Hello everyone!

[Omega]

I am OMEGA. I am new to the game and forums. I am really confused because NO one is ever on... any answers to that? haha.

Thanks!

- Omega

[zdazzle]

We are on Just head East (Thats towards the bottom right on the screen) Youll find a few towns that way, just be careful, they might mistake you as a theif. Welcome to the game!

[Rift]

yea, theres lots of small towns.. mostly east of the start location... everyone had to move away from the start to get away from all the.. well.. stuff sprawled out randomly everywhere by newplayers trying to figure out what to do.
If all else fails try a map: http://www.havenandhearth.com/portal/res/map-danger.png
its a couple weeks outdated... so a town or two is misisng as well as lots of roads.. but you get the idea. [oh that map also lacks ridges]

[theTrav]

Welcome to the game Omega, what timezone are you playing in? I'm GMT+10 and was on fairly frequently up until Saturday when I moved house and now I'm offline until halfway through July when my internet is connected at the new place.
I've found that there's generally someone on from most of the major settlements most of the time, but quite often they'll be off hunting, or harvesting, or mining or doing many other tasks.

[kobnach]

If all else fails try a map: http://www.havenandhearth.com/portal/res/map-danger.png
its a couple weeks outdated... so a town or two is misisng as well as lots of roads.. but you get the idea. [oh that map also lacks ridges]

I think I must be visually challenged or something. I've stared at that map in several variants, and I'm quite lost. What are the various coloured blotchy things? Are the concentric colours (not quite rings) centered on the Ring of Brodgar (new player start location)? If so, do they indicate wildness levels, such that each colour change brings opposition a level higher? If not, where IS the Ring of Brodgar? What's the blue quasi-pentagon somewhat right of center?

With one landmark, a "legend", and an idea of the scale, I might be able to find my homestead on the map, and determine what's nearby. Or maybe not - ridges are the best landmarks in the game, and you tell me - as I half suspected - that they are not indicated.

[kobnach]

And now that I've hijacked your thread, welcome to the game. I think I'm north east of the start area, and I'm certainly not one of the more experienced players; in fact, my specialty is asking questions on the "how do I" forum.

[theTrav]

What are the various coloured blotchy things?

Pink coloured blotches are crops
assorted colour splotches are either deserts, forests or swamps
blue blobs are waters

Are the concentric colours (not quite rings) centered on the Ring of Brodgar

No. They are centered on the centers of civilisation, RoB happens to be a large one (the stone circle and the inn have the power of like, 50 hearth fires)

do they indicate wildness levels, such that each colour change brings opposition a level higher?

Yes, they indicate civilization levels, which is the opposite of wildness levels. The center ring being more civilized the outside being more wild

If not, where IS the Ring of Brodgar?

on the west side of one of the central forest splotches. (the one above the swamp)

What's the blue quasi-pentagon somewhat right of center?

I'm afraid I can't see that one...

[Denvon]

What's the blue quasi-pentagon somewhat right of center?

That is the lake. It's big, shallow, and full of horrible monsters that are too shy to attack.

[theTrav]

What's the blue quasi-pentagon somewhat right of center?

That is the lake. It's big, shallow, and full of horrible monsters that are too shy to attack.

Oh wow, and here I was looking for something tiny