# Several questions for a newb **URL:** \ **Category:** Gameplay Chat (PC/Mobile)\ **Created:** [April 24, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993 "2017-04-24T01:17:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DannySt](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dannyst/32/23352_2.png) [@DannySt](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DannySt)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/1 "2017-04-24T01:17:17Z")
So I am just starting the game and I can’t find how to do a few things. How do I use the elemental trait stones? I have several, but I can’t find where I can see a list of what I have, or any way to use them. I suppose that I will get what traitstones do once I figure out how to use them, but I am curious. I also see some things that talk about an enemy or troop’s magic, and I am not sure if that is something different than mana. I joined a guild, and am unsure if I know enough about what it does. Basically is it a place where you can help pay into something to get all your guild members some nice treasures? That’s all I see for that right now. ---
**Author:** ![Strat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Strat](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Strat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/2 "2017-04-24T01:20:49Z")
@Tacet has a year worth of videos! > **[Tacet the Terror](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlFcnuWs5b-xq9udFzA7pQ/playlists)** > > Hello everyone! If you are looking for Gems of War content, you have found the right place! I also play various Nintendo and PC games. > > \- - - - - 💎 Gems of War: Upload Schedule 💎 - - - - - > > Every Day: ----- ⏩ Stream 8 - 9 PM EST ⏪ > Monday: --------... lots of videos for new players as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ozball](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/ozball/32/36110_2.png) [@Ozball](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Ozball)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/3 "2017-04-24T01:22:15Z")
Traitstones are used to unlock traits for your troops. Troops → Select a Troop → Crafting button → Traits should show you what’s available for that troop and what it will cost to unlock. Hero → Collection will give you a list of what you currently have. Magic is the stat that defines how much damage etc a spell will do. You can see an enemy troops magic by selecting the troop and looking in the top left of their spell card. It should be a number on top of a crystal ball. Guilds have a statue for each colour mana, and each task completed gives rewards to the guild members and xp to the corresponding statue. Once the statue gets enough xp it will level up. Statues give Mana Mastery based on their level, and at certain levels they can also provide other bonuses (extra turns in Treasure Hunt, more Glory from PVP wins etc). Also if your guild manages to finish all 12 tasks for a statue in a week they will get a temporary stat bonus to all their troops (based on the statue). The rewards gotten from completing the tasks usually vastly outweigh the gold put into them, so are always worth doing. ---
**Author:** ![Stan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/stan/32/29888_2.png) [@Stan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/4 "2017-04-24T01:26:22Z")
Hi Danny, welcome to the forums! The traitstones can be used to upgrade your troops. Each troop has 3 traits that can be unlocked, and each trait requires a certain number of stones. From your troop list, you should be able to click on any troop and see the traits that can be unlocked, as well as the cost in traitstones. Magic IS different than mana. Magic is a stat, like armour, life and attack, but magic has different effects based on the particular spell that each troop casts. Increasing magic might increase the damage that a spell does, or increase the number of gems that are destroyed or transformed by a spell, or increase the level of a troop summoned, etc. A particular troop will always require the same number of mana to power up their spell. A guild is essentially what you describe: a place where all members can contribute to common goals. Each guild has 6 different tasks (corresponding to the 6 guild statues that you see on the guild screen) that can be completed each week. As each level of each task is completed, each guild member will receive a reward in the mail. There are some additional wrinkles, but you’ll learn more as you play more. Being in a guild is one of the best ways to get resources, so always be in the best guild that you can, and try to contribute a reasonable portion of your gold toward guild tasks, but also focus on using gold to levelling up your kingdoms. Edit: Sniped by Ozball once again! ---
**Author:** ![Strat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Strat](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Strat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/5 "2017-04-24T01:32:11Z")
Ha! @Stan I knew if I typed anything of substance I would be sniped. So I linked a great resource @DannySt can review once others answer these starting questions. I do hope he takes the time to visit Tacets youtube channel. ---
**Author:** ![Ozball](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/ozball/32/36110_2.png) [@Ozball](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Ozball)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/6 "2017-04-24T01:35:30Z")
@KrudlerTheHorse also has some good videos for beginners. > **[Krudler The Horse](https://www.youtube.com/user/cshewel)** > > I used to make Gems of War videos, but now I just put up random gaming videos. ---
**Author:** ![Stan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/stan/32/29888_2.png) [@Stan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/7 "2017-04-24T01:35:51Z")
Well, if that’s how you want to play it, then @DannySt should definitely check out this series by @KrudlerTheHorse: > [@100 things you wish you knew about Gems of War \[DONE\]](http://community.gemsofwar.com/t/100-things-you-wish-you-knew-about-gems-of-war-done/15529): > > #Thank you to everybody that helped make this series come alive !!! We’re all done here slight_smileI was chatting with some newbies on Reddit and off-handedly asked they’d enjoy a video on this subject. I got good feedback and many people said they would love it. So I’m asking for your help coming up with as many things as possible - credit will be given to ALL contributors! I’d like to pass along a list of things I wish I knew when I started out. Some examples I can think of are: In A… These videos are brief, aimed at new players and informed by the collective wisdom of the community. ---
**Author:** ![Stan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/stan/32/29888_2.png) [@Stan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/8 "2017-04-24T01:36:33Z")
@Ozball, from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! ---
**Author:** ![Ozball](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/ozball/32/36110_2.png) [@Ozball](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Ozball)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/several-questions-for-a-newb/22993/9 "2017-04-24T01:37:34Z")
To be fair, I linked the channel and you linked the more immediately useful forum thread 😉 So I think you win this one.