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Champions: Return To Arms - Strategy Guide (Page 01)

Below are the cheat codes, hints and help for Champions: Return To Arms - Strategy Guide (Page 01).

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		Champions: Return to Arms
		Walkthrough of PS2 Game
		Version 1.0.3  
		Originaly Written by: Dr. Darrell and Kayd
		Current version by: George Chappell 
				
****************************************************
*****************************************************
**	1.00  INDEX -
*****************************************************
1.00	Index
2.00	Introduction
3.00	Controls
4.00	Options
5.00	Characters
6.00	Equipment
7.00	Game Layout
8.00	Cheating and Manipulation
9.00	Walkthrough
9.01 	Plane of Tranquility 		
9.02 	Plane of War 			
9.03 	GOOD - Plane of Innovation 		
9.04 	GOOD - Norrath: Pit of Ill Omen 		
9.05 	GOOD - Plane of Water 			
9.06 	GOOD - Plane of Torment 			
9.07 	GOOD - Plane of Disease 			
9.08 	GOOD - Plane of Valor 			
9.09 	GOOD - Plane of Fire				
9.10 	GOOD - Plane of Storms			
9.11 	GOOD - Plane of Valor (Continued)				
9.12 	GOOD - Norrath: Faydark Forest		
9.13 	GOOD - Plane of Nightmares		

10.00 	OPTIONAL QUESTS
10.01 	Faydark Forrest
10.02 	Blood Bath (Plane of War)
10.03 	Warboar Caves
10.04 	Tick Tock (Plane of Innovation)
10.05 	Duff’s Junkyard Fights
10.06 	Depth Scurry (Plane of Water)
10.07 	21 Leagues
10.08 	Soulbreak (Plane Of Torment)
10.09 	Hells Cells
10.10 	Bloodvine Quest
10.11 	Gothic Castle
10.12 	Frogville (Plane of Disease)
10.13 	Crypts of Decay
10.14 	Warlord’s Endless Horror (Plane of Valor)
10.15 	Isle of Dishonor
10.16 	Gnomes Escort (Plane of Fire)
10.17 	Torments Furnace
10.18 	Kobold Onslaught (Plane of Storms)
10.19 	Frozen Wind Bunker
10.20 	Death's Countdown (Plane of Nightmares)
10.21 	Bloodstone Passage
10.22 	A Twisted Nightmare
10.23 	Sword in the Stone (Plane of Valor)
10.24 	Plane of Tranquility 		
10.25 	Start the game, Pick evil this time. 
11.01 	Plane of War			
11.02 	EVIL - Plane of Innovation 	
11.03 	EVIL - Norrath: Pit of Ill Omen 	
11.04 	EVIL - Plane of Water 		
11.05 	EVIL - Plane of Torment 		
11.06 	EVIL - Plane of Disease 		
11.07 	EVIL - Plane of Valor 		
11.08 	EVIL - Plane of Fire 		
11.09 	EVIL - Plane of Valor (Continued)		
11.10 	EVIL - Plane of Storms 		
11.11 	EVIL - Plane of Valor  (Continued)		
11.12 	EVIL - Norrath: Faydark Forest	
11.13 	EVIL - Plane of Nightmares 	
11.14 	EVIL Optional Quests
11.15	EVIL – Plane of Tranquility 
12.00 	Credits and Thank Yous
13.00 	Contact Information 
14.00 	Version History
15.00 	Glitches and Bugs


*********************************************
**	2.00 INTRODUCTION:
*********************************************

This game, Champions: Return to Arms (RTA), is a sequel to the 
popular Champions of Norrath (CON).    There are pluses and minuses 
to playing both of these games.   One plus is they work very well 
together, if you are into cheating, and maximizing stats.   This 
game makes it much tougher to do some of the duplications and 
farming tricks from the first game.  HOWEVER, you can do these 
tricks in CON, and then just import that player into the RTA game.   
The draw back of this is the "stale factor."    This game looks and 
plays a lot like the first game.    
If you spend hundreds of hours in CON, it might be TOUGH to have 
that much endurance and patience for this game.    Some of the Non-
Player Characters (NPC) from the first game are back, which can 
increase the stale feeling. 

