# Tutorial for Network States, an on-chain multiplayer strategy game By [AW_Research](https://paragraph.com/@aw-research) · 2023-09-26 --- Author: [@\_eat\_apple\_](https://twitter.com/_eat_apple_) From: [@AW\_Research](https://twitter.com/AW_Research) AI Summary ========== This article is about a game called Network States. The game is set in a virtual world where players compete and conquer territories. Players need to expand their territory by moving and occupying blocks according to different rules and limitations, while eliminating other players' states. The game is relatively simple to play but has a certain level of strategy and competitiveness. The article provides a detailed description of the game's basic rules and gameplay, as well as explanations of some game elements. Game Introduction ================= _Game Link_ Network States is a game developed by Small Brains Games using MUD. The first playtest was conducted on September 11th. Regarding the general information about the game, there are some explanations before entering the game. However, based on the current presentation of the game, this description is still too abstract and does not provide much information. In addition, there doesn't seem to be an official explanation of the gameplay for this game. For players who are playing this game for the first time, they have to figure out the game mechanics themselves. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d5740d6ab85307e5ba0fdff50f9fbda30ce7d2d73c3bcea1abd623c0f153fb5c.png) Team Background =============== Small Brain Games is an infrastructure company in the fully online gaming industry. Currently, Small Brain Games has developed games such as Words3, Dark Seas, and Apes Gambit. Gameplay ======== The gameplay of the game is currently quite simple, where players need to continuously expand their territory. Game Tutorial ============= ### Game Information * The game is currently not deployed on the blockchain and is a testing version. * The game uses a burner wallet, and players do not need to connect their own wallets to enter the game. * The data of the burner wallet is stored in the browser, so do not clear the browser cache, or your game data will be lost. * ### Initializing the Game Click on the [game link](https://network-states-smallbraingames.vercel.app/), and a brief description of the game will appear on the screen. However, this description does not guide you on how to play the game, and there is no detailed explanation of the gameplay from the official source. Everything needs to be explored by the players themselves. However, there is a sentence on the screen worth noting: `This device is your gateway to the Network States.` This sentence should have practical meaning, and it is speculated that the game uses a `Burner Wallet`, and the player's relevant information is stored in the browser. Therefore, when playing, do not casually clear the browser cache. The entrance to the game is in the lower right corner. Enter by clicking `Enter`, and then click `Create State`. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/61fe6edc0a83efd2b3efb6f21625786d345a7361e4a745fdcd762b42a306a084.png) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/55fb7d242601bc2da5268e7a234fbdc182f4e97a29f236801ee37678ddec9c07.png) After creating your `State`, you will come to the following interface. The top-left part shows the relevant information of your `State`. We focus on two attributes that will directly affect the gameplay: `Population` and `Area`. The number in the middle of the screen is the current `Population` of your `State`, which increases periodically based on a block time cycle. After understanding this information, click `Begin your story` in the lower right corner to enter the actual game. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3cc3d7bf060536103c9d86113abc30b5f386e430e075756e49a904af5f9f9e41.png) ### Important Information in the Game Interface The number in the middle of the screen with a light background is the `Population` of your `State`. The three icons in the lower right corner, from top to bottom, represent relocating the state, zooming in on the map, and zooming out of the map. The State Explorer on the right side of the screen displays the ranking information of players. It can be observed that the ranking is based on `Area`. **Each block with a number in the game is called an** `Area`, and the number displayed on the `Area` is the `Population`. The `State` itself is a special `Area`, and its `Population` increases periodically. By the way, the player ranked first in this ranking, `Simula (Playtest 3)`, is one of my accounts that I played a few days ago. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/8cc5dcf299f605b703dcde00fb35edb1a85e7b765c6683a7d8d1cd8338879fc5.png) ### Basic Rules of the Game **1\. Moving on New Paths** Select an `Area`, and the dotted lines around it represent the available directions for movement. Players can move by clicking or using the arrow keys. The effect of the movement is to transfer the maximum `Population` on the current `Area` to an adjacent block. For example, an `Area` with a `Population` of 70, the maximum movable `Population` is 69. The new `Area` with `69` can continue to move, and its maximum movable `Population` is 68. Each time the movement is made, this number will decrease by 1. Therefore, the number on an `Area` represents the maximum number of steps that can be moved. