VINO'S VOX POPULI
- or - Tips from your fellow killers.  
The following tips are presented to you either from your fellow TEC players or from dear old Vino himself. All submissions have been given due credit with the player's character-name (when given) so that you may show proper appreciation in person, should you so desire. This section will be updated as often as possible.   

Three tricks for ya to consider
Sunday, 31-Oct-1999 10:45:23
ONE: When you get tough enough to knock out another character, buy yourself a couple of ropes or a set of manacles (from Galba's chain shop). The next time a thief tries to lift your sack, K.O. the bastard and use the bind command to tie his hands and then his feet with your rope, or with the manacles. Use the command string: bind <whoever> with <rope/manacle/whatever>.
Rope is cheaper and therefore preferable but it is rumored (unconfirmed) that thieves can cut ropes that bind them with their sharpened coins, it they palmed them. This trick works only on humans (thugs, bandits, etc.). The command will only work on passive or unconscious targets.
TWO: Go fishin' with a fishing rod. I have no idea where to purchase one, you will have to ask around. Use the commands CAST ROD in an area that supports fishing, usually anywhere there is water. I even heard a guy was fishing in the baths one time. This will save you on food costs if you don't mind eating fish all the time. (Vino seys: I have it from a reliable source that this is just a myth or no longer true. Fishing can only be done in certain areas, usually certain spots near rivers. I will post those areas here when I can.)
Also, this skill automatically improves when you use it, though not by much. You can't get training in fishing.
(Vino seys: Known fishing spots - The docks of Monlon.
                                     The "wide silty river" beyond the Monlan ladder.
                                     The Swamplands north of Iridine (such as between the Swamp Cabin and the
                                     Misty Vale.)
                                     One particular spot south of the Vetallun road between the Vetallun Road mark and
                                     the Vetallun Crossroads mark. (The only one allowing southerly travel.))
THREE: The macros you mentioned called approach man and attack man not only work on masked/hooded thieves but on the bandits in the bandit woods as well. So when players get skilled enough to hunt the woods regularly they should already have a macro for them, if they have programmed their macros as you suggested.

Mourn   


Save money on food
Sunday, 31-Oct-1999 11:00:23
Don't waste yer money on the bread, soup, biscuits, fruit and other such stuff that the locals sell. You kin eat fer free. When ya skin dem rats ('n many other animals) ya kin keep on skinnin' and get a lotta internal organs (yuck, I know) as well as meat. get this stuff, keep it and cook it over a fire/campfire/ torch/etc.) when you get a chance. Use the cook <edible> over <fire/torch/etc> command string until it gets overcooked. You can't help but overcook it, of course (you ain't a professional cook, are ya?) but yer stomach won't know the difference. Meat and other edible flesh cooked this way will keep forever in your sack, backpack, etc.
(Vino seys: Sorry, folks. Rules have changed and only Outdoorsmen can cook nowadays. Oh, well. At least thieves can still eat "for free")

Vino Nuovo, the drunken warrior   


Pouches fer sens
Sunday, 31-Oct-1999 21:40:50
Well, I have been around for awhile and have made money selling pelts, then stones from rats stomachs, harvesting plants and salvaging things I found laying around. Thieves leave their empty pouches laying everywhere. I don't know why, seems people would know where they are working by leaving evidence but anyway you can sell them for a sen at Venina's. Not much but adds up and if you are picking stuff all the time it becomes a habit. Carry more than 1 sack. . . .
Hope this helps and gets some of that trash picked up....
Oh, don't become a locksmith and expect to get rich. . . You know some guy gave me a denar today for opening his chest....I tried to throw it at him but he was to close. . . *mutter*. A guy ought to be able to throw something at someone in the same room you would think. . . *chuckle*. (Vino seys: Pouches can also be sold to the Junk Dealer.)

Robus 

Useful thing to know
Monday, 01-Nov-1999 16:41:26
I noticed that you can press the up and down arrows to scroll through the last few commands. Very useful for repetitive tasks like attacking a dummy or putting multiple items in a sack/backback/pouch.

