN, always have your backpack open on a corner of the screen with the rune and the recall scroll open and your character screen available quickly to put all your weapons down-).

In case of fight (which means you have suicidal tendencies) prefer fighting in team and stay behind. you will be more usefull healing friends (even level 1 healing) than bothering everybody running everywhere shouting "HEAL ME!  HEAL ME!". Or if you really want to commit suicide, disturb PKs magiciens with your small fists. For sure you will die, but yours friends will gain time (disturb them by fighting hand-tohand, but anyway i dont think that's the best solution as Pk will concentrate their efforts on the strongest characters or magicians).

By the way, a "good" character (with a positive noto) often accompanies PKS. His gaol is  to lead you into a trap and loot your dead bodies...

WARRIORS

If you are a warrior do not attack with spell under 6th level (do not always agree Brain......). Pks are usally a very high resisting skill  and will alugh at your Fireballs or Ligthenings. Don't waste your mana !!!!

Prefer "classical fighting"

Against a PK warrior, use a "heavy" weapon such as Halberd or a real good magical sword and a good shield (the best is to poison yours weopns before the fight). Last thing then, is to hope that the guy in front of you is not stronger than you or trhan someone will come to help/heal you (and not him !!!!).

Against a Magician or an Archer use avery fast weapon (such as executionner axe) to deconcentrate him a max and prevent him to cast a spell. A fats two hand weapon is to be prefered, so that you will be able to put it down fast to heal you (or recall in case  of big pb) . Avoid then shield, unless it is a Chaos or Virtue one.
As soon as your HP is half way down, run outside the screen (you can use teleport too!!) and then "VAS MANI" (Greater Heal). Re-attack then quickly. Everything depends on your speed to take and put down weapons (have your perso and backpack always open in a corner of the screen). If you are really fast, beeing a magician I can tell you we get deconcentrated mad, we use all our mana in attack spells and rather mad. Grrrrr

In any case, never forget that a fight can quickly change, and always be prepared to recall quickly..

In a team fight : aim at magicans or archers and drive them cray by preventing them to cast spells or  throw (* is it a correct translation?, not sure.....)  their arrows

MAGICIANS

I am a magicain and I have tried everything.
First, check your mana level, and if you are low recall immediately
Second, the guy in front of you, except if he is stupid, has his magic reflection on.
Third, if you dont "Mana Vampire" (spell level 7, mana drain does not work well) dont use your mana with offebnsive spells. He will heal at him self when half his Hp is down and you will be then lower than him in mana and he will killed you in a few energy bolt. Remember it take less time and use less mana to cats Greater Heal than Enregy Bolt.
Dont heal anybody when fighting, your life depends on your mana level.(Except if you do not fight but only help guys that are fighing : see below).

The best attack : First have the PK's magic reflexion fall down with a level1 spell (such as clumsiness, it cost only 3 mana and your Hp level wont decerase). Second Mana vampire him and if it works he is dead or quite (he cannot recall, nor heal him self) and what's more while his mana level is equal to zero yours are still at your maximum. Prefer then 6th level offensive spell. energy bolt is very effective. No spell under this level or he will resist to them. Three Energy bolt kill quite everybody, even Elemental which have 135 Hps and 75% resist (only if you have a high magery level : I have 92% and as for me it is very effective and do not use too much mana).

I you have used mana vampire, and it did not work, you are in a bad position. You have used 43 points of mana (clumsy and Mana vampire), except if you have 100 in intelligence. A recall might be a good solution then...Have your mana level up, and come back with friends. You dont have to ashamed you did your best !!!!!

As a conclusion, if you dont have 90% in magery and 80 in tell to cast level 6 and 7 without failing, prefer fights in team and help you friends by healing them, while saying away from fighters. And anyway never fight a PK alone !!!!!!

In a team fight, target at  your the enemy magicians (they are the one who habve the lowest HP level) and vampire them as soon as possible. A "duet" of f fighing magicians is not bad. The first one cast clumsy and the othe mana vampire quite in the mean time.

REWARD

Know that the stuff you will find on Pk is often worth taking high risks and going Pk Hunting (no to be compared with noto killers who are even less worthy than the people they attack). I once found in Deceit on the dead body of Sadam Hussein ( I had just killed him with 'ENERGY BOLT ) nearly for 10 000 gold of stuff and regeants! I have had reagents for a whole week !!!!!!!

THE BEST TEAM

I believe that the best team is at least composed of two powerfull magicians -that's only your opinion Brain....- (the one who are usually missing) ... Two strong warriors and one or two players to support the whole. Dont talk, stay together (that's very often the pb of Pk hunts, people just  split and go in all directions ) and keep on tracking Pks using hiding. You'd better know yoiur companions and adopt a common strategy. Time is the key of success : be fast but avoid running so as not to spread about.

CONCLUSION

Pks are tough !!!! They often work in team of 5 or 7 and they are minimum Master or great Master. So first evaluate the situation. Who are your companions ? How many are you ? How many are they ? Is there lag tonight ? Am I at my best (mana and HP)? What the wearther will be like tomorrow ?

Anyway be Coward !!!!! Fight only when at least in equal number or otherwise recall -ye i became very good at that !!!!!- (anyway they will get mad seing you escaping, when they have used so precious Hp and Man points on you !!!!)

Never start a fight if you are not prepared. The minimum is magic reflexion, reactive armour and many Hp and mana points.

I hope this will help you to defeat them. Good luck

Nota: I you have any ideas or comments, mail them to me, we will test them with great pleasure. !!!!!!