As with any game, there has to be a balance between realism and functioning design. It’s got to be fun to play, ultimately. It’s also got to accommodate the full spectrum of sleep patterns that we mad humans might adopt. All of this is to say that when I found the Mayor of Rusking, he was exactly where I had parted ways with him, behind his desk in the central gallery of the town hall.
He beamed, his secondary chins positively wiggling from the excitement. “Zoran, you have returned unscathed. What news have you of those rodents?”
“I found an encampment in the woods where the kobolds were staging their attacks. I dealt with all of them I could find.”
The Mayor clasped his hands together. “Most excellent. The people of Rusking owe you a debt of gratitude. I know many of them will want to ask you for help now you’ve proven yourself.”
Quest Completed – Into the Woods
+400 EXP
Silver coins x 2
The Mayor opened a drawer of his desk and pulled out a neatly folded bundle of clothing. He handed it over to me.
“I’d also like you to have this,” he said. “A sign of your service to the town.”
Colors of Rusking
Tabard
No protection is added from wearing this piece, but the feeling of knowing one has proudly served the Empire is surely a shield against the world in itself?
“Thank you,” I said, taking the tabard and placing it in my inventory. I wondered whether the item was purely one of aesthetics, and would have asked, but seeing the Mysterious Note in my bags spurred me to press forward.
“I also found this,” I said, handing over the note. “I thought it would be of interest to you.”
The Mayor frowned, took the note and began to read it. His frowned deepened as he finished.
“This is most troubling news. You did the right thing in bringing this to me. Thank you, Zoran.”
Quest Complete – The Red Eye Watches
+200 EXP
Silver coins x 1
Copper coins x 50
The moment the experience from the quest hit, my character began to glow as a kaleidoscope of colors danced around me, from head to toe, before blowing upwards in a shower of sparks.
Level Up! You have reached level 3
+3 attribute points
+15 health
+15 mana
The Mayor made no acknowledgement of the dazzling light show that I’d just let off; in fact, his expression only darkened further.
“Before you head off, Zoran, I have another request.”
“Name it.”
“Word of the Red Eye is as confusing as it is worrying. Years ago, when I was a young lad like you, the Red Eye stirred trouble then as well. The small folk spoke about him with awe but mark my words, Zoran, he was nothing but a common bandit trumped up on his own myth. Thing is, the authorities never caught him. He simply ceased being an issue. We all assumed he’d gotten himself killed. To hear the name again… but it cannot be the same person!”
I was following along, enraptured. Already I could foresee the expansive quest chain before me, the long winding story path taking me from zone to zone, dungeon to dungeon, challenge to greater challenge with ample reward along the way. An adventure. A true quest.
I’d actually avoided reading up on the main storylines of the game as best I could, not wanting to spoil anything more than I had to.
“Perhaps someone is posing as this folk hero?” I offered. “Taking up the mantle again for their own ends.”
“That certainly would be the more palatable explanation. Our intelligence officers might know whether there is any truth in the matter. If you will, Zoran, report to Marshal Highcross in the Imperial Spire. Bring him this note. I’m certain he’ll reward you for alerting him to this. The Imperium needs every able-bodied man and woman these days.”
“I’ll ensure that the Marshal hears of this news.”
Quest – The Red Eye Watches
A legend reborn? Who or what is this Red Eye riling up the kobolds? Imperial intelligence officers may know more.
Objective
Report to Marshal Highcross in the Imperial Spire.
“You’re boon to Rusking and the Imperium, Zoran. Now, on your way. And be careful on the roads. Besides the kobolds, there are wolves stirring, and bandits ready to take advantage at every turn.”
“I’ll be careful. Thank you!”
I shook the Mayor’s hand then exited the town hall. Now level 3, I was eager to find my class trainer in Rusking and delve properly into crafting.
7
Standing in the streets of Rusking, I considered my next move. I’d levelled up twice now, so I should really begin sorting out my attribute points. Perhaps the class trainer would be able to guide me towards which attribute points would be best for my character, as well as teach me my new spells. I was pretty sure the Intelligence stat was the most important if I was planning on heavy crafting, but there was no harm in double-checking.
I approached the nearest NPC guard I could find and asked him where I might find a scavenger who could teach me.
“A scav, is it?” he grumbled, looking me up and down. He spat. “Not sure we need more of yer kind here. Clear off.”
I stood dumbfounded as he walked away. How was I supposed to find my way inside the city of Argatha later if the guards looked down on scavengers as much as the player base was beginning to? The class wasn’t exactly that reputable in lore, I supposed, hardly on the level of the noble paladins or wise mages.
Then it hit me.
I opened my inventory and equipped the Tabard of Rusking in the relevant gear slot. Immediately, the tabard appeared on my character’s body, it’s fine cloth a sky-blue in color, trimmed in yellow thread. The imperial crest dominated the front, a grand twisting spire rising to the stars.
I trotted after the same guard to make it a fair test and asked him the exact same question again.
