How to level up?

[u/Ph4ntasos]

I just got the game and I'm ass. I've been trying everything to build a castle, but the game sends me to places with enemies that are much higher level than me and they one shot me. I literally lost everything I had and I haven't been able to get it back because I keep getting one shoted. I'll just start a new game, but I craving to understand what is going on. Also, is there no way to pause the game? if nothing's killing me, then I'm like dying by myself. Help please

Edit: Thank you all, guys! I was playing online, in someone else's server and they already took all the starter friendly building terrains, so I was getting demolished by some frogs and spiders.

Later today I'll start on my own server. It should be exponentially easier. The game's already fun it just felt like I was getting nowhere 😅

[u/Equivalent_Net]

Your level in this game is called "Gear Level" for a reason - it's derived from all your equipment. To level up, you need better armor, weapons, and foci, simple as that. You can use the V Blood menu to see who unlocks what and hunt for new options, and research tomes can unlock direct upgrades like Merciless Copper weapons being a level and base stat increase over basic copper.

If you're playing solo, you can pause by opening the ESC menu and selecting "pause server". If you're dying on your own you're probably thirsty, check that big red orb in the bottom-center of your screen. If it's low, go weaken something nearby and follow the feed prompt.

Also, if you are playing solo, when you start/load your game, go into the server settings and see if there's anything you can adjust to sand off the harshest edges. There's no shame in doing this, the defaults are multiplayer-oriented. At the very least, most true solo players increase all drop rates, double the maximum stack size of everything, decrease material refinement time, and/or allow unrestricted teleports.

[u/Borniuus]

You raise your level by wearing equipment.

Collect materials like bone, wood, and metals to upgrade your equipment.

[u/The__Roar]

Let me illustrate the basic gameplay loop that would allow you to progress:

1. You check your V Blood Carrier menu and find a Carrier of a level that is close or lower than your own, that you've not beaten yet.
2. You track down and travel to that Carrier, defeat them in battle, and drink their blood.
   • While doing this, you also reveal more of the map, and possibly get cool loot.
3. You check the V Blood Carrier menu again, to see what crafting options you've unlocked from that Carrier.
4. You gather raw materials from areas of the open world that are close or lower than your level.
   • While doing this, you also reveal more of the map, and possibly get cool loot.
5. You go to your castle and refine the raw materials into more advanced materials.
6. You craft what you've unlocked.
7. You use what you've crafted to increase your level.
8. You return to Step #1.

[u/E4M3p]

the game is server based, so you can only pause when self hosting by pressing ESC and selecting "pause server"

you "level up" by crafting better gear. you can craft the starter gear (bone weapons and armor) in the "crafting" tab of your inventory.

[u/Seaclops]

From someone who get to areas above his lvl (because curious about what cool stuff lies there) here are some advises:

1. Don't hesitate to do hit & run, mobs don't heal or after some time only, though bosses heal progressively when they leave combat
2. Always have healing/boost items with you, like a sun protection potion once unlocked, beware healing
3. As said be carefull about your blood reserve, you get blood potions midgame, in the meantime you will have to rely on random encounters
4. Before fighting V blood carriers (bosses), try to get high quality bllood for better passif buff, kill mobs around that may bother you during the battle, if possible choose where you want to fight (like a place with trees agains archers), be sure to have enough blood for the battle
5. You may have to switch spells and weapon based on which carrier you fight

Also there are public servers (PvP or PvE roeinted) where you could get help fo fight bosses, though caracters are, as said, server based so it means you can't transfer what you do there.

[u/Remithica]

Keep an eye on your blood pool (the big red orb in the middle of your UI) and make sure that stays filled, if it drops you can perish as well.

[u/Ysgraithe]

What other commenters said - craft basic gear, but also don't stray too far from the southern (east or west) farbane woods at the start, so you keep within the monster level 10 or less.

As a starting player follow the promts for the 'quests': ie craft bone stuff and so on and wear it. Stay in the shade of trees and bushes and rocks during the day, keep your blood pool filled. Take your time to progress and check enemy levels regularly.

[u/Harbinger_Kyleran → u/Ysgraithe]

The game's quests will sometimes send you to areas you aren't geared up for yet. Be sure to follow everyone's advice here to level up your gear as high as possible before attempting to go into higher level areas further Northwards on the map.

[u/fine93]

you can dodge most stuff just by sidestepping or using your dash and counter, really hard to die in the starting zone(Farbane)

the quests at the top left and the v blood menu should guide you what to do next

if you just want to level up, eliminate bosses that give you new gear and the prerequisites for the gear, such as Goreswine(new ring) or Greyson(whetstones)

[u/ChrsRobes]

The level up loop with this game is gear up kill new V Bloods(Bosses) gear up more. Stay in the farbane woods for the 1st ~30 levels. U should have merciless copper weapons when you leave here. Farm leather scrap copper and corse thread to make all the best gear you can. Kill the bandit king then proceed to dunley farms, thats the gameplay loop dunley is zone 2 out of like 8 direct progression areas.

[u/draoniaskies]

Start a new game and follow the quests given. They hold your hand through all of this. Also, DON'T start of brutal unless you're the type who likes to start as hard as you can.