Beginner's Guide
Creating a characterThe first thing to look at when making a character are the notes at each stage, explaining what to do at each point. Rather than repeat that information here, only the following points will be made:
1. When picking abilities, only worry about your primary (which should probably be Strength, Dexterity or Perception for a beginner).
2. Again, don't worry too much about picking skills, they can all be obtained later on.
3. Pick weapons according to your skills.
All characters start in the area of Camden, in London, UK. The first thing you will see is the area map. This is a dynamic map that will update with areas to visit as they become available.
At first you will see several coloured labels representing the immediately available areas. The key for these colours is:
Blue commercial areas: These contain shops where the character can buy new equipment and stock up on ammunition. The items available will depend on the type of shop, and on its size; the most advanced equipment is available only in the largest stores. Note that some missions will also take you to commercial addresses.
Brown public areas: These areas are places where the public can congregate. Here you can chat with other characters. You can also chat with the non-player characters present; however, the only real purpose in doing this is to drain their Essence for your Powers; as a starting human, you don't have any of these, so chatting up NOCs is just for fun at the start. The principal use of Public areas, however, is to find recruiters who will give you missions and induct you into Societies.
Red danger zones: These are risky areas of town. There are NPCs here, but also potential threats; another good source of Essence, but also a danger to your health. Most importantly, recruiters (particularly those of the less reputable societies) can be found here.
There are also certain other types of area which may become avaiable, including green residential areas and purple private zones. These areas are primarily addresses where missions take place, and headquarters of societies when you join them successfully.
Probably the first thing to do is use what small sum of money you have to fill any gaps in your inventory at the shops. It's probably a good idea to get a close weapon if you don't have one; alternatively, those without any ranged weapon might want to get one, particularly throwing weapons due to their versatility. Some armour, e.g. leather jacket, bicycle helmet and garbage lid, could well be a good investment. Remember to buy items you can actually use; check you have the skill competency equal to the type and level of the item (check the Stats sidebar, and look at "use [type]" under "Competencies"). If you're into picking locks, you might want to get a Hairpin (for those without lockpicking competence) or a Heated Needle (for those who took Lockpick). Also, if you have "Close" skill, you may want to get a Cosh as soon as possible, as this is the lowest level weapon doing the non-lethal damage necessary for "Capture" and "Kidnap" missions.
Items can be bought either from non-player shops or by player-run stores. NPC shops will have a full range of stock for their shop type, but always sell at the maximum price.
Player-run shops sell at a price determined by the seller, which is likely to be lower that that of NPC shops, but have a limited stock determined by what the player has put on offer at a given time.
Items can also be bought from the Quartermaster of Societies of which the player is a member, at a discount rate. Note that this is the only way to obtain certain items (particularly military equipment).
When you feel ready to get into action, and start gaining experience and cash, you need a mission. Missions are obtained from Societies. At the beginning of the game, you will not have any affiliation with any Society. You must obtain missions by visiting Recruiters in Public or Danger areas. Pick an area in the District view and click on it. Once inside, search the area for anyone identified as a Recruiter when you hold the cursor over them. If they are a Recruiter for a Society you wish to join, click on them to request a msision. You will then be given a mission, with an address to carry it out. Go to that address and fulfil the mission requirements.
If successful you will receive cash to the value of the contract and rise in the esteem of the recruiter. Eventually, you may rise from the starting reknown 0 in that society to reknown 5. From this point, you may attend the society's headquarters and request a promotion to rank 1 from the Society's Commissioner, taking further missions from the Manager.
See the Missions page for what is required of a given mission. Click on the address of a mission to go there. You will find yourself in the Interior view.
First of all, hold the cursor over the "Equip" tab in the right-hand panel. Hold the cursor over the left-hand box and select your best weapon to equip it. Equip other items as you see fit. If your weapon needs to be loaded with ammunition, go to the "Items" tab and click on the correct ammunition type to load it.
To move around the level, click on a square. You can only move up to three squares per turn. To attack creatures, just click on them. You will automatically move toward them if you are out of range. To use helpful items (such as Sticking Plasters to heal yourself), just click on yourself.
Some items have a yellow border when you hold the cursor over them. These items have a special function when clicked. For instance, stairs will take you up and down floors, and you leave the level by clicking on the exit. For missions that require obtaining some object, you must find a yellow container of some sort and click it to get at the contents. Doors will also appear bordered in yellow; if locked, you can try to pick the lock by equipping lockpicks and clicking on it or bashing the door without equipping picks.
Once the mission is complete, go back to the beginning and click on the exit to leave back to the district view.
Note that, if you leave before completing a mission, you will fail it... you cannot leave and return later.
If you are incapacitated, you will wake up in hospital with some of your cash used up to pay for the treatment. Incapacitation also fails the mission.
You now have the basics of how to play the game. You can spend cash on more and better items, and train up your stats and skills to better use them (check relevant Public and Danger areas for trainers and training equipment). Beginners should certainly consider purchasing a Leather Jacket, Bicycle Helmet and Garbage Lid as early as possible, and keep stocked up on Sticking Plasters (or Bandages if you have the skill). Advance up the ranks of the society or societies of your choice by completing more missions. Should you wish to join the secret ways of true power, find a recruiter for a Vampire, Lycanthrope or Sorceror society; they will induct you into the ways of supernatural power on becoming eligible for rank 1.
Otherwise, go forth, and enjoy.