New here

[chalo2000]

I just returned to Salem and have been playing roughly a week but I remember playing Haven & Hearth a bit to try it out. Now I returned and I see that this game seems to be actively developed (and it looks great) and there are familiar moderator names.

Did development just shift over to this game?

[KingfishCid]

Long story short a group by the name of Mortal Movements took over Salem while Jorb & Loftar developed H&H. This game, H&H, has been receiving updates since 2015. Salem is basically dead at this point as active development seemed to stop three years ago; among other issues with their administration.

You can check the guides section in How Do I? for something of an update on how the game is played now (Not to differently from the classic.). I'd recommend checking the wiki & the world map to set yourself started. You'll find that credos are a thing now, and that they are very helpful early on.

Also keep in mind you are guaranteed at this point that Salem is dead & not having its world wiped anytime soon. Add on the fact that no updates means you don't need to worry about mechanics becoming better or worse as well. It seems to still have a population, a small one, of active players still. If you want to partake in their community I believe they mostly shifted over to a discord server similar to H&H's player base. You'd have to ask around over there for the links as I've none.

edit:
Don't verify your account or buy a hat/subscription right off the bat. Stick around for a month & see if you think investing in J&L is worth while first. Verifying has a few perks & so does a subscription. The game is perfectly playable without any of those things however.

[chalo2000]

Long story short a group by the name of Mortal Movements took over Salem while Jorb & Loftar developed H&H. This game, H&H, has been receiving updates since 2015. Salem is basically dead at this point as active development seemed to stop three years ago; among other issues with their administration.

You can check the guides section in How Do I? for something of an update on how the game is played now (Not to differently from the classic.). I'd recommend checking the wiki & the world map to set yourself started. You'll find that credos are a thing now, and that they are very helpful early on.

Also keep in mind you are guaranteed at this point that Salem is dead & not having its world wiped anytime soon. Add on the fact that no updates means you don't need to worry about mechanics becoming better or worse as well. It seems to still have a population, a small one, of active players still. If you want to partake in their community I believe they mostly shifted over to a discord server similar to H&H's player base. You'd have to ask around over there for the links as I've none.

edit:
Don't verify your account or buy a hat/subscription right off the bat. Stick around for a month & see if you think investing in J&L is worth while first. Verifying has a few perks & so does a subscription. The game is perfectly playable without any of those things however.

Great, thank you for the info

[vatas]

I've often recommended people buying verification because it's "permanent."

Well the horse I bought (with real money) in Runes of Magic somewhere around 2008 is also permanent and I think I never logged on said game again shortly after buying it.

[Jalpha]

I would say subscription and verification is worth as a new player if you have the money. Just for the tree chopping bonus alone. It takes a lot of logs to build a palisade.

On a budget verification is a cheap lifetime bonus.

You can play free but it can be frustrating for impatient people.