Wiki - User contributions [en]

PvP

2012-08-17T00:23:24Z

Juris: /* PvP Benefits */

''PvP stands for '''P'''layer '''v'''ersus '''P'''layer.''

This would best fit a wilderness [[encounters]] against other human players, but any [[events]] where you compete against other players has PvP potential.

There are a variety of ways to PvP in Darkwind, although all of them are consensual, so there's no way to PvP a player who doesn't want it (excluding town events).

Types of PvP in Darkwind:
* Squad Challenge
* Camp Attack/Defense
* Camp War
* Open/Closed World PvP

== Camp War ==
Camps can declare war on each other. War has to be agreed upon by both camps and either camp may end the war at any time (there is a 2 day status delay).

Camps that are in "open PvP" mode will automatically accept any declaration of war.

== World PvP ==
For ''World PvP'', players decide whether they want to take part in road encounters with other player squads.

Since combats are squad-based rather than gang-based however, each squad is identified as being open or closed for PvP. If any vehicles in a squad belong to gangs who are open for PvP, then the entire squad is open.

Two exceptions:
# In Shantyville, every squad is considered to be '''open''' for pvp
# In Somerset, every squad is considered to be '''closed''' for pvp

Any gang that is open for PvP get a field-training boost in all events - even town events and PvE combats.

The 'squad spying' and 'gates monitoring' systems that run in the lobby will now only notify you about potential targets, i.e. closed-for-PvP squads won't be monitored or spied on.

If your squad is not open for PvP, it can no longer define an enemy squad or look for human enemies when scouting

A squad's PvP status is shown clearly, towards the top of its page.

'''NOTE:''' There's a 14 day delay between each status switch.
This is to prevent players from toggling PvP on and off in order to attack others, but remain safe from retaliation.

== PvP Rules ==
The PvP rules in the game are clarified below.
=== Getting involved in PvP ===
# By default, a new player will not be attack-able nor involved in the PVP system.
# There are two mechanisms by which a player can become involved with PVP.
## A player may turn on their personal PVP flag (on their''Gang Info'' page)
## A player may be a member of a camp that is involved in camp warfare.

If either of these criteria are met,
* '''You are vulnerable to surprise attack on the road'''.
* You can be attacked by the corresponding group of people, individual or camp war PVPers.
* Note that if you are part of a squad that includes at '''least one''' car owned by a gang that meets the above criteria, the squad (and therefore you) may be attacked
* You may perform surprise attacks on the road.
* You can attack the corresponding group of people, individual or camp war PVPers.

=== PvP Benefits ===
* Personal PvP (PvP status set to ''ON'' on ''Gang Info'' page)
** training boost in PvP wilderness events where there is real combat. The exact mechanism is hidden but injury ("blue") may be required
* Camp PvP (Camp at war with other camps)
** There is no automatic benefit for a camp being at war, however for winning PvP battles a camp will receive bonuses to fame, production, and mechanic rating.
* After all PVP battles, all mechanic and first aid checks are automatically passed.
** This means that injured gangers and damaged cars are at maximum possible likelihood of being saved.
* Any footsquads formed after losing a PvP battle will automatically have no encounters with animals of the way back to town.
* You can pay a bounty to buy your way out of any PVP encounter, though the price may be quite stiff.
* The camp bonuses rewarded in PvP battles are determined by how much damage is done to skilled gangers.

=== Special Rules ===
* Somerset
** On-the-road surprise attacks can '''''never''''' happen here, regardless of PvP status or camp affiliation, '''unless all squad vehicles are owned by open-pvp gangs or members of warring camps'''
* Shantyville
** On-the-road surprise attacks can '''''always''''' happen between any squads here, '''regardless of pvp status or camp affiliation'''.

=== Additional things to know about camp PvP ===
# Camps can be attacked directly by enemy camp player squads with 24 hours notice. The attack can come only during the camps scheduled open time.
# Camps that lose a camp attack PVP will be vandalized and looted for goods and cars.
# Camps that buy their way out of a camp attack will lose fame.
# Camps that engage in and win PVPs can have up to 100% boost in production speed and 30% boost in mechanic rating.

[[Category: PvP]]
[[Category: Camps]]
[[Category: New Player]]

Top Ten Scouting Tips

2012-07-05T23:16:57Z

Juris: /* Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open */

= Top Ten Scouting Tips =

==Watch your own back==
AKA: '''CYOA''' (Cover Your Own A**)
Always bring your own backup (a second or third vehicle). Too many times on group scouts other players focus only upon themselves and the enemies they are fighting and will do nothing to help if you get in trouble. Scouting alone with only one vehicle is especially dangerous, since you have fewer tactical options – all the enemies drive straight towards you. If you violate this rule and insist on scouting with only one vehicle, scout '''only''' with players you know will bail you out if you get in trouble.

==Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open==
Open terrain is lethal. Always make a stand on obstructed ground to break enemy formations or on top of a small hill or cliff. Anything to avoid having the enemy swarm you. No matter how good your gang members are or what you are driving, no vehicle can fight when it is being pegged by
3 or more heavy weapons – the stress is too great for accurate fire AND your vehicle might even flip. Once you get pinned down by weapons fire you are dead. In a worst-case scenario where there is little to no cover try to run until some of the enemy auto-escapes at 500m. Another technique is to run until the enemy becomes spread out, then turn and kill the lead vehicles before the others can join - divide and conquer.

==Always assume there will be a return/second encounter==
Do not loot vehicles that you don't want to fight in. Looted vehicle add their CR to the number of enemy vehicles encountered on a return. Vehicles with engines less than 75%, that have their main guns destroyed, or have more than one armor facing breached are death traps. Do not make exceptions for rare vehicles, leave that 8% 3.2Lv8, it's not worth it. Greed kills. If you violate this rule (and you will), then you must prepare to ditch your loot vehicle at the start of the return. Place your loot vehicle TO THE LEFT of the vehicle you want your driver to escape to (because the steering wheel in DW is ON THE RIGHT). Slow both vehicles down to 0 mph. Then exit the loot vehicle. If you do it right you can immediately board your own vehicle without exposing your gang member to weapons fire – this is the 'loot car shuffle'. Practice this. Always leave enough room in your regular vehicle for your guy to hop back in (20 bulk).

==Don't forget the 'Surrender All' option==
If solo scouting (not the same as scouting with one vehicle, just scouting by yourself) remember you can always select 'surrender all' if you are about to lose a valuable gang member. Of course this depends on who the gang member is – if it's a new recruit then who cares – but if it's your leader surrender that apache – you can always get another but it takes months and even years to build up a good leader. This is why solo scouting is safer, because you don't have this option on group scouts unless everyone agrees. There is no excuse for losing your three best gang members on a bad scout. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO VEHICLES, DO NOT CONTINUE A BAD SCOUT TO GET 'REVENGE'.

==Cross-train==
Focus on gaining as many specializations as fast as possible. Most skills give you a specialization in blocks of 50. So if your large-gunner is at 67 skill and is only training one point a week during the training hit, then he is probably close to his maximum skill level. Switch his training to gunnery or hand gunner until you hit 50, then switch to something else. Always try to have a first-aid specialization character in a squad – you can quickly cross-train first aid in EL. Always have a Motivator in a town with more than three gang members – this improves their training over time.

==Destroy rocket vehicles first==
Destroy vehicles like the Mutant Marauder and Scorpion first - getting hit by twin RLs can kill by making your vehicle unresponsive and preventing you from returning fire.
Be scared of heavy rockets – a heavy rocket can kill you in one shot. Ignore CGLs till the end – they are no threat to a well-built vehicle.

==Always fire until an enemy vehicle is reduced to 0 CR==
You can read an enemy vehicle's CR by hovering over it with your pointer. Too many needless deaths occur when a player dismisses a 'killed' enemy vehicle, only to have a heavy-rocket come out of 'nowhere' and kill him. Rare loot is the exception – save them for last and kill/red as many other enemies as you can – this demoralizes the remaining enemy force. Being struck by weapons fire is also demoralizing – so if you want to loot that rare chassis pay attention to its remaining armor and be careful not to breach it – pepper it on all sides until it demoralizes. You may need to hold fire for a turn.

==Always equip hand weapons on all characters==
Also, upgrade to SMGs or Rifles when possible. Make sure each character has 2 hand weapon reloads. Do not travel without hand weapons, and remember you cannot reload hand weapons while running.

==Don't forget to attempt to truce an encounter you wish to avoid==
You get a chance to truce after you see the initial enemy placement. If ambushed by a superior force try to truce. If you are attacked on a return and your vehicles are too beat up to fight attempt to truce. A good scout can save your entire squad.

==Always pack reloads==
Try for at least 2 per weapon, 3 to be safe (muscle cars and rocket racks are the exception). Anything less requires a dedicated ammo carrier. If you do this don't forget to distribute ammo from your ammo carrier at the end of combat. Let enemies escape and end combat if you are out of reloads, since this means the next encounter will probably kill you (obviously you don't care about preserving ammo if it's a return or gates encounter). Get in the habit of always reloading weapons on the loot screen for all vehicles. If you need ideas for vehicle builds spy on the garage of a vet, and see which vehicles have 'renowned' status and higher. These are the designs to imitate, because they are battle tested and proven.

[[Category:New Player]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Scouting]]

Phoenix

2012-05-02T17:45:41Z

Juris: /* Overview */

{|class = "wikitable" border = "1"
|colspan = "2" align = "center"| [[File:phoenix.jpg]]
|-
! Rarity
|align = "right"| Quite Common
|-
! Cost
|align = "right"| Somewhat Expensive
|-
! Toughness
|align = "right"| Strong
|-
! Weight
|align = "right"| 1500
|-
! Total Capacity
|align = "right"| 170
|-
! Engine Capacity
|align = "right"| 90 (4L)
|-
! Exposed Engine Capacity
|align = "right"| 108 (5L V8)
|-
! Max Armor
|align = "right"| 84
|-
! Max Armor Per Side
|align = "right"| 21
|-
! Seats
|align = "right"| 4
|-
! Weapon Mounts
|align = "right"| FRx2, REx2, LE, RI
|-
! Based On
|align = "right"| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-generation_Chevrolet_Camaro Chervolet Camaro Z28]
|}

==Overview==
The Phoenix, with a 3.2L V8 installed, runs like your tail is on fire and your hair is catching.
'''VERY''' fast and maneuverable.

'''Speed is Life...'''

This should be your Mantra/Rule for continued life when fighting in this car.
You can make 180 degree changes of direction quickly with this car but you need to countersteer out of the turn before it's complete or you will spin completely around.

The addition of almost maxed (21) armor on the sides, and an [[MG]] and an [[HMG]] in the front grille make this car a '''FORMIDIBLE''' opponent on the [[Arena Combat|combat]] arena or in [[Encounters|wilderness encounters]].

