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Dungeons and Dragons (DDO) Gold Plat info | | Taken From guides.ign.com
The Beginning: Upper Crypts
Welcome to the land of Baele! Even though you start off in the crypts where you were buried, it's nice to be alive again. After a brief introduction by one of the good guys in Baele, you'll be free to move around. This area has no enemies until you move further. Get used to the camera controls and how your character moves. When you're ready, toggle your map (push down on the right analog stick) and swing your camera so that the heros' four graves are south. Think of this area as the number "9". You start off on the bottom tip of it and you must work your way around it. There aren't split paths--just rocks and stuff that get in your way. If they do, just move around them.Having said that, venture on!
To the upper-left of the tombs is a tutorial. By all means, go through it. It's self explanatory and when you're done, you'll be that much better off than when you started. Okay that was fun. Continue forward the way opposite the tutorial. There is a door that blocks your way and a lever nearby it that opens it. Once past the door, take note of your map until you start traveling north. Before you do, take a good look at the map. It should look a bit funny if you examine it closely. It leads to a secret area and you can access it by smashing the wall apart. If you're still having trouble locating it, hug the wall on the south side until you find it. After that, head up north until you reach a fork in the road that leads west.
This small alcove in the west that leads to a save point and you'll enter a cutscene with the same cleric, informing you about the Soul Shards. Save if you wish and then head back out and continue venturing north.
"Stupid bug! You go squish now!"
-Homer Simpson
By now you're probably tired of hacking and slashing spiders. After the save point, you'll encounter hobgoblins. They are much stronger than the spiders in comparison. A good strategy is to lure one away from the group and attack them separately. After you've cleared out this group, march north until you reach another fork, this time leading north-west and north-east. Head up north-west first to clear out some enemies and gain some XP and to discover that the bridge has been torn down. Beware of the hobgoblin shooting arrows at you from the other side and then make your way back to the north-east split.
Keep heading north until you reach the corner and have go west. Before you do, there is another secret alcove in the corner. Again, look at your map to see for any imperfections. North from the broken bridge is another alcove where you'll encounter some undeads. This area also activates a cutscene with a Vasak, the caretaker of the crypt. Be sure to have a key though, or else you can't enter. Continue on south by crossing a bridge. When you reach the end, there will be a Fountain of Health and along side by it is the exit. Before you do, go west. There are two more secret areas for you to uncover if you wish. Just hug the wall and look at your map carefully to locate them.
The Middle Crypts
This area is shaped like a "L", capitalized. You start off at the top and then make your way around a bend down south. Adjust your mini map by having the save point facing south. Vasak also has some equipment for sale. If you did well in the last stage and didn't suck up too much damage, you might consider saving your gold for later. There's also the chance of you picking up the items Vasak is selling you. Having said that, head out the door beyond Vasak.
The crypts have traps set up in them. An apparatus that pops up from the ground shoots fireballs at you. These are simple to avoid--zoom your camera out and rotate it to see where the traps come up from. Hobgoblins that cast fire magic at you also make an appearance on this level. They can do some damage, but not unless you let them to. Run around them (as with any enemy) and hack'em. When traveling down south past the traps, a secret area resides to the hero's left. Smash'it and then continue on south.
When you see the bridge, stop. Another secret area is to the hero's right when facing the bridge, just a little bit north-west of the bridge. Get lootin' and then cross the bridge. Once across, a pile of boulders block your path. You have to go around them, which means travelling south more. You will also encounter an enchanted hobgoblin shaman. Its attacks are the same, but it has a lot more HP. Whenever you see an enchanted monster, you're on the way to beating the level, which means you're almost done with this stage. Once you make a bend to go back up north toward the pile of boulders, stop and attack the wall to the right (or hug the south wall). There is another secret area for you to uncover and raid. Head back up north when you're done.
As you make your way north, there is an outlet going east. It's backed up by a pair of double doors, which leads to the Magic Repository, along with the Soul Shard. Follow the wall to the hero's left in order to reach it, while clearing out this place of enemies for XP. With nothing else left, get back out and cross the bridge.
The Lower Crypts and the Ankh of Evernyre
You should save your game as soon as you enter this area. The long corridor in front of you (which leads north by the way) is filled with traps. Spiked plates smash together from both sides of the wall as well as fireball being shot through once every few seconds. Timing is the key in order to get past it without sustaining damage.
BR<>Once past the the corridor resides a group of hobgoblins. Hack'em all and then locate a locked door past them. This alcove holds the Ankh, a quest item you need to go on. From facing the doors, head east until you find a lever. Pull it and then head back to the door. Before you enter, follow this alcove on the outer perimeter. Another lever that disables the fire barrier surrounding the Ankh is located along the perimeter, surrounded by barrels of explosives. Throw an item at it to safely discharge it, pull the lever, grab the Ankh, and continue up north.
