I think its time the multiplayer community put together a guide to help introduce new players to the multiplayer experience and give them an idea of what to expect (and how to behave)[EDIT: I would not presume to "tell someone how to behave" but rather, I endeavor to inform what behavior is discouraged] when they join us online.
I am proposing that we come up with a Multiplayer Guide written by players for new players. I don't have the time to write it all by myself, but with a little help (and maybe some archives cutting and pasting) we whould be able to get this thing done without too awfully much trouble. Ideally it could be a permanent post at the top of the Multiplayer forum for new players to read as a "welcome" of sorts. [Edit: Thanks to all those who have contributed.]
Here is my outline of topics that should be addressed in such a guide. If anyone is interesting in helping to write portions of the guide, please post your contribution and I can cut and paste it into the finished product. Ok, here we go (this is a rough skeleton):
I. Introduction
Greetings noble Lord (or Lady as the case may be). Welcome to Medieval Total War ("MTW"), Multiplayer. This Guide should help you get used to the multiplayer interface and act as a reference for players who are new to online MTW. If you have any questions regarding online play you should post them at The Guild, the forums off of www.totalwar.org ("the .org"), specifically in the "Jousting Fields." This guide is not intended as an exhaustive "how to", but rather as an introduction to what you may expect when you log on to the gamespy server. If you have questions about unit-stats, go to www.totalwarassembly.com (or the .org forums). If you have questions about strategy/tactics go to http://shogun-academy.tripod.com/ (the shogun academy--although the units may be slightly different, all of the morale system and the vast majority of tactics remain the same in MTW).
A. What you need
1. A CD Key (you must have purchased MTW)
Although you can play single player ("SP") with a pirate copy you cannot play Multiplayer ("MP") without the CD Key that comes with the purchased copy. Please support Total War and buy a copy. The CD key is inside the CD case on a white sticker.
2. An Internet connection
Duh You can play LAN with your friends without an internet connection, but then you wouldn't really need this guide. If you want to play on the internet you gotta have a connection.
3. Patience (this game requires some patience)
Unlike many simple arcade games, Medieval Total War requires patience to play (and unfortunately, sometimes in setting up a game). Don't let this scare you off. Patience is a virtue. MTW Multi is worth the wait. There will be some frustration and waiting involved with waiting in the lobby - you wanna start fighting straight away - but there are games and there are games and the great games are worth waiting for and sometimes they take some work on behalf of the host. Once your in a game you have to wait while everyone picks units and setups their men on the battlefield - use this time - If you are joining a group game talk to your allies - hopefully they will talk back and you can plan you battle. In setup talk about where you are setting up but remember for team games united you STAND and divided you will FALL so make sure you are united with your allies and stick to the plan - sometimes the plans need not be volumes - Ill go left - this is a plan - hold this hill - thats another plan. Take the time you need to place your men but dont take forever you can move them in game if a few units arnt right. Attacking can be harder than defending so be prepared to lose alot if you attack alot - everyone loses and some more frequently than others - some days you win alot - other days you wont - but dont despair - just have fun - YES EVEN LOSING CAN BE FUN - The point Im making is sometimes youll drop from games - sometimes your men will turn and run for no apparent reason - sometimes youll make blunders - sometimes all the games on the board will be crap
but every now and then you will get a battle -
not just a battle but a GREAT BATTLE -
a battle with new friends who are cheering for you - a battle where you and your general will be surrounded but the enemy begins to waver - you cry out to your allies - ON ME - they counter charge - the enemy lines faulter - the battle flows back and forth across the battlefield like a red tide of blood -
Your general sits on a hill top and in the valley to each side he sees huge armies of thousands smashing together - the screams of the men - the music is drumming in your ears - You YELL - TO THE DEATH and charge in to join the midst of the battle - arrows like black rain whistle past your ears -
You and the enemy general meet in the midst of the frey and do battle not just for your life but the outcome of this fight between these two brave men could rule the day - ONE will stand ONE will fall - will the god of war shine on YOU this day - or HIM
the worst of the battle is over you gather what is left of what was once a thousand men their ranks a meagre few bloodied and exhausted men - you enemy gathers what is left of his force - you stand and face each other - the wind howls with a fresh breeze and the first droplets of rain start to fall - between you is a sea of bodies - ten deep in places - you silently salute him and march your army off the field - you have lost the day - BUT WHAT A HELL OF A DAY IT WAS
THESE ARE THE GREAT BATTLES WHERE HEROS AND LEGENDS ARE MADE
THIS IS WHAT YOU WAITED FOR
THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM IS WAITING FOR
and every now and again the internet gods smile on you get it - you will remember the greatest battles always. [Contributed by Yun Dog]