This is the perfect tool for a solo scout. Make sure you leave room for a [[Gunnery|gunner]] so you've got an extra driver to bring home your spoils. Add an [[HMG]] and some extra ammo. Well used, you should be able to take out two or three medium sized opponents. If things get a bit hairy you've got the speed to run.

The Phoenix is often the first combat car for new players, as it can mount twin GGs or MGs plus 2 reloads, a 4L engine, and a gunner. Upgrading to a 3.2v8 allows for the 'standard' muscle build of a MMG and MML (with reloads) which is even better. The Phoenix is a good combat car that handles recoil well, but has a poor turning radius that requires a handbrake in a dogfight, which kills speed so use with caution.

==Wilderness Designs==
* [[Desert Flame]]
* [[Badlander]]
* [[Longshot]]
* [[Biter]]
* [[Pegasus]]
* [[Trade Runner]]

[[Category: Chassis]]

Top Ten Scouting Tips

2012-02-02T21:50:50Z

Juris: /* Always assume there will be a return/second encounter */

= Top Ten Scouting Tips =

==Watch your own back==
AKA: '''CYOA''' (Cover Your Own A**)
Always bring your own backup (a second or third vehicle). Too many times on group scouts other players focus only upon themselves and the enemies they are fighting and will do nothing to help if you get in trouble. Scouting alone with only one vehicle is especially dangerous, since you have fewer tactical options – all the enemies drive straight towards you. If you violate this rule and insist on scouting with only one vehicle, scout '''only''' with players you know will bail you out if you get in trouble.

==Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open==
Open terrain is lethal. Always make a stand on obstructed ground to break enemy formations or on top of a small hill or cliff. Anything to avoid having the enemy swarm you. No matter how good your gang members are or what you are driving, no vehicle can fight when it is being pegged by
3 or more heavy weapons – the stress is too great for accurate fire AND your vehicle might even flip. Once you get pinned down by weapons fire you are dead. In a worst-case scenario where there is little to no cover try to run until some of the enemy auto-escapes at 500m.

==Always assume there will be a return/second encounter==
Do not loot vehicles that you don't want to fight in. Looted vehicle add their CR to the number of enemy vehicles encountered on a return. Vehicles with engines less than 75%, that have their main guns destroyed, or have more than one armor facing breached are death traps. Do not make exceptions for rare vehicles, leave that 8% 3.2Lv8, it's not worth it. Greed kills. If you violate this rule (and you will), then you must prepare to ditch your loot vehicle at the start of the return. Place your loot vehicle TO THE LEFT of the vehicle you want your driver to escape to (because the steering wheel in DW is ON THE RIGHT). Slow both vehicles down to 0 mph. Then exit the loot vehicle. If you do it right you can immediately board your own vehicle without exposing your gang member to weapons fire – this is the 'loot car shuffle'. Practice this. Always leave enough room in your regular vehicle for your guy to hop back in (20 bulk).

==Don't forget the 'Surrender All' option==
If solo scouting (not the same as scouting with one vehicle, just scouting by yourself) remember you can always select 'surrender all' if you are about to lose a valuable gang member. Of course this depends on who the gang member is – if it's a new recruit then who cares – but if it's your leader surrender that apache – you can always get another but it takes months and even years to build up a good leader. This is why solo scouting is safer, because you don't have this option on group scouts unless everyone agrees. There is no excuse for losing your three best gang members on a bad scout. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO VEHICLES, DO NOT CONTINUE A BAD SCOUT TO GET 'REVENGE'.

==Cross-train==
Focus on gaining as many specializations as fast as possible. Most skills give you a specialization in blocks of 50. So if your large-gunner is at 67 skill and is only training one point a week during the training hit, then he is probably close to his maximum skill level. Switch his training to gunnery or hand gunner until you hit 50, then switch to something else. Always try to have a first-aid specialization character in a squad – you can quickly cross-train first aid in EL. Always have a Motivator in a town with more than three gang members – this improves their training over time.

==Destroy rocket vehicles first==
Destroy vehicles like the Mutant Marauder and Scorpion first - getting hit by twin RLs can kill by making your vehicle unresponsive and preventing you from returning fire.
Be scared of heavy rockets – a heavy rocket can kill you in one shot. Ignore CGLs till the end – they are no threat to a well-built vehicle.

==Always fire until an enemy vehicle is reduced to 0 CR==
You can read an enemy vehicle's CR by hovering over it with your pointer. Too many needless deaths occur when a player dismisses a 'killed' enemy vehicle, only to have a heavy-rocket come out of 'nowhere' and kill him. Rare loot is the exception – save them for last and kill/red as many other enemies as you can – this demoralizes the remaining enemy force. Being struck by weapons fire is also demoralizing – so if you want to loot that rare chassis pay attention to its remaining armor and be careful not to breach it – pepper it on all sides until it demoralizes. You may need to hold fire for a turn.

==Always equip hand weapons on all characters==
Also, upgrade to SMGs or Rifles when possible. Make sure each character has 2 hand weapon reloads. Do not travel without hand weapons, and remember you cannot reload hand weapons while running.

==Don't forget to attempt to truce an encounter you wish to avoid==
You get a chance to truce after you see the initial enemy placement. If ambushed by a superior force try to truce. If you are attacked on a return and your vehicles are too beat up to fight attempt to truce. A good scout can save your entire squad.

==Always pack reloads==
Try for at least 2 per weapon, 3 to be safe (muscle cars and rocket racks are the exception). Anything less requires a dedicated ammo carrier. If you do this don't forget to distribute ammo from your ammo carrier at the end of combat. Let enemies escape and end combat if you are out of reloads, since this means the next encounter will probably kill you (obviously you don't care about preserving ammo if it's a return or gates encounter). Get in the habit of always reloading weapons on the loot screen for all vehicles. If you need ideas for vehicle builds spy on the garage of a vet, and see which vehicles have 'renowned' status and higher. These are the designs to imitate, because they are battle tested and proven.

[[Category:New Player]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Scouting]]

Surviving an Ambush

2012-01-09T23:44:08Z

Juris: Created page with "= Surviving an Ambush = Nothing is more terrifying than that feeling you get at the start of a scout when you see the enemy arranged all around you. The following are tips to e..."

= Surviving an Ambush =

Nothing is more terrifying than that feeling you get at the start of a scout when you see the enemy arranged all around you. The following are tips to extract yourself.

== 1. Always assume they'll be an ambush ==

At the start of a scout you get to arrange your squad within the initial spawn circle. Always study the nearby terrain and look for terrain features to allow you to quickly block an enemy vehicle's LOS. Nearby hills are an excellent example, as are cliffs. Position yourself so you have the ability to quickly break LOS. One desperate tactic is to drive your vehicles off a cliff. If your vehicles survive the fall, you can usually escape. Most cliffs can be navigated without risk as long as your vehicles are going 20 mph or less.

== 2. Front gunned vehicles have an edge ==

New players should probably avoid rear-gunned vehicles for this exact reason. If you are front gunned, steer all your vehicles towards the part of the ambush with the fewest vehicles. Even though you may be surrounded you can often use an ambush to your advantage by gaining a localized numerical advantage over an enemy; like when your squad of 3 vehicles attacks a single enemy blocking your right flank. Even though there might be enemies on the other three sides of your squad. if they can't shoot you you have a 3:1 advantage. Use this to quickly kill an enemy in isolation and suddenly the rest of the encounter isn't so hard. If your squad should get caught by the other surrounding/pursuing enemies you'll just have to dogfight.

If you are rear-gunned you need to do the same, steer towards the weakest part of the ambush. If there's an opening use it; once you get away from the 'kill zone' and the enemies are behind you it's just like a regular scout. Otherwise you may need to drive your way right past an enemy and try to avoid being rammed. If you are rammed and one of your vehicles loses speed and is about to get caught you can 1) sacrifice it and leave or 2) slow the rest of your vehicles and fight it out. Neither option is very good.

== 3. Don't forget to attempt to truce ==

A good scout can save your life. Don't forget to attempt to truce a scary looking ambush if you don't think you can win.

Top Ten Scouting Tips

2012-01-04T22:19:06Z

Juris: /* Always equip hand weapons on all characters */

= Top Ten Scouting Tips =

==Watch your own back==
AKA: '''CYOA''' (Cover Your Own A**)
Always bring your own backup (a second or third vehicle). Too many times on group scouts other players focus only upon themselves and the enemies they are fighting and will do nothing to help if you get in trouble. Scouting alone with only one vehicle is especially dangerous, since you have fewer tactical options – all the enemies drive straight towards you. If you violate this rule and insist on scouting with only one vehicle, scout '''only''' with players you know will bail you out if you get in trouble.

==Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open==
Open terrain is lethal. Always make a stand on obstructed ground to break enemy formations or on top of a small hill or cliff. Anything to avoid having the enemy swarm you. No matter how good your gang members are or what you are driving, no vehicle can fight when it is being pegged by
3 or more heavy weapons – the stress is too great for accurate fire AND your vehicle might even flip. Once you get pinned down by weapons fire you are dead. In a worst-case scenario where there is little to no cover try to run until some of the enemy auto-escapes at 500m.

==Always assume there will be a return/second encounter==
Do not loot vehicles that you don't want to fight in. Looted vehicle add their CR to the number of enemy vehicles encountered on a return. Vehicles with engines less than 75%, that have their main guns destroyed, or have more than one armor facing breached are death traps. Do not make exceptions for rare vehicles, leave that 8% 3.2Lv8, it's not worth it. Greed kills. If you violate this rule (and you will), then you must prepare to ditch your loot vehicle at the start of the return. Place your loot vehicle TO THE LEFT of the vehicle you want your driver to escape to (because the steering wheel in DW is ON THE RIGHT). Slow both vehicles down to 0 mph. Then exit the loot vehicle. If you do it right you can immediately board your own vehicle without exposing your gang member to weapons fire – this is the 'loot car shuffle'. Practice this.

==Don't forget the 'Surrender All' option==
If solo scouting (not the same as scouting with one vehicle, just scouting by yourself) remember you can always select 'surrender all' if you are about to lose a valuable gang member. Of course this depends on who the gang member is – if it's a new recruit then who cares – but if it's your leader surrender that apache – you can always get another but it takes months and even years to build up a good leader. This is why solo scouting is safer, because you don't have this option on group scouts unless everyone agrees. There is no excuse for losing your three best gang members on a bad scout. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO VEHICLES, DO NOT CONTINUE A BAD SCOUT TO GET 'REVENGE'.

