When you first install the Puzzles & Conquest game, you are greeted with an opening dialog interspersed with tutorials to acquaint you with your new game.
In the dialog, your character is represented as a young bearded man with a crown, labelled “Lord”.
Setting the Scene
(Somewhere in Dragonia)
System: The undead and their powerful artifacts rendered humankind vulnerable. Saurland is human’s land no more…
Naax: Your Grace, more and more undeads appeared! We can’t hold on much longer.
Lord: We can’t fall before Sauroi arrives!
(Battle Tutorial Interlude)
Garnet: XXX Another hoard of undead is approaching
(Battle Tutorial Interlude)
Naax: Where is Sauroi? We are doomed…
Garnet: Don’t give up yet! Stay strong and keep your wits about you!
(Battle Tutorial Interlude)
Garnet: Your Grace, we are surrounded! There’s nowhere to run!
Lord: T-That’s Sauroi! He arrived! Get ready to board and retrieve!
System: Sauroi descended from the sky and breathed scorching fire on the undead army.
System: We climbed onto Sauroi’s back and returned to our territory.
(Your Territory)
Garnet: Phew, that was a close one…
Lord: Don’t panic. I will do everything I can to protect you.
Garnet: Your Grace, a hero wants to meet you.
Lucifer: My name is Lucifer. What is yours, Your Grace?
Give Your Character a Name
You have already been allocated a randomly generated name. It consists of the kingdom number that you belong to (eg. K79), followed by a dash, and then 10 alphanumeric characters. At this point, you have the opportunity to give your character a name of your own choosing.
You are now presented with a pop-up window labelled “Enter Lord’s name here“. This is a new feature which is designed to discourage players from perpetually using the generated name in the game.
To change, type your new name in the text box and tap the “Confirm” button. You may choose any name up to 20 characters in length. However, it must be at least 3 characters at a minimum, and certain special characters are not allowed.
If you decide to continue with the generated name at this point, you may change your name at any stage later on.
Sauroi Becomes a Sauregg
Garnet: XXX Your Grace, the Undead Lord is back again! His army is approaching
System: The undeads appeared at all fronts. We won’t let them harm our loved ones. We will fight!
Lord: Get rid of the undeads on the wall! Don’t let anyone(sic) of them enter our territory!
(Battle Tutorial Interlude)
Lucifer: Let me help you!
(Battle Tutorial Interlude)
System: Right before the undeads breached our defences, Sauroi breathed blazing flames to incinerate most of the undead army.
Garnet: Sauroi used up so much of his life force defeating the undeads that he has regenerated as a Sauregg!
Lord: We can help Sauroi hatch faster by using Life Essence on the Sauregg.
(Sauroi Lair with bottle of Life Essence)
In the early stage of the game which begins after the Initial Dialog, there is a lot of hand-holding and directed play from Garnet. It is a long tutorial-style phase in which you learn how to play the game in detail. At the end of this you are expected to carry on alone, having mastered what you need to do to thrive.
The early stage is focussed around gaining sufficient Life Essence to hatch Sauroi from his Sauregg. This is done through a series of battles and tutorial quests.
Introduction to Hero Hall
Lord: We are short-staffed. Let’s recruit some heroes in Hero Hall!
(Hero Hall Tutorial Interlude)
Hendrik: The undeads killed my family. I will never forgive them. Your Grace, please let me use my power to crush them!
Dracula: I will follow your orders, Your Grace.
You now have some Lv.1 heroes. These are Hendrik, Dracula, Garnet, Naax and Florine.
Introduction to Resource Buildings
Lord: We are running short of resources. This problem will hinder the territory’s development.
Garnet: We can reclaim the land at the perimeter to solve this problem.
(Build Moon Wells Tutorial Interlude)
You now have some Soulstones, which can be used to upgrade your Lv.1 heroes.
Introduction to Hero Upgrade and Evolution
Garnet: Now that we have sufficient resources, shall we upgrade our heroes?
(Upgrade Dracula to Lv. 10 in the Hero View)
Commence the Early Stage
Lucifer: It appears you are on the right track, You Grace. My job here is done.
(Exit Lucifer in a twinkling ball of light)
Garnet: Your Grace, please follow this [Awakening of Sauroi] guide to collect Life Essence.
Lord: Thank you, Lux (sic). Let’s start developing the territory right away.
This is where the initial dialog concludes, and the early stage commences. You are ready to begin the game proper.