After hacking and killing, you'll eventually travel east. You'll also deal with a wave of spiders, you'll see a gate. Look to the hero's right on the southern side of the wall to uncover another secret area, containing your second Soul Shard. After that, it's a one way path until you reach the bridge and watch a cutscene. Wow that was unexpected. Anyway, cross the bridge and keep going south, ignoring the exit path to the west. At the end you'll see a Fountain of Health and rare items that you cannot buy here. Grab'em and go back west.
Once you cross the stone bridge, you'll be faced with more spiders and it's unhappy, bigger version of the spider, the super spider. Hack the smaller ones first and then concentrate on the bigger one. It's not too powerful if you keep hacking and slashing it. Once cleared, exit up the staircase to your very first boss.
Boss: The Bulette's Lair
The Bulette is an easy first boss if you know how to attack. Don't stand in front of it--it'll chomp you away or perform a ground stomp that damages your hero. Another attack is its charge. It can be avoided really easily if you zoom out your camera and see when it charges.
Now you should notice its life meter. As with all bosses in this game, if the meter is gold, the boss is imperveous to all attacks. So how do you damage it? Note the five clusters of blue crystals portruding out of the walls. Have the Bulette charge at it which knocks it down. As soon as it is, attack its underside as much as you can before it gets up. Don't worry about having all five clusters being destroyed--it'll weaken it for you to do normal damage. After you defeat the Bulette, an exit reveals to your next area: the swamps.
The Swamps
There are a few things you should know about this level. First off, there are toxic barrels that release a puff of gas when disturbed. This can work against you and towards you, depending on who you want to be targeted. There are also puffs of grass that shoot poison if stepped on. They are a dark yellowish-green, and can get really annoying. To add to more poisoning elements, hobgoblins shoot poisonous arrows at you to further annoy you. Having said that, it's time to continue towards Baele.
Rotate your map so that your starting point is south. The first few steps already have enemies coming at you. Because of the new environment and how soon the enemy attacks you, you might get poisoned easily. It can be cured with time after you cleared out the enemies though. Hug the right wall while going north until you enter this small patchy area that contains another Soul Shard for you to pick up. After you pick it up, continue on north until you reach a cutscene.
Trolls are your next enemies. They may seem intimidating, but they can be brought down quite easily. Find one, isolate it, and keep hacking and slashing at it. Yes, it's HP regenerates, but too slowly for it to save the troll if you keep slicing and dicing it. After you troll encounters, keep on heading up north.
Nearing the end of this level, you'll encounter a Gnome. He informs you that Baele is overrun with monsters and only a shopkeeper and a group of rogues are left. Listen to what he says and then continue on your way until you reach the enchanted troll. Like the enchanted hobgoblin, the troll's attacks are the same, but it has much more HP. This time, it's regeneration can heal it a bit, but if you keep hacking at it, it'll fall apart in no time.
Castle Baele: Market
Save your game behind your hero's starting point, which is south. Go up north the opposite way to enter Castle Baele (or what's left of it). As soon as you enter the walls, you'll be in a long fight to clear out all the enemies here. This stage will be somewhat of a hub, so you might want to get used to it. The Dragon's Tankard, the place for you to meet the Rogues is located on the east side of this map. You might want to head there first and meet up with Lidda, the ringleader.
The Tankard is also filled with locked doors with goodies in them, but it might cost you a few keys. Lidda commands you to clear out all the 15 trolls in the area before you can go on. While you're here, talk to Lidda's goonies: Laundra, Taarian, and Zyn.
As you're clearing out the enemies in the market place, especially the 15 trolls, take note of your surroundings. You're going to have to enter these locked areas later, but not before you complete Lidda's objective. Don't exit this map either without clearing out all 15 trolls--they will respawn back to 15 regardless how many you killed before.
A good strategy is just to kill everything moving in the area so you have nothing to worry about. Before you meet up with Lidda again, find yourself to the Castle Shoppe, located on the northern-west part of the map. Rik, the shopkeeper will sell you items, as well as free advice and information about what has happened. You might want to sell any extra items while you're at it to lighten up your load. Once done, head back to Lidda and obtain the Great Hall Key and enter the Great Hall, just north from the Tankard entrance outside.
Castle Baele: The Great Hall
It's time to find the treasury key. Head up north after saving your game. You'll encounter many, many trolls here, which will gain you much XP. Once out of the entrance alcove, head west and south. You'll face a family of spiders which holds some loot you might want to pick up. Head back the way you came in order to continue.
The trolls across the wall of toppled-over tables can get annoying if they connect with their stone attack. Attack each troll and break away from your combo if you see any stones flying towards you. After this corridor heading west, go up north. Take the first break going east. It'll lead you to a furnace with a lever nearby, behind some barrels. Break the barrels and then flip the switch. Grab the loot that the fire was concealing and then go north. You can go back west later to complete the map, but for now, head east. You might see the other end of the furnace, still active. Continue on until you reach the end with another enchanted troll waiting for you. You can either lure him out back to the furnace and burn it, or you can just use the same strategy and hack him until it dies. Either way, grab the Treasury Key and head back out to the market.
