the 7 hearthlings stages: understanding the HnH experience

[zacty]

now, this is not a guide to surviving or how to fight. this is simply to give prospective new players an understanding of the general Haven and Hearth experience so they can get an idea of what they will get over their time in-game
from my own experiences, and the experiences of everyone i have personally witnessed, there are 7 stages to Haven and Hearth, involving a wide range of different things

stage 1 : discovery from the moment when you first find HnH and download it, you are plopped in the middle of nowhere on your own. sure there are guides that will get you some basic understanding, but mostly you're on your own. this is you first impression of the game, building a menial camp and finding things. this is when you find everything you need to live, and what will ultimately draw you in or push you out. HnH is unforgiving, don't let that deter you.
note that this stage will never truly end while this game is in development, as things are added and removed you will always spend time discovering things

stage 2 : exploration you've gotten what you need around your start, this is the stage when you start exploring the land. maybe you find a boat and go out further, this is what entices a large number of people, seeing how truly large this game is, how much time you can spend exploring and still not see even a fraction of all there is to see. this is a crucial stage, you will explore and find many things to help you (see stage 1) and perhaps even people

stage 3 : building you have gone around and found some things, taproot maybe, maybe you found a plot with some crops. this stage is when you build, you build a house, you build a crate, you build a claim, you build a farm. you strike yourself into the earth. this stage will last for a great deal of time.

stage 4 : loss this stage could come a great deal sooner, or maybe a great deal later. this is hard to place, this stage comes when you have found yourself at a setback, forget to claim everything and got looted? got to cocky with a boar and got a tusk shoved up your ass? you will lose something eventually, maybe only some string, maybe everything. HnH is a wild game, you will never truly be able to be safe from setbacks. but don't let this deter you, play on and prove that you are strong.

note that all of these stages so far can and will happen after your first few days, hours, or maybe even your first play session in this game. after this you can take weeks or even months to get past this, unless you know what you're doing

stage 5 : advancement this stage normally comes because of stage 4, you got killed or robbed and don't want it to happen again. you start a palisade, you work on a mine hole (or cave) you try to increase the general QL of your items, you build bigger this is your defining moment, this is where you either stay a noob, or make the resolve to be hardy and join the ranks of survivors

stage 6: power you have metal. you have a wall. you have friends. you have power. this can be achieved through many ways, joining a village, trade, or mere hard work. you now have become what you would fear in the beginning. you are powerful, you are no longer a noob in the strictest sense

stage 7: ending the end of the world, world 7, 8, 9, whatever it is, you now have truly lost everything, along with everyone else. this is where you have the ability to take what you learned when you started and make something of yourself to be the best that no-one ever was.

understand that many people never make it past the first few stages, maybe they don't want to be poweful. maybe they want to til their Q-3 crops all day and they enjoy that. but that's OK, it is a game, as long as you are happy to play, this MMO has served it purpose.

[Kurundo]

What about the split path after 6 where people filter out into usually either quality whores or murder hobos?

[zacty]

What about the split path after 6 where people filter out into usually either quality whores or murder hobos?

those are both part of 6, as they fall under your power binge

[borka]

All of this you wrote Zacty is very nice but sadly it doesn't make any sense in the state HnH is atm and most off all with all thus e-pens and 24/7 viagra players...

[zacty]

and most off all with all thus e-pens and 24/7 viagra players...

i have no idea what you just said there

[borka]

e-pens - killing noobs for fun and e-penis growth

24/7 viagra - nolifers and bug/exploit users



also: having BW, metal and friends doesn't automatic makes you powerfull (i'd better call it wealthy) ...and not everyone uses his wealth to be feared but to share...

[zacty]

compared to the average player, your pretty pwoerful at that point

[borka]

prolly we have different views on the term "powerful"

I consider (i.e.) DIS/Ainran or WF powerful - if they're at my door i'll be just another victim for sure

[zacty]

prolly we have different views on the term "powerful"

I consider (i.e.) DIS/Ainran or WF powerful - if they're at my door i'll be just another victim for sure

true, i can see that.

[MightySheep]

I prefer to skip step 4

also game doesnt get fun till stage 6