4. Patch v.1.1.
Like many games, there is currently a "patch" (update) for this game. You do not strictly need the patch (version 1.1) to play online, but you wont be able to play the vast majority of players without it. You can only play with people who have the same version as you. The patch can be downloaded from the official site or from the .org. It must be installed. Make sure MTW is not running while it is being installed.
5. Proper Specifications:
The Number One Multiplayer Problem
This problem is really very serious as it has, and is driving both new and experienced away from the online game.
Please, please, please do not come to multiplayer without the proper equipment If you do otherwise, you will be ruining other peoples fun, and quite literally killing the game.
Remember that little readme file you didn’t read when you first fired up the program? Or maybe you did quickly read it but also quickly forgot because you really just wanted to get on with learning the game at the time? Let’s take another look.
It gives minimum (350 MHz /128 MB), recommended (600 MHz/128 MB), and ideal (1.2 GHz 256 MB) system requirements to play MTW.
After that is a little blurb called:
REQUIRED FOR MULTIPLAYER That says, the minimum specification is based on 2 players. More than 2 players participating requires a higher specification incrementally. A total of 8 players will need the ideal multiplayer specification (750 MHz) or higher for smooth game play.
Everyone just loves to blame GameSpy for drops and lags, but it’s players with poor internet connections and/or lame computers that are at fault. If you want to play online, please do whatever you have to do to get things right. We all do want you there, but only if you have the right stuff.
II. Logging On
A. Creating a Gamespy account
First you will have to create a Gamespy account. Start up MTW and select Multiplayer from the menu. [Note: you will see a "v1.1" in the upper left corner of the main menu if you have installed the patch]. Select "Register on Gamespy" and follow the instructions. You don't have to use your real name, but you do have to fill in all the required fields. Make sure you keep clicking NEXT until your registration is complete (you will be referred to the official www.totalwar.com site). When selecting your name try to stick to letters. Blank spaces dont work, so if you want a space in your name use "____" an underscore.
B. Shut down uneccessary programs
MTW puts a fair amount of strain on your memory and CPU. For best results shut down programs that are not strictly necessary (such as AOL instant messenger, internet explorer, and any other programs you might find have an icon in the lower right of your windows display [right click the icon and hit exit]).
C. Turn off your firewall if you want to host
Playing MTW MP involves a lot of data sharing and if you have a firewall up you may not be able to host a game (although you should be able to play just fine). ZoneAlarm is the most common culprit. Turn it off.
D. Enter your Logon info in the Logon Information window of MTW--After you have done all of the above, select Multiplayer from the MTW menu. Click "Play on Gamespy". Enter your account details in the logon screen, it should say "Logon Information" at the top and a green Gamespy logo will be present if you have v1.1 installed. Remember to enter your CD Key (you only have to enter it ONCE, even though it seems like you have to do it everytime). Click "Continue" on the bottom and hopefully you be logged on If the game seems to lock up (even your mouse), give it a minute (or two) and you may just pull through. If the game crashes, reboot your computer and try it again. If problems persist, see Erado at the Apothecary in the Guild at the .org. lol. its just south down beggers lane past the monestary.
E. Common problems and their solutions
1. Account Details incorrect
Restart MTW and try again. Sometimes you have to close the game and restart it. If this problem persists, recheck your account details and try again. If you are still having problems, ask Erado in the Apothecary (at the Guild...www.totalwar.org forums, remember?).
2. CD Key entry problems
Make sure you use dashes, capital letters, and use zeros instead of "o"s (ohs).
3. Other problems
Im sure there are others, but cant think of any right this second.
III. The Lobby
A. Etiquette
Generally, polite behaviour will be rewarded. If you are mean or abusive people wont like you and wont want to join your games or play with you. Please dont use foul language--I've noticed Americans can handle a bit more in the way of crude language than some other folks, please be respectful of our international community. This game is played around the world and someone's kids could be looking over daddy's shoulder at any time. This is just a matter of courtesy to others. If you insist on being a jerk, you may find yourself on everyones IGNORE list--or even worse--you may be banned from peoples games. At the most extreme your CD Key will be revoked by the publisher (it does happen).
