The Art of Combat < The Art of Combat (Queen's Colony) >

"Murrar Shar, Emissary of Queen Antonia Bayle, says the colony is in peril and needs my help. He has suggested I acquaint myself with combat immediately. I am to speak with Trainer Hayl McGuinness in the northwestern area of the outpost. He will be able to teach me about fighting." -- Everquest II Journal

Steps[]

Speak to Trainer Hayl McGuinness ( 27, -5, 139 ) Copy/waypoint 27, -5, 139 northwest of Myrrin's Tower.
Attack one of the sparring partners just north of your trainer and defeat them in combat.
Return to Trainer Hayl McGuinness and tell him of your victory.
Return to Murrar Shar to report your successful training and receive your reward.

Rewards[]

At least 37c

One of the following, depending on your class:

Journal Steps and Dialogue[]

Murrar Shar: "Welcome, [Player Character], I have been anticipating your arrival. Your skills are greatly needed here at the Queen's Colony.
Player Character: "Who are you?"
Murrar Shar: "I am Murrar Shar, General of the Royal Antonican Guard and prrrotector of Queen Antonia Bayle."
Player Character: "What is the purpose of this colony?"
Murrar Shar: "The Queen's Colony was established as a training ground for prospective citizens of Qeynos. Our great city needs valiant defenders."
Player Character: "Tell me more about Qeynos."
Murrar Shar: "Qeynos is a grand city that stands on the western shores of the continent of Karan. It is a place where truth and justice are valued above all else. It is ruled by the brave and noble Queen Antonia Bayle. Our kingdom is a bright light that stands against the dark empire of Freeport."
Player Character: "Tell me more about Freeport."
Murrar Shar: "Freeport is a city of cruelty and malice, governed by its selfish Overlord, Lucan D'Lere. He is a dangerous madman who seeks to conquer Norrath and hold us all in his iron grip. Beware his lies, [Player Character].
Player Character: "I will do so. How can I be of service to the colony?"
Murrar Shar: "Ahh, your future is as bright as your heart, but there are perils in this world that only the mightiest of adventurers may overcome. Live for Qeynos and Qeynos will live for you!"
Player Character: "I am ready to learn, Murrar."
Murrar Shar: "I am very glad to hear it! Go and speak to Trainer Hayl McGuinness, just northwest of here near the archway. I've written his name in your journal. He will teach you the basics of combat."
Player Character: "I will do as you ask."
Murrar Shar: "Good luck."

I need to learn about combat from Trainer Hayl McGuinness. I need to speak to Trainer Hayl McGuinness at the Training Grounds northwest of Murrar Shar.

Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Hello there, [Player Character]! I'm here to teach new recruits the basics of combat. Murrar told me you show great promise!"
Player Character: "I'd like to learn about combat so that I can help the colony."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Okay, let's see what you're made of. One of the nearby sparring partners to my left will be happy to test your mettle. Challenge any one of them and return to me when you've earned a victory."
Player character: "How do I challenge a foe in battle?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Starting combat is easy. Just use your mouse pointer to left-click on an opponent. Its name will appear in the Target window in the upper left of your screen. You can use the Tab key to cycle through nearby targets or the F8 key to choose your closest enemy."
Player Character: "How do I begin the battle?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "If you're close enough to your foe and want to start hitting it with your weapon, either click your Melee Attack button on your hotbar or press the ~ key. Or you can begin by using one of your spells or combat arts to get the enemy's attention. Remember, you must be close enough to actually hit them."
Player Character: "So I can fight anyone or anything I want?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "You can fight most non-player characters and creatures that you find outside your city, whether outdoors or in dungeons. Many non-player characters in the cities are there to help or give you quests, so you can't attack some of them. If you try, you'll get a message telling you that they aren't valid targets."
Player Character: "Tell me about melee combat."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Melee combat means a toe-to-toe physical confrontation. it is a combination of auto-attack damage that happens automatically when you press the Melee Attack button on your hotbar or the ~ key and spells or combat arts that you use in close proximity to your foe."
Player Character: "What classes specialize in melee combat?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Sturdy fighters such as Guardians, Berserkers, Monks, and Paladins stand at the front lines of battle facing the enemy. Crafty scouts such as Swashbucklers, Rangers, Troubadors, and Dirges generally stay close to their foes as well, but prefer to launch attacks from the back or side where they are less likely to be counterattacked."
Player Character: "Tell me about ranged combat."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Ranged combat means that you put some distance between yourself and the enemy. This can be done with weapons such as bows or throwing daggers, or with spells and arts that can be cast from a distance."
Player Character: "How do I launch a ranged attack?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "If you have a ranged weapon and ammunition, you can initiate ranged combat by using the Ranged Attack button on the Abilities tab of your Knowledge Book. You can drag this key to your hotbar if you like. Remember, you must have a ranged weapon in the Ranged slot of your inventory window and the correct type of ammunition in the Ammo slot."
Player Character: "What classes specialize in ranged combat?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "While most classes have the ability to attack from a distance, scout classes such as Swashbucklers, Troubadors, Dirgest, and particularly Rangers specialize in ranged physical attacks. Mages, priests, and paladins have spells that do damage to their foes from a distance."
Player Character: "How do I tell if I can use spells or arts from a distance?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "You can right click on a spell or art's icon and select "Examine" to see what its range of effect is. In addition, if you target something and the icon for one of your spells or arts turns a dark red, that means the opponent is out of range of that ability."
Player Character: "What kind of rewards can I earn in battle?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Victory in battle can be very rewarding. Successful combat against a worthy opponent awards you experience (XP) to help you advance your level, as well as the chance at coin, usable items, and other valuables."
Player Character: "What do you mean by "a worthy opponent"?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "You don't earn rewards for defeating foes that are too far below your level. If your target has a grey name, it means it is very weak and won't provide any benefit for beating it. Talk to Trainer Maria Gilliam for more information on evaluating your opponents."
Player Character: "Are certain types of targets more rewarding than others?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "The tougher a foe, the better its chances to provide a valuable reward. Though defeating enemies alone provides nice rewards, defeating heroic enemies that require a group is even more rewarding. The very best items come from banding together multiple groups to defeat epic opponents."
Player Character: "Teach me about more advanced aspects of combat."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "There are many advanced combat techniques that you will learn over time. There is no substitute for experience, [Player Name]! I'd be happy to discuss a few of these advanced aspects, such as selecting the right opponent, knowing your surroundings, and using your abilities."
Player Character: "Tell me about selecting the right opponent."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: Picking the right fight is crucial to victory. A weak opponent won't provide worthwhile rewards, while an overly powerful foe will result in your defeat. You need to keep your resources in mind as well as choosing the right target."
Player Character: "How do I tell if an opponent is too weak or too strong for me?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Targeting an opponent will show you detailed information on its overall potency. Generally speaking, you'll find the best results from fighting opponents with blue, white, or yellow names. Talk to Trainer Marla Gilliam for more information on evaluating your opponents."
Player Character: "What resources should I be keeping an eye on?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Starting a fight when you are low on health or power is a very bad idea. Your choice of targets also depends on whether you're alone or grouped with other players. Forming a group allows you to take on tougher and more rewarding challenges than you could face alone."
Player Character: "Teach me about knowing my surroundings."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Keeping your surroundings in mind is crucial to victory. Fighting in areas with lots of aggressive creatures is a bad idea, because they won't hesitate to gang up on you."
Player Character: "Anything else I should watch out for?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Staying too long on the exact spot where you just defeated a foe can be dangerous. Another enemy is likely to show up there soon after, which can be an unpleasant surprise if you're already in another battle."
Player Character: "Any other tips?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "You should be aware of what's going on around you. Using your mouse wheel to scroll into third person and holding down the left mouse button allows you to move the camera around your character. It's a good idea to do this when fighting in dangerous areas to make sure nothing sneaks up on you."
Player Character: "Tell me about using my abilities."
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Successful fighting isn't about turning on your auto-attack and walking away from battle. your odds of victory are much better if you prepare well and are active during combat. you should be using every spell or combat art that has a positive effect on your changes to win."
Player Character: "What do you mean?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Before you begin fighting, make sure you and your allies have activated all beneficial spells, also known as "buffs," so that you're operating at peak efficiency. Buffs can add health or power, increase your rate of regeneration, enhance your physical attributes, make you attack faster or do more damage, and more."
Player Character: "What about during battle?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Whether you're a front-lines melee type or someone attacking from a distance with weapons or spells, you should be using abilities that damage your foes effectively and efficiently. right click on your spells and arts and select "Examine" to see details on their effects."
Player Character: What else should I know about spells and arts?"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "Using your highest-level versions of spells and arts will be more effective than using older versions. In addition, you should be upgrading your abilities to higher ranks to make them more effective. For more details on spells and combat arts, talk to Trainer Myrrin the Magnific in the tower at the center of the colony."
Player Character: "I'll come back later."

I have spoken with Hayl McGuinness. I need to defeat a sparring partner in combat. There are several sparring partners just north of Trainer Hayl McGuinness.

I have defeated a sparring partner in combat. I should speak with Trainer Hayl McGuinness and tell him of my victory.

Trainer Hayl McGuinness: "So, did you defeat the sparring partner like I asked?"
Player Character: "I was victorious!"
Trainer Hayl McGuinness: Great work! You've proven your worth and are ready for greater challenges. If you want further instruction later, just come see me. But right now you must report back to Murrar so that you can discover what's behind the trouble here at the colony."
Player Character: "I'll report back to Murrar."

I have spoken with Hayl McGuinness. I have won a match against one of the sparring partners. I should tell Murrar Shar that my training was successful.

Murrar Shar: "Hello again, [Player Character]. Have you passed the test that Trainer Hayl McGuinness set before you?"
Player Character: "I defeated my sparring partner and learned about combat."
Murrar Shar: "I'm glad to hear it, for now we have need of our courage. Until recently, our colony lived in peace with a clan of goblins known as the Sapswill that reside on the other side of the island. But for some unknown reason, they have begun to attack us. We need to begin an investigation at once to get to the bottom of this. Will you help?"

I told Murrar Shar that my training was successful. I have reported back to Murrar Shar.

I have learned some of the basics of combat from Trainer Hayl McGuinness at the Queen's Colony. Hopefully this knowledge helps me serve Qeynos and uncover the trouble here.