Becka / Barista - Coffee / Level 0 Human / Wisdom/Intelligence
"What do you mean 'create' a drink" I ask her. Putting air quotes on the word create.
"Well after getting back and having the system in my head my class skill is 'Finish Any Drink' so as long as we still have the ingredients, I can make anything you want. I just pour it all in the cup, use the skill, and a nice hot or cold drink is ready to go."
"That's cool, I'll take two hot Mocha's then." A question for you "Did you just get the one class?"
"Yup, I like it, I had the option to be a Cook, Waitress, Coffee Barista, Witch, Juggler, and a few others. I chose Coffee Barista!" Before turning away she says "The drinks will be $10.00 each or 1 system coin if you have any."
"You can take the coins? how does that work? I have some but haven't tried doing anything with them, I'm Ben by the way."
"My name is Becka, I saw you here yesterday but Liz helped you I think. The coins are easy, just think think about giving me the amount of coins, then keep an eye out for a yes/no option in your messages, simple!"
Giving it a try I focus on Becka and 3 coins out of my 156 coins, I notice the ones I just found are added to my total. A new pop-up appears on my left screen.
TRANSFER 3 (2 + 1 TIP) COINS TO BECKA
(YES)(NO)(CHANGE AMOUNT)
With a thought I agree and I notice the coins leave my total. With a grin Becka snaps her fingers and a small coin the size of a quarter appears in her fingers, there is a gentle golden glow radiating from the shiny metal.
"A tip! Thank you! I'll be right back with your drinks"
"What a strange day."
First things first. I gotta either store my bags or ditch the bags if i'm walking out of town. Opening up my class list I scroll down to class #13 Scavenger. I do believe the class skill for this class lets me store normal items.
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Specialist Class - Scavenger
Attributes - Intelligence +1, Wisdom +1, Dexterity +1, Perception +1, Mana-Sense +1, Willpower +1
-Class Skill - Systemized Scavenged Item.
-Class Item: Utility Tool.
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Switching my Active Class to Scavenger I study the class skill, I get an understanding of how the skill works and how to go about converting items but its a very rough understanding. Not as good as a set of instructions more an understanding of what to do. Looking around the table I don't really see anything to test the skill on so reaching into my pockets I pull out a quarter and examine it.
Metal / Non-System
Haha not very helpful. I try Scan instead and focus on Perception.
A round disc of metal, stamped on both sides, ridges around the edge, no Mana Energy. Before I can stop myself I count the ridges around the outside.....119.....lost for moment following the patterns on the surface of the coin. Looking at the dips, pits, and imperfections on both sides, staring at the quarter I rotate it around trying to get a better look. With a shake of my head I close my eyes, realizing the patterns in the metal surface was mesmerizing.
Ok back on track, focus on the job. Looking at the quarter I extend my class skill, I can feel a tiny bit of Mana Energy merge with the class skill. The moment the skill connects with the coin I feel information pulled from my mind. Like flashes of memory I'm reliving moments where I interacted with a quarter. I remember the feel and weight of the metal, what it looked like on a sunny day glinting in the bright light, the ridging around the edge of the coin, the noise it makes when it clinks against other metals, everything I know about every quarter I've ever interacted with is compressed into the process and then it was done.
In my hand I was holding........
A quarter. Exactly as it had been. The only change I could see is maybe it was a bit shinier in the bright light.
(sal) U.S. Quarter / Item
Flipping the quarter I send it to inventory and it disappears. Well then that was both simpler and more difficult than expected. I look at my two duffel bags full of stuff......time to work.
While I'm contemplating everything to be 'salvaged' Becka wanders back over with my drinks. Setting them on the table "here you go, two hot mocha's, if you need anything else just wave me over, I'm closing up soon I want to get home before dark."
"Thanks"
Ok according to my stats that process used a small bit of Mana Energy. Checking my sheet I notice I'm about topped off again so the skill uses Mana Energy but not a-lot for one coin. I don't think I will need everything in my bags 'salvaged'......
Over the next 10 minutes I convert 3 sets of clothing, everything in my bathroom kit, my boots and 3 different pairs of shoes, 2 jackets, and both duffel bags. There were some odds and ends I didn't bother with and a few items that didn't convert.....correctly? The first few items I kept in the junk pile, most of the clothing converted fine though seams, buttons, and tags now seem 'part' of the clothing. Zippers feel like the clothing but act like light metal. An odd skill but most of my gear is now in my general inventory space and the......remaining bits are in the trash.
