Basic character creation (Races, Base Class, Functionality) is covered extensively in both the shadowbane manual and the official shadowbane website (REFER to LINKS section for further information).

I will try and cut right to the important stuff:

Knowing your surroundings

It is important to now the geography of the world around you. By becoming acquainted with it you can learn to feel comfortable with it and navigate easily through it. This is important early on for locating monster camps, but even more so as yu go into PvP. The greatest way to learn the landscape is to explore it in-game. However, certain sites do have wonderful resources including full-fledged Shadowbane World Maps. One such site is run by "Tzung." Click Here for his map of Tyrranth Minor AKA "Newbie Isle." For a list of all his maps go to Tzung Maps. On the maps you can find the locations that I refer to below.

Developing your character

After character creation you are prompted to select a starting city to begin your journey. Make sure to select the city (Hamlet of) Calder as yours. It is by far the best place to hunt and level throughout your adventure in Newbie Island (AKA n00b land). Every monster you'll need from level 1 - 20 is near there so it is great.

Important Notes

1. Groups in this game are not the same as in other MMORPG games such DAOC. Each person in the group recieves experience equal to what they would get if they were to solo the monster. So, if I was by myself and I kill a spider and get 100 exp, then in a group I will still get (roughly) 100 exp no matter how many people may be present in the group! Therefore when ten people are in the group, its barely even lowers your exp from each kill, therefore you can level almost 10x as fast!

2.  A common tactic that large groups deploy is to "take over" a camp of monsters. You and your group simply kill everything in the camp continally and stand on the spawn murdering anything that may respawn. Since respawn timers are relatively short, you can rack of a lot of experience and never be overpowered as you kill the monsters before they can overwhelm your group. I like this strategy and it can you yield great experience very quickly!

3. At Level 10, You are literally forced to train in a specialized profession to further advance your character. If you do not choose one, then you are not allowed to level again until you do. See "Training a Profession" for more information.

Leveling to 20 - The Fast Way

Starting Location: Hamlet of Calder

Training in a Profession

    At level 10, you are required to seek out a promotion to a profession of your choice based on your class. (Please REFER to the LINKS section for further information on professions). In order to train in a profession you MUST seek out the specific trainer (ie Wizard Trainer).

    The best way to find one is to go to the city of Khar. The easiest way to get to Khar (no you don't run there), is to talk to the RUNEMASTER at the center of every starting city. The runemaster is near the rune stone that is in the center of n00b cities. Once at the Runemaster, simply double-click on him. From the menu that appears choose "What else can you tell me?" -> "How do I leave this village?" -> "Repledge to a new town." Then obviously select Khar from the list....

    Khar has most every profession trainer and it is the best alternative to wandering around like an idiot looking for one. In Khar, please ask people around you for specific locations to your trainer or simply explore the city until you see your specific trainer usually named <Name> the <Profession> (i.e. Nimuh the Wizard). Simply click on the Trainer and select "... Promote ..." and then that's about it. Congratulations you are now an actual <Profession you chose>!

How to form and maintain a group

To create a group simply go to the "Esc" Menu (Press esc to toggle it) and select "Group Options" -> "Form a group."

    To invite people into your group go to the "Esc" Menu and select "Group Options" -> "Invite new member to group." To toggle treasure split on/off click "Group Options" -> "Treasure Split."

    To turn on formations (like auto follow), simply look on group window and toggle it on bottom left corner of the group window.

Finding a group and Level 20 and beyond

   If you are looking for a group, but get discouraged please DO NOT SOLO, whether you like it or not, you NEED a group! If you want one quick just got to the center of town and type "/city forming a group at tree..."

If you see people roughly around your level then just invite them into a group. When you have 7 - 10 people in the group then go on and hunt. I will soon make a list of good places to hunt post-20. For now, you and your group will have to just go to places you guys know from experience or find some other resource.

    The best city for level 20+ starting out is Khar. Do the above technique here to yield good results and find a group quick. If you are unable to form a group, travel (by repledge at runemaster or running) to Vorringarth and try again. If you are still unable to find a group then you are either a very unlucky individual or no one likes you.

Buffer Zones

    I find it somewhat hilarious that everyone is complaining that there is lack of content in Shadowbane in certain areas. If you are one of those people feel free to learn a new term: Buffer Zones. Buffer zones are areas in between monster spawn areas (Mob Zones) and cities. These buffers usually are filled with ABSOLUTELY nothing. It does seem crappy that i can run for a few minutes seeing NOTHING. However, These serve three major purposes:

    1) A resting area for people to sit or rest while running away or to a mob area. Trust me if there were monsters everywhere you would hate it anyway.

    2) A place to build PLAYER made cities. Yes I know you come from <Insert MMORPG Here>. That game didn't have entirely player made cities that can fight each other for dominance. So, come down off your pedestal and realize that buffer zones are NEEDED so that these huge player made cities can exist in great number and have BADASS seiging and conquering battles.

    3) The most important reason of course is simply to SPITE you. That's right the developers have purposely put in the LAG (refer to BASICS to reduce lag in-game), bugs, and buffer zones all to make your life difficult for their own sick, demented amusement and pleasure. (NOTE: I am joking for the humor-disinclined)