Game Guide

Getting Started

Welcome to Gisaima! This guide will help you learn the basics of gameplay and strategy to get started on your journey of territorial conquest in our procedurally generated worlds.

Creating an Account

To begin playing Gisaima, you'll need to create an account. Click the "Sign Up" button in the top navigation bar and follow the instructions to create your account. You can also play as a guest, but your progress won't be saved between sessions.

Joining a World

After logging in, navigate to the "Worlds" page where you can browse available worlds or create your own. Each world has unique properties and terrain generated using a specific seed. Your position within each world is automatically saved and will be restored when you return.

Basic Controls

• WASD or Arrow Keys: Navigate around the map
• Mouse Drag: Click and drag to move the map view
• Click on a tile: Move to that location
• Hover over a tile: View details about that location

Map Exploration

Gisaima features an infinite, procedurally generated world divided into a grid system. Exploration is a key aspect of gameplay and reveals new opportunities.

The Grid System

The world is divided into a coordinate grid, with each tile representing a unique location (x,y). The map is organized into "chunks" for efficient loading and processing. As you explore, new areas are revealed and loaded dynamically.

Navigation Tools

• Minimap View: Toggle between detailed and expanded views
• Coordinates: Each tile displays its coordinates for precise navigation
• URL Sharing: The URL updates with your current coordinates, making it easy to share locations
• Map Entities Panel: View a list of all structures, players, and unit groups in the vicinity

Map Interface & Features

The map is one of the core mechanics of Gisaima. Understanding how to effectively use it is crucial.

• Move via map by clicking or using controls
• When reloading the map, you'll return to your last viewed location
• Information buttons provide details about locations and entities
• Minimap helps you maintain overall positional awareness

Visibility & Knowledge

Vision and knowledge of the map changes based on distance:

• At longer distances, scouts only know something is present
• At medium distances, scouts can identify what is present
• At close distances, scouts can determine where entities are moving
• Actions that draw attention (especially negative ones) increase your visibility to others

Terrain & Biomes

The world of Gisaima contains diverse terrain types and biomes, each with unique properties that affect gameplay, resource generation, and strategic value.

Biome Types

Different biomes are visually distinguished by their colors on the map. Each biome has different resource yields and strategic advantages:

• Plains: Balanced terrain suitable for most activities
• Mountains: Difficult terrain with valuable resources
• Forests: Rich in natural resources, good for concealment
• Water: Provides naval advantages but limits construction
• Desert: Harsh conditions with unique resources

Geography & Terrain Effects

Different biomes affect gameplay in various ways:

• Plains: Offer faster movement but less cover
• Mountains: Slow movement but provide defensive advantages and valuable resources
• Forests: Moderate movement with good resource gathering and some concealment
• Water: Requires ships or special abilities to cross, but enables naval advantages
• Desert: Challenging environment with unique but sparse resources

Terrain Rarity

Terrain is classified by rarity levels which indicate its value and resource potential:

• Common: Standard terrain with basic resources
• Uncommon: Better than average resources
• Rare: Valuable resource-rich terrain
• Epic: Highly valuable with strategic advantages
• Legendary: Exceptionally rare with premium resources
• Mythic: The most valuable terrain with unique properties

Rare terrain types are highlighted on the map with a special glow effect proportional to their rarity.

Structures

Structures form the backbone of your territorial presence, providing resources, defensive capabilities, and other strategic advantages.

