There bound to be someone who is a complete newbie to Gaia, and Gaia is a very huge place that can't be summed into a single sentence (unless I make it a huge one, lol), so I made a newbie friendly section to touch on the basics. I didn't list out all of the great guides out there, but I did gave a general idea of how they can be found if you're looking for more.
For guides that goes into deep detail of Gaia's features, I placed them in the Advance section. This is for folks who knows how to work with Gaia, but would like to get more out of it. Similar to the newbie section, I didn't list out all of the great guides that are made by users out there in here. There is just so many things you can do on Gaia, it's hard to remember what Gaia have or don't have. xD
Welcome to Gaia! A Newbie Guide Section:
Gaia is mostly known for two things. Its forum and the avatars that surrounds them (mostly the avatar though). Flash spaces, virtual hangouts, games, etc, come in 3rd place, while "social" is mixed in all of aforementioned three. You are free to use Gaia however you deem fit. Just remember to follow the site rules.
Important things you should know about:
Helpful Newbie Threads:
1. Hack Prevention Guide
Tricky thieves always have something new up their sleeves. Keep yourself safe by reading through this thread!
2. 500g + 48 days = 1 Million Gold? (Guide)
This thread is mostly about ways of vending/exchanging items for gold, but there is a section for newbies in there when it comes to gold earning.
3. Interested in certain parts of Gaia? Chances are, the threads can be found in forums dedicated to said feature, and they are most likely stickied for your convenience. Take these for example:
- Gaia Game Related > Gaming Discussion > GGD Resource Sticky
- Gaia Housing, Avatar, Profiles, etc > Gaia Community Discussion > Any of its subforums > Stickied threads.
- Guides in general > Site Questions and Assistance > Gaia Guides and Resources
4. Gaia Dream Avatar Creator
Mostly known as Tektek. This is a "fan-made" website for those who are interested in creating avatars without being limited to their inventory. Lots of people uses tektek, but often mistakes it being a part of Gaia (it is not).
5. **Twisted's Free Item Collection**
You're new, so why not a little freebie here or two?
Important things you should know about:
1. At the bottom of each and every page, there will always be tiny links leading you to important information about Gaia, some examples are:
Term of Service (ToS), Safety Tips, and Contact Us.
It is important of you to read through them and follow them. A lot of it is common sense, so, if you know what you're doing is wrong (troll/flame/etc), chances are, you ARE wrong. There are mods out there, and they can't be everywhere at once, but there are always people who will take liberty in reporting your bad actions. You will be punished in the end.
2. You will be navigating the website mostly via the Gaia navigation header, which is located at the top of each page:
Home, My Gaia, ..., Forums, ..., up to Games
Above the navigation header is your avatar (on the left) and your account related links (on the right).
3. Check your My Gaia page. When you go to your My Gaia page, you'll noticed there is a second navigator. A little pop-up will appear if you hover over the icons with your mouse. Here, I want you to click on the screw-like icon, called Account Preferences.
This page will let you check or un-check whatever preferences you want. I suggest keeping all safety options on, especially if you're a naive careless newbie who likes to give his/her pw away to his/her friends (DO NOT DO THAT, EVEN IF IT'S GAIA STAFF). If you're the kind of person who practice internet safety religiously, then, you're free to turn these annoying nagging warnings off.
4. Always look through the whole page if you're unfamiliar with it. Chances are, your answer is right there in the middle of the page. Or the bottom. Or in a ninja link. But, if you're going through a link provided by a user, friend, Gaia staff even, make sure that the url leads you to the official gaiaonline.com website!
If you're looking to report a hacking, harassment, etc, go to the main Forums page, and scroll all the way down. Just above the tiny Contact-Us/Tos/Blah links, are the Report a Hacking, Report a Scamming, Report Abuse Or Harrassment, etc links.
5. Gaia is how you make of it. If you're here to roleplay, there is a forum for that, called Barton Town. You're free to use Guilds to roleplay as well, but please be mindful that all guilds created by users have their own sets of rules you must follow (guilds are like mini-communities).
If you're just here for the avatar aspects of the website, you are probably most interested in the avatar equip items themselves, and how to obtain them. The main currency we use here is gold, and almost everything can be obtained by gold via the Marketplace. You can also get items via Gaia's NPC Shops. But be careful though, some shops limits you to Gaia Cash purchases only (GC for short, it's real life money).
Or, if you're like me, who likes to surf the website and read people's gossips, discussions, full out drama, you're free to do only that too. There are many forums out there, and like the guilds feature I mentioned before, they (forum) each have their own rules.
Have fun by just relaxing in one of Gaia's flash areas, such as Towns or Rally, or play games such as Jigsaw puzzles or fishing. Or, if you're looking for more of a challenge, Gaia also have Zomg and Heralds of Chaos games for hardcore players.
Term of Service (ToS), Safety Tips, and Contact Us.
It is important of you to read through them and follow them. A lot of it is common sense, so, if you know what you're doing is wrong (troll/flame/etc), chances are, you ARE wrong. There are mods out there, and they can't be everywhere at once, but there are always people who will take liberty in reporting your bad actions. You will be punished in the end.
2. You will be navigating the website mostly via the Gaia navigation header, which is located at the top of each page:
Home, My Gaia, ..., Forums, ..., up to Games
Above the navigation header is your avatar (on the left) and your account related links (on the right).