Another difference in this game is the level of difficulty.   Many 
bosses here that you have to fight are tough to kill and they hit 
you extremely hard.   Some of the bosses in CON, the areas had 
items that you could hide behind, and gain back some mana or 
health, and then continue on with the fight.  The RTA game has very 
few of these areas to hide behind.  Another difference is the Medal 
rounds in this game do not all require fighting.   Many require quick 
reflexes, lots of patience, and just lots of luck.   Some people that 
are good at fighting might not be able to dish out the skills required 
for these extra levels and areas.     

***************************************************
**	3.00 CONTROLS   ( for PS2 )
***************************************************

X 	- Attack with Bow/Sword. Also the action button in menus.
Square 	- Action button, i.e. open chest, use door, pick up stuff.
Circle 	- Quick Spell Slot.  You can attach a spell for quick 
	casting here.
Triangle - Same as Circle, Quick Spell Slot.

D-Pad - Spell book.  Pointing at a spell and hitting square uses 
	that spell.

Start 	- Opens options screen.
Select 	- Opens character screen.

Left Analog Stick  - Moves character.
Right Analog Stick - Rotates camera (push left and right), or zooms 
	in or out (push up or down).

L1 - Switches between Range/Melee providing you have both equipped.
R1 - Hold down to Block.

L2 - Uses a Mana Potion providing you have one.
R2 - Uses a Health Potion providing you have one.

L3 - Centers the camera behind your character.
R3 - Opens Map, click again to open Mini-Map, click again to remove 
	map.

Note - Holding R1 to Guard and pushing L1 will make your character 
	jump back.
Note - Holding Square and pushing select uses a Gate Scroll.

*************************************************
**	4.00 OPTIONS
*************************************************

In-Game Options:
Use Gate Scroll: Uses a Gate Scroll to go to Firiona or Natasla 
	Hub.
Gate Back: Uses a Gate Scroll to go back to where you came from
Load Game: (Offline only) brings up your saved games to load.
Options:   Brings up the Main Screen Options.
Exit Game: Quits to the main menu.


Difficulty Settings:
Adventurous:   Best for beginners, can hit 30-35 in this 
	difficulty.
Courageous:   Best for level 25-45, can hit level 55 in this 
	difficulty.
Champion:     Best for level 45-65, can hit level 70 in this 
	difficulty.
Legendary:   Best for level 65-80, can hit level 80 in this 
	difficulty.
Epic: (ONLINE ONLY) Harder then Legendary setting. 

*******************************************************
**	5.00 CHARACTERS
*******************************************************

Six different characters can be used in this game.   
They all have pluses and minuses.   Read the description of each 
character in the game, to find what they are good at.   Match these 
strengths and weaknesses to your style of game play.   Four of the 
character classes can have both male and female characters; the two 
new ones for this game only have male characters.   
The male and female character have the same skills, they just look 
different.   The new ones for the RTA game are the Iksar Shaman, 
and the Vah Shir Berserker.

** Iksar Shaman **
He is a big green lizard dude.   You can customize his skin and his 
horns.  This character is more of a spell caster then a melee fighter.   
This seems to be a favorite character for many people.  The newness 
of this character over the old CON characters might be part of this 
liking.  The Shaman can summon a pet badger.  The looks of the 
character and the voice are very appealing.  He cannot use a bow, 
but can use throwing axes.   The Shaman has the best-looking 
BLOCK/Jump option.  He spins around backwards.  This seems to get 
him very far back, and out of danger. 

** Vah Shir Berserker **
This is a big cat.  You can customize his fur.  This character is a 
melee fighter.   He is very good at dealing damage but not as good 
at the Barbarian for hand-to-hand combat.  His roars can affect 
teammates, making this a benefit in-group play.  His main ranged 
attack uses throwing axes, which are not as good at bows for the 
Ranger, but still give some variation in game play.  It is nice to 
have a ranged attack. 

** Barbarian Warrior **
This is the best up-front melee/high damage character.  If you are 
going to have a group, you want at least one of these.   The Strong 
Stance is a very helpful spell at higher levels.  Strong stance 
keeps this character from being knocked down, which can be helpful 
if you are using this character as a tank.   They can use all types 
of weapons and armor, which is helpful at times.   

