Shattered Kingdoms

I used to be on the barb/merc first-char bandwagon but I think sorc is a strong way to start a first-char. Priest would be better if they had an obvious low-level damage spell like sorc does but priest is still a decent choice for a first. Both classes are desirable as support chars and priests can quickly get immersed in RP. I realize priests do have an amateur-level damage spell but it's only useful as such in very limited situations.

I'd strongly suggest not going diabolic with a first. Light grey is a good idea.

Okay, somebody please tell me where these level 5 undead are? I don't see how you could possibly use cure light to level, until after you already have gotten flamestrike/SoF.

The caverns of the undead!

Oh no... wait.

The outpost has some undead, but if that's too much ooc info some imm will edit. Beyond that, I'm sure someone somewhere knows others. I don't.

There IS a place with very low level undead in the game.

3 places actually.

I was pretty frustrated with how long it was taking me to kill newbie NPCs as a cleric/sorc so I've decided to start with a paladin. If it's allowed, does anyone have any tips as far as what to do with regards to stats?

Yeah, general tips are allowed.

As a paladin, the only stat that isn't integral to your playing is Charisma, but every single other stat is very useful: That being said, as a starting player, you're going to want decent Charisma. (AKA: At least sociable, probably high sociable/low influential) The more natural charisma you have, the more experience you gain.

You get 3 stat points when you start your character and one every other level, for a total of 28 stat points once you hit GM. Every "status" for a stat (IE: Puny-Weak-Strong-Powerful-Titanic-Herculean for strength) consists of five final points, save the last which is always 25. I'm not telling you this to imply you should plan out everything for your character before you train everything, but keep in mind what all you can accomplish and don't overextend yourself by training art or HP too early in my opinion, at least not for a new player.

Spread all your stats out more or less evenly, with an emphasis on strength, con, int, wis, and dex: More or less in that order also. Strength helps you in leveling by doing more damage, and also increases your carrying capacity. Very nice.

Con is always useful to keep yourself alive.

Intelligence is also very important for a paladin: Sanctuary is one of the most useful spells given to them, and it carries a very high concentration cost. Other spells, such as protection, can be taxing on your concentration if multiple people are hitting you, or if you're tripped or bashed in combat. In the same vein, wisdom will also help you a lot as the more wisdom you have, the more mana you have: And it's a sliding scale, so the more you have the more difference you notice between each point.

Dexterity is another useful stat for paladins, but there are so many useful paladin stats that you don't necessarily want to put too many points into it. Don't get me wrong: It's a -huge- help for survivability (helping with shield block and dodge) and it also helps in avoiding the ever-so-annoying dirt kick, but compared to a paladin's other stats, it's one you'll want relatively high, but maybe not maxed.

In short: Don't train art as a new player IMO, but keep your charisma decent, your strength/con/int/wis high, and your dex decent also. If you have any questions about what I asked, feel free to respond.

And welcome! Sorry if I got too long-winded in this post.

Not at all, much appreciated

Do classes in this game have "primary stats" that improve just about everything about a character?

Pallies are hard. They need strength to deal dmg w/wpns. They need int to be able to hold their spells. They need Wis to have mana and to make it hard for their spells to be saved.

[edit] Also, they need con to take hits, and dex to parry/block, and cha to lvl semi-decently.