The Adventurers Guild was a massive building. Easily four or five stories tall with thick stone columns and plinths with marble statues of adventurers in epic poses.A wizard, cast in white marble, held a staff out to the crowd, looking wise. A barbarian holding an axe bellowed, while a priest smiled gently. Each towering figure seemed to have a gleam in his eye and a promise: you could be like me, if only you choose.
A golden-embossed sign at the front door said, “New adventures this way.”
Looking around, there were other rooms. Rooms labeled ‘New Quests’ and ‘Guild Hall’ and ‘Combat Training Rooms.’ Each one seemed to have smoke-like haze in front of the door.I knew without being told that I wouldn't be allowed to enter them. Not until I selected a class.
I was greeted by a clerk holding a scroll calling aloud for all to hear, “Adventurer, welcome to the Hall of Choosing; this is where your epic tale begins!”
One of the walls flickered to life. Images of a modern city with fighter planes and zeppelins crisscrossing the skyway. The image cut to racing cars with neon stripes speeding down bustling streets. A gun fight with police; a woman with a mohawk and a cybernetic eyepiece ducked behind a street vendor cart. “Cyberrush 2337, by Brave Worlds Entertainment. Available at your local server motel or deep dive immersion parlor, and now available for home haptic rig and wireless VR. Wireless VR experience: Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, Everywhere.” The wall flickered, and was once again marble. “Great so now there are ads for other games in this game... wait?”
The words 'server motel' seemed familiar. They evoked images of a tiny room with a cot and a toilet. I could imagine a hook on the wall with an IV bag. But what really made me shiver was the wireless VR. I don't know why, but even hearing it made me want to run. Maybe the VR experience was too real, too intense. I couldn't remember.
A man in official-looking robes behind a welcome desk snapped me out of my musings. “Hello adventurer! Welcome to the Hall of Choosing. Right this way and you will be allowed to choose your epic Class and be taught to your very first Skill.”
A sharp, deep breath and a forcefully controlled exhale banished the worry, and I was once again marveling at the spectacle around me.
“All right, I guess it's time,” I said aloud, psyching myself up to move ahead.
“Ah, welcome,” said the clerk as I nervously stepped up to him. “In the hall you will see many statues. Each one with a description of the class it represents. Once you have decided your path, all you need to do is touch the statue and you will be granted the Class.”
“Alright, seems simple enough.” I walked into the hall and saw more great statues of heroes of legend like the ones outside. I could tell at just a glance what they were: Wizard, Barbarian, Cleric, Knight... all clustered around the front of the room. The further back into the room you looked, the harder it was to see. A mist similar to the one outside the other rooms in the Guild Hall blocked my vision and prevented me from seeing the full hall.
“Why can't I see all the classes?” I asked the clerk.
“Ah,” said the clerk sagely. “It's because those classes are of a higher Tier.”
“A higher Tier?”
“Anyone can take a Tier 1 Class.” The nearest statues posed briefly lit with a golden light as the clerk spoke. “Anyone who has unlocked a subscription can gain the Tier 2 Classes.” The fog seemed to roll back a dozen feet and I could see more options. “Or they can be unlocked with particular conditions. Tier 3 classes are available to Gold members, but they may be unlocked by doing certain services to the realm.” The mist roll back further. “Tier 4 classes are available to Platinum members or require great deeds. Tier 5 and Tier 6 as well as Legendary Classes must be unlocked through Rare and Legendary actions. Should you unlock a Class, all you need to do is return here to change your Class and learn your new Class's basic Skill. Though a warning: you may keep your Stats and Skills, but you will be reset to Level 1.”
“All right, so I'm supposed to have a Platinum subscription. Does that mean I can just go ahead and pick a Tier 4 Class. What happens when my subscription is over?”
“You, of course, will be allowed to keep any Classes that are currently set as well as any items acquired along with your Platinum subscription.”
“Oh, well, that's good. At least I won’t have to start over when my premium membership ends.” I figured there was no point in mucking around with the low Tier Classes. Unless there is some advantage in starting out with basic Classes and switching later to preserve the stats and skills. No, might as well start with the good stuff, then change if I got something better.
With the receding of the mist, hundreds of more statues had become visible. Behind the wizard stood the Elementalist, a wizard who focused on a particular element. Behind that stood the specialized elemental Classes; ones who would focus on something like ice, lightning, or even magma. Behind that was the Elemental Master, a Tier 4 Class that could harness the power of all the elements. Likewise, behind each of the base Classes seemed to be improvements and upgrades on the existing Classes.
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For a moment, it seemed odd that waking up this morning I didn't know my own name and here I was making decisions that would essentially define the rest of my life. At the same time this was all familiar, like something I had done so many times before in that vague past I still couldn’t quite remember.
I felt like in the past, I must have gravitated towards spell-casting classes. There seemed something very appealing about being able to release Armageddon at a distance.
Looking at the Druid and Necromancer I thought, “No. I don't like being a summoner.” At this point, I'd given up questioning why it was that I had this kind of knowledge. It didn't seem to be helpful. Instead, I might as well just pick. Focus on picking the best option. “All right, so not a summoner.”
I looked at the Warrior and the various upgrades standing behind him: Blade Master, Champion, and Gladiator. “No, that doesn't sound right, either. I need something more balanced. Something that's good at survival.”