If you must talk smack, do it in private chat please.
B. Private messages/Public Messages/No Spamming please
On the right side you will see a list of peoples names who are logged on. You will also see a scrolling list of messages as people talk with pulic chat. If you click on a persons name you can speak with them privately.
C. Commands (#ignore, #unignore)
If someone is annoying you type:
#ignore [THEIR NAME HERE]
Some people have whacky names like XxX_zFD_ . You must type the name in exactly if you want it to work. You can use the #unignore function the same way.
You can also hold CTRL and click on peoples names to add them to your Private Chat Selection. If the Chat cursor says "to selection>" you will send a private message to each selected person.
Edit: This was posted in December 2002 by Gregoshi of the Org:
"The Situation
Recently there have been complaints made to CA and GameSpy regarding unacceptable behaviour in the GameSpy foyer. This behaviour included harrassment of and threats made to some individuals. Such actions are intolerable regardless of the situation. Whether it be here at the Org or in the GameSpy foyer, the online experience should be enjoyable for everyone. After all, we are here to play a game.
The CA Policy
CA has stated quite strongly that they have zero tolerance for harrassing and threatening behaviour. To help them eliminate the problem, CA will be keeping chat logs of the foyer postings for confirmation of complaints. Persons found to be harrassing and making physical threats of any nature will have their CD keys terminated and their GameSpy accounts terminated. Such abuse is in direct violation of the terms of service of GameSpy.
The Org Policy
The above policy is not the Org's, nor is this notice a warning from the Org. We post this notice at the request of CA to help communicate their message that the community be more vigilant in self policing the foyer.
Members of the Comunity who feel they have been threatened in the GameSpy foyer, or who have concerns over threats they have seen made there are encouraged to contact CA and report the matter. You may report an incident by sending an email to Richie "The Shogun" Skinner at webmaster@totalwar.com
The Guild Forums
We at the Org will not enter into debate on this issue. The issue is closed with the release of this notice. All discussions on the subject will be removed. While we fully support CA and GameSpy's stand on the issue, the Org is not the place to debate this topic. "
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IV. Joining a game
A. How to join
B. What types of game to join if you are new (1v1, 2v2)
C. Being asked to leave...its ok.
D. Common problems and solutions
1. Not "seeing" games
i. firewalls
ii. refresh by relogging
iii. refresh by hosting and then quitting
V. Selecting your Army
A. Factions / Colors
B. Units and Upgrades
C. Cavalry/Artillery are available if you click on icon
D. Choosing an Attacking Army
E. Choosing a Defensive Army
Picking Units for a Defending Army [contributed by vexatious]
This is a strategy that I've shared with a number of new players that I have played with/against. As a neophyte defender, try to take a balanced army. My standard formulation is as follows:
3 Missile Units
5 Spears
4 Infantry
4 Cavalry
I generally use the following opening formation:
MMM
I SSSSS I
C II C
CC
Missile Units- Missile units are critical for two reasons. First, without missiles, you are subject to ranged attacks. That's not good. As a defender, you have a natural advantage in that you decide where the engagement will take place. This is advantageous in two ways. First, the attacker must move, and hence fatigue, its army in order to engage. Second, you can take advantage of available terrain bonuses by setting up on a hill, around a forest, etc... If you don't have missiles, an attacker can simply pepper you with missiles until you capitulate and engage the attacker on its ground.
The second reason to take missile units is that they can be used to adversely effect the morale of enemy foot troops. After the initial missile volley exchange, it is very important to continue using missile attacks against your enemy's foot troops as they engage your foot troops. Doing so will cause targeted enemy units to suffer a loss of morale, making them easier to rout.
Which kind of missile unit should you take? I suggest pavise arbalests (High Period). PA's have a sheild to protect against incoming missile strikes, do well against armored troops, are fairly durable in melee and do not exhaust their ammo very quickly. The downside is that they have a long reload time and move slowly. [Thanks Vex]
[Edit: this was contributed by Cheetah]
This is a good formation vex, but on defence you can take a more missile heavy army. For example:
5 Missile
5 Spears
4 Cavs
2 Shock inf.
deploy like this:
M M M M
C S S S S S C
C M C
I I
[Thanks Cheetah]
F. Please dont waste time selecting your army. In a 4v4 you have 7 other people waiting to play. If you need to go to the bathroom or grab a drink, select your army first and then take care of it. You should have a good idea what units you want before you go to the army selection screen. If you take too long selecting your army you will make everyone else in the game angry with you (even your allies) from the get-go. You will also look like an ultra-newbie--so give unit selection some thought before you get to the selction screen.
