If this is your first toon, I highly recommend taking the scenic tour and go through all the zones. Cryptic has made a very pretty game with a generous amount of foliage, so go enjoy a walk in the woods. That said, here are a few tips:
Inscribed Garments: If you plan to level multiple characters to 80, the Inscribed Garments (shirt and pants) is a good real money investment. This is an account wide unlock, so you only need to buy them once. They are filed under "Services" on the Zen store.
Azure/Blue enchantments: everyone gets five Utility slots--head, arms, feet, neck, and belt. Rank 7s are good, but even Rank 5 Azure is better than nothing.
Purple-level Mount (real $$): Wait for a sale, and pick up a purple-level mount from the Zen store. When you buy a mount directly on the Zen store, they are unlocked for your account, so every toon can claim a purple mount. The zones in this game got bigger and bigger over time, and riding a purple mount will make time go faster, AND you don't get shot down as easily while trying to ride past enemies.
Purple-level Mount (doing an event): There are now events that give purple-level mounts--The Siege of Neverwinter and the 2018 Summer Festival. If there's a event going, it will be announced under your mini-map. The Siege event requires the participation of 2 Heroic Encounters every day. You will get a coin for doing 2 HEs that day, and when you get 21 coins, you can turn the coins in for a Siege Griffon. The 2018 Summer Festival requires checking in with the Yina once a day, and she will give you a token for checking in. Once you get 21 tokens, you can exchange that for a purple-level Flail Snail.
Your first Artifact: at Level 21 or so, you will get a quest to pick up a thingy called an Artifact. The quest is described here: https://neverwinter.gamepedia.com/Artifact_Recovery When you turn in the quest, you will get to choose an artifact. If you're a tank type, the Water of Elah'zad is helpful. If you're a squishy DPS type, the Lantern of Revelation will help you hit harder.
Injury and Traps: Traps are a staple in this game, and they tend to be in the middle of the paths and hallways. If you trigger a trap and it hurts you, it causes an automatic injury. The injury makes you slow, and repeated injuries makes you even slower. You cannot heal from an injury by drinking a potion. The only way to get rid of an injury is to use an Injury Kit--there are plenty of those in the guild, so help yourself to them. Tip: if you have a VIP subscription, you're immune to all injuries.
Icespire Peak: This is one of the largest zones when the game first launched more than 4 years ago. The ride up the mountain seems endless. At the top of the mountain, you will get a quest to slay the Rime Hound in its den. This mini dungeon is full of traps, and the Rime Hound likes to freeze you then bite you. So if you can't get through this mini dungeon on your own, do not hesitate to ask your guildies for help. One of us will come help you.
Dungeons: There are Dungeons before you're 80, and there are Epic Dungeons after you're 80. While you're leveling, you will be able to que for "Dungeons." "K" bring ups the que menu. You go in as a team of 3, so you may not have a healer or a tank. Running these low level dungeons is a great way to earn Astral Diamonds, which is the primary currency for trading on the Auction House. There is also a cleric standing around the fountain in the guild's Stronghold that give you a quest called "Random Dungeon." If you run a leveling dungeon and then turn in the quest to the cleric, you will earn Dungeoneering Shards. You can turn in these shards to the Mimic at the Stronghold and earn Guild Marks.
Build and Gear: don't worry too much about this while you're leveling.
If you're the type that plans for the long term, read this for some ideas of what happens when you get to 70: https://www.newoutriders.org/forums/vie ... =90&t=6635
Now go have fun. If you have any questions, just holler in guild chat, and someone would have an answer.
