Editing Getting Started

'''Getting Started''' covers everything a new player needs to take their first steps in Winds of Valen.

== Your First Steps ==
When you start out, your first goal is to get familiar with [[Valen Gate]], the starter town. It's your main hub for learning the game, buying basic gear, and healing up at the Healing Crystal in the town center.

# '''Learn your controls and UI''': check your inventory, character menu, and the chat window (bottom left) so you can follow messages from other players.
# '''Get basic gear''': you should start with a [[Copper Sword]] equipped; if you don't have one, pick one up at the Sword Stall in [[Valen Gate]].
# '''Start training''': begin fighting in beginner areas like [[Broken Village]] and [[Farmlands]], which are built for safe early leveling.
# '''Gather resources''': start collecting [[Copper Ore]], [[Tin Ore]], fish, and other early materials; you'll need them for crafting.
# '''Upgrade gradually''': as you level up, improve your gear at crafting stations like the Anvil, or buy better equipment in town.
# '''Explore carefully''': Dont enter [[Darklands]] with items you are unwilling to lose.

== Early Progression Route ==
A rough order to tackle content in once you've got your footing:

# '''Regular Goblins''': Cross the bridge south of [[Valen Gate]] into [[Broken Village]] and start killing the basic level 1 [[Goblin|Goblins]] there. Loot everything they drop and sell it to a shop for early coin.
# '''First boss, Goblin Berserker''': Once you're comfortable, take on the [[Goblin Berserker]] in [[Broken Village]]. Wear gear with decent Slash Resistance, it hits hard once enraged below 50% HP. It has a 1/3 chance to drop the [[Goblin Axe]], a solid early 2-handed weapon.
# '''Train Archery, then Goblin Watcher''': Level up Archery on the Goblins in Broken Village, then head to [[Goblin Cave]] and take on the [[Goblin Watcher]] boss. It has a 1/3 chance to drop the [[Goblin Bow]].
# '''Pirate Captain''': Venture southeast to [[Valen Port]] and fight the [[Pirate Captain]] (level 25). The [[Goblin Axe]] from earlier still holds up well here.
# '''Bandit Mercenary''': Once you can handle the Pirate Captain, push on to the [[Mercenary Camp]] in [[Forest Alcove]] and take on [[Bandit Mercenary]] (level 30) next.

== Healing ==
Left-click a green Healing Crystal in any town to restore your health instantly, these crystals also act as your respawn point. Health potions and simply respawning are your other two options for recovering.

== Opening the Map ==
Press '''M''' to open the in-game map.

== Kick Timer ==
Playing for 6 hours straight will kick you from the game. You can log straight back in afterward, which resets the timer.

== Guides ==
In-depth guides for each skill and system live in [[:Category:Guides]]. Start here:
{| class="wikitable"
! Guide !! Covers
|-
| [[File:SkillIcon_Mining.png|24px]] [[Mining Guide]] || Ore XP/profit rates, the best mining spots per ore, and a leveling progression
|-
| [[File:SkillIcon_Smithing.png|24px]] [[Smithing Guide]] || Full ore → bar → gear crafting recipes, and EXP/profit per hour by tier
|-
| [[File:SkillIcon_Fishing2.png|24px]] [[Fishing Guide]] || Bait sourcing, fish spot locations and catch rates, and Bait Knife conversions
|-
| [[File:SkillIcon_PotionMaking2.png|24px]] [[Potion Making Guide]] || The full Cutting Table → Reduction Station → Crush Station → Cauldron production chain
|}

[[Category:Guides]]