** Wood Elf Ranger **
This character has many buffs that center around a bow.   This is 
one of the best solo characters.  It depends how you tune him, with 
Strength and Dexterity.  Has only four or five main spells that are 
used.  Dual Weld and Critical Hit help with Melee type fights.   
The Ranger cannot use staffs or two-handed weapons. 

** Erudite Wizard **
This character has very powerful spells, but many are relatively 
weak at high difficulty levels.   He does not get any of the melee 
buffs that melee characters get.  This is a very hard solo player.   
This is best in a group, so he can stand back, cast spells, and not 
get into the fray of battle.  CON had many spots to hide behind 
something and cast; RTA does not have many spots to hide behind in 
major battles,   which takes away some of the tricks of this 
character.  The armor for the Erudite is different from the rest of 
the characters.  They do not get the fancy plate armor that the 
others get.   The Erudite is limited on weapons.  They are geared 
for staffs, but other weapons seem to drop more then good staffs 
do.  This character is not recommended for the beginner, or solo 
mode. 

** Dark Elf Shadow Knight **
This character can stun smaller enemies.  The SK is more of a jack-
of-all-trades.  SK does many things, but none powerfully.  One 
benefit is they look cool.  Looking cool does not keep you alive, 
but its better then looking like an Ogre.  SK can summon a pet 
skeleton to fight by his/her side.  The pet is best as a 
distraction for enemies.  This pet just gets killed too fast in 
harder levels, and you are left alone.  

** Human Cleric **
This charter is a mix between spell caster and Melee fighter.   
This character has some nice group healing spells and protection 
spells.   This character has some good damage against undead 
enemies.   About one third of the games bad people are undead.   
This character is limited to blunt weapons.    

********************************************************
**	6.00 EQUIPMENT
********************************************************

There are three major types of equipment.   These are Weapons, 
Armor and Accessories.  Weapons deal out damage.  The more damage, 
the faster the enemies die, and hopefully the longer you live.  
Armor is more subtle.   With armor, there is such a thing as an 
Armor Class, or AC.   The higher the AC numbers the better the 
protection.   There is another thing in RTA that effects armor and 
weapons, and that is gems.   Gems give more abilities to weapons 
and armor.  
Weapons and armor have sockets, which can be customized.  These 
sockets can hold gems, to make the original item better.  In the 
game, you find gems, and then add them to your weapons or armor.
Beware, once a gem is attached to an item, it can not be removed.  

So as you start out.  You break barrels, open chests and kill 
critters.  You pick up stuff.  I pick up EVERYTHING!  This is 
difficult because there is lots of stuff, and with low strength, 
you can only carry a few items.  Therefore, you have to Gate back 
to your hub over and over to unload.  Yes, this is what CON and RTA 
are all about, unless you use cheating-type practices.    That will 
be briefly discussed in another section.  Hubs are places I call 
where you go back over and over again.  Hubs are the major person 
you buy and sell your stuff at.  This game has two main hubs; 
depending on whether you pick the good or evil path through the
game. 

When you get where some member of your party cannot carry any more 
items,  We Gate back to the Hub and start to review the weapons and 
armor we picked up, looking for things that are better then what we 
are using.  It is a long process, but fun.  Sometimes some trading 
can go on, certain good items only work on certain character 
classes.  Just get away from the Non Player Character, (NPC) and go 
back into your inventories, drop stuff on the ground for your 
friend, and pick up stuff he has traded you.  Working as a team is 
very effective.  Slowly you get better and better armor, and better 
and better weapons.  The bad news is the enemies get harder and 
harder, so you need these better items to even have a chance of 
finishing the game.

NOTE:   There is also an issue with this game that it only lets you 
hold or carry 64 different items on your accessories screen.   
Sometimes if you cannot pick up potions, or quest items, your 
Accessory screen might be full of junk.   Try to trim down or sell 
stuff that is not needed.     

