Arcen Games

General Category => A Valley Without Wind 1 & 2 => : x4000 February 23, 2012, 11:56:40 AM

: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 23, 2012, 11:56:40 AM
Environ is a hostile place, but the game itself endeavors to teach you everything you need to know as you get started.  However, if you wish to know more about how the game works before playing, or if you're the sort of person who simply prefers external manuals, then these are the links for you!

A Valley Without Wind Wiki: Learning The Game (http://www.arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=A_Valley_Without_Wind#Learning_the_game)

Getting Started Guide (http://www.arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AVWW_-_Getting_Started_Guide)

What Are All These Maps For? (http://www.arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AVWW_-_What_are_all_these_maps_for%3F)

Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=A_Valley_Without_Wind#Frequently_Asked_Questions)

Multiplayer Co-Op: Differences From Solo Play, And Other Notes (http://www.arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AVWW_-_Multiplayer)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 23, 2012, 04:40:13 PM
Recently picked up the game and tried it out. One thing I would definitely make sure and add to the tombstones in the tutorial is a note about what is NOT available to the player yet at civilization level 1. I wasted a bit of time trying to build up my settlement at the start, and didn't realize for a while that there wasnt anything I could do yet!  :P

In fact, for those like me, it would be great to have a summary somewhere in-game as to what gets unlocked at what level. That should also keep people interested in getting deeper into the game, as well.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 23, 2012, 05:05:09 PM
Recently picked up the game and tried it out. One thing I would definitely make sure and add to the tombstones in the tutorial is a note about what is NOT available to the player yet at civilization level 1. I wasted a bit of time trying to build up my settlement at the start, and didn't realize for a while that there wasnt anything I could do yet!  :P

In fact, for those like me, it would be great to have a summary somewhere in-game as to what gets unlocked at what level. That should also keep people interested in getting deeper into the game, as well.

Actually, your inference of what's not available there is incorrect -- you're perfectly able to build up your settlement at tier 1.  We're working on an extended in-game tutorial for guardian powers, that's one of those things that's lacking in-game but which we're trying rectify this week. You're far from the only one confused about those at the moment!
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 23, 2012, 05:56:21 PM
Really? Interesting. I clicked on just about every button I could find in every menu I could find, and could not seem to find anything that wasnt unavailable to me. Looking forward to finding out what else I can tinker with.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: tigersfan February 23, 2012, 05:59:20 PM
Really? Interesting. I clicked on just about every button I could find in every menu I could find, and could not seem to find anything that wasnt unavailable to me. Looking forward to finding out what else I can tinker with.

Here is the progression we plan to incorporate into the game:

1. Get granite.  Then get and use a residential and storage tower NPC.

2. Get Purple shards. Now get a Stonebinder Tri-Tower.

3. Now that your Stonebinder should be at level 3, get blue shards and use an Aquaurgists Well.

4. Now that you can make windshelters when you want, get green shards and make a Lumbermancy Focal Station.

From this point, all the guardian power buildings should be available to you, assuming you have the proper materials.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 23, 2012, 06:27:52 PM
Good to know! However, I have an issue with the following (dont worry about answering unless you want to, I'm just providing from the perspective of a brand new player, these are the things I am not clear on)

- No idea how to go about seeking out and obtaining granite, aside from happening across it randomly
- No idea how to seek out and recruit NPCs
- No clear "initial set of goals" to work at until I get an idea what I want to accomplish with the game

Right now, the only thing I have really been doing is going after missions, exploring random areas and looking at the maps to see which rooms have extra resources I can harvest, waiting for things to become clear, or to figure out something else I can do.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 23, 2012, 06:31:34 PM
Yep, that's what we're talking about -- adding a bit more direction after that point.  Don't worry!
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 23, 2012, 06:39:00 PM
I agree with HellishFiend (The post above me was not there a minute ago, blimey ,p)

I seem to be again totally direction less and left without any guidance after the tutorial.

->
1. Get granite.  Then get and use a residential and storage tower NPC.
2. Get Purple shards. Now get a Stonebinder Tri-Tower.
3. Now that your Stonebinder should be at level 3, get blue shards and use an Aquaurgists Well.
4. Now that you can make windshelters when you want, get green shards and make a Lumbermancy Focal Station.

You can make it a toggle but i feel as if this whole build-up phase needs a feature rich (meaning not just a "go there, fetch that" quest style) tutorial that leads us from start of the game to stage 4

After all, the game only really "starts" proper after you got to stage 4 - and for the first continent it seems to me this ought to be a tutorial/scripted section for the very first continent. And this should cover all gameplay related elements as well in the process (resistances, shields, spells, materials, where to get what, easy way to find where to get what, etc.)

