How to Play Achaea: A Beginner’s Guide

Achaea has been running since 1997. That is not a selling point so much as context: you are stepping into nearly twenty-nine years of accumulated history, player-built politics, and a combat system that veterans are still learning after years of play. Your first session will be confusing. This guide will help.

What follows is a practical reference for new players. It covers connecting to the game, the tutorial, your first choices, the commands you will use constantly, and what to do once you are out in the world.

Getting Connected to Achaea

The easiest way to play is the Nexus client, which runs in any modern browser with no download required. Click Play Now at the top of this page, or go directly to play.achaea.com. Nexus works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile. Other client options are available from achaea.com/how-to-connect.

The Tutorial: Escape from Miba and the Cultist’s Conspiracy

Every newcomer begins with a two-part interactive tutorial called Escape from Miba and the Cultist’s Conspiracy. It teaches the core commands through a guided story and takes most new players twenty to thirty minutes. During it you will pick up some starting gear, learn basic movement and combat, and choose your race.

The tutorial is linear and simple. Achaea after it is neither of those things.

Commands available during the tutorial:

Command	What it does
`HINT`	Repeats the hint for your current stage
`HELP TRIAL`	Lists tutorial commands and helpful info
`SPEEDUP` / `SLOWDOWN`	Speeds or slows the tutorial
`HINTSON` / `HINTSOFF`	Turns hints on or off
`NEWBIEON`	Turns on the newbie channel so you can ask for help
`NEWBIE `	Asks for help on the newbie channel

One important step once the tutorial is complete: type `REGISTER`. This protects your character from being deleted due to inactivity and is the only way to recover a lost password. Do it before anything else.

What is Achaea?

In Achaea, you take on the role of a single mortal character called an adventurer. Through their life, you play the game. Your adventurer is shaped by choices: gender, race, class, and the organisations they join. They may join a City, a House, or a Divine Order.

To act in Achaea, you give your adventurer commands: walk, fight, explore, examine, speak. Everything in the game flows from typed commands.

Roleplaying

In Achaea, you play the role of your character, not yourself. Your character lives in the world of Achaea and knows nothing about computers, the internet, or anything outside that world. Stay in-character (IC) in public spaces. Going out-of-character (OOC) in public can have administrative consequences. If another player warns you about “insanity,” that is the in-game term for OOC behaviour. Read `HELP ROLEPLAYING` and `HELP INSANITY` for the full rules.

Rooms, Directions, Denizens, Items

Rooms: The world of Achaea is divided into discrete locations called rooms. A room might be a stretch of coastline, a woodland path, or a building interior. Rooms connect to each other in ways that match their geography.

Directions: Move between rooms by typing the direction: N, S, E, W, UP, DOWN, IN, OUT, and the diagonals NE, NW, SE, SW. Sometimes doors, gates, or portals are in the way.

Denizens: Denizens are the non-player inhabitants of Achaea. Also called NPCs, mobs, mobiles, or monsters. Many have things to say or sell. Quests often involve helping or harming specific denizens.

Items and Inventory: Everything that is not a denizen and does not move much is an item: weapons, armour, herbs, books, clothing, containers. You can wear, wield, eat, drink, drop, or pick up items. Artefacts are especially powerful items purchasable with credits.

Commands

Commands are how you get things done in Achaea. The most important ones:

Moving Around

Command	What it does
`N`, `S`, `E`, `W`	Move one room in that direction
`NE`, `NW`, `SE`, `SW`	Move diagonally
`UP` / `U`	Move up
`DOWN` / `D`	Move down
`IN` / `OUT`	Move in or out

If a door is in the way: `OPEN DOOR NORTH` (or whichever direction). If water blocks the path: `SWIM NORTH`. Train Survival first before swimming or you can drown.

Two special movement commands:

`PORTALS`: Available to newbies at level 20 and under. Unlimited from levels 1 through 10. From levels 11 through 20 you have 20 uses remaining. At level 21 it is gone. Use it to reach safe newbie areas while you learn the world.

`WALK TO `: Available at any level. Moves you one step at a time toward a nearby landmark. Useful for learning your way around before you lose PORTALS access.

Looking Around

Command	What it does
`LOOK` / `L`	Shows the room you are in, including exits, items, and other characters
`GLANCE` / `GL `	Shows what is in an adjacent room without moving
`INV` / `I`	Shows your inventory and worn items
`INFO INV` / `II`	Same as INV with item ID numbers shown
`INFO HERE` / `IH`	Shows item ID numbers for things in your current room. Useful when attacking one specific target among many.

