A 'Loading' message, followed by a progression bar which showed 12% appeared, so I began analyzing the 'intro' I just watched while it was still fresh on my memory.
The war against monsters and the powers they displayed must certainly be the system through which the souls are refined and able to develop such unnatural abilities. Let's stick with the 'adventurer system' for now...
Nevertheless, the video made it obvious that the game will revolve around humans firstly and secondly around this system, for both protection and advancement of the civilization. Also, remembering from the 'demo', there's more than one way to develop a soul. Not only as a fighter, but any other occupation can become just as relevant if given sufficient time and resources.
What worries me is the last part of the video. With other worlds invading, there is an imperative need for a strong and unmoving military, either to be used for protection or conquest if is the case. So, while it might not seem like much, the video hints at the need to balance things like the advancement of technology, with the development of culture, all while making sure my people won't be steamrolled by the first wave of monsters that appear. It truly is more troublesome and complex than I originally thought...
Turning my head away from the still loading screen, the black empty planet stood there, staring back at me in silence. I'll be have to 'shape it according to my will' and build a civilization that represents me... wow, I just imagined 7 billion people that follow my teachings and have deeply ingrained in their subconscious my personality... the world burns as it's engulfed in wanton chaos... I apologize, future believers in myself!
Wait! This really means that there will be people to worship me, right? We're not talking Michael Jackson style, but rather more like Buddha? And there's also, fighting other Gods? As ludicrous as it might sound... the thought of it makes me grin with anticipation. Why not after all? It's not like I have a choice in the matter anyway, so why fight against the waves when I can just ride them? It sounds fun anyway...
Initialization complete!
Mission 1: User Interface!
Description: Activate and explore the management interface window on the blue frame!
I will spare the details where I shouted for about 15 minutes random things, trying to get this damn thing to work and failing spectacularly while at it. In the end, all I had to do was give the command and the specification of it. Like for example, when teaching a dog to fetch a stick, you can't just throw it and say 'Stick' or 'Fetch'. You had to use it properly by saying 'Fetch the fucking Stick!'. Same with this bullshit...
"Open up Management Interface window!"
Player recognized!
Successfully logged in and stored credentials based on voice pattern recognition.
Logged in as Michael Corbett!
Opening the Management Interface!
"Truly game like... Prometheus outdid himself when putting it together like this. Too bad that useless game God doesn't take after him... Let's see what options are available... Hmm!?"
Player: Michael Corbett World: Unnamed Funds: 0SP
World Management Interface Auction House
Before any reaction, another string of notifications were listed.
Mission 1 complete!
Awarding 100M SP due to completion!
Initializing Mission 2...
Mission 2: Explore!
Description: Explore the five options available on the Management Interface window!
Since I wasn't required to actually touch the 'screen' in order to perform any changes, I once again used vocal commands to open up the most obvious one.
"Open up Player window!"
Player: Michael Corbett Rank: Newbie Deity of Chaos [Lvl 0] Miracles avaliable: Soul Upgrade [Ex]; VIP discount [Uq] Worlds under control: 1 Faith: 0 followers Influence: 0% | Alignment: None Assigned Hero: None
"There's quite the number of things to complain about... Also, this 'status page' is way different than the one I had as an adventurer. Let's start with the most obviously obnoxious thing..."
Rank: Newbie Deity of Chaos [Lvl 0]
Each God needs to start somewhere! As a beginner, you will rack up experience based on special actions, number of followers that believe in you, as well as successful advancements of your civilization (cultural, technological, or otherwise). Current Exp: 0/1000
Since you are at the starting line as a deity, you have a maximum of two miracles you can perform. However, don't let that discourage you! Each Rank Up will increase the number of miracles allotted by one. In order to Rank Up, you need to increase your level 10 times for the first one, 25 additional times for the second one, 50 additional times for the third one, 100 additional times for the fourth one, etc. Current Rank Up progression: 0/10
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Even if you are the lowest rank at the moment, don't look down on your own divinity! As a representative of Chaos, you can notice pattern in advance, while the universe itself looks out for you. They say that everything started with Chaos and that everything shall be destroyed by Chaos in the end!
"WHAT'S WITH THAT FORCED SETTING!?"
I felt a headache brewing... I mean, seriously now! What do you mean 'each God has to start somewhere'? Is there a school? Is there a crash course I could take before diving in head-first into this mess? And what's whit that bullshit power!? I can see patterns? Bullshit! I can't see shit! That useless game God! At least give me something useful! Also, what's with that ominous ending!? I'm I starting down the path of the Demon Lord!?
