I started playing Arena several months ago and chose to play as a Healer. I can only use weapons like flails, maces, staves and daggers.

As I have progressed through the game and have leveled up, I have gotten increasingly stronger in melee combat, and have spent most of my experience points building up intelligence and buying spells.

I had gotten 5 pieces of the staff and was having fun.

Now I have progressed to the point where I am level 15 and can't seem to harm any of the regular monsters (mostly golems) in my current dungeons. My weapons don't do any damage. My spells (when the work) drain my spell bar in only a few attempts. I literally save every other minute and die even more frequently than that.

In short, I am not having fun. Sadly though, I am one of those freaks who must finish a game once I've started it.

Apparently the strategy I have been using (which mostly consists of bashing monsters with my flail while healing when need be) has ceased to be effective.

I was wondering if any one out there who has beaten the game with a mage/healer class character could give me any pointers. Should I be avoiding all combat at this point through the use of invisibility spells? Are there great offensive spells that I must be overlooking that don't completely drain my bar in two uses?

I realize that I could spend several weeks plugging away at killing lower level monsters to build experience or go on an artifact quest, but I would love to avoid that if possible because I'm really starting to hate this game.

I have yet to find any kind of high level armor or weapon that I can actually use or wear, and all the shops that supposedly sell mithril weapons don't seem to have any when I go there.

Sorry for the rant, but if anyone has some constructive input, I would love to hear it.

Now I have progressed to the point where I am level 15 and can't seem to harm any of the regular monsters (mostly golems) in my current dungeons. My weapons don't do any damage.

You need mithril or better to damage the higher-level critters.

My spells (when the work) drain my spell bar in only a few attempts.

Create your own custom spells that make better use of your spell points. Also carry lots of Potions of Restore Power.

Sadly though, I am one of those freaks who must finish a game once I've started it.

You're right after my own heart.

Should I be avoiding all combat at this point through the use of invisibility spells?

Nah.

Are there great offensive spells that I must be overlooking that don't completely drain my bar in two uses?

Try some self-designed offensive spells.

I realize that I could spend several weeks plugging away at killing lower level monsters to build experience or go on an artifact quest, but I would love to avoid that if possible because I'm really starting to hate this game.

You would really hate it if you did that.

I have yet to find any kind of high level armor or weapon that I can actually use or wear, and all the shops that supposedly sell mithril weapons don't seem to have any when I go there.

Bad luck, I'd say. If you don't want to be doggedly persistent, the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Arena:Arena has a section describing hundreds of equipment shops' inventory (see the "Items" section). I guarantee you can quickly find a very good weapon.

Thanks for the advice!

Spellmaker is something I hadn't tried, quite frankly because I wasn't sure how to use it and figured I would be okay with the ready-made spells. I will look into them if you say it helps.

As far as the UESP wiki goes, that is the exact equipment guide I've been using. I go to the correct province, then town, then store, and the items in that shop won't come close to matching what is on that item guide. Not only will the mithril and ebony items not be there, the shop will have other items not listed at all in the wiki. I use the map coordinates and right click on the shop door to be exactly sure it's the correct store, but I still encounter this problem. If I didn't know better, I'd say that this game randomly reassigns equipment to stores per game.

Do I need to be a particular level to see mithril items in stores? I have been to dozens of shops and the most advanced material I have come across is silver.

I havent viewed my own sig in a LONG time but maybe the manual might help? Or maybe its for those who is starting out, I'll look at it again,. Sorry if it doesnt help your needs :shrug: I have to get back on this game, its been a year or something lol

As far as the UESP wiki goes, that is the exact equipment guide I've been using. I go to the correct province, then town, then store, and the items in that shop won't come close to matching what is on that item guide. Not only will the mithril and ebony items not be there, the shop will have other items not listed at all in the wiki. I use the map coordinates and right click on the shop door to be exactly sure it's the correct store, but I still encounter this problem. If I didn't know better, I'd say that this game randomly reassigns equipment to stores per game.

