--- deliantra/Deliantra-Client/resources/pod/intro.pod	2006/05/25 23:22:22	1.3
+++ deliantra/Deliantra-Client/resources/pod/intro.pod	2006/05/25 23:30:36	1.4
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 Crossfire+ is freely distributed under the GNU license and the code may be
 obtained from L<http://crossfire.schmorp.de/>.
 
-=head2 Getting Started
+=head1 Getting Started
 
 First of all, don't be daunted by the apparent complexity of Crossfire -
 in reality, Crossfire is quite easy to play and character generation is
@@ -95,6 +95,97 @@
 
 #TODO biggers house, binding keys etc.
 
+=head1 Hints for Beginning Players
+
+# TODO: you are in the beginners house
+I'm on the starting map, what do I do now? You should be in a city square
+with a few sign posts in the middle. Move over the signs and apply them
+("A") to read what they say.
+
+For beginners, there are several maps designed for them. Find these areas
+and clear them out. All throughout these levels, a player can find signs
+and books which they can read by stepping onto them and hitting B<space
+bar> to apply the book/sign. These messages will help the player to learn
+the system. Probably the first, best area for a beginning player to start
+out in is "Beginners." This area is a small house located southwest of
+your starting location.
+
+=head2 Flailing about with spells
+
+Some items are perishable. If you shoot a fireball into a room full of
+scrolls, you will notice them going up in smoke! So be careful not to
+destroy valuable items.
+
+=head2 Tips on surviving
+
+Crossfire+ is populated with a wealth of different monsters. These monsters
+can have varying immunities and attacktypes. In addition, some of them can
+be quite a bit smarter than others. It will be important for new players
+to learn the abilities of different monsters and learn just how much it
+will take to kill them.
+
+Most monsters in the game are out to mindlessly kill and destroy the
+players. Killing monsters will help boost a player's score. When fighting
+a large amount of monsters in a single room, attempt to find a narrower
+hallway so that you are not being attacked from all sides. Charging into a
+room full of Beholders would not be wise, instead, open the door and fight
+them one at a time.
+
+More advice can be found in the Survival Guide
+L<http://crossfire.real-time.com/guides/survival_guide/index.html>.
+
+=head2 Priorities for low-level characters
+
+The priority for characters below about 5th level is to gain some basic
+items. In this regard, better armour and better spells are best. Look for
+a quest among the various islands that will allow you to obtain mithril
+mail. Whenever you scrape together ~100-200 platinum pieces go shopping
+for armour and weapons (or spells). If you are a fighter type, try to have
+at least a +2 weapon, +2 helmet, +2 suit of armour, and +2 shield before
+you reach 5th level. For wizards, attempt to recover enough treasure to
+be able to buy up good attack spells. For priests, first thing to do is
+worship a god! Try to get the holy word prayer as soon as possible. Make
+sure your current god allows good potential use of this spell.
+
+For all classes, get access to the detect magic incantation as soon as
+possible. This will allow you to sort through the treasure you find while
+you're in the dungeon, and will save you time and money at the shops.
+
+=head2 Diseases
+
+Diseases are, well, diseases. They can be contageous or not, and can be
+contracted in a number of ways, and they vary greatly in their symptoms
+and dangerousness.
+
+Diseases have "levels". If you contract a disease and recover naturally,
+you're immune to that disease forever, provided the instance of the
+disease is of equal or lower level than your immunity.
+
+For example, you get a case of the flu cast by yourself at level 15. When
+you get over it, you're immune to any flu of level less than 16. When you
+become level 16 and cast the flu again, you are NOT immune.
+
+Spells such as B<cure disease> or B<restoration> will remove a disease, but
+will not grant immunity.
+
+When cast as a spell, diseases's severity is level dependent. A 30th level
+cold is a I<lot> more severe than a level 2 cold.
+
+Undead are I<never> affected by any disease.
+
+Any priest player who isn't denied the path of wounding may learn and B<cast
+cause> B<cold>, B<flu>, B<typhoid>, B<anthrax> and B<leprosy> spells.
+
+Any priest with a high enough B<Wis> and with a religion that is attuned
+to wounding may learn to B<cast cause> B<smallpox>, B<white death> and
+B<red death> by praying at his altar.
+
+The I<damage> caused each round varies between 0 and the maximum listed
+for a disease. So you can inflict a I<mild> case of ebola, which would
+I<not> kill a monster, or a severe one capable of killing it.
+
+# TODO: disease table, but needs heavy reformatting
+
 =head1 Authors
 
 Parts of this document were originally compiled, edited, and written by