After this level-up to stage 4 phase the over-arching goals should be revealed (not before) so that clutter and confusion are kept to a minimum.

call it the "tutorial mode" or whatever because after the first time and barring heavy changes this is then no longer needed. I also think the text and dialog for that first "tutorial mode" peek into the game should be of particular importance and written with great care. This is what sets the game up - if the learning curve is a cliff, then that would be bad ;p)

(to me, its a black hole, because i am a bit confused with old/new information right now)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 23, 2012, 06:45:25 PM
eRe4s3r raises a good idea: perhaps the entire first continent should be one giant tutorial?

I think for this type of game, having 3 ways of starting the game would be ideal:

1) The entire first continent is a giant tutorial, and at the end of the tutorial, you have a semi-developed continent and a clear idea of what else you'd like to do with the game, and how to do it.
2) (For veterans) You start the game at the end of the tutorial with a developed settlement, and can pick up the game with a newly generated world as if you had played the tutorial
3) (For hardcore veterans) You start the game with a fresh character, fresh settlement, no inventory, and no tutorial, so you can have the experience of starting a newly generated world without anything to dictate how your first continent gets developed.

Those three options should provide people who love to "re-roll" their world all the time plenty of choice on how they go about doing so.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 23, 2012, 06:46:55 PM
Bear in mind, the game starts right away -- there are a few macro-game things you cannot do until you get up your first three guardian power buildings, and we're going to script that out.  But for the rest, you can pursue all sorts of other goals and make progress toward beating the overlord right away.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 23, 2012, 07:43:04 PM
By the way... if "camera follows mouse pointer" is checked, the camera moves when we are in the info tabs and dialog stuff and encyclopedia stuff and "Tutorial Tips"... very disorienting ;)

Speaking of .. things

I also think the health blobs should not "swirl" into you - that looks very weird and is actually kind distracting in combat, when getting close to them, a small light beam in the direction

And what would a post of me be without a mockup ;P

Mhhh, might be not the right topic ;P

Still think we need more faint/pulsing glow. Optional, but makes effects stand out more, needs to be drawn on-top of all effects and scale/dim depending on its function.

Pulsate on things that swirl static in the map... ;P

Wow i just noticed that this is totally in the wrong place (i guess) for talking about tutorials and graphics.. i only read HellishFiend's post, didn't even notice this is a sticky for info ;p
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 23, 2012, 08:05:00 PM
I personally think this is an appropriate topic to discuss tutorials (people will be coming into this topic looking for info on how they can expect to "learn the game". Maybe not graphics, though.  :P
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 24, 2012, 12:20:50 AM
Please just give us a bit of time on those!  We really do want to hear feedback, but right now we already have a raft of plans on the tutorials, and having lots of feedback on what needs to be covered at this stage is overwhelming rather than helpful.  I hope to get most/all of those things in tomorrow, but we'll see.  There's still ocean stuff and some physics stuff that needs fixing before beta phase 3, as well.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 24, 2012, 12:37:55 AM
You got it.  :)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: Dizzard February 24, 2012, 03:38:27 PM
So where is the elusive granite? :S
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 24, 2012, 03:39:41 PM
So where is the elusive granite? :S

Pretty much anywhere underground, actually.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: Dizzard February 24, 2012, 03:55:26 PM
So where is the elusive granite? :S

Pretty much anywhere underground, actually.

I was a little confused for a while because I couldn't find underground nodes....I think I might have been confusing the light green nodes as nodes that have portals in them. (instead of nodes with underground)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 24, 2012, 03:56:42 PM
You can always hover over any node to get a description of what is in it -- there's always a tooltip! :)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: Dizzard February 24, 2012, 04:21:49 PM
One last question, how do I recruit new npcs?

I tried setting up a "Residential and Storage tower" with my 10 granite but it said I needed an npc with 1 in lumbermancy. Which I didn't...
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 24, 2012, 04:28:12 PM
To get new NPCs, you have to do secret missions or else use a guardian power.  This early in the game, you'll have to do secret missions.  So that mostly means exploring caves, but you can also find them inside buildings.  Specifically you're looking for a Rescue Survivor mission.

If this is your first continent, you should guaranteed have a lumbermancer.  If not, then that would be why.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: tigersfan February 24, 2012, 05:35:54 PM
So where is the elusive granite? :S

Check caves. Surface tunnels, underground caverns, they all have granite. :) BTW, this info is already in game in the "Materials Compendium" section under "Commodities".
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 24, 2012, 06:01:07 PM
Under Commodities? Commodities are produced products, granite isn't produced.
When i look under Commodities i expect to see crafting related info, not mining related info. (even if mining is related to crafting.. which uh, brings us right back. Why isn't it called "Mining and Crafting Guide" - that would be a lot more logical (as long as mining and crafting related infos are in that.

