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duocaeli mods ([personal profile] gamedevs) wrote in [community profile] duolingos2023-01-13 11:40 am

beta testing 0.1: tutorial & dungeon

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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solecsudo: (manga - sion the idiot)

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-13 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
hewwo mods two questions! be proud of me for being brave and asking even though the last time i did this TEN PEOPLE JEANED ME

1) for b3, are the nametags removable...

2) if i'm understanding this properly, just as they have their canon clothes only in the online world, the same goes for canon items that were on their person, correct? i.e. no canon items in the offline world?
solecsudo: (manga - o.o)

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-13 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
perish

if they're not magical but they are, uh, dangerous like. weapons. are those still proper weapons offline or does the outside world believe in nonviolence
Edited 2023-01-13 23:30 (UTC)
solecsudo: (manga - idiot prince)

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-13 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
salutes thank you mods!
hexensabbat: (Fingers crossed! That is some)

[personal profile] hexensabbat 2023-01-14 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
a3;

[Ringo can be found literally anywhere at any time during the dungeon quest, because she is a JRPG protagonist and side quests are her bread and butter.

But in particular--

In the inventor's puzzle box, she will absolutely turn to you and point and:]


Hey, let me on your shoulders for a minute, okay? I've gotta look at the floor.

[Puzzles!!

Or at the boss, she can be found frowning, her very sci-fi glowy katana in hand.]


Does this seem like bullying to you?

[(feel free to shift the boss to its ruder form, though, this is SMT babey]

b1;

[The house is happy to see them, and Ringo is happy to talk to this house!]

Hey, Dodo! Show me what else you can do. Oh, hey, can you shuffle around the windows, too? Oh, or maybe you can plop an elevator right here? C'mooon, Dodo, let's do it!

[sorry if that means the house is tossing you down the stairs or getting in your way or overall being a menace. Because it's Ringo's fault, she's the menace.]

b3;

[Otherwise, Ringo can be found meandering around the party, fully enjoying herself! This is a weird situation but she can roll with the punches, and also, all of this has been (mostly) fun right now.

Her name tag reads:

Hi my Name Is: Ringo
A Fun Fact About Me: Not a human.


Informative!]


wildcard;

[listen, I love all of the prompts so hit me with whatever you're feeling, no permission necessary. and/or I can be found on disco at kalisona#8428 for plotting!]
Edited 2023-01-14 00:07 (UTC)
solecsudo: (redraw - thoughtful)

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-14 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
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!]
Edited 2023-01-14 00:06 (UTC)
magesque: (ღ wrist full of rocks)

[personal profile] magesque 2023-01-14 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ A1. EXTREME HARD MODE ]

[it's not like Tohsaka Rin is easy bait or anything, okay. she could handle all of these issues separately, she's sure of it. suddenly transported to the woods in some weird location? fine. hungry wolves? fine. weakened magic? ugh, annoying but fine.

but put all of that together and add in this horrifically annoying issue of (checks notes) a hole in her stomach and profuse bleeding, and even she's going to have a bit of trouble.

still, the blasts of magic from her fingertips come to her like second nature - but rather than incinerating these annoying things to a crisp, it's more just like temporary stuns.]


Ahhh, come on!! Just die already!

[help if you want to, pass right on by if you want to, or get bodyslammed by a wolf sent flying after rin literally spits blood in its face - anything can happen.]

[ A3. DUNGEON CRAWL ]

[so Rin understood that by some requirement or whatever, you're meant to enter the dungeon with a party. but also, consider: what if she doesn't?

she finds out very fast indeed when she's transported to the entrance of the dungeon, watching the hif... loon... (stupid name, stupid face, so kinda fitting) scamper away. there's an urge to chase after to be quick about this, but randomization means that she's here with a partner now. that's you.

she looks you up and down obviously, about 60% curious and 40% judgmental appraising, before offering a smile as an olive branch.]


Shall we be off? Failing a beginner's quest would be pretty embarrassing, don't you think?

