Frequently Asked Questions |
This is a combination of three FAQ's all of which are NOT written by me. The three authors are TheTk, Kellin, and Krawler. I have, however, collected the data, fixed spelling mistakes, edited it, and put it all into one compact page. Read it and enjoy:
3. Traveling
5. Gameplay
1. How do I attack stuff?
Most common way: double click it.
Less common (but more effective way): Click the target and use the attack command (defaulted to 'ctrl+a').
2. How do I loot stuff?
Most common way: double click it.
Less common (but more effective way): Click the corpse and use the "open loot command" (defaulted to 'O')
3. I accidentally closed the "main menu" window. How do I get it back?
Hit esc (default main menu key).
4. How do I re-configure controls/hotkeys?
In the main menu, go to settings, then go to "hotkeys".
5. I just got a new power, do I have to go to the hotkeys menu again to assign a hotkey to it?
No, ctrl+click the power, click "assign hotkey".
6. I can ctrl+click anything?
Yes, most of the time it will give you a menu of options you can do associated with the item you 'ctrl+clicked' like 'right clicking' items in windows.
7. I don't like the shadowbane skin.
You can get a different skin for shadowbane interface.
Shadowbane vault currently has a skin free for download:
"http://sbvault.ign.com/thegame/skins.shtml"
8. How do I keep moving for a long period of time (auto-run)?
There is no auto-run in shadowbane. You can however 'right click' on the mini map and you will move to that location on the mini-map.
9. Is there a world map?
Yes. In the main menu, go to 'windows' then go to 'world map'.
10. My character repeatedly gets stuck by running into trees. How can I make my character move around the tree automatically?
Turn on pathing: /path on
11. I am stuck in a wall/tree/box. How can I get unstuck?
/stuck
12. I don't like where the group window is placed. How do I move windows?
Hold down shift, click the window and drag it.
13. How do I find someone in the game?
Hit 'w' (default 'who' key) to start a 'who' query. Select the 'name' option, type in a name.
14. How do I send someone a message?
/tell Joe hey man!
15. How do I reply to someone without using /tell?
Hit 'r'.
16. How do I make the camera automatically move with my character's movement?
Turn on auto-tracking (main menu > settings > camera control > auto-track).
17. Can I lock the camera so it doesn't move every time my mouse hits the edge of the screen?
At the moment, no.
18. Is there a Friends List?
No. However it is on a recommended to implement list the devs do have (feedback from beta). In the interim there is a "Heraldry List" you have access to under your guild options menu. If you target someone you want to make a "friend" and drag the target box Heraldry to the Heraldry List window it will add their name to your list, so you can at least remember how to spell their name.
19. Can I filter out any chat messages?
A. Yes. On the upper left hand corner of the chat windows click the button, then choose "channels" you can turn on or off any channel filter you want.
20. Can I filter out others damage messages?
A. No. All damage messages come in under the "System" channel, yours included. This was feedback from beta and the devs are aware we'd like more control.
21. I chose an Aracoix character, how can I fly?
A. By default the "PageUp" and "PageDn" keys are the up and down flight keys, these set your "altitude" when flying. Regular movement (Point and click) moves you around while in the air. NOTE: You use a lot more stamina when flying especially when hovering.
1. What's a runestone?
Basically a special trait (costing ability points) you choose during character creation. You can take as many runestones during character creation as you want, but keep in mind that you will receive/find other (better) runestones in the game AND you cannot remove runestones.
2. How do I choose additional runestones? (at character creation)
Click the "traits" button in the bottom left of the screen of character creation.
3. Why would I get runestone at the character creation screen, when they are non-removable, and I can get better, more powerful ones in game?
Well, it's a choice everyone has to make for themselves. Runestones that you choose in the beginning are slightly unique from runestones found in-game in that certain characterr-creation runestones STACK with runestones of similiar effects that may be found at a later time in-game. So, as you see there still is some benefit of getting them early on. Plus, certain runestones that are in the character creation screen CANNOT be found in-game. For those reasons, some people DO choose to take runestones during creation.
4. What "MAX" on a stat mean (ex: MAX Con is displayed when you
hover your mouse over your constitution attribute)?
MAX "stat" means that is the maximum points your character can have in that
stat by using stat points gained each level. Runestones can permanently increase
your maximum. Buffs/Items can temporarily increase your stats.
5. What does "kit" mean?
Determines what items your character will start with. Typically you will have a choice of the type of starting weapon. Ex: if you plan to be an Irekei specializing in daggers, you may want to change the kit to the one that has a dagger.
1. How do I get off noob island?
Talk to the runemaster in town and repledge.
2. How do I travel to other islands without repledging?
Easiest way: find a level 25 healer (that is where you want to go) and ask for a summon. Some healers will expect money for their service.
