I just don't "get" this game

[g051051]

I'm having a heck of a time figuring this game out. I've had it in my library for years, and whenever I've been tempted to play it, I get thrown off the learning curve like it was a bucking bronco.

I heard about the Journey's End update and figured this would be the time to try it again, and it's the same. I have no idea what to do, let alone how to do anything. The "guide" doesn't provide much help. I finally went to a wiki and read up on a tutorial section for starting the game, and even that was a struggle. The instructions seemed clear, but I spent an hour trying to figure out crafting and how to actually construct a house. I got killed by zombies(???) a couple of times, before I finally got some walls up. Then it was about 30 minutes of struggling with the UI while trying to figure out why I couldn't place a door. Then I got the door in place, and the Guide moved in.

Now it's night and we're just sitting here in the house while zombies kick at the door. Huh? Is this correct? Where's the fun in this? Where's the actual game?

I'm not hating on the game, this is clearly a problem on my part, but I'm just baffled as to it's popularity and point. Can anyone send a clue my way? What am I missing here?

Edit: Thanks to all the people who replied with nice answers and usable tips, rather than snarky abuse. I'm heading back in to give it another try!

Edit 2: Again, thanks to all who replied with serious tips and helped me over the initial hump. I'll keep at it and see how it goes. At least I feel I can give it a good try this time!

[Adachi]

Then the game just isnt for you

[Kyutaru]

Terraria simply put is Minecraft in a different mode with better combat. You are supposed to progress through the content by getting better gear and pickaxes. Progress is tied to your stuff because without the right stuff you can't do the content.

It's just an exploration and craft grind game that revolves around finding new things you can't harvest or use and finding other stuff that lets you harvest or use them. Also collecting certain rare items which can be combined into more awesome items, which is literally how the best swords work.

[g051051]

Originally posted by Adachi_Soul:

Then the game just isnt for you

Gosh, thanks for giving me the benefit of your keen and penetrating insight.

[g051051]

Originally posted by Kyutaru:

Terraria simply put is Minecraft in a different mode with better combat.

Yeah, I never understood the furor around Minecraft, either. Again, clearly something I'm missing, I just keep hoping to figure out the attraction so I can be one of the cool kids.

[Adachi]

Originally posted by g051051:

Originally posted by Adachi_Soul:

Then the game just isnt for you

Gosh, thanks for giving me the benefit of your keen and penetrating insight.

you are very welcome my good sir ;)

[Ashley]

You aren't even out of early game when you down a few bosses maybe you'll see.

[g051051]

Originally posted by Ugandad Commando:

You aren't even out of early game when you down a few bosses maybe you'll see.

Yeah, but how do you even figure any of this out? There's an old Penny Arcade comic that's talking about Mass Effect, but it seems to fit here:

https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/19/nitpicking-mass-effect-part-three

[Adachi]

Originally posted by g051051:

Originally posted by Ugandad Commando:

You aren't even out of early game when you down a few bosses maybe you'll see.

Yeah, but how do you even figure any of this out? There's an old Penny Arcade comic that's talking about Mass Effect, but it seems to fit here:

https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/19/nitpicking-mass-effect-part-three

Sir this is a wendy's drive-through

[Chad kirbo]

now that you built a house go mining and find new gear thats the game really
and if u get 6 lens from the demon eyes and goto a demon alter in the corruption or crimson there you can create a sus eye and at night fight one of the first bosses in the game

[Mami The Beer Baron]

Originally posted by NOT BallPitAids Moat.GG:

now that you built a house go mining and find new gear thats the game really
and if u get 6 lens from the demon eyes and goto a demon alter in the corruption or crimson there you can create a sus eye and at night fight one of the first bosses in the game

the eye of joj
afterwards you go to the jungle and fight queen HoH SiS for beenades and annihilate skeletor and doom's completion screen and boom your in hardmode.
bomb hellstone because reaver shark isnt needed and boom, you basically skipped a huge part of the game with beenades lol

[prpl_mage]

Terraria is a bit like classic zelda or Dark Souls. There is no handholding because you are supposed to explore and learn things as you go along. And if that is not for you then no, this game will not give you a good time.

Although I agree the whole valid house thing is a bit of a bump that we all had to cross.

At nights enemy spawn increases. You can still go about your business, I tend to go underground at night and just mine my life away.

But there are bosses to fight, some will spawn randomly once the game deems you ready (or just buffed enough) and others need to be interacted with to fight.

So set off from your base, go east or west and see what you can find and if anything catches your interest. If the prospect of exploring and figuring out the world still doesn't excite you, then well, maybe give it a rest.

But before that, I will shamelessly link you this guide I made some years back.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=504854429

[g051051]

Originally posted by Death, the destroyer of balloons:

Originally posted by NOT BallPitAids Moat.GG:

now that you built a house go mining and find new gear thats the game really
and if u get 6 lens from the demon eyes and goto a demon alter in the corruption or crimson there you can create a sus eye and at night fight one of the first bosses in the game

the eye of joj

Good lord...what kind of crazy game is this?

[Kyutaru]

Originally posted by g051051:

Originally posted by Ugandad Commando:

You aren't even out of early game when you down a few bosses maybe you'll see.

Yeah, but how do you even figure any of this out? There's an old Penny Arcade comic that's talking about Mass Effect, but it seems to fit here:

https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/19/nitpicking-mass-effect-part-three

You figure it out by talking to the Guide. He has a slot that you can stick literally any item into and it tells you what that item can be used to craft. The whole point of the game is to craft better stuff. The guide will tell you that you need Honey to make an item. Where does honey come from? You don't know so you have to go and find it. Everything centers around exploration, discovery, and checking back with the Guide to see what else is craftable.

If you find something rare, give it to the Guide to see what it's for. Do this with literally everything you find. Eventually you see there's a progression system and part of the fun is figuring out where things are, what order you need to get them, and what prerequisites unlock what. Or you can just cheat and use the wiki which has all the answers. Even with that you can enjoy collecting the pieces and getting stronger like literally every RPG game does.

[NightStar]

You need to mine for better ore to make armor and weapons out of. Lead and Iron (which ever is in your world) can be used to make an anvil. you will also need stone and torches to help build a forge. All of this requires digging for the ores. There will be alot of digging. Bring lots of torches for light.

[Lordsofeverythin]

The game is very slow to start, but once you actually get going it's a lot better. You just have to slug through the start. It is a bit strange, I believe pc is the only version that doesn't have an actual tutorial and it just throws you into the world.