Communicating

Command	What it does
`SAY `	Speak to everyone in your room
`TELL `	Private message to any player anywhere
`NEWBIE `	Global new-player channel. For questions, not chat. Use `NEWBIEON` / `NEWBIEOFF` to toggle.
`CT `	Your city channel
`HNT `	Your House channel
`CLT `	Your clan channel

Info About Yourself

Command	What it does
`SHOW`	Everything about your character: health, skills, level, alignment, memberships, and more
`SCORE`	Your name, race, health, mana, endurance, willpower, stats, and gold on hand
`STAT`	Hunger, fatigue, warmth, and other status info

Fighting

Command	What it does
`HEADSLAM `	Basic attack, no class needed
`KICK `	Basic attack, no class needed
`PUNCH `	Basic attack, no class needed

Until you have joined a class, any of these works. Focus on fighting denizens, not other players, at least at first. Player-killing (PvP or PK) is restricted by rules. Ask your House before you enter it.

Healing and Recovery

Command / Item	What it does
`SLEEP`	Recovers health and endurance slowly. Does not recover mana or willpower.
`MEDITATE` / `MED`	Recovers mana and willpower. Almost anything will disturb it. Does not recover health or endurance.
Myrrh (EAT IT)	Speeds learning
Health elixir (SIP IT)	Restores health
Bloodroot (EAT IT)	Cures paralysis
Mana elixir (SIP IT)	Restores mana
Mending salve (APPLY IT)	Heals hurt limbs
Restoration salve (APPLY IT)	Cures body part damage

These all do more than listed. A full Healing List and Curing Afflictions reference are in the help system.

Early Choices: Race, City, House

Choosing a Race

Achaea has 14 playable races. There is no single best race, and no single best race for a given class. All races are viable. Each has base statistics that can be adjusted through a racial specialisation available at level 10.

Speak with experienced players in your chosen class before you commit to a race. They will have opinions on which specialisations matter most for your playstyle. You can reincarnate once for free to change your race. After that, a Dagger of Reincarnation (purchased with credits) is required.

For a comparison of races and statistics, see the races page.

Choosing a House

Houses are one of the most important parts of Achaea. Joining one is strongly recommended.

A House gives you allies, political influence, accumulated knowledge, and a community. It also gives you obligations: expectations about how your character behaves and calls on you when help is needed.

To find Houses that accept your class: `HOUSE LIST `. For example, `HOUSE LIST PALADIN`. Read about a specific House with `HELP HOUSE ` and `HELP NEWCOMERS `.

To join, visit Certimene in Delos and `ASK CERTIMENE JOIN `, or contact someone in the House leadership directly. A list of Houses is in the help system.

Choosing a City

Achaea has six cities. Your city determines your allies, your enemies, which Houses are available to you, and the political identity of your character. It is the most consequential early choice.

A few things to consider:

• If you have already chosen a House, its home city is usually the right choice. Some Houses require city membership.
• Read about each city with `HELP `, for example `HELP CYRENE` or `HELP MHALDOR`.
• You do not have to join a city. Members of the Grand Merchant Collective and CIJ often do not.

To join a city, find a leader listed as “Able to induct new citizens” in `HELP `, or find the induction denizen listed there.

Places to Go

The most important places to know as a new player:

Portals: A safe hub only accessible via the `PORTALS` command (level 20 and under). The three rooms there have gateways to locations throughout Achaea. `READ SIGN` in each room to see where they lead.

Minia: A protected newbie zone. Only players level 20 and under can enter. Has quests, denizens to hunt, and challenges appropriate for new adventurers. Accessible from Portals (go east, then northeast).

The Valley of Lodi: Another protected newbie zone. Includes the gnomish village of Gorshire, a mine, caves, and quests for new players. Older players are ejected by a bronze dragon. Accessible from Portals (go east, then north).

Mount Gheladan: A third protected newbie zone for adventurers level 20 and under. Features two warring rat-like species (the peaceful Nilari and the violent Murinae) and, deeper in the mountain, a fight between giant bees and hornets. The dragon Lasuna guards the entrance and ejects anyone too old to be there. Accessible from Portals (go east, then southeast).

There are numerous quests for newbies throughout all three areas.

A few other important places:

• The Isle of Delos: Has useful shops and two residents worth finding (exits via Portals):
• Vinci, the Tattoo Parlour proprietor
• Certimene, the class and House administrator. Use `ASK CERTIMENE JOIN ` or `ASK CERTIMENE JOIN `.
• The Lucretian Athenaeum in New Thera: Find Tyrandiel, a tutor for learning skills when you cannot find a player to teach you.

Classes and Skills

Class and Class Rank

Achaea has 21 classes. Each has three unique skill sets with dozens of abilities in each set. When you join a class, you start at the rank of Fledgling with access to two of the three class skills. As a Fledgling, your maximum skill rank is “skilled.” Once you rise to Journeyman rank, you can reach “fabled.” Full members unlock the third class skill and have no learning limits.

A full list of classes with skill sets is on the classes page.

Skills, Learning, and Lessons

Your class skills are not your only options. Type `SKILLS` to see all skills available to you, including non-class skills like Survival, Vision, and Weaponry, and miniskills like Constitution and Fitness.

To improve a skill: find a player or denizen tutor who knows it better than you and use `LEARN 15 CHIVALRY FROM `. This spends 15 lessons on Chivalry with that person as your teacher.