==Cross-train==
Focus on gaining as many specializations as fast as possible. Most skills give you a specialization in blocks of 50. So if your large-gunner is at 67 skill and is only training one point a week during the training hit, then he is probably close to his maximum skill level. Switch his training to gunnery or hand gunner until you hit 50, then switch to something else. Always try to have a first-aid specialization character in a squad – you can quickly cross-train first aid in EL. Always have a Motivator in a town with more than three gang members – this improves their training over time.

==Destroy rocket vehicles first==
Destroy vehicles like the Mutant Marauder and Scorpion first - getting hit by twin RLs can kill by making your vehicle unresponsive and preventing you from returning fire.
Be scared of heavy rockets – a heavy rocket can kill you in one shot. Ignore CGLs till the end – they are no threat to a well-built vehicle.

==Always fire until an enemy vehicle is reduced to 0 CR==
You can read an enemy vehicle's CR by hovering over it with your pointer. Too many needless deaths occur when a player dismisses a 'killed' enemy vehicle, only to have a heavy-rocket come out of 'nowhere' and kill him. Rare loot is the exception – save them for last and kill/red as many other enemies as you can – this demoralizes the remaining enemy force. Being struck by weapons fire is also demoralizing – so if you want to loot that rare chassis pay attention to its remaining armor and be careful not to breach it – pepper it on all sides until it demoralizes. You may need to hold fire for a turn.

==Always equip hand weapons on all characters==
Also, upgrade to SMGs or Rifles when possible. Make sure each character has 2 hand weapon reloads. Do not travel without hand weapons, and remember you cannot reload hand weapons while running.

==Don't forget to attempt to truce an encounter you wish to avoid==
You get a chance to truce after you see the initial enemy placement. If ambushed by a superior force try to truce. If you are attacked on a return and your vehicles are too beat up to fight attempt to truce. A good scout can save your entire squad.

==Always pack reloads==
Try for at least 2 per weapon, 3 to be safe (muscle cars and rocket racks are the exception). Anything less requires a dedicated ammo carrier. If you do this don't forget to distribute ammo from your ammo carrier at the end of combat. Let enemies escape and end combat if you are out of reloads, since this means the next encounter will probably kill you (obviously you don't care about preserving ammo if it's a return or gates encounter). Get in the habit of always reloading weapons on the loot screen for all vehicles. If you need ideas for vehicle builds spy on the garage of a vet, and see which vehicles have 'renowned' status and higher. These are the designs to imitate, because they are battle tested and proven.

[[Category:New Player]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Scouting]]

Top Ten Scouting Tips

2011-10-03T17:21:45Z

Juris: /* Destroy rocket vehicles first */

= Top Ten Scouting Tips =

==Watch your own back==
Always bring your own backup (a second or third vehicle). Too many times on group scouts other players focus only upon themselves and the enemies they are fighting and will do nothing to help if you get in trouble. Scouting alone with only one vehicle is especially stupid, since you have no tactical options – all the enemies drive straight towards you. If you violate this rule and insist on scouting with only one vehicle scout only with players you know will bail you out if you get in trouble.

==Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open==
Open terrain is lethal. Always make a stand on obstructed ground to break enemy formations or on top of a small hill or cliff. Anything to avoid having the enemy swarm you. No matter how good your gang members are or what you are driving, no vehicle can fight when it is being pegged by
3 or more heavy weapons – the stress is too great for accurate fire AND your vehicle might even flip. Once you get pinned down by weapons fire you are dead. In a worst-case scenario where there is little to no cover try to run until some of the enemy auto-escapes at 500m.

==Always assume there will be a return/second encounter==
Do not loot vehicles that you don't want to fight in. Looted vehicle add their CR to the number of enemy vehicles encountered on a return. Vehicles with engines less than 75%, that have their main guns destroyed, or have more than one armor facing breached are death traps. Do not make exceptions for rare vehicles, leave that 8% 3.2Lv8, it's not worth it. Greed kills. If you violate this rule (and you will), then you must prepare to ditch your loot vehicle at the start of the return. Place your loot vehicle TO THE LEFT of the vehicle you want your driver to escape to (because the steering wheel in DW is ON THE RIGHT). Slow both vehicles down to 0 mph. Then exit the loot vehicle. If you do it right you can immediately board your own vehicle without exposing your gang member to weapons fire – this is the 'loot car shuffle'. Practice this.

==Don't forget the 'Surrender All' option==
If solo scouting (not the same as scouting with one vehicle, just scouting by yourself) remember you can always select 'surrender all' if you are about to lose a valuable gang member. Of course this depends on who the gang member is – if it's a new recruit then who cares – but if it's your leader surrender that apache – you can always get another but it takes months and even years to build up a good leader. This is why solo scouting is safer, because you don't have this option on group scouts unless everyone agrees. There is no excuse for losing your three best gang members on a bad scout. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO VEHICLES, DO NOT CONTINUE A BAD SCOUT TO GET 'REVENGE'.

==Cross-train==
Focus on gaining as many specializations as fast as possible. Most skills give you a specialization in blocks of 50. So if your large-gunner is at 67 skill and is only training one point a week during the training hit, then he is probably close to his maximum skill level. Switch his training to gunnery or hand gunner until you hit 50, then switch to something else. Always try to have a first-aid specialization character in a squad – you can quickly cross-train first aid in EL. Always have a Motivator in a town with more than three gang members – this improves their training over time.

==Destroy rocket vehicles first==
Destroy vehicles like the Mutant Marauder and Scorpion first - getting hit by twin RLs can kill by making your vehicle unresponsive and preventing you from returning fire.
Be scared of heavy rockets – a heavy rocket can kill you in one shot. Ignore CGLs till the end – they are no threat to a well-built vehicle.

==Always fire until an enemy vehicle is reduced to 0 CR==
You can read an enemy vehicle's CR by hovering over it with your pointer. Too many needless deaths occur when a player dismisses a 'killed' enemy vehicle, only to have a heavy-rocket come out of 'nowhere' and kill him. Rare loot is the exception – save them for last and kill/red as many other enemies as you can – this demoralizes the remaining enemy force. Being struck by weapons fire is also demoralizing – so if you want to loot that rare chassis pay attention to its remaining armor and be careful not to breach it – pepper it on all sides until it demoralizes. You may need to hold fire for a turn.

==Always equip hand weapons on all characters==
Also, upgrade to SMGs or Rifles when possible. Make sure each character has 2 hand weapon reloads. Do not travel without hand weapons.

==Don't forget to attempt to truce an encounter you wish to avoid==
You get a chance to truce after you see the initial enemy placement. If ambushed by a superior force try to truce. If you are attacked on a return and your vehicles are too beat up to fight attempt to truce. A good scout can save your entire squad.

==Always pack reloads==
Try for at least 2 per weapon, 3 to be safe (muscle cars and rocket racks are the exception). Anything less requires a dedicated ammo carrier. If you do this don't forget to distribute ammo from your ammo carrier at the end of combat. Let enemies escape and end combat if you are out of reloads, since this means the next encounter will probably kill you (obviously you don't care about preserving ammo if it's a return or gates encounter). Get in the habit of always reloading weapons on the loot screen for all vehicles. If you need ideas for vehicle builds spy on the garage of a vet, and see which vehicles have 'renowned' status and higher. These are the designs to imitate, because they are battle tested and proven.

[[Category:New Player]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Scouting]]

Big Pickup

2011-09-22T19:25:47Z

Juris: Created page with "The BPU is an excellent combat vehicle, capable of mounting weaponry equivalent to a Buzzer with the speed of an Apache. But the BPU's greatest strength is its turning radius - ..."

The BPU is an excellent combat vehicle, capable of mounting weaponry equivalent to a Buzzer with the speed of an Apache. But the BPU's greatest strength is its turning radius - the BPU can spin like a top, making an excellent dogfighter as well. The BPU is also an excellent climber for a large vehicle.
The downside is that armor is not as heavy nor as strong as an Apache, and the chassis does not handle recoil or weapon hits as well either. Another downside is the lack of rear-weapon mounts, which is partially offset by its dogfighting capability.

Pickup

2011-07-25T19:39:05Z

Juris: /* Overview */

{|class = "wikitable" border = "1"
|colspan = "2" align = "center"| [[File:pickup.jpg]]
|-
! Rarity
|align = "right"| Extremely Common
|-
! Cost
|align = "right"| Moderately Cheap
|-
! Toughness
|align = "right"| Very Strong
|-
! Weight
|align = "right"| 1600
|-
! Total Capacity
|align = "right"| 225
|-
! Engine Capacity
|align = "right"| 50 (2L)
|-
! Exposed Engine Capacity
|align = "right"| 60 (3.2L)
|-
! Max Armor
|align = "right"| 84
|-
! Max Armor Per Side
|align = "right"| 21
|-
! Seats
|align = "right"| 2
|-
! Weapon Mounts
|align = "right"| FRx2, LE, RI
|-
! Based On
|align = "right"| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger Ford Ranger 3rd Generation]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B-Series_%28International%29 Mazda B Series Mark 6]
|}

==Overview==

The PU is a multi-purpose workhorse - good at many things, excellent at nothing. As a weapons platform the amount of bulk allows for significant weaponry, but the (1) limited seating, (2) lack of rear mounts, (3) inability to handle recoil/weapon hits and (4) low engine capacity limit its usefulness. Of course the Mutant Marauder with 2 RLs is one of the most feared NPC designs in the game, and the twin RL build (with reloads) is probably the best choice for combat.

The PU really excels at the specialty role. The PU makes a great ballistic weapon platform, as well as an ammo carrier or fuel truck. Often it is possible to combine multiple purposes, like a ballistic platform that is also a fuel and ammo truck. The PU handles terrain quite well, even at speed.

The PU is also greatly assisted by a 2LR engine, which can fit without being exposed, and makes for a good medium-cargo-capacity mission runner with a 3.2 or 3LR exposed engine, especially with A-armor. The PU can usually escape even from faster enemies by using its superior off-road capability.

==Wilderness Designs==
* [[Mutant Bomber]]
* [[Mutant Maelstrom]]
* [[Mutant Marauder]]
* [[Mutant Masher]]
* [[Mutant Mauler]]
* [[Mutant Mulcher]]
* [[Mutant Rancher]]
* [[Trader Pickup]]

==Death Race Designs==
* [[Cruncher]]

[[Category: Chassis]]

Solo Scouting

2011-07-06T16:35:52Z

Juris: /* Top Ten Scouting Tips */

FIXME - experienced solo scouters are encouraged to add to this

== The Ultimate Guide to an Early Grave ==
Solo scouting is extremely dangerous, and you should not even consider doing it if '''any''' of the following is true:

* Your Gang's Morale is less than 100, or
* The scout you are going to use has a Scouting skill of less than 30, or
* You are going to have only one person in your car, or
* The gunners you are going to use have less than 30 skill with the weapons in your car, or
* Your car has no room for reloads, or
* '''Any''' of the characters you are going to have in the car have a Courage of less than 40,or
* You can't afford to lose your car, or
* You've never scouted before

If you are fairly new to scouting you are ''highly advised'' to scout with a larger group. If you want to scout alone, the safest bet is with at least two vehicles. But if you feel inclined... read on.