Building & Upgrading Structures

Structures are built and improved through a tick-based progression system:

• Building: Construction requires specific resources and takes several ticks to complete
• Upgrading: Existing structures can be upgraded using shared resources
• Durability: Structures have health points that decrease when damaged in battle
• Battle Indicators: Structures under attack display their current health percentage
• Race Restrictions: Some structures have race-specific interactions and limitations
• Ownership: Building actions are restricted to buildings you own or your race controls

Buildings

Within settlements, various buildings can be constructed to provide specific benefits:

• Banks: Store wealth and offer financial services including loans and interest
• Warehouses: Increase storage capacity for resources and items
• Barracks: Improve military unit training and recruitment
• Smithy: Enable metal crafting and equipment production
• Workshop: Support general crafting activities
• Harbor: Provide naval construction and trade capabilities
• Stables: Support mounted units and animal husbandry

Structure Capacity

Structures have limited capacity for units and resources:

• Capacity can be increased through upgrades
• Capacity limits apply to all units regardless of owner
• Strategic planning is required to maximize limited space
• Structure levels affect available crafting recipes and activities

Recruitment

Structures enable the recruitment of new units:

• Recruitment requires resources based on unit type
• Units are restricted to your character's race
• Higher-level structures allow for more advanced unit types
• Recruitment takes place over one or more ticks depending on unit complexity

Structure Storage Systems

Structures offer multiple storage options:

• Shared Storage: Resources accessible to all users of the structure
• Bank Storage: Private items accessible only to the owner
• Building Materials: Resources dedicated to structure improvements

Units & Groups

Units are the mobile forces that allow you to expand territory, engage in combat, and gather resources. Units are organized into groups for easier management.

Buildings

Buildings are specialized structures that provide specific bonuses and capabilities within your settlements. They can be constructed, upgraded, and managed to enhance your strategic operations.

Building Upgrades & Management

Buildings can be upgraded to enhance their capabilities and unlock new features:

• Each upgrade level requires specific resources and time
• Higher levels unlock new crafting recipes, unit types, or bonuses
• Building synergies can provide additional benefits when certain buildings are paired together
• Some buildings have race-specific variations with unique bonuses

Items & Inventory

Items in Gisaima range from common resources to mythical artifacts, each with unique properties and values.

Activities

Beyond combat and construction, Gisaima offers various activities that enhance gameplay and resource acquisition.

Gathering

Gathering resources from the environment is essential for building and crafting:

• Woodcutting: Harvesting wood using hatchets
• Farming: Growing food from seeds in suitable terrain
• Mining: Extracting ores and gems using pickaxes
• Tick-based: Gathering takes 2 ticks to complete with progress tracked
• Cancelable: Gathering actions can be canceled before completion

Gathering affects the abundance of resources in an area. Lower abundance reduces gathering effectiveness, but areas refresh over time. Different terrain rarities produce different quality and quantity of resources.

Crafting

Converting raw materials into useful items through specialized processes:

• Alchemy: Creating potions, elixirs, and magical items
• Smithing: Forging metal goods from ores and wood
• Crafting: Creating finished goods from fabrics, gems, pelts, and other materials
• Structure Enhanced: Crafting options expand based on available building levels
• Tick-based: Crafting takes varying amounts of ticks based on item complexity

Item Storage & Transfer

Managing items is a key part of resource management:

• Transfer items between groups and structures during mobilization/demobilization
• Access shared storage at structures for community resources
• Use personal bank storage for private item security
• Combine identical items automatically when storing them
• Track item distribution after battles through notifications

Special Activities

Beyond basic resource gathering, other activities offer unique opportunities:

• Treasure Trails: Follow clues and maps to discover hidden treasures
• Bounty Hunting: Track down and capture other players with bounties on their heads

Battles & Combat

Combat in Gisaima is strategic and consequential, with multiple ways to engage enemies.

Attacking Units

When encountering enemy unit groups, you have several combat options:

• Direct attacks against enemy unit groups
• Joining ongoing battles to support allies
• Setting retreat conditions based on percentage of losses
• Fleeing from battles after the next tick is processed

Combat factors include unit sizes, types, and environmental conditions. Smaller groups may flee from larger forces, while sufficiently large groups may be forced into battle.

