Elanthipedia - User contributions [en]

Barbarian

2021-08-02T13:31:10Z

MANGOTANGO: /* Forgetting Inner Fire Abilities */

::''Returning players may want to read the page for [[Returning Players]] before continuing.''
::'''''New to the game? You may want to check out the [[Barbarian new player guide|new player guide for this guild]].'''''
{{guild infobox|guild=Barbarian|image=small barbwar2_300.jpg
|skill1=Weapon|skill2a=Survival|skill2b=Armor|skill3a=Lore|skill3b=Magic
|abilities= [[Form]], [[Berserks]], bonus [[Stance command|Stance]] points, [[Choke command|Choke]], [[Dual Load]], [[Barbarian Magic Resistance|Magic Resistance]], [[Roars]], [[Meditations]], [[War Stomp]], [[Whirlwind (Ability)|Whirlwind]]
|mana=None}}

The Barbarian's life is a simple one, but not an easy one. The field of combat is our crib; the blood of foes is mother's milk to us. Stand with us, and flesh your sleepless sword in training in the field. Live with us, and steel your mind against the taint of Magic's aid. Die with us, and drive your body to a warrior's dogged end while those of lesser mettle cower at inglorious range!

[[Inner Fire]] is the measure both of rage and of control, and the substance of Barbarian heart and guts; in purity, it fuels the bloodlust of the battle-hardened and stills the mind of the meditator. But be wary - the taint of magic will disrupt this fragile balance of body and soul, so leave the mana-meddling to those who lean on magic as a crutch!

==Official Information==
[[Image:BarbarianCrest.jpg|thumb|'''[[Guild Crests|Guild crest]]:''' A bloodied sword raised high in a clenched fist]]Information courtesy of [http://www.play.net/dr/info/guilds/barb.asp Dragonrealms Website].
=== Guild Hall Locations ===
; [[Crossing|The Crossing]]
: This [[Barbarian Guildhall (Crossing)|Guildhall]] is led by Guild Leader [[Agonar|Agonar Dokona]], the steel-eyed Human warrior. (You can type DIR BARBARIAN for directions.)
; [[Riverhaven]]
: This [[Barbarian Guildhall (Riverhaven)|Guildhall]] is led by Guildmaster [[Mo| Mo Glawroak]], the massive Gor'Tog axe wielder.(You can type DIR BARBARIAN for directions while in haven)
; [[Steelclaw Clan|Steelclaw Clan]]
: This [[Barbarian Guildhall (Steelclaw Clan)|Guildhall]] is led by Guildmistress [[T'Kiel]], the legendary Elven swordswoman.
; [[Ratha]]
: This [[Barbarian Guildhall (Ratha)|Guildhall]] is led by Guildmistress [[Anhh'shre]], the lightning-quick S'Kra Mur knife fighter.
; [[Hibarnhvidar|Outer Hibarnhvidar]]
: This [[Barbarian Guildhall (Hibarnhvidar)|Guildhall]] is led by Guildmistress [[Stumara]], and her trusty tankard.
; [[Mer'Kresh]]
: This [[Barbarian Guildhall (Mer'Kresh)|Guildhall]] is led by Guildmaster [[Tusfaov]], human warrior and scholar.

=== Skillsets and Common Races===
A [[Barbarian|barbarian]]'s primary [[Guilds#Specific_Skill_Sets|skillset]] is {{catskill|Weapon}}. {{Catskill|Survival}} and {{catskill|Armor}} are secondary skillsets, with {{Catskill|Magic}} and {{Catskill|Lore}} as tertiaries.

According to the DragonRealms website, barbarians tend to be:

{|
| [[:Category:Gor'Tog|Gor'Tog]]
|align="right"| 29%
|-
| [[:Category:Human|Human]]
|align="right"| 17%
|-
| [[:Category:Dwarf|Dwarven]]
|align="right"| 14%
|-
| [[:Category:S'Kra Mur|S'Kra Mur]]
|align="right"| 11%
|}

===Crafting Affiliation===
Guilded barbarians receive three free technique slots in the Weaponsmithing discipline of the [[Forging skill]].

See: [[Crafting]]

