Chapter 1 - General Strategies

Success in Champions of Norrath is about building your character efficiently and effectively. Knowing where to put your attribute and skill points can mean the difference between a dominant character and a weak character. This section offers general strategies for success in Champions of Norrath.

• There are four attributes that are common to each character class. The strength attribute increases melee damage and carrying capacity. Strength is most important to the barbarian and also important to the cleric and shadow knight; both the cleric and shadow knight rely on melee combat in combination with their spell abilities. The intelligence attribute increases total mana and mana regeneration rate. Wizards rely the most on intelligence. For a wizard, nearly every attribute point should be spent on intelligence. Both clerics and shadow knights also require intelligence to fund their spells. Dexterity increases the damage for ranged weapons and the ability to hit with all weapons. Increased damage is always important so focus your ranger’s attributes on dexterity. Stamina increases health and health regeneration. You can offset stamina with health points and agile movement--basically trying to avoid taking damage! You can also offset stamina with jewelry and item sockets that focus on increases health, health regeneration, or stamina.
• The character skill trees should also be treated with care. Avoid dropping skill points haphazardly. Check over the character’s skills and form a plan on how to spend each point. It’s much better to focus on one or two spells and boost them to high level than to focus on four spells at lower levels. Bear in mind that you can only accommodate two spells in your "quick use" buttons anyway. Look for good combinations, such as the cleric’s stunning blinding light and damaging hammer of wrath or the shadow knight’s confusing engulfing darkness and damaging disease shield.
• You gain more skills points for each level as you reach certain milestones. At level seven, you gain two skill points for each time you advance a new level. When you reach level seventeen, you start to gain three skill points for each level. And once you make it to level twenty-seven, you gain four skill points for each new level...and so on.
• Combat success relies on a number of factors. First, try not to overwhelm your character with enemies. Move cautiously through new areas and attempt to lure most enemies to your position instead of charging them. If you’re overwhelmed, retreat and wait for some of the enemies to reverse course in the other direction. Second, don’t neglect the block button if you’re a toe-to-toe fighter. It’s practically mandatory against tougher enemies, specifically boss characters. Third, look for ways to use your environment to your advantage. Lure enemies around pillars to get in first strikes; trap an enemy between rocks to strike a few hits; force an enemy to walk over a campfire to cause some burn; and fight in tight hallways for better damage from area effect spells or so you can concentrate on the lead enemy before facing the others.
• Enhance your character’s attributes with special items that can be inserted into weapons and armor. Wait for items that specifically increase your character’s strengths. Don’t just insert a new item because you found one. An increase of 6% poison resistance likely won’t help your wizard as much as waiting for that boost in mana regeneration.
• Purchase jewelry with elemental resistances; most of the shops carry these and you’ll find their effectiveness increases at each subsequent shop. Carry one of each on hand so you can easily boost your resistances as needed. You can even double or triple up on resistances to maximize your protection. Don't forget to change jewelry when the situation When faced against magic-user enemies wielding cold magic, switch to your inventory and equip your cold resistances.