Avernum 4 Annotated Maps

Strategy and Tips

Small tips:

Habitually hit Quick Save (F3) often.
If you see something that is Not Yours but in sight of a friendly, you can sometimes get away with stealing it anyway. Quick Save (F3) before you try; if they get hostile, you can Quick Restore (F4) and go on your way.
At the beginning of the game, pick up every object that you can without getting caught for stealing. Once your cash flow begins to grow, just loot those objects that have a high cash value. This way you’ll be saving some major space in your inventory.
Never sell anything if you have 15000 gold. That is the limit you can carry and saving objects for when you’re low on cash is a good plan. If you want to free up your inventory just drop them while close to a dealer. That way you can pick them up later if you need to.
In the early game, battle rage OFTEN. One spell caster covers the whole party.
Most important stats: Strength - on all characters. affects the weight of items you can carry (good armor is heavy) and damage you can absorb via hardiness.
Nature Lore - avoid those wandering encounters. Some nature lore is needed to open the caches hidden around the place. The better the reward, the higher skill is needed to open it.
Tool use is still important for traps, no matter how good your unlock doors spell is. Build it up.
Don't bother with potion making at first, but keep those ingredients. Potions have a higher re-sale value than their constituent ingredients. You probably don't need to make potions to use - only some invulnerability and restoration and energy is useful, only in the last levels of the three major quests.
Don't bother with food except as an item to sell - it only helps a little bit and the only way to fully recharge is by entering a friendly town.

Fort Draco:
Hrank
 2 healing herb                           = healing potion
 1 healing herb                           = curing potion
 1 healing, 1 spiritual, 1 energetic herb = speed potion

Formello:
Ahrens:
 1 fine leather                        = fine leather helmet
 2 fine leather, 20c                   = leather vambraces
 2 fine leather, focusing crystal, 50c = blessed boots

Fort Duvno:
Walner:
 1 healing, 1 spiritual, 1 energetic herb  = energy potion
 1 spiritual, 1 energetic herb             = armor elixir
 
Silvar: 
Chapelle:
 400c, fine steel, focusing crystal   = blessed shield
 400c, 2 fine steel, focusing crystal = blessed short sword
 400c, 3 fine steel, focusing crystal = blessed breast plate

West Cotra:
Orbus:
 10c, 1 healing              = healing potion
 10c, 1 healing              = curing potion
 10c, 1 healing, 1 spiritual = energy potion
 10c, 1 healing, 1 energetic = speed potion
 10c, 1 healing, 1 graymold  = healing elixir

Tower Colony:
Kimmer:
 Healing Herbs + Graymold = Healing Elixir
 Graymold = Curing Elixir
 Spiritual Herbs + Graymold = Energy Elixir
 Energetic Herbs + Graymold = Hasting Elixir
 Length of Cavewood + Quality Crystal + Energetic Herbs = Fiery Wand
 Length of Cavewood + Quality Crystal + Mandrake Root = Terror Wand

West of Tower of the Magi
Komlos: 
 Fine Steel, Focusing Crystal   = Blessed Bracers
 2 Fine Steel, Focusing Crystal = Blessed Vambraces
 3 Fine Steel, Focusing Crystal = Blessed Broadsword

Dharmon
Rippel: 
 3 Fine steel, 2 Focusing Crystals, 2 bars of gold = blessed breastplate
 3 Fine steel, 2 Focusing Crystals, 2 emeralds     = radiant shield
 3 Fine steel, 2 Focusing Crystals, mandrake       = radiant vambraces
 3 Fine steel, 2 Focusing Crystals, 2 mandrake     = blessed halberd

N of Castle
Bortund:
 3 Fine Leather, 1 Focusing Crystal, 1 mandrake    = Warrior's Cloak
 2 Fine Leather, 2 Focusing Crystals, 1 mandrake   = Enchanter's Robe 
 3 Fine Leather, 1 mandrake                        = Treated Leather 
 1 Fine Leather, 2 Focusing Crystals, 2 mandrake   = Runed Helm

Spire
Sage Eichler:
500 coins, a stick, a crystal, 2 mandrake, and 2 healing herbs   = Rod of Succor
500 coins, a stick, a crystal, 2 mandrake, and 2 spiritual herbs = Rod of Defenses
500 coins, a stick, a crystal, 2 mandrake, and 2 energetic herbs = Rod of Battle
500 coins, a stick, a crystal, 2 mandrake, and 2 graymold        = Rod of Alacrity

