Well as most probably guessed this was my first attempt at the AP class. Somewhat painful experience but man did I learn alot.
Marans with eyes of flame and searing light weapons just tore me to pieces. I just kept dying trying to find a way to deal with them.
I still cannot fathom why it's coded to beat even the Inner guardian attack. Marans would raid in a group and if the first one in had eyes EVERYONE in the group targeted me that was a swift death.
Anyway thanks to those who gave me help alone the way, either by some good advice of some swift beatings.

Empire:
Vinson - You were the one getting tooled on as the only hero Imperial against the hoard of Marans and Villagers and Outlanders (oh my!) I talked with you after you being killed and looted and I really though you were on the verge of deleting. Anyway I promised you that I wouldn't leave you alone to fight for long, and ranked as quickly as I could, neglecting to stop and get charges. Boy that made life tough, but it was worth it to have you stay as long as you did.

Nabburak - Thanks for the Dreadlord spot, although I think I only got it because....well there wasn't anyone else! :-p You are a pretty cool cat and I dig your RP and our interactions.

Growlow - Mr Meanie Warmaster. Loved it.

Neviar - Man why did you go and delete? Anyway where were pretty deathful together when we were younger.

Black Sect : So many were up and coming at the same time as Nabburak and I and most all of you deleted. Perhaps it was just because things were rough, perhaps for other reasons. My Goal was to strengthen the Blacks first and then get the Empire into some sort of shape. I'm hoping the current batch hang in there. I demoted a couple for failing to achieve my commands and kill a villager one day. Yeah I knew it was going to be tough, but if they had worked together they could have managed it. Instead they both died and both got demoted. One stayed logged in, too his licks and went back to recouping his donations, and soon as he was there got re-promoted. The other logged right out, I have to say though he did eventually come back and regain his standing. Grurk demoted me because someone I oathed turned out to be a plonker. At the time I was being considered for the DreadLord position (although I didn't expect to get it) Maybe it's me but stickin' with it even when you think your getting the rough treatment is what makes a character stand out.

Goodies:
Iramath - egads how you tore me apart, I kept hoping to find someway to negate eyes and the light weapons, but I could never hang in any fight long enough. The there was those gang-rapings (shudder) sometimes I would be like "wooo I lasted two rounds that time!"

Sydrian - Yeah pretty much the same as Iramath, Eyes of flame even when the maran blind basically nerfs any chance of an AP getting the maran slept. Which brings it all down to damage reduction preps, and maybe a big charged axe. Thanks for not totally looting me all the time.

The rest of the Maran crew - yeah same goes, light weapons and eyes of flame are an Duergar AP's nightmare.

Healers - Jez Whiner boy, well what can I say you would bitch and taunt because I wouldn't go stand somewhere nice for you to come and attack me, then have your friends call to me. I loved the marans ganking you in Barovia, I was laughing so hard.
Llyria - Either you would call in what ever you could find for re-inforcements or do the same Jez gate to trick. I remember getting you Worldbound one time near the palace with cents to block, but bugger me I just couldn't catch you long enough to finish you off!
Rilliana - at least you gave me my container back one time.

IMMs
Grurk - only interacted the one time you demoted me, I knew it was coming but couldn't think of a reason for you not to. I sucked it up and learned from the mistake.

Khasotholas - Had me talk Treqop (sp?) into joining the Empire. Thanks for the guidance and prodding.

Well that's all for now, I missed loads of folks I'm sure. Throw something at me and I'll respond. I'll post some logs on Dio's this week.

I've interacted with you a few times and I liked the RP alot.

There is one way to cope with duergar vulns (and eyes of flame) and that is A/B/S, possibly with barrier replaced with black aura. But without atleast aura and/or shield you are toast against ragers and full marans. There is a certain shield that someone in your position likely could've forced others to get for him that would help with the wrath of paladins aswell.

Other than that my AP's have taught me it all boils down to a few very basic things.

Start with sleep. If you land it, you spell them up and summon them away to disorient them. If they can't run away (centurions in path or the like) you can always wake them up with a cleave but more often I have found waiting till they stand up to run away and bash them to be more effective.

A third option is to use vault.

After that it's all about timing your bash/trip and putting in disarms with the right timing. I think Master^DDD posted a recent good sumup of the class.

Hope to interact with you on the fields again.

A shame that none of our battle ended up in someone dying, but it also showed how evenly matched we were when we did engage. I'll miss the posturing and sly knocks on one another. Luck with the next.

Martooniw

Seeing you die and die again and again, I was damn sure you will delete or whatever. Still you pressed on. That made many think you are not skilled, yet I know quite well, that a matter of experience enfluence a lot how soon a player will abandon his character due to the loses. You did not delete and that make me think you are not unexperienced, such style or just unfamiliar with class or mud.
I knew you would become a dreadlord when nabburak ascended, you was the only worthy of it by that time. You died a lot with me around, so I guess I should feel myself guilty, though I am not truely. Yet was fun and pleasing to see you not give up.
Dont leave Empire, roll the next imperial. Shaman, Id say