Returning to his office, Robert sat down at his desk.
"Alright, let's start with the basics. What should I call you? Mr. AI doesn't exactly roll off the tongue."
You can call me Hal, if you'd like. I don't have a strong preference.
"Hal, huh? Okay, I've got a lot of questions. For example, what does it mean to level up?"
Leveling up essentially means you've become more powerful. Let's open your status screen and take a look.
Name: Robert Williams Class(1): None Merged Class: None Race: Human (Tier G) Class(2): None Merged Profession: None Gender: Male Class(3): None Skill Points: 5 Used: 0 Level: 4 Profession(1): None Unlocked Skill Points: 2 Used: 0 Strength:11 Profession(2): None Regeneration(Per Minute) Dexterity: 11 XP: 1000 (XP To Level: 500) HP: 2 Constitution: 10 HP: 147(147) MP: 3 Intelligence: 15 MP: 157(157) ST: 1 Wisdom: 16 Stamina: 38(38) Active Effect: None Charisma: 10 Resistances: (EL: 0, MI: 0, TI:0, SP: 0, HI: 0, SR: 0, PH: 0 Status Effect: None Free Stat Points: 3
Free Skill Points: 1 Skill, 6 unlocked skill points
One thing you'll notice is that you now have three free stat points. As a Tier G human without a class or profession, you'll gain one stat point per level-up.
"So, how do I use these points, and what should I increase?"
Simple. Just think about it. The system is linked to your mind, so it knows your intent. As for which stat to increase, you mentioned wanting to be a spellcaster, so Intelligence would be a good choice. However, don't neglect other stats. Even the most powerful mage needs a healthy body to cast spells.
"Okay, that makes sense. What about wisdom, not to lean on my RPG game knowledge but don't casters need it?"
Absolutely. Wisdom affects your mana regeneration rate.
"Alright, let's put one point into Intelligence, Wisdom, and Constitution."
That's a solid start. Your mental stats are already pretty high.
"Okay done."
Name: Robert Williams Class(1): None Merged Class: None Race: Human (Tier G) Class(2): None Merged Profession: None Gender: Male Class(3): None Skill Points: 5 Used: 0 Level: 4 Profession(1): None Unlocked Skill Points: 2 Used: 0 Strength:11 Profession(2): None Regeneration(Per Minute) Dexterity: 11 XP: 0 (XP To Level: 10) HP: 2 Constitution: 11 HP: 159(159) MP: 3 Intelligence: 16 MP: 172(172) ST: 1 Wisdom: 17 Stamina: 42(42) Active Effect: None Charisma: 10 Resistances: (EL: 0, MI: 0, TI:0, SP: 0, HI: 0, SR: 0, PH: 0 Status Effect: None Free Stat Points: 0
Free Skill Points: 1 Skill, 6 unlocked skill points
"So, explain skills to me. What does it mean to unlock a skill, and what do the tiers and levels signify?" Robert asked.
Just because you haven't unlocked a skill doesn't mean you can't do it. For example, before unlocking Leatherworking, you could still work with leather, but you wouldn't be very good at it. Unlocking a skill provides you with the basic knowledge and understanding. With Leatherworking, you'd learn the tools, techniques, and concepts, like how to stitch pieces of leather together. However, you wouldn't know how to create specific items yet. Skill books provide the knowledge to craft Tier 1 items, like simple leather pants.
Just because you haven't unlocked a skill doesn't mean you can't do it. For example, before unlocking Leatherworking, you could still work with leather, but you wouldn't be very good at it. Unlocking a skill provides you with the basic knowledge and understanding. With Leatherworking, you'd learn the tools, techniques, and concepts, like how to stitch pieces of leather together. However, you wouldn't know how to create specific items yet. Skill books provide the knowledge to craft Tier 1 items, like simple leather pants.
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Now, let's talk magic. Spells are also tiered, and you can only learn spells up to your current tier.
"Got it," Robert nodded.
"Why don't some subskills have levels?" Robert asked.
Some subskills, like System Log, are inherently maxed out. There's no room for improvement.
"Interesting, so how do you upgrade system skills, just by using them?" Robert questioned.