Speaking of NPC's.. how do I know what my npcs can do and what not. So how i do know i have a "lumbermancer" ?

I think i need to elaborate, Materials Compendium is a very confusing name. I never would click on that to get info about mining or crafting. Materials is also very broad, is it about wood, or enchantments?

Is there some topic to think and talk and debate about a more.. uh, helpful help page thing?
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: tigersfan February 24, 2012, 06:16:18 PM
Under Commodities? Commodities are produced products, granite isn't produced.
When i look under Commodities i expect to see crafting related info, not mining related info. (even if mining is related to crafting.. which uh, brings us right back. Why isn't it called "Mining and Crafting Guide" - that would be a lot more logical (as long as mining and crafting related infos are in that.

Speaking of NPC's.. how do I know what my npcs can do and what not. So how i do know i have a "lumbermancer" ?

I think i need to elaborate, Materials Compendium is a very confusing name. I never would click on that to get info about mining or crafting. Materials is also very broad, is it about wood, or enchantments?

Is there some topic to think and talk and debate about a more.. uh, helpful help page thing?
Perhaps there is need for some updated language, but, to answer some of your questions: The Materials Compendium is about ALL materials. Commodities in this case refer to the materials needed to use Guardian Powers.

As for the professions, all settlements should have one Lumbermancer, but to verify, you can go to the planning menu, go to "Continent Status", then "Settlement Residents". There you will see a list of who is in your settlement and what their profession is. It appears that this is only working while in the settlement right now, we should change that perhaps.

Also, I think one of the big things we should stress to players is that there is a TON of good info in the planning menus.

As far as further debate, perhaps Chris will open up another brainstorming thread on this once he gets a few more of the parts in place that he has planned. There is a good bit more coming, he and I have spent a lot of time discussing it.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 24, 2012, 06:17:59 PM
To some extent you have to meet the game halfway on its terminology.  If you don't want to call "fighters" fighters in AI War, and insist that every small ship is actually a fighter, then none of the documentation will make sense.

In AVWW, all materials are broken up into "commodities and "rare commodities."  I suppose we could change that to be "regular materials" and "rare materials."  But in terms of what is mined or what comes from trees or whatever else, none of that is distinct enough to matter.  Regular commodities are those things which you find easily in the environment, whereas rare ones are the ones that come from missions only.

In terms of NPCs, all that information is available under your Continent Status screen, which shows you Settlement NPCs and stuff about your buildings and such.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 24, 2012, 06:35:27 PM
Ah thank you ;) That clears it up a lot. Well right now I find the terminology pretty confusing, maybe because of my background.. mhhh thing is, with commodities I think about modern economics and cargo ships and container terminals, and super markets... and Globalization ^^

Mhh, ah well , planning screen it is!
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 February 24, 2012, 06:42:19 PM
Yeah, I think that those terms do need to go at this point, actually.

EDIT: Maybe.  I'm not sure how many people are going to have this problem.  Perhaps a poll is in order...
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 24, 2012, 08:37:24 PM
Actually eRe4s3r is somewhat incorrect.... the word commodity can stand for a product OR a raw material, as long as it is something that is valuable.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 24, 2012, 08:52:24 PM
Actually, value is a misnomer, value is an abstract concept that only exists when you try to sell or trade something. So commodity is only something of value, and something can only have (the here meant) value in a trade/exchange system.

Or put simply, nothing in your house (not even your house!) has economic value nor is it a commodity, until you try to sell or trade it. Its one of the greatest misconceptions of our time. Its something older generation often uses as well "I buy all this stuff because it has worth" but things do not have a economic value unless you are *able* to trade them. That is, without demand, no value.

;P
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 24, 2012, 08:58:26 PM
There are many more types of value than plain economic value.  :)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 24, 2012, 09:34:18 PM
Not when you call it a commodity ;)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 24, 2012, 09:48:22 PM
com·mod·i·ty/k??mädit?/
Noun:   
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.
A useful or valuable thing, such as water or time.

I'm not defending the word as the best possible word to be used in the context of this game, but as far as I'm aware (I dont know the whole list) the things labeled as a commodity in AVWW do fit the definition of the word commodity.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 24, 2012, 10:03:39 PM
Oh i love a good off-topic talk every now and then ;)

The funny thing is, that definition contradicts itself.. likely because the upper line was taken from financial dictationary and the second half misinterpreted or mistranslated.