********************************************************
**	7.00 GAME LAYOUT
********************************************************

Return to Arms is very liner in fashion.  This means you have to do 
section A, before you do section B, And Section B before Section C.   
Some games are freer Flowing, but this game is not that way.   When 
you use the Planar Gateway, you will see different Planes open up.   
Your Hub NPC (Firiona or Natasla) will direct you to the next 
Plane, and tell you why you are going there.

When you beat a Plane, you will see a section to the right or left 
of that Plane's picture in the Planar Gateway that is now 
available.  These sections are called Medal Rounds.  If you do well 
in each Medal Round, you get a Champion Medal.  You do not get a 
physical medal, but it opens up a bonus section next to each Medal 
Round.  It is fun to sometimes go into these medal rounds after you 
have just beaten the Plane, and see some new sections, but I would 
advise trying to do them at the level you just finished.  Some of 
them are hard.  To tell you the truth, I feel some of them are too 
hard.  I suggest saving the harder bonus areas until the end
of the game, right before the last boss.  
At this time, you will be your strongest, with your best spell 
selection and equipment.  It will help very much.  I will try to do 
this FAQ in a linear fashion, to go along with the best way to tackle 
these sections. 

********************************************************
** 	8.00 CHEATING AND MANULIPATION
********************************************************

I really wanted to put this section at the end.   However, the 
walkthrough got too long, that did not seem the best place for it.   
Some of what I am going to talk about will not make sense if you 
did not play the first game, Champions of Norrath (CON).   I am 
sorry for that, but I am not going to explain that entire game to 
you.   CON has some abilities to duplicate items, that make the 
game very easy.   You could import players at any time, drop your 
stuff on the ground, and THEN import that character again, with the 
item still in the players' inventory.  Therefore, you now have 2 of 
an item, then 4, then 8 then 16.   Well you get the idea.   There 
was also a cheat code to bring your character to level 20, with 999 
skill points.   Well 999 skill points was WAY more then you could 
ever spend in 50 or 80 levels.   Therefore, you got EVERY spell and 
ability, when it became available, none of this picking and 
choosing that you always seem stuck with at earlier levels.   

RTA does not have that ability to duplicate stuff anytime you want.   
Or at least at the writing of this, there is not a way.   There is 
ONE time when you can do that, and that is at the start of a new 
game.    So if you are having a strong URGE for skill points, and 
you do not want to get a character up to 40+ levels to get them 
all, you can use CON to help you.   If it is a player that you can 
have in CON, maybe an idea is to create a CON character in the CON 
game, Use the Level 20 Cheat, and then import that player into RTA 
with 999 Skill points.   That is one idea.  

Another thing I might do is do my duplication of gems in CON.   
Gems seen more scarce in the RTA game.   They now have a new thing 
called Figurines.  The bad news is these things weigh a TON.   Well 
maybe not a ton, but 5, 10, 15, 20 pounds each.   There might take 
some special tuning of your equipment to carry all this stuff.   
Therefore, that is another idea, do your character manipulation in 
CON, THEN import that character into RTA.   

I only talk about the above items because I feel this game is VERY 
hard.   It seems that you wade through the normal Plane areas, but 
the Bosses are able to kill you in two hits.   

One thing that this game gives you is the ability to obtain Infinite 
Ability Points.   I will not go into this systematically, but this 
is a good way to boost your strength, stamina, Dex and Intelligence, 
without hours and hours of game play.   The high-level view of this 
trick is, the use of the Medal rounds.  Multiple medal rounds work, 
but we will just use the First one as an example.   During the 
normal game, when you level up, you get 3 ability points per level,
the trick is to NOT spend them.  The trick is to SAVE them for the 
Plane of War, Medal round.    It seems the system saves your current 
attribute levels, and the fact that you still have three (or six or 
nine) to spend.    As soon as you are in control of your character, 
you go into the Menu and level up your attributes.   Then go back to 
the game and just die.  You loose nothing if you die in the medal 
round.   

It will ask you if you want to try again or go back.   Well you 
pick try again, and you will notice that you STILL have the three 
extra ability points to spend, BUT the base ability scores are 
bumped up from last time you did the increase.   Therefore, 
you can spend the same points again.   This is what you do,   
Over and Over and Over and Over.      
Other people have gotten the great idea that if it 
works with 3 point, what about 6, 9, or 12.   Yes it does.  
Therefore, some people just save TONS of ability points, and then 
raise there skills 12 at a time.   

