Quickstart

# Ponyage:Chronicles Quickstart!

## Downloading and Installation

1. Download the **Launcher** from https://ponyage.com/download (for Linux, refer to the Ponyage Linux Support page)
2. Extract the installer to a folder of your choice, the game files will be downloaded to this folder. **It is not recommended to run it directly from the zip file, nor from a temp folder**. (**Note:** Antivirus sometimes flags this as suspicious, as it downloads stuff from the internet, extracts it to your PC, and executes the files it downloads. Aaaa! Just like evil malicious malware! Or you know, a installer/updater/launcher app... If you don't want to use the launcher, see Ponyage Installation page for more info on a manual install)
3. Run **Updater.exe** It should say there's a update available, click **Update** to download and install the game files. When it's complete, tell it to check for updates a second time, and download them if needed. (There are 2 update types, the first is everything, and will be quite large, the second is just the Database and a few libraries, it will be quite small.
4. Next, click **Launch**. The game should now launch. You may now close the updater if you wish.

## Account Creation and Login

1. Account creation can be a little confusing, all you need to do is type a username and password into the fields, Press **Register&Login** and if it is not taken it will create an account with those credentials. Your username will be your character name, so probably don't use your email address here.
2. If all goes well you should see a dialog stating the the account has been successfully created.
3. Click the **Register&Login** button again and it should take you to the pony creator.

## Pony Creator

While the Pony Customization screens probably deserve their own page, they are for the most part self explanatory.

You can select from 4 different classes: **Earth** pony, **Unicorn**, **Pegasus**, and **Bat** ponies are all playable! Each race has their own unique skills, strengths and weaknesses! Unicorns also have 2 subclasses, **Wizard** and **Cleric**, so there are **5 different skill sets** to explore!

Here you can select mane and tail styles, and dye your coat, mane and tail to a variety of colors!

**Note:** Multiple accounts are allowed, so having a pony of each class / subclass is perfectly ok. In fact we'd love you to try each option and see which one you like best!

## Quirks

Another topic deserving of it's own page, as quirks can really make or break a build. Fortunately you can change these later for the cost of a cup of tea. Here's how they work:

* Quirks affect your character in many ways, both positive and negative
* You may have a **maximum** of **12** Quirks
* Your **Total Score** must be **0 or less**
* It is not necessary to select any perks at all, though that does leave 3 points on the table.

If in doubt: Movement speed boosts are usually a good choice, especially early in the game. Later in the game the ability to randomly hit yourself may result in a lot of aggravation, depending on your build. These are not rules, and pretty much any combination can be fun to play!

Once you have done all this click **Begin the Journey** and if all goes well you'll load into the game!

**Note:** You may want to write down your choices, as there is currently no way to go back and see what you selected. Also, sometimes the game seems to lose it's connection to the server and you won't be able to continue. In this case you have to redo the whole thing. So having your choices saved would be wise.

## UI and Controls

Someday there will be a whole page, possible more, dedicated to explaining the UI. Until then you're on your own, good luck!

Haha, just kidding! We'll cover the basics here. There are several elements of the UI

* **Player Info** This contains your name, HP, Mana, XP and Essence (if you are a bat).
* **Effect Bar** This shows each effect active on your character. It includes buffs and debuffs.
* **Target** Shows currently selected target.
* **Chat** Contains both the player chat and system / server messages. The top section will inform you of damage received and dealt, as well as items picked up and misc other info. The lower section is the player chat, see chat section for more info.
* **Menu** This set of buttons toggles various menus (and hotkeys, as noted): Inventory(V), Skills(K), Actions(C), Help(H), Clan, Map(M), Learning(L), Quests(N), Status(T), Settings
* **Quick Bar** You can drag and drop things from the Actions, Skills, and some items from the Inventory to assign them to hotkeys

Best thing to do is play around with it, there's lots to learn and it will take a little while to find your way around it all.

