Is there a good guide on crafting and essences? My buddy has been collecting practically every ingredient ever since the beginning of the game, but thus far there is no way to craft anything of worth or maybe he is doing it wrong. Do I need many recipes first? Can they be bought? Can ingredients be bought too? What about essences?

Another question - what kind of preparations do you recommend for tough battles? For example, I've yet to buy any potions. Can they change the outcome of a hard battle? I guess I need STR and CON for Warrior and INT for Wizard, correct? I also find Action Points to be very important, so a potion for that would be of huge help. Is it easier to buy potions or to craft them? Are there any other preparation that can be made before going into tough battles?

Yet one more question - I read that there was a way to ABDUCT an enemy before the fight! Is that true? How can it be done? Using the Pyramids to teleport them or could you just sneak and erm... steal & move them to a different location?