I did this character manipulations and maximization to some of my 
characters, and it can be fun.   I usually put my points into 
stamina, so I can make mistakes and still stay alive.   I hate 
dieing, but I like some element of risk.   Some of the Medal rounds 
in this game are VERY tough.   I have taken a higher-
level character, with some of the abilities pumped up, and go back 
into them and try it then.   This was the only way I could win one 
of them, Called Soulbreak.   

So that is my section on Cheating and Manipulation.   Many people 
frown on this if you are going to take your characters online.  I 
never go online with PS2 games, so I do not worry about this.  

********************************************************
** 9.00 	WALKTHROUGH
********************************************************
** 9.01 	PLANE OF TRANQUILITY 
********************************************************
Monsters: 	None
Chests: 	0
Bosses:		None
Noteworthy:  	Home of Firiona Vie, portal, save point, Planar 
		Gateway. 

Walkthrough:   In the CON game, the location of the shop moved from 
one area to another as you progressed through the game.   So you 
could not put stuff on the ground, and use it in later Sections   
In RTA, the shops/hubs stay in 2 places, but you cannot use the 
ground as a holding area for cool stuff.  Some times, it stays 
where you put it, and sometimes it is gone.  Firiona Vie was a 
Character in the last game (CON).   She was held captive by the 
Evil Lord Innoruuk in CON.   You freed her right before you went 
back and had the last boss fight with him.    In that ending 
of CON, Lord Innoruuk blew up into a thousand Pieces.   Well it 
seems maybe like 10 or 12 shards.   These shards of Innoruuk can be 
brought back together, and the Dark Lord can be raised from the 
dead to create trouble once again.  

Look through Firiona's shop.   Get use to the idea of selling and 
buying stuff.  I usually save right before I sell stuff, in case I 
make a mistake.  I also save right before I go back into a plane, 
just incase there is something nasty there.  Remember that you 
cannot use the ground in your HUB area to hold stuff.   
Using the ground is risky, but it sometimes works.   However, 
you might not want to do that just yet.  Your hub MIGHT change.  

Look around, you have a portal, which can transport you between 
planes and locations.   It is that stand with the BIG diamond on 
top.   You have a save Point.   Save points are places you show up 
if you die, if you are in a team.  Make sure you run up and touch 
the portal to activate it.  Make sure you run up and touch all save 
points to set a checkpoint.   Save the game. 

The Planar Gateway behind Firiona looks broken, and it is broken 
until you talk to her.   Once you get your mission, run up to it 
again.  It will now go together, and start to function.   The Plane 
of War is the only option, pick that and start the blood 
shed.  

***************************************************
** 9.02 	Plane of War 
***************************************************

Area 1: 	Lost Battle Ground 
Monsters: 	Kobolds, Large Kobolds, Kobold Shamans, wraiths
Chests: 	18
Bosses:  	Two mini bosses
Noteworthy: 	Natasla, Good Gate, Evil gate, save points

Walkthrough:   This is our first area of real fighting.   Make sure 
you know what buttons do what on your controller.  Make sure you 
look at your map.   Make sure you know what items on your map mean.  
It shows copper colored dots for save points.   It shows blue dots 
for Portals. 
As you move forward, you should see save points appear on your map. 
Now I will talk about another technique I use in dungeons.   We 
call this technique HAND ON THE WALL (HOTW).   You just follow the 
wall, and let the game map in the perimeter of the area.   You do 
not go through any doors, portals, or long passages, until the 
entire area is mapped in.   Some areas of RTA work very well for 
this technique, other areas do not.   But that is how I will work 
through this Walkthrough.   I will usually start at the entrance 
to each level, and put my left hand on the wall, speaking in 
theory only, and walk around the entire Area.   This will usually 
take me in a clockwise direction.   

Therefore, Hand on the Wall (HOTW), Can help you find items when 
you have to collect a set.   Because this is the first area, we 
will talk about Combat Techniques.  Right now, you have crappy 
armor and weapons.   However, as soon as you start smacking barrels 
and opening chests, you will get different armor and weapons.  If 
they show up in your inventory as red, you cannot use them.  There 
can be two reasons for this, your character cannot use them, or 
they are beyond your level.
   
