A Quickstart Guide; For Beginners, By A Beginner!

A Quickstart Guide to King Arthur's Gold



As I'm sure is the case for many newcomers to this frantic and exciting game, sometimes us n00bs can feel a bit left in the cold. While the overall community is very welcoming and almost always willing to explain things (as best as they can as their stronghold is being pelted with stone from an enemy catapult), it can still be quite difficult for the average Joe, who just wants to stick his nose in and see what all the fuss is about, to get even some of the simplest concepts of the game.

So, since I have a bit of free time today, I decided I would start work on a bit of a "first impressions" kind of guide that can hopefully give the newbies a little bit more of a firm grasp, especially since this is through the eyes (and fingertips!) of a newbie himself.

First and foremost, you should obviously check out the Builder Tutorial in the Single Player modes section and READ THE MANUAL. It is imperative considering all the fundamentals that work for all three classes can be explained here in very simple terms. For example, how you can get around, climing walls, wall sliding, mining, etc. It will also give you a feel for what you'll be doing at the beginning of almost every match. While I do see some stragglers who prefer to leave the building to the guys who know what they're doing, it might be a good idea to be a Builder. Even if you only gather materials for the guys who have a bit of a plan. Frankly, I think the pre-game building is what fascinates me most about this game. It truly shows how a group of almost complete strangers can band together and build a decent blockade against the oncoming forces, ESPECIALLY considering it's always on the fly and happens with little to no communication. Most times the only text you'll see is either someone freaking out about a griefer (someone who joins the team to intentionally sabotage a build) or two people figuring out what the best way to expand on a structure would be. While there is currently no Spectator Mode, it might be a good idea to start off as a Knight and follow some of the Builders around. Just don't get in their way! More often than not, there isn't a whole lot of time to build a strong defense, so they have to work quickly! Also, being a Knight during this phase of the game offers less chance of dying, like if you happen to fall off of an incomplete tower, you can simply use your Shield Glide and save your ass.

Once you familiarize yourself a bit with the game world and have seen some of the basic ideas that come into play, try to work with the other guys when you see what it is they're going for. Tunneling? Just help them dig. Two hammers get through the dirt and stone MUCH quicker than one. Building a small base with a Quarters (healing), Bomb Shop, Arrow Shop, and Siege Workshop? Either help gather materials for the rather costly Workshops, or just construct an empty Workshop and let the others decide what it should be. You'll also notice that a lot of times, Builders will be working on shallow pits with spikes at the bottom. They will also build a Trap Bridge over top of these spikes. While I haven't really seen this work too well in any one team's favor, it can be an effective way to stave off the Knights and Archers from totally obliterating your forces. Just keep an eye out for what the guys around you are doing, and see if there's anything you can do to lend a hammer.

Once the game starts however, this is where your own personal preferences come into play. Like to be right in the thick of the action? Become a Knight. Learn how Slashing works, and how to effectively use your shield. Like sniping dudes from high places? Try being an Archer. The learning curve for shooting arrows is rather steep, but it is also rewarding. The Archers can often make or break an intense battle and shouldn't be overlooked. Of course, the backbone of any army is the support characters. If repairing your defenses or trying to knock down your enemy's walls sounds appealing, try the Builder. After a while, you'll start to become more rounded. Even if you don't like being the support character, force yourself to play as a Builder every once in a while. Yes, it IS a ton of fun slicing your enemy in half or putting a well placed arrow into their forehead, but without Builders, your army will quickly fall short. Every class is important to every army, you'd do well to remember that.

Finally, a few words of warning and some advice. Most importantly, expect to die. A lot. At least, while you're still familiarizing yourself with the game. As you become more and more skilled, you'll be able to take down a dozen guys by taking out a well placed Stone Wall piece. You'll be able to arch an arrow over a wall and plink a Builder trying to keep you away from their base. You'll learn effective killing techniques like the Shield Drop and Momentum Toss for bombs as a Knight. Next, BE COURTEOUS AND POLITE! Some of the guys in the games will be a little harsh and crass, but if they spoon-feed you, you'll never truly learn how to play the game. Nobody likes a new guy who thinks he knows it all, so don't go into a game during the building phase and start barking out battle strategy. You're not a General, you're a grunt. We all are! So have some fun with it!

I'll leave you with this. This game is most certainly difficult to get the hang of. You'll become frustrated because you keep forgetting that Builders can crush you under their walls, or because you keep falling into your own Spike Pits. THAT'S OKAY! It's all a part of the learning experience! I played the free version of King Arthur's Gold for about a week before I purchased a Premium account, and I can't tell you how many times I rage quit because I just couldn't get past this one damned Knight blocking my way to the enemy camp. BUT, after realizing how many hours I sunk into the game, I started seeing a lot of potential and found a truly rich and rewarding experience that is UNPARALELLED in the gaming community nowadays, independent or otherwise. It is worth the time! I promise!

Hope you all enjoyed this little quick help guide. If you can think of anything I should add, take out, or update that would make this more helpful, PLEASE drop me a line! I'll respond as soon as I can!

 

There's a sticky on this you may wish to contribute to.

http://kagforum.com/index.php?threads/tutorial-squad-reactivated-kag-crash-course.1883/

 

Thanks!