VIII. Combat

Combat in Materia Magica runs automatically once started, but there are any techniques you can use to improve your odds of success against NPCs. Of course, depending upon your class, some of the techniques below are not possible for you to use, but generally of those listed you can use at least one. The key focus of this guide is to show you the progression of things to consider when engaging in combat.

Before Combat

Before you initiate combat, it is always wise to CONSIDER the NPC. This will give you an idea of how strong or weak it is compared to you. For tough NPCs, and depending on the class you chose, you should follow the following steps. These steps depend on you having certain spells and abilities, so you may not be able to perform all of them as a novice.

• LOOK at the NPC several times to see what it is wearing. If you decide you don't need any of the equipment, you may cast ACID BLAST or ACID BREATH to destroy them. This way you will be able to inflict more damage. Also depending on the race the NPC is, it could be immune to certain types of attack. Generally though each NPC will also have certain vulnerabilities that you can exploit so that you will have an advantage over it.
• You may cast DISPEL MAGIC to remove HASTE and SANCTUARY. This way it will easier to kill because its protective spells are no longer active. When you first see the NPC, you may notice one or more asterisks (*) before its name. Depending on the color of the asterisk, it shows what active protective spells it has, like SANCTUARY, FIRESHIELD etc.
• After you are sure the NPC no longer has its protective spells, it is time to start casting your spells to which will have a negative effect on it. Your goal at this point is to lower its AR (See COMBAT for more information on AR). The way to do this is by casting CURSE and/or FAERIE FIRE.
• To reduce how fast the NPC will regenerate hit points, spell points, and stamina; you may cast POISON, PLAGUE and/or IRRITATION.
• Next step is to reduce the NPC's combat ability by casting WEB, EARTH EVOCATION, BLINDNESS and/or BLIND bard song. Be careful though because this may initiate combat before you are ready.
• Also, SLOW and WEAKEN are helpful spells/bard songs. WEAKEN makes the NPC's attack do less damage, while SLOW makes them lose an attack and one defense during each round of combat.
• By casting SILENCE on the NPC you remove its ability to cast spells on you. Note that certain NPCs will not be stopped from casting against you, even with SILENCE on them. In which case, BLINDing it will make it not be able to cast certain spells on you. These will not stop breath attacks and/r spells cast that affect the whole room from affecting you.

Most spells need special reagents to be cast while bard songs do not. The way to know what reagents each spell needs, try HELP <spell>. Always make sure you have enough reagents before initiating combat so you that you will not run out while fighting. Also, always MEMORIZE the spells you plan on using before you start fighting so that you will not need to juggle spell books.

Initiating Combat

You can initiate combat by using KILL <npc>, or ATTACK <npc>. These will begin your attack and give you the first round of blows in the round as opposed to dealing with aggressive NPCs who will generally attack first and they will have the initial blows in the round.

Another way to maximize the damage you do is to initiate combat by BACKSTABing the NPC repeatedly which can cause the NPC to lose up to half its hit points. If you are a FEY, you may use FEED repeatedly too.

During Combat

There are a number ways to do more damage between rounds. BASH and KICK can cause massive damage between rounds of combat that will help you defeat the NPC faster.

THROWing weapons can be helpful as well. They can be used in no-magic rooms and/or when you run out of spell points. Popular throwing weapons are the boomerang, throwing spear, throwing axe and throwing dagger.

While fighting, you may cast spells on yourself that will increase your hit points and/or stamina. Bards may cast songs that will do the same. HEAL, CURE LIGHT, CURE SERIOUS, and EARTH INVOCATION are among the spells you may use to heal yourself so you will not need to stop the combat.

If at any point you need to stop combat, you may FLEE or FLEE <direction>. This way you leave the room that the NPC is in. In certain cases, it may re-initiate combat with you once you walk back in the room. This is why you always need to be aware of the exits in the room you are fighting in, so you don't lose time trying to flee towards a direction that doesn't exist. Also, there are spells like CALM (spell or bard song), MOMENTARY DARKNESS etc that will stop the combat once cast without the need for you to leave the room.

Another way to make sure you always attempt to flee out of the room when you are below a certain amount of hit points is to set WIMPY.

After Combat

While hunting, it is helpful to SET AUTOLOOT ON, which will automatically take all the gold and items from the corpse. Keep in mind that certain NPCs vanish after death, so it is wise to look in the room after you have killed it so you can pick up whatever it may dropped. Also, SET AUTOSPLIT ON is helpful because it splits the gold between the formation members. SET AUTOSAC ON automatically sacrifices the corpses after you have killed and looted the NPC so the bodies don't clutter up the area.

Last Bits of Information

Many players prefer to kill NPCs in formations. This way several people help to kill one NPC then share the experience points and gold. This method of killing NPCs is less dangerous and may be somewhat faster. Of course, since formation members get fewer experience points from a kill than a person who had killed the NPC solo and the gold is split among the formation there are those who prefer to work alone so that the rewards are higher per kill. Formations can be more fun as well as offering a way to get to know the people around you.

A word on etiquette, keep in mind that it is wrong to kill an NPC someone outside your formation has been trying to kill and/or steal the gold and equipment it drops. For more information on commands that apply on formation, see FORMATIONS.

Combat between players (see PK) uses many of these same principles though there are the challenges of fighting against a person who can be attempting the same things you are (removing protection, weakening, strengthening/healing yourself, recasting protective spells that have been removed by you, etc). There are several types of PK combat that you can try your hand at, but read the PK helpfile to see what each type entails.

Combat with NPCs offers you the opportunity to hone your skills and determine what combinations of these suggestions work best for you. Just by leveling and earning gold, you can prepare yourself for combat with more challenging NPCs, and even other players, with ease.

Anderius' PK Guide for Novices

Next: Advanced Play