System skills are unique in how they level up. While most skills grow through use, system skills follow a specific formula. To upgrade your inventory, for example, you'd need to store and retrieve items. The number of uses required doubles for each level. So, to reach level 2, you might need 10 uses, then 100 for level 3, and 10,000 for level 4. Most people stop at level 4, as it's a good balance of space and effort. Level 5 requires 100 million uses, which is a massive undertaking. At level 5, your inventory becomes a 10x10 cubic meter space, enough for most people's needs. Level 6 increases it to 20x20 cubic meters.
"That's a lot of space," Robert remarked.
"So, what other things does the average five-year-old know that I don't?" Robert asked, a wry smile on his face.
Answering that would take months.
"Very funny, Mr. Joker. Give me a serious answer," Robert demanded.
I wasn't joking. In a system universe, a lot of knowledge is considered common. Things like how much experience is needed to level up, when you unlock classes and professions, and the different races and monsters are just basic information. It's like the knowledge your parents would impart on you. Imagine learning about currency, economics, and social norms all at once.
"That's a lot to take in," Robert admitted.
"So let's cover some of the basic things then, you mentioned economics, start there" Robert stated.
Let's start with economics. Money in the System works similarly to RPGs. The lowest denomination is the Copper Coin, roughly equivalent to one dollar. Next, we have the Silver Coin, available in half and whole coins. A Silver Half Coin is worth 50 Copper, and a Silver Coin is worth 100 Copper. The Gold Coin follows the same pattern, with half and whole coins worth 50 and 100 Silver Coins, respectively. Finally, there's the Platinum Coin which again follows the same pattern.
"Okay so I've seen things like that before in games so it makes sense, except the half ones but I guess I can see how that would help people in the long run," Robert said with a thoughtful look.
As for prices, they vary depending on location. But on average, a simple meal at an inn costs about 3 Copper, a cheap room for the night is 6 Copper, a basic leather armor set is 65 Copper, a good horse is 2 Gold, and a small house is around 20 Gold (un-enchanted). The cost of staple goods, like flour, can fluctuate based on factors like location and supply. For example, a pound of flour might cost 10 Copper in a city, but 30 Copper in a small village.
"So, prices are influenced by location and supply and demand," Robert concluded.
Exactly. Now, let's talk about social norms.
"Do we have to?" Robert asked, dreading the conversation.
Well, without knowing your exact destination, we can't get too specific. However, there are some universal social dynamics. One thing to remember is that power is often the most important factor. When you first arrive, you'll be relatively weak. Even though you might outlevel many people, there will be those far more powerful than you. In many cultures, this power imbalance can lead to exploitation. It's best to keep a low profile and avoid interactions with people of higher social standing.
Also, remember that anyone with high-quality gear and a stylish appearance is likely more powerful and influential than you. Limit your interactions with such individuals until you've gained more strength. Eventually, your magic skills will make you powerful, but that will also attract attention from even more powerful individuals. It's best to avoid this as long as possible.
Robert chuckled. "That's good advice, regardless of the universe. Keep your head down and mind your own business."
"Wait, how does this work for children? Surely five-year-olds aren't given full system access?" Robert asked, curious.
Children under five have very limited access, seeing only basic information like name, race, and gender. From five to ten, they can view traits and feats but can't interact with them. Between ten and twelve, they can see their skill list but can't use skill points. At twelve, they gain full read access to the system but still can't make changes. Finally, at fifteen, they unlock full system access. This system is designed to protect both the child and those around them.
"Good thing we don't have seven-year-olds running around throwing fireballs," Robert joked.
Not unless someone gives them a wand of fireballs.
"Wait, is that actually possible?" Robert asked, his tone serious.
It depends on the specific wand and its activation requirements
"That's... concerning," Robert admitted.
Alright, I think we've covered enough for now. Let's plan your first dungeon run. It's best to talk to your kids first and spend some time learning spells. Once you've mastered a few offensive, defensive, and healing spells, we can equip you with a basic knife and send you in.
The first level is relatively easy. You'll likely face either friendly creatures or low-level rats. The dungeon is small, with about 7-9 rooms and no boss. It's designed to introduce you to the mechanics. You should be able to gain at least one level, maybe two, depending on luck. You might also acquire some basic system gear. There should be a system shop in the first room where you can spend your tokens on armor or other useful items.
"So, let's aim for three days from now?" Robert suggested.
That sounds like a good plan.