One thing I have always wondered about. By 1st edition rules, using haste ages all characters one year in gold box games.

In theory, this should pose a grave threat to human characters, especially in Pools of Darkness where haste is apparently necessary A LOT (and, for practical purposes, pretty much all your characters are human). However, I never noticed any reductions on my character sheets in the game even after frequent use of haste. On the other hand, I am aware that there may be situations where bonuses or penalties are applied to characters without it being displayed on the character sheet. Does aging actually affect characters at all in gold box games?

If I remember correctly, Elixir of Youth is readily available in one of the magic shops in Pools of Darkness. Or maybe it was Secret of the Silver Blades. I played them back to back, so I cannot remember which. Either way, if you've been hording treasure, this is a good place to spend it.

A few elixirs and aging is no longer a problem.

Great. Thanks.

I recall reading somewhere that the magic shop in Zhentil Keep (in PoD, of couse) sells Elixirs of Youth.

That doesn't exactly answer the original question, but it may now be irrelevant. One more queston, if anyone knows: is the 1 point of Constitution loss for being raised from the dead ever enforced? I do know that the "no raising elves" rule is enforced.

I seem to remember reading about it being enforced with Raise Dead, but not Resurrection.

(Unfortunately, I believe Resurrection isn't available at all until later in the series.)