Darkshade Forum

Just a quick note about my style of play. I'm not saying my way is the only way or the best way to play Rhun. But it's what works for me.

There are only 2 builds I play NWN 1.69 and EE. Cleric/wizard/Pale Master 17/3/20. The cleric build I have taken through the Original NWN Campaign, and Hordes of the Underdark. It is a solid build but it's very dependent on buffing spells (which can be interrupted during combat whwn surrounded by monsters or when facing a boss monster.

The cleric build is a good starter build (Domains of Magic and Trickery. He gains Mage armor and Divine might at level 1, at level 3 he gains 3 invisibility spells at level 3,Dark Fire at level 5, Stone skin at level 7 and Improved Invisibility at level 9. These are Domain spells, so you can cast with no penalty while wearing armor with a shield.

The Fighter build works best in Rhun, for gaining Devastating  Critical hits, some Boss Monsters are immune to Critical Hits, some aren't. The Pale master provides an Ac bonus of +2 at level 1 and at every 4th level (4,8,12,16,20) +12 to your armor is a great survivability boost. at level 10 Pale masters gain Immunity to Critical Hits (including Devastating Crits and Sneak attacks). Check the manual for the requirements for Pale Master. Taking at least 1 Wizard level gives you access to All the Arcane spells for sale in the Magic shops. My usual progression is Fighter (or Cleric) to level 7, Wizard to level 3 then Pale Master 1 level, then back to fighter to level 17, then Pale Master to level 20.

Some players just don their armor grab a weapon and clomp down the road, trail or dungeon hallway fight every monster that gets in the way. I prefer to fight my battles that are important with good items and high XP yields. If will take you a very long time to do any of the epic/high level quests and areas if you just "soldier through".
The best spell for traveling through around monsters is Greater Sanctuary. Often a monster will spot you and move toward you but it can't directly you. It can however cast area affect spells like earthquake or Storm of Vengeance.

I'll try to post the second part of finding your way to Larad'a lair (of course there is a trick to it. It's easy to do once you know it.) this weekend.

I hope all this helps.
-Alaric

Let's see. Okay that worked for the Dreamcatcher\Larad screenshots.

Well, got the screen shots for the longsword, and I also took a couple of one of my favorite Boss monsters in the mod. Larad from the Taer Prison quest. Since NWN saves screenshots as targa files which can be very large, I need to convert them them then crop edit them for size, then I'll compress them and upload them this Sunday. I'll also detail how to get to the Underworld where Larad rules...a very tricky area to reach. After hearing about this quest from other players after 4 or 5 fruitless searches, I finally stumbled onto how to get there. Then comes the greater issue how to fight your way to him, then finally kill him.
I also need to go back and edit an earlier post where I said Larad was an Undead Bard. He's actually a Demon Bard.
Well, 111 views of this thread so far, some feedback would be nice.
-Alaric

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

Some more info for players. Some spoilerish details are listed below, if you don't want spoilers don't read further.

For more general info on Rhun, go to neverwintervault.org and enter Rhun in the search area. There are 4 that apply to the Rhun mod; click on Persistant World of Rhun. along with the mod files Shayan (he created the Subrace Engine the Underdark and quite a few other areas) compiled 2 PDF books. 1 about Rhun and Etum, and 1 about the Underdark that gives the back-story about how the Drow came to the caverns under Rhun, and the origins of their war with the Moonelves if you're interested. You'll also find the map posted elsewhere on the Darkshade forum, as well as an Excell spreadsheet that lists all the mini-quest givers and the Gold/XP and reward item for each quest.

If you haven't already done the mini-quest for Roim Angermitt, look for her in front of the Etum Capital building or inside the Church of Miradoc. you'll gain a Belt of Drunken Courage. That belt sells for big bucks, my fighter's guild store pays over 500,000 gps fpr it...the Paladin store pays 350,000. Many servers tone that cash amount down to 100,000 thats still a huge chunk of cash for a level 4 character (the earliest level you should try it solo).