[she's gonna eat these words when they get the glitched boss. does she still have a hole in her stomach? fuck around and find out.]

[ B3. TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ]

[alright, so she can't tear this nametag off and fling it into a fire, and she can't find a sharpie to scribble out the offensive statement. fine. but you know what she can do?

cross her arms and let her fingers fall just so underneath her name, so for now all can be read is RIN TOHSAKA

. . . but she can't help her curiosity and so she is probably not all that subtly trying to glance over at your name tag.]


Are all of these rude....?

[though in her peering, her attention and finger slips - and her fun fact so clearly reads: CURSED TO MESS EVERYTHING UP AT THE LAST SECOND]

[ WILDCARD ]

[none of these work? come at me!!! or i'll come at you!!! (threatening)]
hexensabbat: (so that Sims now vomit at)

a3

[personal profile] hexensabbat 2023-01-14 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Ringo waits patiently while Rin looks her over, pretty used to this by now. Are all humans like this? Or just the suspicious ones? More data necessary.

A-n-y-way!]


Yeah, that's probably true.

[A little teasingly:]

What, does that mean I make the cut?
solecsudo: (redraw - ?)

a3

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-14 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
[sion blinks, before shrugging.]

Sure, although I fear I might not make a very good ladder.

[unfortunately sion is 15 he's filling out but he is not a twunk—still, he'll bend down to make it easier for ringo to step onto his shoulders.]
hasteful: (➛ we can go where our eyes take us)

B3

[personal profile] hasteful 2023-01-14 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
[buzen's name tag reads:

BUZEN GOU
CAN DRIVE AND RIDE ANYTHING, APPARENTLY


but more importantly he's catching ringo's and with a mouth that runs faster than his mind keeps up, he goes—]


Oh, me t—
hasteful: (➛ and people talk too much)

[personal profile] hasteful 2023-01-14 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ . . .

wait]


... Me... Thinks that's really neat! What kind of not a human are you?

[s

saved it]
solecsudo: (redraw - sword2)

a1

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-14 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[sion doesn't even really need to think about it, while keithwood probably screams somewhere in another dimension—on instinct alone, he's rushing in, sword in hand to slash at the wolves in an attempt to help rin fend them off, despite knowing that fighting them is probably not a great idea.]

Unfortunately, I don't think the wolves are keen to reward spirit, miss—!

[but, like, kudos anyway]
hexensabbat: (due to band affiliation)

[personal profile] hexensabbat 2023-01-14 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Does Ringo feel bad for making a 15 year old boy be her stepstool?

... No. No she does not.

She will at least take off her heels because that sounds painful.]


Great, thanks! I'll pay you back by solving this puzzle, alright?

[upsie-daisy!]
hexensabbat: (Squashed some bugs)

[personal profile] hexensabbat 2023-01-14 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[did he though

She takes a minute to look at his name tag...

and then look at him properly.......

And then she just arches an eyebrow.]


How about we trade?
solecsudo: (manga - headtilt)

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-14 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
[it's fine sion doesn't seem to mind at least]

... It'd be rather remiss of me to make someone else do all the work, especially when our lives are at stake here.
humainity: (Get your zappers. Set them to pew.)

A1

[personal profile] humainity 2023-01-14 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ 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!
heroicpolonaise: (aaaa)

[personal profile] heroicpolonaise 2023-01-14 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
a2. way of the warrior
[ after... narrowly escaping wolves, losing something she's thankful to be rid of in the process, kaede can be found woefully staring at the crafters guild.

music... she could've had music... the peacock is a little much for her, but the crafters guild sounds so much more her style... no, an errant goose swan had ushered her towards the scarlet red warriors instead and, not wanting to disappoint the people inside on top of still being a little frazzled from where she'd been previously, she'd found herself signed on to being a rough 'n tough fighter instead.

well. kaede knows she packs a mean hook, but it's not exactly her preferred method. but! ever the optimist! she'll call out to other warriors and try to... make friends...☆ ]


Hi there! I'm Kaede Akamatsu. This really is turning out to be a strange day, isn't it?