=== Vehicle Selection ===
When solo scouting, having the right vehicle is not optional. Without any support to fall back on in a pinch, your scout vehicle must be able to:

* Do a reasonable amount of damage
* Take a reasonable amount of damage
* Escape if necessary

If your car can't do '''all''' of these things it is not the car to solo scout with.

Generally, the mid-sized chassis will be better suited to solo scouting than the SUV chassis. You will want the largest '''unexposed''' engine possible; in normal supply this will probably be the 3.2L

Mount whatever weapons you are comfortable with, and be sure to leave space for gunners and reloads. With no other vehicles shooting you will be solely responsible for killing the enemy, so you will use more ammo than you would in a group scout.

=== Tactics ===
It is almost guaranteed that you will be outnumbered and outgunned. With '''very''' few exceptions, your best course of action will be to split the enemy up.

==== Divide and Conquer ====
How you divide the enemy should be apparent based on the map you are placed on. For instance, if you were on the ''Once Upon A Town'' map, driving around the buildings to get the enemy separated is often a good choice.

In most cases, the best way to split the enemy is to run. When you run away, the enemy follows you, obviously, but not usually at the same speed and acceleration. This is how the enemy starts to get spread out.

If you run long enough, some of the enemy may fall back far enough (500m) to auto-escape. This reduces the number of vehicles you have to fight, which is not a bad thing.

'''NOTE:''' ''The developer considers this a minor exploit so the ability to split enemies this way could get much more difficult or all-together impossible.''

'''NOTE:''' Be careful not to go beyond the 500m distance yourself, or ''you'' will also auto-escape.

When you have the enemy either reduced (down to a single vehicle is probably prudent) or spread out to your liking, pick a good spot to turn and engage. Hilltops and ridges are always good choices.

==== Know When to Fold 'em ====

If you have armor reduced on any side to less than 5 points, seriously consider fleeing. A good [[HMG]] hit, or a pair of lighter weapon hits, will cause penetration damage, ''even though some armor may remain'', potentially causing driver/passenger injury, or worse, setting your engine on fire. Fire causes stress to skyrocket, can damage your engine each turn, or even cause it to explode. All three things can cause a solo scout to end quickly. Even though it's tempting to try and turn the fight around, or finish off that last bandit, get out and save your characters and car, and come back another day.

==== Top Ten Scouting Tips ====

1. Watch your own back – always bring your own backup (a second or third vehicle). Too many times on group scouts other players focus only upon themselves and the enemies they are fighting and will do nothing to help if you get in trouble. Scouting alone with only one vehicle is especially stupid, since you have no tactical options – all the enemies drive straight towards you. If you violate this rule and insist on scouting with only one vehicle scout only with players you know will bail you out if you get in trouble.

2. Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open. Open terrain is lethal. Always make a stand on obstructed ground to break enemy formations or on top of a small hill or cliff. Anything to avoid having the enemy swarm you. No matter how good your gang members are or what you are driving, no vehicle can fight when it is being pegged by
3 or more heavy weapons – the stress is too great for accurate fire AND your vehicle might even flip. Once you get pinned down by weapons fire you are dead. In a worst-case scenario where there is little to no cover try to run until some of the enemy auto-escapes at 500m.

3. Always assume there will be a return/second encounter. Do not loot vehicles that you don't want to fight in. Looted vehicle add their CR to the number of enemy vehicles encountered on a return. Vehicles with engines less than 75%, that have their main guns destroyed, or have more than one armor facing breached are death traps. Do not make exceptions for rare vehicles, leave that 8% 3.2Lv8, it's not worth it. Greed kills. If you violate this rule (and you will), then you must prepare to ditch your loot vehicle at the start of the return. Place your loot vehicle TO THE LEFT of the vehicle you want your driver to escape to (because the steering wheel in DW is ON THE RIGHT). Slow both vehicles down to 0 mph. Then exit the loot vehicle. If you do it right you can immediately board your own vehicle without exposing your gang member to weapons fire – this is the 'loot car shuffle'. Practice this.

4. If solo scouting (not the same as scouting with one vehicle, just scouting by yourself), remember you can always select 'surrender all' if you are about to lose a valuable gang member. Of course this depends on who the gang member is – if it's a new recruit then who cares – but if it's your leader surrender that apache – you can always get another but it takes months and even years to build up a good leader. This is why solo scouting is safer, because you don't have this option on group scouts unless everyone agrees. There is no excuse for losing your three best gang members on a bad scout. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO VEHICLES, DO NOT CONTINUE A BAD SCOUT TO GET 'REVENGE'.

5. Cross-train. Focus on gaining as many specializations as fast as possible. Most skills give you a specialization in blocks of 50. So if your large-gunner is at 67 skill and is only training one point a week during the training hit, then he is probably close to his maximum skill level. Switch his training to gunnery or hand gunner until you hit 50, then switch to something else. Always try to have a first-aid specialization character in a squad – you can quickly cross-train first aid in EL. Always have a Motivator in a town with more than three gang members – this improves their training over time.

6. Destroy rocket vehicles first. Be scared of heavy rockets – a heavy rocket can kill you in one shot. Ignore CGLs till the end – they are no threat to a well-built vehicle.

7. Always fire until an enemy vehicle is reduced to 0 CR. You can read an enemy vehicle's CR by hovering over it with your pointer. Too many needless deaths occur when a player dismisses a 'killed' enemy vehicle, only to have a heavy-rocket come out of 'nowhere' and kill him. Rare loot is the exception – save them for last and kill/red as many other enemies as you can – this demoralizes the remaining enemy force. Being struck by weapons fire is also demoralizing – so if you want to loot that rare chassis pay attention to its remaining armor and be careful not to breach it – pepper it on all sides until it demoralizes. You may need to hold fire for a turn.

8. Always equip hand weapons on all characters, and upgrade to SMGs or Rifles. Make sure each character has 2 hand weapon reloads. Do not travel without hand weapons.

9. Don't forget to attempt to truce an encounter you wish to avoid. You get a chance to truce after you see the initial enemy placement. If ambushed by a superior force try to truce. If you are attacked on a return and your vehicles are too beat up to fight attempt to truce. A good scout can save your entire squad.

10. Always pack reloads – at least 2 per weapon, 3 to be safe (muscle cars and rocket racks are the exception). Anything less requires a dedicated ammo carrier. If you do this don't forget to distribute ammo from your ammo carrier at the end of combat. Let enemies escape and end combat if you are out of reloads, since this means the next encounter will probably kill you (obviously you don't care about preserving ammo if it's a return or gates encounter). Get in the habit of always reloading weapons on the loot screen for all vehicles. If you need ideas for vehicle builds spy on the garage of a vet, and see which vehicles have 'renowned' status and higher. These are the designs to imitate, because they are battle tested and proven.

[[Category: Scouting]]
[[Category: New Player]]

Solo Scouting

2011-07-05T23:03:34Z

Juris: /* The Ultimate Guide to an Early Grave */

FIXME - experienced solo scouters are encouraged to add to this

== The Ultimate Guide to an Early Grave ==
Solo scouting is extremely dangerous, and you should not even consider doing it if '''any''' of the following is true:

* Your Gang's Morale is less than 100, or
* The scout you are going to use has a Scouting skill of less than 30, or
* You are going to have only one person in your car, or
* The gunners you are going to use have less than 30 skill with the weapons in your car, or
* Your car has no room for reloads, or
* '''Any''' of the characters you are going to have in the car have a Courage of less than 40,or
* You can't afford to lose your car, or
* You've never scouted before

If you are fairly new to scouting you are ''highly advised'' to scout with a larger group. If you want to scout alone, the safest bet is with at least two vehicles. But if you feel inclined... read on.

=== Vehicle Selection ===
When solo scouting, having the right vehicle is not optional. Without any support to fall back on in a pinch, your scout vehicle must be able to:

* Do a reasonable amount of damage
* Take a reasonable amount of damage
* Escape if necessary

If your car can't do '''all''' of these things it is not the car to solo scout with.

Generally, the mid-sized chassis will be better suited to solo scouting than the SUV chassis. You will want the largest '''unexposed''' engine possible; in normal supply this will probably be the 3.2L

Mount whatever weapons you are comfortable with, and be sure to leave space for gunners and reloads. With no other vehicles shooting you will be solely responsible for killing the enemy, so you will use more ammo than you would in a group scout.

=== Tactics ===
It is almost guaranteed that you will be outnumbered and outgunned. With '''very''' few exceptions, your best course of action will be to split the enemy up.

==== Divide and Conquer ====
How you divide the enemy should be apparent based on the map you are placed on. For instance, if you were on the ''Once Upon A Town'' map, driving around the buildings to get the enemy separated is often a good choice.

In most cases, the best way to split the enemy is to run. When you run away, the enemy follows you, obviously, but not usually at the same speed and acceleration. This is how the enemy starts to get spread out.

If you run long enough, some of the enemy may fall back far enough (500m) to auto-escape. This reduces the number of vehicles you have to fight, which is not a bad thing.

'''NOTE:''' ''The developer considers this a minor exploit so the ability to split enemies this way could get much more difficult or all-together impossible.''

'''NOTE:''' Be careful not to go beyond the 500m distance yourself, or ''you'' will also auto-escape.

When you have the enemy either reduced (down to a single vehicle is probably prudent) or spread out to your liking, pick a good spot to turn and engage. Hilltops and ridges are always good choices.

==== Know When to Fold 'em ====

If you have armor reduced on any side to less than 5 points, seriously consider fleeing. A good [[HMG]] hit, or a pair of lighter weapon hits, will cause penetration damage, ''even though some armor may remain'', potentially causing driver/passenger injury, or worse, setting your engine on fire. Fire causes stress to skyrocket, can damage your engine each turn, or even cause it to explode. All three things can cause a solo scout to end quickly. Even though it's tempting to try and turn the fight around, or finish off that last bandit, get out and save your characters and car, and come back another day.

==== Top Ten Scouting Tips ====

1. Watch your own back – always bring your own backup (a second vehicle). Too many times on group scouts other players focus only upon themselves and the enemies they are fighting and will do nothing to help if you get in trouble. Scouting alone with only one vehicle is especially stupid, since you have no tactical options – all the enemies drive straight towards you. If you violate this rule and insist on scouting with only one vehicle scout only with players you know will bail you out if you get in trouble.

