Welcome to Waronline! (You'll see it abbreviated as WOL) This thread is here to help you learn to play the game. There are some places in the documentation, help and training instructions that have not been updated to reflect changes made by the game's creator: Requiem. This thread will reflect those changes.

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OVERVIEW OF WARONLINE GAME TYPES:

How CAMPAIGNS are played:

-Regular campaigns ("camps")
You'll sign up for a campaign and when it begins you will be in competition with all the other players on the board. You may make deals with other players such as Non-Aggression Pacts (NAPs). All players get to move and attack during a turn. Individual ranking is affected by these games unless otherwise noted as a "friendly" game.

-Team games (red vs blue)
These games are played by teams that are randomly chosen by the system. You should communicate with your team-mates for coordination. Team games do not affect individual rankings.

-Clan games:
Clans are groups of from 4 to 10 players that are continuing teams. Clans fight other clans for prestige. Joining a clan can be by invitation or an open call to join the clan. Clan games do not affect individual rankings.

How DUELS are played:
Duels are two player campaigns with all the kingdom management features of a regular campaign. Last one alive is the winner, of if both survive to the last turn, highest rank wins. Currently, if there is a tie, both win. A tie comes about if one player has the highest experience gained from fighting and the other player has the highest tribute from holding resource buildings.

Each player takes turns moving and attacking the opponent.

How BATTLES are played:
Battles are played by two players and the last survivor wins. There are two main types of battles, ones where you pick your troops from a list (custom) and ones where you and your opponent have the same troops pre-picked (scenarios).

Each player takes turns moving and attacking the opponent.
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HOW TO JOIN A GAME:
On the main page click CAMPAIGNS>Show games. On the resulting page, click on the yellow link to the game you wish to play.

Follow the same procedure for Duels and Battles. You may want to have an opponent ready to join with you, otherwise you may wait a logn time for someone to join.

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THE ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS (RPS) SYSTEM:

One of the first basics of WOL is the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Here is the way it works: Rock beats Scissors, Scissors beats Paper, Paper beats Rock.

When you follow the RPS (Rock Paper Scissors rule) there is a modifier involved which means that they are not equal (100% versus 100%). The modifier gives the attacker 140% and the defender 70%,so there is a 50% difference to your advantage if you use RPS.

Tier 1 troop types: Scout = Scissors, Spearman = Rock, Swordsman = Paper

Tier 2 troop types: Fachionier = Scissors, Pikeman = Rock, Squire = Paper

Tier 3 troop types: Heavy Cavalry = Scissors, Macemen = Rock, Knights = Paper

Ranged troops are neutral (no RPS): Archers, Arbelestiers,
Ballista, Marksmen.

Siege machines are also neutral: Catapults, Battering Rams.

Neutral troops gain or lose no advantage in the RPS system.

Last Edited : Tuesday, 2 February 2010 - 22:38

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TROOPS HAVE SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Look under HELP>Online Manual/Characters for explanations of each troop type's special abilities. For instance, Knights do not receive a retaliation from troops they attack, unlike all other melee troops.
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ATTACKING AN ENEMY:

The owner of an army can be seen by the colored base and via the mouse-over popup.
To attack an enemy, simply click on your attacking army, and then click on the enemy army (a pair of swords will appear over the enemy army).
If your army is not within attacking range an "out-of-range" message will appear.
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IMPROVING YOUR EMPIRE:
By investing in new Technologies, you can improve all aspects of your empire, including better income, faster troop production, combat bonuses and new advanced troops. Simply look at the Tech Center and Upgrades pages in the Game window to see what is available to you.

The Upgrades page is for improving barracks production and specific buildings (like castle walls) while the Tech Center will improve general game features such as the ability to build towers, walls, etc.
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HOW PLAYERS ARE RANKED:

On the "Who's Online" page you'll see each player has a series of numbers after their name. BDC stands for Battle, Duel, Campaign. As you play games your rank will rise or fall by varying amounts depending on how high your rank is in comparison to your opponent's rank.
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Last Edited : Saturday, 16 January 2010 - 21:06

HOW TO BUILD BUILDINGS:

Only your Commandeer unit can build.

Click on a hex next to the Commandeer and you will see a build option button in the right column of your map window.
Click on the build link and a small window will open to show you the buildings you can currently build.

The blacksmith shop will be available to build and you need to build one to get more technology choices so select that option to build it.