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c96e311d59e729d2611e635b9525c7047c8cf6432ef00eb22bb602c217c16223.png) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c64e4fccffdb0ce4d822b01f30819248093f02430ad00b8b13de211153e4688b.png) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/5c2d5af793e2476ba9991d72432b3e83f2544f2714fd736188aeae34fe92aa7b.png) There is also a half-population movement option. Select an `Area` and then click again. A `50%` label will appear. The effect of the movement is to transfer half of the current `Population` on the `Area` to an adjacent block. For example, an `Area` with a `Population` of `70`, the maximum movable `Population` is `35`, and the remaining `35` will stay on the original `Area`. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/dfa43d02a95e552c8cdca8e07baed4e4e9013c9dc55c9e87c65735bc7fa0a69c.png) **2\. Moving on Repeated Paths** The direction of the arrow in the image represents the direction in which the `Area` with `44` will move. When moving on repeated paths, the number on the `Area` will not decrease. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/602d1abe3c6eef7509585a6ff24cc36ed68b1ebcfc4fc06a8ef072abb5085bcf.png) **3\. Moving on Other Players' Areas** When moving on other players' areas, in addition to the movement itself causing `Population-1`, the corresponding number on the other player's area will also be deducted after the movement. For example, in the example below, the `Area` with `34` wants to enter a yellow player's area. After the movement, the yellow player's area will be occupied, and the value of your area will be reduced by two `1`s. The first one is the consumption of movement, and the second one is the offset of the value on the other player's area. The final value will be `32`. If the number on the other player's area is 2 or 3, it will offset the corresponding quantity. If the number on the other player's area is too large and exceeds the number on your own area, then when your area moves up, the occupation will fail, your area will disappear, and the number on the other player's area will be reduced accordingly. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3c2d0888967fa2e98f4a85fe51440444687b5ad61c9bda51ba9511feef38127e.png) **4\. Eliminating Other Players** Occupying another player's `State` represents eliminating that player. The logic is the same as moving on other players' areas. As long as the number on your area is greater than the current number on the other player's state, you can eliminate that player. After a successful elimination, all the other player's areas will be converted to yours, including the other player's state. At this point, you will have two states that periodically increase `Population`. _The image below is another account that I played,_ `Simula (Playtest 3)`, and I am preparing to merge the blue player's area. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/49603c91956ad63860d205d8f57aece736a09d9b1ef93721c6c668b32555fa01.png) Obtaining a new `state` after swallowing the opponent. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/be369313b56f8e476a1cfbf9cd988609c2324e611d1f73990f2c8225a3fd6d70.png) Please note the red player in the top left corner of the diagram; after taking over the opponent's `state`, their original `area` will be completely converted into mine. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0f4e7b32bf0d96ea95a1ad2edd2f0b3baddbf88707e765aa7a2429ad809176c8.png) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ce38726948c23ae684dfc4620515206b153e9b73003b7ad6767135325593e444.png) Rapid expansion achieved through absorption. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/190850531c9c62dca5813e4482bbeae13db7a23cd019fc3177ad133e508ee7cf.png) **5\. Map Elements:** `Hill` **&** `Water` Regarding `Hill` and `Water`, there are only two points to note: 1. `Area` cannot move onto a `Hill`. 2. When an `Area` moves onto `Water`, its `Population` will be reduced to zero. These two map elements primarily serve as defensive barriers for players when constructing fortifications. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/9c85553fd30611c47f75bc9705e1a2c9aa7d2eda41e538f3575e09bc46961d14.png) Gaming Experience ================= * The official documentation doesn't provide much explanation about the game, which can leave first-time players feeling a bit lost. * The movement speed and population regeneration rate in the game are both relatively slow, so there's a lot of waiting involved during gameplay. * The current gameplay is quite simple, and I anticipate that many more features will be added in the future. * For a game that doesn't require high real-time demands, making it a fully online game is a suitable choice. Appendix -------- Twitter Discord [ Join the Small Brain Games Discord Server! ------------------------------------------ Check out the Small Brain Games community on Discord - hang out with 453 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat. https://discord.com ](https://discord.gg/CdnWzafyFf) --- *Originally published on [AW_Research](https://paragraph.com/@aw-research/tutorial-for-network-states-an-on-chain-multiplayer-strategy-game)*