Originally posted by Grand Forks:

Not sure how far you got in 80 hours but can I assume its not very far... That said lets help out with some of the problems...

Well, I have mapped the main island, I have exploded 2 of the nearby islands. I am now into my first crypt in the swamp.

I entered the mountain but did not have frost resist potions at the time so quickly got out to warm up.

1) Explore your island all the way around the out side by the water... Most times you will find the merchant on the main island you spawn on in the largest dark forest on the island... This is not always the truth he can be on a neighboring island as well. Using a boat you can miss him so sailing is really not the best choice.

Hum... a youtube video I watched said the exact opposite: Merchant never spawns on the center of the map (aka the starting island) and finding him is easiest by boat... now I don't know that to think. Well for starters he is not on the main island for sure, I have gonne through the black forest many time and did not see him.

2) combat, as your skills improve so will your swinging and knowing when to strike down the blue eye devils that come forth. best play is to use a shield early on and grow with it. Blocking later in the game is ... well pretty important! as the blue eye devil starts his swing throw a block it stumbles him back and run up and hit one time. repeat block... Remember your not Rambo or some god that was dropped. practice makes perfect and perfect is needed later. Don't forget to upgrade your equipment and eat hardy.

Ya, using a bronze buckler now. Did not for a long time but started after I fought my first draugh (sp?) in the swamp. Skill is like 20 now so a lot to improve but it still blocks all of the damage on the non-troll mobs. I don't dare take a hit from a troll yet ;)

2a) weapons and armor, early game you mostly want to stay light in the dark forest and woodlands, Heavy armor for mountains and plains, where your not willing to run very fast. Mace is great for early game to mid game, swords or mace's are good for late game. Heavy shields are good for bosses or mobs that hit very hard. Cross train in bows is a must, snipping can kill/weaken most of the enemy before the gaggle gets to you and the clean up with hand to hand. Skill's Skill's Skill's build them up early and try not to die.

AH! I have been using the bronze axe so far. On an earlier game I was using the thrusting weapon that I cannot remember the name of (says it's a true warrior's weapon in the description) but since you can't use a shield with it, I switched to axe and buckler. So you are saying mace is the best weapon?

4) Hints and tricks, use a portal during exploring and mining operations. Return back with the non metal through the portal and sail or cart the heavy stuff back... Portal's when acquired should be the second item placed on the ground when exploring over the waters; when you seem to be a bit far from your main camp.

Yes, that is what I do. I sail to explore and when night falls I land, build a workbench and portal and go home to sleep. Then return destroy the portal and workbench and resume sailing. Do the same for on foot exploration.

build a small camp when you mine, Craft a house, bed, benches and palisades all the way around your pit for copper, ladder on top of the crypts for iron. Double block wall with pit falls for plains. Mark places on the map..

Will have to give this a try. I usually just build a campfire and portal as well as a chest. Not sure all that building time would be useful in the black forest. For the swamp I can see the benefit somewhat. Plains, haven't really explored them but if all mobs are deadly, ya that would make a lot of sense.

exploring look for a new home, most of the time you will build about 4-7 homes in different bio-domes. No one said you can have a portal to each one. Homes can be small with the minor items to repair or eat or keep warm. Always keep a portal a your main base with "" name... Dropping a portal when getting chased is hard to name. Remember to drop a bench first.

I have a few portals up but don't really build a base for each one. Just the workbench, portal and a chest. If I want to sleep I just portal to the main base and come back the next morning.

Mark your death on the map, just in case you die again somewhere closer to your home you can have a position to get to on the map.

OH! Good advice, never thought about the possibility of dying on the way back to the corpse. That is definitely something I will do from now on.