In order to build other buildings you need different technologies like Military and Commerce so research "Military" and then you will be able to build a military academy. After building that you will be able to build another Barracks and a Training Guild which will give still more technologies to research.

By researching Commerce you will be able to build a Marketplace which allows you to get Empire and Government techs which are extra income techs.

You build all of these buildings using the Commandeer, but some buildings will require four clear hexes like the Barracks and the Marketplace, not just one clear hex like the Military Academy or Blacksmith.

The four hex buildings will always be located to the left and down from the build hex that is selected.

This means that you can select a build hex for those four hex buildings two spaces away from your commandeer.
Just keep in mind that all the hexes where the building will be located must be clear and 6 hexes away from any enemy troops.
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Last Edited : Friday, 15 January 2010 - 16:14

USING THE VARIOUS MESSAGE SYSTEMS AND CHAT ROOMS:

There are a number of ways to communicate with other players.

IN GAME:
There is a small chat box at the lower right of each map page that you can use to communicate with other players who are online and also using that map.

INSTANT MESSAGE:
On the "Who's Online" page there are small checkboxes to the extreme right of the player's status line. Check the box and select "Send Invite to Selected Players" button below the list of online players. You can send multiple messages this way, but players may not see them until they refresh the screen, and in some cases not until when they are next online. Don't expect instant replies.

MESSAGES:
If you click a player's name on the Who's Online page you will go to their bio page where you can type out a longer message to them. It will be sent and show up a message in the New Messages area to the left side of the page.

You can also access the player's page by clicking on one of their troops on a map, then clicking the "View Player" button.

IRC and WEB CHAT:
IRC (Internet relay chat) is a good way to have a complete conversation with someone in real time. You may need a chat client like Mirc or Xchat if the in-game IRC won't connect for you.

The WEB chat option is for players who have a hard time using or entering IRC chat, but is browser based. It takes you to the same chat room as IRC.

SHOUT BOX:
On the main page to the left is a quick alternative to other chat rooms, the ShoutBox. You can make comments that all can see, ask for opponents or just blab away here.
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Last Edited : Saturday, 16 January 2010 - 20:51

EXPLANATION OF MAP FEATURES:


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Last Edited : Sunday, 17 January 2010 - 21:17

THE CLASSES OF TROOPS:

In battles, duels and the Training Grounds, players can choose from three classes of troops:

Medieval:
Standard "middle ages" troops. Three tiers of troops from weakest to strongest, including ranged (arrows) and siege weapons (battering rams and catapults)

Barbarians:
Human troops, but different from the medieval troops. Includes the strongest ranged troop, the Longbowmen. Barbarian troops are also used as non-player characters in duels and campaigns. They don't move or attack, but they do retaliate when attacked. Usually they are found guarding resource buildings and must be destroyed before takeover is possible.

Demons:
Include the only flying troops in Waronline. Demons are a bit slower in general but the high end includes the strongest melee troops in the game. No ranged troops, however.

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Last Edited : Saturday, 23 January 2010 - 20:42

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Princess says:

Here is a basic idea on how the attack/ defend formula works:

Basically the number of troops x DMG range(this is random between your minimum damage and maximum damage). Then the difference in Attack/Defence skills gives a bonus,this is then multiplied by the RPS modifier (rock, paper, scissors)x 140% for the attacker and x 70% for the defender (this is only if RPS comes into play).

IMHO use the combat simulator
waronline.net/home/combatsim.asp

Maybe add some hint or tips for new players. Such as "diplomacy" factor in the game and such.

(Ok, we can put that here. Mog)

Last Edited : Saturday, 23 January 2010 - 20:43

(This is an opinion post, other players may advise differently)

Mastery of the techs can make or break your game strategy. There are many different strategies used for which techs to purchase first, and each person's strategy may vary from game to game depending on the terrain, opponent, etc. There are several basic techs that must be purchased very quickly in the game for the best chance of success. The first techs that will show up in the game window when a game is started are:

CASTLE
* Recon - Allows Outposts
* Commerce - Allows Market Place
* Taxes - +500 gold income per turn
* Military allows the building of the Military Acadamy and Barracks
* Castle Protection

Recon - helps with sight range but not absolutely necessary.

Commerce - is needed to build the Market Place which then allows Government and Empire techs both of which increase your income. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to increase your income.

