Welcome to our hell
Ok, yes you need a game to play... in order to connect you need
a telnet program. We all have our favorites, I personally like a
program called "NetTerm" ... but telnet built into windows will
work too.
Step one: Find a game.
Look in the game rebangs section for an interesting game.
If you don't want to die quickly, pick a turn based game.
(Or point your telnet too: CampusParty.dnsalias.com port 2002
and pick game A or game B they are slow moving and ideal for
newbies.
Step two: Play.
To move to a sector, just type a number ... like 10 and hit
enter.
As you may recall corporations are king. If you can find
somebody to corp with, your life will be easier... assuming
they have some basic skills.
Everybody starts with the same resources... in a turn based
game the key is efficiency. Start by playing blue (good).
Basic game is to buy and sell organics and equipment at two
ports which are attached through a single warp. (2 ports
right next to each other). Buy at one, sell at the other.
StarDock ... find it by hitting the 'V' key.
--------------------------------------------
You trade until you get some cash, then go to SD and buy stuff.
(a new ship, fighters for your new ship, mines, genesis torps).
Just be careful at dock because hitting the wrong key will cause
you to get robbed and lose half your money.
Start with a ship that has low turns to warp (purchase at SD with
option 'S' ... Shipyard). Merchant Freighter is a good choice.
And try to keep your experience under 1000. That way you are
Fed-Safe (untouchable in fed space). And for god's sake make sure
it comes with an escape pod. (Scout is a VERY dangerous ship).
So you keep trading and then try to find a nice out of the way dead-
end to start your empire. (I generally start several at the beginning
of a game... then I'm not devestated if one is found).
Make a planet, put some colonists on it (they live in sector one) and
upgrade it.
Blue players basically build empires.
Red (Evil) players tend to go for Cash and convert it to Figs.
Oh, to attack an enemy hit A.
That's all you need to know.
Well, ok, there's alot more... but those are the basics.
For more infomation on gameplay check:
http://www.tw-cabal.com/
Then when you're convinced you want to play this game get
yourself a helper. They didn't exist back in the late 80's.
The first ones I recall appeared in the early 90's. A Helper
is a program that will automate basic functions like pair-port
trading or port buy-down or colonization. Most of the bad-ass
players use a tool called TWX Proxy which can be downloaded for
free from: http://www.twxproxy.com/
It may be a bit tricky to setup but man it will save your life
more times than you can count.
After a week or two you should come to the CampusParty Saturday
night unlimited. You'll die quickly, but you will learn amazing
tricks that will keep you alive in 'regular' games. We can be found
most any Saturday Night at 8pm EST on the CampusParty server.
CampusParty.dnsalias.com port 2002
Don't be afraid to ask for help, many players are decent people.
Some, well what can I say... some people suck.
Good luck and I hope to see you.