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Okay... so in Might and Magic IX (yeah I know it's old but I still enjoy it!) here is a way to get some extra items in the beginning that could be very nice ones indeed (it's all random of course).

In the beginning when you go to the Isle of Ashes. Before you click the book to finish the board, make sure you go visit the castle. Now very important is to NOT touch or anger ANY of the creatures in here as they will easily stomp you into the ground. As soon as you enter go down the hall and go through the door on the right. At the end of this hallway there is a chest you can open with a disarm trap skill of 1.

Next fall off the ledge into the water and go to the edge across from where the chest was. Now follow this waterway while staying along the wall. As you near the end crouch continually as you move. Don't take the stairs but go around them hugging the wall and under the water in the corner is another chest.

Leave here and stay against the wall heading back the way you came. When you are a little past the stairs you will see a ledge across the way with a jail door and a zombie a little before it looking the other way. Being careful get lined up with the door and move towards it jumping onto the ledge in front of the door . Now open the door and enter without touching the zombie. Inside the room turn to the left and go to the wall. If you look down towards the lower part of the wall and hit your open chest button you can get the chest on the opposite side of the wall to open up. When you hear the click of it opening, turn around and go back outside the room. After a second or two it should take you to the chest open screen.

Now move forward and fall back into the water and go to the far wall again. Follow the wall back down to the original chest and jump back up on the ledge. Go out the door, and back out of the castle and you have three chests of good items (hopefully) to start off with.