3. Check your My Gaia page. When you go to your My Gaia page, you'll noticed there is a second navigator. A little pop-up will appear if you hover over the icons with your mouse. Here, I want you to click on the screw-like icon, called Account Preferences.
This page will let you check or un-check whatever preferences you want. I suggest keeping all safety options on, especially if you're a naive careless newbie who likes to give his/her pw away to his/her friends (DO NOT DO THAT, EVEN IF IT'S GAIA STAFF). If you're the kind of person who practice internet safety religiously, then, you're free to turn these annoying nagging warnings off.
4. Always look through the whole page if you're unfamiliar with it. Chances are, your answer is right there in the middle of the page. Or the bottom. Or in a ninja link. But, if you're going through a link provided by a user, friend, Gaia staff even, make sure that the url leads you to the official gaiaonline.com website!
If you're looking to report a hacking, harassment, etc, go to the main Forums page, and scroll all the way down. Just above the tiny Contact-Us/Tos/Blah links, are the Report a Hacking, Report a Scamming, Report Abuse Or Harrassment, etc links.
5. Gaia is how you make of it. If you're here to roleplay, there is a forum for that, called Barton Town. You're free to use Guilds to roleplay as well, but please be mindful that all guilds created by users have their own sets of rules you must follow (guilds are like mini-communities).
If you're just here for the avatar aspects of the website, you are probably most interested in the avatar equip items themselves, and how to obtain them. The main currency we use here is gold, and almost everything can be obtained by gold via the Marketplace. You can also get items via Gaia's NPC Shops. But be careful though, some shops limits you to Gaia Cash purchases only (GC for short, it's real life money).
Or, if you're like me, who likes to surf the website and read people's gossips, discussions, full out drama, you're free to do only that too. There are many forums out there, and like the guilds feature I mentioned before, they (forum) each have their own rules.
Have fun by just relaxing in one of Gaia's flash areas, such as Towns or Rally, or play games such as Jigsaw puzzles or fishing. Or, if you're looking for more of a challenge, Gaia also have Zomg and Heralds of Chaos games for hardcore players.
Helpful Newbie Threads:
1. Hack Prevention Guide
Tricky thieves always have something new up their sleeves. Keep yourself safe by reading through this thread!
2. 500g + 48 days = 1 Million Gold? (Guide)
This thread is mostly about ways of vending/exchanging items for gold, but there is a section for newbies in there when it comes to gold earning.
3. Interested in certain parts of Gaia? Chances are, the threads can be found in forums dedicated to said feature, and they are most likely stickied for your convenience. Take these for example:
- Gaia Game Related > Gaming Discussion > GGD Resource Sticky
- Gaia Housing, Avatar, Profiles, etc > Gaia Community Discussion > Any of its subforums > Stickied threads.
- Guides in general > Site Questions and Assistance > Gaia Guides and Resources
4. Gaia Dream Avatar Creator
Mostly known as Tektek. This is a "fan-made" website for those who are interested in creating avatars without being limited to their inventory. Lots of people uses tektek, but often mistakes it being a part of Gaia (it is not).
5. **Twisted's Free Item Collection**
You're new, so why not a little freebie here or two?
Gaia Advance Section:
A section for those who knows how to use the site from a basic standpoint of view, but would like to advance in a certain field.
Codes for forums, profiles, signatures, etc:
1. The Ultimate Text Color Code Guide
2. Profilist Pal - RESOURCES FOR THE PROFILIST
3. A Gaian's Basic Guide to Post Style Formatting
Pretty much what the title says. But I find it interesting how the thread also made note of third-party toolbars for auto formatting post styles.
4. LIST OF SYMBOLS/TEXT
Useful if you're tired of using western alphabet. xp
5. Grooveshark: A Playlist Guide
How to add playlists to your profile.
Gaia Avatar and Gaia Items Related:
1. THE STYLE DATABASE || GOODBYE STYLE, HELLO COMBINATION!
Avatar themes, old bandwagons and new trends.
2. Made for Each Other
Items not made as a set, but matches each other very nicely.
3. The Master Chance Item List
Includes links to other Gaia types of items, such as Monthly Collectibles, Animated items, and Evolving items.
There are a ton of guides in Gaia Guides and Resource forum related to item types, such as item modifications, hidden poses, and bloody/sweet themes. Some of them are even outright hilarious! For example, chest enhancement items! eek You Gaians are very... creative.
Gaia Features:
1. Fish Lab - a fish happiness guide or Aquarium FaQ
All about caring for your fish.
2. Guide for New Booty Grab Tank, Thread, and Sig Construction
Make the most out of your Aquarium tank.
3. Ultimate Alchemy Formula Guide
Alchemy Formulas
4. Philosopher's Cache Guide
Alchemy Components
5. I ❤ Achievements --- A Guide
Gaia Achievements
6. 500g + 48 days = 1 Million Gold? (Guide)
There are many guides like these out there.
I know there are good guides to zOMG, Heralds of Chaos, etc, but I don't know where to find them (the most useful and updated ones at least). Don't mind lending me a hand here if you happen to have them?
Miscellaneous:
1. Better Gaia
Don't like the changes Gaia made? Use Better Gaia (fan-made).
2. A Users Guide to Roleplaying
Roleplay
3. How to ★ WIN ★ Art Contests
Tutorials on how to draw can be found elsewhere online, but this one provides interesting tips in winning art contests.