Attacking Structures

Structures can be attacked, besieged, or captured:

• Destroy enemy structures through direct attacks
• Capture structures after defeating defenders
• Siege structures to weaken them over time
• Structures under siege for 15 game days may be destroyed
• Continuous trebuchet attacks for 3 days can turn structures to ruins
• Structure durability decreases as they take damage in combat

Battle Outcomes

After battles, the victors have several options:

• Automatic Looting: All items carried by defeated groups are automatically collected
• Loot Distribution: If multiple groups are on the winning side, items are randomly distributed among them
• Loot Notification: Groups receive messages indicating how many items they looted from battle
• Scavenging: Beyond automatic looting, additional equipment may be salvageable from the battlefield
• Capture: Take defeated enemies prisoner
• Ransom: Negotiate the release of captives for payment

A player's morality affects these options - low morality players may have their units turned against them, while good morality players' units must be captured or ransomed.

Battle Duration & Resolution

Battles in Gisaima don't resolve instantly - they take time to play out, with larger battles taking longer to resolve than smaller ones. The game simulates this through a tick-based system:

Battle Casualties

When a battle concludes, casualties are calculated based on the relative power of each side. Battles that are evenly matched generally result in higher casualty rates for both sides.

Example Scenarios

Trade & Economy

Gisaima features a robust economic system that allows players to trade, create wealth, and establish financial institutions.

Basic Trade

Trade begins with simple exchanges:

• Trade directly with other players in the same location
• Exchange goods stored in the same property or warehouse
• Set up trade offers that others can accept

Advanced Economic Systems

As cities develop, more complex economic activities become available:

• Establish official currencies for cities or regions
• Create your own currency backed by resources
• Set trade taxes within controlled territories
• Implement building taxes where a percentage of produced items go to the ruler

Transportation & Logistics

Moving goods across the map creates additional economic opportunities:

• Transport goods between distant markets for profit
• Rent caravans to other players with different risk/reward options
• Secure valuable goods during transport for higher fees
• Specialize in different goods based on their transport properties (e.g., beef moves slowly, processed goods move quickly)

Banking

Establish or use banking services:

• Offer interest rates to attract deposits
• Request loans with negotiable terms
• Build bank credibility through consistent performance
• View public debt information to make informed decisions

Character Development

Your character in Gisaima can develop in various ways, gaining experience, skills, and reputation.

Lives & Reproduction

Characters in Gisaima have limited lives:

• Characters can die permanently under certain conditions
• Reproduction mechanics allow for new generations
• Various factors influence offspring characteristics
• Spawn points provide safe havens for new characters

Development & Progression

Characters can advance through several systems:

• Experience points earned through activities
• Levels that unlock new capabilities
• Skills and abilities that improve performance
• Specialized knowledge that provides advantages

Profile & Finances

Your character maintains a public and private profile:

• Public information includes reputation, achievements, and publicly disclosed wealth
• Financial records track assets by location
• Debt information is typically public
• Players can choose to display or hide wealth measurements

Character Metrics

Various metrics track your character's accomplishments:

• Distance traveled across the world
• Combat statistics including wins, losses, and kills
• Wealth accumulation and management
• Resource gathering and crafting achievements

Community & Politics

Gisaima features complex social systems that allow players to form communities and engage in political activities.

Leadership & Governance

Communities need leadership and governance structures:

• Control of cities and regions through various means
• Tax systems to generate revenue
• Management of community coffers
• Decision-making powers over community policies

Alliances & Groups

Players can form various types of associations:

• Structures and locations can be owned by individuals, alliances, or groups
• Communication forums for community interaction
• Reputation systems similar to StackExchange with visible actions and contributions

Political Systems

Communities can implement various political mechanisms:

• Voting: Electoral systems for leadership positions
• Arbitration: Decision-making for community issues like naming regions
• Citizenship: Systems to determine who belongs to the community
• Laws: Community rules including speech regulations, customs, and taxes

Political Transitions

Power can change hands through several mechanisms:

• Seizing Power: Forceful takeover that takes time and carries risks
• Elections: Formal voting process for leadership positions
• Votes of No Confidence: Community mechanisms to remove leaders
• Revolution: Organized opposition to existing leadership
• Resignation/Exile: Voluntary or forced removal from power

Races

When joining a world in Gisaima, you'll choose one of five distinct races. Each race has unique traits and advantages that influence your gameplay strategy.

