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Hello felloW M&M fans!

I have already purchased MM7 and enjoyed it considerably (despite its many flaws). Since I like games of the same genre (particularly Lands of Lore) and based on many reviews, I decided to purchase the Sixpack with a view to playing the much-praised World of Xeen combo. I've mostly gotten used to the interface and have just cleared the third level of the Dwarven Mines. The game's difficulty seems just right for the time being, but there are still a couple of things that I need help with, and you will excuse me if the answers to some of my questions are stated in the manual, but I only glanced through the PDF version.

1) I'm playing with a party consisting of a Barbarian, Paladin, Robber, Archer, Cleric and Sorcerer. From what I read, this is a pretty balanced party. However, I can't shake the feeling I'll struggle mightily with it later in the game due to a lack of reliable heavy hitters. So far only the Barbarian and Paladin deal sufficient damage; others either miss or deal puny damage. Will they come into their own as they gain more levels?

2) Where can I learn more priest spells? My cleric still has only the three starting spells, which aren't of much use in battle. Since she cannot hit anything, my Cleric is useless for the time being.

3) How to avoid traps in dungeons? There's an archway in a narrow mine tunnel I must pass under, but doing so activates a poison gas trap which takes a half of my characters' hit points, kills some of them, and leave the rest poisoned. I can't avoid it, but can I tell my Robber to look for traps and deactivate them? I've also tried using the Jump spell to avoid it – I stand on the square just before the trap and cast the spell, but the game always says "spell failed". If I stand two squares away from the trap, the spell is successful, but I land directly onto the trap. What am I missing here?

4) Is there any other way to replenish HP and/or SP besides resting? I have to rest after every minor battle or a couple of major ones. At this rate, the clearing of the mines, as well as occasional popping back to town to sell loot, might take months. I fear my characters won't live to see the end of the game.

That's all I can think of for now. The rep points go to the most comprehensive answer!
This question / problem has been solved by Waltoriousimage
avatar
Charon121: Hello felloW M&M fans!

I have already purchased MM7 and enjoyed it considerably (despite its many flaws). Since I like games of the same genre (particularly Lands of Lore) and based on many reviews, I decided to purchase the Sixpack with a view to playing the much-praised World of Xeen combo. I've mostly gotten used to the interface and have just cleared the third level of the Dwarven Mines. The game's difficulty seems just right for the time being, but there are still a couple of things that I need help with, and you will excuse me if the answers to some of my questions are stated in the manual, but I only glanced through the PDF version.

1) I'm playing with a party consisting of a Barbarian, Paladin, Robber, Archer, Cleric and Sorcerer. From what I read, this is a pretty balanced party. However, I can't shake the feeling I'll struggle mightily with it later in the game due to a lack of reliable heavy hitters. So far only the Barbarian and Paladin deal sufficient damage; others either miss or deal puny damage. Will they come into their own as they gain more levels?

2) Where can I learn more priest spells? My cleric still has only the three starting spells, which aren't of much use in battle. Since she cannot hit anything, my Cleric is useless for the time being.

3) How to avoid traps in dungeons? There's an archway in a narrow mine tunnel I must pass under, but doing so activates a poison gas trap which takes a half of my characters' hit points, kills some of them, and leave the rest poisoned. I can't avoid it, but can I tell my Robber to look for traps and deactivate them? I've also tried using the Jump spell to avoid it – I stand on the square just before the trap and cast the spell, but the game always says "spell failed". If I stand two squares away from the trap, the spell is successful, but I land directly onto the trap. What am I missing here?

4) Is there any other way to replenish HP and/or SP besides resting? I have to rest after every minor battle or a couple of major ones. At this rate, the clearing of the mines, as well as occasional popping back to town to sell loot, might take months. I fear my characters won't live to see the end of the game.

That's all I can think of for now. The rep points go to the most comprehensive answer!
1) After you increase your stats in some way/get better items even non melee classes can hit something. However casters are used mostly to cast spells not hit things. Hybrids like archer and paladin are not as good as pure fighters, but still can do the job.

