20 years of newb experience. Race/general question.

[AbnInfamy]

I've never played a cleric and I've never played a halfling. I figured since F2P treasure is gimped I have no reason not to try a halfling.

I just wanted to get confirmation that what I anticipate is what will happen.

I will almost never get hit. Halfling maneuver and TD bonuses will bolster my expected weaknesses, and if I'm a warding cleric spirit fog will take care of my DS issues.

To be most effective I want to open hand channel, by temporarily stowing my staff, casting and then turtling. I should have no need for weapon training.

I like to hunt in out of the way places so being hit or dying is what I hope to avoid the most.

Have I summed up what my experience will most likely entail?

Thanks.

[Tgo01]

Halfling cleric would be a God among mere mortals. Bards will sing songs about your adventures. Empaths will giggle and bounce whenever they see you. Warriors will come to you for hunting advice. Rogues will be too afraid to pick your pockets. Paladins will look upon you as a deity. Sorcs will still be dicks to you.

[phantasm]

I haven't quite figured out how open hand channeling is supposed to work. You're going to get raped a lot.

[Soulance]

Nah. One hand holds a runestaff or put a shield in the left hand and still have one open. Most go runestaff until cap and beyond. Some switch to shield for disarm issues by critters and whatnot. A runestaff is a two hander but only if you swing it. You don't have to train the THW to use it and it aids in also deflecting bolts.

[elcidcannon]

You do need to train in "magical skills" in order to improve your runestaff DS though.

[Androidpk]

you can do dual open hand channeling early on easily enough. I have a dwarf cleric and 302 bane is great for hunting.

[Candor]

Rogues will be too afraid to pick your pockets.

I'm not afraid to steal from anyone. That has included wimps like Bleeds, Tsin, Snowie, and Kaedra. If I could steal from GMs, I would.

Of course, I've been called crazy (among other things...).

[Maerit]

I did a F2P cleric up to 25, and once you get 319 and 120 you can pretty safely hunt the earlier trains with two hands empty. Especially if you get a wizard spell-up.

Interestingly, 106 is not blocked for F2P - which is very weird because a lot of spells which effect the room and any players within the room is usually blocked. Since 106 will modify the AS of other players, it would seem like this should be blocked, but it isn't, so it is a viable hunting tactic for F2P ( though costly in the early trains unless you 2x HP). I never bothered to employ 106 or 206 which both add to your personal DS without impacting enemy TD.