If your character cannot use them, it MIGHT be best to sell them.   
However, some people trade them to other players, or they save for 
some other character they want to start.   Move slowly, because 
movement will initiate enemies to run in your direction and attack 
you.   Remember to use your save points.   Remember how to drink a 
health potion.   Start to move forward slowly.     Remember your 
Block button, practice with it.   Remember your block and Jump back 
buttons, practice with them. 

You will notice fires in this area.    They are so pretty; just do 
not stand in them.   You will watch your health decrease.   In 
addition, you will notice a smaller wooden barrel that you can 
light.   Make sure you pay attention to the look of this barrel.   
If you are hit by a powder keg later in the game, you will notice a 
health decrease.   It is also very fun to light these kegs and push 
them next to your friends.  

As you work your self around the area, you will come to a woman 
called Natasla.   This is now decision time.   If you stick with 
Firiona Vie, you will stay on the good path, and the Plane of 
Tranquility will be your home shop/Hub.    If you pick to side with 
Natasla, You hub will move to the Plane of Fear in the future.   
You will be taking directions from Natasla for the rest of the 
game.  Natasla is the evil side of the game, Firiona is the good 
side.  

This walkthrough will assume you stick with the good side in the 
beginning, and remain to side with Firiona Vie.  You cannot change 
your mind after this point to switch sides.   However, IN the next 
game, we will suggest you switch and try the Evil side.   I will 
start the EVIL walkthrough at the end of this one, taking up from 
the meeting of Natasla, and moving forward. 

Explore all areas.  Collect all money and break all barrels.    Buy 
gate Scrolls and gate back to Firiona and sell your stuff.   Look 
carefully at what she has for sale, because it CHANGES.    Some 
times, you will get a RARE find.  So look at all the stuff: weapons,
armor, and Accessories.     

Sooner or later, you will find a light gray Kobold who walks up on 
his back legs, this is a Shaman Kobold.  What you will find out is 
they have the power to resurrect the dead kobolds as you kill them.   
Sometimes they resurrect behind you, or all around you.    Learn to 
target these types of threats early in the game.     When you find 
the Diamond toped portal, use that instead of Gate Scrolls to save 
yourself some money.   Portals show up on your map. 

Remember to explore all areas BEFORE you go through the door to the 
next section.   This is a rule for every section.  You want to 
sponge out every bit if gold, experience, and items, before moving 
on.  Some items in the section you are leaving are required for 
later sections.   Make sure your map is fully filled in before you 
go.    You should be level three by now.   This gives you access to 
new weapons and armor that had level three as a 
requirement/prerequisite.   In addition, you MIGHT have spent some 
points on some spells.   Test out your spells on these easier enemies, 
because later sections get harder and harder.  You might want to 
save your ability points for the Cheats and Manipulation tricks of 
this game. 

Area 2: 	Field of Strife (Good) 
Monsters: 	Melee Orcs, Archer Orcs, Shaman Orcs
Chests: 	6
Bosses:		Two Mini bosses.   Just tougher Orcs. 
Noteworthy:	New NPC will open bridges for you.    First labeled 
		boss. 

Walkthrough:   You will see an elf kneeling on the ground, his name 
is Engineer.  He asks you to kill all the Orcs so he can lower the 
bridge.   You will have to charge past the archers and come around 
behind them, the warrior Orcs do not hit very hard, but they hit 
fast, and can lower your Hit points (HP's) fast, and the Orc 
archers hit hard.   You will be best off trying to lure a few of 
them around the corner and taking them out one by one.   After they 
are all dead, Engineer will head up and wait for you at the bridge, 
speak with him and he will lower the bridge and then ask you to 
kill the shamans.   In this section you will find the barrels are 
square boxes, remember to smash them all.    The treasure chests 
are also in small tents.  Make sure you look for these before 
moving on. 