VI. Deployment
A. Greetings (HF,GL, and others)--In game Chat T/Y
B. Color and deployment Zones
In a 4v4 there are (obviously) 4 deployment zones per side. Standard terminology for each zone is:
Center,
Reserve (or backup),
Right,
Left.
Reserve is always located in the left back. Right is always off by himself. Left is always set forward a bit into enemy territory (right in front of enemies reserve position). Center is obviously, well, center.
In v.1.1 your deployment zone is determined by the COLORS you and your teammates select in the army selection screen. In v.1.0 it was determined by the FACTIONS you and your teammates chose.
Colors are ranked in the order they appear on the army selection screen, from top left to right. Almohads (orange) are ranked highest and Turks are ranked lowest (green). Deployment zones are determined by the rank of your color, and they follow this pattern:
1) Highest ranking color = Center
2) Second highest = Reserve
3) Third highest = Right
4) Fourth highest = Left
Colors are ranked as follows:
1) Almos (Orange)
2) Byz (Purple)
3) Danes (white)
4) Egypt (tan)
5) English (dk. red)
6) French (dk.blue)
7) German (black)
8) Italian (dk.green)
9) Polish (lt.red)
10) Russian (lt.blue)
11) Spanish (yellow)
12) Turks (lt green)
So if you select Orange (Almohads) you will always be Center. If you select Turkish Green you will always be Left. That is as far as the "always" go, because, lets say the enemy has taken Orange and Purple--the Orange enemy will surely be center, but who would our center be? It will be whoever has the next highest ranking color.
If we all understand this system we will always know:
1) where each of us will deploy
2) which enemy each of us will face.
This will produce an advantage.
So when you are looking at our colors remember we will deploy in the following order: Center, Reserve, Right, Left.
The enemy will deploy in the same order, based on their colors. Center, Reserve, Right, Left (remembering that they will mirror us, so enemy "right" is actually facing our Left, and visa versa).
C. Attackers face down mini, Defenders face up
IMPORTANT for 4v4's: Attackers FACE DOWN THE MINIMAP. Defenders FACE UP THE MINIMAP. The game will try to auto-deploy some positions facing the center of the minimap--this will normally cause you to lose, so make sure you face the right direction (up or down depending on if you are attacker or defender).
D. Dont setup too far forward (back half ofyour circle)
VII. The Battle
A. What your allies will expect of you
B. Movement
C. Combat
D. Morale (rout penalties effect your allies)
E. Droppers suck
So youve played a team battle but you got wiped out in the early part of the game and your allies are still there - why not to quit - everyone gets dark about having been eliminated from the game - and you want to start a new game - but there are 2 dudes left in this game that were counting on you. When you have been wiped out of a team game - BUT THIS NEED NOT BE THE END OF THE GAME You go to an unresricted camera mode - from here you can view the whole battle field all the armies and all the battles - you can still help your allies - and its also a good place to chat with people and have a laugh about the game without all the noise of the lobby. This is a very valuable part of the game because you can watch the tactics both of your allies and your enemies and you can LEARN new tactics and spy for your allies - YOU CAN CHEER THEM ON TOO
On one occasion when I thought I had in part been responsible for losing the game - my ally rallied one of his last units and the game came down to his general and the enemies general and he won - Im glad I hung around to watch and cheer him on
In another battle I got knocked out of a Free For ALL 8 player battle Royale - but I stayed and watched the battles - some of the battles and tactics I got to see were ausome and in the end everyone was watching the last two guys taking each other on cheering for one or the other - was Soooo glad I stayed for that one
Other times I had only a few gun units left but this was all the fire support my allies men needed to win Other time you can distract the enemies watching your half dead army while your ally sneaks up on them
If you quit you miss all this - you miss the opportunity to talk to the other dudes in the game and you miss the chance to learn new tactics.