Bargha
Kelda:
 2 fine leather, graymold, mandrake, focusing crystal, 1000c = Mercuric 
Leather
 4 fine leather, graymold, mandrake, focusing crystal, 1000c = Stability boots
 4 fine leather, graymold, mandrake, focusing crystal, 1000c = Magus Vest
 5 fine leather, graymold, mandrake, focusing crystal, 1000c = Answering 
Gloves

Near End game
Craftmaster Strine
 Gold Necklace, Focus crystal, Mandrake Root, Glowing Basalt  = Opal Chain
 Platinum Ring, 2 focus crystals, mandrake root, icy geode    = Leaden Band
 Fine waveblade, 2 focus crystals, mandrake root, swamp nodule= Venomous Blade
*** All Herbs        = Knowledge brew or shielding brew  ****

Mage spells:
  Lark (Slightly Expensive)- Fort Monastery
Bolt of Fire
Call Beast
Spray Acid
Daze
Haste

  Ayrie (Slightly Expensive) ~Fort Draco
Bolt of Fire
Call Beast
Spray Acid
Daze 
Haste
Slow

  Sage Alice (Slightly Expensive) Formello
Spray Acid
Daze 
Haste
Slow
Icy Rain
Unlock

  Nathan (Expensive) Fort Avernum
Slow
Unlock Doors
Icy Rain
Augmentation

  Cecil (Exorbitant, very reasonable after quest) Cotra
Slow
Unlock Doors
Icy Rain
Augmentation
Minor Summon
Lightning Spray

  Kelner (Expensive) TotM
Unlock Doors
Augmentation
Minor Summon
Lightning Spray

  X (Exorbitant) TotM
Unlock Doors
Augmentation
Minor Summon
Lightning Spray
Terror
Prismatic Shield

  Rone (Expensive) Castle
Bolt of Fire
Call Beast
Spray Acid
Daze 
Haste
Slow
Unlock Doors
Icy Rain
Augmentation
Minor Summon
Lightning Spray
Terror
Summon Aid
Strong Daze

  Sorengard (Utterly Ridiculous) Patrick's Tower
Bolt of Fire
Call Beast
Spray Acid
Daze 
Haste
Slow
Unlock Doors
Icy Rain
Augmentation
Minor Summon
Lightning Spray
Terror
Summon Aid
Strong Daze


Priest Spells:
  Strout (Expensive) Fort Monastery
Minor Healing
Curing
War Blessing
Protection
Repel Spirit

  Hamer (Expensive) Fort Draco
Minor Heal
Curing
War Blessing
Protection
Unshackle Mind

  Abbess Haehn (Very Reasonable) Formello
War Blessing
Protection
Repel Spirit
Smite
Summon Shade
Enduring Shield 

  Mother Phelps (slightly expensive) Fort Dranlon
Minor Heal
Curing
War Blessing
Protection
Enduring Shield 
Unshackle Mind
Heal
Mass Healing

  Elder Arron (slightly expensive) Mertis
Smite
Summon Shade
Enduring Shield 
Unshackle Mind
Heal
Mass Curing
Mass Healing

  Abbot Erlanger (exorbitant) Almaria
Summon Shade
Enduring Shield 
Unshackle Mind
Heal
Mass Healing
Steel Skin
Divine Fire
Return Life

  Priestess Kyra (Exorbitant) Dharmon
Minor Heal
Curing
War Blessing
Protection
Repel Spirit
Smite
Summon Shade
Enduring Shield 
Unshackle Mind
Heal
Mass Healing
Mass Curing
Steel Skin
Divine Fire
Control Foes
Enduring Armor
Return Life

  Gladwell (Expensive) Bargha
Prismatic Shield
Summon Aid
Strong Daze
Fireblast
Arcane Shield
Divine Fire
Control Foes
Enduring Armor
Return Life
Divine Retribution

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Trainers
Note that you can only improve a skill by up to two points, and only if you haven't already increased the skill by two points. Some skills are definitely more worthwhile to wait off on than others. One point skills aren't really worth holding off on unless you have money to burn or are otherwise so inclined. Cecil can be reached fairly early, and you should definitely use him to increase your mage's and priest's magery skill, and possibly their spellcraft as well. Shrum should be used to increase everyone's bow or sharpshooter skill, since he's the cheapest in the game.

