beta testing 0.1: tutorial & dungeon

[gamedevs]

beta testing 0.1

BETA NOTE: This log is being used for Duocaeli’s Tutorial & Dungeon Beta Testing. Please note that some game features are limited and will be noted in this format on pages, and an invitation is still required to play. Thank you and have fun!

"On" Tutorial

It’s pitch black. Is the darkness an old friend or a source of anxiety for you? Who’s to say what you were doing before, but right now there’s only one thing before your eyes: an ominous word over a slowly generating bar.

LOADING...
All at once - you’re plunged into color.

> A1. TUTORIAL START

If you’re lucky, the first sights that greet you are lush greenery, dancing street performers, and a grand statue of an elephant with assorted birds nesting nearby. Welcome to Avisle’s Town Square.

After a quick once-over, you’ll find that everything that you had on you before arriving is accounted for–so if you were barefoot and in your pajamas, you might not have much–with one notable addition: a glowing crystal in your pocket. The roughly cut gem fits in your palm and is already fastened on a chain for you. Convenient!

Soon after finding it, the crystal will begin to project information in front of you that is remarkably legible, even if you’ve never seen these particular runes before. It reads: New Worldwalker’s Checklist. Below, a series of tick boxes await you. You may need to start asking around or exploring. Seems like you’ve got things to do!

If you’re less fortunate, it seems you’ve landed just a bit outside the maintained grounds of the city itself. Somehow you’ve spawned in the middle of a pack of wolves. Huh! Well. You can see the city not too far from here, so maybe if you’re quick… Time to learn on your feet!

Whenever you do get to safety and complete the same inventory of your person, the crystal will respond to you just the same. Apparently you just decided to play on Hard Mode.

> A2. THE BUSTLING GUILD TOWN

☑️ Join a Guild

Avis Isle is a deeply uncharted place, welcoming explorers and curious adventurers. The Guilds do their best to provide structure for the city proper and for those getting a grasp of their magic; the Interguild Alliance (IGA) oversees the Guild Hub where quests are posted and dungeon crawls are organized. While there are all sorts of Guilds around, there are five main wings for each of the Grand 5.

Why not get to know them better? NPCs will call you over and try to encourage you to join them, some with challenging jeers and others with sincere, kind invitations–don’t you know that the very first guild that you join is free? Choose wisely! The guild’s mascot animal, some type of Avian, sits upon a very nice and color-coded throne in their respective wing awaiting your choice. Once you’ve made your selection, it will croon (or honk) at you, and your membership is complete. While you can’t actually hear the words, you have a feeling you’ve been told something like, “Now get to work, fresh meat!”

—Though if you're dallying, guilds aren't without mischief. A stray bird (though never The Throned Mascot Bird) may suddenly run by, webbed feet slapping on tile, and steal one of your items before ducking into the respective wing of their guild. The same goes for those that try to leave without joining a guild. Theft is a great marketing strategy, right?

> A3. BEGINNER’S QUEST: DUNGEON CRAWL

For all new worldwalkers, there is one quest that you must complete upon joining the server. Some call it fun-datory, some call it hazing. Don’t worry about it! Your crystal will blink at you before providing the details of the quest:

☑️ Dungeon Mission:
Retrieve the Hiccuping Hifloon

Though should there come a moment that you find yourself low on energy, whether it be from simple exhaustion or magic use, your communication crystal will flash. A new understanding will come to you: it is possible to transfer mana to one another via gestures of affection, borrowing from your traveling partner’s own energy. Why don’t you go and try it now? Holding a hand might just make you feel better, and not just emotionally!

> A4. TUTORIAL END

And with that, you’ve wrapped up the Duocaeli tutorial! Congratulations!! That said, while it's understandable to get off-track—if you outright ignore the prompts from your to-do list, you’ll find yourself respawning in front of the goal you need to accomplish! Come on, work with us a little here. Or don’t? You can be trapped in a loop if you really want.

Now you’re free to explore the rest of town. While there are some land masses in the distance, out past the wolves, it seems they're not quite open to you at the moment. Attempts to wander closer will lead to you getting turned right back around, and some glitchy text coming from your Communication Crystal that reads SERVER TRAFFIC.

If you poke around the options on your Communication Crystal, or just spend long enough logged on confused, you will eventually find it prompting you through the steps of Logging Out. Seems like there’s more still that awaits you.