Check your lesson count with `SHOW LESSONS`. You gain lessons each time you level up. You can also convert credits to lessons: `CREDITS CONVERT TO LESSONS`. Each credit converts to 6 lessons.

Experience, Levels, and Power

Achaea has 100 mortal levels of experience. You will start around level 5 after the tutorial. As you level up, your maximum health, mana, endurance, and willpower all increase. You also gain lessons and credits at certain thresholds. Eventually you transcend the need for food or sleep. At level 99, you can become a Dragon.

Ways to gain experience:

• Completing quests found throughout Achaea (start with newbie quests)
• Hunting denizens
• Player vs. player combat (PvP), once you understand the system

You can also lose experience when you die. If your level drops, hunt to recover it.

Stats (strength, intelligence, constitution, dexterity) are determined by your race and do not increase as you level. Racial specialisation at level 10 lets you adjust them within your race’s range.

Gold, Credits, and Artefacts

Gold (gold sovereigns) is the main currency. Earn it through quests, hunting denizens, and other activities. Keep it in a container like your backpack, or deposit it in a bank. Theft is common in Achaea.

Good ways to earn gold early:

• Completing quests
• Ratting (helping cities control rat infestations): more on ratting
• Fishing and selling your catch (more on fishing)

Credits are the premium currency. You can earn them through:

• Free credits at certain levels
• Purchasing on the credit market with gold (credit market info)
• Winning bardic and artisanal competitions
• Purchasing directly from achaea.com/credits

Artefacts are powerful items purchased with credits. Some can be earned through quests temporarily. Otherwise, buy them at the artefact shops in Delos.

Containers and the Rift

As you explore you will accumulate a lot of items. Two places to store them:

Containers: The pack from the tutorial is one of many. Containers hold a limited number of items, can be opened and closed, and help you organise your gear.

The Rift: A special storage space primarily for herbs and inks. If an item can go in the rift, it should go in the rift. Items not in the rift or a container will fall to the ground when your character leaves the game.

Read HELP THE-RIFT for full details.

Quests and Combat

Quests provide experience, gold, and special items. `GREET` denizens you meet to start conversations and find quest hooks. With the exception of newbie quests, quests are not for public discussion.

Combat is how you will spend most of your early levels. Achaea’s combat system is one of the most complex in any text game, with dozens of class styles that interact with each other in ways that take time to understand. Start by hunting denizens and learning your class abilities. When you feel ready for PvP, read the player-killing rules first.

Healing and Afflictions

Many things can go wrong in a fight. Here are the common afflictions and what to do about them:

Affliction	Cure
Paralysis	`EAT BLOODROOT`
Fear	`COMPOSE`
Frozen	`APPLY CALORIC`
Caught in webs	`WRITHE`

Your House will have a comprehensive guide for the afflictions relevant to your class. If you do not have a House yet, at minimum keep bloodroot and a caloric salve on hand. The full afflictions and cures list is in the help system.

Death

When you die, you lose some experience. Staying dead longer increases the loss. To return to life, type `PRAY FOR SALVATION`. If you die to another player, they gain some of the experience you lost.

Read HELP DEATH for full details on death, soul mechanics, and resurrection options.

Getting Help

The best ways to get help in Achaea:

• Romeo and Juliet: official Newbie Guides. Check `QW` to see if one is online. Reach them with `TELL ROMEO ` or on the NEWBIE channel. Example: `TELL ROMEO How do I find Certimene?`
• NEWBIE channel: for questions from new players. Not a chat channel.
• HNT: your House channel once you have joined one.
• CT: your city channel.
• The HELP system:
• `HELP `: works for almost everything
• `HOW DO I ?`: natural language, for example `HOW DO I JOIN A HOUSE?`
• `WHERE IS ?`: for example `WHERE IS ASHTAN?`
• `WHAT IS A ?`: for example `WHAT IS A SHIFT?`

Web-based help is available at achaea.com/game-help.

Going Ahead From Here

Other players: Achaea has a large, active playerbase. Many are far more experienced than you and not all of them are friendly. At minimum, learn how to navigate around others. At best, build alliances. Houses and cities exist for exactly this purpose.

Combat: There is no substitute for PvP experience. The system rewards knowledge of class interactions above almost everything else. Get into arena events and duels once you have a foundation. Every time you fight a class you have not faced before, you will learn something.

Long-term goals:

• Excellence in combat: Learning to fight at a high level in Achaea takes months of practice. The players who stick with it develop an understanding of the combat system that has few equivalents in any game.
• Dragonhood: At level 99, you can become a Dragon. Six dragon colors, 35 abilities in the Dragoncraft skill covering combat, flight, and dimensional travel. It represents hundreds of hours of play and is one of the most recognised achievements in Achaea.
• Political power: Leading a House or city is a legitimate long-term goal. Achaea’s political endgame involves real elections, real alliances, and real conflicts that players have been running since the late 1990s.
• Mining: The mining system runs like a small business. Open mines, staff them, extract resources, defend them from other players’ legions. Bad decisions cost money; good ones make it.

Frequently Asked Questions