(This, and several more, can be found on HDoL.eu. This is just my look on things, any opinions is more than welcome.)


NEWBIE-BUILDS

The newbie don't have to think so much of how to put their stats in the beginning, but only need to follow some simple rules for their chosen class. They level so fast and change gear so often so it would simply be to expensive trying to follow some specific guidance to make a certain build to soon. I usually say that (since 100 is the level-cap) the first half of the game, the first 50 levels, just go with the flow. Although, this depends a bit of how fast or slow you level too.


MAGE

The mages never use any AGI or STR at all. You can easily go 4 INT and 1 END every level. You can also get Gym Freak (Fighter passive skill) to help you with your Health, even though you'll get less Mana-points. Your attack is hardly affected by it. The high level mage often go all INT and let their gear give them the other stats.
Also you should try to choose a magic or two you like and stick to it as much as possible until you have more gold and can get more skills. Also, look at your gears stats and make sure it has bonuses suitable for your chosen skills.
At level 25 you can buy Blue Screen of Life and I recommend you loose Gym Freak for this one instead. With this activated some of your taken melee damage is taken to Mana-points instead, making that your health.


FIGHTER

Fighters will, after their newbie-period, usually go either Tank (with lots of defense and health) or Damage-dealer, but to re-spec your stats don't cost to much in Dungeon Runners so you can use a build who works with both types of armors in the beginning. Alternate with 2 STR, 2 AGI and 1 END every other level and 2 STR, 1 AGI and 2 END every other.
As you grow stronger, the guidelines is to keep your Attack Rating for 1-handers at least 100x Your Level and for 2-handers you'll want closer to 150x Your Level.
When you reach level 30 you can buy Mad Melee Mastery who will lower your Health with 20% but raise your Attack Rating with a massive 80%.


RANGER

As a Ranger your build looks a lot like for mages, but you put 4 AGI and 1 END as your stats. Depending if they go Crit-Ranger or Poison-Ranger, the higher level Ranger go either full END or use INT too.
Monster Bait at level 19 is a skill you'll use very often to put the monsters attention on something else than you as you attack, and at 31 you get the passive skill Extra Crispy Monster Bait who'll give your Bait a much higher health.
Gaseous Blast is a helpful skill, as well as Acidic Blight. Many like the Unnerving Shout too, whom you can buy from the Fighter skill vendor.
Many rangers like Chill Bill (Mage skill vendor, level 30) as a companion and if this is the case, you might wanna start to think of putting some points in INT too. Having points in INT will also raise any Poison magic you might have chosen to do (Poison Shot, Noxious Shot and more) as well as raise your Mana points.
Barf-O-Rama at level 33 is a cool passive who gives a chance of making the monsters throwing up as they take poison damage.


SKILLS IN GENERAL

Passive skills need to be in your skilltray to be active.
If you only use a attack for one of the mouse-buttons, you can put a passive or any other skill on the other.


KING COIN VENDORS

Should you use your King Coins at those or save them for Mythic Sam? There is many different views on this but my recommendations is that if you have an item, yellow quality or lower, who is at least 6-7 levels lower than you for your first 25 levels: Update it using King Coins. You really get a lot of KC's during your further leveling and having up-to-date gear really makes a lot of difference. The hard part is that you don't know what stats the gear will have, so don't waste to many KC's in vain, but settle and compromise with what you get.
If you don't wanna spend KC's so much, go for updating only at least 10 level to low items for yellow, and 5 for blue and lower quality.

Runnin T Boss

This is the most effective way of finding equipment. About level 15 you can start running a boss if you want to to find or need better equipment and gold.
01 - 07 = "RattleTooth's Lair" off of Level 3 Dew Valley
15 - 30 = "Sisserat's Lair" off of level 7 of Algernon
15 - 30 = "Snow Chieftain's Lair" off of level 7 of Algor's Terror Dome
30 - 50 = "Room of Creation" off of level 7 of the Mutanious Mulaise
50 - ... = I have Never found a boss to run above level 50.(any suggestions?)

Settin a WayPoint Compass

A "WayPoint Compass" is a item that you get from random drops from monsters and chests throughout the game. Right Click the "WayPoint Compass" within the room within which you wish to set it.

Note: If you want to set it for a boss run it is best to set it in the boss room not outside it.

I'd have squeezed in WidowMaker somewhere between Algor and Rogut there...

Sorry , Never considered Her worth running. If you do You can Note her down in hear.

What Is the best thing for a Newbie to do?
Have fun. Their are several different things you can do in the game.

Run Bosses. This is fairly easy pastime but gets boring after awhile so back it up with something else or you well suffer burnout from it.

Hunt for "Relic Chests". These elusive chests show up in dungeon from Algernon through Embercore as of the 137 patch. They are a pale color and either give you a relic or a boss to fight then a relic. Collect these Relics. Then turn them in at the banker for King coins.

Do Quests. Not my favorite. My little brother loves them though. They show up throughout the game and offer different rewards and are very funny if you bother to read them.

Horrific Dungeon of Legend. Once you are level 25 or above you can fight the monsters in HDOL to get lots of loot and Exp. Many see this as a very fun past time. The entrance is near the bank.

