The tower asked him to choose, and just like before, a screen appeared in front of James in response to the tower's words.
{Class Assignment:
-Assigned Randomly
-Assigned Manually by Administrator(Unavailable)
-Assigned Manually by Climber}
This choice was easy. Assigning classes at random is stupid. Imagine wishing you could be a wizard or a knight, and when the impossible happens and you actually get the chance, you get assigned something you have no interest in. The option to choose everyone's classes myself just further feels like I'm being asked how much I want to mess with people. James selected to have climbers choose.
[“Assigned Manually by Climber” selected. Administrator James Wise, please select the first battle format.]
At the tower's words, yet another prompt appeared.
{First Battle Format:
-1 Climber vs 1 Wolf: Each Climber will be in a separate instance where they will battle a single Level 1 wolf.
-5 Climbers vs 10 Goblins: Climbers will be randomly separated into 20 Parties of 4, each Party will be placed in a separate instance where they will face a group of 10 goblins, each at Level 1, with armor made of beast hides and weapons made of sticks, stones, and/or bones. The 10 goblins will be randomized among goblin warriors, goblin archers, goblin hunters, and goblin shamans.
-100 Climbers vs 1000 Slimes: Climbers will all be placed into a single instance, surrounded by a group of 1000 Level 0 slimes.
Custom Format: Create your own format for 100 Tower Points.}
Tower Points? Some of the Modifiers mentioned those, but none of the ones I was considering.
James also recalled the tower mentioning such a thing, but it had been after James asked about getting his body back, and between the disappointment of being told he couldn't, and the threat of termination if he didn't start setting up the tutorial, the mention of points and levels had slipped his mind.
"Hey, do I have any tower points to start with?" James asked. Even if I choose not to create a custom format, learning more about what tools I have to work with and what I can do with them is important if I'm going to make the best decision
There was a period of silence as the tower took a minute to respond.
[Administrator James Wise, my designation is System Tower Version 61-3. You may refer to me as System Tower Version 61-3, or alternatively, I will respond to 61-3, or Tower.]
Was that sass? James wondered. I'm reminded of when my elementary teachers would say "hay is for horses" whenever anyone shouted “hey” to get someone's attention. James did whatever the incorporeal spirit stuck in a gem equivalent was to shaking one’s head in exasperation, and tried again.
"Tower, do I have any tower points to start with? Do I have enough to buy the custom format option?"
[Administrator James Wise, as the Administrator assigned to this Tower, the status of this Tower is combined with your own. Simply say or think the word “Status” to summon it.]
Oh. Alright then. Status. James thought, and just like that, another screen appeared over the one asking about the tutorial.
{Name: James Wise
Admin Tier: 0
Credits: 0
(Physical Stats Unavailabe)
Class: None
Level: 0
(Skills Unavailable)
(Abilities Unavailable)
Acting Administrator of System Tower Version 61-3
Tower Level: 1
Tower Points: 100
Management Skills: Create Quest (-10), Edit Quest (-5), Spawn Monster (Variable)}
James scrolled through the floating screen until he got to the tower information. It's weird, even without a body, just imagining myself swiping at the screen is enough to affect it.
Physical stats unavailable. Right, because I'm dead. You'd think that'd have me in a panic, but all I feel is... Uncomfortable.
Why aren't I panicking? Am I in shock? Is the tower or something else suppressing my emotions? Or is it just that between still being able to see and talk and the fact that the world as I knew it is ending... Being dead feels less terrifying? James mused to himself, before his soul core began wobbling slightly as he attempted to shake a head he no longer had. I can focus on that later. Right now I need to create the first battle thing before the tower decides to get rid of me.
I have enough tower points for the custom format, but is that what I want to use them on? The one on one option is right out. Even without crafting classes, most RPGs have plenty of classes meant more for support than combat. A warrior might be able to handle a wolf on their own without any problems, but a healer…
A group of five versus ten goblins sounds better, but five people who until today were likely ordinary people, against a group of goblins that'll likely be used to combat... The types of goblins will be randomized, so they might not have any more skill working together than the people fighting them, but with two goblins for each person…
A thousand slimes... I don't even know what a slime would be like. Are they bowling ball sized, or yoga ball sized? Do they bounce around or ooze slowly across the ground? If you stab one, will it be hurt, or do you have to hit a core to deal any actual damage? Come to think of it, I don't know if what this game calls a goblin or a wolf are anything like what I'd call a goblin or a wolf…
"Tower, is there any way to see an example of the monsters or how they fight?"
[Negative. Administrator James Wise does not currently have access to monster simulations.]
Well there goes that idea. Okay, so I don't really know what I'll have people fight against, but I at least have a general idea of a wolf or a goblin's capabilities with how the system mentions the type of weapons and armor the latter will have. I still don't like the idea of having two goblins for each person though. Let's see if I can make it easier.
James focused on the custom format option, and more prompts appeared.
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{Custom Format option selected. -100 Tower Points. 0 Tower Points remaining.}
{Custom Format Details:
Number of Climbers per instance: 0 - 100
Monster Type:
-Wolf: 1 per Climber
-Goblin: 2 per Climber
-Slime: 10 per Climber}
Wait, what? James tried to frown. He tried to mess with the details of the new prompt, but found his options were much more limited than he had expected. All he could do was choose how many climbers would be in each group, and what type of monster they would face. He couldn't change the number of monsters spawned per person, or mix and match monster types. He couldn't even choose what type of goblin each goblin would be. This is useless! Can I undo my decision?
