Arena - Who's still playing?

[水晶の伝説]

I've begun playing Arena this week. After escaping the Imperial Dungeons and doing some random quests in Chaseguard, my Bosmer ranger is at level 4. My next step will be Stonekeep and then to the Fang Lair, to find the first piece of the Staff of Chaos.

[Br3admax]

Good luck my friend, seriously you need LUCK, the attribute. That game is HARD.

[水晶の伝説]

I noticed it when I played the first thousand times and got killed at the Imperial Dungeons , but now it seems I've got the hang of it.

Aldion's to-do list:
- parchment: got
- Stonekeep: looted
- some ghoul asses: kicked

He's now in Elinhir and will spend there a week doing some random quests in order to gather some gold as his weapons are being repaired. Next stop: Fang Lair!

[Elrohir]

Finally, fully configured and running!
Stonekeep cleared! Heading to Fang Keep now. Actually, just a little stop to retrieve Chrysamere, but
Soon returning to that dwarven keep to grab the first piece!
I remember this game and Daggerfall from my youth… playing it again let good memories to surface

[lostlast]

It's an awesome game. Many, many fond memories. Long live TES!!

[Br3admax]

I will play this game for the rest of my life... which is about the amount of time it will take for me to finish it.

[DaedraPuppet]

My God it has been so long since I last played Arena! thank you for reminding me.

[Unionhack]

Only beat it once. I want to go through it again for the hell of it xD

[Goldfish]

I tried playing it a couple years ago but it annoyed and frustrated me to no end. I only made it a few feet beyond the starter dungeon before I uninstalled it I'm glad other people seem to enjoy it though ! After all, without arena there'd be no skyrim!

[wildespace]

I like it how the guys at Bethesda just wanted to make an arena combat game, but decided to put a few quests and characters in, then added some more, and more, and The Elder Scrolls were born.

[Aquaflute]

I started playing last week along with Daggerfall after finding out these games can be installed easily to widows now. I'm playing Altmer battlemages in both games. I am glad I read the hints on USEP first (saving often, make useful spells etc.) because I don't ever think I could ever enjoy and continue the game without having a good start. That being said I'm having a ton of fun with the games so far. My Arena Character Zulmar is level 5 and he is looking for his first Oghma Infinium somewhere in Summerset Isles right now.

A few things that I really love about arena: leather armor looks best in this game (compared to later installments), having the option to visit all of Tamriel (After 6 years of playing Elder Scrolls, I finally got to visit the places I've always wanted to!), moderate difficulty (Daggerfall is a bit too hard, still fun but I definitely prefer Arena in this aspect), very good gameplay flow (layered dungeons, city quests that introduce you around the places etc.).

[deathm00n]

There's no need anymore to have that annoying DOSBox? Might give it a try, my ps3 just broke, and my pc can't handle newest games, the last was skyrim and it have lags

[Aquaflute]

There's no need anymore to have that annoying DOSBox? Might give it a try, my ps3 just broke, and my pc can't handle newest games, the last was skyrim and it have lags

They are still using DOSBox system and I would advise you to check the dosbox config file to tweak a few things for optimal experience. But the installer (links can be found in USEP) basically gave you an easy shortcut so you only have to install the game and double-click the icon to start the game.

[deathm00n]

There's no need anymore to have that annoying DOSBox? Might give it a try, my ps3 just broke, and my pc can't handle newest games, the last was skyrim and it have lags

They are still using DOSBox system and I would advise you to check the dosbox config file to tweak a few things for optimal experience. But the installer (links can be found in USEP) basically gave you an easy shortcut so you only have to install the game and double-click the icon to start the game.

Like the games from GOG.com then, nice, when they released arena and daggerfall for free I couldn't configure it right

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I have to admit, I gave this game a try last year and got much farther than on previous attempts, but the level scaling past level ten is just ridiculous. I thought a Nord Barbarian would be a safe bet, but I was getting stomped in dungeons. I only got two pieces of the Staff of Chaos. What's the strongest and easiest character build to go all the way with? I'd like to say I beat it at least once so I can proceed to Daggerfall.

[Br3admax]

I always play with a Breton, of a class that tries to maximize stats. That means I pick a skill from each skill tree and try to level like crazy. UESP has a guide for it, I believe. Also, there is no level scaling. The hardest enemies of the game can be found in the starter dungeon.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

There are skills in this game? Are you sure you played the same game as I did? You may be thinking of Daggerfall. Arena only has fixed classes, like DnD.

[Br3admax]

Eh, then you're boned.

Just make sure you actually have Magicka and go to the Mage's Guild often(I think it still has one, might be thinking of Daggerfall again.) Otherwise keep your ear to the ground and hope that one of the millions of NPCs knows where the artifacts are.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Oh, there's a Mages' Guild. I bought lots of healing potions there to try to get through Labyrinthian, but every time I rounded a corner or slept there were giant spiders or plate armored knights. The latter hit harder but the former paralyze me for like a minute while they slowly eat me alive :/

Any particular magic class you'd recommend, then? UESP makes the claim that Nightblades and Sorcerers have some advantages. I dunno though. Being paralyzed constantly is my biggest gripe, and I just read that Knights are immune.

edit: Seriously, I'm actually disappointed at how pathetic my Barbarian is at higher levels. His Strength and Endurance are maxed out and his Speed and Agility are very good, but he just gets destroyed. He has a frigging Dai-Katana enchanted with fire damage and several enchanted armor pieces, and still dies :/

[CBR JGWRR]

How do I get past the first rat? I get the ruby key, open the lock, and there's an invincible rat or even worse goblin there, and I just get killed...

Altmer Spellsword.

[Br3admax]

Right click, swing. That should be it. Rats are easy, for me anyway. Now the occasional knight that pops up from nowhere in the starter dungeon, that makes me angry.

[CBR JGWRR]

I know it should be right click swing, but the thing just does not die... like I'm not even hitting hit.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Finally..someone who sucks at this even more than I do! That makes me feel better about my chances. Maybe I'll make a new character and try it one more time.

As for your problem - the depth in this game can be wonky. What weapon did you say you were using? I usually just keep the attack button held down and swing the mouse around until something dies.

[CBR JGWRR]

The starting dagger...

All I got with the loot pile on the exit of the starting cell was a helmet I wasn't allowed to equip or take...

[Br3admax]

You are too close to it.