Run a level. just choose any level in a dungeon and run it. This offers you many chests to open and mini bosses to fight. It can also usually be done on "Insane" difficulty. Which you access by pressing ESC/Options/General/Top Option(Difficulty). This adds just that much more of a challenge and more chances at loot.

PVP. Jaunt over to that player versus player server and show the level 100s whats up. In player versus player everones stats and most their skills are adjusted to level 101.

I probably left something out. If so feel free to add it.

Above 75, killing Ratsputin is the way to go.

( Borrowed from hdol.eu, with kudos to LordMagnus: )

I've found that Ratsputin's lair is pretty easy and straightforward, at least from a 'crispy critters nukin' mage' point of view: (your mileage may vary.)

There's 5 steps to this fight, really:

As you enter for the first time, be sure to use a waypoint compass to lock in your ability to get back to the room with the obelisk.

Ok, so you're finally here! Welcome! I am Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die! (oh wait, wrong script...)

In front of you is a gate--you can't get through any of the gates till you kill "The Seer", so don't bother trying.

Turn to your right and head down the snow hill to just before the passage starts veering left.

a) Toss up Blue Screen of Life as you're nearing the mobs.
b) Activate your Monster Bait somewhat near the mob--within enough range to aggro them onto the turkey leg.
c) Activate Pyromania (to make the mobs extra crispy')
d) Activate Crispy Critters (I use my right mouse key), and hold it down, spraying fiery goodness at all mobs till they're all dead.
e) Activate hotkeys for health and mana potions as necessary.
f) When all mobs are dead, loot what you want, then activate bling gnome.

Step 1 complete.

Step 2 involves heading to the next left-veering curve, where it narrows down a bit. Repeat steps a-f (above).

Step 2 complete.

Step 3 is done MUCH easier if you move forward enough to agro the mobs, and then backing up into the area where the walls block the gates to the center area. (This will prevent Ratsputin and gang from coming to help immediately when you kill "The Seer") (Killing "The Seer" will cause the gates to the center area to open, and pulling the 3rd group back gives you time to heal/rest/loot before taking on Ratsputin himself) So--after pulling the group back to the 'hallway', repeat steps a-f (above)

Step 3 complete.

Step 4 is fairly easy. Same tactics, move near the center area, and be sure to focus all your damage on Ratsputin at first, then kill off his buddies once he's down. Again, repeat steps a-f (above)

Step 4 complete.

Step 5 is what you've really come here for! Move into the center area where Ratsputin was caged up, and look toward the the entrance where you first entered the zone. To your right--hey--what's that? A teleporter! Hm...I wonder where THAT goes?!?!?

Step 5: Click on the transporter and loot the 6 (yes, SIX!!) treasure chests!!!

Loot 'em and 'poot' 'em! (that's BLING GNOME HUMOR, btw...)

("Loot 'em and 'poot' 'em" Copyright (c) 2008 BigFatKlingon/LordGoshAlmighty, all rights reserved.)

Step 5 complete.

At this point, I like to simply reset the dungeon, sell/bank/restock potions, eat a tribble, etc... and then do it all over again. Fairly easy to solo on normal once you get the hang of it, and fairly decent exp with the large-ish mobs, the speed at which they die, and some decent loot from time to time. Upping the difficulty a notch or two after you feel comfortable with running it only leads to more and better loot.

Hope that helps, or is at least somewhat informative.

lol, how did Ratsputin end up on a "newbie"-guide? Hehe!
Thanks both for continuing the guide though. Nicely written FlamingPhoenix.

About quests, I say do as many as you can. Why? 2 reasons:
1. The Cowbell. For most of the quests (not all) you'll get 5 minutes of Cowbell upon finishing a quest which means +15% Experience. These stack up to 30 minutes. (Beware, if you die you'll loose them all.)
2. The Laughs. This game is well known for it's humor and most hides in these.
Example: There's a quest where you find out that the monsters drink really lousy coffee just because they need to throw up a lot so that they don't die inside 'cause they listen to much to the music of the 80's.

This is great info guys.

How to Solo Zack
(145 and Below)

This in my experience is the best way to run Zack

Be the right level to run him is the most important thing.

Taking out the groups leading to him:
Activate the shrine then immediately take out the mage looking thing that summons the ice portal then take out the ice portal. Only change this strategy for the group with the healer poison champion in it. Take him out first in that group then the other two. Then clean up the mess.

Taking out Zack:
Immediately take out the poison portal the moment that Zack opens it.
Take out the healer. He is the one with the enormous head.
Take out the other champions in any order. Taking out the poison portal as it appears.
When there are no more champions focus on Zack. You should be able to kills him easily now.



Edited by FlamingPhoenix (09/16/08 02:00 AM)

In my opinion, it's best to just focus on Balzack first, after you eliminate the portal and the healer. Those champs do crap damage compared to Balzack. If he is killed as soon as possible, then you will save more potions.

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Additional tip/s : Balzack and his buddies love turkey. Use bait as they charge toward you. Move away a little then focus on healer first. If you have high dps, she will die before the portal is summoned. After that, kill the portal. The bait will most likely be killed at this time. Focus on Balzack. Run a little bit as you place a bait again. Attack Balzack. When he's dead you can just pick out the champions, which pose very little to no challenge without their leader.



Edited by romanceplx (09/16/08 09:00 PM)