2. Do not stop your vehicle(s) in the open. Open terrain is lethal. Always make a stand on obstructed ground to break enemy formations or on top of a small hill or cliff. Anything to avoid having the enemy swarm you. No matter how good your gang members are or what you are driving, no vehicle can fight when it is being pegged by
3 or more heavy weapons – the stress is too great for accurate fire AND your vehicle might even flip. Once you get pinned down by weapons fire you are dead. In a worst-case scenario where there is little to no cover try to run until some of the enemy auto-escapes at 500m.

3. Always assume there will be a return/second encounter. Do not loot vehicles that you don't want to fight in. Looted vehicle add their CR to the number of enemy vehicles encountered on a return. Vehicles with engines less than 75%, that have their main guns destroyed, or have more than one armor facing breached are death traps. Do not make exceptions for rare vehicles, leave that 8% 3.2Lv8, it's not worth it. Greed kills. If you violate this rule (and you will), then you must prepare to ditch your loot vehicle at the start of the return. Place your loot vehicle TO THE LEFT of the vehicle you want your driver to escape to (because the steering wheel in DW is ON THE RIGHT). Slow both vehicles down to 0 mph. Then exit the loot vehicle. If you do it right you can immediately board your own vehicle without exposing your gang member to weapons fire – this is the 'loot car shuffle'. Practice this.

4. If solo scouting (not the same as scouting with one vehicle, just scouting by yourself), remember you can always select 'surrender all' if you are about to lose a valuable gang member. Of course this depends on who the gang member is – if it's a new recruit then who cares – but if it's your leader surrender that apache – you can always get another but it takes months and even years to build up a good leader. This is why solo scouting is safer, because you don't have this option on group scouts unless everyone agrees. There is no excuse for losing your three best gang members on a bad scout. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO VEHICLES, DO NOT CONTINUE A BAD SCOUT TO GET 'REVENGE'.

5. Cross-train. Focus on gaining as many specializations as fast as possible. Most skills give you a specialization in blocks of 50. So if your large-gunner is at 67 skill and is only training one point a week during the training hit, then he is probably close to his maximum skill level. Switch his training to gunnery or hand gunner until you hit 50, then switch to something else. Always try to have a first-aid specialization character in a squad – you can quickly cross-train first aid in EL. Always have a Motivator in a town with more than three gang members – this improves their training over time.

6. Destroy rocket vehicles first. Be scared of heavy rockets – a heavy rocket can kill you in one shot. Ignore CGLs till the end – they are no threat to a well-built vehicle.

7. Always fire until an enemy vehicle is reduced to 0 CR. You can read an enemy vehicle's CR by hovering over it with your pointer. Too many needless deaths occur when a player dismisses a 'killed' enemy vehicle, only to have a heavy-rocket come out of 'nowhere' and kill him. Rare loot is the exception – save them for last and kill/red as many other enemies as you can – this demoralizes the remaining enemy force. Being struck by weapons fire is also demoralizing – so if you want to loot that rare chassis pay attention to its remaining armor and be careful not to breach it – pepper it on all sides until it demoralizes. You may need to hold fire for a turn.

8. Always equip hand weapons on all characters, and upgrade to SMGs or Rifles. Make sure each character has 2 hand weapon reloads. Do not travel without hand weapons.

9. Don't forget to attempt to truce an encounter you wish to avoid. You get a chance to truce after you see the initial enemy placement. If ambushed by a superior force try to truce. If you are attacked on a return and your vehicles are too beat up to fight attempt to truce. A good scout can save your entire squad.

10. Always pack reloads – at least 2 per weapon, 3 to be safe (muscle cars and rocket racks are the exception). Anything less requires a dedicated ammo carrier. If you do this don't forget to distribute ammo from your ammo carrier at the end of combat. Let enemies escape and end combat if you are out of reloads, since this means the next encounter will probably kill you (obviously you don't care about preserving ammo if it's a return or gates encounter). Get in the habit of always reloading weapons on the loot screen for all vehicles. If you need ideas for vehicle builds spy on the garage of a vet, and see which vehicles have 'renowned' status and higher. These are the designs to imitate, because they are battle tested and proven.

[[Category: Scouting]]
[[Category: New Player]]

King Silage

2011-03-28T20:10:35Z

Juris: Created page with 'The Silage turns the Wurzel's weakness of slow speed into an advantage, by mounting ballistic weapons on a vehicle that is nearly always in the rear of the initial NPC swarm. Th…'

The Silage turns the Wurzel's weakness of slow speed into an advantage, by mounting ballistic weapons on a vehicle that is nearly always in the rear of the initial NPC swarm. This makes good use of the PG and CGL. However, because PGs no longer gum up weapons, I recommend saving this vehicle for last, since you will waste half a clip blasting through the impenetrable armor and solid footing on the Wurzel, which could be better spent knocking enemy Marauders and Scorpions off their aim. Don't bother looting this thing unless it's a Gates encounter, as you won't be able to outrun anything even with a working engine.

Poltergeist

2011-03-28T19:58:29Z

Juris: Created page with 'Another easy-to-underestimate vehicle. The Poltergeist is a commonly seen design capable of inflicting casualties on par with the Mutant Marauder and Scorpion. Kill it as quick…'

Another easy-to-underestimate vehicle. The Poltergeist is a commonly seen design capable of inflicting casualties on par with the Mutant Marauder and Scorpion. Kill it as quickly as possible.

Trader Van

2010-12-17T21:46:28Z

Juris: Created page with 'Another common vehicle for convoy escort missions, the Trader Van exists to serve as an object of loathing and frustration for the convoy leader. Lightly armored, it is also lig…'

Another common vehicle for convoy escort missions, the Trader Van exists to serve as an object of loathing and frustration for the convoy leader. Lightly armored, it is also lightly armed and will only use its mine-dropper if it is being hit by weapons fire. These vehicles also seem to seek out creative ways to spin out and crash. Totally useless in a fight, they still have a sufficient CR to make enemy spawns lethal to the rest of the convoy.

Trade Runner

2010-12-17T21:41:22Z

Juris: Created page with 'A common vehicle for trader escort missions, the twin HMGs will destroy the initial onslaught of enemy Badlanders and other similar vehicles. The problem is after 2-3 turns of s…'

A common vehicle for trader escort missions, the twin HMGs will destroy the initial onslaught of enemy Badlanders and other similar vehicles. The problem is after 2-3 turns of sustained fire the recoil from the twin HMGs will often flip the vehicle, making for an exciting (and short) running battle. In other words, this is a suicidal car to drive.

New Player Startup

2010-12-03T09:14:40Z

Juris: /* After The Tutorial */

Hopefully, this will be an easy-to-follow, straightforward guide to getting started with Darkwind. If it isn't...either change it (it's a Wiki after all), or comment on it in the discussion section so somebody else can change it. :-)

== Introductions ==
After you've signed up on the main site and created your gang, you'll end up on the web management interface of Darkwind. Here is where you'll plan your long term stuff, buy and sell things, recruit people and so on, while the client is more specialized toward participating to events. You can subscribe to events from both, so you can just fire up the client to start playing and getting the feeling of the game.
The client interface is pretty straightforward:

[[File:lobby.png|600px]]

There is a big panel showing the global game chat (which is also available in game), there is a panel which show the upcoming event to which you may register and the live events that you may spectate (or play if registered) and there is a panel listing the current players. It would be '''really''' unusual to be alone in the Lobby, so the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. A simple, 'Hi. I'm new' should suffice, and lets the veteran players and [[Marshals]] (players whose names are bracketed by asterisks (*)) know that you are new, and may need some help getting up and running.

== Tutorial ==
The current tutorial covers the driving and shooting basics in a format that is a bit more ... low-key than the previously used ''Driving School''. There are more prompts, and more direct instructions on what to do next.

Launch your tutorial by clicking the '''Tutorials''' button in the game client. This will take you to the in-game interface, centered on your car. Follow the instructions literally to proceed forward. If you are stuck on a particular tutorial step, repeat what you're tasked to do as zooming but using the keys specified in the tutorial balloon.

Notice that the global lobby chat remains available on the top of the screen. This panel content is controlled by the buttons directly under it: "Lobby" shows the global chat, "Events" shows the event log for the current game, while the "Team" button shows the private chat of the game you're in.

== Driving School ==
'''Driving School has been replaced with the ''Tutorial'' described above. This section is maintained because it is possible it will return as a secondary training/learning tool.

<del>To learn how to control a car enter the ''Driving School''. ''Control'' means more than steering and speed in Darkwind. It also includes changing drivers, assigning gunners to any weapons in the car, and reloading those weapons.

Do not hesitate to ask another player to join you in the Driving School event. This serves a couple of purposes:</del>

# <del>It gives you a human to drive with/against. Since you are just starting out, it is entirely possible that the NPC drivers in the school will leave you behind, and that's no fun, as there won't be anything to shoot at. ;-) </del>
# <del>It will get you and your helper out of the general Lobby chat. General Lobby chat can get very hard to follow with a lot of players online. If you and your helper are in ''Driving School'' alone it will be easier to ask and answer questions without a lot of extraneous noise.</del>

<del>Characters in ''Driving School'' do not come out of your gang; they are random, 'disposable' characters for use only in the school. As such don't be concerned if they get hurt or even die.

The school event is a 4-lap race. The vehicle used is somewhat random, but is usually something small, fast, and lightly armed (a [[Machine Gun]], for example).

It is not necessary to finish the entire event. Because it is a training event, as soon as you feel comfortable controlling your car you can '''Resign''' or '''Exit''' the event.</del>

== After The Tutorial ==

Now you've managed the basic of the game, there are still some information that you may find useful for more prolonged combats:
* hovering with the mouse on a car shows is "demoralized" status. Demoralized cars may continue fighting, when all enemy or yours cars are demoralized the combat phase ends.
* you can resign via the menu available on the top right of the in game screen or you can resign a particular car by right clicking on that car.
* you can reload weapons via right clicking on the car that has a weapon to be reloaded

When you return to the Lobby, look for an event that is starting soon. In-town events are [[Races]], [[Deathraces]], and [[Arena Combats]], and their League equivalents.

It is recommended that you start with the Racing events, then progress to the Deathraces, and finally to the Combats, as even in "controlled" town events characters death is very possible, as computer controlled car may continue hitting on you even after you've resigned, or by just one unlucky crash. Still consider resigning just a little before your car armor is worn out. Make sure you know all the key commands for in-town events. Hit [F1] to learn them all. Pay particular importance to when an enemy vehicle 'resigns', and make sure you do not fire at a resigned enemy. This is because each car in an in-town event belongs to an NPC gang, and that gang will seek revenge against you if you do not respect resigns.

The League events provide League points in addition to prize money for contestants who place (usually 8th or higher).

