The Warrior Handbook
By Davydd 

Introduction
My name is Davydd YnTiriod I am currently a 15th level High Elven warrior and lord of House Sylvanfair. I have been playing the game since September and have had many warriors of various races but Davydd is my favorite and he has done quite well for hims elf, but many are the times I had wished someone had written a set of guidelines for young warriors, for this is not an easy trade. This handbook assumes you know something about the game. If you are a completely new player I suggest you look at Lord Or feo's Guide for New Players first. There is a bit of controversy over whether or not warriors can compete with spell slingers, since at high levels wizards and sorcerors can seem gie omnipotent. Some feel warriors get the shaft. I disagree with this st rongly. As a warrior you have the oportunity to fight well above your level from day one. This will greatly speed your early developement in the game. Additionally, you are not dependent on spells, which cost mana. Your weapon will always serve you fa ithfully. I've lost count of the times I've had to delay hunts because a companion spell caster had to stop to recover mana. Warriors can also wear heavier armor, and are usually three times better with their shields then an equivalent level spell caste r. This means that you are more difficult to hit, spell slingers must use defensive spells to match your defensive ability and as I said that requires mana. Suffice it to say that all of the classes have there advantages and while warriors are not necce ssarily better then the spell slingers they are by no means worse. Tis apples and oranges.

Racial Selection
Almost all the races can be used to make a good warrior (except perhaps halflings). However, warriors rely greatly on their strength and as a result you may want to pick a race that has strength bonus. Giantmen are the most popular but Humans, Half Elves , and Dwarfs are also good choices. I know what your thinking, "But Davydd you're an Elf they have a strength penalty!" Tis true they do. I picked an Elf because I wanted a challenge and I just like elves. However while Elves don't have a strength bo nus they DO have a reflex bonus which is also useful.

Assigning Attributes
A warriors sphere of power is Strength and Constitution and as such you will want your highest numbers here. Bear in mind you will get a +10 points to whatever number you apply to strength. You will also want to put a high number into Reflexes. The oth er attributes are not as critical, although if you can you might want to put high numbers in Dexterity, Discipline, and Wisdom.

Strength- Affects your AS roll, which is what determines how accurately you hit creatures. A 100 strength has +25 bonus, plus racial bonuses. So a Giantman with a 100 strength has a +40 to AS (that's 25 + 15 racial bonus=40

Constitution- Affects how much health you will have. The bonus here will affect how much health your character will have initially as well as the maximum number of health you can obtain.

Reflexes- This is a attribute that many warriors overlook. The bonus here will affect your DS or ability to avoid blows. This is a very important ability don't short yourself here.

Training
•	2xWeapon 
•	3xShield 
•	2xArmor Training 
•	2xCombat Maneuvers 
•	2xAmbush 
•	2xBrawl 
•	2xFirst Aid 
•	2xPhysical Training 
•	Perception, Disarm Traps, Pick Locks (Whenever possible) 
Weapon- What weapon you choose will depend greatly on your warriors temperment and personality.
Blunt Weapons- Do very nice damage (Better then edged) but hit less often.
Two Handed Weapons- Do excellent damage, and hit about as often as edged. However you can't use a shield while wielding a two hander.
Edged Weapons- My favorite. Edged weapons aren't as powerful as two handers, however they allow you to use a shield. Your opponents frequently use shields, so should you.

Shield- Train in this even if you decide to use two handers. You can still benifit from the shield in times of trouble but you won't be able to attack with your greatsword.

Armor Training- You will need this to wear the heavier armor. Although you can train in this 3 times per level, I don't recomend it. Every 20 points in armor training removes 1 second of roundtime penalty from any given armor type. So at level z ero if you train 3 times you'll get a 15 in armor training. You won't be able to appreciate any bonus till level one anyway so why spend extra training points on it when they can be better spent elsewhere? This situation happens every 2 out of 3 levels. Save your training points, take it twice.

Combat Maneuvers- This is a very useful skill. It will improve your AS. It will also improve your DS against certain types of attacks, like a Golem's Stomp, or a Puma's bite. It helps you aim your shots at specific areas. The command for this is AMBUSH (CRITTER) (BODY PART). Aimed shots take longer depending on how well you've trained in Combat Maneuvers and how loaded down with equipment you are. Combat Maneuvers also appears to improve how often you make critical hits.

Ambush- This allows you to aim your shots and combined with combat maneuvers it is devastatingly powerful. It is best used from a position of hiding. The command for this is AMBUSH (CRITTER) (BODY PART). Ambushing the head will kill an opponent q uickly, Ambushing a leg can drop your opponent and render them helpless. Ambushing the right arm can cause them to drop their weapon. Ambushing the left arm can cause them to drop their shield. Great fun!

Brawl- Is also a good skill to have. If you later decide to join the Order of Voln you will want to have this skill. Even if you never join however, this skill can be quite impressive at higher levels. But most importantly you never know when yo u'll be lacking a weapon.

First Aid- Besides an empath this skill is a warriors best friend. Unless you plan on making the herbalist rich, take this skill. It can buy you the time you need to find a healer.

Physical Training- This will improve your health. You can take this 3 times per level if you like, but again, I've always found better use for the extra points

Words of Advice
Always tend your wounds from stance defensive. When picking up objects put up your sword NOT your shield. Always pick up objects from stance defensive. Get used to fighting in Stance Advanced, this is a very safe and effective way to fight. Impress yo ur friends-ambush critter's left legs Terrify your friends-ambush critter's heads In the early years don't spend too much time delivering messages. A good first year warrior can take on Kobolds, Lesser Orcs, Goblins, some Gnomes and even Hobgoblins if h e's careful. The experience is much better. Be nice to the empaths; Tip them generously Be nice to rogues; Tip them too Don't let the Rangers lead you anywhere Try clenching your fist Howl alot Learn how to be creative with the smile command (I like .... Davydd smiles grimly as he wipes the blood and gore from his beloved broadsword). In Parting Eventually I will improve upon this, however since I wanted to get this out quickly I left out quite a bit. May Kai preserve your head, and may your hand fly to its mark.

-Davydd YnTiriod-