So if you lose dont suck by quitting hang around and see how it all ends - you might make some new friends
In a single 1v1 game it can be worse still - if you just quit you dont get to see the stats or the valor gained and you wont learn which units did well and which one lets you down - you miss the chance to find out what your enemy thought and how they beat u - BUT WORSE STILL - you miss the opportunity and the HONOUR of congratulating your opponent on beating you - he knows you will be back and you could well beat him next time - he will appreciate that you hung around to see the end of the battle - there is a wait between battles - you may as well see through what you began - some of the best generals and most reknowned vets were not the ones who won every battle but the ones who were the most fun to play [Contributed by Yun Dog, thanks] Your skills will improve quickly if you have the patience to learn from your own mistakes and from the skills of others.
VIII. Some Notes on Strategy (Contribute by Skomath)
The Battle: Its Parts and Strategies
2/6/2003
by Matt Gorski
Introduction:
This guide is going to focus on the different parts of a battle (e.g. skirmishing), give the player some overall tips for each part, give some specific strategies for the section, and provide replays featuring some excellent examples of each. The type of battle this guide will focus on is a 1v1 with about 15000 florins. Though some replays may feature team battles it will talk about them in the context of a 1v1 because that is the simplest type of battle (well not quite but you’ll understand eventually) and its tactics can be adapted to team play. Hopefully by gaining a better understanding of the battle, the player will be more equipped to tackle more advanced tactics.Also, If you don’t know your controls and hotkeys, learn them I won’t explain them here so you may not know how to do what I’m talking about. You’ll only learn so much from this guide, so get a teacher or a couple games with a veteran supervising you.
Choosing your army:
Despite some players’ insistence that this is the last thing they need advice on, it is the first. Having the right units means you’ll be able to do what you want without thinking “hey, maybe I should have upgraded the valour” as your unit flees the field. I’ll provide some exact 15k armies to get you started:
Byzantine Army:
Qty Unit Valor Armor Weap.
2 Pronoiai Allagion 2
4 Byzantine Infantry 4
3 Varangian Gaurds 1
2 Spearmen 4
4 Pavise Arbalesters 1
French Army:
Qty Unit Valor Armor Weap.
3 Chivalric Knights 1
4 Order Foot 2
4 Chivalric MAA 3
4 Pavise Arbalesters 2
1 Turcopole 2 1
English Army
Qty Unit Valor Armor Weap.
4 Chivalric Knights 1
4 Chivalric MAA 3
2 Order Foot 2
2 Billmen 3
4 Pavise Arbalesters 1
German Army:
Qty Unit Valor Armor Weap.
3 Chivalric Knights 1
3 Chivalric MAA 3
2 Swiss Halberdiers 2
2 Order Foot 2
2 Halberdiers 3
4 Pavise Arbalesters 2
These are very basic armies and you may see people doing crazy things like all cavalry armies but don’t be tempted into using them unless you are too good to be reading this in the first place.
Setting up:
Setting up is the stage on the battle map when you can position your units without having to wait for them to walk there.
Formation:
The first thing you’ll want to do is pick a spot right in the middle of the map and set up your formation. There are a variety of these so here’s a replay of me going through several different set-ups with the same army, and then positioning it.
Positioning:
This is pretty simple to do, but tactically complicated. Select your whole army and then stick it on the map where you want it. The complicated part is selecting the right spot. Here are a couple points:
Don't set up too close to the front
Set up where you can gain high ground quickly or are on it already
Don't set up in the corner (no one likes campers)
Trees provide cover, but spears and cavalry are weak in them and it's hard to keep track of all your units.
Grouping:
Now group your units. I suggest dividing them either into types (swords, spears, cavalry) if you use them in one line, or sides (front line, left flank, right flank).
Maneuvering:
Now that the battle has begun you’ll want to move your army to where you want the battle to take place. Move in small increments so if you need to, you can change direction. Stop just out of archer range.
Positioning:
This positioning is different than above. Basically move your spears to where the enemy will have his horses and so on in the rock, paper, scissors fashion. Again, this is more complicated than it sounds because of the varieties of different troops and terrain. This you may have to learn on your own. Again I stress getting a teacher. Another option is not to position and rely on flanking to win the day. This is used best when you don’t have time to position, with order foot in the front (strongly defensive) and the left/right flanking groups.
