EverQuest

What's a newbie to do in Norrath? We tackle your basic EverQuestions and respond with happy EverAnswers.

Before you fire up 989 Studios' red-hot online RPG, EverQuest, consider this: The real world is easier to survive than EverQuest's online realm of Norrath. Want some proof? 1) In the real world, you're given a decade or two before you have to fight for your life. 2) In the real world, very few giant bats and absolutely no decaying skeletons attack you offline. 3) In the real world, there's no lag time.

So, some assistance is in order. Before you start exploring the lands of Norrath, keep these tips and suggestions in mind.

Dancin' With My Elf
Building your character is the first challenge you'll face, and we suggest that you log on to EverQuest's Web site to do some research into each race before you make your final choice. We recommend you start as a human character: They're the least interesting race in the fantasy realm, but they're the most flexible. Unlike some of the other characters, like trolls, humans can enter any town in Norrath and can be almost any character class. Half-elves are a good character to start as, too, because they have excellent night vision (humans will need a torch or a lantern right away). Of course, if you're unhappy with your personage, you can always start over or, if you like, create a second character.

As for your protagonist's name, keep in mind that all Norrath citizens have fantasy-style nomenclatures: Mike the Barbarian or Larry the Thief ain't gonna cut it here. EverQuest will randomly generate an appropriate-sounding name for your character if you like-but if you want to be creative, you can take your existing name and rearrange the letters. Fantasy-style anagrams of "Dan Elektro" include Telkandore, Kanetrolde, and Drakentole. Then again, Lakerodent comes up, too, so use discretion.

The Facts of Online Life
Once you enter EverQuest's world, take a moment to marvel at its beauty. Forsooth, it is pretty. Now realize the following harsh truth: You will die here. Maybe right away. Sooner or later, you will tangle with a creature or a monster who'll kick your ass but good-and once you're resurrected, you'll have to find your corpse to get your stuff back. Norrath is a dangerous place, and sometimes you lose. If you accept that, the rest of the game is much more enjoyable.

The next order of business is organization. The six-squared control panel in the lower-left corner of the screen is yours to customize-it's one of the handiest tools in the game as it makes navigating through EverQuest a lot less confusing. Simply hold down Control and left-click the button you want to copy to the panel. You have six pages to program to your liking; once you've customized your controls, you'll have easy access to basic commands like Sit/Stand and Walk/Run, your Persona details, common chat phrases, and other important details.

To Protect and To Serve
Before setting up your interface, head to a safe area-when you enter a new town, ?nd a guard and chill near him while you fiddle with your controls. It's also best if your character sits while you configure your controls because you recover health at a faster rate-whenever your red health and yellow stamina bars get low, plop down next to a guard station. Similarly, walking will prove less strenuous than running, so if you're pooped and can't find a guard station, click off Run and stroll to your destination instead.

The guards of Norrath are there to enforce the law (for instance, they'll go after you if you're an unrepentant pickpocket), but they'll also assist you when you're in danger. If you find yourself losing a battle, turn tail and flee to the nearest guard station-the guards will open a can of Ye Olde Whup Ass on the bothersome beastie. Just be aware of other players who might be between you and the guards-sometimes monsters will simply attack the closest target, and your cowardly retreat might get someone killed when they weren't even looking for a fight.

The Never-Ending Strategy Guide
Norrath's a big place. Check Page 2 for some helpful hints on fighting, building your character, and other interesting ways to avoid dying.

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