Skitari's Guide to CPK Combat
CPK Introduction
What is CPK and how can you avoid falling for ruthless "CPKER" traps? A CPK is a room in which you can be Cpked (lose some or possibly all of the gear you have) to a player or NPC. You will know when you are in one these rooms because it will say WARNING: You are in a CHAOTIC PLAYER KILLING room.
- LPK Room - Lawful Player Killing Room. You will keep all your possessions and will reincarnate instantly, but must regain hit points and other attributes before you can fight again. This type of room is most commonly found in Arena combat areas.
- NPK Room - Neutral Player Killing Room. You will keep your possessions, but will temporarily turn into a ghost. Your slayer will not gain any experience from the fight.
- CPK Room - Chaotic Player Killing Room. Your corpse and some of your possessions will remain in the place in which you were slain, and can be looted by anyone. Your slayer will gain experience based on your level. While journeying through these areas, you can be robbed by other players.
- CPKed - Killed by an NPC or PC in a CPK room. Will usually result in the loss of some equipment.
- CPKer - A player that targets other players who are in CPK rooms.
- CPKs - Number of times a player has killed another player in a CPK room.
- PKed - Killed by another player usually in LPK or NPK.
- Snared - When you are caught by a snare trap in a PK room, or when a room contains a snare trap it is said to be "snared".
- Televiewed - When you or someone else in the room has been spied on by a Psionic player, who is televiewing you for the purpose of finding the exact room you are in, to attempt to PK or CPK you.
- Room shielded - When a room has the spell "room shield" cast in it. This spell prevents players from moving into the room if it is LPK, NPK, or CPK. You can enter a room shielded room from a NONPK room, but may not enter a NONPK room from a PK zone, if it is room shielded.
- Mimicked – A player has shifted into the form of an object using the Psionic ability of Mimic. They will not show up on where, and they can not move to different rooms while mimicked, without returning to their original form.
- Shifted – A player has shape shifted into a creature. Shifting is only possible during the night time hours. Players will not show up on where. With this ability, the player appears as an NPC. To check to see if players can be shifted, type shift. If other players can not be shifted this message will appear: Your powers aren't strong enough at this time of day to change your form. If other players can be shifted, this message will appear: You do not know how to do that.
Most CPKers may try to shift with the skill of shape shifting, which allows them to not be seen on where. You can still look at them by typing look, and their name. The CPKers may also shift into an item using the Psionic skill of mimic. The good thing about mimicking is that the Cpker will only be able to stay in one spot and not move around like the shape shifting ability allows. If you don't go into CPK, the CPKer will figure that you know that they are in the CPK, and will then move to try and trick or lure you into CPK. If the CPKer is a rogue, they will almost always use a snare in trying to CPK you. A good way to avoid this is being mounted and telling your horse to run/walk and the direction of the CPK you need to go by.
DO NOT FALL FOR ANYTHING. EVEN IF THE PLAYER SAYS THEY WILL NOT CPK YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THEM.
The CPKer is going to do and say anything and everything to get you into CPK. And sometimes they may be an Archon and you a level 60 but most times these CPKers are in it for the points or the number of CPKs they have. They don't care about you or your gear, and will only see you as a point or a number, not a human or player. Therefore, if you get into a situation that requires walking through CPK or if you're just exploring, make sure to try doing it during non-shift times. Getting Cpked can get very expensive.
In the next section of this CPK guide, I will talk about particular areas that you are most likely to get Cpked in. I have created a small but accurate list below. Make sure you read over these and think about possible things the CPKer may do because basically you are the deer and they are lion. You are their prey and they are hungry for you. However I will first list a few key CPK tactics CPKers use so you can visualize yourself in a certain situation in the areas I list.
CPKers will usually do about three or four key things and you will realize that you are becoming a victim of a CPKer. The CPKer may blind you, then room shield around you hoping for you to either flee or stagger into a CPK room close by. Do yourself and favor and pray death. Do not, I repeat do not move around, because you will probably find yourself in CPK and then dead.
Another key thing to look for is the CPKer attacking you then fleeing. This is most likely them trying to get you to flee and they will usually have the area room shielded. So if you plan to flee, make sure you type flee and the direction. Don't just type flee, because you will more then likely end up fleeing into CPK.
Another key thing to look for, if you think you may be about to become a victim of CPK is the player trying to be a bit too friendly. The CPKer will become your friend (not always are they going to CPK but if they are much higher then you and an outlaw, they normally won’t be too excited to offer to be nice and help you out especially around pk. But if they do, make sure you are formed and are logging everything just in case they try to CPK you. A smart player may just not form with them, because they know it may be a set up, using a friend to CPK them, which is much harder to prove that it was illegal.