Again, don't hesitate to ask others to join the event. Often, you will get some veteran players involved, and that will increase the prize money (and League Points for League events) available.

Doing the events in the order above will do a couple of things:
#Get you used to the various cars, and driving surfaces in Evan (Races)
#Get you used to managing your car and its weapons at the same time (Deathraces)
#Introduce you to combat tactics (Combats)
#Teach you patience

The last one is really the most important, as '''patience''' is key when you get involved in wilderness scouting ([[Initial Scout Guide]]).

== After Some More Practicing ==

After you're confident enough with the driving shooting/part of the game, you may also ask some people to help you out on your first scout. Remember to prepare ahead of this as to be ready when te opportunity to join a scouting squad arise, in order to do so you'll need to return to the web management interface.

First of all, you'll need a car. If you don't feel ready to lose your main characters in this event you may also hire two more recruits for it.

To get the car select vehicles -> my vehicles from the top navigation bar on the web interface. On this page you can see the option for renting various kind of cars; the "antagonist" would be a good for starters. Remember that those car have not off road wheels and may suffer from sandy scenarios.

To get some people on your team, if you feel like it, select places -> Somerset from the navigation bar. Clicking on the Dexter's tavern will take you on a page where you can hire some more people. To man your new car, a driver and a heavy gunner will do.

If you're subscribed, you can take the opportunity to go from the Somerset page to the marketplace to buy some more ammo for your guns. (You can see which guns you have mounted on your "Borrowed" car in your vehicle page)

Now go to the vehicle page, select your borrowed car and assign drivers and ammunition to it from the popup that appears. It's advised to have a driver and a gunner - at least - if your car can hold one more people, it will come handy for the looting phase (if you survive the encounter and win). More about scouting on the dedicated pages: [Initial Scout Guide]

You're now ready to roll, so go to the client lobby and ask for somebody to help you out on scouting or just ask to join some other player's party, specifying that this is your first scout ever so that they may steer clear of more dangerous area. They will provide you with a squad name to join, so go again to the web interface and select squad -> search squads from the navigation bar. join the squad, add your car and notify in the lobby that you're ready. After some time you'll have the notification that the scouting event is starting and you'll be taken in the game combat view. Be sure to follow the advice of the other players to keep alive, and good luck!

== Managing Your Gang ==

Once you get a few group scouts under your belt and have done a few in-town events, its time to start managing your gang. There are dozens of different philosophies to running a sucessful gang, but there are a few basics that everyone will need.

Begin by training a few of your characters in Scouting. The best way to do this is to recruit characters with the Scouting skill and put them in fast cars with moderately sized fuel tanks, and send them to towns near Sommerset completing small missions. If you are attacked, simply outrun your enemies. You can chose to escape at 350 meters, and automatically escape at 500 meters. Eventually you will get a number of highly skilled scouts, which will reduce the danger of larger convoys of vehicles scouting and running between towns as long as you put a good scout in the convoy.

You will need to gain in-town fame and reputation to qualify for the more profitable missions. Check your gang's fame and reputation regularly to see the effects of your recent decisions. Check the notice board at the various town taverns for a list of missions, or advertise for a mission if you don't have sufficient fame and reputation.

'''Enjoy Darkwind!'''

[[Category: Guides]]
[[Category: New Player]]
[[Category: Start Up]]

New Player Startup

2010-12-01T22:17:46Z

Juris: /* Managing Your Gang */

Hopefully, this will be an easy-to-follow, straightforward guide to getting started with Darkwind. If it isn't...either change it (it's a Wiki after all), or comment on it in the discussion section so somebody else can change it. :-)

== Introductions ==
After you've signed up on the main site and created your gang, you'll end up on the web management interface of Darkwind. Here is where you'll plan your long term stuff, buy and sell things, recruit people and so on, while the client is more specialized toward participating to events. You can subscribe to events from both, so you can just fire up the client to start playing and getting the feeling of the game.
The client interface is pretty straightforward:

[[File:lobby.png|600px]]

There is a big panel showing the global game chat (which is also available in game), there is a panel which show the upcoming event to which you may register and the live events that you may spectate (or play if registered) and there is a panel listing the current players. It would be '''really''' unusual to be alone in the Lobby, so the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. A simple, 'Hi. I'm new' should suffice, and lets the veteran players and [[Marshals]] (players whose names are bracketed by asterisks (*)) know that you are new, and may need some help getting up and running.

== Tutorial ==
The current tutorial covers the driving and shooting basics in a format that is a bit more ... low-key than the previously used ''Driving School''. There are more prompts, and more direct instructions on what to do next.

Launch your tutorial by clicking the '''Tutorials''' button in the game client. This will take you to the in-game interface, centered on your car. Follow the instructions literally to proceed forward. If you are stuck on a particular tutorial step, repeat what you're tasked to do as zooming but using the keys specified in the tutorial balloon.

Notice that the global lobby chat remains available on the top of the screen. This panel content is controlled by the buttons directly under it: "Lobby" shows the global chat, "Events" shows the event log for the current game, while the "Team" button shows the private chat of the game you're in.

== Driving School ==
'''Driving School has been replaced with the ''Tutorial'' described above. This section is maintained because it is possible it will return as a secondary training/learning tool.

<del>To learn how to control a car enter the ''Driving School''. ''Control'' means more than steering and speed in Darkwind. It also includes changing drivers, assigning gunners to any weapons in the car, and reloading those weapons.

Do not hesitate to ask another player to join you in the Driving School event. This serves a couple of purposes:</del>

# <del>It gives you a human to drive with/against. Since you are just starting out, it is entirely possible that the NPC drivers in the school will leave you behind, and that's no fun, as there won't be anything to shoot at. ;-) </del>
# <del>It will get you and your helper out of the general Lobby chat. General Lobby chat can get very hard to follow with a lot of players online. If you and your helper are in ''Driving School'' alone it will be easier to ask and answer questions without a lot of extraneous noise.</del>

<del>Characters in ''Driving School'' do not come out of your gang; they are random, 'disposable' characters for use only in the school. As such don't be concerned if they get hurt or even die.

The school event is a 4-lap race. The vehicle used is somewhat random, but is usually something small, fast, and lightly armed (a [[Machine Gun]], for example).

It is not necessary to finish the entire event. Because it is a training event, as soon as you feel comfortable controlling your car you can '''Resign''' or '''Exit''' the event.</del>

== After The Tutorial ==

Now you've managed the basic of the game, there are still some information that you may find useful for more prolonged combats:
* hovering with the mouse on a car shows is "demoralized" status. Demoralized cars may continue fighting, when all enemy or yours cars are demoralized the combat phase ends.
* you can resign via the menu available on the top right of the in game screen or you can resign a particular car by right clicking on that car.
* you can reload weapons via right clicking on the car that has a weapon to be reloaded

When you return to the Lobby, look for an event that is starting soon. In-town events are [[Races]], [[Deathraces]], and [[Arena Combats]], and their League equivalents.

It is recommended that you start with the Racing events, then progress to the Deathraces, and finally to the Combats, as even in "controlled" town events characters death is very possible, as computer controlled car may continue hitting on you even after you've resigned, or by just one unlucky crash. Still consider resigning just a little before your car armor is worn out. Make sure you know all the key commands for in-town events. Hit [Esc] to learn them all. Pay particular importance to when an enemy vehicle 'resigns', and make sure you do not fire at a resigned enemy. This is because each car in an in-town event belongs to an NPC gang, and that gang will seek revenge against you if you do not respect resigns.

The League events provide League points in addition to prize money for contestants who place (usually 8th or higher).

Again, don't hesitate to ask others to join the event. Often, you will get some veteran players involved, and that will increase the prize money (and League Points for League events) available.

Doing the events in the order above will do a couple of things:
#Get you used to the various cars, and driving surfaces in Evan (Races)
#Get you used to managing your car and its weapons at the same time (Deathraces)
#Introduce you to combat tactics (Combats)
#Teach you patience

The last one is really the most important, as '''patience''' is key when you get involved in wilderness scouting ([[Initial Scout Guide]]).

== After Some More Practicing ==

After you're confident enough with the driving shooting/part of the game, you may also ask some people to help you out on your first scout. Remember to prepare ahead of this as to be ready when te opportunity to join a scouting squad arise, in order to do so you'll need to return to the web management interface.

First of all, you'll need a car. If you don't feel ready to lose your main characters in this event you may also hire two more recruits for it.

To get the car select vehicles -> my vehicles from the top navigation bar on the web interface. On this page you can see the option for renting various kind of cars; the "antagonist" would be a good for starters. Remember that those car have not off road wheels and may suffer from sandy scenarios.

To get some people on your team, if you feel like it, select places -> Somerset from the navigation bar. Clicking on the Dexter's tavern will take you on a page where you can hire some more people. To man your new car, a driver and a heavy gunner will do.

If you're subscribed, you can take the opportunity to go from the Somerset page to the marketplace to buy some more ammo for your guns. (You can see which guns you have mounted on your "Borrowed" car in your vehicle page)

Now go to the vehicle page, select your borrowed car and assign drivers and ammunition to it from the popup that appears. It's advised to have a driver and a gunner - at least - if your car can hold one more people, it will come handy for the looting phase (if you survive the encounter and win). More about scouting on the dedicated pages: [Initial Scout Guide]

You're now ready to roll, so go to the client lobby and ask for somebody to help you out on scouting or just ask to join some other player's party, specifying that this is your first scout ever so that they may steer clear of more dangerous area. They will provide you with a squad name to join, so go again to the web interface and select squad -> search squads from the navigation bar. join the squad, add your car and notify in the lobby that you're ready. After some time you'll have the notification that the scouting event is starting and you'll be taken in the game combat view. Be sure to follow the advice of the other players to keep alive, and good luck!

== Managing Your Gang ==

Once you get a few group scouts under your belt and have done a few in-town events, its time to start managing your gang. There are dozens of different philosophies to running a sucessful gang, but there are a few basics that everyone will need.

Begin by training a few of your characters in Scouting. The best way to do this is to recruit characters with the Scouting skill and put them in fast cars with moderately sized fuel tanks, and send them to towns near Sommerset completing small missions. If you are attacked, simply outrun your enemies. You can chose to escape at 350 meters, and automatically escape at 500 meters. Eventually you will get a number of highly skilled scouts, which will reduce the danger of larger convoys of vehicles scouting and running between towns as long as you put a good scout in the convoy.

You will need to gain in-town fame and reputation to qualify for the more profitable missions. Check your gang's fame and reputation regularly to see the effects of your recent decisions. Check the notice board at the various town taverns for a list of missions, or advertise for a mission if you don't have sufficient fame and reputation.

'''Enjoy Darkwind!'''