KEY:
  Trainer- Location (cost)
Skill (saved points)    coins

  Townshend- Formello (expensive)
Arcane Lore    (1)         1400
Spellcraft     (3)         2800
                        
  Walner- Fort Duvno (expensive)
Arcane Lore    (1)         1400
Nature Lore    (1)         1120

  Cecil- Cotra (after giving eyebeast stalks- pretty average)
Arcane Lore    (1)         1000
Spellcraft     (3)         2000
First Aid      (1)          800
Magery         (4)         1500

  X- TotM (exorbitant)
Arcane Lore    (1)         1700
Spellcraft     (3)         3400

  Shrum- Camp Samuels (Very Reasonable)
Bows           (2)          960
Thrown Missiles(2)          800
Sharpshooter-  (4)          800

  Priestess Kyra Bharga
Endurance-                 5000, all gain 1 point

  Tisiana (Utterly Ridiculous) Fort Emerald
Bows           (2)         2640
Thrown Missiles(2)         2200
Sharpshooter   (4)         2200

  Starcap- Almaria (Expensive) 
Melee Weapons  (4)         2100
Pole Weapons   (4)         2100 
Bows           (2)         1680
Thrown Missiles(2)         1400
Hardiness      (1)         2100
Defense        (2)         2100
Arcane Lore    (1)         1400
Spellcraft     (3)         2800
Tool Use       (1)         2800
Nature Lore    (1)         1120
First Aid      (1)         1120
Quick Strike   (3)         2100

  Thompson- Fort Remote (Slightly Expensive)
Arcane Lore    (1)         1200
Spellcraft     (3)         2400
Magery         (4)         1800
Magical Efficiency (4)     1800
Resistance     (6)         2400

  Captain Call- Silvar (Slightly Expensive after shade is dead, Expensive 
prior to that, and without the skills denoted by *)
Melee Weapons  (4)         2100, 1800
Pole Weapons   (4)         2100, 1800 
Bows           (2)         1680, 1200
Thrown Missiles(2)         1400, 1200
Hardiness      (1)         2100, 1800
Defense        (2)         2100, 1800
Quick Action   (1)         2100, 1800
*Quick Strike  (3)               1800
*Parry         (3)               1800
*Blademaster   (5)               1200

Priest spells
  Minor Heal: Bandit Ruins

  Curing: Formello, Abbess Haehn's room; Blosk

  Protection: Almaria, under Abbot Erlanger; Patrick's Tower
 
  War Blessing: Almaria, under Abbot Erlanger; Patrick's Tower

  Repel Spirit: Nociduas lair; Almaria, under Abbot Erlanger

  Smite: Fort Draco, Alchemist; Mertis, Arron's room; Almaria, under Abbot 
Erlanger; West of Fort Remote

  Summon Shade: Nicoduas lair

  Enduring Shield: Fort Duvno, Walner; Lizard island basement

  Unshackle Mind: Nicoduas lair

  Heal: Bandit Ruins; Cotra (Orbus, west of town); Bandit hideaway, S of 
refugees

  Mass Healing: Northern wall of Eastern Gallery, tunnel, behind 
spider/undead; TotM; Athron's Lair

  Mass Curing: TotM; Blosk

  Steel Skin: TotM

  Divine Fire: Above Priestess Kyra, Dharmon; West of Fort Remote

  Enduring Armor: Slith Lands

  Control Foes: Memorial Fields; Patrick's Tower; Darkside Fort near Ft. 
Saffron

  Divine Restoration: Rentar's Keep; Fort Monastery (Scrolls quest); Erika's 
Tower; Rentar's Second Keep

  Divine Host: Rentar's Keep; Khoth's Ruins; Rentar's Second Keep

  Divine Retribution: Castle; Khoth's Ruins; 

Mage Spells
  Call Beast: Aranea runes near Chitrach Caves

  Daze: Bandit Castle basement; West of Fort Remote

  Slow: Vahnatai Home; Patrick's Tower

  Haste: Hrickis' lair; Vahnatai home; Patrick's Tower

  Icy Rain: Motrax's cave; West of Fort Remote

  Unlock: Bandit Ruins; Patrick's Tower

  Augmentation: Eastern Gallery, Chitrach caves; Fort Saffron

  Minor Summon: Aranea runes near Chitrach Caves; Memorial Fields

  Lightning Spray: Near Skunky Joe; Athron's Lair; West of Fort Remote

  Prismatic Shield: Fort Avernum; TotM; Fort Saffron

  Dispel Barrier- TotM; Harston Ruins

  Terror- Bandit Fort, Honeycomb; Stone arachnids (S of Camp Samuels)

  Fireblast- TotM; Patrick's Tower

  Strong Daze- West of Fort Remote; Darkside Fort near Ft. Saffron

  Summon Aid- Athron's Lair; Memorial Fields

  Arcane Summon- Castle (Correlea's quest); Bargha; Darkside Fortress

  Arcane Shield- Castle; Fort Monastery (Scrolls quest); Rentar's Second Keep

  Arcane Blow- Rentar's Keep; Khoth's Ruins; Rentar's Second Keep