"OFF" Tutorial

> B1. HOME SWEET HOME

When you awaken in the OFF world, the pressure on the front of your face is a little more apparent. Taking off the digital visor is easy—and it can turn compact right in your hand! Getting it to snap back into your cell phone just right might be a pain, thank goodness it’s durable—oh right, did we mention you have a cell phone? Whether you’re familiar with the device or not, it’s right there in your palm, the same color as your Duocaeli crystal. A closer examination of your clothes will also reveal that while your threads are familiar, they’re not exactly what you had in Duocaeli. Ever heard of a department store? They’re a little more like what you’d find there! Finally, your phone will suddenly beep and provide you with a new checklist, starting with:

☑️ Locate Domus Hosus Room

Seems like the first one is to find your room… But as you take a closer look around you, you might finally notice it—the way that the tiles on the floor seem to be shuddering in excitement at your awakening, the opening and closing of windows and cabinets to get your attention and say hi. Not only is the house alive, it seems to be happy to see you! Make your request—maybe a passing soul tells you that the house likes to be called Dodo, rather than the formal Domus Hosus—and see if it can be answered! Dodo so wants you to be comfortable here.

…and perhaps be a little mischievous? As you try to find your room, designated by your name on a plaque, you might be in for a surprise. Maybe the stairs suddenly turn into a slide, prompting you to tumble into another person. Perhaps the doors flicker and switch at the last second, prompting you to find an unfamiliar neighbor instead of your own lodgings. Is this what they call… a meet cute?

> B2. SURVIVE THE INTERNET

☑️ Post on DUONET

You have some questions, right? Don’t worry, whether for the inquisitive mind or the petty complaint, there’s always the internet! Through your cell phone, you’ll be prompted and guided through the steps of posting on DUONET, which is available to your fellow Worldwalkers. Don’t forget there’s also an Anonymous function, though it’s not without its own hiccups!

> B3. HELLO, MY NAME IS

At some point in your exploration, you’ll be interrupted by a neat little beep beep! On the screen of your phone:

☑️ Go to Dodo's Welcome Mingle
Or It'll Be Sad It Worked Really Hard On It :(

O-Oh. No reason not to drop in for a little while at least, right? Heading down to the Lobby of the Dodo House will reveal that it's been spruced up for all the new arrivals—sweet little string lights and dinky party streamers probably look a little silly against the grand art nouveau architecture, but don't you see how the lights surge happily at your arrival? It's the thought that counts!

All arrivals to the party will also find themselves with a name tag that lists one fact about them, regardless of whether it's a closely guarded secret or an actual fun fact! Those are impossible to think of when you're put on the spot—isn't it nice to have one thought of for you?

> B4. THE GOOD FORTUNE CITY

Once you're done partying, you and your newfound friends are free to hit the town. There are an unusual amount of signs that read CLOSED FOR PRIDE PARADE PREP, but you'll at least find that the local convenience stores and basic modern amenities are open.

Perhaps you should focus on the way other people here treat you so familiarly, as though you’ve been here all your life. Maybe some of it is jogging your memory, maybe not. Regardless, it seems that, for now, you’re here to stay. The question is how, or whether, you’ll make the best of it.

OOC Notes

During Beta Testing, we'd like to remind players that we're accepting any and all feedback that could help us improve the game before official start!

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Comments

[solecsudo]

a1. tutorial start

[when sion arrives in a pack of wolves, his first thought, which he can't help but blurting out, is—]

Is this revenge for what I did to Keithwood...?

[is this karma? for making his attendant fend off wolves? sion's still a little disoriented because what the fuckie, but he at least doesn't look afraid as he tenses up, hand going to the hilt of his sword by instinct. he starts backing up slowly, gaze never leaving the wolves as if gauging when would be a good time to bolt, or if sudden movement will provoke them.

if you're also stuck here with the wolves, he'll murmur to you:]

... How quick are you on your feet?

[if you're outside, though, watching in, then sion will probably not acknowledge you because he's not the sort to assume others will help him, so. you are free to walk away if you so please...]

a3. beginner’s quest: dungeon crawl (chamber 2)

[cool. love being trapped in rooms! in the back of his mind, sion can imagine the heart attack his attendant would be having right now if he knew sion got himself into this situation, but for better or for worse, the other boy isn't here.

sion starts off by examining every inch of the room that he can, mouth pressed into a thin line, before confirming:]

Not a single gap—which is bad for us, since if there's no ventilation, I suspect we'll be running out of air sooner or later.