==[[:Category:Barbarian Abilities|Inner Fire Abilities]]==
[[Inner Fire]] is the driving force in every Barbarian - that which is alive in all, but strong in few. A Barbarian's Inner Fire is the source of his/her tremendous courage and strength. For training, this skill occupies a space analogous to Primary magic.
<imagemap>
Image:Barbarian_Abilities.png|frameless|upright=4
rect 179 129 483 208 [[Avalanche_(berserk)|Avalanche (Utility)]]
rect 179 232 483 311 [[Anger the Earth|Anger the Earth (Debilitation)]]
rect 541 129 845 208 [[Dragon Form|Dragon (Augmentation)]]
rect 541 232 845 311 [[Focus_(meditation)|Focus (Augmentation)]]
rect 541 335 845 414 [[Death's Embrace|Death's Embrace (Debilitation)]]
rect 898 129 1202 208 [[Python Form|Python (Augmentation)]]
rect 898 232 1202 311 [[Tenacity|Tenacity (Warding)]]
rect 898 335 1202 414 [[Unyielding|Unyielding (Augmentation)]]
rect 1253 129 1557 208 [[Wildfire|Wildfire (Augmentation)]]
rect 1965 129 2269 208 [[Toad Form|Toad (Augmentation)]]
rect 1965 232 2269 311 [[Serpent's Hiss|Serpent's Hiss (Debilitation)]]
rect 2322 129 2626 208 [[Volcano_(berserk)|Volcano (Augmentation)]]
rect 2323 232 2627 311 [[Earthquake|Earthquake (Debilitation)]]
rect 2678 129 2982 208 [[Badger Form|Badger (Warding)]]
rect 2678 232 2982 311 [[Wail of Torment|Wail of Torment (Debilitation)]]
rect 3034 129 3338 208 [[Titan]]
rect 3034 232 3338 311 [[Strategos]]
rect 3034 335 3338 414 [[Juggernaut]]
rect 179 560 483 639 [[Buffalo Form|Buffalo (Augmentation)]]
rect 179 663 483 742 [[Flame]]
rect 542 560 846 639 [[Famine|Famine (Warding)]]
rect 541 663 845 742 [[Power_(meditation)|Power]]
rect 898 560 1202 639 [[Monkey Form|Monkey (Augmentation)]]
rect 898 663 1202 742 [[Contemplation|Contemplation (Augmentation)]]
rect 1254 766 1558 845 [[Screech of Madness|Screech of Madness (Debilitation)]]
rect 1254 663 1558 742 [[Dispel_(meditation)|Dispel (Warding)]]
rect 1254 560 1558 639 [[Cyclone_(berserk)|Cyclone (Augmentation)]]
rect 1609 560 1913 639 [[Swan Form|Swan (Warding)]]
rect 1965 560 2269 639 [[Bear Form|Bear (Augmentation)]]
rect 2323 560 2627 639 [[Tsunami_(berserk)|Tsunami (Augmentation)]]
rect 2323 663 2627 742 [[Serenity_(meditation)|Serenity (Warding)]]
rect 2323 766 2627 845 [[Mage's Lash|Mage's Lash (Debilitation)]]
rect 2679 560 2983 639 [[Turtle Form|Turtle (Warding)]]
rect 2679 663 2983 742 [[Death's Shriek|Death's Shriek (Debilitation)]]
rect 3035 560 3339 639 [[Mana Torment|Mana Torment (Debilitation)]]
rect 3391 560 3695 639 [[Powermonger]]
rect 3391 663 3695 742 [[Yogi]]
rect 3391 766 3695 845 [[Templar]]
rect 182 994 482 1074 [[Seek|Seek (Augmentation)]]
rect 178 1094 486 1178 [[Everild's Rage|Everild's Rage (Debilitation)]]
rect 546 994 846 1074 [[Landslide|Landslide (Warding)]]
rect 546 1098 846 1178 [[Tornado_(berserk)|Tornado (Augmentation)]]
rect 550 1202 850 1282 [[Eagle Form|Eagle (Augmentation)]]
rect 1258 994 1558 1070 [[Flashflood|Flashflood (Warding)]]
rect 1254 1094 1562 1174 [[Wolverine Form|Wolverine (Augmentation)]]
rect 1614 994 1910 1070 [[Piranha Form|Piranha (Augmentation)]]
rect 1606 1094 1910 1170 [[Bastion|Bastion (Warding)]]
rect 1606 1202 1914 1282 [[Kuniyo's Strike|Kuniyo's Strike (Debilitation)]]
rect 1966 998 2262 1078 [[Owl Form|Owl (Augmentation)]]
rect 1962 1098 2266 1174 [[Staunch|Staunch (Augmentation)]]
rect 1962 1198 2266 1278 [[Prediction_(meditation)|Prediction (Augmentation)]]
rect 2322 994 2618 1062 [[Panther Form|Panther (Augmentation)]]
rect 2682 990 2978 1074 [[Slash the Shadows|Slash the Shadows (Debilitation)]]
rect 3030 990 3338 1074 [[Duelist]]
rect 3030 1098 3334 1178 [[Tribalist]]
</imagemap>
*Barbarians gain new ability slots at the [[:Category:Magic#Slot_Progression|tertiary rate]]: 1 at first circle followed by 1 every even level until 100th circle then followed by 1 every level that is a multiple of 3 until 150th for a total of 68 skill slots.
*Each ability also requires a certain number of previous abilities in the same path to be known before it can be selected.
===[[:Category:Berserks|Berserks]]===
Berserks are short duration abilities offering a wide variety of offensive buffs primarily to combat related things, such as stats, skills, weapon augmentation, anti-stun and other bonuses. Will train Inner Fire, and then either Augmentation or Warding. Berserks have a moderate IF startup cost and a small pulsing cost.

You can have a maximum of five (5) running at the same time. NOTE: This appears to have changed as I currently have all seven berserks I know running at the same time. ~Rhadyn

===[[:Category:Forms|Forms]]===
Forms are long duration abilities offering a wide variety of buffs primarily to combat related things, such as stats, burden, offensive factor and warding. Will train [[Inner Fire]], and then either [[Augmentation]] or [[Warding]]. Forms have no IF startup cost and a moderate pulsing cost. Forms also reduce your passive IF regeneration limit.

You can have a maximum of five (5) running at the same time.

===[[:Category:Meditations|Meditations]]===
Meditations are moderate duration buffs which cover a wide territory, including damage reduction, such as [[Tenacity Meditation]], or skill boosts such as the [[Focus Meditation]]. Meditations have a large IF startup cost and no pulsing cost.

Without the Yogi Mastery, the player cannot be in combat, and must be sitting or kneeling, to start a meditation.

You can have a maximum of three (3) running at the same time. However, Dispel does not count towards this limit and can be used any time. Staunch will either act as part of the three limit or can be added as a fourth meditation if three are already running.

===[[:Category:Roars|Roars]]===
Barbarian roars are strictly debilitators. They can unbalance foes, knock them out of hiding, or reduce the power of a mage. They train the [[Debilitation]] skill. Roars use a separate Voice Pool to power their effect. The pool size does not change over the life of a Barbarian.

===[[:Category:Barbarian Masteries|Masteries]]===
Masteries are passive traits that require a significant number of points invested in a path in order to unlock. Once known, the mastery is always in effect. Masteries can count towards pre-requisite skills allowing you to forget earlier abilities if you have more than one Mastery in a path. Unlike all other abilities, Masteries are only taught by [[Pit Masters]], and not the guildleaders.

===Forgetting Inner Fire Abilities===
You may forget one learned Inner Fire ability every 30 real life days; assuming the ability is not a (pre)requirement for another ability you already know.

*{{com|Ask}} <{{tt|guild leader}}> about forgetting <{{tt|ability}}>.

NOTE: At present, 8/2/21, there is an unlimited reset because the guild is in flux due to various rewrites. This can be done by using CHOOSE FORGET ALL.

==Other Barbarian Abilities==

===Bonus [[Stance command|Stance]] Points===
Barbarians gain an additional stance point for every 60 ranks in the [[Defending]] skill, like all armor secondary guilds.

===[[Dual Load]]===
Allows two arrows to be loaded and fired from a bow. Requires 201 Bows, 30 Agility, 30 Reflex and Eagle Form active.

===[[Barbarian Magic Resistance|Magic Resistance]]===
Because of both [[Inner Fire]] and their disdain for the magical, Barbarians are much more difficult to affect with magic than any other guild. This takes the form of premier anti-magic abilities. For example, [[Serenity (meditation)|Serenity meditation]], [[Dispel (meditation)|Dispel meditation]], and [[Mage's Lash Roar]].

===[[War Stomp]]===
At 100th level, Barbarians learn how to shiver the ground with their rage, knocking opponents off balance. (Currently not available)

===[[Whirlwind (Ability)|Whirlwind]]===
The Barbarian-only ability to rotate in place, making an attack on everything within your weapons range. It also can be used to free oneself from webbing. The attack version of this requires 350 in the weapon being used and 31 agility and reflexes.

===[[Warpaint]]===
Far from the simple facepaint of carnivals and elves, warpainting is the art of adding a screaming exclamation point to a Barbarian's visage.

===[[Barbarian Verbs]]===
Barbarians have a number of verbs that they do differently:
* [[Belch command|<tt>BELCH</tt>]]
* [[Shake command#Barbarian Hand Shake|<tt>SHAKE HAND</tt>]]

=={{skill|Expertise}}==
This skill represents a Barbarian's Mastery with weapons and combat-related tasks.

* Expertise can be trained by performing [[Combat Maneuvers#Charged Maneuvers|Charged Combat Maneuvers]] and succeeding an Expertise Check.
* Expertise can be trained by completing [[Expertise#Barbarian combat maneuvers|Barbarian Combos]].