Taxes - Increases income and allows Tax Reform for more income. THESE TECHS SHOULD BE PURCHASED ASAP!

Military - allows for Military Academy and additional Barracks which are needed for any troop armor/weapons upgrades or new barracks. THIS IS ANOTHER TECH USUALLY PURCHASED IMMEDIATELY.

Last Edited : Saturday, 13 March 2010 - 13:06

TECH HIERARCHY
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CASTLE (starting techs)

-Recon - Allows Outposts
-Commerce - Allows Market Place
-Taxes - +500 gold income per turn
...Taxes Reform - +600 gold income per turn
.....Government - an extra 700 gold per turn (requires Market Place)
.......Empire - an extra 800 gold per turn
-Military - allows the building of the Military Academy and Barracks
-Castle Protection - allows additional techs (only Commandeer can take castle)
...Castle Walls - All Palisades in the Castle are upgraded to Stone Walls
...Castle Defense - All troops within the Castle take 25% less damage from melee or ranged attacks.

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OUTPOSTS (once built)

-Spy Network - recon is more detailed and has only a 10% chance of failure.
-Outpost Range - an extra 3-tiles in viewing range.
...Advanced Outposts - another 3-tiles in viewing range.
.....Expert Outposts - a further 3-tiles in viewing range.

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BLACKSMITH (once built)

-Construction - does not work
-Building Materials - reduces the costs of all NEW buildings by 25%
-Wood Paneling - improves health of NEW buildings by +25%
...Stone Shielding - improves health of NEW buildings by a further +25%
.....Metal Reinforcements - strengthens buildings making it more difficult to destroy them.
.......Architecture - makes all new buildings more sturdy.
-Palisades - Allows building of Palisades; small wooden fence (requires Castle Protection)
...Stone Walls - Allows building of Stone Walls
-Drawbridges - Allows building of DrawBridges, which only your armies may pass through (requires Castle Defense & military academy)
-Towers - Allows building of Towers (requires Castle Defense & Military Academy)
-TakeOver Protection - makes all your buildings twice as hard for enemies to take over. (requires Castle Protection)

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MILITARY ACADEMY (once built)

-Advanced Training 1 - increases all barracks point production by +5
...Advanced Training 2 - increases all barracks point production by +5
-Advanced Recruitment - Allows the deployment of troops from Barracks into higher level armies. (This does not work)
...Expert Recruitment - Allows transferring low level troops into higher level armies on the battlefield. (This actual costs gold)
-Shields - shown in manual but not available.
-Basic Armor 1 - giving +5 to Defend Skill.
...Basic Armor 2 - giving a further +5 to Defend Skill.
.....Advanced Armor 1 - gives a further +5 to Defend Skill.
.......Advanced Armor 2 - giving a further +5 to Defend Skill
.........Expert Armor - giving a further +5 to Defend Skill.

-Basic Weapons 1- grants troops a +5 increase in Attack skill
...Basic Weapons 2 - grants troops a further +5 to Attack skill
.....Advanced Weapons 1- grants troops a further +10 to Attack skill.
.......Advanced Weapons 2 - grants troops a further +5 to Attack skill.
.........Expert Weapons - grants troops a further +5 to Attack skill.

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TRAINING GUILD (once built)

-Snow Travel - increases movement on Snow/Ice terrain by +10%.
-Dead/Cursed Travel - increases movement on Dead/Cursed Earth terrain by +10%.
-Rough Travel - increases movement on Rough/Rocky terrain by +10%.
-Swamp Travel - increase movement on Swamp terrain by +10%.
-Grass Travel - increases movement on Grass/Woodlands terrain by +10%.
-Scouting - increases troops visual range by +2
...Awareness - adds another +2 to their view range
.....Eagle Eye - enhances your troops visual range by +2
-Basic Experience - increases the amount of combat experience gained by +5%.
...Advanced Experience - increases combat experience gained by another +5%.
.....Expert Experience - increases combat experience gained by a further +5%.

Last Edited : Saturday, 13 March 2010 - 13:44

Blacksmiths are also required to upgrade gold-mine efficiency (+500 gold). Might be a good thing to note in parenthesis.

Also might warn players that fantasy troops will ruin your day.

I didn't include any "upgrades" for gold mines or barracks. It took me long enough to put this together and format to display where it makes sense. Maybe will add upgrades in later.