from what i remember... which isnt great tbh
mystery items only ever dropped in mystery cave, you NEVER saw the stats on them untill someone had put it on ONCE then the stats were always visible,
the risk in putting on an item was that it could be cursed and you had to use a water to remove the item, i dont remeber stats ever going back to ???? after it was worn thought. but back then items would break when dura reached 0/0 (waynes slayer >.<) so if you didnt have water you had the break the item off.
hardest monster was always the Hen
deers had to be thrust because the AC was just too high on them and the tip of thrust ignores AC so it was the only way to deal melee damage,
thats what i remember