===Barbarian Combos===
Barbarians have a [[Expertise#Barbarian combat maneuvers|unique form of tactical combat]] that uses [[Expertise skill|Expertise]] instead of the Tactics skill. These combos are self-only, cannot be refreshed and give a selective bonus when finished. Each form of ANALYZE unlocks with more Expertise skill.

:{{com|ANALYZE}} <type>
:Barbarians can use ANALYZE to begin a [[Expertise#Barbarian combat maneuvers|Barbarian combo]]. These work very similar to enemy combos, except they use Expertise skill and can only be advanced by the Barbarian while engaged. Self combos do not have a strength, and subsequent ANALYZE attempts will be wasted. The possible combos are: FLAME, ACCURACY, DAMAGE, INTIMIDATION, FATIGUE, BALANCE, VITALITY, RAGE or CALM.

==Circle Requirements==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Skillset!!Skill!!1-10!!11-30!!31-70!!71-100!!101-150!!151-200
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''{{Skill|Expertise|Expertise}}'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |15
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |Primary Mastery||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |15
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |{{Skill|Parry Ability|Parry Ability}}||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |13
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1st Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |15
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |2nd Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |6||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |15
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |3rd Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |2||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |3||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |3||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |5||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |13
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4th Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |2||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |2||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |3||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |10
|-
|style="background: #F2F2FF;" |armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |1st Armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |3||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |4||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |4||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |5||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |6||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |13
|-
|style="background: #F2F2FF;" |armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |2nd Armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |1||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |2||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |2||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |3||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |4||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |10
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''{{Skill|Evasion|Evasion}}'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |4||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |4||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |5||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |6||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |15
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |1st Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |8
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2nd Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |8
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3rd Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |8
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |4th Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |1||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |1||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |5
|-
|style="background: #FFFFF2;" |lore||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''{{Skill|Tactics|Tactics}}'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |1||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |1||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |2||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |2||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |3||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |8
|-
|style="background: #FFFFF2;" |lore||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |2nd Lore||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |1||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |1||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |2||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |2||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |3||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |8
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |magic||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''{{Skill|Inner Fire|Inner Fire}}'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |1||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |3||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |3||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |3||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |8
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |magic||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |1st Supernatural||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |1||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |3||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |3||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |8
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |magic||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2nd Supernatural||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |0||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |0||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |3||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |8
|}

'''Hard skill requirements''' ('''{{Skill|Evasion|Evasion}}''' and '''{{Skill|Tactics|Tactics}}''' are listed in bold. These skills cannot count toward Nth skills, such as 1st Survival or 1st Lore.

:Note: The following "mastery" skills never count toward Nth skill requirements, since they affect all or most of the skillset: {{Skill|Defending|Defending}}, {{Skill|Parry Ability|Parry Ability}}, {{Skill|Offhand Weapon|Offhand Weapon}}, {{Skill|Melee Mastery|Melee Mastery}}, {{Skill|Missile Mastery|Missile Mastery}}, and {{Skill|Inner Fire|Inner Fire}}. For Barbarians, {{Skill|Targeted Magic|Targeted Magic}}, {{Skill|Sorcery|Sorcery}} and {{Skill|Thievery|Thievery}} also do not count towards Nth skill requirements.
Note: {{Skill|Arcana|Arcana}} is not restricted but it has been noted that there will be penalties for learning. 

'''Nth skill requirements''' are met with your top-ranked skills out of the following list of eligible skills:
*'''Armor''': {{Skill|Shield Usage|Shield Usage}}, {{Skill|Light Armor|Light Armor}}, {{Skill|Chain Armor|Chain Armor}}, {{Skill|Brigandine|Brigandine}}, and {{Skill|Plate Armor|Plate Armor}}
*'''Weapon''': {{Skill|Small Edged|Small Edged}}, {{Skill|Large Edged|Large Edged}}, {{Skill|Twohanded Edged|Twohanded Edged}}, {{Skill|Small Blunt|Small Blunt}}, {{Skill|Large Blunt|Large Blunt}}, {{Skill|Twohanded Blunt|Twohanded Blunt}}, {{Skill|Slings|Slings}}, {{Skill|Bow|Bow}}, {{Skill|Crossbow|Crossbow}}, {{Skill|Staves|Staves}}, {{Skill|Polearms|Polearms}}, {{Skill|Light Thrown|Light Thrown}}, {{Skill|Heavy Thrown|Heavy Thrown}}, and {{Skill|Brawling|Brawling}}
*'''Lore''': {{Skill|Forging|Forging}}, {{Skill|Engineering|Engineering}}, {{Skill|Outfitting|Outfitting}}, {{Skill|Alchemy|Alchemy}}, {{Skill|Enchanting|Enchanting}}, {{Skill|Scholarship|Scholarship}}, {{Skill|Mechanical Lore|Mechanical Lore}}, {{Skill|Appraisal|Appraisal}}, {{Skill|Performance|Performance}}, and {{Skill|Tactics|Tactics}}
*'''Supernatural''': {{Skill|Augmentation|Augmentation}}, {{Skill|Debilitation|Debilitation}}, {{Skill|Warding|Warding}} and {{Skill|Utility|Utility}}
*'''Survival''': {{Skill|Evasion|Evasion}}, {{Skill|Athletics|Athletics}}, {{Skill|Perception|Perception}}, {{Skill|Stealth|Stealth}}, {{Skill|Locksmithing|Locksmithing}}, {{Skill|First Aid|First Aid}}, {{Skill|Outdoorsmanship|Outdoorsmanship}}, and {{Skill|Skinning|Skinning}}

