First steps as a Newbie

Creating a Pet
The minute you create account and activate it, you should make a pet. If you don't have a pet on your account, you cannot have an inventory, and therefore there is no point to your account. You can also adopt a pet if you don't want to make one, but that is not advised because you don't have sufficient neopoints to adopt a pet yet (and the choices aren't that great either).

When you create your pet, go through all the options before you make a choice. The last thing you want to do is to get landed with a pet you don't like and have to abandon it - that's just cruel. If you don't like the color you have chosen for your pet, no worries, you can change it with the paintbrushes from your newbie pack that you can get when you first visit your inventory.

Your pet's name is crucial in showing what kind of a person you are. Don't use the random name generator because all the names have been used and you'll end up with a string of numbers and 2 letters for your pet's name, and that's not exactly the coolest image you can achieve. Once you've created your pet, go to Shops and click on Your Items (first button on the image map) and collect your newbie pack.

Newbie Pack
Collect it, save it, do not sell it. Not that you can anyway, since the paintbrushes cannot be sold or traded, but the other items are pretty much worthless and there's not much point in getting a few measly neopoints for something you might want to use later. Put it into your Safety Deposit Box and you'll never know when you might need it.

If you have access to the NC Mall you might also want to collect your free 150 NeoCash. This can be used to buy rare items you wouldn't be able to get from the normal shops in Neopets. To see if you have access to the NC Mall, just check the yellow drop down menu on Neopets, and if it says NC Mall at the very end of the line, then you have access to it. Only certain countries have access to the NC Mall though, so if you don't have access, but really want to see what it's like, just switch your country to the US or UK.

Create a Shop
It's important to have a shop because it's the fastest way of getting rid of items you don't want for some neopoints that you do want. The starting fee is high and the upgrading fees are even higher, but it's always good to start somewhere. Leave the upgrading for when you have more neopoints and then you can decide on whether you want a big shop or keep it small.

Start a Bank Account
The bank is the safest place to store your neopoints. If kept your neopoints by your side all the time, it could get stolen by Ghosts or by the Bug Brothers (random events as you go around Neopets), or there could be a glitch and all your neopoints could get wiped out. The annoying thing is that there's no way to get it back if you did lose all of it.

That's why starting a bank account is so important. Just fill out your form (don't leave your real information in there because the form is only for show) and voila! Instant safety for your earnings. The awesome part is that if you deposit money straightaway, you can get daily interest from the bank for as long as your bank account is alive. The higher your account type, the more interest you get, so make sure you change it whenever your neopoints qualify.

Playing Games
Games are the easiest way to gain neopoints. It doesn't cost anything (with the exception of some luck games) and it can be real fast if you have a natural talent for the game. At least play 5 games that seems interesting to you before taking a break so you can see how the system works. Playing the Featured Game will give you double neopoints so always give it a try when it looks like a game you'd be interested in.

Using Graphics
Most newbies don't have a good grasp for graphics, so using premade graphics are a common thing. It's nothing to be ashamed about, half of this site is dedicated to providing premade graphics that could spice up your page. Some sites offer custom graphics, but their credit will still be on there. Unless you're a real wiz with graphics, I suggest you start with premades.

The last thing you want to do is to get in trouble on your first week. When using graphics, you MUST keep the credit. Removing the credit is STEALING and will result in your account being frozen and your IP being banned from every good graphics site around. Be a good Neopian and give credit where credit is due.

Joining a Guild
Don't join a guild just so you can take their newbie pack and leave. That's rude and it's also called stealing. Newbie packs offered by guilds are for members who intend to stay. If you like the look of a guild, join it and look around - don't ask for a newbie pack straight away. If you feel like this is the guild for you, then stay, introduce yourself, and do whatever it is that newbies can do in that guild. If you don't like the guild, just leave, nobody will blame you.

That's pretty much the basics of being a newbie. Check out the other pages in this section or you can try your luck with our more complicated guides and see what you can brew up. I hope this guide has helped and I wish you the best for your journey in Neopia!

~Jen