I think his name is Kyle or something. He's sort of an introductory guide to the game, and gives you some basic help on game concepts and how to craft stuff. Among the things he tells you are:
- Use axes on trees, picks on dirt and stone, and hammers on background elements. Chopping trees for wood is a good place to start on your own shelter.
- You can craft a few things yourself, but for any more you'll need a wooden workbench.
- Kill slimes for gel, combine wood and gel for torches.
- Underground are "Crystal Hearts" that extend your life. You need a hammer to get them.
- If you gather Fallen Stars, which appear randomly at night and disappear at dawn, you can increase your magic capacity. My magic capacity is currently 0 so hey why not.
- If you build homes, people will move into them. Homes need to be completely enclosed in walls, with a source of light, a door, a chair, and a table. (Beds are apparently somewhat advanced crafting.)
There's nothing that pauses the advance of time in this game, so while I'm talking, we get attacked by a slime. A few stabs with my copper shortsword is enough to kill it, but the controls for the game are awkward enough that I take a few needless hits anyway.
That numerical menu at the top is the quick-selection bar, allowing you to press a number key to switch between tools. Only the bar across the top of the keyboard works, the number pad doesn't. As a left-handed player who remapped the movement controls to the arrow keys instead of WASD, this seems needlessly cumbersome.
Kyle, or whatever his name is, resumes his lesson.
- Only one person will live in a home. Merchants will appear if you have at least 50 silver coins. Nurses move in if you increase your life maximum. Arms dealers appear if you have a gun. Defeating a strong monster will attract a dryad. A demolitionist can do something with explosives I find.
- Make a grappling hook from three chains and a hook. Skellingtons tend to carry hooks.
- Smashing a shadow orb can make meteors fall. Shadow orbs are found in "corrupt" areas.
Well, let's get started.
In a shocking change from Minecraft, chopping the base out from under a tree destroys the entire tree, showering you with useable wood and a couple acorns.
The local wildlife are not smart enough to keep their distance from you while you are swinging your axe or pick around.
Mind the falling wood beams and flying chunks of dismembered rabbit.
Good a spot as any, I suppose.