===Cumulative===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Skillset!!Skill!!10!!30!!70!!100!!150!!200
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''{{Skill|Expertise|Expertise}}'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |40||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |140||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |340||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |440||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |740||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1,490
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |Primary Mastery||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |40||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |140||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |380||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |560||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |860||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1,610
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''{{Skill|Parry Ability|Parry Ability}}'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |40||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |120||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |280||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |400||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |650||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1,300
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1st Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |40||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |140||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |380||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |560||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |860||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1,610
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |2nd Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |40||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |140||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |380||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |560||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |860||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1,610
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |3rd Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |20||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |80||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |200||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |320||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |570||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |1,220
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |4th Weapon||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |10||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |50||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |130||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |220||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |420||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |920
|-
|style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''weapon'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''Total Weapon'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''230'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''810'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''2,090'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''3,060'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''4,960'''||style="background: #FFF2F2;" |'''9,760
|-
|style="background: #F2F2FF;" |armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |1st Armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |30||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |110||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |270||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |420||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |720||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |1,370
|-
|style="background: #F2F2FF;" |armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |2nd Armor||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |10||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |30||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |110||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |200||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |400||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |900
|-
|style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''armor'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''Total Armor'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''40'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''140'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''380'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''620'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''1,120'''||style="background: #F2F2FF;" |'''2,270
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''{{Skill|Evasion|Evasion}}'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |30||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |110||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |270||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |420||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |720||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |1,470
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |1st Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |20||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |60||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |180||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |270||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |420||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |820
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |2nd Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |20||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |60||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |180||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |270||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |420||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |820
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |3rd Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |20||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |60||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |120||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |210||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |360||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |760
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |4th Survival||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |10||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |30||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |90||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |150||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |250||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |500
|-
|style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''survival'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''Total Survival'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''100'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''320'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''840'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''1,320'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''2,170'''||style="background: #F2FFF2;" |'''4,370
|-
|style="background: #FFFFF2;" |lore||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''{{Skill|Tactics|Tactics}}'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |10||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |30||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |110||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |170||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |320||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |720
|-
|style="background: #FFFFF2;" |lore||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |1st Lore||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |10||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |30||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |110||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |170||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |320||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |720
|-
|style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''lore'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''Total Lore'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''20'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''60'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''220'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''340'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''640'''||style="background: #FFFFF2;" |'''1,440
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |magic||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''{{Skill|Inner Fire|Inner Fire}}'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |10||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |50||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |170||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |260||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |410||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |810
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |magic||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |1st Supernatural||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |10||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |50||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |130||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |220||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |370||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |770
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |magic||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |2nd Supernatural||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |0||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |0||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |80||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |140||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |290||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |690
|-
|style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''magic'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''Total Magic'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''20'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''90'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''330'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''450'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''810'''||style="background: #FFF2FF;" |'''1,860
|-
|'''all'''||'''Total'''||'''410'''||'''1,420'''||'''3,860'''||'''5,790'''||'''9,700'''||'''19,700
|}

==Miscellaneous Information==
===Guildhall Crests===
*Crossing guildhall crest is a snarling crimson-eyed ebon wolf.
*Riverhaven guildhall crest is an open hand above a clenched gauntlet.
*Steelclaw Clan guildhall crest is a dragon soaring above a worn mountain range.
*Ratha guildhall crest is an eyeball skewered by a thin dagger.
*Mer'Kresh guildhall crest is a hooded figure holding aloft a large bowl.
*Hibarnhvidar guildhall crest is an open air room carved into the face of a mountainside.
===Barbarian Themed Items===
*There are a few [[Barbarian Items|Barbarian oriented items]] in the game.
===Barbarians of Renown===
*[[Barbarians of Renown]]
:Barbarian skill registers:
::[[Barbarian Registers|Crossing Register]] - Overall weapon ranks
::[[Barbarian Registers|Riverhaven Register]] - Blunt ranks
::[[Barbarian Registers|Steelclaw Clan Register]] - Edge ranks
::[[Barbarian Registers|Mer'Kresh Register]] - Overall defense ranks
::[[Barbarian Registers|Ratha Register]] - Ranged weapon ranks
::[[Barbarian Registers|Hibarnhvidar Register]] - Ranks "surviving and weapons of opportunity"
*[[Brand|Barbarian brands]]

===Guides===
*[[Barbarian Guide]]
*[[General_new_player_guide|General new player guide]]
*[[Barbarian_new_player_guide|Barbarian new player guide]]
*[[Malkien's_Barbarian_guide|Malkien's Barbarian guide]]
*[[Armor_and_shield_player_guide|Armor and shield player guide]]
===Barbarian Titles===
*[[Barbarian Titles]]

==Guild Suggestions==
Do you have suggestions to make the Barbarian guild the best guild in the Realms? Be sure to post in the Play.net forums and also put your ideas in the Barbarian Guild Suggestions Google document located here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h4L5hAxR1-VLDegDNZBIhGdo5bMgnCtm84Icm2E0utU/edit#gid=0
{{RefAl}}
{{cat|Guilds}}

Moon Mage new player guide

2021-05-31T01:30:22Z

MANGOTANGO: /* Signature Guild Abilities */

{{Merge|Kraggur's Moon Mage Guide}}
{{RTOC}}
==Introduction==

===What Is This Guide?===

This guide is intended primarily for players new to both DragonRealms and to the Moon Mage guild. The purpose of this guide is to synthesize a breadth of information from other sources in a relatively concise presentation, so that the new Moon Mage player can decide which skills to train and receive some guidance on how to do so. While some overlap is unavoidable, this guide does not seek to replace the [[General_new_player_guide|New Player Guide]] and it is recommended that a totally green player start there.

===Background===

Welcome to the Moon Mage guild. Here, you’ll find elegance, cleverness, a connection with something greater than the mere antics of a small world in a vast cosmos. If you want to make your foes explode in a shower of fire and ice, this guild isn’t for you. If you want to rely on the power of fickle Immortals, this guild isn’t for you. If you want to bludgeon your enemies to death with a clumsy weapon of steel, this guild isn’t for you. If, on the other hand, you want to twist the very fabric of fate to your advantage, pick apart the subtle insecurities in your foes subconscious, and bend time and space to your very whim, then oh yes, you have come to the right place.

The path of the Moon Mage is not one of blood and glory and conquest, but rather of careful study, precise deliberation, and decisive action. We are the purveyors of the stars, of immense and ancient forces, predictable with enough study, but never controllable. Your power will wax with the rising of the three moons of Elanthia, and will wane with their setting. As you grow in power, you will learn to read the skies to your benefit and your enemy’s detriment, to cross the entire breadth of the lands in a moment. Welcome to being a Moon Mage.

===Signature Guild Abilities===

One of the hallmarks of the Moon Mage is her connection to the [[Plane_of_Probability|Plane of Probability]]. By studying the heavenly bodies, she is able to catch obscure glimpses of future events, permitting her to make [[Predictions|predictions]] to help her and her allies, or curse her foes.

The most famous attribute of the Moon Mage, though, is her capacity to travel great distances in the blink of an eye. At first, she may only have the power to [[Teleport]] herself a short distance to a strategically-placed [[Focus_Moonbeam|Moonbeam]], perhaps one that she has [[SM|shifted]] to a friend she has [[Locate|located]]. With training, she will soon find herself able to open a [[Moon Gate]], permitting others to travel as she does. An experienced Moon Mage can [[Astral_travel|enter and exit]] the [[Astral Plane]] through the shards of the shattered moon [[Grazhir]], connecting far-flung regions of the realms via a short (though incredibly dangerous) sojourn through another dimension. This art has the perhaps misleadingly tranquil name of [[Astral_Travel|Walking the Ways]]. Powerful mages can [[Astral_travel|Walk the Ways]] from anywhere; these are true masters of inter-planar travel. The strongest of the Moon Mages can open [[Riftal_Summons|rifts]] as if from thin air, permitting those on the other side to pass through to the mage's location.

These powerful gifts come at great risk - making contact with another plane is an exercise fraught with peril. A momentary lapse in focus, the smallest of distractions, or the slightest mistake can all lead to a violent and fatal end.

