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]

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.]

[solecsudo]

[damn matsui have you never heard what they say about cornered animals]

All right. I can watch our backs, so let's go!

[sanguinary]

[IN RELATION TO PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY!!!

Anyway this is fine they'll both just die out here in the wilds.]

I'll cut a path through.

[NO VIOLENCE STOP. At least it's mostly metaphorical, probably, considering Matsui keeps his blade in a neutral and defensive position as he darts to the left of these wolves and takes off at a decent clip.

The wolves, being animals, don't take kindly to sudden movement so of course they're gonna start booking the fuck after them.]

[solecsudo]

[sion is quick on his feet, at least, moving with almost effortless agility as he follows after matsui while keeping an eye behind them on the wolves.]

How far do you think we have to go before they give up the chase—?

[sanguinary]

[THERE THEY NYOOM!! Hopefully they're agile and fast enough to outpace wholeass wolves... Matsui does have superhuman stamina and speed, but he can't flashstep or anything and he'll eventually run out of energy, so:]

I have never been chased by wolves before, so I can't say.

[JUST CASUALLY.]

I've heard that they can't climb...? Perhaps we should head for the treeline.

[solecsudo]

[sion thinking... technically he too has never been chased by wolves because, again, he made someone else fight them while he took on their master... if only keithwood were here.]

It's worth a shot.

[sanguinary]

[WHO IS THIS KEITHWOOD PERSON AND WHY HAVE THEY LIVED THROUGH SO MUCH.

Anyway with little more than that, Matsui will start veering toward the trees. Which would probably be an okay idea normally, except you know what lives in trees?? MORE WOLVES. No just kidding, in this specific instance it's one lone and extremely large bear.]

—I see a bear?

[WHY IS THIS A QUESTION.]

[solecsudo]

[associate with sion 24/7 and you too can have constant headaches!

WHY IS THERE A BEAR NOW AKI]

Uh... what?

[WHY IS THIS A QUESTION INEDED]

[sanguinary]

[perhaps it is sion's turn to experience constant headache... not because of matsui but because of me aki who inserts bears into the forest.]

I believe I see- [THE DISTANT SOUND OF A BEAR LOUDLY MAKING BEAR NOISES AND THEN STARTING TO FASTLY BEAR ITS WAY OVER TOWARD THEM.] -a bear. That bear, to be precise.

[On the plus side, it's deterring some of the wolves...]

[solecsudo]

[THIS FUCKIN BEAR]

... By the sun above, is this things getting better or worse...!? All right, now I'd really rather not test our luck with both wolves and a bear, so let's move—

[AWAY FROM THE BEAR BEARING ITS WAY OVER HERE]

[sanguinary]

[insert runnin up that hill but it's runnin from this bear]

I believe bears can climb trees, can't they? Where should we go, then...?

[The treeline is presumably out. Maybe if they tried to get close, more bears would spawn anyway.]

[solecsudo]

[THE BEAR SPAWN POINT

sion turns his head wildly, trying to make out what he can see in the distance for an area NOT infested by wolves or bears.]

—I think I see a city over there?

[also more of a question than a statement because it's really hard to be sure of these things when a bear is approaching]

[sanguinary]

[SCP ENDLESS BEARS.

Anyway, Sion's doing more work here than Matsui, who isn't even bothering with attempting to find an escape route. He's just looking behind them every so often to ensure that the bear or remaining wolves aren't gaining too quickly...]

—Ah? [But he does whip his head around to look in the general direction Sion seems to be indicating.] --Shall we, then?

[THEY'RE GOING TO LEAD A BEAR INTO THE TOWN.]

[solecsudo]

[IT'S FINE IF THE BEAR DOESN'T STOP THEY CAN BE NEEDLESSLY EDGY AND FIGHT IT IN FRONT OF THE CITY GATES sion at least wants to make sure they lose the wolves, maybe fighting a single bear with this guy is doable]

Let's go!

[sanguinary]

[HELP yeah they could take on a bear together. Probably. Unless it really is some sort of turbo glitch bear with ultimate power...

BUT AWAY, TO THE TOWN!! Matsui once again redirects himself without any further ado, nyooming in the direction of the distant city. At some point they cross a road, which does not deter this manic bear at all but does at least lose most of the wolves, who are naturally tetchy about cars.]

--Now that I'm thinking about it, I believe I read somewhere that bears cannot run downhill.

[solecsudo]

[me as the wolves

a beat]

I've... never heard that. But I admit, I'm not the expert on bears...

[sanguinary]

[STOP DON'T JUST BE THE WOLVES.]

Neither am I, but it's perhaps worth the try? [POINTING to a hill nearby, which is presumably what had him thinking about bears and downward slopes. Probably.

Meanwhile Bear Bearenstein is gaining on them.]

[solecsudo]

Might as well!

[downhill they go.........

]

[sanguinary]

[I CAN'T FUCKING BELIEVE THIS

Well Matsui has just led them down a stupid path both literally and metaphorically, especially since they're all now sprinting at fast downhill speeds including the bear.]

Hm.

[JUST HM.

At least the town is like, really close now!]

[solecsudo]

Hm.

[JUST HM IS REALLY THE MOOD RIGHT NOW as they yakety sax to the town]

[sanguinary]

[They really are yakkety saxing so badly... How did this happen.]

--Do you see that?

[OVER THERE, a city wall!! There's a wheelbarrow with Various Items stacked on top, and it looks like it might be tall enough for them to climb and reach the top of the wall.]

Even if bears can go downhill, surely they can't climb over walls.

[solecsudo]

... I feel like we've been betting on things a lot, but what do we have to lose? Let's go!

[can't believe they're climbing onto a wheelbarrow now]

[sanguinary]

[the way i was like "i could make this easy and let them escape this bear right now" but instead the spirit of chaos possessed me and said "or i could not"

WHICH IS TO SAY, they climb onto the wheelbarrow! The bear is barreling (beareling?!) after them! They are, indeed, close enough to the top of the wall to reach it if they just climbed on this stack of wares... But tragically they don't get the chance, because whoever parked it here just used a rutabaga under the front tire as the brakes and the additional weight immediately causes the cart to lurch forward, crushing the veggie and rolling away from the wall.

On the plus side, the bear swats at some of the items, knocking over a cask of honey! Yum... It is sufficiently distracted. On the minus side, they're gaining speed quickly.]

—I don't suppose you know how to drive carts?

[CARTS CAN'T BE DRIVEN.]

[solecsudo]

[THIS IS KILLING ME]

—I have some experience with carriages, but this is very different!?

[HELLO???? still, sion's not one to be indecisive, so taking his sword, he stabs into the ground as they nyoom by in an attempt to slow the cart down... gripping onto the hilt tightly so that he doesn't accidentally lose his sword too...]