Ingress/Portal
Ingress Portals in State of Sarkhan are mostly comes in form of Spirit Houses (Phra Phum Shrine/ศาลพระภูมิ)
General Description
Ingress Portals: The Foundation of the Game
Ingress revolves around portals – gateways to exotic energy scattered across the real world. These portals, submitted by players like you, can be anything from historical landmarks and sculptures to unique murals and hidden gems in your local park.
More Than Just Waypoints:
- Niantic Wayfarer: Agents level 8 and older, aka the Field General, play a crucial role in expanding the Ingress universe. By submitting interesting locations through Niantic Wayfarer, you propose new portals that enrich the gameplay for yourself and other agents. These approved portals might even find their way into other Niantic games like Pokémon Go or Harry Potter: Wizards Unite!
Interacting with Portals:
Your Ingress scanner becomes your weapon and tool as you interact with portals:
- Hacking: "Hack" a portal to gather Exotic Matter (XM), the lifeblood of Ingress. XM powers your actions and allows you to deploy resonators, link portals, and create fields.
- Capturing: Deploy resonators on a neutral portal to claim it for your faction (Enlightened or Resistance). A fully resonated portal (with 8 resonators) becomes a powerful anchor for your territory.
- Linking: Connect captured portals with links to form triangles, creating fields that dominate the landscape. Fields generate Mind Units (MU), a measure of your faction's control.
- Attacking: Weaken enemy portals by deploying XMP burners or launching Ultra Strikes. A well-timed attack can disrupt enemy field networks and turn the tide of battle.
Ingress Prime and Beyond:
The latest iteration, Ingress Prime, introduces exciting new ways to interact with portals:
- Scout Controller: Scan portals to earn the "Scout Controller" badge, demonstrating your dedication to exploring and documenting the real world through Ingress.
- Overclocking: This AR-enhanced glyph hacking system requires you to trace glyph sequences on your screen to gain increased rewards from hacking portals.
Portal Tiers
Portal Powerhouses: Mastering Anchors, Link Stars, and Nests
In the last chapter, we explored the fundamentals of interacting with portals. Now, let's delve deeper into strategic portal categorization, transforming you from a fledgling agent to a master field architect!
The Anchor: Your Fortress of Power
The anchor is the cornerstone of your field network. Imagine it as a high-end department store in a shopping mall – a major attraction with a long lease, attracting a constant flow of customers (links). Here's what defines a strong anchor:
- High Level: Ideally, your anchor should be a fully-resonated (8 resonators) portal, offering maximum resistance to enemy attacks.
- Strategic Location: Look for portals with multiple linking possibilities. Ideally, they should be in a central location with easy access (but not too easy – think security checkpoints).
Link Stars: The Supporting Cast
Link stars are your "essential service" portals, like the mall's post office or ATM. They play a crucial role in maximizing your field network:
- Second-Tier Anchors: Link stars often act as secondary anchors, drawing links from your main anchor and providing additional linking opportunities.
- Field Stacking Powerhouse: Due to their strong linking potential, link stars are ideal for creating layered fields within a smaller area, maximizing Mind Unit (MU) gain.
Nests and Child Portals: Filling the Gaps
Nests and child portals, like smaller street landmarks, complete your field network:
- Nest: Imagine a nest as a cluster of portals in close proximity. These are perfect for creating intricate field networks within a smaller area, often used for defensive purposes.
- Child Portals: These are lower-level portals on the outskirts of your network. They serve as "buffer zones," absorbing enemy attacks and allowing for easier recapture if compromised. Think of them as the smaller shops surrounding the anchor tenants. They might be easier targets, but their lower XM cost makes them expendable.
Cargressers Beware!
Cargressers (agents who exploit car travel for easy portal captures) often target these smaller, outlying portals. However, their lower level and easier recapture make them expendable. By strategically placing nests and child portals, you create a layered defense, forcing cargressers to waste resources on these "feeder" portals while your core network remains secure.
The Art of Offense: A Tale for Another Day
This chapter focused on defensive strategies. But fear not, aspiring Agent! The next chapter will equip you with offensive tactics – toppling enemy anchors, dismantling their fields, and claiming dominance over the Ingress battlefield!