**Note:** A few things that may not be obvious:

* Single right click to move
* Single left click to select a target
* Double left click to follow another player
* Double left click to talk to an NPC
* You can use **CTRL + Pickup** to automatically pick up multiple items.
* Most UI Elements can be freely moved, though the Chat can only be resized.
* In settings you can scale the UI to better fit your screen
* If your UI gets all messed up or things get off the screen somehow, **Alt + J** resets the UI layout

## Chat System

Press **Enter** to activate the in-game chat. type and press enter to send. there are some special commands you can use here:

* **! <message>** Shouts, basically the same as talking, but can be heard by ponies further away.
* **!! <message>** Sends messages to the global chat, they will be seen by everyone on the server. Please use sparingly.
* **# <message>** Sends messages to everyone in your party, like global chat but not visible to anyone outside your party.
* **@ <message>** Sends messages to the clan chat, like above, but only visible to others in your clan.
* **" <username> <message>** Whispers to one specific player. Use the Up arrow key to retype the name.
* **/invite <username>** Invites player to join your party. Especially useful as it works globally.
* **/mute <username>** mutes player, so they can't send whisper to you.
* **/roll <number>** rolls random number from **1** to **<number>**

## Navigation

Or finding your way around... There are several areas to explore!

* **Town** You will initially spawn in the center of town, most of the NPC's will be around here, be sure to talk to them, most have something to say! Places to visit:
	+ **Shop** A little south of the town center on the main road
	+ **Library** A little south of the Shop, and slightly East of the main road
	+ **Blacksmith** in the southwest corner of town, just north of the Arena
	+ **Arena** in the furthest southwest corner of town (Friendly PVP Area)
* **Forest** The entrance to this vast area is located **northwest of town**, it is inhabited by creeps, wolves, and other creatures! There is a friendly zone around the middle of the forest, but it is a bit of a maze!
* **Wasteland** Located **south of town**, this arid land is home to skeletons and otherworldly eye-shaped "watchers".
* **Caves** Located on the **far east end of the forest**, this area is home to some very powerful creatures, venture here only if well prepared, and preferably not alone!
* **Crypt** Entrance is located in the wasteland, it's a high level dungeon with some interesting mechanics.
* **[REDACTED]** Can only be accessed by touching a [REDACTED], which is generated by [REDACTED]. Enemies here are especially aggressive and strong. (**Don't touch anything strange** until you're sure you're ready, unless you *want* to die)

## Combat

Depending on your class and the abilities you've unlocked, you may have physical or magic attacks, some are close quarters, others ranged.

To attack just select a target, or use the "Nearest Target" ability, and press the hotkey you've assigned to an attack. Remember that Magic attacks won't work once you use all your mana, and if you are a bat, some attacks require essence.

Enemies have their level above their name, just like other players, and can be buffed with a blue (medium), or red (high) buff. These enemies are significantly harder, and reward significantly more loot than their unbuffed versions. Also sometimes the buff fails to appear, so if you're having an especially hard time with one, it might be buffed and not showing the buff.

## Leveling

You start at level 1, and will eventually reach the level cap of 30. This can go fast, as in just a few days of fairly focused play, or a lot longer, depending what you decide to do in the game. The basic premise is simple, do quests, defeat enemies, and gain **XP**. Enough XP and you gain a level! Being defeated will set your progress back slightly, and farming enemies far below or above your level will give less XP.

It's worth noting that it's not a bad idea to get **bounties** from **SharpSword** the Blacksmith and **Ana** the Librarian. the blacksmith bounties will help you with crafting, and Ana's are particularly important as she rewards books, inscripts, and library tokens you can use to buy some of the books you need to unlock and upgrade skills! You will find these in the Learning menu.

## Quests

Talk to NPC's with a large yellow **?** above their head to get a quest. A large yellow **!** indicates a new step is available. A Large white **!** indicates a quest is in progress, but the step is not completed.

**Note:** this doesn't always work perfectly, so if in doubt talk to the NPC and check their quest list.

## Crafting / Gear

Crafting is the way to get the very best gear in the game! With **random rolls** and **rune slots** crafting becomes very important after level 30.

Tier 1-4 recipes can simply be acquired from the **Blacksmith**, along with recipes for some materials. Tiers 1-3 will be outgrown quickly, tier 4 is decent and doesn't require tons of materials for most of it, so is a good balance for a new player, though tier 5 has become easier to acquire.

Tier 5 are rare drops from certain enemies. Tiers 1-5 are repeatable once you've learned one recipe, Tier 6 requires one recipe to learn and one per attempt to craft. Tiers 5 and 6 have specific **unique strengths and perks**.

1. Peasant Robes / Pointy Stick - No level Requirement (Starting gear)
2. Cotton / Wooden / Bronze - No level Requirement
3. Leather / Silver - Level x Required
4. Durable / Gold - Level x Required
5. Tier 5- Level x Required
6. Tier 6 - Level x Required

## Enchanting

Equipment can be improved by enchanting, but be warned, after +3 enchantments there is a chance of failing and damaging the item instead.