Nexus Clash For Newblings
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Introduction
This is a guide for newcomers to the Nexus Clash MMORPG game. It is written from the POV of someone who came late to the Nexus but who nevertheless has experience of similar games. It is intended as a basic primer to help new players kickstart their Nexus experience.
Rough Guide To The Nexus
The story of Nexus Clash is that of an ongoing battle between the Powers, i.e. gods who embody certain aspects of nature and reality. The Nexus itself is composed of different pieces of individual worlds or planes collected by the Powers during preceding Breaths and linked together by magical portals to serve as a battleground. In the manner of the Ancient Greek gods of mythology, the Powers continually contest for dominance of the Nexus. At the end of each cycle of existence, known as a Breath, one of the Powers will triumph as a consequence of the actions of their followers. The winning Power gains influence over the next Breath.
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Players of Nexus Clash may create one or more characters within the worlds of the Nexus. Characters are souls plucked from their place in history and thrust into the Nexus as pawns in the games of the Powers. When they die they are reincarnated in a new body (AKA an Aspect) which retains all their previous experience. They begin their lives as mortals and grow in experience and ability as they battle for survival. Ultimately each character may choose a Power to support; those who support the Powers of Good may become Angels, those who support the Powers of Evil may become Demons and those who choose neither side may become Transcended. Their Aspects will come to reflect their choices in the Nexus.
Rough Guide To Character Classes
Characters in the Nexus move through three Tiers of power by gain experience (XP), advancing their Character Level and spending Character Points (CP) on new abilities. They begin as Tier 1 mortals (at level 1) and may then choose to advance along new career paths (AKA Classes) at Tier 2 (level 10) and Tier 3 (level 20). As the characters advance through the Tiers they will gain access to increasingly powerful abilities, many of which are unique to individual Classes. Character advancement effectively ends at level 30.
Broadly speaking, characters in Nexus Clash may be divided into two general groups - combat classes (those whose primary abilities are mainly focused on direct combat) and spellcaster classes (those whose primary skills lie in magic use rather than physical combat).
The tables below show the career paths for the both groups. The colours indicate whether the class is innately aligned to the Powers of Good (light yellow), Evil (light red) or Neutrality (light grey). Those classes which are innately aligned to Neutral Powers may, if they so choose, work with Good, Evil or other Neutral groups.
Combat Classes
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Requirements |
| Mortal | Paladin | Divine Herald | Maintain good Morality |
| Mortal | Paladin | Holy Champion | Maintain good Morality |
| Mortal | Paladin | Seraph | Maintain good Morality |
| Mortal | Paladin | Fallen | Good Morality at Tier 2, Evil Morality at Tier 3 |
| Mortal | Myrmidon | Eternal Soldier | No Morality restrictions |
| Mortal | Myrmidon | Nexus Champion | No Morality restrictions |
| Mortal | Myrmidon | Revenant | No Morality restrictions |
| Mortal | Pariah | Doom Howler | Maintain evil Morality |
| Mortal | Pariah | Infernal Behemoth | Maintain evil Morality |
| Mortal | Pariah | Void Walker | Maintain evil Morality |
| Mortal | Pariah | Redeemed | Evil Morality at Tier 2, Good Morality at Tier 3 |
Spellcaster Classes
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Requirements |
| Mortal | Shepherd | Advocate | Maintain good Morality |
| Mortal | Shepherd | Archon | Maintain good Morality |
| Mortal | Shepherd | Lightspeaker | Maintain good Morality |
| Mortal | Shepherd | Fallen | Good Morality at Tier 2, Evil Morality at Tier 3 |
| Mortal | Sorcerer | Elementalist | No Morality restrictions |
| Mortal | Sorcerer | Lich | No Morality restrictions |
| Mortal | Sorcerer | Wizard | No Morality restrictions |
| Mortal | Defiler | Corruptor | Maintain evil Morality |
| Mortal | Defiler | Dark Oppressor | Maintain evil Morality |
| Mortal | Defiler | Wyrm Master | Maintain evil Morality |
| Mortal | Defiler | Redeemed | Evil Morality at Tier 2, Good Morality at Tier 3 |
As inferred above, characters have a variety of possible paths based on key decisions points at Tier 2 and Tier 3. In all cases Morality plays a significant part in defining character roles. If you do not maintain your Divine or Profane Morality requirements, you will lose access to the skills granted to that class by the Elder Powers.
Rough Guide To Factions
In the Nexus likeminded groups or clans of player characters are known as Factions. All factions (with two notable exceptions) are player-created and are alligned to either Good, Evil or Neutral Powers. Whilst there is no requirement for a character to be a member of a faction, such membership does have advantages. Player-created Factions all have a Stronghold with Wards and Fortifications which provide a measure of safety. Factions also have Safes and Footlockers which provide communal and personal storage respectively. On a more prosaic level factions often provide a support mechanism for character advancement.
Factional warfare is a significant element of gameplay in Nexus Clash - every faction has a standard which can be captured by an enemy faction, resulting in the loss of a stronghold for a 24 hour period. Raiding enemy factions, capturing standards and slaying enemies brings rewards for a character's faction and, by extension, the character. The victorious Power in a given Breath is largely determined by the results of such factional warfare.
Factions run the gamut from highly-organised war machines to anarchistic roleplayers to philanthropic groups dedicated to nonviolent struggle. They provide a goal for players that goes far beyond basic kill-or-be-killed gameplay. Many factions utilise IRC (#wigbl and #clash on irc.nexuswar.com), Facebook and web forums to provide a rewarding metagaming experience for Nexus Clash players.
Quickstart
Create a character on the main Game page. You can play freeform if you wish. It does help, however, if you decide to ultimately wish to play a combat class or a support class. Do not worry about Morality restrictions for Tiers 2 and 3 at this point. Choose a starting skill that is appropriate for your ultimate goal.
Starting A Combat Class
The easiest combat class option for a beginner is Melee Combat. Initial leveling involves finding other player characters and beating them to a pulp for XP. Leveling via Ranged Combat is a more difficult prospect for a new player as ranged weapons (e.g. bows and guns) require ammunition and much more maintenance than melee weapons. Hand-to-Hand combat does relatively little damage and is not recommended for most combat characters.
Starting A Spellcaster Class
The easiest options for a beginner are Engineering and Search. Initial leveling via Engineering involves repairing doors and repairing (or sabotaging) power grids and power stations for XP. Initial leveling via Search involves scouring libraries for books and reading them for XP; a slow but steady way to advance. Those planning to become spellcasters focusing on Touch-Based Spells may wish to begin with Hand-to-Hand combat instead. Note that mortals cannot cast spells; those planning to become spellcasters will focus at early levels on other skills which will help their characters advance and prepare for their later careers.
