Caves of Qud is a challenging game. Expect to spend your first few hours (and several attempts) simply trying to navigate your way through the introductory tasks in the tutorial village of Joppa. Tasks like investigating Red Rock and assisting Argyve with his device are accomplishments worth celebrating. However, after you manage to complete those, you might find yourself wondering, “What should I do next?”
Given that each gameplay experience generates a unique world, there isn’t a definitive answer to that question. Nonetheless, there are several paths that tend to be more advantageous than others.
Visit the Six Day Stilt
A prime destination for a new character is almost always the Six Day Stilt, located near the northwestern area of the map within the northern salt desert. It’s a longer trek than any you’ve attempted thus far, so be sure to sell any unnecessary items to make space and stock up on plenty of fresh water for the journey ahead.
Before Leaving
If you haven’t done so yet, make sure to talk to the Mechanimist convert in Joppa (or your starting village). They will request that you bring a bauble to the Six Day Stilt and drop it into the ceremonial well. If you accept, they will offer you an odd trinket—which could be a box of crayons, a gyre iron, or a salt mill, assuming you don’t accidentally break it.
Also, take a moment to examine the Statue of Resheph located in the northeastern corner of Joppa. You can earn rewards at the Six Day Stilt by piecing together the story of the Last Sultan, and this statue always provides one fragment of that tale.
Tip: The statue remains at the Joppa site in games where you start in different locations, so be sure to check it out.
The salt desert is rife with dangers, including Issachari raiders, scorpiocks, and dawngliders. Prepare for combat by ensuring you have a ranged weapon, preferably a compound bow or a mutant power. Defeating an Issachar raider usually provides you with a rifle, so having some lead slugs on hand can give you an extra advantage.
Enemies in the Salt Desert
Scorpiocks are heavily armored and can inflict paralyzing venom; it’s recommended to use axes or long blades against them, although it’s best to avoid close combat when possible. Dawngliders attack from the air, necessitating a ranged offensive to defeat them. Their fiery breath can cause severe damage and ignite you; if that happens, utilize the Wait action (either 5 on the numpad or Shift+Space) to extinguish the flames before they consume you.
Individually, raiders shouldn’t pose a significant issue, but in groups, they can quickly overwhelm you. Consider luring one or two away from the pack to take them down more easily.
What to Do at the Six Day Stilt
The eight screens surrounding the temple boast a randomized collection of traders, making the Stiltgrounds one of the larger trading hubs within the game. It’s a fantastic spot for purchasing and selling gear, but you’ll need to explore and examine the signs outside each stall to determine what each vendor is offering.
Inside the temple, you will find the sacred well where you can sacrifice trinkets and artifacts to build your reputation with the Mechanimists. If you accepted the bauble from the convert, this is the location where they requested you to deliver it.
Tip: You also earn a substantial 1,500 XP when you arrive at the Six Day Stilt after delivering the bauble.
The tent on the right as you enter the Stiltgrounds is occupied by an exile from Bey Lah, who will task you with checking on their homeland. Adjacent to that is a shrine to Resheph. Inside the tent, you can find another piece of the Sultan’s story, and you can share your collected story fragments with the priest outside for extra XP.
Explore the West Side of the Map
Caves of Qud thrives on exploration. If you’re uncertain about where to go next, simply choose a direction and start walking; you’re bound to stumble upon something intriguing. Until you’ve reached at least Level 10, stick to the western quarter of the map. Steer clear of the jungles for now—venturing into them without sufficient gear and skills could easily lead to your demise.
Keep an eye out for shrine statues and objects that are painted, engraved, or embroidered; they often contain clues about historic sites or ruins. By taking a moment to examine them, you’ll record hints about these locations in your journal. You will always earn XP for visiting a new place for the first time, and many significant sites hide equipment that outmatches anything you can buy from traders.
Tip: Look especially for the homes of legendary craftspeople. They won’t mind if you take items scattered around their dwelling, which are typically of high quality, and they offer unique goods if you’re willing to make the journey to meet them.
Travel to Grit Gate
Once you pass Level 10, it’s time to consider advancing the main storyline by heading to Grit Gate. Bring along the data disk you received from either Argyve or any of the quest NPCs in your starting town to show to the Barathrumites there. If you didn’t begin in Joppa, you should also stop by the ruins of Argyve’s shop to retrieve the droid scrambler he would have provided you.
Tip: Grit Gate is positioned closer to the center of the map, making it an ideal base for your future expeditions.