Otter (aka "Lutrus") 

Quit rippin' people off, Vino. ;)
Saturday, 13-Nov-1999 22:51:58
Why d'ya only have Harach's prices fer armor in that "armor set" part? It's like dat Microsoft monopoly in ancient Rome or something....;) Bragan in Vetallun is tons cheaper on shin greaves and lorica's, among other things...Quit rippin' innocent newbies off...I don't care how much commission Harach pays. 8)

(Hey, a guy's gotta make a sen er two somehow, eh? - Vino)

Lanamor

Easy denars fast
Saturday, 11-Dec-1999 12:06:52
One can make a lot of money fast by going to the bandit forest during the day (safer) and get many sacks (they're everywhere). Wear as many as you can. Cover them by wearing a sagum (if you have one). Find all the small chests you can. Put the chests in your different sacks until you can't carry anymore. Go to Apula's..she'll buy most chests for 53d. An industrious soul that doesn't mind a little legwork can make a lot of denars fast. Also while in the bandit forest..look around a lot..you'll be amazed at what people leave laying around. One day I found 7 pouches and they all had gems in them worth 600 d total.

Calixto (Thanks to "Teen Goten" for correction on chest value) 


Armor Prices
Saturday, 05-Feb-2000 13:37:13
Hey, good site. Nice layout. One problem: The Phylax is 480 at Waike's. Not 300. Also, for people who like to buy everything at once, I calculated the prices for each set. #1=1683, #2=5018, #3=8435. Just so you know.

( Prices have been known to change in Iridine without notice. Let me know of any price changes you become aware of, due credit will be given for such corrections. - Vino)

Henry Juanes aka. Antequides

Constable, arrest that man!
Tuesday, 15-Feb-2000 17:21:34
When that thief grabs your sack outta your hands and stand there laughing at you because he's wearing a lorica hamata...
or you see a guy in a hood or mask just standing around chatting like he's a respectable citizen or something...
or when that jerk of a warrior attacks you because he don't like the way you looked at his girlfriend...
don't just whine about it!  Have them arrested!
As much as I despise those soft-bellied, underworked, overpaid connies it makes sense to me to put 'em to work when there is work to be done that you can't handle yerself. Hey, Vino knows that not everyone in town is as good a warrior as he is. So when you see someone engaged in illegal behavior, point them out to the connies and let 'em do some good fer a change. To show someone to a constable - command string look for constable -then- show <whoever> to constable
If they are doing something illegal, then the connie will take it from there. Remember to refer to those in masks or hoods as "man" or "woman".

Vino Nuovo, the drunken warrior  


Somethin' to write home to momma about...
Tuesday, 15-Feb-2000 17:28:45
Writing is a skill that any character can perform, provided they have a modicum of intelligence (check yer stats). It require that you hold a quill pen and something to write on (vellum, parchment, etc.). You will also need a well of ink (inkwell) to dip the pen in before each writing.
Command strings:
Get pen
Get <parchment/vellum/whatever>
Open jar
Dip pen in inkwell
Close jar
Write on <parchment/vellum/whatever>
That's it, nothing to it. These papers that you write on can be posted on the postboards that hang in any of the inns or taverns in Iridine or the surrounding villages.
Hang <parchment/vellum/whatever> on board
However, many of your fellow players have a nasty habit of taking parchments and such posted in inns just to be jerks. Check your posts regularly to be sure they're still there. One trick is the write out your post in Windows Notepad, then cut and paste each paragraph into the game window. In this way you can save your parchment on your computer and make duplicates as necessary.

Vino Nuovo, the drunken warrior 

Free learning
Tuesday, 15-Feb-2000 17:50:33
If you haven't notice yet, you soon will. But teachers in Iridine charge more and more the higher the rank you want to learn. And when you get to ranks like 20, 25 or 30 the cost is simply ludicrous. You can get your learning fer free if you know or can find someone with a higher rank than yours.
The fact is, anyone with a rank of 10 or better can teach. Just find someone who is willing to take a second of their time to demonstrate their skill to you and, while they are demonstrating, use the command string - learn <skill> from <whoever>
And if you want to teach someone your skill use the command string - teach <skill>
Simple as that. You will automatically use your skill points to increase your rank and it won't cost you a sen. Unless, of course, the only teacher you can find is that jerk grandmaster who wants to charge a mere 50 denar less than the 500 that Gilven wants. Don't ye just hate that guy?

