Exile comes with extensive documentation, in the form of a document that should have come with the game. However, should you be either unable or unwilling to open the
docs, this guide has been provided to help you get started. Also, if you can't get started no matter what you try, the How Do I Start section should help.
I strongly recommend you at least read the introduction in the documentation. Not only is it reasonably interesting, but it will make a huge amount of what is going on make much more sense. The world of Exile is quite unlike every other computer role-playing world in existence.
Another huge help is the Helpful Tips item in the Library menu. This gives a quick run-down of the biggest time-savers, key strategy ideas, and other invaluable pieces of information.
On-Line Help:
Exile has a fair amount of on-line help. First, the Help menu can call up guides for all the commands in the outdoors, towns, and combat - explaining what the buttons do and what their keyboard equivalents are. There are also guides for talking, fighting, spellcasting, and all the other things you're going to do a lot of. Second, the Library menu calls up displays of descriptions the different spells and their qualities, as well as explanations of what all the skills do, with helpful hints for using them.
Getting a party:
I recommend starting with the prefabricated party at first. Play a little while, enough to get the hang of what is useful and what isn't, as well as what sort of style you want to have. Then build a custom party to accomidate it. The Exile character generation system allows for a huge amount of variety in the party you create. It is skill-based. In other words, there are no character classes. Instead, you spend points to build up skills, such as "Strength" or "Mage Spells." Then, as you adventure, you gain more points with which to buy stuff.
How do I start? (and keep from starving)
Some people will have a lot of difficulty getting started. That's understandable - Exile is a tricky game. The hints section in the documentation contains a good guide to getting established. If you don't want to read the whole thing, here is a guide for how to keep from starving right away:
You will start by the portal through which you arrived, in Fort Exile. Go talk to the person you see nearby (read the Help section on talking first). He will tell you you can get supplies from someone named Tor. Go visit him (he's to the southeast). Talk to him, and ask him about supplies. This will give you gold, crude weapons, and enough food to last a while.
After exploring Fort Exile, Silvar, the town due west, is a good place to visit. Food is cheap there, and there are a few items which can be found which you may find quite useful.
There are two good starting dungeons. Both are to the north. At first, avoid going west like the plague. Instead, go northeast from Silvar, to Fort Duvno. Look around there. You can find out about a bandit lair, a little north and then west. You can also find out about a just being build Nephilim fort a ways to the north. These are excellent places to establish your party and gain some starting loot.
Finally, if you're really stuck, read the How To Get a Good Party file, which contains useful excerpts from the hint book.
Shareware? What's that?
Exile is being marketed under the "Shareware concept." I am giving away the first half of the game for free. To get to the second half you need a registration key (a number). To get it, you need to register (i.e. buy the game).
In the meantime, you are allowed (and, in fact, encouraged) to pass around UNALTERED copies of Exile to anyone who wants one.
Shareware, more than anything else, rests on the honor system. Please support the shareware concept. Try before you buy. But if you are doing more than trying, buy as well.
I Hate Talking To People!
There are many, many characters in Exile. Some have valuable information to impart. Others have interesting things to say. Others just take up space and absorb protein.
And some gamers couldn't care less.
There's nothing wrong with this. Some people want to explore and fight, and don't want to deal with the conversation. Should you be one of these people, I recommend the hint book. It will tell you, in convenient form, everything you need to find out from people, and all the things to ask to get the stuff you need.
I Need A Hint:
As mentioned above, there is a hint book available for $5. You can order it using the order form.
In closing:
Exile is a huge game. There is more stuff than anyone should have to deal with, in a complicated, carefully detailed world. Be patient. Poke around. Look at what seems interesting. Have fun. It won't be hard.