The other thing I'll touch on is the Desert Island of Taer. The only reason low level characters should go outside of the village of Desert Springs is to gain the portal stone for Taer. Characters should wait untill at least mid 20's level before adventuring there. If you are low level use invis potions or spell scrolls, it's better to use a scroll of Greater Sanctuary though. I NEVER travel outside of Etum or any of the safe spots like villages unless invised or under GS. Don't use them both together btw, for some weird reason they cancel each other. The icons show next to your character portrait, but monsters see you normally.

Taer is critical because in Taer is where you'll find the Quest to gain access to The Ancient City of Taer and the Emporium that sells epic weapons, armor and items.

There are 2 ways to get to Taer (Village of Desert Springs).If the player or the party is good or neutral, go to Saral Shoreline, and enter the Dragon cave (I've forgotten it's name) The Silver Dragon in there will offer to fly you to Rhun for free.

The other way is to enter the wizard's tower in the Hagar swamp south Etum , just north of where Gegnar's ship is moored at Saral Shoreline. Speak to the statue in front of the tower, it will ask you if you know the wizard's name. Type "Hjalmar" (without the quotation marks) in the talk/conversation box then press enter. The statue will say "You may now enter"...it usually takes several minutes for the door to open, but it will open. This is the only way for evil and/or subraces like Vampires, Drow Werecats etc..to get to Taer. In the middle of the tower going up you'll find a room with a portal that takes you the Wizard's tower in Desert Springs. Speak to the wizard there to buy a map of Taer for 2,500 gold pieces then visit all the spots in Desert springs. You'll find an armor shop with some of the best armor you can buy in the game until you gain access to the epic store. The potion wagon\shop has some very useful potions, stoneskin, greater stoneskin, potions of dragon breath, etc..

I never attempt that epic weapon unless I'm at least level 36-40 equipped with a weapon +8 or better.

I hope all this helps.

-Alaric

Just some info for players new to Rhun. All the classes have their own guilds. The guild will have a shopkeeper and a guild-master and usually several NPC members hanging around. The guild-master will give the PC a quest to complete in order to join. After completing the quest you'll receive your guild teleport item. You can have more than one guild membership/teleport item. There are no guilds for any of the prestige classes however. Since item level restrictions are built into the game, make sure you buy a "stone of appraisal" before you leave. You can only use the stone on items in your inventory. not in a merchants inventory or in a bag of holding.

Out the south gate is the new player area, most players stop going there once they reach level 3. It leaves too many higher level spawns/number of monsters for a level 1 character that enters it later. There is an extensive portal system in the mod. Scattered around Rhun are 9 obelisks, once you touch them, you'll receive a portal stone to return there. Collect all nine portal stones and speak to the quest giver at the back entrance to the mage's guild. He'll trade you a very usefull item that combines all the stones, plus grants haste and mass haste 3 times per day.

In Etum you'll see the citizens walking about. Citizens standing in one spot are mini-quest givers. In the original World of Rhun mod, those quest givers could be found in one of 6 locations scattered all over Etum. Luckily in this version of the mod the quest givers only appear in one of 2 locations. Those quest give players gold and/or xp awards plus often some very useful items. One can also shift your alignment with these quests so be aware of what answer you choose. Some places to look for quest givers if the aren't where you saw them before are In Lord Vaude's castle including both wings on the main floor, in the inns and taverns including upstairs the Etum capital building, in some of the guild houses, standing on balconies etc..

I guess Iv'e rambled on enough for one post. I'll leave you with this tip.

This only works for Paladins btw. Once a Paladin joins the Guild, speak to the Smithy (he's near the shopkeeper in the guild). He'll offer to enchant your weapon, for the hefty fee of 1 million gold pieces. It's not all that hard to gather really, and you won't be able to use it until level 10. Have your weapon in hand and pay him the gold. If you had a +1 longsword, it is still labeled +1 longsword, but it has the Holy Avenger property applied. In the hands of a Paladin this is a +5 weapon doing +5 slashing damage, +5 attack bonus and 1d8 Divine damage to evil foes. I've only tried it with a longsword, not sure if it works with other weapons but I imagine it does.

-Alaric