“A scav, is it?” he grumbled. He looked me up and down again, only this time he didn’t spit at the ground. He smirked and let out a surprised chuckle. “Heavens, but we must be in dire straits for the Mayor to be hiring your kind. Still, you must have aided our town well and I won’t deny that.”
His whole stance relaxed, and he drew closer to me.
“There’s usually a scavenger type at the junkyard where waste from the tavern, smithy and tanner gets thrown away. One woman haunts the place like a ghost, name of Tabetha.”
“Thanks for the help,” I said. “That’s all I need.”
The guard smiled and then returned to his patrol route, whistling pleasantly to himself.
I consulted my map, got my bearings and then made my way towards the junkyard, grateful that I still had the lantern from Wylder when I reached my destination, as the yard wasn’t exactly well-lit.
From what I could make out, there was a heap of material seemingly thrown away: hunks of metal, swords hammered incorrectly and misshapen cuts of leather. I wondered if any of it was lootable or just here for flavor. Gingerly, I walked the precarious path and cut through the piles of junk, feeling they would topple onto me at any moment.
I heard a rustling, then a loud clank up ahead, on the other side of a pile of metal.
“Hello?” I called out. “Is that Tabetha?”
I wasn’t afraid I’d be attacked for I was still within the boundaries of a starter zone town where the game still held your hand.
“Oohooo, a visitor?” a voice answered my summons, brimming at the sort of high-pitch that brings the sanity of the owner into question. More clanks and bangs followed and then hurried footsteps. A thin-framed woman skidded into view, holding a lantern of her own. I saw the information bar appear above her head a moment later.
Tabetha – Scavenger – Level 20
She wore a pair of goggles that magnified her eyes to the size of great orbs in the night and her hair was dense and bushy as though she’d suffered an electric shock.
“Hi, hi,
hi,” she said.
“I’m Zoran, pleased to meet you.” I extended my hand for her to shake. Tabetha merely looked at my hand curiously, blinked, then returned to look at me, her head bobbing happily.
“That’s great that you’re pleased to meet me. So few people are. Tell me to shoo they do and chase me with brooms.”
“Uh,” I said involuntarily. I wasn’t sure how to approach this. Myth Online didn’t have such advanced AI as this and NPCs in that game tended to have pre-determined conversation routes.
“Ah,” she said, her eyes popping all the wider. “You’re a scavenger too. You’re just like me!”
“I guess I am. I was wondering if you could teach me a thing or two about the trade?”
Tabetha clapped her hands together. “Yes. Wonderful. No one’s asked me to teach them anything since, well, the last person. But that was quite some time ago. Not many of us you know. We have to look out for each other.”
She took me by the hand and frog-marched me around the metal scrap heap. Here, amidst the sundry of the junkyard, was an unmistakable shelter built out of odds and ends. Several large rectangular shields had been nailed together and then set in as a door, with a pommel from a sword serving as a doorknob. Outside the shelter, there was a crackling campfire, illuminating the area nicely. The warmth of it tingled my fingers back to life. Finally, there was a grungy looking tool rack that supported everything from hacksaws and hammers to delicate equipment that looked better suited for surgery.
“Home sweet home,” Tabetha said. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Erm, sure—”
“Be right back.” She was off into her shelter, the door of shields swinging firmly shut behind her.
I took another look around. This class truly was unlike any other I’d come across before. I wondered what lore, class specific content would lie ahead of me. Perhaps at higher levels, I would be able to prove myself or my whole class as valuable to the empire and remove some of this stigma? I was already picturing a long and suitably epic quest chain. Alas, for now, all I’d get from this woman was access to my professions.
Tabetha bustled out of her shelter carrying two chipped mugs. I politely accepted and inspected the contents cautiously. The liquid was blue, bubbling as if carbonated, and quite cold.
“Drink up,” Tabetha said. “You’ll need it.”
I took a sip and then started to down it in large gulps. The best way I can describe the taste is rotten blueberries, so I thought it best to just neck the stuff. Near choking by the end, I coughed, straightened, then noticed a crackling blue flicker at my fingertips. As the sensation faded a notification appeared.
Potion of Minor Intellect
+5 Intelligence
Duration: 15 minutes
Just above my health bar, a small square icon appeared of a blue vial. If I focused on it, the information regarding the buff would appear along with the countdown timer. I guess I had my answer on which attribute I ought to stack.
Tabetha was sipping at her own potion, smacking her lips loudly.
“Do you need a buff as well?” I asked.
“A what?” she said bewildered.
I mentally facepalmed myself. NPCs wouldn’t be so self-aware that they knew they were in a game world. They thought this was all real or the AI made them think that way. It was hard to wrap my head around
She squinted at me then drained the last of her mug. “I just like the taste, hun. You seemed a little bit behind some of the others who’ve come my way of late and I’ve found a cold drink can really sharpen the mind.” She tapped a finger against her forehead knowingly. “So, there’s not a huge amount I can teach you until you’ve gotten a bit more experience under your belt… though it would help if you had a belt.”