"Ugh...my head hurts... Anyway!!! It appears that due to my impromptu appearance as a player, I was recognized as a deity of Chaos. The description is vague and embarrassing to say in the least and the one that came up with it should be ashamed of himself!!! Leaving the stupid things aside, I have levels still... and I can rank up following a route similar to that of the adventurer's system. The good news is that all other Gods have this set up as their starting line, so I am not as behind as I thought. Also, there's the miracles I can perform..."
Miracles available: Soul Upgrade [Ex]; VIP discount [Uq]
Representing the power of a God, miracles are at their base, raw divinity infused in different objects, people or landscapes. Their use is to make it easier for a God to expand and strengthen the belief of his followers!
Such miracles can be placed in two categories: active and passive.
The passive miracles can grant permanent benefits, however they can't directly spread out Faith, since they are hidden from sight. Also, given that they are continuously applied, the effectiveness they possess is limited.
The active miracles provide a one time benefit to one or multiple targets and they allow the deity to confer a Divine Revelation once used. Due to their limited use, the effects are stronger than the ones provided by the passive miracles.
A Divine Revelation, consists of a brief message the deity can send to one of his/her followers, alongside the use of an active miracle. This has been done in order to allow Faith to spread out easier.
Soul Upgrade [Ex]: Active miracle! Cost: 10 Faith/use
Description: In order to refine the quality of a soul, the number of soul points required is cut in half (example: usually, 100 LvL 0 souls are required to upgrade a soul to LvL 1. This miracle reduces the amount to only 50. As the LvL scales upwards, the reduction of 50% still applies!)
VIP Discount [Uq] : Passive miracle!
Description: Due to your 'unique' relationship with the auction house master, all purchases made using SP are reduced by 25%!
Each miracle differs from the others, based on its rarity as follows:
Co: common rank;
Uc: uncommon rank;
R : rare rank;
Vr: very rare rank;
Ex: extraordinary rank;
Uq: unique rank;
Ep: epic rank;
L : legendary rank;
D : divine rank;
Be advised that your actions prior to the rank up, decide the choice of miracles available to chose between.
"That's... more information than I originally expected."
However, it's rather useful and interesting. Given their ability to be applied both permanently or targetable, both are impressive and have their own uses. I'm not sure which one is better to be honest: the first one is likely to have a major impact in the early stages, since I can forcibly upgrade the souls, diminishing the threat of the monsters in the wild. The second one is godly in the long run, since it will save me 25% of any cost in the action house.
I didn't expect that self-centered game God to be so generous. Even more, now at least I know what the SP represents: soul points...
Yeah, I know! However, it makes sense since he already said that each player will get 100 million of them. That's why my reward was exactly that number, representing the starting 'currency' available to each player.
As for what's available to be bought using that... no clue whatsoever, at least for now. Also, I'm not as conflicted as originally thought I might be in regards to using the souls. Like I already said... ride the waves, or get thrown under!
"Now for these two..."
Faith: 0 followers
Faith represents the worship and trust the mortals show to a specific deity, while each God depends heavily on it for his/her's survival and strength.
Each LvL 0 follower provides a daily amount of 1 Faith point and 1 Experience point and the amount of both go up with the higher levels of the mortals.
Also, try and keep in mind that in order to be able to use any active miracles, a specific number of Faith points is required.
Be sure to impress the followers with your divinity early on and rule them fairly, for as easy as it is to garner their Faith, is just as easy to lose it!
Influence: 0%
It is well known that a God can influence his followers. A God of War will make his worshipers stronger, fiercer and more courageous, while a God of Life will strengthen their connection with nature, creating a balanced relationship with the environment and therefore increasing their reproduction rate, while decreasing the mortality.
As a Chaos Deity, each percentage provides a chance that a genius soul will be randomly born. The respective soul will start at LvL 3 and will take part of a category of your choosing among the following:
- Genius Scientist;
- Genius Engineer;
- Genius General;
- Genius Musician;
- Genius Prophet;
- Genius Merchant;
- Genius Writer;
- Genius Artist;
- Genius Admiral;
- Genius Adventurer;
Keep in mind that each said genius can only be part of one category until they reach LvL 5 in soul refinement, after which you can chose a second category for them. Upon maxing out to LvL 10, a third category will also be presented, allowing at maximum three areas of influence.
Since a synergy effect between categories exists, chose carefully! If your choices aren't suitable, the effect the genius will have on your civilization will lessen considerably!
"I can finally see the way to cheat! It seems like being a 'representative of Chaos' is not that bad after all!"