Well, on a whim I started a Wood Elf bard on a server where I know no one
and have no other characters. The idea was to see how I could do on wits
alone (no twinking, no help by friends). What a blast. here is my report, it
might have some good info for brand new bards:

I fixed a few issues with Tszaaz's stats, I put a bit more into str. I think
85, and life is easier, 80 was just too low.

I started out running mail and whacking bats, people were offering 2-3pp for
batwings so I got a bit of money. Bone chips went to 5pp but I found it hard
in GFay to get enough. The HUGE difference for me was that I wasn't afraid
to use Chords of Dissonance. Yes, I got crosswise (read: Dead) with a Fairy
Noble once...one Guard Related incident did occur (I would have gotten away
with it too if Felwithe Guards didn't share hate lists with Kelethin
guards), but on the whole it made a HUGE difference.

Next, I lucked out and found someone who wanted to work on their tailoring.
I brought them ruined wolf pelts and they made me a fair amount of patchwork
armour.

I had chosen Agnostic this time around instead of Quellios (I remain a
Quellist in my heart, but I am keeping it under wraps publicly :o) and
possibly do to this I couldn't get the pixie dust or Orc hatchet quests till
I had whacked a fair number of orcs (or it was hitting level 5, don't know
which).

Around level two I had 3pp and started pestering the auction channel for an
FS dagger. Well, in the first of several miracles a truly wonderful Dwarven
Lass summoned me and presented me with a Pugius. Woof, what a difference.
After having played Tszaaz to 35 I really think that focusing on dagger
rather than 1HSlash makes the most sense. Before the Pugius my plan was FS
Steel until I could afford a Dragoon Dirk. Upgrades from there would be
obsidian shard and Blade of Fiery Lamentations (what Tszaaz Dual Wields).
Knowing no one and having no plans for joining a guild I figure waki/yakis
are too far away to worry about.

The next miracle was: "The first newbie to poke me at the newbie lift gets a
surprise". I expected the worst (heh) but after the first newbie to get
there already HAD one, I was next in line for...A Dwarven Ringmail Shirt.
WOOOO!

This miracle was slightly eclipsed by (you won't believe this) finding the
following littering the top of the newbie Lift:

Large Broze BP
Medium Bronze P
Medium Bronze boots
FS Hammer, greatstaff and scim

It was like 5am (woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep) so no one was
around.

After selling the FS weapons I had enough to buy my songs, I plan to sell
the Large BP on Anitonica and hope to trade my medium for small.

Level 3-4 were standard stuff, level 5 however was spent in LFay hunting
pixies. Great money, great exp...and when I rule the world every tree in
LFay shall have a Brownie Outcast nailed to it.

So, what next?

As soon as I hit 6 it is off to Anitonica. I was planning to stop off at the
Sisters isle and hope to buy a Purity Belt but someone sold me one for 4pp
in GFay so that errand is taken care of. I now have the following goals:

1) Shin gauntlets/grieves in LGuk. It will be fun to be there as a level 6
newbie, who knows, maybe I will make a dash for a mask :o) both shin pieces
are No Drop and near the zone, people will often be happy for you to loot
them...I will be bringing NagaThin Brand Muffins N' Milk, so that may help a
bit.

2) Carnal pauldrons from SolB. Also No Drop, near the priest room. I have
never tried for these before, but if I can pull it off, well, it will be
quite the coup. Defiantly a weekend night thing :o)

3) Off to Blackburrow to raise enough money to play banker in Cazic Thule.

It is being a total hoot to have to apply every trick I know to make it in
this new strange world. Yes, I have lucked out by getting some great gifts,
but on the whole it has been fun and exciting playing a young bard *well*. I
know how to set my hotkeys, I know when and how to run, it's a dream
compared to starting Tszaaz.

Anyway, there is a report from the front. back to work.

Tszaaz...

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