Vino Nuovo, the drunken warrior 

Aim fer the heart
Tuesday, 15-Feb-2000 17:55:37
When attacking a creature who's blocks are preventing you from skewering him you can aim your attacks at specific portions of their anatomy that have weaker, or no, block manuveurs/armor covering them. Not to mention, attacks that land, say, on the other guy's head, do slightly more damage. Not all creatures or opponents you meet will have such "weak spots"  so you should learn which ones do before relying on it. Also, it isn't really useful save to those whose skills are unusually high to begin with. Aiming for specific places (head, hand, leg, etc.) is a very difficult thing to do and can add about +50% to your chance to hit. Aiming high, mid or low adds +20% to your chance to hit. Still, for low-ranking warriors, if you can't hit that damned thug anyway go ahead and go for it. No matter what, you will always have at least a 5% chance of hitting.
The main use of this command, however, is in facing those opponents whose armor is incomplete or who have such tough armor as lorica or muscle cuirass. Such opponents may or may not have pteryges and such to protect the rest of their bodies but such peripheral armor is still easier to penetrate than a lorica or mail cuirass. If, for instance, you faced a fellow player intent on hacking you to bit-size pieces and find that he is wearing a lorica that absorbs all your strikes, but no helmet. Well, you just aim your attacks at his head, or simply high, and forget about trying to get through that lorica.
Bear in mind that manuveurs tend to aim themselves at certain areas anyway (ex: chop automatically aims high; slash aims mid, etc.) So if you already have these manuveurs (and you should) use them instead as they have roughly the same chance to hit as a regular attack. You would then want to use this command only if you are highly skilled and facing an opponent who you can hit but cannot damage because of his/it's armor, and you would want to aim at such unprotected areas as hand, foot and face.
Command string - <attack> <what> <where>
Examples: slash alligator leg or attack bandit face or chop rat high

Vino Nuovo, the drunken warrior

The rest about rest...
It has been well established that, when fatigued, you should rest in the Riverside Baths. But there are other ways of getting rest. Certainly you can just sit, stand or lay around anywhere and rest but it is at a rate that is maddeningly slow. Three other methods of rest exist, besides the baths, that you may not know about.
1- Inn rooms. Not only do inn rooms provide a semi-secure place to store your stuff but laying in the bed allows you to rest at a much faster rate than just laying around anywhere else. Not only that, but exiting the game while laying in bed in your inn room allows your character to continue to rest right up until you return to the game. That means you can turn the game off and come back in a half-hour and find your character completely rested up and ready to hunt.
2 - Lean-to's. While only outdoorsmen can build lean-to's, anyone can enter and lay in one. They provide the same benefits as inn rooms and can be found in all kinds of places. There are at least a couple of them in the bandit woods, for example. To enter a lean-to just go lean. To exit just type leave or retreat.
3 - Blankets. Blankets can be purchased in some shops in the game (not sure which ones or for how much). They give you bonuses like the inns and lean-to's but I am, frankly, unaware of whether the rate of resting is the same. (I have never owned a blanket but one time. And even then I discarded the thing because I didn't know it had any use.) To use the blanket lay down, get blanket and pull blanket over you. (Sorry, the blanket no longer works while you are logged out. Still not really sure if they even provide a bonus to recovery while you are in-game. Anyone who knows, lemme know. - Vino)

Vino Nuovo, the drunken warrior *Thanks to Maleud and Trump for correction and affirmation of lean-to commands. 

