Getting started
First of all you need to get the latest client from the downloads page. If you're using Windows, you need to unpack the zip file somewhere and run TomeNET.exe. It should open up a bunch of windows and the main window will show a list of servers that are online.
totem.ielf.org is the current official TomeNET server so you'll probably want to start there. Now we press 'a' to select it and we get this screen.
It's automatically suggesting my username as my account name. If you don't have an account, you can just type any name and password you like and a new account will be created.
Since I already have an account, I get a list of my characters.
Now I'm going to press 'N' to create a new character.
Since I'm going to make a warrior, I'll just name my character Mikwarrior. Next the game will ask if you want to play a male or female character.
This choice doesn't really have any big implications so I'm gonna go with male. Next up is this race selection.
Note: As of client version 4.4.3, class selection comes before race selection.
I'm going to choose half-troll because they have lots of strength. Next the game asks if you want to play in fruit bat mode.
Fruit bats can be fun but they're not very viable characters past level 30 so I'm gonna choose normal body. Now we finally get to the class selection screen.
As I said earlier, I'm gonna make a warrior. Warriors are pretty easy to get started with. Next we'll have to distribute the stat points.
Important stats for warriors are STRength, DEXterity and CONstitution. Strength determines how many blows per round you have with a weapon so you should put enough points in that. Usually a warrior should have at least 18/30 (18/30 means 18 + 3.0 = 21.0) strength to get 3 blows per round with light weapons. I'm gonna max dexterity first because half-trolls lack that. After that I'll put as many points as I can in strength and finally I'll put the remaining points in constitution which will give me some extra hitpoints.
Now my stats are done. Next up is the mode selection.
Everlasters are nice because they have unlimited amount of lives. In normal and hard modes you can revive yourself only 3 times and in "no ghost" mode once you're dead, you're gone. Dying is pretty common so I suggest you start with an everlaster. PvP is still pretty experimental and there usually aren't other PvPers around so you can't really do much with a PvP character.
Next the you will see the MOTD (Message of the Day) screen which will never really changes.
Hit any key and you'll find yourself in the Prancing Pony in Bree.
This is what Bree looks like when some people have decided to cut down all the trees. Some other people have also decided to place glyphs of wardings everywhere (those yellow semicolons). That white @ is my new warrior. The blue @�above him is another player who happens to be a rogue (yes, this is a multiplayer game). The yellow 8 is the entrance to the inn. You can walk through it. Other numbers are shops.
There should now be some activity in the other windows. The mirror window shows game messages. Right now it's showing tons of script updates for me which is pretty normal if you have a new client.
The recall window shows the inventory.
Before I leave the inn, I'm going to put the chain mail on and wield the mace. This can be done by pressing 'w'.
You can press space here to get list of items in your inventory.
Now let's wield the mace.
You can press 'e' to see your equipment and confirm what you're wearing.
It also now says that I have 2 blows per round in the choice window. The mace weighs 13 pounds so you're only going to get 2 bpr but if you buy a lighter weapon (below 10 pounds), you'll get 3 bpr. Shop number 3 sells weapons.
You can use keys 1 - 4 and 6 - 9 on your numpad to move around. If you hold down shift when you press the key, you'll start running. You may have to turn off numlock for running to work properly. The first you'll probably want to go is the training tower. It's a green < on the screen.
Here are the stairs and there's also a townie approaching me now. These townies are actually hostile so my character is going to automatically attack it.
Now it's dead and it dropped some cash too.
There's also a real dungeon in Bree called Barrow-Downs. The entrance is a white >.
You'll at least want to get a proper light source before you go there. Shop number 1 sells lanterns.
You can also press '@' to see a list of who's online right now.
After I press space, I'll finally see my warrior at the bottom of the list.
You can chat by pressing ':' (colon). For more information on how to play the game, I suggest you start reading the Guide or you can ask other players. Thanks for reading.