"My Pokemon Go Tips To My Earlier Self: guidelines for raw beginners."

#PokemonGO: I posted "A Newbie's Wishlist" a few weeks ago, listing information or topics I think would help newbies learn the game more readily, so they could both play the game better, and take part more fully in the conversations here on TSR. It was mostly well received, and one reader suggested I consider what I could contribute.Today, a member of a facebook group where I lived asked for tips for a 3rd-level player who was truly just starting. I thought about the things that are still dawning on me; things that would have helped me become more masterful, sooner. So, here are my tips for my former (and current) self. Perhaps tips like this would be a useful addition to the upcoming field guide.Your comments, additions, critiques, etc. are welcome.Getting to level 20 is about learning the basics of the game. Getting to level 30 is about mastering game. Getting to level 40 is about exercising and refining your mastery. If you haven't fully understood the game by level 30, don't worry. The trip from 30 to 40 is mostly symbolic, and takes a loooong time.Notice the weather, and the pokemon types that are favored by that weather. Hunt the swirly pokemon the most. Notice the types of every pokemon you catch, or don't catch. When you have the brain space, look at the moves of each pokemon you catch. Notice how the move type generally matches the type of the pokemon, but often doesn't. Just look and remember them for now, so they are familiar. Types are part of the fabric of the game, but have little bearing at first on what you need to do. Don't worry about how they work at first; just make them part of what you notice and absorb.As much for the teacher as the student: Evaluating mons is important, but start simple. CP is enough for a beginner (Really!). Eventually you'll notice patterns of which pokemon have better CPs. From there you will learn what components go into CP (species, level, IVs), and what kind of effort it takes to get better things in each of them. Then you'll notice patterns in how pokemon perform that seem to go beyond simple CPs, and then you're into the realm of individual IVs and movesets, and the interplay of types, and even the weather. DON'T WORRY ABOUT ALL THAT. Here at the beginning, CP is enough.Until you are level 20, the fastest and cheapest way to higher powered mons is a higher level you.Don't get sentimental. Be prepared to toss out all but the best you have of any species. Your understanding of what "best" means will become more and more refined, and contextual, as time goes by. But this much is sure: virtually none of your first pokemon will ever be worth keeping, except for sentimental reasons, or at substantial expense. Sorry, that's how it is.A good mon now is better than the perfect one you don't have yet.Never spend gold on things you can get for free. Never spend real money on gold you can get for free.Spend gold on storage capacity, incubators, and raid passes. Get everything else through level awards, or through bonus boxes when they are available in the shop.Throwing pokeballs well is a surprisingly important part of the game. Learn the principles of throw timing. Learn to perceive distance from the visual cues in the catching screens. Challenge yourself to get all "nice" throws regardless of distance. Then go for "great" throws, etc.Hoard dust, and be stingy with candy, until you really know what you're buying with them.Evolving can be done for XP, or for more powerful pokemon, or for filling your pokedex. You will learn when and how to do each to your best advantage.It's a complex game, and people find many ways to enjoy it. Discover what you enjoy the most about the game, then learn how to do it well. Respect and make room for others who have different goals for the game.Be neighborly with other teams and players. Humans first, gamers second. via /r/TheSilphRoad http://ift.tt/2CLK7FG