The best way to proceed with identifying items is to have one character hold the same type of item...for the price of one, they all get identified.
You are correct regarding saving your game in town.
It is not a bad idea to save in a spare slot outside the city gates though when your inventory has been emptied of all but what you want to keep, for just in case purposes.
Joining guilds costs 500 per character per guild. You'll need more cash if you have a full party. In these earlier stages of the game, join the Warrior's guild and buy tons of willow arrows +1 and sell them back for a profit to up the amount of gold you have so all your characters can join their guilds and get all the quests involved with being a member.
Moni
[This message has been edited by Moni (edited 05-23-2001).]