Welcome to A3! This is a page designed to help you, the newly created alien, to understand how this game works. It's often said that A3 is difficult to understand at first, but once you're used to it, you shouldn't have a problem. Hopefully, this page will set you off in the right direction. While it's long, this one page should help you immensely, and give you an advantage over any who do not read it. If you only read one page in the Help Files, let it be this one. It covers many of the common questions that are asked by new players in A3.
By now, one of our staff members should have contacted you by QuickPost. Use him/her as your mentor, and ask any questions you may have about the game. That's what they're there for!
Overview
The basic goal of A3: Awakening is to help your alien grow to be powerful. You accomplish this goal by collecting credits (the game's currency), purchasing healing items and weapons, and working out in the gym.
Keep in mind that until you subscribe, you are considered a trial player - you have a somewhat limited version of the game, so you can decide whether you enjoy the game and wish to subscribe, or not. Subscribing will give you access to all areas of the game, free motivation, and many other added benefits.
For the first seven days, you will be able to attack others, but not be attacked. This protection period gives you a chance to train, and learn about the game, before you're thrown into the action. Make use of this time! A newbie who spends the first week gaining stats and currency will have a large advantage over a newbie who doesn't, once they can battle. Days in A3 start at 00:00 AST (Alien Standard Time). You will find a game clock on your left sidebar. At 00:00 AST reset takes place - during reset, all aliens are revived, gain a day in age, and their stats from the gym the day before are added to their account, among other things. Anything that takes place daily in A3 happens at reset.
When you log in to A3, the first place you'll see is your house. Here you'll see a picture of your alien and your alien's stats. You can also use items (herbs to revive/heal). This and Georgetown are the main areas within A3 for you. You can get to Georgetown by clicking on the Leave House link at the bottom of the page. Georgetown is A3's main city, which is run by Mayor Webby.
Preferences
Before doing anything else, you may want to set up your account to fit your own preferences. First, if you look on the sidebar to the left, you'll see a link to your house, and a link labelled [update]. These are your QuickLinks. You can set up links to other areas in the game that you visit often by clicking on the update link, and choosing with areas you want links to. Once you update your QuickLinks, you'll have links to these areas constantly accessible from your sidebar. You can find more preferences to set in the My Account area - you can get to this from the bottom of your house, the bottom of Georgetown, or your QuickLinks, if you have them set. Most of these settings are self-explanatory. If, at any point, you want to change a setting in the game, before you ask anyone, you should check in the My Account area. Chances are, if it can be changed, it's there. Lastly, there is the Records Hall. This is found in the City Hall, which you can reach from Georgetown, or from your QuickLinks. There are options to change your name, password, and email address.
Exploring
Next, you should probably start taking a look around. The Galaxy Gym is located in Downtown Georgetown - this is where you can work on your stats so you can defeat other aliens, and the humans you can train against, in battle. Gym passes are free at first, so get one, and be sure to work out each day! You'll also want to make some money, so make sure you stop by the Casino and the Fishing Hut. If you take a look in the General Store, you'll see some of the basic items you'll need once you can battle - weapons and armor. This can all be quite overwhelming at first, so keep in mind that guild members may help each other work on areas such as the gym, and may share tips with one another. Help and tip sites, are also legal.
Guilds
If you want to look for a guild, you can visit the Hall of Guilds, and look through the listings. As a newbie, many guilds will not accept you. However, there are some guilds aimed at new players, some that accept all who apply, etc. It may be worthwhile to join one, but make sure you check their tax rates! Guilds can tax credits and experience (exp) gained in battle by members. While this isn't much of a worry for you during your first seven days, keep in mind that it could become a problem, as you'll have a hard time leveling up if a guild is taking all your exp. Also, many guilds require donations.
Community
Lastly, you can explore the message boards. There are links from your house, Georgetown, and your QuickLinks. The Help Board on A3 may be useful to you, as a newbie. This is the board on which you should ask any questions you have- though always be sure to check the Help Files for answers before asking any question. Some boards, you will not be able to post on until you have either become a subscriber, or overcome a certain level limit. This is to prevent people from signing up for new accounts in order to spam those boards, and to stop so many newbie questions from cluttering them up. Also, the level limits should provide some more impetus for you to level up. There is also Chatbox, which you will find in Town Meeting or in your Quicklink titled Chatbox, but if you are not a subscriber, you are limited to Room 2 of Chatbox. You can also use the Welcome Page (first page upon login, and in your QuickLinks, if you've set it) and the City Planning page (you'll find it in the City Hall) to keep up-to-date with game and community news, updates, and changes. Anything highly important will probably show up as a Game Announcement, and will pop up next time you log in. You can also go to the Game Announcements board and read all of the previous announcements that have been made.
Security
As your welcome email warned you, NEVER give out your password or game email address. You should keep your game email address active, as if someone does get into your alien account, you can have your password sent to this address. If anyone asks for this information, DO NOT GIVE IT TO THEM. Some people will impersonate staff and ask for this information. Staff never need your password or email address. Even if it seems that someone really is staff, if they ask for your password, they are not. If anyone threatens you with any sort of negative action unless you give them your password, do not give it to them. They will simply steal your alien or its assets, and their threats are entirely empty. If a person or site offers you benefits in return for your password, do not give it to them! All of these offers are fake, and are attempts to take your account. Also remember that it is illegal for a player to access more than one alien unless they're all subscribed, so none of your friends should have access to your account, and you should not have access to theirs.
You're now ready to step into the world of A3: Awakening. The rest of the Help Files are always available, and not only cover the above topics further, but cover other topics not even mentioned here. You may want to read them during your first seven days, or you may find it more useful to read them as you come across the areas and topics they deal with. Either way, you should find them to be highly informative and helpful, so they are worth reading.
Good luck, and from everyone here in the A3 Staff, enjoy the game!