We hope your stay is a pleasant one.
New Player Guide
Getting Started
Downloading and Installing the Client
Downloading and Installing the GFX Updates
Navigating the Client
Creating a New Character
What is a Templar
What is a Harakim
What is a Mercenary
Entering the Game
First Impressions
The Chat box
The Inventory Section
The Skills Section
Basic Commands
How to look at someone
How to pick up something
How to Read a sign
How to Attack
How to select
Chat Box Commands
Advancing in the Game
How to get new Skills
How do I update Skills
How do I rank
How do I get new weapons and armors
What is the Pentagram Quest
What are the Labyrinths
Player Killing
Exiting The Game
Introduction to Mercadia
Mercadia is a free 2D MMORPG (Mass Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). Mercadia is a Mercenaries of Astonia V2 clone. Mercenaries of Astonia was eventually shutdown, this did not however cause the players of the community who loved the game to just give up on it. A few set out to purchase the source code for the game engine and the right to host the game. The Gods (Admin) on Mercadia have purchased the source code and the rights to host the game. The game has a large world filled with quests, monsters and a great community of players. The game is getting updated all the time with more quests and there is more equipment being added all the time.[top]
Getting Started
You already are taking the first steps of getting started by coming to the website and checking out this tutorial! This Tutorial will hopefully give you enough understanding of how to play the game so that you can start playing the game right away without any confusion.[top]
Downloading and Installing the Client
To download the client, you just click here section of our website. The Client is approximately 10mb in size in the form of a zip file. To install the client just simply unzip or uncompress the files to any folder you like. To unzip the files you need a program like Winzip or if you Have Windows XP you have a built in uncompress tool for zip files. The requirements to run this game are not very demanding. Currently you need a 200mhz processor, 48MB RAM, 4MB video Card and an Internet connection.[top]
Downloading and Installing GFX Updates
There will be times where we will have a new graphics (GFX) update. We will post the update on the website for you to download. To install the GFX update patches simply download the Zip file from the downloads page and unzip it's contents into your GFX subfolder which is located in your main game folder.[top]
Navigating the Client
The Save button is important if you already have a character in progress. After you have started the game and have been playing your character you will want to be sure to save your character file before the next time you go into the game. This is VERY important because if you start a new character without saving the old one your old character will be lost
The Load button loads any saved characters you have out there. After you save multiple characters you can load them back up to play them by using this function.
The Start button will put you into the game. Whatever character you have loaded up at the time will be put into the game.[top]
Creating a New Character
To create a new character click the button on the Client at the top that says Create new Character. This will give you a warning about saving any old characters you might have before going ahead with this. Make sure that if you have another character that you have click save on that character to create a character file. If you have not then your character may be lost for good.
After you click Create New Character you can then fill in a name. Make sure that you backspace to the very beginning of the name field and that your name contains no spaces, numbers or unusual characters (letters only). If you use improper characters or a character name that is in use you will get a random name in the game.
Now you may type in a password. Make sure that it is something you will remember!
For the description you must include your characters name for the description to work.
Choose No Alpha, and then choose your gender and your options: do you want shadows and sound effects turned on or off.
After you are finished choosing all these options and have a name, description and password choose which race you want then click Start to start the game! You can only start a new character as a Templar, Harakim, or Mercenary.[top]
What is a Templar
A templar is a race built for fighting and strength. Templars can wield two-handed swords and can eventually equip titanium armor. Templars are weak with magic however, and with spells Templars only max at 30, while they can max other skills to 90 and eventually 120 when they become an Arch-Templar. You can become an Arch-Templar when you complete all of the 12 Labyrinths and have a strength and agility of 90.[top]
What is a Harakim
A Harakim is a race built for magic and intuition. Harakims can wield only daggers and can eventually equip up to steel armor. Harakims are weak physically however, Harakims spells max at 90 with the potential of 120 once they reach Arch-Harakim. Other physical skills might only max at 30. You can become an Arch-Harakim when you complete all of the 12 Labyrinths and have a willpower and intuition of 90.[top]
What is a Mercenary
A Mercenary is race that has medium abilities in both physical and magic skills. Mercenaries can wield up to a titanium one-handed sword and eventually emerald armor. Mercenaries can max most skills at 60. After completing the 12 Labyrinths Mercenaries can choose to become a Sorcerer, Rogue or a Warrior.[top]
Entering the Game
After you create your new character and press start you are now entered into the game where you can start buying equipment, leveling your character or chat with the rest of the community.[top]
First Impressions
Don't be so quick to exit the game when you first see the environment. If at first you screen is for the most part black just left click with your mouse somewhere on the playing screen (big diamond shape in the middle). If you are not impressed with the 2D graphics I urge you to still give the game a try for a couple hours and really see how addictive the game can be. If the game looks too confusing at first, just refer to this guide or have some other players help you. Once you get the hang of things, this game really is not difficult to play or understand.