2) You buy spell in cities in mage guild.

3) Jump spell works if there are two free spaces in front of you. If there is for example broken wall, than it fails. For those kinds you need teleport spell but it's gained later in the game. Right now only jump spell and/or strafing if the trap is in the corner.

4) Healing spells, some fountains.
To answer 1) and 2) in combination: Your spellcasters will be very useful later on, when they get better spells. Make sure to get spells for your hybrid classes (Archer and Paladin) too. There are some who claim that an Arhcer is simply better than a Sorcerer, as Archers can cast all the same spells, they just have fewer spell points. Your archer will also get better at combat at higher levels and with better equipment. Your robber will remain pretty useless for combat but he or she will be indispensable for opening locked doors and trapped chests and the like. Also get bows for everyone so you can shoot enemies before they get close.

To answer 3) and 4) in combination: Avoiding traps in dungeons can be tough. As WTF said, you can only jump over a trap if there is an open space beyond it. If the trap is in a corner then you can't use it. You can use spells like Clairvoyance (I think it's called) to get warnings for when there are traps nearby. But sometimes you just have to take the hit. One thing that can help is donating to the temple for blessings. This will bestow a lot of benefits on your characters, even including the Clairvoyance effect I believe, and it will also help all your characters in melee combat. You may have to donate several times to get all the blessings. Blessings will help you last longer before you have to rest. But yes, resting is the only way to restore HP and SP outside of special fountains and such. If you do find some convenient fountains that heal or give bonuses, consider visiting them before each foray into the mines.

Also, if the Mines are giving you a hard time, you might consider popping over to Darkside and doing some stuff in the first town there. Also don't be afraid to explore the outside world in Clouds (the outside world in Darkside is tougher, you should wait until you're a little higher level first), maybe even trying to make it to another city. You can always come back to finish the mines later. Don't be afraid to explore, the worst that happens is you get overwhelmed and have to load a previous save. Xeen is a wide open game, so don't be afraid to explore it.

Lastly some general advice: Always check your character's status regularly. Make sure no one is cursed, diseased, enfeebled, etc. That stuff can all be cured at a temple. Also make sure that no one's equipment is broken. Stuff often gets broken when a character is knocked out. If you have broken equipment, take it to a blacksmith to get it repaired. Broken weapons will make a character pretty much useless in melee, and broken armor will see them get KO'ed much faster. It's easy to miss those things.

Oh also, the GOG release includes the cluebook in the extras if you're ever stuck. Be careful, as it has full spoilers for everything in the game. But one really useful section is the item stats, as it's really a pain to identify everything in-game. If you search the PDF for a specific item you can minimize spoilers. That will really make deciding on weapons and armor easier.

Most importantly, have fun!
Some traps can be avoide by having the Levitate (I think it's called) spell active. Don't remember if it saves again that gas trap, though.
Post edited August 13, 2012 by PetrusOctavianus
Your party is considerably better in melee than the pregenerated one and most other parties so don't worry about this.

Don't worry about resting often, you have plenty of time to finish the game. Even if you started with 70 year old characters you could still finish it in time without too much trouble.
Thank you for your comments and advice. All of them have been helpful, but I can only mark one of them as the answer. Yesterday I realized that priest spells can also be learned from the Guild; I was wrong to think that it was reserved only for mages. I have now cleared all nine levels of the dwarven mines and killed all creatures save the Clan King (I somehow managed to kite his two bodyguards away from him). He's still too powerful for my lvl 8 party, but I'm counting on the blessings from the Temple to help me. Various sources tell me that the most tedious part of the game is done, and that WoX gets better from now on. I'm certainly having fun. Feel free to chime in with more advice!
Glad you're getting the hang of things. It's probably true that the early game is the toughest part.

I forgot to mention that if you don't want spoilers from the cluebook, there are also item lists online where you can look up item stats without worrying about any other spoilers.