But needless to say, that definition is half wrong. Commodity is also a word out of economic teachings, as such.. you should check.. http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Commodity ;)

I would be curious to actually know where commodity was first used and in what relation....

I can find no respectable source for this part "A useful or valuable thing, such as water or time."
Most definitions say a valuable THING or ENTITY. Time is neither. Notice they do not define what valuable is supposed to mean. Wow.. most definition sites for words really do suck.

Commodity has since humans had English language been used to talk about trade goods of economic value. Any new definition i would strongly contest, i never heard anyone call a resource a commodity unless he meant it in economic sense.

I merely find this curious by the way. I don't mean to you know, fight with you over this, i just wanted to look this up and found that .. the internet does not agree with itself what a commodity is or isn't. that means its likely an economc term that merged into normal language without having an actual meaning. So at one point some dictionaries made some up.

Do you know where dictionaries get their word meanings from? Is it from Duden, or some other Insititute? And is it geared towards economics or social sciences? ( I can imagine that would greatly influence the intended meaning of the word "valuable" )
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: HellishFiend February 24, 2012, 10:18:22 PM
I think the commonly used meaning(s) of the word in the most commonly used context(s) is what is used for the definition provided by google, and that is probably the one that should be used in the context of a videogame's vocabulary. I'm sure the word has a rich history and maybe even a different definition in the strictest literal context, but I'm not sure that definition applies here, since the majority of players would interpret the word differently.

Of course, this is all going to be mostly moot once the tutorials and explanations are in place to properly preempt any initial misconceptions about the names of the buttons and whatnot. The only reason it is an issue now is due to the lack of tutorials. But like Chris said, he just needs some time on that.  :)
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: keith.lamothe February 24, 2012, 10:33:37 PM
the internet does not agree with itself
!!!

*faints
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r February 24, 2012, 10:34:40 PM
but ones common maybe another ones uncommon ;P *giggle*

I just had a laugh really, i googled "precious" and they said valuable.. so i googled valuable and they gave examples, but no direct meaning. So apparently, one can not google the meaning of life. yet...
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: Xeph March 12, 2012, 04:51:53 AM
I'm sure I'll feel like an idiot when I hear the answer, but how do I get back to the world map? I completed a region and it's just a dead end after the boss (in the stash chunk). Thanks!

[edit] Yeah, I feel like an idiot. I figured out I needed to go back to the entrance chunk.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: BobTheJanitor March 12, 2012, 09:58:13 AM
I'm sure I'll feel like an idiot when I hear the answer, but how do I get back to the world map? I completed a region and it's just a dead end after the boss (in the stash chunk). Thanks!

[edit] Yeah, I feel like an idiot. I figured out I needed to go back to the entrance chunk.

Don't feel too bad, this isn't really explained anywhere that I know of. It seems logical to assume that if you keep going towards the far end of a region that something interesting would be there. But no, just a big flat cliff face. Kind of a bummer.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: zebramatt March 12, 2012, 10:08:36 AM
You might argue that the current nature of every chunk being a limited number of open spaces reaching a dead end lends the game a slightly claustrophobic air.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 March 12, 2012, 10:14:37 AM
Well, we could simply make it go back out into the world map on the far side if people really prefer that.  Not in missions, but in the regular outdoor chunks.  Doesn't seem high priority to me, though.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: BobTheJanitor March 12, 2012, 10:17:28 AM
I've always thought that and exit to map transition would make more sense than a cliff face. Or if there is a blocker to progress, make it something lore-specific like a swirling maelstrom of magical whatever and a message to the effect that the cataclysm has broken the further lands beyond the point of explorability, or somesuch thing.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 March 12, 2012, 10:24:11 AM
Well, the cliffs are lore-specific, too -- lots of sheer cliffs pushed up from the cataclysm.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: keith.lamothe March 12, 2012, 10:35:45 AM
Removing the cliff faces and letting the player go through the end to the world map would probably feel better, except for those cases where someone didn't realize they were in the last chunk of the region and got dumped on the world map with no way to get back to the chunk they were just in except to re-enter the region and run through the whole thing all over again (albeit with access to all the surface warp points).
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: zebramatt March 12, 2012, 10:55:53 AM
Doesn't seem high priority to me, though.

I'd agree.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r March 28, 2012, 02:33:45 AM
So noob questions are back again.. i found a scroll to build something... How do i use it?