===Roleplaying your Moon Mage ===

There is a multitude of ways to shape the personality of your moon mage. Othoreke is a bookish gnome who spends all of his time in libraries and observatories, searching for answers to questions he has long ago forgotten - or was it that he hasn't thought of them yet? Though he largely eschews combat, he is no stranger to pain, having been torn limb from limb in the [[Astral_Plane|Astral Plane]] more times than he can remember (though his memory is not what used to be), in his insatiable desire for greater and deeper knowledge. Beran is a Shaman from the Arid Steppe. A hunter and a tracker by nature, she is as skilled with a spear and a bow as she is with magical attacks. Preferring the open sky to a musty library, she is a scholar of the wilds and of the forces of nature; she goes where the stars guide her. Shhneri aar'Lanth is a Tezirite, drawn to the darker aspects of Lunar Magic, whose predilection for [[Teleologic_Sorcery|Teolologic Sorcery]] draws the ire of many of her mage counterparts too blinded by prejudice to see the true potential of her work. No matter, their ignorance may well prove to be their downfall.

Moon Mage lore is vast and immersive. Here we point you to some key information that you might find useful in shaping your character's personality and history.

==== Sects ====
The Moon Mage guild was originally founded by six groups, or [[sects]], of magic users that were unified by their prophetic ability and use of lunar magic during en event known as the [[Lunar Accord]]. Each [[sects|sect]] had a unique philosophic approach to the use of these abilities, and many of these differences persist to the present at least in part to the relatively recent [[Mirror_Wraith_Prophecy|re-emergence of the original sects]]. Although not every (or even most) students choose to join one of the [[sects]], studying the philosophy of at least one is an excellent way to explore ones' own relationship with fate.

These sects are: 
*The [[Celestial_Compact|Celestial Compact]] is a group of astrologers and politicians who seek to shape [[Kermoria]] with their knowledge of the future.
*The [[Fortune's_Path|Followers of Fortunes Path]] are often carefree, but occasionally fatalistic, wanderers who strive to follow the whims of fate.
*The [[Monks of the Crystal Hand]] are stoic and ascetic seekers of transcendence.
*The [[Nomads_of_the_Arid_Steppe|Nomads of the Arid Steppe]] are an association of tribesmen who seek guidance from the stars and their ancestors.
*The [[Progeny_of_Tezirah|Progeny of Tezirah]] are masters of both shadow magic and backroom politics.
*The [[Prophets_of_G'nar_Peth|Prophets of G'nar Peth]] are seekers of Esoteric knowledge who many believe are afflicted with madness.
*[[Heritage House]] is an emergent [[sects|sect]] that strives to unify the divergent perspective of the guild into a single coherent philosophy.

==Training Philosophy==
This guide focuses on developing a balanced and powerful Moon Mage, and as such we will be recommending significantly more skills than the minimum required to circle, which is seven magic skills, five survival skills, three lore skills, and additionally Astrology and Scholarship (for details see the [[Moon_mage#Circle_Requirements| relevant section of the Moon Mage Page]]). Circling gives you Time Development Points, spell slots, and access to more powerful spells, but does not give you any advantage to the application of those skills. For example, the [[Moongate]] spell stipulates that you be circle 25 to learn it, but it will do you no good to rush to this circle if your [[Utility]] skill is too low to cast the spell when you get there.

Moon Mages have [[Magic_skillset|Magic]] as their primary skillset, [[Survival]] and [[Lore_Skillset|Lore]] as their secondary skillsets, and [[Weapons_skillset|Weapons]] and [[Armor_skillset|Armor]] as their tertiary skillsets. A common misconception, from which you ought to rid yourself immediately should you share in it, is that tertiary skills are not worth training. Before deciding which skills to train and which to ignore, it would behoove you to understand exactly what it means for a skill to be primary, secondary, or tertiary. This information is in the [[Skillsets]] and [[Experience]] pages, but we will summarize it here. Relative to a secondary or primary skill, a tertiary skill has a smaller experience pool which will pulse more slowly. As a consequence, if you train a tertiary and primary skill to mindlock, the primary skill will clear faster, and give you more ranks when it does, than the tertiary skill. Furthermore, there are certain "perks" associated with each skillset being secondary or primary; for example, armor secondaries will gain more stance points and suffer less hindrance per rank in a given armor than will armor tertiaries. You should not let these facts deter you from training tertiary skills, however. Aside from being useful in their own right, many skills synergize well with skills from other skillsets, which means that training certain tertiary skills can actually help you better train other primary skills. For example, you will find it easier to train your targeted magic and debilitation spells if your armor and parry skills let you survive in combat longer.

As a summary, here is a comprehensive list of the skills we will recommending, arranged by skillset:

* [[Magic_skillset|Magic]]: [[Astrology]], [[Attunement]], [[Arcana]], [[Utility]], [[Augmentation]], [[Warding]], [[TM|Targeted Magic]], [[Debilitation]]
* [[Survival]]: [[Evasion]], [[Stealth]], [[Perception]], [[Skinning]], [[Locksmithing]], [[Athletics]], [[Outdoorsmanship]], [[First Aid]]
* [[Lore_skillset|Lore]]: [[Scholarship]], [[Appraisal]], [[Tactics]]
* [[Weapon_skillset|Weapons]]: [[Parry]], [[Missile_Mastery|Missile Mastery]], [[Melee_Mastery|Melee Mastery]], [[Small_Edged|Small Edged]], [[Small_blunt|Small Blunt]], [[Light_thrown|Light Thrown]], [[Bow_skill|Bow]], [[Crossbow_skill|Crossbow]], [[Slings_skill|Sling]]
* [[Armor_skillset|Armor]]: [[Defending]], [[Shield_skill|Shields]], [[Light_Armor|Light Armor]], [[Chain_Armor|Chain Armor]], [[Brigandine_armor|Brigandine armor]], [[Plate_armor|Plate armor]]

==[[Combat]]==

The primary focus of many Moon Mages may not be combat, but you should not let this deter you if you want to train ''your'' Moon Mage to hunt. While it is true that both weapons and armor are tertiary skillsets for you, you have other advantages that will help you; mainly, you have access to a number of strong combat spells from all five spell skills, and you have [[Evasion]], [[Stealth]] and [[Tactics]] as secondary skills. The key to successful hunting is to take advantage of your strengths to bolster your weaknesses.

===Non-Magical Defenses===

The non-magical defensive skills can be grouped into five categories:

* The [[Armor]] Skills, including [[Light_Armor_skill|Light]], [[Chain_Armor_skill|Chain]], [[Brigandine_Armor_skill|Brigandine]], and [[Plate_Armor_skill|Plate]] armor skills
* The [[Shield_skill|Shield Usage skill]]
* The [[Defending_skill|Defending skill]]
* The [[Parry]] skill
* The [[Evasion]] skill

Of these, the only one that is '''not''' tertiary for the Moon Mage is [[Evasion]], which means this will be your strongest non-magical defense. However, the other skills can still be very useful to you if you train them and use them correctly. Because their ranks will be lower than your [[Magic]] and [[Survival]] combat skills, you will need to take extra care to make sure you are using these skills to effectively complement your combat abilities. Doing so can permit you to train these skills at level, rather than back-back train them, which means more efficient training. To do this you'll need a thorough understanding of combat mechanics. We discuss this next.

