NewPlayers

I have noticed that to a new player joining A Tale In A Desert, it can be very overwhelming for the first 24 hours - everything is taken for granted in this game, including knowing how to do things. Well, no more - this step by step guide will guide you in everything for your first 24 hours!

Downloading the Game

The game is available on three operating systems: Windows, MacOSX and Linux. Choose the download link for your operating system:

• Windows Client
• Mac OS-X Client
• Linux Client

These pages will give you the necessary system requirements. If you're happy, and have what it takes, click the "Click Here to Download" link. Don't worry about the Last Updated date, the game will self update when you first run it.

Installing the Game

Taking the downloaded file, open the application and follow the installation instructions - accept the defaults in most cases, unless you wish to customise it to your own liking. Once it has completed, you should have a shortcut in which to play the game. Run this to start the game.

Launcher

The game is started by running the Launcher, a small window that asks you for your engine and game. Unless you are having problems and need to fine tune it, leave this as Latest Engine Auto-Select.

Selecting your game is a little more difficult. The choices at this time are:

• Shard Bastet
  • This started on February 20, 2010 and is the "beginning" game
  • Most technologies have not yet been researched, everyone is relatively new

• Original Shard
  • This started in 2009 and is well advanced
  • It is in the "middle game"
  • Many technologies have been researched
  • Many players have passed multiple tests

Once you have selected your choice, click Play.

Creating a Character

When you first log into the game, you have the standard Login Screen requesting your Character and Password with a connect button. Underneath this will be a button called Create New. Select this option.

You will then need to select a language. This allows most things in the games to show in the desired language. Most I say, as the player chat will remain in the language they are speaking in.

Languages available are:

• English
• French
• German

You will return to the logging screen with new options, a Character, Password, Confirm Password, and Gender Selection.

Your Character will serve as your login name and the name everyone in Egypt will know you as. Choose wisely, as to change it is extremely difficult and is a one-time option only. Go ahead, and type your new name in. Also choose a password, and retype it into the Confirm Password.

Your gender is also important. Some things benefit Males better than Females, some things benefit Females better than Males, and some things like marriage require one of each! So choose your gender, then select Create Now.

Providing the name is available, it will create the character for you, and return you to the logging in screen.

Logging In

Load the game by using the provided shortcut. This will load the title screen with an input for Character, Password and a button called Connect. Enter your details, and click Connect.

There are two update methods. The first is during this sequence, where the update progress is shown at the bottom of the screen. Until this is finished, the game won't show. Just leave it do it's patching. When it has finished, it will bring the game world up for you.

The second update method is the "on the fly" updates. As things are updated in the world, a brown "Patching" window will appear at the top left of the screen. Whilst this displays, you can still do everything you normally do, so just carry on as you are, enjoying the game!

Once you are finished with your game session, to close the game you click on yourself , then select Utility from the menu, then either Log Out (which takes you to the title screen) or Quit (which closes the game window entirely). You are advised not to use other methods, such as clicking the window cross, as the game sometimes does not register you leaving the game, and therefore in a "logged in by AFK" mode. This will impact you later in the game, when it doesn't do your off-line chores, and makes people think you are still logged into the game.

Welcome To Egypt

So, you've loaded the game, and you're just standing there - just what do you do? Well, this depends on your shard and the technological advancement of the game. There are two modes here:

• A world where Test of Mentorship has not been opened
• A world where Test of Mentorship has been opened

How can you tell which one you're on? Well, a world where Test of Mentorship has been opened will see you on Welcoming Island, a separate area for new players such as yourself. Where the test has not been opened, you're in the main world itself.

• Shard Bastet - the test has not been opened, and you will find yourself on the Mainland.
• Original Shard - the test has been opened, and you will find yourself on Welcoming Island.

There is a page dedicated to Welcoming Island here, otherwise read on for the Mainland.

For those landing on the Mainland, the only thing you're guaranteed to have in front of you is a banner, which when you click on it says "Welcome to (place), This is a Starting Location". Everything else pretty much depends on where you've landed.

At the top left are your action buttons. When you start, there will be two (or more) icons

• The first that looks like a clipboard shows your level information - at this time, since you're technically Level 0, it will direct you to becoming a Citizen
• The second that looks like a Golden Pyramid will show your goals - at this time, since you're new, it will be pretty blank.

There may be other icons depending on the terrain at your starting location, don't worry about them, we'll come back when they're important!

At the top centre is the Game Time and your location. Game time runs about 3 game minutes for every 1 real minute.