Sometimes CPKers will ask you to track a particular NPC for them that may be in CPK. If you have never heard of the NPC, or don't know exactly where it is, DO NOT GO. Sometimes NPCs will trap you in the room they are in and leave the CPKer to kill you without a blink of their eye. So basically if an outlaw or even a Saint is around try to avoid the CPK areas I will list.
Irda/Wizardry Isle - Probably one of the most dangerous CPK areas for lower people and even sometimes higher. With the use of snares now, it is very easy for a Psionic/rogue to mimic and kill. Beware and check the “who” list several times. If you have the tracking ability, try tracking people you see on the Isle. Sometimes however, players who are really smart CPKers will hide in the PG and go in and out of the room so they can type where to see where people are on the isle. When they notice someone crossing the moat, they run out of the PG area and get to the end of the moat or near the end so sometimes while in the moat about halfway (in an NPK room), I would say type where and see if you see anyone. One of the best ways for CPKers to get you is to hide in pg, so pay close attention to that tip.
Another note when crossing the moat, you should be at least level 110-120 and be careful of magic bomb traps. Magic bomb traps are in the moat from NPCs. However sometimes players place magic bombs too so watch out for players once again mimicking. Another good thing to note is that you should never run through the moat because sometimes players setup Circle of Fire and Circle of Thorns in every room killing you and them taking your gear easily.
Winterborn Mansion - Winterborn Mansion has a few CPK spots. The more well known of them are upstairs in the third floor hallways and in the west tower and the north tower I believe it is called. The CPK zones in Winterborn are easily avoidable. If you get blind in npk, don't stagger around! This may cause you to go into CPK and be a victim to a CPKer. If you get blinded and the person is not killing you pray for death. This is the best advice I can give you.
The lesser known CPK zone outside of Winterborn is hidden in the hedge maze on the east side of Winterborn. The CPK is hidden under the empty pool. There is an NPC here called Zevious, and if you go down you will not be able to go back up unless you kill Zevious, as he will block you from leaving. This is a very good CPK spot for CPKers so I suggest not going down unless you plan to kill Zevious. Do not track any NPCs for the CPKer even if they seem to be nice. If they do ask you to track the NPC tell them you are sorry and simply leave the area and go back another time. Winterborn is a spot most CPKers who want to pick up "CPK POINTS" will go and try to take advantage of newer players who do not know areas as well, but now you have the upper hand.
Arcane Archipelago - Arcane Archipelago is probably one of the most visited areas by lower levels since a lot of quests especially in rune require you to visit this dangerous place. In the "LIBRARY" of this zone there is a dangerous cpking spot. The librarian of arcane has the necronomicon, which is a good level 60 item for spells and sanctuary. However this is also a shiftable NPC and a very well used CPK spot. I suggest using the tactic of "WHOing" and looking for people who have blankness or black where you would see town or isle by their name. Try tracking all people especially during shift time. And remember, if you see an item that looks green don't think to go grab it because nothing is free and nothing is worth losing all your gear for.
Snare will now allow you to get Cpked even easier. So even if the player is not by you don't enter because you can still be snared and that CPKer can run to you.
Just another possible thing that may happen, not to scare you into not going into the Librarian CPK (but it is possible I believe for the CPKer) to room shield outside the Librarian CPK after exiting social then wait for their timer to go off and enter the room and CPK you. So I suggest being aware at all times who is around you in this area especially if you are lower level. Basically, don't go into the librarian CPK room unless you can kill the librarian easily or don't plan to be in it longer then a second.
Vospire - This area has two CPK zones. One zone is in the park of Vospire hidden under a bush which sometimes has an astral. (Tip: don't go for the astral - it isn't worth it, and if you have a quest and it is during shift time don't go down it isn't worth it either. Even if you open the hidden bush sometimes CPKers will shift the vine and get rid of stars and just wait.) The other CPK is in the Castle part of Vospire which you should use common sense and not go in. If you do go in that CPK, make sure you are invisible or else you will trip a trap and go into a death trap, however this death trap is not CPK and you will not lose your gear. I really don't suggest going in either of these CPK rooms for any reason. I don't think any quest will or should require you to visit them because Vospire is usually very populated and if you do go in one of these CPK rooms be very quick.
Maldra's Keep Arena - The Maldra's Keep arena hidden in recall (Sanctuary) that goes down is very dangerous if you don't know about the little weirdness of it. The rooms in this arena switch from LPK to NPK to CPK and back again. I don't suggest to anyone going down here unless you have some sort of backup since most people in keep are pkers in PK clans and they usually have 1 or 2 friends to help them. I don't suggest lower levels even being in the keep however sometimes the lower levels must venture here to obtain the ultimate prize of a trunk. But do realize this is one of the CPKers lets say homelands. They sit in this place all day and really have nothing better to do but prey on lower levels and try to trick them foolishly into CPK. Another notable CPK is the CPK west of Lord Maldra. This CPK is hidden and is a prime spot for the use of blinding and room shielding around you tactic. You can easily be cpked here so be careful and don't stay in the keep longer then you need to.
