Character Creation Help

If you are reading this, you're probably already aware of what the Carrion Fields are. But just in case you are not, the Carrion Fields are a text-based roleplaying game, meaning that we do not have pretty pictures or graphics. So be prepared to read and write a lot.

If that doesn't turn you off from the game, great, you're ready to jump into the game and start exploring. Except that between here and there, there are a number of steps and tips that would make your first character on CF a better experience.

The button on the right of the website, "Connect," will connect you with CF through basic telnet. While many do use simple telnet to play, others prefer the customization offered by programs such as ZMUD, GMUD, *tin, and Rapscallion. Each of these allow a player to create hotkeys and shortcuts. While often helpful to the more experienced player, they are less useful to one just learning the game, such as yourself.

So, beginning the game. After clicking on Connect, a new window will open. Go ahead and do that now. You are now being asked by which name you wish to be mourned; this is game asking for your character's name.

The Carrion Fields has a number of rules in place regarding names, intended to provide a more immersive atmosphere. For this reason, words from the dictionary (Killer, Bloodlust), alternative spellings (Vyper, OrcKilla), literary characters (Aragorn, Drizzt), or historical figures with strong connotations (Stalin, Hitler), are not permitted.

Choose a name that fits the atmosphere of the Carrion Fields, a high magic medieval themed world.

After confirming that your wish to create a new character by answering yes, check your name against the questions asked. If you have followed the suggestions listed here, you can truthfully answer each, and begin the character creation process.

The next step is to create a password for your character, which will be requested twice, to ensure that it was entered correctly.

After you have entered your chosen password for the second time, you will be asked if you are new to the Carrion Fields, or to mudding in general. Be sure to answer yes. By doing so, you will recieve more assistance within the game.

You are now being asked to pick a race for you character. It would be highly recommended that you choose human for your first character. Humans lack any strength or weakness, and are able to gain experience quickly.

The next question is what you wish your gender to be, male or female. As the choice is largely a matter of roleplaying, it would be best if you selected your own gender, at least for your first character.

After selecting your gender, you are presented with a list of classes available. Some races are unable to choose some classes, though humans, which you selected, can choose the greatest number. You will notice the list of classes has been divided into two sections; those at the top are easier to learn, and suggested for those new to the Carrion Fields. It is suggested that you choose warrior, as warriors are very strong and survivable at the lower levels, and are effective both with others, and alone.

The next question is what you wish your primary statistic to be. Only human and half-elf and half-drow warriors are asked this question, and it allows for a greater degree of customization within the race. Any of the six statistics, strength, intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution, and charisma, can be chosen, but in your case, choose strength. A higher strength allows a character to hit harder, and more frequently, as well as wield heavier weapons.

The rolling process: This is the most difficult and time consuming part of character creation. It should be your goal to get as many of the statistics as high as possible, particularly your strength, constitution, wisdom, and intelligence. Your strength will adjust how hard you hit, your constitution affects how many hit points (health) you gain per level, and your wisdom and intelligence influence how quickly you learn new skills. In this case, try to get those four, str, int, wis, and con, at 17 or higher on the same roll. When you, enter yes to accept them. This should take no longer than a few minutes to roll acceptable stats.

When done, your screen should look like this:

13str 16int 15wis 16dex 15con 15chr Accept these stats? n
17str 16int 13wis 16dex 14con 14chr Accept these stats? n
15str 15int 13wis 18dex 20con 15chr Accept these stats? n
18str 14int 14wis 13dex 14con 13chr Accept these stats? n
16str 13int 16wis 14dex 18con 18chr Accept these stats? n
19str 14int 13wis 15dex 17con 16chr Accept these stats? n
13str 18int 13wis 15dex 18con 17chr Accept these stats? n
16str 13int 16wis 14dex 16con 18chr Accept these stats? n
18str 17int 15wis 17dex 19con 17chr Accept these stats? n
18str 15int 16wis 15dex 17con 18chr Accept these stats? n
13str 14int 16wis 18dex 18con 13chr Accept these stats? n
17str 14int 17wis 16dex 16con 17chr Accept these stats? n
18str 17int 17wis 16dex 19con 16chr Accept these stats? y

After finding yourself an acceptable set of statistics, such as the final line shown above, you will be asked to choose your alignment (good, neutral, or evil). While some races (elves, dark-elves, gnomes, and others) and classes (anti-paladin, paladin) are limited to certain alignments, a human warrior may choose any they wish. For your purposes of getting a first taste of the Carrion Fields, choose neutral. You will be able to fight an non-player character (NPC) of any alignment, and you will be able to travel with any other character, regardless of their own alignment.

Based upon your choice of alignment, you are now offered a set of hometowns to choose from. Galadon is the largest, most populous, and the most centrally located city, so choose it.

Once you have selected Galadon as your hometown, you will be asked your ethos, orderly, neutral, or chaotic. Select neutral, again, simply for the freedom it grants you, as you are not held to any particular frame of mind.

As a warrior, you will then be asked your preferred weapon. Swords are the most common, and perhaps most popular, weapon in the Carrion Fields. Select sword to be your preferred weapon. This will also be the weapon you begin the game with.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a character in the Carrion Fields.

Epilogue:
Once your character has been created, you should enter the Academy to learn the basic commands in the Carrion Fields. For this character, I would recommend you initially train your Wis once, your Con twice, practice whichever weapon (sword) you chose during the character creation process, and defensive skills like parry and shield block. After that, let your own experience guide you!

Be sure to look through our Carrion Fields Beginner's Guide for more help.