Volunteer Program options?
I assumed what that might entail. Some sort of settings or accessibility menu for my experience within the simulation. I was wrong.
A glowing menu materialized in the ether. It had an ephemeral weight, but I instinctively sensed that this menu was something only I would be able to see.
[STATISTICS
EQUIPMENT
INVENTORY
ECONOMY
MEMORY
STATUS
(ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO BE UNLOCKED AS APPLICABLE)]
As I reached out to select the different menu options, they opened, revealing a cascade of submenus.
[STATISTICS
* ATTACK
* DEFENSE
* ABILITY
* MOVEMENT
* PROCESSING
EQUIPMENT
* WEAPONS
* ARMOR
* ACCESSORIES
INVENTORY
* CARDS
* FRAGMENTS
* CONSUMABLES
* MATERIALS
ECONOMY
* CRYPT
* CRYSTALS
MEMORY
* STORAGE
* HISTORY
STATUS
(ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO BE UNLOCKED AS APPLICABLE)]
All of this was, again, overwhelming.
Concierge. What am I supposed to do with this?
As the final step of your orientation, you must allot additional value into your Statistics subcategories. Please open your Statistics menu.
I did as instructed.
[STATISTICS
* ATTACK
* * STRENGTH
* * ACCURACY
* DEFENSE
* * ESSENCE
* * RESISTANCE
* ABILITY
* * ADEPTNESS
* * ENERGY
* MOVEMENT
* * SPEED
* * AGILITY
* PROCESSING
* * PERCEPTION
* * PERSUASION
* * PROTOCOL
* * PROBABILITY]
As a new Volunteer, you have a value of 10 in each of the 12 statistical subcategories. You have been granted an additional value of 30, to be distributed as integers and multiples of 10 in one or more subcategories.
I studied the curious menu again. Now I saw that there was a number, or value, associated with each of these ‘subcategories.’
[STATISTICS
* ATTACK
* * STRENGTH - 10
* * ACCURACY - 10
* DEFENSE
* * ESSENCE - 10
* * RESISTANCE - 10
* ABILITY
* * ADEPTNESS - 10
* * ENERGY - 10
* MOVEMENT
* * SPEED - 10
* * AGILITY - 10
* PROCESSING
* * PROTOCOL - 10
* * PERCEPTION - 10
* * PERSUASION - 10
* * PROBABILITY - 10
UNASSIGNED VALUE: 30]
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So I had to somehow assign that additional value of ‘30’ to these subcategories. Still not being sure as to what any of this was, or the relevance of these subcategories to my role as a Volunteer, I was at a loss. I didn't even know the meaning of some of these terms.
Concierge, I am unsure what I am supposed to do with this. Do you have any recommendations?
Volunteers should assign value to their statistical subcategories based on the approach to fulfilling their task that would be most efficacious for them. Each subcategory has direct relevance to your role in removing invasive entities from The Collective.
Ok. Attack and Defense are somewhat self-explanatory. Movement as well. What is the Ability category? And the Processing category?
The Ability category, the Ability subcategories of Adeptness and Energy, relate to how effective you are at harnessing and using special skills as they relate to your role as Volunteer.
The Processing category, and the Processing subcategories of Protocol, Perception, Persuasion, and Probability relate to higher-level cognitive and system functions.
Can you give me an example? What is Protocol?
A protocol is a set of rules that define how data is transmitted. In this context, it relates to higher cognitive functions such as knowledge, intelligence, logic, and prescience.
I thought about this. I had already purchased a push dagger, a handheld melee weapon. I did not know what the policy on refunds or returns was, if such a policy existed. Obviously, the Attack category was most applicable for this weapon and whatever violence I was being expected to carry out.
I switched from my Statistics menu over to my Inventory menu. The only thing in the inventory was the push dagger. I reached out and selected the weapon, ignoring a prompt to equip it, to read the description. A three-dimensional representation of the weapon floated in the space in front of me.
[Weapon: Push dagger (unequipped)
Weapon Type: Melee (Strength)
Level: 1 of 1
Frequency: Basic
Damage Output: 20
Details: A short metallic blade with a triangular cross-section, cylindrical hilt, and knuckle guard. This dagger is relatively easy to conceal and designed to be used for close-quarters thrusting attacks.
Properties: Weapon has the ‘Basic’ property and cannot be upgraded, enhanced, or exported.
Size: 10 metabytes]
I could see that this melee weapon was associated with the Strength subcategory. To better use this weapon, then, I would need to have value in Strength. There did not appear to be a minimum requirement. It was a Basic weapon, and I had the bare minimum assigned value in Strength.
I closed the Inventory and reopened my Statistics menu.
Ok. How do I add value to a category?
Select the unassigned value, and drag the integer in a multiple of 10 to the subcategory you wish to assign value to.
Simple enough. I dragged a value of 10 from my unassigned value to Strength. The menu flickered, and then the value of my Strength increased.
[Strength - 20]
You have 20 remaining value to assign.
I know. What do you think is the best way to assign these values based on the ‘invasive entities’ I am supposed to remove?
I apologize. I am currently experiencing a higher-than-average request volume. Please wait or try your query later.
Enough with this.
I split the remaining value between Essence and Speed.
[STATISTICS
* ATTACK
* * STRENGTH - 20
* * ACCURACY - 10
* DEFENSE
* * ESSENCE - 20
* * RESISTANCE - 10
* ABILITY
* * ADEPTNESS - 10
* * ENERGY - 10
* MOVEMENT
* * SPEED - 20
* * AGILITY - 10
* PROCESSING
* * PROTOCOL - 10
* * PERCEPTION - 10
* * PERSUASION - 10
* * PROBABILITY - 10
UNASSIGNED VALUE: 0]
For your sign-on bonus, you have received an additional 10 metabytes of storage!
What?
Orientation is now complete. Congratulations, Volunteer! You will be redirected to the Commons in 5 seconds.
Please enjoy your stay in The Collective. Live your best second life! (™)