Input on Archers
Friday, 25-Feb-2000 05:28:18
First off, a great site, Vino. Sure could have used it in my day...
Anyway, reading through your hunting section, I notice that you wanted some information on bandit archers. Well, here's what I have to say about them:
Nasty, nasty buggers. Only recently with the missile-bow overhaul, bandit archers are not just a nuisance anymore, but deadly. They only travel with their buddies the spear wielders, and they take pot-shots at you while their friends stick you in the guts with their spears. Their aim has improved greatly so, most shots find their mark... might want some good armor to ward off their shots.
I see two strategies when dealing with them.
1) Use a distance weapon like a stave or spear to take them out first, then focus on the regular bandits.
2) Scatter the group. Archers get scared and run off when you engage them. This is usually difficult to do since you usually have bandits engaging you and preventing you from reaching the archers. Once the group scatters, you can run down individuals and pick them off one by one.

Minos 

Archer Bandits
Thursday, 24-Feb-2000 18:53:51
While his time was short in the game and spent very fruitlessly, Antequides had killed an archer or two. They have the usual stuff on them, plus a quiver (which you can use as a pouch, think about it. No thief would steal a quiver.), and are very xenophobic. Killing one is the same as killing a worn rat, they will constantly retreat. If you want to kill one, keep tabs on where they run to after they retreat as they are very quick. They are pretty weak, a few well placed hits will kill them.

Baird


Healers and warriors
Friday, 22-Sep-00 16:13:46
  ...to all you warriors: ALWAYS PAY YOUR HEALERS even though you may not have much, please do. We don't get paid any other way and we need to live too. We still need to buy food and clothes and everything else you do, except that we need supplies like painkillers and you are our only income. Most healers don't have anything else other than basic clothes so, when you're low on cash, ask them if they would like that nice toga you found, or that old cloak you don't want anymore. While this might sound like a whine, all I am saying is that you need to treat us well. Because when you are bleeding in the caves or in the dump or wherever, chances are you are far from Fiona or the hospice and it's those new healers that come to the rescue. Don't discourage them by not paying. Think of it as life insurance. HEALERS ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS, WARRIORS!!!  TREAT THEM WELL.
Also, thieves, don't steal from us. It's pointless and the vigilantes love the chance of protecting us. You can have morals, too.

( Well, perhaps not morals but at least good business sense - Vino ;)

Lemain 

Retreat! Retreat!
Sunday, 14-Jan-01 19:39:54
Hey vino on your combat section's how:to where you tell then how to actually fight you might want to include that if you type RETREAT N or whatever direction you want...once you retreat you automatically go that direction.

Trace 

Tips from Kered:
Monday, 2-September-02

When Bandits, Rogues, Ruffians or any other type of moron who wants to rob you blindly and they indispose you, Just GO [direction], since they will stop you if you don't.
On being impaled: not a wonderful feeling, but one should start trying to stand as soon as impaled because 5 bandits will shortly make you a good afternoon meal if you don't.
Second part of this, your good buddy is in front of you impaled. You could laugh at him or be a nice flesh and Release <friend's name>. You cannot be approached to any enemy or anything while doing this.
New Inn: Brawling Bear. Sells very cheap fig wine, and some really crusty bread. Located close to the Steps as well as the Old City.
Blackvine has a new trade for people interested in making some mone: Salt Mining, where brave souls can scrape salt from the beach and sell to a shop up there. You have to have a canvas sack and a salt scraper, pay is well, risk is fun too, getting swept away by the water can result in broken bones.

Kered Solace, leader of the Traevant Militia and official bad dancer of Iridine, part timer hero for pay. (Vino seys: "and longest title in the Vox Populi")


Tips from Wicker:
Thursday, 19-September-02
Hiya,
Delivering Crates.
Here’s a neat way to get to know your way around Iridine, earn some denar, interact with shop keepers and usually interact with other players. At some of the mark points in the city you’ll see laborers hanging around. This usually means that there’ll be a bit of casual work available. All you have to do is wait in the same place that you see the laborers and sooner or later a laborer or worker will come huffing and puffing up to you and ask if you wouldn’t mind helping deliver a crate. Just say to the laborer/worker “yes” or even just ‘nod worker’ and the worker will then give you a crate to deliver. You’ll also be given exact directions to get to wherever the crate is supposed to go to. When you reach the NPC that the crate is intended for you’ll be asked to simply drop the crate. You’ll then be given your pay. You could earn 10 or more denars a while ago but the rate seems to be a flat 5 denars per trip lately. It aint gonna make you rich and, be warned – you sometimes have
to wait a few minutes before a laborer approaches you with a crate to deliver but it is a real quick way to learn a few basics of Iridine ways and to earn a few denar in the process. Folks will usually have a friendly word to say to you if they happen to be in the shop when you do the delivery so it can be a good way to make friends early on in the game also. Definite Mark locations where you can wait for work are the Colosseum, Forum Gaeldine and outside the Bank. There may be others (the Stone Toga ?) but you can enjoy yourself lookin' for 'em.
and thanx for keeping your site going :)