After you complete this task, you'll meet up with the Gnome again. He has some items for sale, which you can either buy or not. Regardless, head back to Rik and show him your new key. Your next target is the Treasury. You need quite a few keys, so you might want to stock up on some if you don't. Oh by the way, enemies have returned in the market, which means more XP.
Castle Baele: Treasury
You'll be introduced to Drolls in this level. Start off going straight (which is west) and killing anything and everything you move. The cages can be opened up by keys, but one of them will be opened up by the Amulet of Jewels Rik gave you. Flip the switches in the cages to lower the bars to the pedestals that have Raise Dead Amulets for you to pick up. Before you enter the cage that the Amulet opened, explore this area for a few more goodies and XP. The Fountains of Health and Mystic Will are also located at the end of the corner if you need to freshen up.
The cage opened by the amulet has two crates. Break it to reveal a secret passage, leading to the Sanitarium. Right in front of you after the passage is your exit. Head up north first to first clear off the enemies for XP and to obtain the Jeweled Sceptre. Before you head back to Rik, go west to pick up another Soul Shard. You can either exit through the way you came, or the closer exit, whichever you prefer.
Rik now informs you that he knows where the second Jewled Sceptre is. It's in the Barracks, and hands over the Moon medallion to you. Before you make haste, sell any items you don't need and enter the Barracks.
Castle Baele: The Barracks
The Barracks is a giant square room, with smaller square rooms within it that represents a soldier's bunk. You start off in the lower right corner and should make your way up. Once you reach the corner, go left a little bit and then smash open the wall up top--it leads to a secret area with lots of goodies for you to raid.
In order to obtain the second Jeweled Sceptre, you need the officer's key. The key is located in the bunk closest to the lower left corner. Obtain the key and then go back right. This larger bunk belongs to the officer's. Inside it are enemies and your quest item. You will also encounter a Mind Flayer. Think of him as a magician, who is also susceptible to your hacking and slashing strategies. Make him to meat if you want, but after you grab it the sceptre, head back to Rik.
Rik praises you again and also burdens you again. He gives you the Sun medallion that leads you to your next area.
Castle Baele: Church of Pelor
Find the warp point and save. From the start point, head to your hero's left and hug the wall until you start going right, which is east. At the very corner you will trigger a secret door that leads to a Soul Shard. Once obtained, head back the way you came and enter the church. Inside is a hack and slash feast. Mind Flayers will be the most annoying as they can use their magic skills to throw vases at you. This place is jam-packed with enemies, which might give you a run for using some healing items, but it's also a great way to gain XP. At the last room in the church is a switch. Flip it and then head back the way you came. Look at your map closely to see the opening to obtain your quest item and then get back to Rik.
Castle Baele: The Dungeon
The newest type of enemy is introduced to our heroes in the Dungeon. Destrachans can cast a slow spell on you, but the general strategy of hacking and slashing still applies. Having said that, save with the warp point behind you and then go up, which is north. You'll have to go west and encounter hordes of enemies sooner or later. Note the blocked door, as it will be your exit later. You'll come across a big, black well in your path. Head west of it and slash your enemies away. This large door leads to the portals, but you'll have to come back. Hug the upper wall instead to reveal a secret area. Now head back south of the big, black well to find a lever all the way at the end. It does take awhile and enemies are booming, so you might want to take your time to regenerate any lost HP. After the switch has been hit, head back up north of the well.
Hug the left wall as soon as you can to reveal another secret area with a Soul Shard. The fountains here should be of great aid to you if you decide to lure all the enemies here to do a slash feast. Continue up north and then go east. You have to go south past the steam. If you're playing solo, it's quite easy. If you have four heroes, it may be tougher. Nonetheless, the last sceptre is past these traps on the heroes left. Break the barrels and junk blocking the door that you saw earlier and proceed to the door of the portals.
By the way, did I mention there was a boss fight coming up? From the start, go straight and pick up the Soul Shard followed by a save. Note the blue portal that you pass. It leads to Rik's shop.
Boss: Beholder
This boss is not only ugly in facials, but also in attacks. Don't be afraid of just approaching it and slashing it. It shoots out energy blasts which has secondary effects. Its close-up attacks also do some damage. If you trap the Beholder in a corner, use your items such as Firey Oil or Insect Plagues. If you saved up many healing potions, take the offensive: approach it and keep slashing it. When you're low on energy, use it. Use any Berserk flasks to deal extra damage to it and when it dies, you get to see a cool looking cutscene.
Before you head into the world unlocked by the Gem of Winds, head back to Lidda and Rik. Rik is overjoyed to know that you have one of the gems. Talking to Lidda and her goonies will give the chance of fulfilling more additional objectives. Sounds fun.
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