[ .........

she's doing her best...☆ ]


b1. meet cute p.1
[ this house -- dodo -- is definitely mischievous. kaede's found herself wandering around the same three hallways looking for where she's supposed to stay, it feels like, and after a bit she'll find her door and sigh in relief. finally. she can relax a little, just as soon as she opens the door--

it isn't going to be hers. she's going to be surprised by whoever is behind it though, freezing with a smile before stepping back with her hands to her chest. ]


O-Oh, sorry, I must've got the wrong room! Haha, whoops, I'll-- I'll just be going. Probably. Sorry again!

[ except every time she tries a door it will be the same, i'm sorry you have a repeat visitor, dodo is really trying to "help" her make friends. ]


b1. meet cute p.2
[ finally. she's found her proper lodgings. kaede's thankful that the clothes she'd found herself in once coming to the "OFF" world weren't totally dissimilar to the ones she had before, given she just had a normal school uniform, but now that she can look at it they definitely feel a little more chic.

a knock at the door would be nice, but everyone's just going to be opening them when they see their name, and that is going to get kaede to shout in surprise -- not that she has a leg to stand on since she was just doing it before. ]


Sorry, I... wasn't expecting a visitor. [ maybe you're her real roomie or not. but at least she wasn't undressing. ] Um, hi. Can I help you?


b3. (alcohol anonymous voice) hi kaede akamatsu
[ how... could she say no?

the house was just doing its best. and it wasn't like she had any other plans, like the loser she is. alone on a friday night? pathetic. so! so. down to the meet 'n greet shindig it is.

KAEDE AKAMATSU is how it reads for name, and the fact isn't bad enough that she wants to cover it up -- it's true, after all: COMPARES EVERYTHING TO CLASSICAL MUSIC.

she does. she's a loser, a piano freak, like that. it's an honest fact and kaede's happy to have it. better than... what it could be. ]


It's a little odd, but it's kinda cute, too. [ the decorations... wait, she needs to be mingling!!! ] So, um, some party, huh?

[ h elp ]


wildcard
[ anything else...☆ go ahead and throw something at me, or hit me up [plurk.com profile] sundrymunity i don't mind. let her slip n slide into you for all i care. ]
hexensabbat: (if they are also trying to murder you)

[personal profile] hexensabbat 2023-01-14 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[She's just peering carefully at the patterns on the floor. Hmmm!!]

Well! I mean, if you wanna help out, I'm not about to tell you you can't.

You any good at puzzles?
humainity: (Your first name's what you do)

b3

[personal profile] humainity 2023-01-14 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sophia is fascinated.

And immediately trotting over to Ringo, eyes bright. ]


Hello! My name is Sophia! I am also not a human!

[ ... Which is basically everything that her name tag reads, so. Guess it's true? ]
solecsudo: (redraw - sword1)

[personal profile] solecsudo 2023-01-14 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
hasteful: (➛ should this be the last thing i see)

b3

[personal profile] hasteful 2023-01-14 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
[?

???

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]
galesofreverie: (pic#16167905)

there is only one prompt in this top level

[personal profile] galesofreverie 2023-01-14 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
b2. survive the internet

[dear god why will this mysterious contraption not stop BEEPING IN HIS POCKET, how does he get it to SHUT UP, he does not WISH TO FILL OUT THE CHECKLIST, this is all so INCREDIBLY STUPID--]

[but unfortunately, in a battle of grit and determination, an emotionless inanimate object with no sentience can easily outlast a proclaimed "heartless" puppet who likes to pretend he doesn't have feelings. . . such as, you know. profound annoyance]

[and so, in order to fulfill the dumb forum checkmark and get his device to stop yelling at him, Wanderer does, in fact, write something down!]


post

['kay he's done. also this is not at all anonymous]
hexensabbat: (We increased security)

[personal profile] hexensabbat 2023-01-14 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Well, aren't you perky?

[It's cute though.]

Hey there, Sophia. What kind of not-a-human are you?