twillight: There's no manual coming with the game, and I got frustrated VERY fast with it.
I have no idea what am I doing, no idea what the buildings do, no idea what are 'quests", no idea what the equipment do and how they do it, no idea what the possible recruits do, if the recruits come in random, what the heck I should do as even during the 1st quest my orders regularly get mixed up, no idea what enemy is dangerous in what way, no idea when do I get healed (ok, I get full heal of HP when I return to town, right?), no idea how food works (I just ate a load of food, which reset back to its values-when-left-town when my party decided they are hungry), no idea how long a torch last, no idea on practically ANYTHING, like what's the deal with traps, why I get sacres at random for no reason etc. etc.
So, where's the darn manual, please? All the necessary basic info, ok? Like in the "good old times". Gimme that 150 pages electronic manual, or whatever what explains all that I'll need to be able to start the friggin game!
Did I mention this thing just annoyed me?
First of all, calm down.
As a tip: next time try to break the multitude of questions apart into smaller segments, it's
much easier to answer them that way. On
different (read: less friendly and patient) forums such posts may result in people calling you names.
What version of the game do you have? It should be 21142. If not, update it.
The game does not have a "classic" manual, but there is a tutorial in-game. Read the provided tips and follow them.
In town, there is a book icon at the bottom of the screen between the candle and the chest. It's called "Glossary" and it should explain some of the basics.
Also for most things in-game, an explanation should appear if you leave the mouse on an object (e.g. a building) for a few seconds.
By "equipment" I'm assuming you meant "trinkets", if so you can find them in the chest icon at the bottom of the screen. To use them right click on a hero and drag the trinket to an empty slot (under the "equipment" tab there should be a sack icon). First, you need to get them by completing a Quest.
Think of Quests as missions. Click on the "embark" button, select a mission and drag and drop the heroes you want to your team. Click on the "Provision" and select what your Heroes will take on their Quest (akin to "equipping" them in an ARPG, it's like telling them: "You may pack this in your backpacks for this mission."). To use an item right click on it while on a Quest.
First, you have to use a torch (right click on it) and at the top of the screen, a line will appear and gradually disappear (like torch-meter). You will notice the area looking brighter or darker depending on torch usage.
You heal with certain skills such as the Crusader's "Battle Heal" and others. You must assign them before using them (right click on a Hero and click on skills under the "Combat Skills" tab to activate or deactivate them. Only 4 can be active at once.).
Visit the Guild once you unlock it and get new skills for your Heroes.
The game is built on a very simple click-to-do/use principle. In battle select the skill you want your Hero to use.
Traps are tricky (they are traps, after all), it may take some trials and errors, but you will notice the stance of your heroes will change sometimes, look on the ground for a trap (there should be a text above the heroes displaying the trap-disarming success rate). Click on the trap with the Hero with the highest %.
As for enemies, it's a process of trial and error + observation.
Yes, heroes are spawned randomly each week. Check the "Stage Coach" (bottom left near signpost) in town to get new heroes.
Darkest Dungeon is tactical management and battle game. You have to keep a lookout on the heroes' stress and health, decrease the first and increase the other.
Let's say you (as you in real life) went into a dark scary place and got beaten up by a skeleton. You would suffer injuries (health decrease in-game) and the fear would cause you stress. (Even walking in such a place would be scary, right? Hence, the "random" stress accumulation in heroes.) That's the basic premise of the game for its heroes. The more they do it, the more levels they get and the more resilient they become.
For further information check the game wiki and the game's official site.
https://darkestdungeon.gamepedia.com/Darkest_Dungeon_Wiki - wiki
http://www.darkestdungeon.com/ - official game website
Warning: Darkest Dungeon is a difficult game by default. If it's too difficult, search the nexus for a mod and install it.
E.g. Unstoppable Heroes - this mod should be easy to use, but it may be very unbalanced and it might make the game too easy. However, it also explains how to edit the game files yourself for different values.
https://www.nexusmods.com/darkestdungeon/mods/340/? - mod link
Bottom line: Darkest Dungeon is a game that requires a
lot of
reading. If you don't like that, try a different game.
P.S. Sorry, but some parts of your post give the impression of "I was too lazy to read the pop-ups."
If that's not the case and they don't appear (they definitely should), your game is likely outdated. If that doesn't help, you're dealing with a technical issue that is beyond my ability to resolve.
I hope that helps and I apologize if some parts seemed insulting, they were meant as parts of arguments and not as insults.
I came here to congratulate you, for this answer. While the others gave, in my opinion, good answers too, yours was very patient and complete.
Now, about the discussions, the failures and discoveries (general characteristics of monsters, dungeons and bosses) are constant part of the game (which you can avoid with spoilers and wikis). Many times will you lost some progress with your characters, because they will die horribly and revoltingly (I ragequited sometimes because I became attached to them, but some persons consider they as expendable), while your progress with your Hamlet will continue (the most important part of the game). So, maybe you (OP) should avoid this game, since it doesn't seems to be your style/(sub)genre.
