Welcome to the TribeNet Resources hub — your essential toolkit for mastering the art of clan leadership in this expansive, play-by-email strategy game. Whether you’re a newcomer laying the foundations of your first nomadic tribe or a seasoned chieftain steering a thriving civilization, this page offers a curated collection of official guides, research materials, community-driven insights, and real-time support channels. From the comprehensive rulebook known as The Mandate to the dynamic discussions on the Tribe Talk Discord Server, you’ll find everything you need to navigate the complexities of TribeNet’s world. Dive in to explore, strategize, and connect with a vibrant community of players shaping their destinies one turn at a time.
Official Resources:
The Mandate (PDF download): The official rulebook of TribeNet. It serves as a comprehensive reference manual that outlines all aspects of gameplay, including how to issue turn orders, manage your clan and tribes, learn and use skills, conduct combat, interact with the game world, and more. While it’s not designed to teach you how to play from scratch, it contains the authoritative rules that govern every action in the game and is intended to be consulted as needed — much like an encyclopedia. The Mandate is a living document, updated periodically to reflect rule changes and refinements. New players are encouraged to explore its contents gradually, focusing on the parts relevant to their current needs in the game rather than reading it cover to cover.
The Research Document (PDF download): A working catalogue of all available research topics in TribeNet, outlining the vast range of skills, technologies, buildings, and enhancements your clan can unlock through focused development. It’s structured like a research tree — though not visually — grouping topics under disciplines such as Agriculture, Combat, Engineering, Navigation, Medicine, and many others. Each entry typically includes prerequisites and, in some cases, benefits or special outcomes. The document isn’t a step-by-step guide but rather a menu of possibilities, serving as inspiration and a roadmap for your clan’s advancement. It is updated as the game evolves, and players are encouraged to explore it strategically to shape their clan’s long-term goals. Some entries may be provisional or subject to change as the game’s mechanics develop.
Tribe News: The official newsletter of TribeNet, published regularly by Peter the GM to announce rule updates, game developments, special events, clarifications, and in-world happenings. It serves as both a changelog and a narrative thread, tying together game mechanics and the living world of TribeNet. Tribe News is where you’ll find updates that haven’t yet made it into The Mandate or other documents — making it essential reading for staying current with evolving rules and opportunities. It may also include auction announcements, player achievements, special projects, and GM commentary. Players are strongly encouraged to read each issue carefully, as missing an update could result in outdated orders or overlooked opportunities
Player Created Resources:
Tribe Talk Discord Server: A Discord server for TribeNet. All are welcome! This is the central hub for real-time community interaction in the game, where players gather to ask questions, share strategies, coordinate alliances, and stay connected with the broader game world. It complements the official documents by offering a space for discussion, clarification, and mentorship, often with input directly from experienced players and sometimes Peter the GM. Whether you’re a newcomer needing help with your first orders or a veteran coordinating a multi-clan operation, the Discord is the fastest way to get answers and engage with the player community. It also hosts announcements, development discussions, and channels for specific interests like trading, combat, or lore, making it a vital social and informational resource for any active clan.
TribeNet Wiki: A wiki created and updated by the TribeNet players. It’s an evolving online knowledge base for the game, designed to centralize and organize player-facing information outside of the formal rule documents. Unlike The Mandate or Research Document, the wiki is community-curated and offers summaries, examples, clarifications, and practical advice for a wide range of game topics. It’s particularly useful for understanding how different systems interact, locating obscure rules, or finding examples of how certain orders should be written. The wiki also hosts links to various guides, resources, and unofficial help files. While not always fully up to date, it’s often the best starting point when trying to figure out a new mechanic or verify a detail, especially when paired with Tribe News and Discord.
Goat Digest: A player-run TribeNet newsletter, offering a mix of strategy, satire, storytelling, and community updates that bring the game world to life. Unlike the official documents, Goat Digest reflects the voices and creativity of the player base — clan leaders writing as their characters, sharing war stories, trade gossip, political intrigue, or humorous observations about the game. It’s where culture meets gameplay, capturing the social fabric and emergent narratives that make TribeNet more than just a turn-based strategy game. Reading the Goat Digest gives players insight into how others are playing, what’s unfolding behind the scenes, and how the community perceives ongoing developments.
Your First Turn in TribeNet: A beginner-friendly guide designed to walk new players through their crucial first steps in the game. Created as a companion to the Auto Turnsheet, this document simplifies the onboarding process by offering clear, actionable advice on how to read your setup, plan your initial orders, and understand what’s most important when you’re just starting out. It covers common pitfalls, explains terminology, and offers example orders to help demystify the format and expectations. While The Mandate is your long-term reference manual, Your First Turn in TribeNet is your launchpad—helping you get a strong start without being overwhelmed.
Understanding the TribeNet Auto Turnsheet: The essential guide for learning how to use the official order entry spreadsheet in TribeNet. This document explains the structure, tabs, and logic of the Auto Turnsheet, helping players—especially newcomers—navigate the complex process of submitting their actions each turn. It clarifies how to enter activities, transfers, movements, scouting, and more, while also pointing out common mistakes and troubleshooting tips. Rather than teaching gameplay mechanics, it focuses on how to correctly communicate your decisions to the game engine and to Peter the GM. If The Mandate is the rulebook, this guide is the how-to manual for making your turns actually happen.