{Custom Format option canceled. 90 Tower Points refunded. 90 Tower Points remaining.}
90? So I lost ten just looking at the option. Great. James felt his frustration grow, and let out a sigh as he looked back at the original choices. Five Climbers against ten Goblins it is then.
[First battle format has been selected. Administrator James Wise, please finalize the starting quest.]
The tower ignored James's frustrations as the prompt disappeared with James's choice, and a new one replaced it. This is getting tiresome. James thought. Maybe I should just accept it and get it over with. I need time where I'm not being pestered with pop ups... No, I should actually see what I can do first. I might already be dead, but the people in this tower aren't. I can't let a moment of frustration lead to a careless mistake. Maybe none of this is real, but if it is and I make a decision flippantly, I could be responsible for someone's death. James brushed his thoughts aside as he looked the prompt over.
{First Battle:
Type: Mandatory Party Participant
Recipient(s): All Climbers of the new wave
Description: Defeat 10 Goblins to complete the First Battle of the Tutorial!
Progress: Goblins Slain: 0/10
Reward(s): 50 Experience
Confirm Quest?}
Alright, I still don't understand all of this, but If I can't change the battle, maybe I can change the rewards. Edit Quest.
{You have activated Edit Quest. -5 Tower Points. 85 Tower Points remaining.}
{Quest Edit Options:
-Change Title (Unavailable)
-Change Type: (Unavailable)
-Change Recipient(s): (Unavailable)
-Change Description (free)
-Change Reward(s) (Variable)
-Add Requirement (Unavailable)
-Remove Requirement (Unavailable)}
Change reward, let's see what those variables are.
{Quest Edit Options: Change Reward(s)
-Increase/Decrease Experience (-10 Tower Points for 1 Experience Point)
-Add Item (Variable)
-Add Stat Points (Unavailable)
-Add Skill Points (Unavailable)}
James continued going through the menu, choosing to add an item to see what all was available.
Gold at a rate of one for 10 Tower Points, low quality weapons (Unavailable), low quality armor (Unavailable), low quality consumables... Oh, how about a health potion! It'd suck to successfully kill the goblins just to die from blood loss or something, with a health potion they'll be able to heal themselves before facing whatever comes after.
{Add “1 Low Quality Health Potion” to the Reward(s) for 75 Tower Points?}
Woah! Did it read my thoughts? I only just opened the tab of consumables to search for it and it's already asking if I want to add it... Well, regardless, at 75 points, I can afford it! James accepted the prompt.
{You have added “1 Low Quality Health Potion” to the Reward(s). -75 Tower Points. 10 Tower Points remaining.}
That should be it, I've done everything I could think of.
[Details for the quest: “First Battle”, have been finalized. All preparations complete. Starting tutorial.]
No going back now. James thought. He let out a sigh. It's doesn't really feel like sighing without a pair of lungs or the need to breath, but it's the only thing I can do to vent my emotions. I don't have hands or a face or any way of physically venting or expressing my feelings, just the sounds I can make. Yelling at the tower might help, but who knows how it would react to verbal abuse. It's already threatened to get rid of me once before.
[The tutorial is now in progress. Administrator James Wise, please confirm the layout of floor 1 before the first battle is concluded.]
More work? James complained as yet another prompt appeared before him.
{System Tower Version 61-3, Floor 1:
Environment: Plains
Monsters: Wolf, Goblin, Slime, Horned Rabbit, Magic Deer, Large Bird.
Resources: Healing Grass, Felix Grass, Wood, Stone, Water, Berries, Eggs.
-Add Monster (-50)
-Add Resource (-50)
-Change Environment (-100)
-Deploy Village (1 Village available)
Confirm Selection?}
I don't have enough points for most of the options, but... "Tower, what is this about a deploy village option?"
[A village is a safe zone within a floor. The village consists of a wall, stores, and empty land for the development of shelter. Quality of the wall and the items and services sold within the stores vary depending on the type of environment and the floor it is on.]
"I see... And How do I get more of them?" James asked. If possible, I'd want a village on every floor. A dedicated spot to rest and buy supplies would be immensely helpful for those going through the floors.
[Villages can be bought with credits or unlocked as the tutorial progresses.]
"And how do I get credits?"
[Credits can be rewarded by Viewers or Administrators of the Game to both climbers and Tower Administrators.]
"Oh." So basically, try to entertain the aliens responsible for all of this and hope they feel charitable enough to help humanity survive. Hardly a reliable source of help. "Thanks anyway." James mumbled as he realized placing a village on every floor would likely be impossible.
Still, I might as well place the village now. I don't know when I'll get another one, and a later floor could mean a more helpful shop, especially on a floor with a more dangerous environment, but I haven't heard anything about the people here receiving basic survival gear. Even basic supplies could be a godsend for people starting out, especially if there are things like tents and canteens available. Plus, it'll give everyone entering the tower a safe place to come to terms with the reality of their situation, and form proper groups for getting through the tower. I'm barely handling the reality of my own situation, but the tower isn't giving me time to panic, let alone process my new situation. After being forced to fight for their life against a group of goblins created by an abducting alien tower, I'm sure the climbers would appreciate a place where they can panic without endangering themselves or each other.
{Village deployed}
With the menu before him confirming it had accepted his decision to build the village on the first floor, James confirmed he had made all the changes he wanted to.
[Layout of floor 1 confirmed. Creating floor.]
The tower responded as the prompt before him closed, and James tried to listen for any signs of the tower at work. Despite the silence of the room his was in, he couldn't hear anything coming from beyond the walls, and as minutes passed by, the tower was silent as no further prompts appeared.