===Balance, Position, and Tactics===
It is highly recommended that you read through the [[Combat]] and [[Tactics]] pages. We will briefly cover the most salient points here. Both [[Parry]] and [[Evasion]], as well as your chances of landing a successful hit, depend on your [[Combat#Balance_and_Position|balance and position]]. Balance, in turn, is determined by the type of attacks you make and the weapon you use, and position is a measure of the difference between your balance and your opponent's. You want to make sure that you keep your balance as high as possible, by using the right weapon and choosing the right types of attacks, and that your opponents' balance is as low as possible, which you can influence through stuns and [[Tactics]]. This is not to say that you should avoid unbalancing attacks; these tend to do more damage and you should take advantage of that, but you do not want to stay in an unbalanced position for too long. After making an attack that hurts your balance, consider making balancing attacks until you have recovered. You should also be aware that retreating gives you a significant, though temporary, penalty to your defenses. [[Tactics]] is a secondary skill for you, and you should make full use of it to keep your opponent vulnerable and off-balance. Information about how different types of attacks influence your balance can be found in [[Combat#Maneuver_Chart|the relevant section]] of the [[Combat]] page.

===[[Weapons]] and [[Armor]]===
Armors and weapons tend to make for some of the most meaningful role-playing choices, and so we begin this section by reiterating that you should not let mechanics be the most important factor in your decisions. This is not to say that there's no such thing as a bad idea; if your heart is set on playing a gnome who wears full plate and fights with a two-handed maul, then you should very seriously consider joining a different guild. The weapons and armor we will recommend here are chosen to make your training easier, and we make every effort to explain why this is the case. The factors behind our motivation largely have to do with [[Hindrance|hindrance]], [[Combat#balance|balance]], and [[Encumbrance|encumbrance]]; in that order.

====[[Weapons]]====
A good set of weapons to train for a starting moon mage is [[Small Edged]], [[Small Blunt]], and [[Brawling]] for melee and [[Light Thrown]], [[Bow]], and [[Crossbow]] for ranged. The weapons that train these skills are less tiring to use, and are better for preserving or recovering balance. The consequences of this are that you will need to take fewer breaks to recover stamina, that you will hit more often, and critically, that you will be better able to maintain your position and hence get hit less often. Because almost all of your non-magical defensive skills are tertiary, this can make a big difference. Why train so many skills, as a weapons tertiary? Besides the TDPs, training multiple types of melee weapons is the best way to train [[Melee_Mastery|Melee Mastery]] (and likewise with ranged weapons for [[Missile_Mastery|Missile Mastey]]). These masteries give a bonus to any attack that trains a melee or ranged skill, respectively. Training multiple weapons can keep your mastery skills well above the individual weapon skills, which helps to bridge the gap between your magical and non-magical combat skills. If you train at least three weapons, you can expect to see your mastery skill stay upwards of 120% of the ranks of your highest weapon. This provides a way to train all of your combat skills together, at level, if you wish to pursue this training path.

====[[Armor]]====
Heavier armor provides more protection at the cost of [[Hindrance]]. The severity of this hindrance decreases as you get more ranks in the respective armor skill. Additionally, your guild influences how much certain armor types will hinder you; this is in addition to the effects of the skill being tertiary. As an armor tertiary, this means that it is going to be harder to use heavier armor, especially in the beginning.

All of these considerations make [[Light_Armor_skill|Leather or Cloth armor (Light Armor)]] a good starting choice. You can swap in [[Chain_Armor_skill|Chain]] or even [[Brigandine_Armor_skill|Brigandine]] armor for the TDPs, or even to get enough ranks in them to wear more of these types of armor. Since you’ll probably want to use [[Stealth]] if you’re hunting, make sure you’re in [[Light_Armor_skill|Light Armor]] when you hide on your foes. It is recommended that you also use a small shield. Different physical defenses are better suited for different types of attacks, and shields are good at defending against ranged. This is useful, beyond just the TDPs.

=== Magic in Combat ===
Moon Mages have access to a number of spells that make it easier to train Weapons and Armor skills. [[SEER|Seer’s Sense]] provides a large bonus to evasion; if you intend to train your mage in combat, do not overlook this spell. [[COL|Cage of Light]] provides damage absorption, and [[Shadows]] provides a bonus to Stealth. [[WD|Whole Displacement]] is a pulsing spell that will remove you from melee range; unlike retreating, it will not impose a defense penalty and will not fail (though it has a maximum pulse rate, and so you may still find yourself in melee for a time before it pulses again).

You also have several stuns available early on; aside from training your magic skills, these can help relieve pressure in a combat situation by restraining one or more enemies. Starting out, look in to [[Calm]], [[Dazzle]], and [[Sleep]]. These spells are also all prerequisites for more powerful spells. Many of your [[TM|Targeted Magic]] spells, like [[Burn]] and [[DO|Dinazen Olkar]], also have a chance of inflicting a stun (especially when combined with effective use of the [[Tactics]] skill).

If you use your magic and tactics effectively, choose your weapons and armor wisely, and keep a close eye on your balance and position, you will find that training your Moon Mage in combat is not as difficult as you may have expected.

==[[Magic|Magic Skills]]==
To circle you will eventually need to train every magic skill accessible to you except for [[Sorcery]]. There are eight of these, counting the unique guild skill [[Astrology]].

===Training [[Astrology]]===
The guild skill is [[Astrology]], which is trained by observing the cosmos and making [[predictions]].

====Useful spells====
The following spells will aid in stargazing, so use them if you can:

* [[Clear Vision]]
* [[Piercing Gaze]] (helps see through clouds)
* [[Aura Sight]] (boosts Astrology)

====Observing the cosmos====
You can start by {{com|OBSERVE}} {{tt|SKY}}, which will show you all the celestial objects you can perceive. You cannot immediately observe all objects in the sky, however. As you circle, your guild leader will teach you how to understand more and more celestial objects. To make an observation, just {{com|OBSERVE}} {{tt|<target>}}. Keep in mind that when just starting out daytime gazing will be much easier, the easiest observation is {{com|OBSERVE}} {{tt|SUN}}.

'''Note:''' There is a 2 minute cooldown on observations of celestial objects. 
Highlighting the observation cooldown timer message below will help you maintain consistent and regular astrology training. 
'''You feel you have sufficiently pondered your latest observation'''

Each of celestial object governs a skillset: Defense, Event, Lore, Magic, Offense, Survival and All. Each time you observe an object, it adds a bit of knowledge to a prediction pool of that skillset. If you {{com|PREDICT}} {{tt|STATE <skillset>}}, you will see how much you have learned about that skillset from observing the heavens. Detailed information about heavenly bodies, what skillsets they govern, and when they are visible is captured in the [[Star chart|star chart]].

