Going through the lists I saw everything I could think of, humans, elves, golems, constructs, Elementals, Centaurs, Minotaurs, halflings. Clicking on one to get a description I press on the humans.
Race Human Stats 100% equal effectiveness Racial Bonus +10% to skill acquisition +10% to skill growth Racial Detriment Notes
Low-tier race
5 free stats per level
+1 to priority stats per level
“Hey Marcel, what are priority stats?” I ask. Marcel clasped her hands together and smiled, “Priority stats are considered the most important stats to the races, Trolls get a +10 bonus to vitality per level, elves get a +1 bonus to intelligence, wisdom, dexterity and agility until they reach level 10 and pick a class. Humans get +1 to all stats.” Confused at the random distribution I grimaced “Wouldn't that mean that certain races have a large advantage over others in terms of stats? How do they balance this shit?” At this Marcel simply nodded. Seeing how I seemed to be waiting for more of an explanation she smirked “I'm so glad you asked, each race is given a rating based upon difficulty. As humans are the most numerous, there is no danger while growing up, no rite of passage or any obstacle to them getting stronger they gained a low tier designation. The choice in races are tied to each drifter as well as their chosen god. Since you seem to be a top tier drifter you are able to pick from any race. Be warned however, the higher the tier the more difficult it is when starting out.
Disadvantages range from being unable to enter into sunlight without instantly dieing, with those such as vampire ancients, to being unable to gain experience when not alone; However, since you asked, there is no balancing. For every risk there is a reward, the creator felt it fit to grant greater rewards the greater the merit. Similarly, if you choose a more difficult race, such as the titan your eyes keep lingering on there are a myriad of benefits and consequences, like if you fail your rite of passage after reaching level 10 you will lose all experience and return to level 1.” Nodding my head in thanks I looks back over the races.
After another hour or so of going through the races I notices a trend, low and mid tier races have flat scaling where you get X amount per level. High tiered races tend to have scaling bonus's that increase over time. The dragons for example start out with the same stats, get 12 free stats per level and an extra 1% increase in each stat per level for each stat over 100 and while that may sound ridiculously underpowered for a dragon at the lower levels that 1% is eventually going to become a huge bonus, if all 8 stats get pushed to 100 thats 8% per level. Unfortunately dragons are a race locked to the dragon god Marduk, according to the error message I keep getting. Not only that but
Race Dragon Stats Stats 200% equal effectiveness Racial Bonus
+12 free stats per level
Dragons Physique
[get N% increase in each stat permanently per level(N = number of stats exceeding 100)]
Racial Detriment
Can't equip weapons
Can't equip armor
Can't use consumables
Notes
Top-tier race
Rite of Passage pass rate 0/19872 (0%)
Failure of Rite of Passage results in deletion of character and locking of race for the account
Judging by the RP pass rate, nobody in the beta test was able to complete it and get past level 10. 'Wonder what it could be, its probably a decent surprise considering the fail rate.' The character deletion and race lock sound kinda harsh though. Passing through quite a few more I keep coming back to this one.
Race Titan (sub-races available) Stats
Strength 200% effectiveness
Agility 50% effectiveness
Dexterity 100% effectiveness
Consitution 150% effectiveness
Vitality 150% effectiveness
Intelligence 80% effectiveness
Wisdom 80% effectiveness
Luck 100% effectiveness
Racial Bonus
+0 free stats per level
Descended from the divine
[Top-tier growth variable (varies for each sub-race)]
Racial Detriment
Vulnerable Youth [Pain settings Locked to 150% until rite of passage is completed]
Of Flesh and Blood [Pain settings can be pushed no lower than 90% after rite of passage]
Notes
Rite of Passage pass rate 0/0 (varies for each sub-race)
“Ouch, who the fuck could complete this shit? I practically shit a brick when I stub a toe, can't imagine that at 150%” I said to myself. “Not many have even moved past level one due to the Vulnerable Youth detriment” Marcel replied immediately “they tend to get bit by a wolf or get stabbed through the neck or chest by a horned rabbit. After the first death drifters tend to remake into a different race.” seeing the challenge accepted look in my eyes she smirks “Also, the +0 in stat points per level is constant for all the sub-races, increases in stats are tied to special actions, depending on the sub-race. Ah, and before you even try to ask, there is no pain tolerance skill. Everything here depends upon you yourself.” Seeing that smile reaching her eyes I want to pick the titan. Even knowing that most likely it would end in failure I still wanted to knock that smirk off her face, considering the disadvantages of the titan it should come with quite a few advantages. A full minute passes by as I weigh the pros and cons, glancing at the 0/0 I knows I can be the very first to even attempt the trial. At the very least I'll make it to that and yell "FIRST!!!!" into the forums. Finally decided I click on the titan
Descendants of the primordial deities, titans are blessed with incredible strength with a constitution to match. They gain their strength and unique abilities from the primordial gods they descend from.