The Very Beginning Screen when you first log in.
After you've walked around.
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The Chat Box
The chat box is a very crucial part of the game! This box is located at the top Right hand corner of the screen.
This box is where you will see your text that you type to fellow players or where they talk to you. This box tells you what NPC's are saying to you and tells you any message in the game. When you read a sign or kill a creature all the information appears in this box. To say something just start typing, you should notice your text appearing below the chat box and when you hit enter your text will appear in the text box. Any around to hear you will get your message or if you want everyone to hear you there is a shout command, which will be discussed later.[top]
The Inventory Section
At the top of the screen near the middle you will notice you have blank boxes. These boxes are where you can place your inventory in the game. There are up and down arrows to the right of these boxes to scroll through your inventory. Also to the right of that is what your character is wearing for equipment. [top]
The Skills Section
This is at the top of your screen all the way to the left hand side. This is a list of your skills that you currently have. The number to the right of your skill is how much ability you have in that skill. The number to the right of that is how much experience it costs to update that skill. When you are able to update a skill a little plus symbol will appear in between these numbers. You can click the Plus sign and a Minus sign will appear next to it allowing you to go back. Your skill will not change until you click Update. To scroll through your skills use the arrows to the right of the skills section (left of the inventory section). [top]
Basic Commands
Basic command functions are all done with your mouse and a combination of the Alt, Shift or Ctrl keys. Walking for instance is as easy as left clicking with your mouse on where you want to go.
How to Look at Someone
To look at someone hold your Ctrl key down and right click with your mouse over that person. You will notice that the person you are about to look at is highlighted and the word Hit is under them. If you were to left click at this time your character would try to attack. Be careful with this. [top]
How to Pick up Something
To pick something up hold the �Shift� key and left-click on the object with your mouse. When you hold �Shift� you will notice the object is highlighted with the word �Take� under it. If you were to right click at this time you would be looking at the object, which would give you a description in the chat box. When you pick up an object you can continue to hold �Shift� and drop the object in your inventory or on the ground. If you pick up an object and then let go of shift you can then mix that object with another one. This only works with some objects in game, an example of this would be pick up a purple flower and then let go of �Shift� and drag the flower over with your cursor to the empty flask and left click. This will create a Mana Potion. If you want to give a player or a NPC something then you would pick the item up by using �Shift+Left click�, let go of �Shift� and then hold �Ctrl�. Then place your cursor over who you want to give the item to. Make sure it says �Give� under them and not �Hit�.[top]
How to Read a Sign
Hold �Shift� and right click with your mouse to read signs and get descriptions on items.[top]
How to Attack
Hold �Ctrl� and left click with your mouse when the cursor is over target you wish to attack. You will notice that the word �Hit� will be under this target and it will be highlighted. Do not attack town NPC's, only monsters. If you attack town NPC's (including janitors, guards etc.) you will be attacked by very powerful guardians and be killed. [top]
How to Select
To select someone you hold the �Alt� key and left click with your mouse when you are over that person. Do the same procedure to Un-Select them. You use select when you want to cast spells on someone or a monster.[top]
Chat Box Commands
To find out what commands you can use in the chat box type /help and hit �Enter�. All the commands in the game start with a �/� at the beginning of the command. For Example: /shout Hello! followed by the �Enter� key would force your character to shout so everyone in game can see what you are saying. /tell <player name> <text> is how to tell someone in private something. For example /tell Megadeth Hey, what�s up? followed by the �Enter� key would tell Megadeth on his screen that you said �Hey, what�s up?� to him. [top]
Advancing in the Game
Like any MMORPG the point of the game is to do quests and gain experience to increase your skills, gold and level. Levels in this game are called ranks, there is a section on the website labeled ranks for you to see the amount of experience needed to reach each new rank. [top]
How do I get new Skills
