At some point you're going to start wondering what other areas there are in the game, and you'll probably go explore a few...
And get killed...
Fortunately, those playing the game have adopted an informal rating system for specifying how dangerous an area is. It's based on the level of the main dungeon beneath Nork. Thus, Nork -1 would be considered danger level 1, Nork -2 would be considered danger level 2, and so on. Ratburrow, which you get to from the SW corner of the main island city of Nork, is considered 3.5 by most people.
To make things complicated, however, there are small areas (various lairs, certain geographical regions, etc.) which are harder to rate because while there may be a tough monster, there's only one or two. I'm going to try to rate them anyway as a very general guideline, even though the comparison against a dungeon level isn't really accurate and very much depends on class - someone who can't handle a zoo of creatures on level N might be able to handle a single lair rated that same level. And the opposite applies as well.
This page is going to become a kind of collection area for danger level ratings, and explanations as to why. It's sorted in order from easiest areas to handle to hardest. Some areas are rated entirely based on guesswork, others because I've been there and rated them myself, and still others with ratings submitted by other players. There are areas I haven't rated at all because I don't have enough info to make even a guess. If you have corrections, comments, ratings of your own, etc., please send me an email.
Ratings and comments from other people are marked below with a number in parenthesis like so: (1) These refer to the list of contributors at the bottom of the page.
Danger Level 0 areas can be visited by almost anyone without any risk whatsoever. Okay, maybe a little risk. But nothing serious.
DL0 - City of Nork - Unless you're evil, this is fairly safe. Evildoers beware, however. (Does anyone have a rating for this if you *are* evil?)
DL0.3 - City of Maeling - Reached via one-way portal from Nork. But don't go outside the gates. (Evil OK?)
DL0.3 - Volcano Town - Reached via two-way portal from Maeling. Don't step off the cliff.
DL0.3 - Nork -1, southeast merchant room - Reached via stairway in warehouse in the far southeast corner of Nork. Safe for the evil guys, supposedly, and thus maybe a bit risky for you goody two-shoes...
Danger Level 1 areas can be visited by almost anyone for at least a short time, longer if you can run very fast. If you've just started, this is where you go to learn how to fight, how to run away, and sometimes how to die.
DL1 - Nork -1, western half - the dungeon level one stair down from the Last Chance Inn in Nork.
DL1.2 - Nork -1, eastern half - the dungeon level one stair down from Hector's jewelry shop, which is along the south side of the island, SSE of the Steel Flower Inn. Has slightly larger number of the tougher creatures on -1. Rating does not include beyond locked doors.
Danger Level 2 areas can be visited by most characters who are roughly 3rd - 5th class and skill level. Bring healing potions, and maybe make a SUCCOR twig first...
DL2 - Nork -2 - the dungeon level one stair down from Nork -1. Ogres here can do 40-50 hits with a good hit, but aren't all that frequent.
DL2.5 - Nork -1, behind locked doors
Danger Level 3 areas are tougher than DL2 areas, and may need special protections. They can be visited briefly by characters 5th - 10th, until they have the protections.
DL3 - Nork -3, entry area - the area immediately surrounding the stairwell
DL3 - Nork -2, Lizard King Quest
DL3.2 - Nork -3, eastern section, including locked doors if you're healed up.
DL3.2 - Nork -3, southeastern section
DL3.5+ - Ratburrow, huge area accessed from stair down in SW of City of Nork. This area is more dangerous the farther you are to the stair. Individual creatures are tougher than Nork -3, in some cases as tough as you'll find on Nork -4, but unlike -4 they're more spread out and tend not to group as much, so you can pick them off one by one.
DL3.75+ - Nork -3, southwest section. Almost as tough as -4.
DL3 to DL4 - Yeti Island, surface level - These are the caves on the large island due south of Nork. Less dangerous in western end, more dangerous towards east. Monsters clump into "zoos" a lot and regenerate quickly. Be prepared to twig out quick if you're pushing your capabilities.
Danger Level 4 areas are tougher than I can handle right now. Stunners and Mummies and Thumpers, Oh my!
DL4 - Nork -4
DL4 - Wilderness very close to Maeling. (1)
DL4.25 - Maeling -1. (1)
DL4.5 - Griffon lair - Rough guess. "He hits for about 80-100 and prones for about 200 I was told even tho he never hit me that hard." (1)
Danger Level 5 areas - tougher than tough
DL5 - Nork -5
DL5 - Yeti Island, level +1 - accessed via stair from east end of surface level caves. Has Level -4 monsters, but a very high regen rate making it tougher. (1)
DL5 - Dungeon beneath Paladin trainer. (1)
DL5 - Tehruh surface level, +1, and -1. (1)
DL5.5 - Tehruh -2 (1)
DL5.75 to DL6 - Maeling -2 (1)
DL5 - "There is a building south of Griffy that houses some fun NPC's about 5th level. South of that I have not been but I hear it is quite nasty." (1)
DL4.5 to DL6.5 - Aleria, when it's released
Danger Level 6 areas - tougher than tougher than tough
DL6 - Nork -6
DL6 and up - Wilderness northeastward of Maeling. Maybe even higher than that. (1)
DL5 to DL7 - Frore area. "Frore varies from -5 to -7. Lots of stuff to do there that very few people are high enuff to do. Floes house bears worth 10k, Iceworms with icebreath worth 10k, and sabretooth tigers who's fur is much in fashion lately. Waters around frore house several 3k water creatures who can still hit substantially. North of frore is where the SNR ninja live in harmony with the Snowbeast. Met the snowbeast once. He gave me a little love tap that did 250 points of damage. I have been told I was lucky as he has hit others for 500+. He also charges four squares per round. SNR ninja hit like a ton of bricks and they have other high level creatures around their caves as well. In Frore itself wandering RD are a constant danger. Last night there were FOUR of them in town. SE of Frore are some NPCs worth about 5-10k. All around Frore are various lairs that are just now being explored." (1)
Danger Level 7 areas - tougher than tougher than tougher than tough
DL7 - Nork -7
Danger Level 8 areas - tougher than tougher than tougher than tougher than tough
DL8 - Nork -8
Danger Level Unknown areas are, well, unknown. You're on your own until I can get a rating from someone on these...
Maeling -3 - "you don't wanna know. The whole area is filled with invisible walls. Crits there cast darkness often. The place abounds with ninjas. This is where the BNR can be found BTW." (1)
Mino maze
Swamp
Fishery
Boathouse
Caves near Maeling
Fun House
I'd like to thank the following people who have contributed information to this list:
1 - Maxx Steele of Zand
Site designed by Steve Bennett