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You have chosen the Titan race, would you like to finalize this choice?
Yes No
Please pick a subrace
Shadowborne Titan
Descended from Erebes or Nyx, these titans feel at home in the shadows, being smaller of body than most other titans they tend to be much quicker.
[Strength 150% effectiveness]
[Agility 90% effectiveness]
[Harder to see while within the shadows]
[Gains unique stealth related perk – user selected]
Earthborne Titan
Descended from Gaia, these titans are borne from the earth and in turn while in contact with the earth, they receive the protection of Gaia.
[Constitution 200% effectiveness]
[Vitality 200% effectiveness]
[Dexterity 75% effectiveness]
[Stone skin passive while in contact with the ground, direct or indirect]
[Gains unique body related perk – user selected]
Waterborne Titan
Descended from Pontus, these titans are borne from the water and in turn have an innate healing aura surrounding them
[Vitality 200% effectiveness]
[Constitution 115% effectiveness]
[+5% to natural regeneration]
[enables regeneration in battle]
[Gains unique aura related perk – user selected]
Fireborne Titan
Descended from Hemera, these titans are borne of fire and in turn have an innate aggression, focusing more on destroying their enemy than protecting themselves
[Strength 300% effectiveness]
[Constitution 100% effectiveness]
[Vitality 100% effectiveness]
[Healing received +100%]
[Gains unique attack related perk – user selected]
Looking over the choices these four seemed the coolest, for some reason being a titanic assassin just seems oddly fascinating to me, unfortunately it's grayed out so it looks likes the Old Man doesn't approve of this lot. The fireborne is also grayed out, 'guess he's never heard that the best defense is a good offense.' Seeing the last two I cross off waterborne, seems like a support and while supports are the unsung heroes of every game, I still want to be a frontliner 'or at least I did want to be, not sure what it's gonna be like with those dumbass pain settings' I thought to myself. Clicking on Earthborne and finalizing it another window pops up, looking at the glass container he sees a nearly 3.5 meter tall looming figure. Grimacing at the possible complications of having a literal hulk walking around in what is most likely to be a ton of human sized cities he looks towards Marcel with a winning smile. “So Marcel, being the beautiful and diligent worker that you are is there a way I can make my character more... umm, my size?” A small laugh like wind chimes echos in the room as she looks at the small screen, “The easiest way, and the only one available to you right now, is to pick the compact body perk.” Scrolling down I looked for the perk.
Compact Body
Due to being born deeper within the earth your body has absorbed more of the earths essence while under immense pressure resulting in a smaller, denser body.
[Constitution + 50% effectiveness]
[Vitality + 50% effectiveness]
[Dexterity +25% effectiveness]
[Agility +25% effectiveness]
[Weight:Volume ratio +50%]
[Size -35%]
Looking at the glass I watched as the hulking monstrosity that looked like a 10 foot body builder slowly morphing into an amazingly well defined tall young man, barely distinguishable from human, if a bit on the tall side, maybe around 6'6 to 6'8. Finalizing yet another choice I was happy to see.
Character creation completed
Checking chosen god
Checking chosen race
Checking chosen perk
Calculating Divine growth....
Defensive only choices confirmed
Pain settings over 100% at creation confirmed
Divine Growth Shield-Trainee (CRE - C rank, Race-locked, Evolution Available)
Every blocked attack temporarily increases all stats by 10%, stacks 100x, evolution at level 11.