Skirmishing:
Your goal during skirmishing should be to wear down the enemy force in numbers and fatigue while suffering minimal casualties. Don’t get too cocky or you’ll end up worse than the enemy, be on guard to counter his maneuvers, and don’t be wasteful.
The Archer Duel:
This is probably the most dreaded and boring part of the battle, but often the most crucial. The idea is to be able to inflict damage on the enemy’s melee units while receiving few to your own. To do this you’ll have to get your archers further in front of your front line than the enemy has his. You’ll have to use a hill or trees to do this, or just be a little more daring. You can either guard your archers with spears behind them or cavalry. The enemy will probably try to kill some of your archers with fast cavalry so when you see them coming either send your spears close to your archers to change his mind or send your cavalry out to kill him. Protecting your archers with heavy cavalry on the end slightly out of range of the enemy archers is preferable to using spears, which are often too slow to save your archers. Meanwhile target your archers on expensive enemy units or ones with low morale. Use your own light cavalry to charge unprotected enemy archers and then either make them run back or hit the rout button to get them out of there really quick, though you might not be able to get them back.
Other Tactics:
Use horse archers to shoot lightly armored units, but keep away from enemy archers.
Use cavalry to trap a slow enemy unit too separated to get help.
Hide a unit at the beginning of the battle and then rush out in an ambush.
Shoot at an enemy who didn't take light cavalry with your horse archers.
He will chase you with his heavy cavalry which won't be able to catch you.
This will hurt the heavy cavalry's fatigue.
The Melee:
Okay now, down to business. There are two types of situations you may encounter now: having the enemy suddenly rushing at you, or vice versa. When both armies rush at each other consider it attacking.
Defending:
First of all get your archers back behind your front line. Next, move your units so your front line is about the same width as his and with the same number of units. You now have two options as to what to do with your flanks. First, you can move out your units out around the enemy’s flanks and hope to break through on the edges, or hold down your corners and plug gaps with your cavalry. When you notice your front line may be breaking you can easily change the tide by sending a cavalry charge to a problematic area. Support wavering units with your own archer fire and move your general close to them. Another trick could be to move your general away from your weak spots to draw away enemy attacks and lead them into ambushes. This is especially useful with the Byzantines because most of the troops aren’t affected by their general’s death. Killing the enemy general can also help you turn the tide or seal the coffin.
Attacking:
You don’t have much of a choice as to when to defend, but attacking is different. Usually you will be attacking either because the enemy has made a mistake and you want to capitalize on it or waiting around any longer will get you killed. Never attack because you’re bored of skirmishing. Since your army may not have an easily definable middle from the positioning stage, you may not be able to correctly place the whole thing at once. First start your archers moving to a little ways behind where the fighting will be. Next aim your flanking to where you want them to be and then your front line. Since cavalry is the fastest move that last. When everyone is moving make them run their fastest. Make units attack the ones you positioned them across from. Use free units to flank or help suffering ones.
The Regrouping:
Well someone just faired better in the melee and if you or your opponent haven’t totally routed of the field you have some units waiting to do something. Gather your units at a spot roughly in the middle of where they all are now, hopefully on a hill or in the trees. Use cavalry to “cover” slow units so the enemy won’t be tempted to pick them off.
Reform your army much as you did your first time, except put units in deep formation with weak ones in back. Rest your army until there are two bars of fatigue and then move it towards the enemy.
The Final Conflict:
Now for the final clash that will decide the winner. Conduct this in much the same way as the first conflict but remember your units have lower morale so support them with weakened units. Only skirmish here if you have a lot more archers than your opponent. In the battle just hit all of his units best you can and watch his your morale. In the final battle horses are a lot stronger than they are at first because of the reduced sizes and valour gains so use them to take on large units and beware of the enemy’s.
IX. The Aftermath
A. Results and what they mean
B. Saying thank you or "GG", or not--being a good sport
C. Other post-game issues
IX. Hosting your first game
A. Firewalls
B. Common options (morale, fatigue, 10k-20k florins, etc.)
C. Seasons
D. Commands (#ban, #unban, #kick)
E. DO NOT DROP OR ESC FROM A GAME IF YOU ARE THE HOST
X. Having fun and getting a good reputation
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So anyway, there is my outline for what we need to tell new multiplayers. Please feel free to criticise, add, or delete anything you think is important. I think we could get more people interested if they werent so intimidated by the system.