[[Category: Guides]]
[[Category: New Player]]
[[Category: Start Up]]

New Player Startup

2010-12-01T22:11:32Z

Juris: /* Managing Your Gang */

Hopefully, this will be an easy-to-follow, straightforward guide to getting started with Darkwind. If it isn't...either change it (it's a Wiki after all), or comment on it in the discussion section so somebody else can change it. :-)

== Introductions ==
After you've signed up on the main site and created your gang, you'll end up on the web management interface of Darkwind. Here is where you'll plan your long term stuff, buy and sell things, recruit people and so on, while the client is more specialized toward participating to events. You can subscribe to events from both, so you can just fire up the client to start playing and getting the feeling of the game.
The client interface is pretty straightforward:

[[File:lobby.png|600px]]

There is a big panel showing the global game chat (which is also available in game), there is a panel which show the upcoming event to which you may register and the live events that you may spectate (or play if registered) and there is a panel listing the current players. It would be '''really''' unusual to be alone in the Lobby, so the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. A simple, 'Hi. I'm new' should suffice, and lets the veteran players and [[Marshals]] (players whose names are bracketed by asterisks (*)) know that you are new, and may need some help getting up and running.

== Tutorial ==
The current tutorial covers the driving and shooting basics in a format that is a bit more ... low-key than the previously used ''Driving School''. There are more prompts, and more direct instructions on what to do next.

Launch your tutorial by clicking the '''Tutorials''' button in the game client. This will take you to the in-game interface, centered on your car. Follow the instructions literally to proceed forward. If you are stuck on a particular tutorial step, repeat what you're tasked to do as zooming but using the keys specified in the tutorial balloon.

Notice that the global lobby chat remains available on the top of the screen. This panel content is controlled by the buttons directly under it: "Lobby" shows the global chat, "Events" shows the event log for the current game, while the "Team" button shows the private chat of the game you're in.

== Driving School ==
'''Driving School has been replaced with the ''Tutorial'' described above. This section is maintained because it is possible it will return as a secondary training/learning tool.

<del>To learn how to control a car enter the ''Driving School''. ''Control'' means more than steering and speed in Darkwind. It also includes changing drivers, assigning gunners to any weapons in the car, and reloading those weapons.

Do not hesitate to ask another player to join you in the Driving School event. This serves a couple of purposes:</del>

# <del>It gives you a human to drive with/against. Since you are just starting out, it is entirely possible that the NPC drivers in the school will leave you behind, and that's no fun, as there won't be anything to shoot at. ;-) </del>
# <del>It will get you and your helper out of the general Lobby chat. General Lobby chat can get very hard to follow with a lot of players online. If you and your helper are in ''Driving School'' alone it will be easier to ask and answer questions without a lot of extraneous noise.</del>

<del>Characters in ''Driving School'' do not come out of your gang; they are random, 'disposable' characters for use only in the school. As such don't be concerned if they get hurt or even die.

The school event is a 4-lap race. The vehicle used is somewhat random, but is usually something small, fast, and lightly armed (a [[Machine Gun]], for example).

It is not necessary to finish the entire event. Because it is a training event, as soon as you feel comfortable controlling your car you can '''Resign''' or '''Exit''' the event.</del>

== After The Tutorial ==

Now you've managed the basic of the game, there are still some information that you may find useful for more prolonged combats:
* hovering with the mouse on a car shows is "demoralized" status. Demoralized cars may continue fighting, when all enemy or yours cars are demoralized the combat phase ends.
* you can resign via the menu available on the top right of the in game screen or you can resign a particular car by right clicking on that car.
* you can reload weapons via right clicking on the car that has a weapon to be reloaded

When you return to the Lobby, look for an event that is starting soon. In-town events are [[Races]], [[Deathraces]], and [[Arena Combats]], and their League equivalents.

It is recommended that you start with the Racing events, then progress to the Deathraces, and finally to the Combats, as even in "controlled" town events characters death is very possible, as computer controlled car may continue hitting on you even after you've resigned, or by just one unlucky crash. Still consider resigning just a little before your car armor is worn out. Make sure you know all the key commands for in-town events. Hit [Esc] to learn them all. Pay particular importance to when an enemy vehicle 'resigns', and make sure you do not fire at a resigned enemy. This is because each car in an in-town event belongs to an NPC gang, and that gang will seek revenge against you if you do not respect resigns.

The League events provide League points in addition to prize money for contestants who place (usually 8th or higher).

Again, don't hesitate to ask others to join the event. Often, you will get some veteran players involved, and that will increase the prize money (and League Points for League events) available.

Doing the events in the order above will do a couple of things:
#Get you used to the various cars, and driving surfaces in Evan (Races)
#Get you used to managing your car and its weapons at the same time (Deathraces)
#Introduce you to combat tactics (Combats)
#Teach you patience

The last one is really the most important, as '''patience''' is key when you get involved in wilderness scouting ([[Initial Scout Guide]]).

== After Some More Practicing ==

After you're confident enough with the driving shooting/part of the game, you may also ask some people to help you out on your first scout. Remember to prepare ahead of this as to be ready when te opportunity to join a scouting squad arise, in order to do so you'll need to return to the web management interface.

First of all, you'll need a car. If you don't feel ready to lose your main characters in this event you may also hire two more recruits for it.

To get the car select vehicles -> my vehicles from the top navigation bar on the web interface. On this page you can see the option for renting various kind of cars; the "antagonist" would be a good for starters. Remember that those car have not off road wheels and may suffer from sandy scenarios.

To get some people on your team, if you feel like it, select places -> Somerset from the navigation bar. Clicking on the Dexter's tavern will take you on a page where you can hire some more people. To man your new car, a driver and a heavy gunner will do.

If you're subscribed, you can take the opportunity to go from the Somerset page to the marketplace to buy some more ammo for your guns. (You can see which guns you have mounted on your "Borrowed" car in your vehicle page)

Now go to the vehicle page, select your borrowed car and assign drivers and ammunition to it from the popup that appears. It's advised to have a driver and a gunner - at least - if your car can hold one more people, it will come handy for the looting phase (if you survive the encounter and win). More about scouting on the dedicated pages: [Initial Scout Guide]

You're now ready to roll, so go to the client lobby and ask for somebody to help you out on scouting or just ask to join some other player's party, specifying that this is your first scout ever so that they may steer clear of more dangerous area. They will provide you with a squad name to join, so go again to the web interface and select squad -> search squads from the navigation bar. join the squad, add your car and notify in the lobby that you're ready. After some time you'll have the notification that the scouting event is starting and you'll be taken in the game combat view. Be sure to follow the advice of the other players to keep alive, and good luck!

== Managing Your Gang ==

Once you get a few group scouts under your belt and have done a few in-town events, its time to start managing your gang. There are dozens of different philosophies to running a sucessful gang, but there are a few basics that everyone will need.

Begin by training a few of your characters in Scouting. The best way to do this is to recruit characters with the Scouting skill and put them in fast cars with moderately sized fuel tanks, and send them to towns near Sommerset completing small missions. Eventually you will get a number of highly skilled scouts, which will reduce the danger of larger convoys of vehicles scouting and running between towns as long as you put a good scout in the convoy.

You will need to gain in-town fame and reputation to qualify for the more profitable missions. Check your gang's fame and reputation regularly to see the effects of your recent decisions. Check the notice board at the various town taverns for a list of missions, or advertise for a mission if you don't have sufficient fame and reputation.

'''Enjoy Darkwind!'''

[[Category: Guides]]
[[Category: New Player]]
[[Category: Start Up]]

New Player Startup

2010-12-01T22:10:29Z

Juris: /* After Some More Practicing */

Hopefully, this will be an easy-to-follow, straightforward guide to getting started with Darkwind. If it isn't...either change it (it's a Wiki after all), or comment on it in the discussion section so somebody else can change it. :-)

== Introductions ==
After you've signed up on the main site and created your gang, you'll end up on the web management interface of Darkwind. Here is where you'll plan your long term stuff, buy and sell things, recruit people and so on, while the client is more specialized toward participating to events. You can subscribe to events from both, so you can just fire up the client to start playing and getting the feeling of the game.
The client interface is pretty straightforward:

[[File:lobby.png|600px]]

There is a big panel showing the global game chat (which is also available in game), there is a panel which show the upcoming event to which you may register and the live events that you may spectate (or play if registered) and there is a panel listing the current players. It would be '''really''' unusual to be alone in the Lobby, so the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. A simple, 'Hi. I'm new' should suffice, and lets the veteran players and [[Marshals]] (players whose names are bracketed by asterisks (*)) know that you are new, and may need some help getting up and running.

== Tutorial ==
The current tutorial covers the driving and shooting basics in a format that is a bit more ... low-key than the previously used ''Driving School''. There are more prompts, and more direct instructions on what to do next.

Launch your tutorial by clicking the '''Tutorials''' button in the game client. This will take you to the in-game interface, centered on your car. Follow the instructions literally to proceed forward. If you are stuck on a particular tutorial step, repeat what you're tasked to do as zooming but using the keys specified in the tutorial balloon.

Notice that the global lobby chat remains available on the top of the screen. This panel content is controlled by the buttons directly under it: "Lobby" shows the global chat, "Events" shows the event log for the current game, while the "Team" button shows the private chat of the game you're in.

== Driving School ==
'''Driving School has been replaced with the ''Tutorial'' described above. This section is maintained because it is possible it will return as a secondary training/learning tool.

<del>To learn how to control a car enter the ''Driving School''. ''Control'' means more than steering and speed in Darkwind. It also includes changing drivers, assigning gunners to any weapons in the car, and reloading those weapons.

Do not hesitate to ask another player to join you in the Driving School event. This serves a couple of purposes:</del>

# <del>It gives you a human to drive with/against. Since you are just starting out, it is entirely possible that the NPC drivers in the school will leave you behind, and that's no fun, as there won't be anything to shoot at. ;-) </del>
# <del>It will get you and your helper out of the general Lobby chat. General Lobby chat can get very hard to follow with a lot of players online. If you and your helper are in ''Driving School'' alone it will be easier to ask and answer questions without a lot of extraneous noise.</del>

<del>Characters in ''Driving School'' do not come out of your gang; they are random, 'disposable' characters for use only in the school. As such don't be concerned if they get hurt or even die.

The school event is a 4-lap race. The vehicle used is somewhat random, but is usually something small, fast, and lightly armed (a [[Machine Gun]], for example).

It is not necessary to finish the entire event. Because it is a training event, as soon as you feel comfortable controlling your car you can '''Resign''' or '''Exit''' the event.</del>

== After The Tutorial ==

Now you've managed the basic of the game, there are still some information that you may find useful for more prolonged combats:
* hovering with the mouse on a car shows is "demoralized" status. Demoralized cars may continue fighting, when all enemy or yours cars are demoralized the combat phase ends.
* you can resign via the menu available on the top right of the in game screen or you can resign a particular car by right clicking on that car.
* you can reload weapons via right clicking on the car that has a weapon to be reloaded

When you return to the Lobby, look for an event that is starting soon. In-town events are [[Races]], [[Deathraces]], and [[Arena Combats]], and their League equivalents.

