Get Ready for Vanguard!Advanced Newbie Guide Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is set for official launch on January 30, 2007. Many Vanguard players were in beta or are seasoned veterans of massively-multiplayer games (MMOs). But what about the people new to Vanguard or MMOs? It is my goal to help you out here by compiling and describing a selection of our many guides on the Ten Ton Hammer network. At the same time, some of our guides will help even the most experienced gamer.I'll cover the basics of the game's setting and systems and point to our guides on each of those things so that you can learn more. Keep in mind that we are constantly updating our guides as Sigil makes changes in-game. If you spot an error, please gather some good evidence (screen shots are awesome) and tell us.Below is a table of contents that should help you bounce around to the section(s) that interest(s) you most. Just click on the link to go to that section. Look for a [back to top] link below each section to return to the table and pick a new section.Advanced Newbie Guide
- The Basic Basics
- What is Vanguard?
- Terms
- Spheres
- Adventuring
- Crafting
- Diplomacy
- Continents
- Kojan
- People
- Places
- Maps
- Qalia
- People
- Places
- Maps
- Thestra
- People
- Places
- Maps
- Kojan
- Classes & Races
- Class Guides
- Class Roles
- Class/Race Chart
- Guide to Attributes
- Starter Guides
- ini Tweaks
- Hotkeys
- Be a Good Grouper
- Finding a Raiding Guild
- Role-playing
- Martok Starter Guide
- Kurashasa Starter Guide
- Conclusion
I. The Basic BasicsThis section will give you the hook up if you just found out about Vanguard yesterday (what planet are you from?). I'll also drop in some links that could be of great help to understanding the different Spheres in Vanguard.What is Vanguard?Vanguard is a massively-multiplayer online game (MMO) developed by Sigil Games Online set in the world of Telon. That means you will play the game entirely online and be on the company of thousands of others playing, too. If you have never experienced an MMO before, you're in for a wild ride. I'd suggest you spend some time over to see what you're in for when you log into Vanguard's world of Telon.TermsA great source for learning the lingo for MMOs is Lady Sirse's Game Terms 101. This is not optional folks. You must learn these terms and abbreviations to effectively communicate in any MMO. When your healer is AFK and someone shouts "Train! Evac!" you need to know what is going on and how to respond.SpheresThe action in Vanguard takes place in one of 3 Spheres: Adventuring, Crafting, and Diplomacy.AdventuringThis Sphere is the typical world of an MMO. You run around in an open area and encounter monsters, dungeons, and the like. Kills give you experience, which in turn raises your level and makes you more powerful. Our best resource for the Adventuring Sphere come below in section III.CraftingIf you want to make items for selling and to earn your fame as a craftsman, This is the Sphere for you. Crafting allows you to mold components into finished products that can be sold to or shared with fellow gamers. Cities throughout Telon also have NPCs who have work orders for you to complete so that the city can be stocked with the goods it needs. For a great resource on the life of a crafter.DiplomacyThis Sphere is all about the art of parley and changing the world through words instead of force. Diplomacy starts players humbly, learning to convince people to do what they want and progressing to harder tasks. The ultimate goal for a diplomat is to be able to attend world summit and help prevent (or start) wars. To learn the basics of this Sphere, check out my guide called Waggling a Silver Tongue.[back to top]II ContinentsThe world of Telon has three known continents: Kojan, Qalia, Thestra.KojanKojan is an Asian-themed chain of islands in the "middle" of the world map. Its citizens follow the path of the Jin, which is a spiritual energy much like a deity to them.PeopleKojan is home to the following playable races: kojani, goblin, half elf. orc, raki, wood elf. To learn more, visit our Races of Kojan page with the official information released by Sigil.PlacesWith the continent made mostly of islands, Kojan features a multitude of shores and rugged mountains that suggest explosive volcanic action created the islands. Find out about the starting player areas in our Cities of Kojan page, which was an official release from Sigil.MapsEven though the islands of Kojan are smaller than the other lands in Telon, navigation can still be a chore without a handy map. To that end, I have created a chunk (zone) map of Kojan.QaliaQalia is Middle Eastern-themed continent of harsh deserts and rugged people located in the "southeastern corner" of the world map. Its citizens have an eye toward surviving the cruel realities of their climate.PeopleQalia is home to the following playable