Harder way: Get a travelers' disc (must be found in the game) and use rune gates.
3. Where do I find the travelers disc?
Last I remember... you have to find some guy (north of Kings Cross) that will tell you what to kill to get the disc.
4. How do I "repledge" to a new town?
A. Talk to the local runemaster near the center of any starting town (-SEE my starter’s guide)
1. Why does my dexterity turn red when I equip armor?
Use of armor has dexterity penalties (to adjust armor factor). Lighter armor gets less penalty, heavier armor gets higher penalties. There are, however, certain types of armors that will have less dexterity penalties than others of the same type.
2. What are stances?
Allow your (melee) character to be in different modes. Normal is how you start with no penalties and no benefits. Precise lets you hit more often but swing slower, offensive increases damage and swing rate but lowers your defense rating, defensive increases your defense rating but lowers your attack rating and makes you swing slower.
3. I want to train in sword past 80% but it says the trainer has taught me all he could. How can I train sword higher than 80%?
Player city trainers. You may have to wait a bit before player city trainers appear since many cities are still being built.
4. What do all the stats control?
A. This is subject of much debate but here's a loose guideline:
Strength - If higher then your Dex provides a bonus to your Attack Rating. Effects your min/max damage for strength based weapons. Adds a small bonus to the percentage of strength based skills.
Dexterity - If higher then your strength adds a bonus to your attack rating. It also adds a bonus to your defense rating. Effects min/max damage for dexterity based weapons (like daggers). Adds a small bonus to dexterity based skills.
Constitution - Adds a bonus to stamina (usually 1 for 1). It also adds a bonus to hitpoints (class/race/level based).
Intelligence - controls your skill cap (how high you can raise your skills). The basic formula is 60 + INT = skill cap (sans any other bonuses the skill will earn from other stats or traits). Also applies a bonus for every 5 or 7 (debateable) points to ALL skills. Controls min/max damage for intelligence based attacks (some spells, some rare weapons).
Spirit - Adds a bonus to mana (class depending).
5. When can I promote to a new class?
A. 10th level. And for the record they are called "professions" not "classes". "Class" is the base level (Fighter/Healer/Rogue/Mage).
6. What are ranks?
A. Rank = your level / 10. So Rank 1 = 10th - 19th level. Rank 2 = 20th -29th level and so on. Represented by the number of class symbols you see beneath the name of your target in your target window.
7. What is a discipline?
A. Read the manual! Disciplines are ways you can further refine your class/profession based on your race and class choices. You can theoretically choose a discipline at 20th level.
8. Where do I train a discipline?
A. First you have to acquire it (this is often what is really being asked). Disciplines are "runes" that drop off of named mobs ONLY in the mainland. The mobs are rare and difficult to kill. Usually requires a full group of rank 2 (20th level or higher) people, some even take a few rank 3 folks. Guilds will often set up cities near key discipline mob areas and protect the spawns religiously. Don't expect there to be a lot of disciplines available until at least a week or two after live when the guilds start trading them for money/other disciplines. Generally you do not acquire the discipline you want until closer to 30th level and it can take even longer for hot disciplines (Bladeweaver, Blademaster, Commander, Archery, and Animator). Average beta trade prices for disciplines were 100k-500k gold pieces depending on the discipline. Start saving now.
1. What is taunt?
Most heavy melee oriented ("tanks") characters will get a ranged taunt. It allows the melee character to pull a mob and attract aggro to him in group battles.
2. What is root/mesmerize/stun/snare?
Crowd control. Root stops the target from moving. Mez stops the target from all actions. Snare slows down the target's movement. Stun completely stops the target's actions/movement. As far as I know, Mez/root are broken if you hit the rooted/mezzed target.
3. Can I solo?
Yes, some classes are better suited to it than others however groups earn FAR FAR FAR faster exp than soloing in shadowbane. This is a game about large group PvP in the long run, best get used to grouping now. This is not a solo friendly game.
4. Why are groups better?
First, safety in numbers. After 20th level on the mainland it's open season free for all conflict. Having a large group means more folks to defend you when under attack by other people.
Second, there is only a very minor exp penalty to grouping, very very very minor. So minor that you practically get the same exp for each kill in a group that you would if you killed it solo. EXCEPT when the monsters the group is fighting are too easy to kill for a member of the group (someone is too high a level) OR if you are significantly lower level than the highest level member of the group (you can get a serious reduction in exp for being too low).
The most efficient groups are those where just about every member is the same level or, post 20th, the highest level member is only 5 or 6 levels above the lowest. You want to either find a camp where all mobs con blue (roughly the same level/rank) and there are a lot to kill constantly or a good/easy to pull camp of orange/low red mobs.