This Section is for level info on anything within the levels of 1-20 you can post hints(make them spoilers) and tips and overall general info about the levels.
Levels 1-5: Ruins
Levels 1-5 consist of the Ruins, which contain Skeleton, Rat, Giant Spider, and Troll mobs. Occasionally Funny Bones may spawn, who does a high amount of damage and is somewhat durable; he drops a cloak of protection and a magical axe always. Torches are plentiful here, though it is not unusual to enter a level with no torches at all sometimes. Level 3 or 4 usually contains a double lock gate that requires two levers to be pulled, where the reward is the chance to go to Minetown, an NPC village. The other option is to be thrown into the Gnomish Mines, which is most certainly a death sentence without an amulet or cape of magic reflection. Level 5 is a "checkpoint", which contains two chests and possibly a campfire for extra torches, so use this time wisely to heal up a bit and identify extra items before descending.
- The Gnomish Mines is utterly terrifying for a new player. Starting out in a well-lit room, the player is situated in the center of a maze filled with magic gnomes and hostile trolls that will try to kill you. Do not panic, do not stay in the beginning room for more than a few seconds or the gnomes will burst through the doors. Immediately leave the room as soon as possible, most likely laughing and wailing madly through those darkened arcades of antiquity. At low levels, the gnome's lightning magic will 1 or 2 hit kill the player. A good way to avoid the gnomes is to listen to their "chip-chip" sounds that they make and avoid that direction. Never stop running, because they will find you and chase you. If you somehow manage to kill the gnomes and trolls, they will drop excellent magic staves of lightning and pickaxes, as well as identified valuable gems and large amounts of gold. The risk is near fatal, but the reward for clearing the Gnomish Mines is incredible.
- Minetown contains 4-5 shops, at least half a dozen friendly Human NPCs, and one or two fountains. It is not a guarantee that there will be a food shop here, as a word of warning. There is almost always a general store to sell any item for extra gold here as well. With a staff of unlocking, a player can access the underground lake past the grates in the back of town to reach a secret area with a chest and an easter egg Minecraft pickaxe, though this pickaxe is not actually usable unfortunately.
- Stocking up on meat here is a great idea, as food will become more scarce as the game progresses. Save any jewelry you come across, as some stores may buy them for a good sum of gold. Fountains are not usually a good idea at low levels because the armor you have equipped may not be the best candidate for blessing, and the poison effect could kill you outright if you are unlucky.
- Most of the equipment on these levels is cursed, so remember to identify whatever you find first. A top priority for melee classes would be to kill Funny Bones and acquire his magical axe, it has one of the highest damages for a weapon in the early game. Pick up any scrolls you may find because these could be identified later and a scroll of food would be very welcome indeed.
- This current patch, it may be better to lure any human companions to their deaths because their gear is usually very good for a starting character and is almost always safe to equip.