Diocletian Catacombs - This area is VERY DANGEROUS. I don't suggest going in if you are level 180 and below. Many CPKers sit here all day and wait and prey on people. CPKers in this area will usually be Archons or Heroes. The NPCs in this area will also paralyze you and can even possibly kill you. I've known 4th classers who get killed by these NPCs and full looted by archons or other players wandering around. If you do plan to possibly complete a quest please do yourself a favor and trunk and if you don't have a trunk just trash the quest. I don't think any lower levels will ever get a quest requiring such a venture, but please don't risk even coming down here for any reason.
Also if you are leveling in the Town Of Diocletian please SET REFUSE-SUMMON ON. CPKers are liable to summon you to the room in which the Uncalling sword is obtained. This room has only one exit which is west, and if you are moving west and get summoned you just basically got CPKed. So set refuse summon on and if by chance you do get summoned, pray for death immediately while in nonpk. Don't risk anything! Remember, exploring an area or getting a quest done is not worth your gear!
Rune Temple, Gargoyle Ledge - This is a more well known CPK spot but it earns its rank. There is a CPK on this ledge which CPKers will possibly try to trick you into going into, then ruthlessly slay you and laugh at you. With the addition of the wonderful long awaited skill of snare, you can instantly be webbed without the Rogue even being in the room. Do yourself a favor and don't bother going in and ignore the player. This CPK is very easily avoidable since there is nothing of value in it despite what the CPKer will tell you. I promise there is nothing in there worth losing your gear for.
Mandrake Woods Fey - If you are exploring the Mandrake Woods and find a PK zone, you should be aware of the Pharmacist better known as the Fey. This area has NPK and then it has a locked down in the southern part of this area. You will have to kill an NPC to get the key in order to unlock this down. If you do happen to unlock it, you will either find the pharmacist or an empty room. In either case, you should not go down if you are too low a level. If you find the empty room don't think it has some hidden room or anything because it doesn't. I wont lie to you I am here to help you. Do not go into that CPK for any reason because low levels can not kill the pharmacist. The only thing that I can assure you that might happen if you go down is you get room shielded in and end up being CPKed. So don't go down it is not worth your gear to do a little exploring. Explore an area less likely to cause pain to your character.
Templeton Castle - Templeton Castle has two CPK spots. One is under the castle with an NPC that can easily kill a level 180 and below and possibly a 4th classer. Just use common sense when going into this CPK zone because if you can find it you should be able to find your way out. (note: there is a death trap at the end of the CPK zone heading south it will be NONPK south). Ok moving on the main NPC of this area is the Spirit of Lord Templeton. This NPC will silence web you and everything else. I suggest not fighting it unless you're a 4th classer 230-240 and you are prepared to fight hard.
Vandemaar's Trunk - Vandemaar's Trunk is great when you must go into CPK zones, but think that a CPKer might be waiting. Basically you put all the items you can not afford to lose or do not want to lose into the trunk and if you get CPKed, you will not have to replace expensive equipment.
Vandemaar's Reagent Bag - Vandemaar's Reagent Bag is good if you just want to store your decanter in. I would suggest saving your quest points and getting a trunk though or buying a belt pouch. It makes reagents, too.
Stone of Alyria - This REWARDUNIT item will give you the ability to shift into creatures during night time. By far one of the best items to avoid being CPKed. I highly recommend you get this item if you are not a Fey or Sidhe who already have shape shifting.
Magical Belt Pouch - This is another one of my recommended CPK items if you do not have Vandemaar's Trunk already. This is a REWARDUNIT item. But with it you can be assured your gear will be safe in CPK.
Zone Who - "Allows you to see who is in a certain type of zone. (Dungeon, Isle, Sea, etc)" This is a very simple tool to use. Once added to your ZMUD, to use it you simply type "zwho" then Isle, Dungeon, Towne, Underground etc. It is one of the best tools to use when searching for CPKers. I strongly suggest getting this. You can get it here.
Council of Glacius - group of Saints, Neutrals, and Outlaws who keep one another informed about people CPKing in different areas. This group also helps one another with quests and information. To get into this group you must apply. If you are an honest player and get through the application process you'll gain all the fun. This is a private organization, so not everyone will get in. To apply go here.
Durova's Player Website - Very good information on new players to PK in general, and could be of use to those of you who are much newer players. I strongly suggest going to the link below and checking out Durova's PK guide.
In addition, there are also the PK guides on this site, as listed in the left navigation bar.