Once you've chosen a race, you'll start at your race's specific spawn point in the world. Each race's spawn is located in a biome that complements their natural advantages.

Items & Inventory

Items in Gisaima range from common resources to mythical artifacts, each with unique properties and values.

Activities

Beyond combat and construction, Gisaima offers various activities that enhance gameplay and resource acquisition.

Gathering

Gathering resources from the environment is essential for building and crafting:

• Woodcutting: Harvesting wood using hatchets
• Farming: Growing food from seeds in suitable terrain
• Mining: Extracting ores and gems using pickaxes
• Tick-based: Gathering takes 2 ticks to complete with progress tracked
• Cancelable: Gathering actions can be canceled before completion

Gathering affects the abundance of resources in an area. Lower abundance reduces gathering effectiveness, but areas refresh over time. Different terrain rarities produce different quality and quantity of resources.

Crafting

Converting raw materials into useful items through specialized processes:

• Alchemy: Creating potions, elixirs, and magical items
• Smithing: Forging metal goods from ores and wood
• Crafting: Creating finished goods from fabrics, gems, pelts, and other materials
• Structure Enhanced: Crafting options expand based on available building levels
• Tick-based: Crafting takes varying amounts of ticks based on item complexity

Item Storage & Transfer

Managing items is a key part of resource management:

• Transfer items between groups and structures during mobilization/demobilization
• Access shared storage at structures for community resources
• Use personal bank storage for private item security
• Combine identical items automatically when storing them
• Track item distribution after battles through notifications

Special Activities

Beyond basic resource gathering, other activities offer unique opportunities:

• Treasure Trails: Follow clues and maps to discover hidden treasures
• Bounty Hunting: Track down and capture other players with bounties on their heads

Battles & Combat

Combat in Gisaima is strategic and consequential, with multiple ways to engage enemies.

Attacking Units

When encountering enemy unit groups, you have several combat options:

• Direct attacks against enemy unit groups
• Joining ongoing battles to support allies
• Setting retreat conditions based on percentage of losses
• Fleeing from battles after the next tick is processed

Combat factors include unit sizes, types, and environmental conditions. Smaller groups may flee from larger forces, while sufficiently large groups may be forced into battle.

Attacking Structures

Structures can be attacked, besieged, or captured:

• Destroy enemy structures through direct attacks
• Capture structures after defeating defenders
• Siege structures to weaken them over time
• Structures under siege for 15 game days may be destroyed
• Continuous trebuchet attacks for 3 days can turn structures to ruins
• Structure durability decreases as they take damage in combat

Battle Outcomes

After battles, the victors have several options:

• Automatic Looting: All items carried by defeated groups are automatically collected
• Loot Distribution: If multiple groups are on the winning side, items are randomly distributed among them
• Loot Notification: Groups receive messages indicating how many items they looted from battle
• Scavenging: Beyond automatic looting, additional equipment may be salvageable from the battlefield
• Capture: Take defeated enemies prisoner
• Ransom: Negotiate the release of captives for payment

A player's morality affects these options - low morality players may have their units turned against them, while good morality players' units must be captured or ransomed.

Battle Duration & Resolution

Battles in Gisaima don't resolve instantly - they take time to play out, with larger battles taking longer to resolve than smaller ones. The game simulates this through a tick-based system:

Battle Casualties

When a battle concludes, casualties are calculated based on the relative power of each side. Battles that are evenly matched generally result in higher casualty rates for both sides.

Example Scenarios

Trade & Economy

Gisaima features a robust economic system that allows players to trade, create wealth, and establish financial institutions.