Lasts until end of battle
Every 100 blocks will increase the lowest stat by 1
~ “Everyone has someone they want to protect, but if you can’t protect yourself, what makes you think you can protect anyone else?” ~
Divine Growth - Next Evolution
[Shield-Apprentice (BRE)]
[Every perfectly blocked attacked permanently increases all stats by (1%)]
[Every attack blocked while in the protection of yourself or a teammate who would otherwise die will permanently increases lowest stat by (1%)]
~ “Heroes aren’t necessarily the ones taking down the bad guys, sometimes a hero is just someone who risks their life to protect those around them”
Gawking at the possible gains. This is basically infinite growth as long as I could reach level 11. Not exactly sure what ‘perfectly blocked’ means but considering my only way for growth was something that appeared to be skill-based it couldn’t be that difficult or else he’d be stuck at lvl 1 stats forever. Deciding it was tomorrows problem I looked to Marcel who was already heading back to the center room, business as usual it seems. ‘Wouldn’t hurt them to be a little more warm and inviting would it?’ Mike thought sourly. Glancing over at the dark haired beauty I couldn’t help but take a second longer to gaze at her, Marcel was average in all her looks, practically nondescript, Alexa though, she was adorable. Not in the attractive way, more like a doll than anything else, looking to be maybe 5 foot even, dark auburn hair, sea green and blue eyes in a blue and gold-trimmed dress that matched the room, oddly enough not clashing with her hair or eyes in the slightest. Following her into the left room I felt a change as I walked through the door. I felt colder, she seemed to shrink before me as I followed along. Inside the room stood a simple mirror. Walking up to it I saw….. myself? I was taller, defined. Seeing the pink in Alexa’s cheeks he looked down, barring the boxers he was effectively naked, shrugging I said “hey, if you wanted to strip me you could have at least asked” eyes growing wide and face practically glowing “I din’t.. Bu I… and …. SURAK!!!!!” she screamed in anger after her barely decipherable squeaks came out. “Hahaha, no worries little one, I was just teasing you. So what are we here for?” Puffing out her cheeks at me she pointed at the mirror and mumbles “customization” and then stomped out of the room. 'Guess I'm not getting any more explanation' I thought with a sigh, my fault I guess.
Moving over towards the mirror I waved my hand, poked the mirror, tried voice commands, a menu wasn't coming up. 'Mental commands maybe' I thought. A window full of sliders popped up, height, weight, muscle tone, and a label merely labeled [length] followed by [girth]. 'A mans gotta do, what a mans gotta do' I thought to myself with a grin. A Quarter of an hour later I walked out of the room sporting said grin, height adjusted to the minimum at 6'3 waist slimmed slightly, more muscle tone, the only thing left unaltered was my face, it'd be too weird to look into the mirror and not see myself. Walking with an extra 5 inches of height is decidedly easier than the foot of height from earlier.
Sitting down in the chair, I looked over to Old man Surak sporting a gentle smile not unlike my grandfather he said “Welcome back my child, I see you've found the persona you wish to take on as you drift through the world below. I'll be sending you to the center of the continent. Due to your choices your body must be [born] in a mountainous region that can only be found where I'm sending you. All Earthborne will be gathered at this town. Learn from them, learn their ways, learn how to survive and grow. You've been given a great gift, a great chance, in the hands of another it could become naught but a burden, use it well and it will become your strength, just as the allies you find and gather will become your strength. Good luck.”
“Oh yeah by the w-” I tried to ask a few more questions but was mercilessly cut off as Alexa slapped a disc onto the table. My vision changed and all I could see was darkness.
You have been logged out, the game opens in 42:47:31
Jumping out of the pod I texts Eve, warning her about the pain spike due to the chip.
Mike : (By the way, how advanced is the AI in this game, one of the character creation npcs got mad at me and to get even she did a forced logout by ending character creation.)
Eve : (Deep learning algorithm set up and a biotic computing platform. It has the potential to become a real AI if given the time.)
Eve : (Did you ask her for a sandwich >Sad [https://forum.royalroadl.com/images/smilies/sad.png] if you did you deserved it)
Mike : ( I would never be that insensitive )
Eve : ( Tom is still recovering from the clown prank you pulled last year, he flinches every time he sees a balloon )
Mike : ( Sorry, gotta go grab dinner. I'll be back later.)
Eve : (This is not how you dodge a text, it'll be here when you get back)
Mike: (The number you have dialed is currently eating guilt-free pizza, please text back later)
Tossing my phone in the drawer I plop down on the gaming couch, too lazy to go upstairs, grabbing some sleep. 'What am I gonna do with 2 days of nothing to do' I lamented. 'I'll have to see if I can get some info on the game from some contacts in the gaming company' management didn't like him much anymore but ground-level he still made a few friends. Yawning I laid back, making plans to fill the hours till launch, ignoring the vibrations coming from my coffee tables drawer.