The Adventurer's Handbook

[Umbra]

My group's characters used to refer to themselves collectively simply as The Adventurers. As their reputation grew a tiny subplot developed with young adventurers or wannabe's asking advice and it was jokingly proposed that they publish The Adventurer's Handbook. The book would also be useful for anyone joining the party for the first time.

As we played, a character would refer others in the party to The Adventurer's Handbook whenever they thought something (dangerously) silly was about to occur and was meant to point out some 'common sense' :\ .

The number one rule was "Don't Split the Party" as so many disasters seemed to befall them when it happened but we never formally codified any more of the book.

Short and sweet, what do you think should go in the book?

1. Don't Split the Party
2...

 

[Knoxgamer]

If it seems too good to be true, it is.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

3. If in doubt, hit it with a sword until it stops moving.
4. If you aren't an orphan (and what adventurer isn't nowadays), consider preemptively killing your family. BBEG won't be able to use them against you later and those early-career XPs will come in handy.

 

[Shadowdancer]

5. Check for traps. Often.
6. Don't waste arcane spells against weak opponents.

 

[Sejs]

“Just remember, call for healing when you need it, stay away from anything that glows until you know what it does, never split the party, and take it one level at a time, kill everything, then move on.”
-Heydricus Tritherionson, on adventuring

 

[Gez]

I'll refer you to this:

7. Do not split the party. (Already in 1, but you can never say it enough time!)
8. Protect the healers.
9. Kill the enemy mage first.
10. Do not charge the house-sized monsters.

I especially like #4, because in the linked story-hour, there's a character that breaks this rule at every opportunity, and nigh always gets in dire need of a medic as a result.

 

[Frostmarrow]

In Shadowrun you are told to:

Shoot straight
Conserve ammo
Watch your back
and never ever cut a deal with a dragon!

Seems like good advice to me.

 

[the Jester]

“Just remember, call for healing when you need it, stay away from anything that glows until you know what it does, never split the party, and take it one level at a time, kill everything, then move on.”
-Heydricus Tritherionson, on adventuring

This is exactly what I was going to post... :\

 

[shilsen]

Don't split the party.
There is nothing called "overkill".
Heal early, heal often.
Don't split the party.
Know when to run.
Protect the spellcasters.
Don't split the party.

 

[Shallown]

Evil altars are to be avoided at all cost.