Bare Essentials
RL's are considered, at least by us fans, to be among the toughest RPG's, let alone games, out there. You can play for fun, but winning is so much more fulfilling. So, then, how does one survive, much less win? Survival for individual games is covered in the Beginner's and Advanced tips, winning in the Spoilers. But, a few notes will aid the novice player:

  • First of all, ever since the days of Rogue, there has been a long standing RL rule: you gotta eat. Eat rations, corpses, anything, as long as it won't harm you. Some stuff even gives bonuses upon consumtion...
  • Slow down! RL's are turn-based, meaning you have all the time you need to ponder whether or not that Rock Giant is going to play a little football with your head if it catches you.
  • Which brings me to my next point: run as a strategy. Not ready to fight that Rock Giant? Then, try to avoid him. Want to be a hero? Discretion is the better part of valor, and cowardice is the better part of discretion. In other words, no RL hero ever finishes in a body bag.
  • Still have about 60 items in that pack? Try using 'em. They won't be any good to a corpse.
  • Speaking of which, unless you want to become a corpse, appeal to your diety with a prayer when near death, if that is a feature of the game you're playing. A little divine intervention goes a long way, if your diety isn't ticked at you.
  • I know RL's are more dynamic than most games, but if you've accumulated a magic arsenal, remember to use it. Just knowing a lot of spells won't make you powerful. Using them creatively and appropriately makes you powerful.
  • If you are the kind of person who gets violent when frustrated with a game, consider trying another genre or getting anger management therapy. Even the best will die many deaths, so don't give up!
  • Last, but most important, READ THE MANUAL! I know it's about 50 pages long, and you really want to get started, but what you learn could be vital.