Lure Orcs around corners again and get up to the shamans.   Once 
you are up to one, try to lure the Orcs with him away from him, if 
you do not the shaman will revive them while you are fighting him.   
Once they are all dead. Run up to him and melee attack away, all 
his spells are weak.   Just watch out for his melee attack, which 
is the worst thing he has.    Once both of the Shamans are dead, 
head back to Engineer, and he will lower the bridge, and ask you to 
take out the catapults.   They are both real close to each other, 
and more of the same Orcs guarding them.   
Take out the Orcs.   Get up to the catapult and ignite the ammo 
cart next to them, blowing up the catapults will make Engineer run 
up to the next bridge, and the last one, speak with him to lower it 
and head down the stairs to the War Room once you are ready.  Make 
sure you have collect all the stuff and gold, and you have saved.   
Use the portal to go back to the shop, buy, and sell stuff. 

Area 3: 	Armory/War Room 
Monsters: 	Melee Gladiators, Archer Gladiators, 
Chests: 	3
Bosses:		Rallos Zek.
Noteworthy:	Save Points, Portal, Shard, and nasty Boss. 

Walkthrough:   This section is straightforward.    The boss is at 
the far end.  There is a save right before you go into his area.  
If you see a save point, and you have not done sections behind you,  
go back and explore.    Gladiators are a step up from the Orcs, but 
still manageable.    The good thing is there are many narrow 
passages here, so sometimes they can only come at you one at a 
time.    Some just stay back and watch there friends fight, and 
then die.  Save your game, and enter the lower area.

BOSS:  		Rallos Zek.

This person is big and scary looking.   You are in a small pit with 
nowhere to run.   Do not get stressed out.   This person is very 
slow, even with my fat fingers and slow reflexes, I beat him.    It 
is easy to get behind him and get a few hits in.   If you are range 
or melee, just run around the area until he sticks his sword in the 
ground.  Once he does wait until the ring starts to go away, once 
it does, run up to him and hit him a few times.   Then just run 
around again, and repeat.    Drink health potions and mana while on 
the run, and watch for his pattern.   He has a high AC count so 
ranged might have a hard time hitting him, do not worry though, you 
still can.   Once he is dead, pick up everything and the shard, 
then port back to the Plane of Tranquility through the portal.   
You cannot get back up the stairs, so you are stuck using the 
portal.   That's whys it is important to do all your exploring 
before you step down into his area. 

NOTE:   You will get a message that your Medallion Round is opened 
up.   This can be accessed with the Planar Gateway.   If you just 
want to check it out one time, go ahead.   However, it is 10 times 
tougher then Rallos Zek.     The plan is to wait for it until we 
are tougher.   The Medallion Rounds can be visited at any time in 
the game, so wait and save your energy for when you are best 
prepared with skills, weapons, and armor, which is usually the end 
of the game. 

******************************************************
** 9.03 GOOD - Plane of Innovation 
******************************************************

Area 1: 	Plane of Innovation 
Monsters: 	Hammer Clockworks, Archer Clockworks 
Chests: 	6
Bosses:		None
Noteworthy:	Save points, NPC Gnomes, elevator.

Walkthrough:   After shopping in the Plane of Tranquility, you will 
need to come here.   The Clockworks here are slow moving.  They 
seem to have high AC to block your ranged attacks.  In addition, 
they hit hard in Melee if they get that close.   Spells are the 
best thing here because you can stand back. Also, The Hammer 
Clockworks will sometimes stand there and wobble after you kill 
them, if they do this, get away from them, they MIGHT blow up.  Use 
spells to wear down there health, then melee to finish them off.   
You are looking for a Gnome called Nitram.   He wants a thing 
called a Copper Sprocket.

Look around the level for chests and barrels, killing clockworks 
for XP.   You will need to get to the elevator to go to the next 
level, but make sure you have this level fully mapped before riding 
the elevator down.   Do not worry about the Copper Sprocket; you 
will not get it until the end of the Plane of Innovation.

