Finally got around to playing this on Sunday night after re-rolling stats over and over for my 6 characters until I was happy with them. Doing that sporadically over the weekend, spending a number of hours on it.

The game was brutal at first. Kept losing characters and having to surrender then realizing I had a ‘Duh’ moment in having to equip my Clubs.

I’ve also learned to run from Sprites. Their AC is incredibly high. Had two in a combat and was able to kill one, but just couldn’t hit the last one. When he wiped out 4 of my characters I ran away.

Found two nice treasures. Plate Mail (which I put on my Paladin) and a Great Bow, which I promptly gave to my Archer. He can do massive damage with it! Sometimes still only 3-5, but sometimes doing in the teens. Also bought Padded Armor for my Sorcerer.

Working on getting better equipment for the rest of my party now, but earning gold is very slow going. Usually only getting 3-4 gold a combat, and that’s if I find a sack when I search. The only times I’ve gotten equipment was with the Plate Mail and Great Bow, although will have to admit those were really nice finds.

All of my characters are 2nd level now. I’ve completely explored all of Sorpigal (at least I believe so) and now starting to test the waters on the cavern below. Really am enjoying the game and love the difficulty of it. Although still staying away from Sprites, they really suck.

So when do you pick up 2nd level spells for the Cleric and Sorcerer? Is it new spells every odd level? And how does your disarm trap/open lock improve for your Robber? Is it based on his level? Even at 2nd level, traps seem to be going off as much as they were at 1st level.

Everyone does it
https://www.gog.com/forum/might_and_magic_series/might_and_magic_1_questions/post6 Yes to all.

For the Robber, wait till you're higher.

Don't forget to use protection spells like Levitate and such. They really help at lower levels.

Ok, thanks. Don't have Levitate yet, I believe that's a 2nd level spell. But can you walk around with Levitate on? I'm assuming it helps with damaging ground (which I haven't run into yet).

I went ahead and rolled up another Paladin last night. In one of the blogs I read about MM1, I heard about why it’s better to have an all-female party later on and it does sound like a pain (for that town).

My Paladin is my only male in my party. Besides, I was able to get better stats, as well. Was working on her last night to catch her up to my original party (with the pre-made group) and have her almost to 2nd level.

She has a higher Might, Personality (both 16) and higher Accuracy (15) where both Endurance and Speed are the same (13 and 14). Although her Luck is pretty atrocious at 4. Hope that doesn’t really hurt me in the end.

But I am noticing her hitting harder and more often already, and she is still only using a club (haven’t bothered to switch my weapon over from my original Paladin).

You can walk around with Levitate and other buffing/protection spells. IIRC they only expire when resting or visiting inns.

As for Portsmith and the rampant misandry in effect there, you may want to search for a way to overcome the problems. Sometimes pushing the right button helps.

Well, I’ve already rolled up my new Paladin with better stats (mostly), so I plan to stick with her.

But how much will a 4 Luck hurt for a Paladin?

Probably some. If the stat bonuses are like in MM2 you will get penalties, IIRC to saving throws. But Luck is most important for robbers.

Ok, hope it doesn’t hurt her too much. I just couldn’t pass up the other stats. The Intelligence was only a 9 (but not important), but her Might 16, Perception 16, Endurance 13, Speed 14 and Accuracy 15.

Both Endurance and Speed are the same as my original Paladin, but everything else (relevant) is better.

Yeah, you should always cast all protection spells that you have, as they don't expire until you rest (as PetrusOctavianus said). At low levels I think the only one you have is Leather Skin, but be sure to always cast it. It helps your heroes stay on their feet longer. Every time I rest or emerge from the inn, the first thing I do is cast all my protection spells.

I wouldn't worry too much about having an all-female party... I had an even gender split in my party and I managed fine. But if you've already got the all-female party then that's fine.

Enjoy the game! I was far more impressed with MM1 than I expected to be, given its age. It's really good!

Yeah, I already rolled up another Paladin and have brought her to right around the same EXP as my original Paladin and re-joined her with my party.

The stats are better (with the exception of Luck), as well. That’s the question I have is my Luck is now only a 4. How detrimental will that be for my Paladin? I don’t truly know what the stat does. If it only affects damage on traps, that’s fine. But I hope it isn’t all-encompassing in affecting many aspects in extra damage or affecting how well I may (or may not) hit.

But for the game, I’m really enjoying it. I’m pretty sure I’ve only scratched the surface still being in Sorpigal. My only experience with Might and Magic is 6, 7 & 8, as well as with Heroes III. MM6 is the only one I’ve ever actually completed. I plan to play through all of them to say I’ve done so and see what I missed. :)

Instead of starting new threads with updates/questions, figured I would just continue off this thread.

My characters are levels 3 and 4 now and have made it to Erliquin now. Also have my first magic weapon, a +1 Great Axe for my Paladin. Turned in the scroll and exploring the town. I did get into one combat and won, but didn't realize until after the fact that I saved at the Inn that 4 of my characters were poisoned from my previous fight. So that was an expensive removal for the poison (100 GP for each character).

I am not broke, but don't have a 'ton' gold. Maybe 150ish for each character. Hope gold is more plentiful in this town/area. Have not explored the cavern area of Erliquin yet.

For now, I think I will explore (map out) the rest of the town and then go below. Or is it recommended to go outside? And any other recommendations on what to do next is appreciated, as well.

You've probably already moved onward by this point, but generally speaking it's always a good idea to explore in MM1. You can find areas that are too tough, but then you can just head elsewhere instead. And even if you lose your party on an excursion, you won't lose the maps you've made, so you're always making progress.

Don't worry too much about money. It's main purpose is to pay for leveling. You will very quickly find better equipment than what's available for purchase anywhere.

By the way, were you able to read the inscriptions on the statues in Sorpigal? They give hints about things to do in the game, but if I recall the text flies by too fast by default. There are some fixes for that but I'd have to dig through old forum threads to find them at this point.

Yes, I have moved on from this point and have explored most of B-1, including all of the cavern under Erliquin (quite painfully!).

I will admit, money is hard to come by. I have a decent amount right now (I think?), about a 1000 GP each character, but mainly that was because of the treasure rooms underneath Erliquin. But removing poison is expensive, and I almost always reload (unless I get poisoned on the way back to the Inn and have found something nice).

Yes, I read (and wrote down) the inscriptions under Sorpigal. Will take a look at my notes again when I get home. The text for the statues is fine, as it stays up, but the rumors the bartender gives you blips by.

Second time I played MM1 I backed out of places with poisonous enemies, and only returned when I had the Cure Poison spell, for economic reasons.
That's one of the beauties of a non-linear game.