Beginners Guide : Death Etiquette

We've already spoke about amulets, and how to send a proper death tell. You understand the mechanics behind how to handle yourself when you die. Either send a deathtell, or hope someone notices you are in an amulet. Nothing too crazy there!

Where it becomes interesting is when your corpse rots away or you are butchered and you find yourself dead and gone. It is tempting, oh so tempting, to simply return to the world and continue as is like nothing happened. Don't.

Technically your soul is lost, you have been destroyed and the denizens of the world are mourning (cheering?) your demise. If you are young, simply pick a new name and return to the world. Don't bother going to find your possessions or asking people you knew about them. Behave as if you are a totally new person, because you are. No one will know who you were. You now have an opportunity at a fresh life, you can change some behaviors  RP a bit different and assume a new role. I'd recommend trying a new lifestyle and meeting new friends.

If you do decide to make a mad dash and try to get stuff of your corpse the Creators may take an unfortunate interest in you. This is, of course, not how you want to handle things. The small list of petty possessions you have are best left and gone.

If you play in the world of politics, or decide to try and kill people, you will probably meet an untimely end. Player-killing is tough and brutal. Opponents are either beheaded or butchered, either one will end your days if you have no amulet. Walk away, take a break, relax, go play some Wii Bowling and come back to the game another day. The adrenaline you have rushing needs time to cool. Trust me on this one.

If you have an amulet you are now inside of it and in the possession of someone unfriendly. An amulet isn't destroyable so they will usually put you in some far away place. If you have friends you must hope they can either find you or negotiate your release. If you have no one who can secure your release you will be stuck, for a very long time.

Now you see the magic of the method. If you behave badly and you get killed you've been removed from the equation. You can't return to haunt them, you are stuck and are a non-opponent. If they get all of your friends too an entire faction and its ideas have been removed. The others were stronger, fitter, or at least faster with the blade and spell. Eventually you may have to suicide, or sleep for a very long time.

Remember the above etiquette for when you return as a new character. Technically you know nothing of those past events and it would behoove you to avoid anything related to it. Your enjoyment of the game will be so much greater if you let past events lie. Holding grudges do nothing and will only ruin the game for you. The knowledge of how to play the game will return you to some stature much quicker than your first time through.

Amulets

Death in Ferdarchi can be permanent. The only way to prevent this is to have an amulet. When you die your soul is saved, and placed into stasis within the amulet. You lose no skills, and can be reincarnated into a new body. (Destroying the amulet in the process, they are a one time use item) If you are killed you can survive even if your body rots away. Just wait to be found and you are walking in no time.

Amulets are expensive, rare, and hard to get. You are penalized by dying with an amulet as you must procure another one. But without it you run the risk of perma-death and starting over financially, socially, and skill wise.

The very first thing you should save for is an Amulet. Sleep in the streets, live like a pauper but save up for one! Without it you are one mistake, one fight, one mining accident away from obscurity and starting over.

The only downside to an amulet is that when you die, you can't do anything. No death tell can be sent. If you go exploring, notify someone, if you are dead they can go and find you there. Oh, and you have to pay for the reincarnation into a new body too, not cheap. 

Amulets tend to keep you cautious. If you spend a month saving one for one you don't want to lose it stupidly. This will breed a definite conservative streak and your lust for adventure will be toned back. Money is hard to earn, and earn it you will.

Later in your life you can perform quests and find amulets, or try at least.

Beginners Guide : Dying

You will die.

Eventually an alligator will eat you, you'll forget to have a shield, or you'll stray into a cave and someone will eat you. Curiosity will get the best of you and you'll venture forth straight into the jaws of a Roc, or a bear, or a warthog will gore you. That's OK! It's part of the adventure!

Dartmud has a rather unique system. You will be in ghost form hovering above your body. You can't do much now except one very important thing, send a death tell. A death tell is a message that is sent to someone of your choice. Pick the person wisely, and provide the right information.

You, player Thor, have been attacked by a Roc, will southeast of Soriktos. You don't know exactly where you are but you know the Roc is still here. Chill a second, check the 'who' list and pick a name. Ideally someone with the tag of HH will be on, a healer, but if all else look for someone who isn't AFK and isn't young. A noble, Ranger, or anyone with a tag on there name is a good start.

Inform them of where you are, who you are, and what is wrong. A suitable message would be as follows :

message playername I'm a deader! This is Thor, I am southeast of Soriktos in the mountains, there is a roc here.

A few highlights :

•  you stated what you are, a deader. 
• who you are, Thor.
• where you are, southeast of Soriktos in the mountains
• remaining dangers, a roc

This will most likely get you rescued. After you send the message chill out. Whoever it is will try to be quick. The longer your corpse rots, the more skills you lose. You also lose skill points by send death tells so keep it to a minimum.

The skill loss can be prevented by having an amulet. But that's for another post!