It is recommended that you start with the Racing events, then progress to the Deathraces, and finally to the Combats, as even in "controlled" town events characters death is very possible, as computer controlled car may continue hitting on you even after you've resigned, or by just one unlucky crash. Still consider resigning just a little before your car armor is worn out. Make sure you know all the key commands for in-town events. Hit [Esc] to learn them all. Pay particular importance to when an enemy vehicle 'resigns', and make sure you do not fire at a resigned enemy. This is because each car in an in-town event belongs to an NPC gang, and that gang will seek revenge against you if you do not respect resigns.

The League events provide League points in addition to prize money for contestants who place (usually 8th or higher).

Again, don't hesitate to ask others to join the event. Often, you will get some veteran players involved, and that will increase the prize money (and League Points for League events) available.

Doing the events in the order above will do a couple of things:
#Get you used to the various cars, and driving surfaces in Evan (Races)
#Get you used to managing your car and its weapons at the same time (Deathraces)
#Introduce you to combat tactics (Combats)
#Teach you patience

The last one is really the most important, as '''patience''' is key when you get involved in wilderness scouting ([[Initial Scout Guide]]).

== After Some More Practicing ==

After you're confident enough with the driving shooting/part of the game, you may also ask some people to help you out on your first scout. Remember to prepare ahead of this as to be ready when te opportunity to join a scouting squad arise, in order to do so you'll need to return to the web management interface.

First of all, you'll need a car. If you don't feel ready to lose your main characters in this event you may also hire two more recruits for it.

To get the car select vehicles -> my vehicles from the top navigation bar on the web interface. On this page you can see the option for renting various kind of cars; the "antagonist" would be a good for starters. Remember that those car have not off road wheels and may suffer from sandy scenarios.

To get some people on your team, if you feel like it, select places -> Somerset from the navigation bar. Clicking on the Dexter's tavern will take you on a page where you can hire some more people. To man your new car, a driver and a heavy gunner will do.

If you're subscribed, you can take the opportunity to go from the Somerset page to the marketplace to buy some more ammo for your guns. (You can see which guns you have mounted on your "Borrowed" car in your vehicle page)

Now go to the vehicle page, select your borrowed car and assign drivers and ammunition to it from the popup that appears. It's advised to have a driver and a gunner - at least - if your car can hold one more people, it will come handy for the looting phase (if you survive the encounter and win). More about scouting on the dedicated pages: [Initial Scout Guide]

You're now ready to roll, so go to the client lobby and ask for somebody to help you out on scouting or just ask to join some other player's party, specifying that this is your first scout ever so that they may steer clear of more dangerous area. They will provide you with a squad name to join, so go again to the web interface and select squad -> search squads from the navigation bar. join the squad, add your car and notify in the lobby that you're ready. After some time you'll have the notification that the scouting event is starting and you'll be taken in the game combat view. Be sure to follow the advice of the other players to keep alive, and good luck!

== Managing Your Gang ==

Once you get a few group scouts under your belt and have done a few in-town events, its time to start managing your gang. There are dozens of different philosophies to running a sucessful gang, but there are a few basics that everyone will need.

Begin by training a few of your characters in Scouting. The best way to do this is to recruit characters with the Scouting skill and put them in fast cars with moderately sized fuel tanks, and send them to towns near Sommerset completing small missions. Eventually you will get a number of highly skilled scouts, which will reduce the danger of larger convoys of vehicles scouting and running between towns as long as you put a good scout in the convoy.

You will need to gain in-town fame and reputation to qualify for the more profitable missions. Check your gang's fame and reputation regularly to see the effects of your recent decisions. Check the notice board at the various town taverns for a list of mission, or advertise for a mission if you don't have sufficient fame and reputation.

'''Enjoy Darkwind!'''

[[Category: Guides]]
[[Category: New Player]]
[[Category: Start Up]]

New Player Startup

2010-11-22T22:51:04Z

Juris: /* After The Tutorial */

Hopefully, this will be an easy-to-follow, straightforward guide to getting started with Darkwind. If it isn't...either change it (it's a Wiki after all), or comment on it in the discussion section so somebody else can change it. :-)

== Introductions ==
After you've signed up on the main site and created your gang, you'll end up on the web management interface of Darkwind. Here is where you'll plan your long term stuff, buy and sell things, recruit people and so on, while the client is more specialized toward participating to events. You can subscribe to events from both, so you can just fire up the client to start playing and getting the feeling of the game.
The client interface is pretty straightforward:

[[File:lobby.png|600px]]

There is a big panel showing the global game chat (which is also available in game), there is a panel which show the upcoming event to which you may register and the live events that you may spectate (or play if registered) and there is a panel listing the current players. It would be '''really''' unusual to be alone in the Lobby, so the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. A simple, 'Hi. I'm new' should suffice, and lets the veteran players and [[Marshals]] (players whose names are bracketed by asterisks (*)) know that you are new, and may need some help getting up and running.

== Tutorial ==
The current tutorial covers the driving and shooting basics in a format that is a bit more ... low-key than the previously used ''Driving School''. There are more prompts, and more direct instructions on what to do next.

Launch your tutorial by clicking the '''Tutorials''' button in the game client. This will take you to the in-game interface, centered on your car. Follow the instructions literally to proceed forward. If you are stuck on a particular tutorial step, repeat what you're tasked to do as zooming but using the keys specified in the tutorial balloon.

Notice that the global lobby chat remains available on the top of the screen. This panel content is controlled by the buttons directly under it: "Lobby" shows the global chat, "Events" shows the event log for the current game, while the "Team" button shows the private chat of the game you're in.

== Driving School ==
'''Driving School has been replaced with the ''Tutorial'' described above. This section is maintained because it is possible it will return as a secondary training/learning tool.

<del>To learn how to control a car enter the ''Driving School''. ''Control'' means more than steering and speed in Darkwind. It also includes changing drivers, assigning gunners to any weapons in the car, and reloading those weapons.

Do not hesitate to ask another player to join you in the Driving School event. This serves a couple of purposes:</del>

# <del>It gives you a human to drive with/against. Since you are just starting out, it is entirely possible that the NPC drivers in the school will leave you behind, and that's no fun, as there won't be anything to shoot at. ;-) </del>
# <del>It will get you and your helper out of the general Lobby chat. General Lobby chat can get very hard to follow with a lot of players online. If you and your helper are in ''Driving School'' alone it will be easier to ask and answer questions without a lot of extraneous noise.</del>

<del>Characters in ''Driving School'' do not come out of your gang; they are random, 'disposable' characters for use only in the school. As such don't be concerned if they get hurt or even die.

The school event is a 4-lap race. The vehicle used is somewhat random, but is usually something small, fast, and lightly armed (a [[Machine Gun]], for example).

It is not necessary to finish the entire event. Because it is a training event, as soon as you feel comfortable controlling your car you can '''Resign''' or '''Exit''' the event.</del>

== After The Tutorial ==

Now you've managed the basic of the game, there are still some information that you may find useful for more prolonged combats:
* hovering with the mouse on a car shows is "demoralized" status. Demoralized cars may continue fighting, when all enemy or yours cars are demoralized the combat phase ends.
* you can resign via the menu available on the top right of the in game screen or you can resign a particular car by right clicking on that car.
* you can reload weapons via right clicking on the car that has a weapon to be reloaded

When you return to the Lobby, look for an event that is starting soon. In-town events are [[Races]], [[Deathraces]], and [[Arena Combats]], and their League equivalents.

It is recommended that you start with the Racing events, then progress to the Deathraces, and finally to the Combats, as even in "controlled" town events characters death is very possible, as computer controlled car may continue hitting on you even after you've resigned, or by just one unlucky crash. Still consider resigning just a little before your car armor is worn out. Make sure you know all the key commands for in-town events. Hit [Esc] to learn them all. Pay particular importance to when an enemy vehicle 'resigns', and make sure you do not fire at a resigned enemy. This is because each car in an in-town event belongs to an NPC gang, and that gang will seek revenge against you if you do not respect resigns.

The League events provide League points in addition to prize money for contestants who place (usually 8th or higher).

Again, don't hesitate to ask others to join the event. Often, you will get some veteran players involved, and that will increase the prize money (and League Points for League events) available.

Doing the events in the order above will do a couple of things:
#Get you used to the various cars, and driving surfaces in Evan (Races)
#Get you used to managing your car and its weapons at the same time (Deathraces)
#Introduce you to combat tactics (Combats)
#Teach you patience

The last one is really the most important, as '''patience''' is key when you get involved in wilderness scouting ([[Initial Scout Guide]]).

== After Some More Practicing ==

After you're confident enough with the driving shooting/part of the game, you may also ask some people to help you out on your first scout. Remember to prepare ahead of this as to be ready when te opportunity to join a scouting squad arise, in order to do so you'll need to return to the web management interface.

First of all, you'll need a car. If you don't feel ready to lose your main characters in this event you may also hire two more recruits for it.

To get the car select vehicles -> my vehicles from the top navigation bar on the web interface. On this page you can see the option for renting various kind of cars; the "antagonist" would be a good for starters. Remember that those car have not off road wheels and may suffer from sandy scenarios.

To get some people on your team, if you feel like it, select places -> Somerset from the navigation bar. Clicking on the Dexter's tavern will take you on a page where you can hire some more people. To man your new car, a driver and a heavy gunner will do.

If you're subscribed, you can take the opportunity to go from the Somerset page to the marketplace to buy some more ammo for your guns. (You can see which guns you have mounted on your "Borrowed" car in your vehicle page)

Now go to the vehicle page, select your borrowed car and assign drivers and ammunition to it from the popup that appears. It's advised to have a driver and a gunner - at least - if your car can hold one more people, it will come handy for the looting phase (if you survive the encounter and win). More about scouting on the dedicated pages: [Initial Scout Guide]

You're now ready to roll, so go to the client lobby and ask for somebody to help you out on scouting or just ask to join some other player's party, specifying that this is your first scout ever so that they may steer clear of more dangerous area. They will provide you with a squad name to join, so go again to the web interface and select squad -> search squads from the navigation bar. join the squad, add your car and notify in the lobby that you're ready. After some time you'll have the notification that the scouting event is starting and you'll be taken in the game combat view. Be sure to follow the advice of the other players to keep alive, and good luck!

'''Enjoy Darkwind!'''

[[Category: Guides]]
[[Category: New Player]]
[[Category: Start Up]]