I have played the game many times, and the equipments stores are seeded the same for me every time. I'm not sure what you're experiencing. Note that you will see only equipment that you are capable of equipping, so as a Healer you will not see longswords, plate armor, etc.

What version of the game are you playing? The d/l'ed one?

Do I need to be a particular level to see mithril items in stores?

No.

If you hadn't said so I'd swear you were talking about Daggerfall and not Arena. Daggerfall does exactly as you are describing.

Ha! I don't blame you for asking, but I am indeed playing Arena. It is the version downloaded directly from this site.

Here is a direct example of what I'm talking about:

I see that on the guide there is a Mithril Cuirass at Vintage Merchandise in Thorstad Place, Hammerfell. After arriving in town, I go to the coordinates (84,13) and click on the shop door to make sure that it is indeed Vintage Merchandise. When I attempt to buy armor there and scroll all of the way down, the only cuirasses I find are leather and chain.

While I am here, I look at weapons. I see that there is a Silver Dagger of Shock Resistance. When I cross-reference the UESP guide, I notice that there isn't a single Dagger of Shock Resistance in stock in the entire game. Furthermore, there are no Daggers being listed as sold in Thorstad Place at all.

I have done the same thing with a mithril flail, and an ebony mace. When I get to the store, they are not on the shelves.

There is no way that someone created an entire item guide if the items are randomly generated. Therefore, I must be doing something wrong. For the life of me, I can't think of what it is!

Since you say that items unavailable to you do not show up in the store inventory, I am wondering if for some reason a wood-elf healer can not wear/ wield mithril or ebony? It seems unlikely that this is the case.

ah ha that means your class cannot wear plate mail and therefore it does not come up in stores, the weapons should still appear though, but if you can only use certain weapon types (likee longswords) then only the ones you can used will come up.

i have used that guide many a time its always good for me.

Ha! I don't blame you for asking, but I am indeed playing Arena. It is the version downloaded directly from this site.

It is refreshing to deal with someone who doesn't take these questions personally.

ee that on the guide there is a Mithril Cuirass at Vintage Merchandise in Thorstad Place, Hammerfell. After arriving in town, I go to the coordinates (84,13) and click on the shop door to make sure that it is indeed Vintage Merchandise. When I attempt to buy armor there and scroll all of the way down, the only cuirasses I find are leather and chain.

Indeed, it as as da mage says, a Healer cannot wear plate armor, which is what everything that is not leather or chain is. You will not find that. I shall update the Wiki to avoid this confusion.

While I am here, I look at weapons. I see that there is a Silver Dagger of Shock Resistance.

That is quite strange, I agree. I went to that store and saw no such dagger. I have no explanation for that.

When I cross-reference the UESP guide, I notice that there isn't a single Dagger of Shock Resistance in stock in the entire game. Furthermore, there are no Daggers being listed as sold in Thorstad Place at all.

Digression: that list is not exhaustive. It includes every store in Hammerfell, Valenwood, Summerset Isle, and Black Marsh. The other provinces are less well represented.

There is no way that someone created an entire item guide if the items are randomly generated.

Well...with the best of intentions, sometimes inductive reasoning fails. When it comes to the Elder Scrolls games, we have to do a lot of it because the manuals are by no means exhaustive. Errors can be made.

Therefore, I must be doing something wrong. For the life of me, I can't think of what it is!

PM me and perhaps we can arrange for you to send me your saved game and I can try it out. I have gotten solutions for folks that way.

Since you say that items unavailable to you do not show up in the store inventory, I am wondering if for some reason a wood-elf healer can not wear/ wield mithril or ebony? It seems unlikely that this is the case.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Arena:Classes#Healers!

Well, I'll be an egg-svcking mule.

It seems that the contents of the stores are somewhat dependent on your class. The extent of the difference I don't know yet, but I will do some research and (eventually) update the Wiki.

How depressing!

GepettoX, if you go to the Imperial City and visit Vintage Sundries (97,48), you will get a useful weapon.