/vr/ - Retro Games

Redpill me on Heretic and Hexen. Just started playing, having an absolute fucking blast, but I don't know if there's anything I SHOULD be knowing before going further in.
For example, I seemed to fare much better when Melee attacking everything with my cane (or the butt end of the staff?) than with the Necromancer Gloves that are for whatever reason dubbed a secret. Also, I seem to be retarded as I don't quite understand what the blue vials do. Finally, what determines the trajectory of my staff attacks?