Guild Wars.

[Roland]

Althea's Ashes does NOT give skills, and it is very much intended to be quite a difficult quest for level 10 characters. (Equivalent to trying to beat Leoric when you first get to DL 3, as a single-player warrior with an axe). It does give 2000 experience. Don't feel bad about skipping it - you can always come back in a few levels.

As a R/E, the skill-giving quests in the area around Ascalon include two quests from Ranger Nente (Which you have probably done), a quest to ambush the charr supply lines in Piken Square (Which you must have done), a quest from Elementalist Asure + another quest from a hermit, and two more quests in Serenity Temple (The place where you should deliver the Eldritch Sextant to in "A troublesome Artifact."

Yeah, as soon as you mentioned it before, it came back to me that I was doing it for quick exp, because I was done getting skills in the area. I have not done Serenity Temple though, I don't think. Although maybe I did? I know I had that sextant for awhile, so who knows anymore?

I was really under the impression that you were much further in the game, but this cleared it up for me.

I haven't played with low level henchmen much, due to their insignificant contributions to the battle, but what you have described matches up most of my observations with them. I suppose due to the lack of spells that they can cast, they don't cast them nearly as often.

All the way from mid-game to early-late game, Alesia actually becomes sufficient for the party's primary healer.

Good to know.

Incidently, I've got a R/N in the same level range as you do. I'd be happy to help out with whatever - if you can get me when I'm on. In-game name: "Aye Farm Faction"

As much as I disbelieve it, the entire game has been balance-tested to be doable with just henchmen...

Ah, one more thing: Which missions have you done? "The Great Northern Wall"? "Fort Ranik"? "Ruins of Surmia"? "Nolani Academy"?

IF I choose to go back, it probably won't be anytime soon. But you never know. I'll keep my eye out for you if I do go back. As for quests, I'm pretty sure I've done Northern Wall, and possibly Fort Ranik, but the other two I'm sure I haven't done yet.