Rich Mulawa wrote:

> From: Rich Mulawa <richard.mulawa@...>
>
> I have a 9th level wizard that has been using 2H blunt for her entire
> life. I would like to try some 1H weapons to free a hand for useful
> items in the future so I went to the newbie area and started wacking
> /con green critters. I found I could hit several run to a un
> populated area and then stand and punch one creature until it ran
> away. Then started working another until it ran away eventually
> comming back to the original one. I did this with one group of 3
> crits for over an hour and got absolutely 0 increase in bare hand
> skill (still at 10 or 11)!
>
> What is going on am I to start on /con blue creatures at level 9. If
> so and had I known (ie if the manual had any value at all) I would
> have been training 1H skills much early when the creatures could not
> kill me in 2 or 3 blows!
>
> Can anyone confirm this and/or give suggestions on how at this point
> (9th) I can improve my 1H fighting skills?
>

Yes,to improve on melee skills (pierce, 1&2h Blunt, and h2h) you must hit a
creature that will give you experience. The best way to improve a
neglected skill is in a group scenereo. While the tank is whacking the
mob, you stand behind it and attack it to improve your skill. You will not
see an increase for a very long time, but they will come sooner or later.
At your level beware of mobs that have a natural hatred for casters.
Sometimes, no matter how much damage the tank has done, the critter will
turn on you if you get close enough. If this happens just back off.

Malkin