=====Using a [[Telescope]]=====

A telescope will aid your observations, making bodies easier to observe and filling prediction pools faster. If you do not have a telescope, you can use one of the [[Telescopes#Stationary Variations|stationary telescopes]] or buy one from [[Konezu's Lenses]] in Therenborough (don't forget a case!). To use a telescope hold it in one hand and {{com|OPEN}} {{tt|TELESCOPE}}. Next {{com|CENTER}} {{tt|TELESCOPE ON <target>}}, where target is one of the objects you find in the sky. Finally {{com|PEER}} {{tt|TELESCOPE}} to make the observation.

====[[Prediction]]s====
Once a prediction pool is sufficiently filled, you can {{com|ALIGN}} to a given skillset or even a specific skill, and then {{com|PREDICT}} {{tt|FUTURE <person>}}. This will give you a vision about the prediction, which may look something like this;

<pre>
You look inside yourself in an attempt to see beyond the now.
After a few moments, the mists of time begin to part.
You see the midday sun warming you under its soft face.
You see a young boy taking his vows of apprenticeship.
A man stands in darkness clad in plate armor.
A shiver runs through your spine.
Roundtime: 10 sec.
</pre>

Evaluating visions is a tricky business, but there’s some method to the madness. Read a bit about [[prediction]]. At 10th circle you can learn Event Prediction from another Moon Mage. This is a handy way of training Astrology without running the risk of cursing someone, and also a means of telling what is going on in the realms and what is to come. If you {{com|STUDY}} {{tt|SKY}}, you’ll start filling your Event prediction pool. When you have studied the sky sufficiently, you can {{com|PREDICT}} {{tt|FUTURE EVENT}}, which will give you a vision, and teach Astrology.

Soon, you’ll want to pick up a divining tool, like a set of bones to cast, or starcharts to study, etc. Each of these tools are affiliated with a type of Moon Mage, which is a primarily role playing choice, though there are some differences.

===The Five Disciplines of Magic===
There are five skills that govern the casting of your spells: [[Augmentation]], [[Utility]], [[Warding]], [[Debilitation]], and [[TM|Targeted Magic]]. Every spell belongs to one or more of these disciplines, and as a Moon Mage, most of your signature spells belong to the [[Utility]] school. You will eventually need to train all of these skills, though they need not be trained at the same level.

The [[Magic]] page has useful information about these skills. In brief, these skills are trained by casting spells, and the experience gained from each cast depends upon the amount of mana streams put into the spell. Combat spells require that you hit your target in order to train the skill, and the difficulty of the target relative to your skills determines how well the skill will train. Because of this latter fact, you may find that your combat magics ([[Debilitation]] and [[TM|Targeted Magic]]) will train within 10-20 ranks of your non-magical combat skills. It is therefore common that [[Augmentation]], [[Utility]], and [[Warding]] will eclipse [[Debilitation]] and [[TM|Targeted Magic]] in ranks.

===[[Attunement|Training Attunement]]===

Training Attunement is different for the Lunar Guilds (once just Moon Mage, now Traders are Lunar magic users as well). Instead of room-based attunement with mana differing in each room, and with perceiving mana in each room before moving on (known as "power walking") to train attunement; lunar mana is universal, it is the same in EVERY room. The mana level instead differs by each spellbook the lunar user has, and the mana available for that spellbook varies based on the position and phase of the moons, as well as how many planets one can perceive based on skill. This means that a novice who can't sense any planets is at the complete mercy of the moons, while a high-level moon mage is not as hindered as much when the moons are at the new moon phase and set below the horizon.

Because of this greater complication, the lunar-attuned mage senses a whole lot more than just the room mana. PERC HELP is of good help, as it will list what options you can use.

The Moon Mage (or Trader) trains attunement from perceiving all the various things. Each of the 3 moons, each of the 4 spellbooks (3 for Traders), the PLANETs, MOONBEAMs, the AREA, and WATCHERs observing the area magically. For the 3 moons, MOONS can be used to combine the perception for all 3 moons. MANA can be used to combine the 4 spellbooks.

Perceiving the moons also trains Astrology slightly as you observe their position in the sky, except when low-skill and you can't tell precisely where they are set below the horizon.

===[[Arcana|Training Arcana]]===
If [[attunement]] tends to be the first magic skill, [[arcana]] is the second. This skill can be confusing and frustrating for new players, especially because for the first hundred ranks it may not feel like it's useful for anything. It is! Firstly, 100 ranks are needed for most magical feats (discussed below), and secondly, you will eventually want to use mana streams harnessed in [[cambrinth]], though it may not seem so when you're endlessly charging a little ring over and over. Eventually, some spells' maximum streams will be greater than what you can harness, and so to cast these at full power you will need first charge some streams in a cambrinth item. Furthermore, with the appropriate feat (Dedicated Cambrinth Use), you can use the mana streams stored in a cambrinth item to sustain cyclic spells. This way, when you hold open a moongate for an eternity while your slowpoke barbarian friend takes her time crossing through it, you won’t have to step through after her into a room full of Giant Murdercats with your attunement shot to pieces.

To train arcana, you will want to charge and invoke [[cambrinth]] items. These come in all shapes and sizes, from a couple mana streams to over a hundred. The most efficient way to train arcana is to charge the item with as much as you can, on every cast. How much is this? Ideally, this will be the amount at which you wish to cast your spell, minus the minimum harness. You cannot prepare the spell at less than the minimum harness, and so this procedure puts as much into the object as is safe to do. There are two limitations to this, which are that you may not have the ranks in arcana to actually charge as much as you want into an item at first, and that the object you have may not be able to take all of the charge. Supposing you can cast a spell at M streams, with a minimum of m, then the general procedure will be to prepare the spell at m streams, charge the cambrinth item with (M-m) streams, invoke it, and then cast the spell when it’s ready. If you have a worn cambrinth item, like an armband, you will eventually be able to charge and invoke this item while wearing it, though at first you will need to remove it and hold it to do so.

Another option, if you are able to find one, is to use a [[sanowret crystal]]. They are not commonly sold, but may be found at some festivals, or for sale by other players. To use one, either GAZE or EXHALE while holding it in your hand, or while wearing it. Not all sanowret crystals are wearable.

==[[Survival]] and [[Lore]] Skills==

===[[Survival|Survival Skills]]===
Moon Mages must train at least five survival skills in order to advance. You are a Survival Secondary, and there are many useful survival skills, so you have every reason to train more than five if you want to. [[Athletics]], [[Outdoorsmanship]], [[Perception]], and [[First Aid]] can all be trained out of combat. To train [[Evasion]] you’ll need to be in combat, and with the exception of a few NPCs, the same is true of [[Stealth]]. [[Skinning]] and [[Locksmithing]], while not trained directly through hunting, require dead things which are easiest to acquire by killing living things. Both of these latter skills also provide good sources of income. A reasonable conclusion from this information is that it is a good idea to train by hunting.