Nevermind, hold V - go to Continent Status - Go to power scrolls .. and you find.

the Building MENU

This should probably be a bit .. easier to find ;p
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 March 28, 2012, 10:03:07 AM
You can also use it via going and talking to the green guardian Ilari in the settlement.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: eRe4s3r March 28, 2012, 10:07:43 AM
unless it tries to go to the moon at that particular time ;p
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: Drjones013 April 26, 2012, 01:24:52 AM
Maybe we can include a diagram of the control schemes on the wiki...?
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: bvchaosinc April 26, 2012, 10:10:51 AM
OK, want to say I do have an on topic question, but first I need to fly off the handle about your terrible terrible form registration system.

1. White-out blocks really?  Has anyone in the history of ever been filling out a form and gone "you know what would make this experience better if I could not only not see what I am typing, but if I am typing at all."

2. Why do you white-out the user name after I enter it?  Even if I believe that there could be valid reason to project peoples forum password from over the shoulder eves dropping, I can not even begin to comprehend the need to do this for the username as it will be displayed for everyone to see if you use your account in anyway.

3.  Upper, lower, and numbers! Do you guys handle banking information on these forms, is this really a secret CIA think tank?  I am sure people like having the option to use a very secure password, but I am also sure people would also like to have the option of using a very simple password as well.

Additionally, here is an entertaining comic about how uppers, lowers, and numbers doesn't really help anyway.
http://xkcd.com/936/

/rant

Sorry about that but I have never in my life been more infuriated by a registration process.

So how is the improved tutorial coming along, because I just made it to town for the first time, and I have no clue what to do now.  The only thing I seem to be able to do in my town is craft gems.  How do I get to this town improvement menu or guardian powers or what ever it is I should be doing with my town.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 April 26, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
Cheers, sorry for your frustration with the forums -- but might I remind you that we didn't, um, have anything to do with coding the forums.  It's one of the two most popular forum systems out there.

Regarding the improved tutorial, that's been in there for months and months.  If you leave the town it will tell you more things about what you should be up to, and will give you hints as you get into new situations on an ongoing basis.  Also there's the planning button at the bottom of your HUD, which gives you access to all the stuff you're looking for.

Hope that helps!
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: bvchaosinc April 26, 2012, 10:31:35 AM
Thank you I tried the planing button it didn't seem to be help full at all, but maybe I missed something.  I guess I will leave my town and let the tutorial continue to guide me.




As for the forums you might not make it, but you do configure it.  Here try this

Go register at the Simple machine community:

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?action=register

Now register at for your own forums(make sure you clear you cash so you get the full new user experience):

Now do both of those again.

If the difference is not apparent then I guess I just have a maladjusted view of the world.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: x4000 April 26, 2012, 10:37:03 AM
I've shifted it to use the medium password strength rather than high.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: bvchaosinc April 26, 2012, 10:45:22 AM
Thank you for looking into it.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: junker154 May 01, 2012, 01:16:48 PM
I am a bit unsure on what to do next, so I upgraded some of my spells to Tier 2 and collected some good Enchantements. I did 6 missions so far, got decent ressources and such. But I am still unsure because there is a lot of stuff which I barely understands.

For instance what are conscious shards? It has something to do with those guardians stones. Also how can I build and upgrade my settlements and look after other survivors? I am confused on that matter. I want to upgrade my settlement and gather some strengh before moving to the next civilization level. Any advice?
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: tigersfan May 01, 2012, 03:06:13 PM
I am a bit unsure on what to do next, so I upgraded some of my spells to Tier 2 and collected some good Enchantements. I did 6 missions so far, got decent ressources and such. But I am still unsure because there is a lot of stuff which I barely understands.

For instance what are conscious shards? It has something to do with those guardians stones. Also how can I build and upgrade my settlements and look after other survivors? I am confused on that matter. I want to upgrade my settlement and gather some strengh before moving to the next civilization level. Any advice?

The shards are used in making and creating buildings. You need guardian power scrolls that you get from missions to build them.

Most of the buildings don't really come into play until the second continent, but there are a few on the first.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: Giegue August 13, 2012, 12:53:32 AM
you should probably explain what "technologists" and all those other types of terms are.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: snow2.0 December 02, 2012, 09:01:30 PM
Um, yea. I still don't know what those NPCs and their buildings actually _do_ for me, when i build them.
: Re: Learning The Game, FAQ, and Wiki
: LaughingThesaurus December 02, 2012, 09:07:42 PM
The higher an NPC's mood and skill points are, the more likely they are to survive and succeed at dispatch missions. Dispatches are more or less mandatory, unless you're really really really good at the game, or are playing on a low enough citybuilding difficulty. Other buildings that don't provide skill points provide the ability that they state right on them, plain as day.