Basic Trade

Trade begins with simple exchanges:

• Trade directly with other players in the same location
• Exchange goods stored in the same property or warehouse
• Set up trade offers that others can accept

Advanced Economic Systems

As cities develop, more complex economic activities become available:

• Establish official currencies for cities or regions
• Create your own currency backed by resources
• Set trade taxes within controlled territories
• Implement building taxes where a percentage of produced items go to the ruler

Transportation & Logistics

Moving goods across the map creates additional economic opportunities:

• Transport goods between distant markets for profit
• Rent caravans to other players with different risk/reward options
• Secure valuable goods during transport for higher fees
• Specialize in different goods based on their transport properties (e.g., beef moves slowly, processed goods move quickly)

Banking

Establish or use banking services:

• Offer interest rates to attract deposits
• Request loans with negotiable terms
• Build bank credibility through consistent performance
• View public debt information to make informed decisions

Character Development

Your character in Gisaima can develop in various ways, gaining experience, skills, and reputation.

Lives & Reproduction

Characters in Gisaima have limited lives:

• Characters can die permanently under certain conditions
• Reproduction mechanics allow for new generations
• Various factors influence offspring characteristics
• Spawn points provide safe havens for new characters

Development & Progression

Characters can advance through several systems:

• Experience points earned through activities
• Levels that unlock new capabilities
• Skills and abilities that improve performance
• Specialized knowledge that provides advantages

Profile & Finances

Your character maintains a public and private profile:

• Public information includes reputation, achievements, and publicly disclosed wealth
• Financial records track assets by location
• Debt information is typically public
• Players can choose to display or hide wealth measurements

Character Metrics

Various metrics track your character's accomplishments:

• Distance traveled across the world
• Combat statistics including wins, losses, and kills
• Wealth accumulation and management
• Resource gathering and crafting achievements

Community & Politics

Gisaima features complex social systems that allow players to form communities and engage in political activities.

Leadership & Governance

Communities need leadership and governance structures:

• Control of cities and regions through various means
• Tax systems to generate revenue
• Management of community coffers
• Decision-making powers over community policies

Alliances & Groups

Players can form various types of associations:

• Structures and locations can be owned by individuals, alliances, or groups
• Communication forums for community interaction
• Reputation systems similar to StackExchange with visible actions and contributions

Political Systems

Communities can implement various political mechanisms:

• Voting: Electoral systems for leadership positions
• Arbitration: Decision-making for community issues like naming regions
• Citizenship: Systems to determine who belongs to the community
• Laws: Community rules including speech regulations, customs, and taxes

Political Transitions

Power can change hands through several mechanisms:

• Seizing Power: Forceful takeover that takes time and carries risks
• Elections: Formal voting process for leadership positions
• Votes of No Confidence: Community mechanisms to remove leaders
• Revolution: Organized opposition to existing leadership
• Resignation/Exile: Voluntary or forced removal from power

Races

When joining a world in Gisaima, you'll choose one of five distinct races. Each race has unique traits and advantages that influence your gameplay strategy.

Once you've chosen a race, you'll start at your race's specific spawn point in the world. Each race's spawn is located in a biome that complements their natural advantages.

Items & Inventory

Items in Gisaima range from common resources to mythical artifacts, each with unique properties and values.

Strategy Tips

Here are some key strategies to help you dominate in Gisaima:

• Focus on Rare Terrain: Prioritize locating and controlling rare and mythic terrain tiles as they provide the most valuable resources.
• Secure Resources Early: Focus on capturing resource-rich territories early in the game to fuel your expansion.
• Defensive Network: Place watchtowers and fortresses strategically to create a defensive network that protects your key resource areas.
• Alliance Building: Form strategic alliances with other players to counter dominant forces on the map.
• Balance Expansion: Don't overextend your territory beyond what you can effectively defend with your available units.
• Map Awareness: Use the map entities panel to track nearby structures, players, and unit groups for better strategic planning.

Frequently Asked Questions