===[[Lore|Lore Skills]]===
Being Lore secondary, you'll want to use combat [[Tactics]] to your advantage. You'll also probably want to pick up a [[crafting|craft]]. [[Forging]] isn’t a bad choice, as it will improve the power of your [[Moonblade]] if you choose to use it, though [[Enchanting]], a currently unreleased [[crafting|craft]], will likely be a better choice for Moon Mages. [[Scholarship]] can be earned from [[Scholarship#teaching|classes]] and studying star charts, [[Performance]] can be learned while playing instruments, and [[Appraisal]] can be learned either by APPRAISEing creatures or gear, or ASSESSing your musical instrument.

==Getting Started==

===Starting Spell Choices===
New Moon mages have access to [[Apprentice spells]]. From 1st to 10th circle, you will now have free access to the Burden, Ease Burden, Manifest Force and Strange Arrow spells. These free spells are removed at 11th circle, at which point you will need to use scrolls or permanently memorize one to continue using it.

Choosing starting spells for a Moon mage can be a rather daunting task, especially considering that the sheer volume of paths one can take and that the number of prerequisite spells is large compared to other guilds. One first needs to make the decision if you are going to learn towards or away from combat, since Moon mages can be successful anywhere on the spectrum since they have no actual combat skill requirements. A neutral approach can also be successful and each has their own benefits and issues to deal with.

For the combat leaning Moon mage, the most common choice for a first spell would be [[Telekinetic Throw]] to start gaining ranks in Targeted Magic skill. However, [[Shadows]] is also good for those who wish to be more physical in combat and want to train stealth. If you choose your first [[Targeted Magic]] spell after you select [[shadows]], [[Dinazen Olkar]] is an excellent alternative to [[Telekinetic Throw]]. Late bloomers might even consider [[Partial Displacement]] if they select their first combat spell after 10th circle. If you are heavily interested in combat, selecting your first [[Debilitation]] spell early will help you avoid having this skill fall behind your combat skills. Although [[Mental Blast]] is the penultimate moon mage [[debilitation]] spell are you will likely choose [[calm]] or [[Dazzle]] first. [[Dazzle]] has perhaps more long term utility since [[calm]] will later be eclipsed by other spells (mostly [[Mental Blast]]), however it has the major disadvantage of being unusable underground or without the [[Sun]], [[Xibar]] or [[Yavash]] above the horizon. [[Calm]], on the other hand, is usable at all times and is a prerequisite for many other spells, including the [[Psychic Shield]], which will probably be your first [[warding]] spell.

For the (at least initially) non-combat leaning Moon mage, the common choice of spell is [[Clear Vision]], which allows access to many essential [[Augmentation]] and [[Utility]] spells. After that [[Piercing Gaze]] will pierce through inclement weather to allow you to train your [[Astrology]] skill even when clouds obscure the heavens. [[Aura Sight]] will boost your [[Attunement]] and [[Astrology]] skills, which will allow you to cast more spells without needing a break and improve the potency of your observations and [[prediction|predictions]]. All of the spells, are, unfortunately, [[Augmentation]] spells and you will likely want to train the other major non-combat magic skill, [[utility]], at some point. If you choose [[Shadows]] you can later learn [[Focus Moonbeam]] at second circle for no cost, which makes this path a very attractive alternative. [[Focus Moonbeam]] is also required for several different later spells such as [[Moonblade]], [[Moongate]], [[Distant Gaze]] and [[Shadewatch Mirror]] and is a major building block in your future repoire. In addition to this the spell [[Shift Moonbeam]] will allow you greater manipulation of your moonbeam allowing you to send it to other locations and facilitate easy movement through [[Teleport]] and [[Moongate]].

===[[Attributes|Statistic Training]]===
For stats, a good first goal is getting everything to a reasonable minimum (people often advocate 30). This will give you a good base.

Next, if you are combat focused, you'll probably want to keep [[Reflex]] high, as dodging enemies will be easier than surviving getting hit and let you stay in combat longer. [[Discipline]] will improve your ability to hide and your ability to target spells. [[Intelligence]] and [[Wisdom]] will improve spell damage. All three [[statistics]] will improve your ability with [[contested_spells|Debilitation contests]]. [[Charisma]] will be helpful in [[Contested_Abilities#Contest Stat "Weighting"|charm vs mind]] attacks but [[Calm]] is the only such spell we have in our spell book. [[Stamina]] should not be neglected as it will improve your ability to withstand damage and avoid fatigue. [[Agility]] will aid in your ability to hit things, as well as help with parrying. [[Strength]] and [[Stamina]] are likely the stats you can train to a certain range and then ignore, as you will not need to rely on hitting things harder, nor surviving blows better, for some time. Strength affects how much weight you can carry, which may be useful until you can summon a [[Shadow Servant]].

Outside of combat one can choose to focus on mental abilities. [[Intelligence]] and [[Wisdom]] are very important in speeding your learning rate and should be the foundation of your abilities. [[Wisdom]] also improves the probability that a prediction will have a positive result. [[Intelligence]] and [[Discipline]] both increase [[concentration]] and are therefore very important in spell casting. Although it is often neglected, [[Charisma]] does improve your ability to [[Prediction#bonding|bond]] with [[Prediction#tools|prediction tools]] and strength of your [[predictions]] and can be useful. Basically, Moon Mages are the archetypal magical intellectual. You can and probably should focus principally on mentals, then on Reflex or Agility, and finally on Strength and Stamina.

===Starting Gear===
What weapons and armor you train is up to you, but initially sticking to lighter choices would be optimal. [[Small Edged]] and [[Small Blunt]], [[Light Thrown]] and [[Bows]] all make good choices. The obvious choice for [[stealth]] and low hindrance armor is [[Light_Armor_skill|Cloth or Leather]], though you can swap [[Chain_Armor|Chain]] Armor or even [[Brigandine_Armor_skill|Brigandine]] Armor if you're not training [[stealth]] at the moment. It might be worth mentioning that [[Moonblade]] can be shaped into a [[Small_Edged|Small Edge]], [[Large_Edged|Large Edge]], [[Twohanded_Edged_skill|Two handed Edge]], and [[Quarterstaff]] weapon, so if you enjoy using [[moonblade|Moonweapons]], training those weapons from the start is a good idea, though you'll probably want to pick up lightened versions of the heavier weapons.

You’ll want to find some starting magical items to train with, preferably a small [[cambrinth]], like a shard or a ring or a [[runestone]]. If you choose a [[runestone]] that contains a non-lunar spell you will also learn [[sorcery]] when you focus on it, although, unlike [[cambrinth]], it will stop teaching you around 50-80 ranks.

===See Also===
*[[Moon_Mage_books_and_lore|Library resources and lore of interest to Moon Mages]]


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