>- When balance shifts slightly, how hard should a nexun try to
>correct it? E.g., Lich is about and balance sways to
>darkness. No items have been taken and no other pc wants to
>help.

To a large degree, that's up to you. There are some guidelines in the Nexus libraries, but in general, when the balance has shifted slightly the main thing you have to do is not make it worse, i.e., you stop aiding the winning side.

>- Is there a timer on the balance? Sometimes I was running
>around trying to find ppl, just to have balance restored when
>I finally do.

Not exactly; however, consider that a lot of things are going on constantly affecting the balance in small ways, and sometimes they add up enough (especially if you're hunting during a slight rather than severe tip).

>- If another cabal holds another cabal(s) item(s) and the
>balance is maintained, should a nexun still help retrieve?

I wouldn't, and certainly you don't have to. If things are balanced, changing where cabal items are is likely to cause a shift.

>- I've noticed when gathering a group to retrieve may correct
>the balance esp. if said group members have just logged in.
>Should the nexun then leave the group and not help retrieve?

I think my above answer covers this as well.

>- If in the above situation a nexun knows the retriever(s)
>will die when retrieving, can/should he still help even though
>balance is fine for the moment?

I wouldn't say should, but if you think it's the best option to maintain the balance it's probably within your authority to choose.

>- If Veil is thick, does vanguard provide better DR against
>villagers?

No; the Veil being thinner is always better for Vanguard.

>- Does anything else affect the Veil besides killing PCs and
>giving things to couriers? That is, something a nexun can
>actively do.

Yes; killing magey/Battleish NPCs also has an effect, if less of one.

This means that killing a mage NPC for a magic item to give to the couriers may be less effective than you'd hope because the two actions partially offset each other.

It also means that killing powerful magey NPCs for powerful magic items, but not yet giving them to the couriers, might be a smart idea if the Veil is especially thin.

>- Why do things given to couriers go to the Vault where
>villagers can grab them in a successful raid and then give
>them to Tahren?

It's a trick question. They don't.

> Yes; killing magey/Battleish NPCs also has an effect, if less of one.

Can you give examples of these NPCs? I understand if you cannot. I'm not sure which mobs are Battleish except the one I can think of north of Humsah. Also, are these "special" NPCs, or can they be any mob where the effect scales with their level?

Essentially, NPC mages of varying power affect the veil in varying ways. Their deaths can sway the veil. I'm not sure if killing, say, Thrym does the same thing the other way, but it probably should.

>I'm not sure
>if killing, say, Thrym does the same thing the other way, but
>it probably should.

It does.

Obviously there isn't much in the way of Battle guys out there to kill relative to the number/power of mages.

...but didn't.

I mean, from a logistical standpoint, it makes sense. However, a lot of veil-shifting items are coming from high level mage NPC's.

Killing them for their items is a wash? Or is it still better than doing nothing?

It depends on the mage and the items... probably you still come out a little ahead in most cases.