Darkshade Forum

I for one would love to see those screenshots!  If you need a tool to easily convert the image formats:

• On Windows I recommend XnView
• On macOS the builtin Preview does a great job
• On linux I use ImageMagick(which actually works on all three platforms)

I think all the background you've been providing is very interesting and helpful to anyone wanting to play Rhun.  I know it's still a favourite out there because the Map of Rhun in the old message forum is still one of the top hits on this site.

Well met again. It's been awhile since I posted here, part of the time I've been held captive by Baldur's Gate 3 and Solasta: Crown of the Magister, 2 new D&D 5th Edition rules CRPGs. They are okay and have some nice features, but D&D 3rd Edition like NWN 1.69 and Nwn:EE are so much better imo. The EE looks and runs smooth as silk now, and Rhun is still my favorite mod/server.

Just an observation from years of playing on various servers: If more players don't utilize the Darkshade Server, it will most likely go away. The server host provides it for free but they usually have out of pocket expenses for bandwidth etc..
I'll try to post at least every two weeks on the forum here. I want to post some screenshots of some of the more unusual items, creatures and locations in the game. This weekend features "The Mysterious Longsword of Peppo" An interesting weapon.

If you have questions about certain areas of the mod, ask them here and I'll try to get back to you in a day or so. I've also enabled the link to email me, just put RHUN in your subject line.

-Alaric

You may not be trick or treating in real life, but in Diddlycraft you can still go around inn to inn collecting handfuls of candy (and free XP) 

It can be difficult to find a decent weapon in the mid range (between +3 and +8). They are mostly random finds, but there are areas where better weapons can be found. Any of the major Drow Houses (fighting the priestesses) can often yield higher level weapons depending on your level. A good place to find +6,+7 and +8 weapons\armor and items is in the catacombs of Stralad. Starting around level 11 or so you'll face Warrior Mummies and mummies along with an intellect devourer creeping along in the hallways. A great place to build up cash or locate some useful items. Buy a lesser amulet of health at the jewelry\gem shop in Etum to protect against mummy disease and the numerous poison traps in the sarcophagi in the rooms. Gain the cloak from slaying the werewolf on the Moors of Stralad to protect from fear (or dragon slippers which will also protect against the mummies knockdown. Leave the crypts\coffins in the hallways alone, looting them will move your alignment to evil. The Lich in the upper right is very tough,you should avoid him until you are in your high 20s or 30s level.

For a truly great set of armor (have to be good or neutral) can be found by doing the Defiled Chapel quest in Stralad city. There are some tough battles to gain it but it's well worth it. Mid to high 20s level can do it, depends on items\AC and weapons.Speak to the "Angel" in the lobby to start the quest. You should have high Discipline or Dragon slippers when battling in the Defiled Chapel, the Chapel Guards and Defiled Nuns have knockdown.Very good xps in this area.

I encourage everyone to really explore the module, many chests\weapon racks\even area boss monsters can carry a random chance of holding a high level or even an epic level item. For example, the Frost Giant King Reyonce some times has a helm with a deflection bonus of +10 along with the mini-quest item he normally carries.

I do ask the powers that be (the server host) to please reset the mod\server weekly using the base mod. Resetting from a saved game causes some scripts to get wonky...you can get stuck on Gegnars ship, some encounters don't trigger. Once the vendors start having 7 or 8 pages of items, or someone has been running around the Underdark invised or under greater sanctuary can generate huge lag on the server from all the Drow defender spawns.

There really is no real need to save your server game...if you are doing the epic quests, your "quest stage" will be saved, but you will have to find your way back to where you left off after the server resets.

I hope you are enjoying the mod, and thanks to the hosts for providing the server for us to play on.

-Alaric

I can tell by the way some of the quest givers and other NPCs are not in their normal place, that some players playing some of the Subraces have found out the hard way that entering Etum, Desert Springs or Glacial Hills will discover that the entire populace is hostile to you and you'll be attacked on sight. It's probably best to leave off playing most of the Subraces (Drow,Dark-Elf, Vampire,Lich any of the evil Subraces) untill one becomes fairly familiar with the Rhun mod. Some of the Subraces can be played with no problem like Avariel Elf,Aquatic Elf etc.. with no problems, one can join guilds, do the mini-quests do the major quests whereas the Drow, Dark-elf, Vamps,Liches and Duegar (maybe Werecat also) can't join Guilds of do the quests. This makes it very hard to raise a character.

There is one way around this using an exploit/bug in the module. Here is how it works:

Since all the citizens of The civilized towns are hostile to many of the Subraces, before one enters Etum unready your weapon (get used to doing that every time you enter Etum or the villages. Cast Greater Sanctuary (preferred), or Invis/Improved Invis on your self (using a scroll or item), enter Etum in the Rural area avoiding all Npcs. Enter the back door of the Brass Dragon Tavern and look for a Dark Elf named Belor Lue'feyn standing next to the wall by the staircase. Choose the conversation option about being in trouble with the law and he'll offer to "fix" things with the authorities (cost depends on your level, can be several thousand GPs). Once you pay him, most of the citizens,guards and quest givers will become neutral toward you and you can use the shops, do the mini-quests etc. However, Drow,Dark-Elf Vamps and Liches should stay out of ALL the Guilds, they will remain hostile to you.
There are 2 Paladins near the Paladins Guild in North Etum that will attack you if they see you, also the mage Liger in Glacial Hills. To be safe, always travel in the civilized areas under Greater Sanctuary.

Belor was never intended for this use, he is a holdover from the original World of Rhun mod, put there so players could remove criminal status (if caught lockpicking doors or chests or pickpocketing npcs etc.. I discovered it by accident, and while I probably wasn't the first to discover it, I was the first to post about on the GA Server Forum and detail it's uses.

Note that any time the Server resets or you die and go to the void, you must go see Belor again and pay the fee to travel safely in Etum again.

One last note: The last thing you want to do is kill an Etum citizen or guard. Every one will turn against you, and VERY SOON a "Rhun Magistrate" will spawn in. They are unkillable, unstopable and relentless and will follow you to the ends of Rhun to take you in custody. Teleporting away, logging off and logging back on several days later and they still spawn in and continue the chase, I'm pretty sure they persist even after server reset. Once killed and captured by the Rhun Magistrate, you are taken to Etum Prison Isle and sentenced by a Judge to serve time in a cell (real time approx 10 minutes), then released in your small-clothes with 100 GPS. All your items are stripped...everything. I knew level 40 characters that lost all their neato-peato epic items by making that mistake.

Like I said, you should probably wait until you get very familiar with Rhun mod before trying the Subraces.

Hope this info helps.

-Alaric