1 - You start out very weak and unprotected, so you'll need to acquire some weapons and protective gear fast.   Attacking merchants will cost you -100 char points but it will earn you $1500 guilders.   Don't go nuts, because you'll have to regain the char points eventually, but it's a good way to grab some fast cash.   Travellers and white monks should never be killed, however, since they cost more than they yeild.

2 - Only the characters engaged in combat will gain exp. However, all characters benefit from exp. gain when magical items are used.

3 -  White orbs aren't really worth the cost since you can only carry 1 at a time.   Keep 1 in your stockpile, sell your fangs to pick up staff of earthquakes, of which you can carry a max of 4.   You can always earn more fangs to trade for the stone of protection.

4 - Battling the white monks is a great way to build exp., if you just remember not to defeat them.   Beat them within an inch of their life, then use the "Talk" command, and you will have gained terrific exp. without the loss of char points.   Sometimes they'll even heal your wounds, too.

5 - There is a village of resurrection in the mountains northwest of Penteus that will bring a character back from the dead for 30,000 guilders.

6 - Even though the game permits you to carry a maximum of 9 sacred nuts at a time.   By throwing your last nut at a liphant, when you have a total of 9, you'll be able to acquire 3 more to bring your maximum to 11.

7 - The sacred nut technique works for herbs as well.   The game allows you to carry a maximum of 24 herb pouches at any given time, but since they are purchased in lots of 5, you must have 19 already in stock to gain this maximum.

8 - Stones of protection don't always work at stopping spellcasters the first time, but they do work on all creatures, and once they're activated, they don't wear off during battle.   So use them immediately when fighting bosses, and keep using them until you receive the message that the "stone of protection stopped the creatures spell."

9 - The Blacksmith that accompanies may not stay with you forever.  If you encounter the annoying Basailz toward the end of your journey, its defeat will yield the phrase "The Black Monk was badly injured."  The Black Monk the Game refers to is the Blacksmith! Not the Evil Black Monk. He will leave your party, and you have to pay 12,000 guilders again for his ability.  (Thanks to K.H.O.L.D. for this tip).