I decided it was time to create a guide for newcomers to Sansar, explaining how to set up the client software, create an account, and take your first steps as a newbie avatar. I am going to assume that you have never used Sansar before, and take you step by step, with illustrations. (This information is current as of April 12th, 2019.)
Step 1: Decide Where You Want to Download the Sansar Client Software From
You have two choices:
- Download the software from the Sansar website
- Download the software from the Sansar page on Steam (you need to have a Steam account already set up to do this)
What’s the difference? The clients are identical from both sources, but there is a big difference when it comes to buying Sansar’s in-world currency, called Sansar dollars. If you download the Sansar client software from the Sansar website, Linden Labs gets all the profits when you buy Sansar dollars (also via the website). If you download the Sansar client from Steam, Steam takes a cut of the profits when you buy Sansar dollars, using your Steam wallet.
Me? I prefer to cut out the middleman (in this case, Steam) and give Linden Lab a bigger share of the profit, since they are, after all, spending their time and money building the actual social VR platform. But if you already have Steam and want to organize everything from your Steam account, you can do that too. Choice is good!
Step 2: Install the Sansar Client Software
IMPORTANT! Be sure that your computer (Windows only, sorry Mac and Linux users!) meets the recommended system specs (you can check them out on their website or on their Steam page).
Once you’re satisfied your computer can run Sansar, download the software and click on the executable to install the client software on your computer.
Step 3: Set Up a User Account
After you have installed the software, open the program. You will see the following Log In screen. Click “Sign Up” at the bottom (see arrow):
At the next screen, you will enter an email address, an avatar username (no spaces), and a password. You will most likely use your email address and password to sign in to Sansar. (Note that if you already have a Steam or a Twitch account, you can use those instead.)
You will get an on-screen message to check your previously entered email to verify your account:
In your email program, open the email Linden Lab sent you and click on the big red button to verify your account. Easy!
Now you can go back to your Sansar client and sign in with your brand new credentials.
Step 4: Pick a Starter Avatar
You will be presented with a selection of custom avatars, of which you can choose one as your starter avatar (or you can decide to create a standard male or female human avatar if you prefer):
(Relax! You can always change your avatar later if you get tired of your first choice. That’s the beauty of avatars in social VR/virtual worlds!)
Once you have selected an avatar, you will arrive in what is called the Lookbook, a sort of changing room and private retreat that only you can access. You will also be presented with your first Quest (see red arrow):
Step 5: Complete the Quests and Earn Sansar Dollars
Now this is the fun part! To complete your first Quest, you must walk your avatar (using the WASD or the four arrow keys) over to the Sansar Social Hub:
And you will want to complete this Quest! Why? Because you can get FREE Sansar dollars which you can spend on anything you want to buy from the Sansar Store!
Once you arrive at the Sansar Social Hub (a sort of central meeting place for avatars in Sansar), just click on one of the two blue glowing avatars in the middle of the landing point:
Once you do, you will get a notification that you earned ten Sansar dollars (S$10) and be asked if you want to go shopping right away:
What I suggest you do is click on “Not now”, and go and finish all the available Quests. Click on Agent Animus or Agent Forma to receive and accept your Quests. You can have up to two Quests active at any one time. Once you complete a Quest, you return to the Sansar Social Hub and click on either Agent Animus or Agent Forma to receive your reward.
By doing these Quests, you will explore a few classic Sansar experiences and earn money you can spend to outfit your avatar as you please! Here is a listing of all the Quests and the amount of money you will earn for completing each of them:
- Welcome to Sansar – S$10
- Avatar Scan Points: Social Hub – S$10
- Data Disc Recovery: Social Hub – S$10
- Avatar Scan Points: Sansar Customs – S$10
- Data Disc Recovery: Mars Outpost Alpha – S$20
- Avatar Scan Points: 360 Cinema Dome – S$10
- Data Disc Recovery: Zen Garden – S$30
- Avatar Scan Points: Zen Garden – S$20
- Data Disc Recovery: Mini Golf – S$40
- Avatar Scan Points: Mini Golf – S$25
- Data Disc Recovery: Colossus Rising – S$50
- Avatar Scan Points: Colossus Rising – S$30
Here’s a hint: try to arrange it so you can pass all the avatar scan points and hit all the data discs at the same time in one experience. It saves having to travel back and forth!
After completing all the Quests, you will have S$265 to spend as you like in the Sansar Store (which you can access within the client software by selecting the Shop button on the left-hand side of your screen, or by going to the Sansar Store on the website. Don’t forget to take advantage of all the free items on the Sansar Store, too!
Here’s an example of a look you can pull together for the male human avatar, using items from your default clothing inventory in Lookbook and free items from the Sansar Store:
This avatar is wearing:
- Marco Hair by Ade (free from the Sansar Store; can be tinted as desired in the Lookbook)
- Rainbow T-shirt by Snow (free from the Sansar Store)
- Voices of Sansar Jeans Shorts by Alfy (free from the Sansar Store)
- Red Nerd Shoes (already in your default clothing inventory in Lookbook, just click on the hanger icon)
So, that should be enough to get you started on your Sansar adventure. Have fun, and be good to your fellow newbies!