To get new skills in this game you have to do the town quests. These town quests are the very first quests in the game that you will be doing. In each town quest there is an NPC in town that wants an object. You have to go find this object and bring it back to the town NPC. They will then teach you a new skill that you can update. When you enter an NPC's building in town they will tell you what they want, sometimes the place to get it and what they will teach you for getting it to them. If they do not speak to you try saying �Hello� while you are in their shop. You will also receive an experience boost when the quest is complete. [top]
How do I Update Skills
In the skills section of your screen (top left-hand corner) you will see your skills. You can scroll through them to find which one you want to update by using the scroll arrows to the right of the skills section. When you accumulate enough experience in your update box (located just below the skills section) to update a certain skill a �Plus� sign will appear next to it. When you click the �Plus� sign a �Minus� sign will also appear so you can go back before you make your choice. Once you have made a choice, click the �Update� button below the skills section and your stats will then be updated. Be careful about what you update though, depending on your race, there are some skills that wont be very useful to you so you may not want to put experience into them. [top]
How do I Rank
Below the chat box you will notice your weapon value, your armor value and your total experience. When you obtain enough experience you will gain rank, each time you gain rank you increase the amount of hit points, mana and endurance you have. You can gain experience by killing monsters, doing quests, penting or getting poles. Experience poles are located throughout the game. These poles will give you a random amount of experience based on your rank and where they are located in the game. You may use each pole only once. Remember, there are 3 poles in every lab so keep an eye out for them. You might also notice that when you kill a monster that you never fought before you get a �First Kill� bonus. [top]
How do I get new Weapons and Armors
Weapons and armors require your character to have a certain amount of skills updated before using them. For instance, for leather armor you need 12 base strength and 12 base agility to equip it. Base refers to the amount of a skill you have without it being enhanced by modifiers such as spells, equipment, potions or other skills. Braveness, willpower, intuition, agility and strength can modify other skills you have. To find out what your base is you can have someone cast the spell �Identify� on you, or if you have the spell you can cast it on yourself. For weapons you need to have that weapon type skill high enough to use a more powerful one. If you use daggers, you want to raise your dagger ability. If you use swords raise swords and if you use two-handed swords raise your two-handed skill. You can buy weapons and armors in shops around town. Keep an eye out for special armors and helmets. A side note about aging: most weapons and armors in the game age. When they start aging too badly they start losing weapon value and armor value. You can either try to repair these things with a skill called repair (if it is high enough) or buy new ones. [top]
What is the Pentagram Quest
Credit for the Pentagram Quest goes to Intent Software. This is a quest where players can gain experience when they have no quests to do at the moment. The quest is sectioned off according to rank and skill levels and you collect pents. When the pents solve (at a random number) you will get the total of the 5 highest pents you collected for experience. If you were the one who solved then you would get your normal 5 pents, plus 3 times the last pent you grabbed for the solve. [top]
What are the Labyrinths
There are 12 labyrinths that in the game that are special quests. Each lab gets harder and requires you be a higher rank. Labyrinths are like solving a puzzle. At the end of each labyrinth you will face a boss and if you win you will receive a nice chunk of experience. Once you have finished all 12 labs you will go to lab 13 where you will become an Arch race or a Seyan'Du. To find the lab's go south from the starting Temple. You will see 2 portals. Read the signs and make sure that is where you want to go.[top]
Player Killing
First of all, if you die in this game you will be sent back to the Temple and lose luck, experience and everything in your inventory. Do not worry though, as you might have noticed when you kill monsters they produce graves, you may have noticed that you can loot these graves. This is no different for you. If you die you still have some time to get back to where you died and get your grave with all your stuff. I would advise that you seek the help of a higher ranked person to help you on your grave retrieval or shout for an admin if they are online. Regarding Player Vs Player deaths, you can only kill another player if you become a Player Killer and they are a Player Killer.[top]
Exiting the Game
When you are ready to leave the game you must exit through a tavern. Directly west of the Temple is a tavern. All you have to do is go into the building and continue to walk though to the south side of this Tavern until the playing screen goes blank. If you exit the game improperly you will lose luck, gold and experience.
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