Coding, Combat, and the Works!

Jasted

So, I'm returning to Lusternia after a long ways away (never work at McDonald's, mind you all) and I've got a couple common, though personally important questions for all you answer-hounders.

1.) I have always dreamed of being able to do combat. The last time I was able to actually survive in combat for more than two seconds and actually be a part of it was as my level 80 Tahtetso monk; for personal reasons, I'm on an alt and shan't be playing him for awhile. So. I know a combatant needs to probably be around level 70 or so before they're actually termed useful and able to survive in an in-depth raid or whatnot. However, a huge part of being able to keep up with fighting are triggers and alias' and whatnot, so I need to learn how to code. I use MUSHClient, and I'm not very partial to change, so I need a good place to learn Lua. And I need simple terms. The few sites I've browsed literally just start out in coding and don't explain what all the symbols, the way things are spaced and how the actual language works; which, for someone who's a complete idiot with programming, makes it very difficult and very trying to even attempt to follow. 

2.) Secondly, I need good bashing spots. Spots that aren't hunted out constantly. I've been influencing in Tosha, doing Spectres, and Shallach. I've been contemplating doing the UV and running around killing Fisher's and whatnot. Any other spots anyone can think of? I know a few people say to do Duum and the Broadcasting Center, or the Asylum, but I've no idea how to get to either one of those, or even if they're a good option.

3.) Random question. Why on earth do emotes cost balance? Has always made no sense to me, as they're simply for RP purposes.

Ah, yes, and you'll be wanting my stats, I suppose. 

I'm a level 60 (I know, low leveled) human Nihilist, being Mythical in Nihilism, and therefore able to use my Symbol (Gorgulu ftw!) 

Lerad

Elementary coding for IRE combat is easy enough. You'll never be competitive at the top tier with a basic self-made system, though. But if all you need is to survive without getting killed by a single paralysis aff in group fights, it's not difficult. You can also use what Lusternia's inbuilt system has to complement your own system. Checkout firstaid and autohealing, it'll probably be easier to integrate your system into using them (and thus remove the need to track prompts, get gmcp vitals etc) than to code an auto-sipper yourself.

Now for the actual specifics of learning how to code. MUSHClient's helpfiles are good enough for what you need, really. Back when I was a user, I've always found everything I needed in there. I even made my own competitive system using nothing but MUSH helpfiles a few years back (though, like I said, such systems are no longer competitive today). You just need to read up on some basic concepts: timers, triggering, functions and regex. The latter two being the more complicated, but more important ones. MUSH helpfiles have extensive explanations on its various functions, complete with examples of how to use them, so those shouldn't be a problem. Regex is also easy enough to pick up, just google "learning regex". All that's left is to just jump in and try.

At level 60, UV might be a little tough for you. You can probably graduate from shallach and spectres though for exp, because they aren't worth that much at 60. There should be some hunting guides in your org, ask around, or just get someone to pick you up and bring you along bashing trips. The trick to running out of areas to bash is to learn some questing routines, and to just do those when your areas are bashed out, and then come back to your areas after they respawn. There are plenty of quests with lucrative rewards (not much exp, but substantial gold) that don't involve the need for high level killing. Loop enough quests and you'll find that it all adds up. Influencing is a good alternative too, but that requires lesson investment. You can solo UV mobs (beware cavefishers) around 70+. On that note, you don't need levels for PK. Well, you do, for basic survivability so you don't die to a single staffcast, but there's no level range to really aim for. Even demigods get easily bursted down in group combat, so there's no real competitiveness in levels. They just take a handful of seconds longer to die. More levels, though, mean more credits, which mean more skills, which means more effectiveness in combat, and that's where the priority is. Get gold farming for credits, join artisanals/bardics, and look out for credit earning opportunities in your org. Skills are more important. The basic guideline to get into combat is tri-trans and gedulah in highmagic. Focus mind will help too, and conglut is a must.

Emotes cost balance to avoid people abusing them as illusions in combat. No one bothers, but the admin don't see any need to change it, I guess.