races: qalitathari, dark elves, gnomes, kurashasa, mordebi, and varanthari. To learn more, visit our Races of Qalia page with the official information released by Sigil.PlacesWith the continent comprised of vast deserts, Qalia features many open plains and steep plateaus. Find out about the starting player areas in our Cities of Qalia page, which was an official release from Sigil.MapsIt's easy to get lost in the desert without a map, so I have created a chunk (zone) map of Qalia. To help you find the best places to go for adventure, Sypher Bloodthorn made this spawn map for Qalia.ThestraThestra is a European-themed continent of forests and mountains located in the "northwestern corner" of the world map. Its citizens include many high fantasy staples.PeopleThesttra is home to the following playable races: thestran, dwarf, halfling, high elf, lesser giant, varanjar, and vulmane. To learn more, visit our Races of Thestra page with the official information released by Sigil.PlacesWith the continent filled with forests, Thestra features woodlands and marsh along with some impressive shoreline slopes. Find out about the starting player areas in our Cities of Thestra page, which was an official release from Sigil.MapsIt's easy to get lost in the forest without a map, so I have created a chunk (zone) map of Thestra. To help you find the best places to go for adventure, Sypher Bloodthorn made this spawn map for Thestra.[back to top]III. Classes and RacesClass GuidesThe classes of Telon are divided into four familiar archetypes of MMOs: casters, defensive fighters, healers, and offensive fighters. Casters contribute damage through the use of arcane magic and the control of various pets. Defensive fighters don heavy armor and attempt to keep monsters from hitting anyone else. Healers restore life to their companions and keep people alive. Offensive fighters use martial arts and weapons to deal as much damage as possible.Casters include the Druid, Necromancer, Psionicist, and Sorcerer.Defensive fighters are the Dread Knight, Paladin, and Warrior.Healers are the Blood Mage, Cleric, Disciple, and Shaman.Offensive fighters include the Bard, Monk, Ranger, and Rogue.To learn more about a specific class, visit to our Class Guides portion of the Vanguard Ten Ton Hammer site map and click on the class you want to discover.Class RolesAs explained above, each class belongs to one of four archetypes. The archetype determines the role of the class in the Adventuring Sphere, The links below will offer some advice from Martuk on how to fulfill your role in Vanguard:
- Casters
- Defensive Fighters
- Healers
- Offensive Fighters
Class/Race ChartNot every race can be every class. To find out which races can be which class, view out Class/Race Chart.Guide to AttributesRace has a profound impact on the way your character develops. To learn about all of the various statistics in Vanguard, please take a look at my Guide to Attributes.[back to top]IV. Starter GuidesNow that you have a feel for the way Vanguard works, I want to point you in the direction of some other fabulous guides that will get you going on more specific topics.ini TweaksVanguard is an system-intensive game, occupying a good bit of your computers memory and processing power while you are playing. To get the most out of Vanguard for you machine, you just about have to tweak the ini file. For detailed information on that subject, see my Guide to ini Tweaks.HotkeysTo be the most efficient player possible, you'll want to make some custom hotkeys. Check out Xeldar's helpful Guide to Hotkeys.Be a Good GrouperAt its core, Telon is a world like our own in that you must be able to get along with others to get anywhere in life. If you learn nothing else on this subject, follow her advice about being patient.Finding a Raiding GuildSome people relish the opportunities to confront and conquer epic and legendary beats in MMOs. These people love to raid and Medeor has some sage advice for them in his guide for How to Find a Raiding Guild.Role-playingIf acting out the personality of your virtual avatar is your cup of tea, the readeth thou Who Are You? and The Dos and Don'ts of Role-Playing by Anomalous Silence.Martok Starter GuideIf you know you will be playing an orc or goblin, then you'll definitely want to check out Zinn's New Player's Guide to Martok.Kurashasa Starter GuideIf you envision your character being one of this devious feline race, then spend some time with the Guide to the Kurashasa Newbie Experience by Charabis.V. ConclusionIf all else fails, and the information you seek is not in this compendium of guides, then don't forget the most potent resource of all: your fellow players. Hop on over to our forums and ask a question in the Newb Haven or visit our server and class forums for questions related to those areas. We even have forums for Crafting and Diplomacy. When you want help, you'll find it!