Basic Species
Atlas spent time alternating between the different blueprints and pre-generated species. Most of them he couldn't recognize. Some had appendages that wiggled around, others were gigantic insects that looked like they could rip a human in half.
He wanted the central landmass to be special. The three dragon isles? Perhaps a barrier of mystique and wonder that travelers would have to pass if they wanted to travel between continents.
The mountain that stood at the center, towering above all others, needed to be unique. His eyes were transfixed on the single Primordial point before sighing and moving to the standard options.
It would cost half of his resources to create a Primordial being. Thus, it wasn't a decision he could make rashly.
If he input nothing, however, nature would take its course and everything would randomly generate and evolve.
'Let's start with the basics, a species I'm familiar with.'
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:::Left Interface:::
Organic Material: 5000
Magic: 2500
Gene Points: 10
Primordial Points: 1
Forge Points: 0
Religious Points: 0
Eldritch Points: 0
Chaos Points: 0
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--Pre-built Standard Races--
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Race: Humans
Organic Material: 500
Magic: 250
Gene Point: 1(+0)
----: 0
Status (Scaled 1-300):
Average Lifespan: 60 years
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 10
Potential: 60
Magic: 10
Fertility: 10
Special Trait: Versatility
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-Click-
Gene Point: 2(+1)
Other Points: 0
Average Lifespan: 60 -> 65
Potential: 60 -> 65
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Potential and lifespan were the only stats to rise.
"Wisp, what is potential exactly?"
"Potential is exactly how it sounds. The maximum potential of a species."
"Alright, but how does that compare with Primordials or these other special points? What about angels or creatures of divinity and chaos?"
Wisp chirped, hopping off his shoulder and onto the metal railing. Its exaggerated eyebrows furrowed into a serious expression, moving its wing dramatically as it begins lecturing.
"Species without special gene points cannot exceed 100 in potential. The Primordial and Eldritch gene points increase the cap to 200, while the remainder genes like forge, religious, and chaos increase it to 150."
Atlas rubbed his chin. "So it's not an instant power boost... Does each individual organism in the species have its own potential? I'm assuming these stats are just averages, like the lifespan."
Wisp nods, "All beings are not created equal. The base stats will rise as civilization and technology evolves, but it still comes down to the individual organism."
'So potential is more of a late-game stat,' Atlas mused. "How does a dragon compare to a human though? Dragons don't have hands. They won't be able to make lasers, nukes, or spaceships in the future."
"A minor inconvenience." Wisp huffed, shaking its head. "This world has magic! And you, have divinity as the Weaver. They can learn, or you can bless them, with abilities such as transmutating into another creature."
"..." Atlas frowned. "Why don't I min-max then? Just throw everything into one species?"
"There is nothing stopping you," Wisp replied casually, tilting its head. "However in later stages, when you start to do battles against other gods for control, having only one species may be problematic and a weakness. If your opponent has a counter, or if a natural or manufactured disaster such as the plague infects your single dominant species, you may be severely hindered."
Continuing to nod, slowly taking it all in, Atlas returned to his touchscreen. Without speaking, he opened several more pre-built races. All of the gene and organic material costs were the same without alterations.
These packs, according to Wisp, were used by previous Weavers.
"What happened to them?"
"They were defeated and removed from existence."
'Well if that doesn't sounded ominous and cliché,' he thought sarcastically.
Race: Elves
Status:
Average Lifespan: 1000 years
Vitality: 5
Intelligence: 10
Potential: 90
Magic: 20
Fertility: 5
Special Trait: Magic Affinity
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Race: Dwarves
Status:
Average Lifespan: 300 years
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 20
Potential: 80
Magic: 5
Fertility: 5
Special Trait: Craftmanship
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Race: Beastkin
Status:
Average Lifespan: 70 years
Vitality: 15
Intelligence: 5
Potential: 60
Magic: 5
Fertility: 15
Special Trait: Enhanced Constitution
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"How do I gain points back?" Atlas asked, breaking the silence.
"Evolution, milestones, defeating gods, the usual." Wisp responded dismissively.
"The usual, huh."
Wisp raised an eyebrow, flapping its wings at the frozen galaxy clusters surrounding them as if that explained everything.
Sighing with frustration, "Examples, please? You said I'd be 'removed from existence' if I fail. I think knowing a few more details would be appropriate considering the stakes are this high."
"You are correct!" Wisp chirped brightly, and keeping its response upbeat. "However the system prohibits information released early. You must surpass specific milestones to gain access to that information!"
"How is that fair? How am I supposed to plan for the future if-"
"The same way you've planned while playing all of those survival city-building games."
Atlas was left with his mouth agape, "But those are cities, not worlds. The mechanics are different. Also, what do you gain out of this?"
"If Weaver Atlas succeeds, I receive a promotion!" Wisp's wings fluttered with excitement.
"So... isn't it in your best interest to help me out here?" Atlas asked, confused with the bird's logic.
"It most certainly is! But this is how the system was designed. I am not allowed to distribute information early to Weavers."
"Also, what about me as well? What do I get?"
Wisp tilted its head in confusion. "You will be god of a universe. Is that not a generous reward?"
Atlas's hands ran down his face in frustration. This made no sense. He risked being deleted from existence, and the game's information was structured against the user!
"This is turning out to be such a shitty dream with shitty mechanics," Atlas grumbled, becoming disheartened as he thought about it. "Whatever."
Apparently his dream was cursed with annoying game mechanics as well.
He wanted to wake up and break out of this dream. It wasn't interesting him as much anymore, and all of this race creation stuff was starting to bore him.
Plus the explanation the bird just gave agitated him. 'I have work in a few hours. I don't want to wake up feeling frustrated because of this dream.'
'I get to sit through hours of gameplay to find out information that could've saved me hours of progress, or perhaps my entire playthrough? Nah, no thanks. Not again.'
Without caring too much anymore, Atlas pressed confirm in rapid succession and flipped over to the Primordial race.
'Something basic, whatever. Dragons.'
-Click-
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Race: Primordial Dragons
Organic Material: 2500
Magic: 1500
Gene Point: 5(+0)
Primordial point: 1
Status (Scaled 1-300):
Average Lifespan: 2500 years
Vitality: 50
Intelligence: 50
Potential: 150
Magic: 50
Fertility: 2
Special Traits: Magic Affinity II, Mithril Scales, Tears of Life, Dragon's Breath
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Tossing the touchpads onto a nearby console, he turned and briskly walked back toward where his bed had been. Unconsciously he had already started thinking about it so his bed shimmered back into existence.
"Wait! Weaver! Don't go to bed yet!" Wisp chirped in alarm, its little claws grabbing at his shirt, desperately trying to pull him away.
"This dream isn't fun anymore. Goodn-"
The moment Atlas's head hit the pillow, everything blacked out without warning.