A quick introduction to the main game features... (Sept.2001)

Create New User

The first step is of course to create a New User.
Under the login prompt (left menu) go to the NewUser? link and give yourself a name and choose your color. Keep in mind that the color you choose will be with you through all the games you play and will be what distinguishes you from other players.
There is also some other information you may wish to provide like a player bio, ICQ, website URL, etc.

An email containing your login password will be sent to the email address you specified.
(If you gave an invalid email address you will not recieve your password and therefore will not be able to play)
Using your new password, you can login, and also change your password, player-bio, favorite sub-menues, etc if you wish.

Start Playing

The Games page lists all the current games running, sorted into groups, and also showing how many players and free slots in each (eg 2:10 means 2 players, 10 free slots), the game speed and how many turns left in the game.
Clicking a game will give you a game detail page, where you can then click the Enter Game button.
If you used the Auto-Load Window option, or you click on the game shown just below your login name (top left), then the game window will open.
As a beginner, it is recommended that you join one of the Beginners games to get a feel for how things work.
(Under the Beginners section. Note: Only games of your skill level will be available to you.)

Game Window

The Game Window is the (game specific) window that shows you all your resources, trading status, game resource values and statistics, your building status and projected income, game details as well links to the main map and message box.

New users will first have to use the Join Game page to choose your empires class and select how many, and which of initial troop types you want to start with. (Only Medieval is available at present.)
Once you have chosen your class, and starting troops, all the game menu options should appear, and your kingdom has been placed on the map.
To go to your kingdom, click the Open Map button at the bottom left.

Map Window

The Map Window is where most of the action occurs.
It is here that you build, deploy armies, and conquer your enemies.
The left frame is a Flash5 based graphical map, and the right frame is the info panel. Clicking on anything in the Flash-map will update the right frame with the appropriate details and options.

Moving Your Army

To move any army, simply click on your army and then click on a destination location.
If your army does not have enought MovementPoints to make the full distance, it will travel as far as it can along the shortest route path.
How far you can move is defined by Movement Skill x Terrain%.
eg. 8/10 MovementPoints Plains(100%) would allow you to move 8 sqrs.

Buying/Deploying New Troops

Buying and deploying new troops is done via Barracks type buildings.
Simply click on your Barracks and a BUY select box will appear listing all the available troops.
Clicking on the BUY button will show you the cost of the selected troop, and allow you to purchase as many as you have available.
Once you have purchased the new troops, they will become a new army.
Note: You can only deploy troops prodcuded from that building

Troop Production

Troop production is automatic.
Every turn you will get a certain number of new troops waiting in your Barracks.
You can manage which troops you wish to produce via the Military Training page in the Game window. (For more info on character types please see the Characters page)

Building New Buildings

Commandeers are used to build the various buildings.
Click a square next to a Commandeer army to get a BUILD button. All available buildings will be displayed.
Commandeer armies also require a certain amount of BattlePoints to build a building. Since Commandeers can be moved like any army, it is possible to build anywhere...
Keep in mind, the selected building will be placed on the map with the Top-Most corner on the square you have originally clicked. For larger buildings you may have to click 2 or 3 squares above the Commandeers.
Buildings cannot be built on a site that has another player's army within 3 squares.
(For more info on building types see the Buildings page).

Gaining More Resources

There are 3 ways to gain resources.
1. Attack enemy armies or buildings. When destroyed, you will get a small portion of their purchase cost.
2. Attack the resource piles scattered through-out the map. Each pile will give a random amount of resources. 3. Take-over the resource generating buildings on the map. There should be some relatively close to your castle, and others scattered through-out the map. They produce a regular income.

Attack An Enemy

All armies are shown on the map as smaller character icons. The owner of each army can be seen by the colored base and via the mouse-over popup.
To attack an enemy, simply click on your attacking army, and then click on the enemy army (a sword should appear over the enemy army).
If your army is not within attacking range (1 square for meelee attacks, 2+ squares for ranged attacks), then an out-of-range message will appear.

Improve Your Empire

By investing in new Technologies, you can improve all aspects of your empire, from better income, faster troop production, combat bonuses and new advanced troops. Simply look at the Tech Center and Upgrades pages in the Game window to see whats available to you.

Check Your Messages

Check your messages regularly via the Game Window or Main Website.
This is where you will find messages from other players, chat invites, and also any combat history letting you know if you've been attacked or just confirming who you have attacked.
Simply refresh the Game Window or any page on the Main Website and it will tell you if you have any new messages.

Last Advice

Of course my main advice is to read the rest of the instructions and FAQs.
Now that you have already seen the main controls and features, the best thing to do to take over some resource generating buildings, and try to increase your empire size. Deploy some armies and start working on your defensive strategies.
The best way to get familiar with the game of course is to play it.
So Good Luck!!