I glanced down at my starting rags and cringed. I’d have to craft some better gear for myself as soon as I got the chance.
“I was hoping you could teach me how to craft items from what I scavenge in the world?”
“Ah, so you know something of our ways. Yes, I can teach you about repurposing what we salvage; just the basics. I’ve always found it’s best to start there.”
“Sounds great,” I said. I expected a training menu to appear, perhaps with a cost of the silver associated with learning the abilities. Many MMOs operated this way, and yet no such menu appeared.
“We’ll begin with a simple, practical lesson,” Tabetha said. She moved over to the edge of the nearest junk heap and began ferreting around, clearly on a hunt for a particular item.
“Could we make it quick?”
I hoped that there was a way to bypass this in-game tutorial and skip straight to a menu of some sorts to purchase abilities from. I knew that certain in-game shops worked on this method after you got through the initial conversation.
“Some things can’t be rushed, you know,” Tabetha said.
“You’re absolutely sure? I’d be willing to pay to speed things up.”
She looked over her shoulder and gave me a worried look. “Maybe I need to fetch you another drink. Are you sure that noggin of yours is up to this?”
I sighed. Evidently, there was no way to skip this.
“I’m quite capable,” I said through gritted teeth. “What do I have to do?”
Tabetha smiled, then pulled an item out of the rubbish with a flourish. It turned out to be a round shield with such a big chunk gouged out from the wood that it was rendered useless in guarding a torso. She trotted back over and handed me the shield. It was an actual item, so I checked it out.
Rusking Squire Shield
Shield
Quality: uncommon
Item level 7
Requires level 4 to equip
Block: 12-15
Durability: 0/30
The shield’s lack of durability explained why it was in such bad shape. It was a pretty cool addition to see visible damage on items that suffered from low durability.
“So, what do you want me to do?” I asked.
“We’re going to break the shield down into parts and make something new from it.”
I looked the shield over again. The item level of the shield was much higher than myself, almost as good as that crossbow I’d found in the kobold camp.
“Wouldn’t it be of greater value to repair the item and sell it on?”
“Depends, hun,” Tabetha said. “That’ll be for you to decide. Our kind can get real good at making repairs, given how much we’re always tinkering away, but sometimes it might not be worth the time or gold. If it’s broken and useless, don’t fix it, I always say.”
“Does an item always have to be broken before I can break it down further?” I asked.
“No. As long as you can pop it in your bags, you’ll be able to break it down.”
I interpreted this to mean that if I could loot an item, and place it in my inventory, I’d be able to break it down for parts. This left the question of whether I could smash up non-lootable items up for debate. I mulled it all over. I’d need to delve into these systems before I fully understood the pros and cons, but it seemed to be flexible and that would be a major benefit.
“Alright, I think I get you,” I said. “So, what do you want me to make from this shield?”
“You’re going to make a simple iron dagger for me. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it.”
Notifications flashed before me.
Quest – Baby’s First Dagger
Follow Tabetha’s instructions carefully and learn what it is to be a scavenger. Not even you could muck this one up.
Objective:
Craft Iron Dagger 0/1
“First, you’ll need the right tools for the job,” Tabetha continued. “Without the right tools, it’s like trying to open a lock without a key, meaning it won’t work unless you use magic, but that might melt the lock so—”
I cleared my throat, hoping to stimmy her rambling flow.
“Ah right, your one of them folk in a hurry. Fine.” She stepped over
to the tool rack. “If you were going to break down this item into component parts, what tools might you need?”
I considered for a moment. Cutting the wood seemed obvious enough but the metal stumped me. The boss of the shield looked to be made of steel, as did the reinforcing knobs around the outer edge. I had my list of tools, that I believed I’d need to craft every type of item available to scavengers – those that had been discovered at any rate. Nothing on the list suggested any advanced blacksmithing equipment like a furnace would be needed for metal work. I took a stab in the dark.
“A handsaw for the wood,” I said. “And a hammer for the metal?”
“Very good,” Tabetha said. “Not so dim, after all.” She picked the tools off the rack and brought them to me. “I’ll be needing these back, mind. Don’t even try to run off with them.”
As I took the tools from her, they entered my inventory. Clearly, these were her tools, and far more valuable than the ones I’d start off with.
The Clanker
Tool: Smithing Hammer
Item level 15
Increases chance for extra salvage by 5%
Biter
Tool: Handsaw
Item level 15
Increases chance for extra salvage by 5%
I drank in the information. It would seem that at higher levels, I would be able to acquire better tools. More interesting still was the lack of a level requirement to use the tools, meaning that if I somehow got hold of a high-end tool, I could use it even at low levels.
“And now,” Tabetha said with a wry smile, “We come to the niggly part. The skill needed to breakdown an item isn’t easy, else everyone and their creepy uncle would be up to it. Nope sir, this is something inherent in us; in you.” Her eyes popped again and she stared distantly off beyond my shoulder as though speaking to the stars. “It’s in your very blood, Zoran. Can you feel it?”
Battle Spire Page 7