(sal) Junk / Plastic and metal cord
(sal) Disk / Tech?
(sal) Bulk cloth/metal/debris
(sal) Tube / solid
That's what my charging cord and plug turned into. And my toothpaste is just a solid lump shaped like toothpaste.
While my Mana Energy recharges?.....I give a thought to what's next, checking the time 6:38, One hour in, feels like longer. I should have time to review my classes and see about leveling.
Sipping the Mocha I ponder my notifications from earlier. The ground shakes again and I can see the ripples in my cup-a-joe. I wish I knew more about quakes, I don't recall if Reno usually has an earthquake problem.
Lets see, I gained a level on my way out of the casino and I'm now level 1. Level 1 gave me a class point and I saw options for upgrading classes. Looking at the menu screen I go to......you guessed it, the Classes tab, without instructions I just get to use context to figure out class advancement. 4 choices at the bottom of the class list.
CLASS POINTS: 17
(1) Basic Class: 7
(2) Advanced Class: 0
(2) Specialty Class: 8
(2) Combination Class
(3) Superior Class: 0
(3) Unique Class: 1
(3) Advanced Combination Class: 0
CLASS LIST:
Basic Class - Gambler
Basic Class - Card Mechanic
Basic class - Drunkard
Basic Class - Crafter
Specialty Class - Parkour
Basic Class - Medic
Specialty Class - Opportunist
Basic Class - Brawler
Basic Class - Warrior/Ranged
Specialty Class - Gunfighter
Specialty Class - Visionary
Specialty Class - Courier
Specialty Class - Scavenger
Specialty Class - Pathfinder
Specialty Class - Restorer
Unique Class - Spatial Artificer
ADVANCE CLASS
SPECIALIZE CLASS
COMBINE CLASSES
CREATE NEW CLASS
First I check for a help tab, a settings option, or even just you know information......nothing. I scour the edges for hidden items or an instruction manual.....nothing.
The choices seem easy to understand, I'm tempted to do one of each to get a feel for the system. Ok, I received 1 class point for leveling up and I had 16 that must mean each class I started with gave out 1 class point. I have enough points so i could experiment a bit. I choose ADVANCE CLASS to see what happens.
ADVANCE CLASS: YOU HAVE 17 CLASS POINTS. ADVANCING A BASIC CLASS IS 5 POINTS, ADVANCING A SPECIALTY CLASS IS 6 POINTS. PLEASE SELECT THE CLASS TO ADVANCE.
Scanning my class list I choose the class I'm least likely to set as active.
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Basic class - Brawler
Attributes - Vitality +1, Endurance +1, Strength +1, Unlocks Intimidation Attribute +2 (20%)
Class Skill - Battle Enhancement
Class Item - Brawlers Shield
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ADVANCING CHOSEN CLASS WILL INCREASE THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE CLASS, ENHANCE OR CHANGE THE CLASS SKILL, AND MODIFY THE CLASS ITEM IF A CLASS ITEM EXISTS (ONLY INTEGRATION STARTING CLASSES PROVIDE A CLASS ITEM)
CHOOSE THREE SYSTEM SKILLS TO ADVANCE WITH THE CLASS. THESE SKILLS WILL MODIFY/CHANGE/ADAPT THE DIRECTION THE CLASS WILL ADVANCE
HIGHLIGHT ONE SKILL TO SET AS A PASSIVE EFFECT WHILE THE CLASS IS SET AS ACTIVE. PASSIVE EFFECT CAN BE ON OR OFF. NOT ALL SKILLS CAN BE PASSIVE. SOME PASSIVE SKILLS CAN BE SHARED BETWEEN CLASSES
WARNING: SELECT SKILLS THAT ALIGN WITH THE NEW CLASS, SKILLS FROM OTHER CLASSES OR PROFICIENCIES MAY ALTER THE DIRECTION YOUR CLASS ADVANCES
Skill List:
Gamblers Luck +2
Lucky Draw
Poison resistance +2 (20%, Alcohol)
Simple Bluff
Read Tells
Sleight of hand
Purify Liquid
Pain Tolerance +2 (20%)
Chill Liquid (Unlocks Ice Magic)
Mechanics
Tracking
Cooking
Running
Jumping
Climbing
First Aid (Unlocks Healing Magic)
De-Tox
Knots
Spot Bluff
Calculate Odds
Concentration
Unarmed Combat
Forage
Cartography
Firearms Proficiency
Quick Reload
Steady Aim
Small Firearms/Gun Proficiency
Fast draw
Stealth
Clear Sight
Translate, Written
Zoom
Basic Piloting
Swimming/Water Travel
Blacksmithing
Repair Small Item
Diagnostics
Salvage
Treasure Sense (Advanced)
Concealment
Tracking
Locksmith
Simple Mechanics
Disarm / General
Construction
Forgery
Spatial Affinity / Unlocks Spatial Magic
Staff attack - Critical Strike
Danger Sense
Critical Strike
Weapon - Basic Staff
Medical - Check Pulse / Life Sense
Sprint
Charge
Speed Bash
Scan
Ok my skills list is too long.....Oh well more skills are better than no skills.
