Of Ash and Steel Beginner’s Guide: How to Survive a World That Hates Your Guts
You are not the Chosen One. You are a cartographer named Tristan, and you are about to have a very bad time.
Of Ash and Steel is a throwback RPG in the vein of Gothic. That means it is rude, obtuse, and deeply satisfying if you can survive the first five hours. The game doesn't give you quest markers. It doesn't auto-heal you. It barely tells you how to swing a sword. If you are struggling to keep Tristan alive, here is what you need to know before you venture out into Grayshaft.
There Are No Quest Markers (Seriously)
If you are waiting for a golden arrow to appear on your compass, you will be waiting forever. You have to actually listen to people in this game. When an NPC says to follow the road past the abandoned village and through the ravine, they aren't adding flavor text. They are giving you the only instructions you will get. You need to read your journal and use your actual eyes to navigate landmarks. It is disorienting at first, but once you adjust, it feels incredible to actually learn the lay of the land.
Fight Dirty and Use Meat Shields
Tristan sucks at fighting. He is a map maker, not a soldier. In the early game, a single goblin can wreck you, so do not fight fair. If you are being chased by something scary, run screaming towards the nearest friendly NPC or guard. They will engage the monster for you. If they kill it, you get a slice of the XP. If you manage to land the killing blow while they tank it, you get all of it. It is cheesy and cowardly, which makes it the perfect strategy for a level one weakling.
Pick a Lane With Your Stats
You get three attribute points per level, and you cannot be a jack-of-all-trades. You need to commit. If you want to use heavy weapons and lift obstacles, dump everything into Strength. If you prefer bows and crits, you need Dexterity. Do not ignore Insight if you want to talk your way out of trouble, as it unlocks persuasion options. Finally, Fortitude is mandatory because it gives you health, and you are going to get hit a lot.
You Can't Learn Without a Teacher
Leveling up doesn't magically teach you how to parry or skin a wolf. You actually need to find a trainer in the world. Specific NPCs teach specific skill trees like Survival, Crafting, or War. You also need to meet their attribute requirements and pay them gold. If you want to be a Master Blacksmith but have low Strength, the trainer won't even look at you.
Managing Your Meat Sack Body
You have needs, and ignoring them makes you weak. If your Hunger or Thirst bars drop, your max health and stamina drop right along with them. You need to eat food and drink water constantly. Fatigue is another killer, as a tired character hits like a wet noodle, so make sure you sleep in beds or at campfires. The worst status effect is Wounds. A small scratch can turn into a festering injury if you keep taking damage. These don't heal on their own, so you will need to pay a healer or use high-tier meds to fix them.
Nighttime Is a Different Game
When the sun goes down, the rules change completely. It gets pitch black out there, so you need to carry a torch or you will walk off a cliff. Shops close and NPCs go to sleep, which means if you walk into a store at night, you are trespassing. If you stay too long, the guards come and fine you. However, night is the best time for thievery if you have lockpicks and the skill to use them. Just don't get caught.
Crime Doesn't Pay (Initially)
Be very careful what you pick up in towns. If an item has a "Steal" prompt instead of "Take," and anyone sees you do it, the guards will instantly teleport to your location. The fine is usually 500 gold, which is an absolute fortune in the early game. If you can't pay, they execute you on the spot. Save often, and maybe keep your hands in your pockets until you are sure nobody is watching.
Scavenge for XP and Food
You will run out of food eventually, so find a river. Fishing is a reliable way to keep your belly full via a simple minigame. Cook the fish at a campfire and you have a meal that keeps your health bar full. Also, keep an eye out for shrines and books. Praying at shrines and reading new books gives you free XP, which is a lifesaver when you are desperate for that next level.
Workbenches Are Mandatory
Stop selling all your junk because you need it to craft the gear that keeps you alive. You need Workbenches to craft arrows and consumables. You need Tanneries to turn those wolf skins into leather for armor. Most importantly, you need Sharpening Stones. Use these constantly to keep your weapons honed. A sharp weapon does more damage, which sounds obvious, but it is the difference between killing a bandit and being killed by one.
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