chapter -8- Game begins (2)

The stats was similar to old fashioned RPG games but not same. For humans, character development could go in physical way or magical way.

Even then, one would be spoiled for choices. In physical way, constitution, strength, agility. would be high. They could be old fashioned tanks, knights, swordmasters, hunters, even thiefs and bandits. There would be even more specialisation down the lane and hidden classes would appear later on.

The magical way had everything from mage to priest to druids, shamans, witches, summoners.

Whether it was physical way or magical way, attribute points determined the effectiveness of the class. A mage could use swords, a thief could cast a spell, a shield bearer could heal himself, a priest could hold the shield. But the cost conversion ratio would be lousy. In physical way, preference was towards constitution, strength, agility, so that attacking power and defence would be high. In magical way, wisdom, intelligence, spirit were cornerstones. They decided if a spell would be strong, a summon would come etc.

Having said all that, the initial selection was not that worrying. The nosebleed worthy pixie explained different exploration options, that's all. Before class change, there was just 'body' way or 'soul' way.

The base attribute points were fixed. Player could only fiddle a bit, taking it out from something to add it elsewhere. Saachi decided to go 'soul' way. So he had to decide how much of constitution, strength and agility could be sacrificed to increase wisdom, intelligence and spirit.

Constitution decided health points or HP. Wisdom decided mana points or MP. He should have enough strength to take one or two beatings. He should be agile enough to dodge the attack or run away. In the end, he left constitution as it is. Strength was reduced by more than half, agility by half. Wisdom got a boost, intelligence increased a bit, spirit.... spirit just got a small amount of spirit extra.

The looks of avatar could be altered now. As he was not ready to spend a coin extra in this segment, he started searching for prototypes and finally settled on 'peerless scholar' look and altered face to look like a lively reckless adult. Even after deliberating on attribute points breakage, there was still over 5minutes left till game launch.

Not ready to let go of eye candy of the pixie, he started asking about good and bad things about target assist models.

And unknowingly discovered a secret about skill points.

Skill points were essential for all players. Higher the skill, better the outcome. The so called level capping was actually skill level capping. Level ups and completing some quests netted the skill points which had to be used to upgrade the skills.

A basic heal could give around 10 HP at a time or over a time( 2 different sort of spells- one which dumped HP and other poured OTT, over the time - yet both were basic healing spells). But if it was upgraded, it could give 15 HP or 20 HP.

Skill points were therefore precious. They decided the skill tree. These were the reasons why a lightning mage would not learn earth magic. He needed a lot of skill points for lightning related spells.

And Assist modes played a big role in getting extra skill points. In semi automatic assist model, after learning a skill or spell or lifestyle craft, repeated usage would increase skill points. They would be cumbersome and long-term projects but skills would upgrade themselves after lots and lots of multiple usage.

Manual control mode was like a free zone. It would be difficult to kill monsters or to do crafts but one would no longer be in the bind. One could develop multiple skills, or learn multiple skills. Upgrading by multiple usage was easier compared to semi-automatic model.

Saachi wanted to curse those greedy workshop owners of his previous life. The dregs were used as cannon fodder or for repeating, boring works like mining or foraging and as such. If manual method was chosen, the yield in initial days would have been less but chances of getting better ores would have been high later on. It should be noted that the dregs were paid based on the output, not number of the hours worked.

Till he heard the explanation, he was under false belief that the assit models were only for fighting.

He chose manual mode. He was not after the first blood and as such. He was planning for long term. How could he be satisfied with only short term gains?

A novice pack was handed over like a gift. If he was a girl, the whole animation series would have brought 10,000 likes. In the end, the gift had a basic common clothes (tunic, pants), basic common boots and gloves, basic weapons( a sword, a knife, bow with 10arrows, a shield, a long staff and a wand- all with only half durability - before class change inside the game, one could use any weapon, remember?), 3 basic small red and blue pots (health and mana potions respectively), two loaves of bread and a jug of water, 100 small coins and a inventory bag to keep things.

The bag space was small. The NPCs in game were very good. Looking at the way Saachi was eyeing the slots inside the inventory bag, she started sales pitch. Just for few tens of thousands of cash, an extra inventory bag could be purchased.