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Sipping on my 2nd Mocha I ponder the list. If I'm understanding this right advancing the class will enhance my attributes, the 3 skills I pick, create a more powerful Class Skill and Class Item, and one skill will become some type of passive effect. With a thought I select Stealth, De-tox, and Pain Tolerance as the skills for the new Advanced Class. I choose Stealth for my passive option once everything is highlighted and picked out I mentally commit to the upgrade.
Pain, vertigo, nausea, and muscle ache.....that is what you get when when you advance. Also a sense of loss and gain I'm glad I was sitting down as it overwhelms me. With my current attribute levels 2 added points to an attribute is a small adjustment but multiple points all at once plus adjusting skills and a new class, I can notice a difference.
The new class becomes my Active Class automatically and an urge get up and move,to howl, and roar the feeling is breathtaking, it is all i can do to just sit there. When my heart rate levels out I go looking for the changes on my sheet, I see the class is now listed as Advanced Class Stealthy Skirmisher. Not very creative naming system.
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Advanced Class - Stealthy Skirmisher
Foundation - Basic Class Brawler, Stealth Skill
Attributes - Vitality +3, Endurance +4, Strength +2, Intimidation Attribute +5 (50%)
Class Skill - Skirmishers Battle Enhancement
Class Item - Skirmishers Defensive Shield
Advanced Passive Skill (Class) - Advanced Skirmishers Stealth
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And my two new upgraded skills Advanced Detox and Advanced Pain Tolerance. Again with no descriptions.Whatever this system is it has some obvious faults. The new class which is very nice. Looks like the Stealth Skill helped name it, the pain tolerance influenced my Endurance, and detox upped my Vitality if I was to guess how that happened.
Leveling classes is intuitive so I'll do a few more later, I should try and get to my safe house.......It's only been an hour but looking around there seems to be fewer people moving through the area. The bicyclists and crowd are gone and with the power out and cars for the most part unmoving It's quiet, I can hear some engines moving around, not sure how far they will get. Switching to my Mana Sight Attribute I can see....sense?....wisps of Mana Energy swirling around. The plants emit a very faint greenish aura or glow into the area around them and the earth has tan and deep brown mist? rising like a thin fog. Over by the river I can see an aqua colored steam roiling into the air. The Mana Energy is thin but when the various colors touch there's a flash of rainbow then the mist disperses and dissipates into the air like dust.
Becka wanders back by and tops of my water "need anything else, not sure where the people have gone but there's not many wandering this way now, I'm going to close up, the tables and chairs stay out if you need to hang around."
"I was just noticing that about the people, it could be from the earthquakes, though that's why I came to the riverside, it seems safer away from the buildings."
"I live over in Donner Springs but I don't think my ride is going to make it here to pick me up, so it'll take a while to bike home."
"Good luck, I'll head out shortly as well. Can I get any sandwiches, doughnuts or food you have made up so I don't have to stop anywhere for dinner. I doubt things will be open if the power stays out."
"That is smart!" Becka gives me a wink "I'll make us both a to go bag and write it off as a loss due to the power, do you want some or a ton!"
Pulling out one of my duffel bags "I'll take a ton please" Laughing she heads off to loot the supplies.
5 minutes later I have rations for a few days. Packaged sandwiches, pastries, cold breakfast items, and some bottled chilled coffee drinks and water make up the bulk of it.
We part ways after I tip her a few more coins for the help and she grabs a bike from somewhere and pedals off.
Now what do I do........