New World is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Amazon Game Studios. Since its release, it has attracted players with its immersive world, engaging combat system, and a unique blend of survival mechanics and fantasy elements. If you’re new to New World or considering diving into the world of Aeternum, this beginner’s guide will walk you through the essential basics and features that you need to know to get started.
1. Introduction to New World
New World is set in the mysterious land of Aeternum, an island full of secrets, ancient ruins, and powerful magical forces. You play as an adventurer who has washed up on the shores of this mystical world. However, the island is home to dangerous creatures, warring factions, and a deadly substance called Azoth that grants life, power, and corruption.
The game doesn’t follow a traditional “save the world” storyline. Instead, it offers a sandbox experience where you choose your path: gather resources, craft items, build your own empire, or engage in epic PvP battles. Whether you are a solo player or part of a larger faction, New World provides a vast open world full of opportunities and challenges.
2. Character Creation
Before you can begin your journey, you’ll need to create your character. The character creation process in New World is relatively straightforward:
Appearance Customization: You can tweak your character’s facial features, hairstyle, skin tone, and more. While the customization options are not as extensive as in some other RPGs, they allow for enough variety to make your character unique.
Faction Selection: One of the game’s core features is the faction system. You’ll be required to pick one of three factions—Syndicate, Marauders, or Covennant. Each faction offers unique benefits and quests. Factions are essential for PvP, territory control, and multiplayer interactions.
Skills & Professions: You will start with basic skills, but as you progress, you can specialize in different professions like Gathering, Crafting, or Combat. There’s no “class” system, meaning you can change your playstyle at any time depending on your preferred weapon or activity.
3. Basic Controls and Interface
Before diving deeper into the game, it’s important to familiarize yourself with New World’s basic controls and user interface.
Movement: The game uses traditional WASD movement controls. You can sprint, jump, crouch, and interact with objects using various keys.
Combat Controls: Combat in New World is action-oriented, and you can use both ranged and melee weapons. Depending on the weapon you wield, your control scheme may vary, but the basics include:
Left-click: Standard attack
Right-click: Block or aim (for ranged weapons)
Q: Dodge roll or evade
R: Perform special abilities based on your weapon
Inventory and UI: Your inventory is essential in keeping track of your gear, resources, and crafted items. The main screen displays your health, stamina, and Azoth meter. Azoth is a key resource for teleportation and crafting, and managing it effectively is important as you progress.
4. World of Aeternum
Aeternum is a vast, open-world landscape divided into various zones, each with its own biome, resources, and dangers. These zones are designed to offer different experiences based on your level and playstyle. Some areas are densely forested, while others feature harsh deserts or snow-covered mountains.
There are several core areas you’ll encounter as a new player:
Starter Zones: Each faction has its own starting area, where you’ll learn the basics of the game, including combat, gathering, and crafting.
Settlement Locations: Settlements are safe zones where you can trade with other players, access crafting stations, and accept quests. These are the heart of the economy and social interactions in New World.
Resource Nodes: The world is rich with natural resources like trees, ores, and herbs, which are essential for crafting, trading New World Gold, and upgrading your equipment.
5. Combat and Weapons
One of the defining features of New World is its real-time, action-based combat. The game offers a wide variety of weapons, each with its own combat style, moves, and abilities. You can wield up to two weapons at a time, and your combat abilities depend on which weapons you choose.
Melee Weapons:
Sword and Shield: A balanced weapon for both offense and defense. Great for tanking and blocking incoming damage.
Great Axe: Powerful, heavy-hitting weapon ideal for dealing with large groups of enemies.
Spear: A versatile weapon that offers both long-range and close-range combat.
War Hammer: A slow but devastating weapon for crowd control and AoE damage.
Ranged Weapons:
Bow: A ranged weapon that offers precision shots with different types of arrows, including fire and poison.
Musket: A powerful firearm that allows for high damage over long distances but requires precise aiming.
Fire Staff: A magical weapon that lets you cast powerful spells, such as fireballs and area-of-effect (AoE) attacks.
The combat system relies heavily on timing, positioning, and stamina management. Unlike other MMORPGs, there’s no auto-attack, so you must actively aim and dodge. Mastering the combat system takes practice, but it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of the game.
6. Crafting, Gathering, and Economy
New World incorporates an intricate crafting and resource-gathering system that is essential for progressing in the game. Almost every item in the game can be crafted or gathered from the world, including weapons, armor, potions, and more. You can gather resources like:
Wood, stone, and ore for crafting tools and building structures.
Herbs and plants for creating potions, dyes, and other consumables.
Animals for their hides, meat, and other materials used in crafting gear.
Crafting is broken into various professions, such as:
Smithing (Weaponsmithing, Armoring, etc.)
Alchemy
Engineering
Cooking
Each profession requires resources found in different parts of the world, so exploration and gathering are crucial for advancing your crafting skills.
7. Quests and Progression
While New World doesn’t feature a traditional quest system like some other MMORPGs, there are several ways to progress your character:
Main Storyline
As a beginner, you’ll be guided through a series of quests that teach you the mechanics of the game. These quests will introduce you to combat, gathering, crafting, and the larger world of Aeternum.
Side Quests
In addition to the main storyline, there are numerous side quests offered by NPCs in settlements. These quests often involve gathering resources, completing dungeons, or slaying specific enemies.
Faction Missions
Factions play a crucial role in both PvE and PvP. As a member of a faction, you’ll be tasked with completing missions to help control territory and gain influence for your faction. These missions often involve PvP combat, so it’s important to be prepared for hostile encounters.
Expeditions and Dungeons
As you level up, you’ll gain access to group activities like Expeditions, which are instanced dungeons filled with powerful bosses and cheap New World Gold coins. These dungeons require teamwork and coordination and are a key part of New World’s endgame content.
8. PvP and Territory Control
New World heavily integrates PvP (Player vs. Player) elements into its gameplay. Your faction’s main goal is to control territories across Aeternum. Control over a region grants bonuses, such as taxes from other players’ activities and access to better crafting resources.
Players can engage in Open World PvP by flagging themselves for PvP combat, which will allow you to attack players from opposing factions on sight. Additionally, players can join large-scale Faction Wars, where two factions battle for control of a territory in intense 50v50 PvP matches.
9. Tips for Beginners
Explore Early and Often: Aeternum is massive, and exploration is key to finding valuable resources and uncovering secrets.
Try Different Weapons: Don’t lock yourself into one weapon. Experiment with different combinations to find the one that suits your playstyle.
Upgrade Your Gear Regularly: Keep an eye on your gear and upgrade it to match your level. Crafted items are often stronger than drops.
Join a Faction Early: Aligning with a faction helps you access better rewards, missions, and PvP opportunities.
Conclusion
New World is a dynamic and exciting MMORPG that offers a range of experiences, from intense combat to crafting and faction warfare. Its open-world design, combined with player-driven economies and real-time combat, creates a unique and ever-changing world to explore. Whether you prefer solo play or large-scale PvP battles, New World offers something for every type of player.
So, if you’re just starting out, take your time to explore, experiment, and enjoy the journey across Aeternum. With this guide in hand, you’re well-equipped to dive into this mysterious, dangerous world and start building your legacy.