In the back of my head flashed images of a campsite. Of hunting through houses for supplies. Of hiding from drones flying overhead. “Only one thing for it,” I thought. “I need stealth.”
“Alright, Ranger and Rogue.”
Looking at the statues behind the Ranger I saw Survivalist, Bow Master, some kind of a crafting Class called a Wildshaper. There were several beast-tamer type Classes, some kind of a green Paladin, and something called Nature's Blade.
“No, maybe I don't want to be a Ranger.” Some part of me seemed disappointed by this realization and part of me wondered if there would be a Class for a Ranger who is also an ancient and returned King.
“That's silly,” I thought. “Why would an ancient king spend all their time wandering the countryside, camping and hunting. You'd think that in order to be a king, you'd need some kind of training in leadership or how to command men and run a kingdom. No, no there clearly was no connection between kings and Rangers. That didn't make sense.”
Okay, Rogue Classes. We had a few Tier 2 Classes like Pickpocket, Information Gossip, or Confidence Trickster. At Tier 3 we had Assassin, Mob Boss, and Arcane Trickster, as well as a few odd Classes having to do with seafaring. “I don't think I've ever been on a boat in my life. So, no thank you.”
At Tier 4 we had Shadow Lurker, Shadow Broker, Poison Master, something called a Promethean, and a Jack of all Trades.
You would think that something as boring as a Jack of all Trades would be lower Tier, but there it was. Also, there was something vaguely odd about it. The text floating over the top of the statue seemed brighter, somehow more insistent. It also seemed to be bouncing up and down. Like something wanted me to notice this particular Class.
“I wonder why that could be,” I thought to myself.
I looked closer at the statue. Text appeared. “Jack of all Trades excels at gathering Skills, including picking up Skills from other Classes, learning a little bit of everything, though never being quite as good as the original. +2 to all Stats when leveling up. +15 to Health, Mana, and Stamina when leveling up. Ignore all class-based limitations when learning a Skill, Attack, Spell, or Special Ability. Class Skill ‘I Can Do That!’ gives the user a chance to learn any Skill they see performed (percentage depending on rarity of Skill, character Intelligence and character Luck Stat). Additional Skill levels may be gained when viewing particularly skilled individuals.”
Well, talk about well-rounded. This definitely seemed like I could do pretty much anything. “Why is the text bouncing like that?”
A window appeared in front of my face. “Come on, you idiot, you know this one is the best. You might as well just take it.”
“That seemed rude, just calling me an idiot like that. Maybe I don't want to take it just for that reason.” I thought at the statue.
The text changed. “I mean, you're a genius. You have clearly worked out that this is the best class. You don't need to look any further. Rest on your laurels in the sheer knowledge that this is absolutely the best class for you. Just come on in. Hurry up!”
I couldn't exactly argue with the text box; it did make some good points. So, what exactly are the stats then? How do I look up what I currently have? Yet another window popped up in front of my face “Name: Finch. Race: Swamp Elf. Class: N/A, current stats reflect only those provided by basic Ancestry template. Strength: 1, Speed: 3, Wisdom: 2, Charm: 3, Intelligence: 2 Hardiness: 1, Health: 5, Stamina: 10, Mana: 10. Ancestry bonus: Low Light Vision improves ability to see in low light conditions. Swamp Rat improves swimming speed and length of time you can hold your breath, and reduces terrain movement penalties from mud and shallow water.” Next to each of the stats, Was a small icon with a video camera and the word 'ad +', probably indicating that I could watch an advertisement for a temporary Stat boost.
I didn't like the look of all those low numbers, but that must be what picking the Class was for. I would be getting +2 to all six Stats. Looking around at the other Classes most of them only added two points to a couple of Stats. Even the other Tier 4 Classes only seemed to get eight Stat points per level. So the 12 points per level this one gained seemed worth it. Also it seems to boost both Stamina and Mana, whatever those were. Too bad the HP gain was a bit lower than the others. No innate weapon Skills either.
“Come on, just do it. I promise you won’t regret it.” The blue text boxes were getting really insistent.
“All right, you win. I'll take it.” I touched the statue and immediately I was surrounded by golden light.
“Jack of all Trades class obtained. +1 to Level; your Level is now 1. +2 to Strength; your Strength is now 3. +2 to Speed; your Speed is now 5. +2 to Wisdom; your Wisdom is now 4. +2 to Charm; your Charm is now 5. +2 to Intelligence; your Intelligence is now 4. +2 to Hardiness; your Hardiness is now 3. +15 to Health; your Health is now 20. +15 to Stamina; your Stamina is now 25. +15 to Mana; your Mana is now 25. New Skill acquired: ‘I Can Do That.’ You can now used that Skill! Good for you! Quest acquired: Check out the Quest Hall. Go to the Quest Hall, and find a Quest.”
Leveling up was a rush. I felt fantastic, like the exhilaration of a good workout mixed with the relaxation of a good massage. I was pumped. “Okay, let's do this! Quest Hall, here I come.”
Stepping out of the Hall of Choosing I could see the mists parting in front of the quest hall. Torches flared to life revealing a massive oak door with images of heroes defeating various monsters carved on it. Strangely, the mist still seemed to be covering the other doors I wasn't meant to enter.
As soon as I left the Hall of Choosing mist covered its door as well. “I wonder how I’m supposed to get back in there if I unlock a new Class? Oh well, on to adventure!” With a smile on my face and a spring in my step, I walked along to the Quest Hall.