Area 2: 	Mines Level 1 
Monsters: 	Hammer Clockworks, Archer Clockworks, Droids
Chests: 	5
Bosses:		None.
Noteworthy:	Save points, 

Walkthrough:   In this dark, underground mine.  There is a new 
enemy here, the Droid.   These one of the easiest monsters in the 
game, as long as you spot them.   They are rather small, and all 
they do is run up to you and light themselves.  They try to get next 
to you and blowing up.  They have very low HP, and once they light, 
they usually stand still.    Make sure you are not next to them, or 
destroy them first. 
This area is straight forward, so just map out the entire area, and 
once done find the ladder down to the next level.  Killing and 
looting as you go.   The ladder to go down is in one of those 
square holes in the ground, is it possible to walk right by it, but 
it will show up on your map as an exit point if you do.  Once 
finished with this entire area, go down the Ladder. 

Area 3: 	Mines Level 2 
Monsters: 	Hammer Clockworks, Archer Clockworks, Droids
Chests: 	3
Bosses:		None.
Noteworthy:	Save point, NO copper sprocket. 

Walkthrough:   This level is much like the level above it.   Now it 
seems the enemies stand in groups of threes, which can be a tougher 
fight.   I try to get to one side or the other, to force them to 
stand in front of each other.   Then only one can hit you at a 
time.   It buys you some time and they position themselves around 
their partner in crime.   You will find an elevator but to not use 
it yet, you have to prepare.   You will not have found the Copper 
Sprocket yet, it is at the surface on the boss.   Gate back to 
Firiona and get prepared for a long hard fight.   When you come 
back, save, and go into the elevator.   There is a very hard boss 
coming up.  I stock up on health potion and mana potions.

Area 4: 	The Surface 
Monsters: 	Iron Guardian, Droids
Chests: 	0
Bosses:		Iron Guardian
Noteworthy:	Hard boss fight and some better drops. 

Walkthrough:  Iron Guardian
When the battle starts, charge at him, but do not get too close!
Stay just outside of his melee range, if you are then he will try 
to melee you, and will not use his ranged attacks.  His range 
attack is a shower of arrows that follow you as you run.   There is 
no place to hide.  Keep moving because of the Droids.

Learn his attacks, sometimes he will swing with both his arms, or 
one at a time, which is what you are looking for.   When he does 
it, get around to his back before he finishes his second swing, and 
hit him a few times.  Then get out of there before he finishes his 
attack, because he will just swing behind himself, and smack you.   
Another thing if you are a spell caster is just run around him and 
cast.  Look for his patterns, and do not get to close, but do not 
get too far.    I just keep running around him, and cast and drink 
Mana and health potions, and next thing I know he is dead.  Droids 
can hurt him if they blow up next to him.   Make sure you pick up 
the Copper Sprocket from the boss.   You will die a few times 
trying this boss, but it is doable with an eighth level character. 

Once he is dead, use the planar gateway and go to Plane of 
Innovation.   If you did not activate the portal, go to Tranquility 
and go to the Planar Gateway, and pick Plane of Innovation, if you 
pick anywhere else, you will lose everything that you did in the 
Plane of Innovation.

You are trying to get back to the Gnome that sent you on this wild 
goose chase.   Give the gnome the Copper Sprocket, and he gives you 
the Shard of Innovation.   You are now done with this Plane, and 
the next one should open up.  It will also open up a Medallion 
round, but we are saving those for the end. 

**********************************************
** 9.04 GOOD - Norrath: Pit of Ill Omen 
**********************************************

Area 1: 	Kerriel's Cave 
Monsters: 	Froglocks
Chests: 	4
Bosses:		None
Noteworthy:	Kerriel, boat, Save Points.  

Walkthrough:   The Froglocks are frogmen and you can imagine.   This 
level has no tricks to it.   We will stop telling you to explore 
all sections before leaving; you are a veteran adventurer now.   
You should be upgrading your armor and weapons as you go along, so 
this should not be that tough of an area.  Once you get to the end 
of the cave, you will meet the mermaid, Kerriel.   She has lost her 
Conch Shell.  She will send you to visit three Cyclops, who try to 
kill you of course.    There is not a place to re supply before the 
boss, so if you want to visit the shop, do it now with a Gate 
scroll.  Use the boat to head to the Solitary Eyeland, where a boss 
is waiting.

Note:   The Conch will come off the last Cyclops killed, so you can 
do these islands in any order.  I just follow the list from top to 
bottom. 

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