By Uktabi

As a guild master, I am often in a position to help a newer player. I don/t confine helping newer players to our guild members. I feel for the game to succeed, the veteran players have a responsibility to the newer players to help them enjoy the game. In this article, I will attempt to inform people of how I try to help the newer players so they can also help the new player. However, this information may be useful for a new player. If you are a new player, read on.

 

When helping a new player, I try to have a few simple goals:

• Teach them how to battle

• Give advice on building their cities.

• Give them a starting army template.

• Introduce them to resources.

 

Teach them how to battle:

I usually like to take a new player into a quest called The Arrows. I like this quest for several reasons. First, it is paced just right so you can explain things and there is still plenty of action. Second it provides opportunities for them to face several different kinds of units and learn that certain matchups can make a difference. This causes them to look closely at their units and see that the spearmen’s special can really help vs. ranged units for example. The quest also provided a decent amount of experience for them to gain. It is a fun and relaxing quest that is just different enough not to get boring for me. The units spawn all over the place which helps with this greatly.

 

I try to explain about the use of formations and their advantages and disadvantages. I also try to let them know that some units are better against certain other units. I attempt to express to them that even though they may have only the starting package of units, the units they have possess some useful specials that they can use to defeat the enemy. This makes them feel less intimidated because they don’t have the most powerful units. It also allows them to appreciate the units they do have. I try to get them to know what AR and DR is and how it effects combat. I generally don’t get into attack speed, strikes per attack and DPS formulas. The idea is to provide them a base to work with and not to bog them down with concepts they may not be ready for.

 

Let them keep all the equipment. I have no need for a basic sword of fire. Why should I even roll on it?. Their armies need to be equipped fast so they have a better chance when facing the opposition. If their units get wrecked right from the start, they will feel that their units are the issue when in fact a simple boost from equipment may be all that is needed.

 

I usually keep a ranged and melee unit in my base army for use when working with new players. It is a nice opportunity for them to gain some experience while helping a new player out. Some players want me to take them into one of the higher level quests. I try to discourage this for a couple of reasons. I think its important they enjoy the game. Part of that enjoyment is the process of being able to battle successfully. Also, the higher level quests drop items they can not use yet. Finally, a lower level quest will be less hectic so you have time to explain things and be sure they have an understanding of what you are saying.

 

Give Advice on City Building:

A new player will commonly ask questions about what to build next. I advise them to build nothing but houses and farms in the beginning. I explain to them that they will need those two things so the peasants don’t revolt and start burning things. Most new players see the gold mine and think it is a good idea to build one of those. I try to guide them to build a lumber mill before they build a gold mine because they will use lumber to build things and they get plenty of gold through questing.

 

Another common problem is a new player will start building a university too quickly. This hurts them because they don’t usually have the amount of peasants to get the job done quickly. In addition, they will not be able to build houses and farms which they will need badly while the university is building. They also will not have the gold to purchase any upgrades when the university does complete, which makes it virtually useless.

 

I generally try to guide a new player to concentrate on houses and farms. I have them build no more than one in advance so they can adjust to meet the needs of their growing population. I then tell them to build three lumber mills before any other resource buildings. They will need lumber before they will need stone and gold. Also, the lumber they make can help build the stone quarry’s and gold mines. Only when houses and farms are maxed out do I tell them to start building storehouses. I let them know it may be a good idea to wait until they get a couple territories fully built and stocked with peasants before attempting to build a university.

 

Give them a starting army template:

First I will advise a new player on what they have. I try to get them to see some value and possible uses for the starting units. Following is a synopsis of what I attempt to get across.

• Human Archers – Range unit with good range. This is a unit of choice vs. flying units. The long range also makes it very useful to be the damage dealer when kiting.

• Human Spearmen – Range unit with a nice AR. This unit has a nice special that makes it much quicker to take down a ranged unit such as a tank, flamethrowers, or longbowmen. I try to impress on them that a majority of boss units are ranged.

• Behemoth – A unit with a lot of HP and can be used for tanking. It is also just fast enough to kite most melee units you will see in the beginning. Beware of tanking pikemen with this unit.

• Covered Ram – This is a great unit for tearing down structures. It is the unit of choice when capping towers. In addition, this unit can be used to tank pikemen units to great effect.

• Pikemen – a tanking unit that can really take down an enemy horse or behemoth unit.

• Light Infantry* - a tanking unit with a special that improves its defense. This unit may have enough speed to kite with. (*I have noticed some accounts don’t contain these anymore.)

• Catapult – strictly for tearing down buildings. This is a nice addition since they began putting them in. Some quests almost require their use.

• Ballista – really nice range unit. Good damage and great range. The special is useful to slow down a unit allowing it to be kited effectively.

Those are the units everyone starts with. In addition, I tell everyone to develop the following units by purchasing them off the buy tab in the market:

• 3 units of Heavy Cavalry

• 2 units of Cavalry Archers

 

Faction specific units: These suggestions depend totally on what faction a player is playing. Understand that I try to keep the starting cost as low as possible so the units I suggest may not be the best unit in the faction. If the player has the means to obtain units from the card sellers, I usually suggest:

 

WAR:

• 3 Red Dragons

• 3 Hammerfiend units (or 1 each of Hammers, Halbardiers, and Champs)

• 3 Sniper units (or sub Flaming Catapult if cost is an issue.)

MAGIC:

• 3 Black Dragon

• 3 Demons

• 3 Units of DE Magi (purchased off the buy tab in the market)

UNDEAD

• 3 Shadow Dragons

• 3 Abominations

• 3 Deathbringers

 

Notice that I try to steer the new player toward the single troop unit. Some players are not able to afford to go to the card shop. They must obtain their units by grinding for gold. It is easier and quicker for them to obtain a card this way and immediately put in into action.

 

Remember this is just a guide for them where I attempt to get them started. I don’t really care if they follow the advice. I am just trying to make starting out cheap and efficient.

 

Give them Resources:

Finally, I try to give a new player places they can go to get further information. This makes it much easier on me, and allows them to learn at their own pace interest area. I suggest the following:

• The guides used by the game – You would be surprised by the number of people who are intimidated by these. However, there is all the information they will need at their fingertips.

• Web addresses for any card seller I can think of. Its not my job to suggest one or the other, and I want them to have the opportunity at the best prices.

• www.sagablogs.com – this website is the best.

• YouTube – there are several SAGA related videos there.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the article. I hope it encourages you to help out new players and expand the player base of SAGA.