Wicker


More tips from Kered:
Sunday, 22-November-02
(via email)
Once again Kered master of useless information:
Boars,Rams, Wolves, all have nice unblockable attacks unless your a distance fighter best idea is to run. Boars and Rams stunn you and you cannot escape.
Dead Fall Snares, people can fall into them, its nice, they get stunned in the Traevant woods, a good snare gets someone impaled so be smart and disarm everything before you leave.
Hide Here! Woohoo, Fern teaches how to hide, running from people don't want to be caught, Hide here they can't see you, Freeze does the same. Nice things when running from the law, or I mean nasty bandits.
Fishing, I love fishing, fishing is the best, bait does matter, Grasshoppers so far have warrented me personally the best succuess. Minnows secondly, worms stink.
The Treehouse, my newest favorite hangout, has a nice rope in the middle of it you can swing to and fro, it your to hurt to escape, its a large circle where only one person at a time can go, Do not go here unless your very good with your weapon its very dangerous. Briggards and Bears are here and they make grandmasters into dinner.


Lastly, remember its a game.
Kered Solace, Traevant Militia. (Vino seys: Bah! Liked yer last title more better.)
Tips from Brianne/Sancia:
Saturday, 28-February-04
(via email)

Starting Out:
 Locksmiths: Well, generally, since this skill is not on the chargen, most of the characters will be older characters who know what they're doing. In essence, you travel to Apula's, pick some locks for her, and you get money for it. However, if you can find a better locksmith who is willing to take time out of their busy schedule (Busy... Schedule?), they're sure to lock things for you, so you can unlock, or whatnot.
 The best skills to learn for Locksmithing are Unlocking, Lock Lore (Gives you an added bonus to picking the lock, I think), and Lock. Once you learn how to Unlock, use Lock Lore, and Lock proficiently, you can start training on your own. :) Locking is a pain, though, since it is an average skill.
 
 Outdoorsman/Hunters: These two skills were meant to complement each other. If you can, learn Hunting Lore as a first skill, and Outdoormanship as a second. Outdoors SP should solely be used for gaining enough skill that you can learn skills in Hunting Lore. Gathering twigs, finding firewood, and making torches are the best way to gain SP in the Outdoors skillset. Making fires is much less so, but you can cook over them.
 
 Tailors: Tailoring is a pain. Don't learn it. But if you feel as if you must, then please, PLEASE, get pouches for training. Pouches, scarves, sashes, or anything that takes up less cloth than one full length is great. This skillset is kind of hard to learn, and is much better if you have something small you can make. Scarves and pouches are the best to get for the first recipe.
 
 Healers: Advertise yourself. Profusely. Thinking is a lovely way to do this. The most important skills are bandaging and stitching. Rousing is much less so, and should probably be unlearned. Arrow pulling -can- come in handy, but with the new "Arrow Awareness" subskill for ACMs, it's kind of obsolete. You can also get training from the Hospice, with the citizens who get hurt quite often, in fact.
 
 SP in the New System:
 Well, the best thing now-a-days in TEC to gain skill is by learning more than one subskill. If you randomize your subskills, the greater the SP gain. If you have more than one subskill, it's great. Three is a good number, since you can go back and forth, but learn as many attacks/subskills/etc as you can quickly, and your SP gain will be greater. :D
 
 New Shops:
 Well, the Via Abscondas is new.. So, you walk to the library, then to Venina's.. West from there, and a pace or two southwest, and go north. There are a whole bunch of new shops there.
 

-Brianne/Sancia