[at least he seems calm about it. hopefully you are too, as he kneels down to stare at the puzzle.]

Let's get to work, shall we? Let me know if you're feeling light-headed.

b2. survive the internet (anonymous)

[despite being a ye olde, sion is unfortunately quick to figure it out, observing the network and getting a sense of what it's for.

and thus, the world's most boring network post, even if it is, for some reason, anonymous:]

Keithwood, if you're here, then report.

b3. hello, my name is

[sion's pulled at and is peering at his nametag, meaning that you probably can't see it unless you're, like, peering over his shoulder. whatever it says on there, though, finally cracks sion's general maintained composure, as he chokes and lets out what sounds like a brief wheezing noise.

it's fine.]

wildcard

[hit me with whatever!]

A1

[humainity]

[ Honestly, she is not in the middle of a pack of wolves. She's just been thoroughly exploring, which has brought her out here in time to see said pack of wolves and someone who is not a wolf. She pauses. Assessing.

And then she just.

Charges in, swinging what looks to be a pair of glowing yo-yos to smack at the wolves that happen to be in her way. ]

To gang up on one person is very impolite!

[solecsudo]

[what the heck are those weapons it's fine sion is not going to question it even if there is definitely a moment of ??? on his face when he sees glowing yo-yos]

Heh, it really is, isn't it—?

[whoo insert fighty actions here against the wolves—to perhaps questionable degrees of effectiveness, since these wolves aren't keen to go down, but.]

[humainity]

[ It's fine. Probably. Enough stabbing and smacking with various weapons will eventually get the wolves to disperse, because it's clearly not worth the effort. And when it's all over and done with, Sophia straightens up and clicks her heels together. ]

Victory achieved.

[ With a hint of a musical lilt at the end.

I mean, let's be real, they probably did not emerge unscathed but it's fine?? ]

[solecsudo]

[it's fine what's a fight without some injuries

sion take a moment to catch his breath, before giving her a tired grin as he flicks blood off of his sword.]

Victory achieved. I owe my thanks to my knight in shining armour, it seems.

b3

[hasteful]

[?

???

buzen wanders off to somewhere else in the party and quickly finds a cup of water before bringing it back to sion?]

Are you choking...?

[he admittedly doesn't know what to do if that's the case but water seemed like a good first step]

[solecsudo]

[he takes it, although he doesn't make a move to drink it as he offers buzen a polite smile.]

I-I'm fine. It's fine.

[IT'S COMPLETELY FINE as he casually then moves his hand over his nametag]

[hasteful]

[hmmmm

buzen glances briefly toward the movement automatically before just meeting sion's eyes and offering up a smile. his own nametag is stupid and reads:

BUZEN GOU
CAN DRIVE AND RIDE ANYTHING, APPARENTLY

but he doesn't seem to care much for it - ]

Do you want to borrow my jacket? If it'll cover yours?

[solecsudo]

[........ being called out on what he's doing just seems to embarrass him, as his smile twitches before settling into back into sheepish politeness.]

No need. Wearing someone else's clothes on a first meeting is rather forward, after all.

a3

[pyojeol]

[Sooyoung realizes the gist of the room around the same time Sion does, and the expression on her face is just as thrilled as his is, probably.

She squats down on the opposite edge of the puzzle,]

Why? So you can rob my lifeless corpse?

[this is a terrible thing to say to someone she just entered a dungeon with,]

I'll be fine. Just focus on the puzzle.

[solecsudo]

[a beat, and then calmly,]

If you faint, then our chances of solving this puzzle go down, and looting your corpse is worth little if I die as well, miss.

[pyojeol]

SION IS LIKE HALF HER AGE

[pyojeol]

[anyway, Sooyoung's Squint of Suspicion refuses to let up, that or maybe it's because she's staring at a particularly tricky part of this puzzle -- these brass pipes all look the same?]

Look, it's not like you've got some handy oxygen tank shoved in your pocket somewhere -- so if I die, I die.

[guess ill die.jpg]

a1!

[sanguinary]

[WOLF KNIFE PARTY!!!

Except apparently not... Matsui's also already got his blade out like it's second nature, though he glances toward this stranger with a little bit of a curious look at the question.]

Would you prefer to try outrunning them...?

