New Player Guide Top part originally by Shallaxy, edited and updated by newsbuff 3/19/14 Counters/Deck building tips by newsbuff Please feel free to contribute and help update this guide ------------------------------------------- Basically I want to give some tips to new players, on what to do when starting the game. The game Poxnora does take a bit of getting used too, but once you persevere through the hell that is the "Learning Curve!" the game is stupidly addictive and fun! There are a lot of hyperlinks, linking to pox stores, overviews of factions and more, all are trusted sites! There are 2 sides to choose from, each side containing 4 factions! Procterate Factions Forglar Swamp Ironfist Stronghold K'thir Forest Savage Tundra Wrath Factions Forsaken Waste Sundered Lands Underdepths Shattered Peaks Picking a Faction Granted, I can never stick to one faction, but I know how to use things in general, and I have been playing since April 2007, I would suggest, when starting off, I'd stick with one faction, and learning it fully, this way, you aren't getting used to one play style, then changing to another! Experience A lot of this game is about trial and error, and learning what does or doesn't do well against other factions / units, don't let it deter you from playing, optimize your Battle Group if you found a flaw, for instance, you really lose your game against stealth units, get some more detection, equipment is an issue, shatter spells/units! Videos, Observing and more Videos I would suggest to most new players, to watch some of the YouTube player videos, there are many links throughout the forum, these will show you how people play, give you a sight of what units are generally used, and know what you will come against. Also, I generally /w (insert name) the players when they are playing, to ask either what they run, or why they run it, to get a better perspective of each faction, from the people who play them! A link to threads/channels that contain videos: Sepulcher's Poxnora YouTube Channel Gruthac's Poxnora YouTube Channel Poxnora's YouTube Channel Gutsa's Poxnora YouTube Channel The Forums Probably one of the scariest places for a new player, there is a bombardment of threads that are complaining about certain runes (guilty) and bugs, don't let this phase you, this will always happen, as if one rune gets balanced, there is another to be overpowered in its place, people just like something to discuss! Despite the above this is by far the best source for help and assistance, check your specific faction section, and if you want help creating a Battle Group, there may well be a thread there, or create one and ask someone for help, generally posting your battle group up, people will post changes to be made. General is good to discuss subjects of the game, what it lacks and such, don't be afraid to post here, give your insight and opinion! Getting Runes There are a few sources, Rune Pools (these are community based, usually 1 for 1 swaps for common and uncommon runes). Check out these Rune pools: KTCAOP's Training Ground Rune Pool Rune Marketplace this is where you purchase runes with owl credits (bought with real money), I would advise getting the more recent expansion boxes, as they generally have the more valuable Runes (trade value wise) in them. Rune Stores are another good source, these are run by players in game, and are a very good source for trading, a few are (if I missed you let me know and I will add you!) : PoxPortal Poxbox Pox Trade house PoxBrothers Gold which is gained through Single Player, Casual and Ranked games and Skirmishers, you can buy runes with gold Forging - Runes can be sacrificed for shards, which can then be used to "craft" any other rune in the game. Trading Trading is one of the area's newer players need to be very cautious of, There are a fair few people out there who don't mind ripping off someone for 'profit' it doesn't matter to them if you've been playing 5 years or 5 minutes, to avoid being ripped off, or avoid it as much as possible, use the above stores for a price comparison (yes, stores trade for profit, but you can see what runes share similar value to your own in stores, by comparing in to in value, or out to out value) Another great way, is asking the community in the forum Trade Bazaar or in the chats in games lobbies for a quicker answer, most people will help you out on there! People do have wish lists on their trades, when in the Rune Trader, with buyouts and such, even if it is a rune you really want, just make sure the runes you are offering, aren't well over the asking price (there are a few exceptions) and you will do just fine! On a more positive note, however, trading is exceptionally fun, especially when you are in a bigger trade with someone, and trying to negotiate the trade down to the very