[Bobbygolucky]

Hi guys, I finally completed the download this morning and started playing for real tonight. I didn't know much about the game previously. I tried running it unsuccessfully on an old computer about a year ago but since I've got a decent new computer I decided to give it another go.

My basic knowledge of the game was that when you started, if you didn't want to pay real cash then you basically had to start "sweat collecting". More on this later.

My story so far...

Successfully created my avatar without any problems, logged onto the server. Played about with the controls a bit whilst in the starting area. Within minutes of starting some guy asked if I needed help to which I replyed yes and I got a message asking if I wanted him to be my mentor. I decided I'd got nothing to lose by replying yes.

The guy then had to answer the door so I was left on my own for a while. I got the hang of the controls and started exploring. I finally got the hang of moving about, much easier as well once I discovered that you can swim!

I started sweat gathering, by doing this some of my skills are starting to increase, sweat gathering currently being at 6 with about 170 units of sweat successfully in the bag.

My mentor came back for a few minutes to tell me that I needed PEDs to heal and then disappeared again.

Managed to make it to a different place (Zhug's Hideout or something) by running and then dying and starting off at the nearest teleporter. I then had to dodge a load of creatures trying to make it back to Port Atlantis.

After about 4 hours of play I decided to take a break and take a look at the forum's etc to see if I could get any more advice (considering that my so called mentor disappeared).

I've started reading Alice's guide to noobs which is pretty useful. I've decided that after that that I'm going to dump this guy who is my mentor to find somebody that is actually willing to spend a bit more time with me. My first impression of him is pretty poor considering that he has offered "help" to a person on their very first time on the server and then disappeared.

The main reason that I'm writing this thread is to see what other advice there is out there that some of you experienced guys might be able to offer. The other reason is perhaps to find a decent mentor who might be willing to spend some time online with me. I've got no problem with buying some PEDs but before I do I want a better idea on what is best to spend them on. Alice's guide has offered me some ideas about that. If somebody were to mentor me then I would not expect any kind of gifts or handouts - I'm more than willing to pay my own way.

I'm in GMT time zone but I might be suited to a mentor in the US as my gaming hours are usually late at night (10pm-2am), although if there are any Brits out there with insomnia that could help then it would be good.

Anyway, it looks like an absolutely fantastic game and I'm really looking forwards to learning more about it. If there is anybody out there who would be willing to spend a little time helping me out then I would really, really appreciate it.

Many thanks

Bob