[BOLD CHOICE. Granted, he's not out here wanting to slay wolves for the fun of it either, so it works just as well for him. Probably. He's never had to outrun wolves before.

The wolves, at least, don't seem like they're .2 seconds away from a blood frenzy, even if they're clearly disturbed by Suddenly Appearing People.]

[solecsudo]

If we stand our ground here, we can't be certain of how many there are, especially if we might be in their den. [a beat] Not to mention that in a way, animals are even more fearsome foes to face than other people...

[IT'S A GOOD NEW EXPERIENCE MATSUI!! OUTRUNNING WOLVES!!!]

[sanguinary]

Hm...

[He doesn't know about THAT. But again, he's always been a war sword, not a. Like. Boar-hunting sword or something, so... the only violence he really knows is between people.

It's probably better to have a first experience of Trying To Outrun Wolves rather than a first experience of I Fought The Wolf And The Wolf Won, though.]

Very well, then. I will keep pace - don't concern yourself with me. Shall we head that way?

[POINTING in a general direction that seems less........furry.]

A3

[sinagainstcreation]

Oh, you worry too much. This all you see here is the most basics of basics. I could create a more complicated puzzle in my sleep -- and I have done that, let me tell you, I'm sure I have done that.

[Loremaster seems to find this chamber more of an amusement than a serious danger, even though suffocation is a real concern. Even if the breathable air begins to wane later, her attitude sure doesn't]

[solecsudo]

[sion listens, smiling politely and trying to conceal any dubiousness he feels.]

Well, your expertise is certainly welcome in this case, miss.

[sinagainstcreation]

Don't give me that, you'll be doing your share of the work.

[Loremaster crosses her arms, looking around and evaluating the walls, all the pipes]

Any objections to following directions without asking why or what it will do? No, of course you have none.

[In other words: she's pretty much deciding Sion should do the busywork while she gives commands. Where she came from she's the one who makes this kind of deadly chambers, not the one who solves them.

Will you comply, Sion? Or will you raise objections after all?]

b2

[equillibriums]

[ oh to be keithwood, summoned through the void by the call of anonymous.....




rutile is not keithwood, obviously. he responds anyway. ]

I'm sorry, I'm not Keithwood... but may I report?
If I can, I want to help you look out for them in case they don't see this.
They must be important to you, so I'd like for you both to reunite as soon as possible!

[ he sure did report before he was Allowed ]

[solecsudo]

[sweet rutile

sion does not get off of anon mode but:]

I thank you for your assistance. He's a tall young man with dark brown hair. Though I can't be certain of what clothes he'll be wearing in this world, he'll most likely have a sword with him.

[equillibriums]

[ is he describing cain...........



okay, no. that description is... not the most detailed thing in the world, but sword-holding gentleman in a place like this is maybe distinctive enough. putting aside the fact that rutile does not know this person at all!

this next response is painfully slower than the last one, and more of a mess, and it may be due to the fact rutile is texting and walking and looking. terrible. they don't have phones where he's from, he doesn't know phone etiquette. he only knows you don't leave mid-conversation etiquette, ]

Pleasedon't mention it! I'm happy to help.
Doyou thinkhe'd confirm who he is ifI//

[ excuse him he almost walked into a wall and hit enter by accident. he is shrugging this off with no context. in text. ]

Ahahaha whoops!
Do you think he'd confirm who he is if I ask him outright? Or would he be a little more careful?

[ LIKE ANONYMOUS HERE

with no judgement of course but just being real ]

b3

[humblepie]

[jan how tall is sion (no)

Riku doesn't try to be nosy. Who is he, Sora? But he does sort of awkwardly stand there looking concerned.]

Are you alright?

[You posted his name tag so you know what it says. It's still there, stuck to his modernized H&M jacket. It's a mess.]

[solecsudo]

[DON'T ASK ME THESE THINGS HOW TALL IS RIKU HUH!! but sion is probably a little shorter by virtue of being younger

sion holds up a hand i.e. not the one holding onto his nametag right now.]

I'm fine. Sorry to alarm you.

[humblepie]

[STOP I WAS GONNA MAKE HIM LOOK OVER HIS SHOULDER BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HILARIOUS IF HE WAS SOMEHOW SHORTER idk he’s like 180cm i guess]

The name tags, huh? They’re a little…

[He doesn’t finish.

But he looks at his own.]