last common, it is rarer to see these trades now, as most use stores for convenience, however, they still do happen! Hopefully you can view the below posts on this thread, to see anyone else who wants to give an input and help new players with any advise, It is hard to give a rounded guide, as this game is completely dependent on so many variables for each player. -Shallaxy ------------------------ General deckbuilding guidelines: You should include ~15 champs, ~10 spells, ~5 relics/equips Why: Champs needed to play the game - cap fonts, attack shrine. Spells are more reliable, less-counterable than relics and equips. Must Have Deck Elements: If your deck lacks these elements, you risk instantly losing to some runes in a very frustrating way. http://www.poxpulse.com/ability is the best resource for discovering which runes in your faction have these elements. DETECTION You need a way to detect stealthed champions. The most common way is with the Detection ability on a champ. The best alternative to this is a spell that reveals stealthed champs or relics. Another alternative for advanced players is using AOE damaging spells or abilities - but this is not always reliable. EQUIPMENT REMOVAL You need a way to destroy equipment on your champs or on opposing champs. The most common way is with the ability "Shatter" on a champion. This is efficient because even if they don't have equipment in their deck (not unusual), you won't have wasted a spot in your deck. The best alternative to running shatter champs is a spell that destroys equipment "on demand" - this is a quicker and usually more reliable way to remove equipment, but is sometimes a wasted spot in your deck if your opponent isn't running equipment worthy of being destroyed. Other alternatives to shatter are champs or relics with "restricting luminence" - an ability that prevents equips in a large AOE as well as spells that destroy equipment. You could also run lots of equipment and just equip champs before your opponent can...but all these alternatives are not very reliable imo. ALT DAMAGE (Especially Magic) You need a way to damage champs who have immunity to damage types. For example, if 95% of your champs are attack: physical and your opponent runes one or two champs with immunity: physical or vaporize or incorporeal, you will be at a major disadvantage or might just lose outright. Include a variety of damage types in your deck, especially including reliable source of magic damage. Cleanse You need a way to remove debilitating debuffs/statuses from your champs. A well-timed disable often decides the outcome of a game. Being able to counter that disable will ensure that you aren't defeated so easily. DISABLES (AKA CROWD CONTROL) As mentioned above, a well-timed disable can win a game or save one of your champs. Your deck should include some way to disable opposing champions - blind, stun, and pacify being the most common disables. A surprise disable delivered through a spell is usually more reliable, since if the disable is a champ ability, your opponent usually has time to prepare a counter to it in advance. Other Deck Elements to Consider: Warbanners Each faction has a relic called a Warbanner which gives all your dudes from that faction +5hp and +1 dmg. This relic is essential in any full-faction deck! You get one for free when you buy an Avatar. *see below Avatar Once you get serious about the game, it's time to buy an Avatar. Avatars replace your crappy starting shrine and gain levels - up to level 50. As they gain levels, they get HP and additional abilities for when they are transfigured. The HP alone can decide a close game, so buying an Avatar is essential for any serious player. Super Champ Counters A super champ is a single champ with equipment, buffs, spells, and abilities stacked on to the point that it can probably solo your entire deck. Being able to recognize when your opponent is setting up for a super champ and acting to counter it early is important. Many super champs, once fully-stacked, are incredibly difficult to stop... Faction choices: Any Doombringer FS: Drown FW: Doom, Domination->into a chasm you go UD: Fading Recollection SL: Mimic NEW: Pox Renovator is also great against super champs! Counterspells Sometimes, your opponent will depend on a spell, like a cleanse or a disable, and you will have a counterspell up ready for him. Often when this happens, your opponent will surrender outright, because of the waste of nora, the loss of a crucial play, and the immense frustration of being countered preemptively. Othertimes, you can strategically DENY spells from being cast using spell seals or champs with counterspell mastery, putting your opponent at an ongoing disadvantage. Still needed: LISTS of INDIVIDUAL RUNES that fill the roles described above, separated by FACTION!! -Newsbuff
