Dominant

Dominance

The Beginning

Character Creation

Here you can create your character's background before beginning to play Orchestra.

You were never like everyone else. Unlike them, you were destined to break free of society's boundaries. What you do is up to you.

First, however, you should choose why you were able to transcend the social structures that keep so many countless others in place.

Unlike most of the people around you, you discovered a power unlike anything known. Every once in a while, you can just slip outside of the world, changing the rules to whatever you think they should be.

You go forward with confidence, certain that your supernatural powers will keep you safe in the times of adventure to come.

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Your perception of the world warps as you feel your Dominance expanding over your surroundings.

Your "A Stranger" quality has gone. Welcome to the world!


Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.


Change Settings

At this menu you'll be able to change various in-game functions, such as seeing past months' in game news or opting out of announcements.

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Show Old News

If you select this option, you will be able to see news from previous months.

Unlocked when Settings: Show Old News Enabled is:

Opt Out: Announcements

You can disable announcements here.

WARNING: Announcements may be used to share critical information about Orchestra. You will also miss out on Announcement Tokens if you select this option. Opt out at your own peril.

Unlocked when Settings: Announcements Disabled is:

Opt In: Experimental Content

If you opt into experimental areas you will be able to access some unfinished game content-this is often written but lacks some of the branches needed to be fully functional, or some of the required items have not yet been added to the game, which means that you may either miss out on options, writing, or outcomes. This may also give you access to content that will eventually be locked and delegated to people who have reached certain milestones or joined certain factions.

In addition, this might include pure content tests without any in-setting fluff, these will eventually be retrofitted into the core game should they be accepted but exist in a purely mechanical form for speed's sake.

WARNING: Experimental content may be untested, and while every attempt is made to ensure that it fails gracefully, it may still cause errors. If these occur, use Contact Creator from the help menu above and tell us what went wrong!

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Old news has been enabled!

You can now view previous months' news.

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Old news entries enabled.


Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.


Frequently Asked Questions

This covers some of the common questions about how Orchestra functions.

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Where do I go for this quest?

If you have an item in your inventory, it should say where to go next for your quest. If you get into a quest chain it will always be continued by encounters of the same type of the first encounter in the chain, and if there's no item in your inventory the quest will be continued wherever the last quest in the chain was.

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Why don't some of my qualities have an effect on my usable skills.

Veterancy, Dominance, Augmentations, and Influence all seem like they should have an impact on your character's abilities, but in reality they are used like a currency to improve your skills in character creation, as well as unlock "certification" to use certain equipment and abilities; you can buy some special abilities here as well.

I can't continue in my storyline!

Usually this means it's not done. When a storyline is completed, you'll know it. Some side plots may not explicitly state that they end, and in this case this means that they still have an impact on your character (influencing the random encounters you can get, certain options, etc.). If you think there's an error, feel free to contact me using the Help option on the StoryNexus sidebar.


Change Settings

At this menu you'll be able to change various in-game functions, such as seeing past months' in game news or opting out of announcements...

Frequently Asked Questions

This covers some of the common questions about how Orchestra functions...

Roadmap

This is where you can see the progress on Orchestra as it continues to grow an develop...

News-November 2012

Unlocked when Settings: Show Old News Enabled is:

This is where you can read about news for Orchestra's development...

News-January 2013

This is where you can find the news for Orchestra in January of 2013...

Search the Codex

Read about the world of Orchestra here...

Faction Selection

<p>Choose your faction; each will determine where you start in the world and which faction is friendly to you...

Specialist Training

<p>Choose what you've been trained for before setting out in the world...

Current Status: Indefinitely Canceled

Update, May 17: I've spent the last few weeks working on a way to fix Orchestra up, and the truth is that it's not really going to be possible to proceed to grow it in its current state...

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Roadmap

This is where you can see the progress on Orchestra as it continues to grow an develop. The top five current elements of Orchestra's development will be posted here.

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Character Creation- Complete!

Currently the only available character class is Agent, for balance reasons. The other character classes are forthcoming, though functionality for the Rebel will be ready as soon as Character Advancement is complete.

Character creation is now just waiting on the creation of multiple factions to enable some of the faction-based options, which means that it's just a matter of content now. This milestone is complete.

Character Advancement- Complete!

Character Advancement will be done with the ability to exchange Learning, Veterancy, Influence, Dominance, Augmentations, and Achievements for skill progress (each resource will have its own limitations).

As of November 21, skill increase mechanics are in the game. Certifications and special abilities have not yet been added, but they will soon.

As of November 26, Character Advancement is functionally complete; more martial arts, discrete implants, and personas will be available later on.

Tokyo- 40%

Tokyo will be getting its first areas; a bar, airport, shopping center, Metamorphysis Headquarters, and World League Station 295 early in development. These will offer unique random encounters and will be accessible from the Tokyo area as a whole.

Shibuya Underground Market, the shopping area, is complete as of November 26. Work continues on the other encounters.

Old Odaiba, a nightclub, is now available, but not complete, as of November 29.

Metamorphysis (10%)

The Metamorphysis corporation will receive the first storyline, based around the biotech corporation's Tokyo and New California interests. Once the Metamorphysis storyline is complete work will begin on a Phoenix storyline for the World League.

Codex- 100%

The current Codex entries are but a fraction of what will be required to have it considered complete in and of itself. In addition, the first knowledge-specific entries will be coming with each storyline and with some random encounters.

The milestone goal for the codex will basically be to get it to an impressive size (15 or so entries). As of November 26 it has 6 entries. At least one of the entries will be locked by a knowledge skill for this milestone to be complete.

No knowledge skills yet, but that's okay.


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News-November 2012

This is where you can read about news for Orchestra's development.

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November 18

Orchestra's training arc is done, and the first random encounter is almost ready for Tokyo. The game is "playable", though it currently lacks any storylines and has no function for spending points on advancement.

November 19

Injuries have been added, so if you get beaten up enough you'll be given the option to either go to the hospital, a shady street doc, or patch yourself up. In addition, several new random encounters have been added, including the shell game and being assaulted by two assailants, to the one shot random encounters.

Also, the Codex entry on Dominance and the Cataclysms is now finished!

November 20

Today I finished the first arc of the first side plot, "The Tiger's Hunt", which serves as an introduction to the two "metafactions" in Orchestra that anyone can join. In addition to polishing up some of the old one-shot random encounters, I'll also be working on finishing character creation class options, instituting character advancement. and adding a new Codex entry on cybernetics. When these are finished the game will be released for preliminary testing.

November 21- Morning

Prior to release, I finished up Character Advancement (just a couple things) and went through to give all the one-shot random encounters point rewards. The final character classes for character creation were unlocked. This means that as of the time of writing, you can now progress roughly as you would in a more finished state, though some things are still up for change. There's still some more work to do-I want to add another rare one-shot encounter, but I've pushed the normal length encounter and a codex entry on Cybernetic enhancements back until after release.

Oh yeah, I released Orchestra as In-Progress. Kinda maybe important. It's about 6:30 my time and I've been working a while, so I'm really tired since I haven't had breakfast.

A Cat added, it's a new mini plot self-contained in one storylet that will have a ton of possible outcomes (currently it's just to the stage where you figure out what the cat is... which is random).

November 21- Evening

I'm back home now, and though today hasn't been super duper productive since the release, partly because I'm really tired, I've fixed a few typos. Today also looks less productive because almost nothing I've done is near finished (A Cat storyline), or available yet (the Shibuya Underground Market). I also added a codex entry-Local Knowledge: Tokyo.

November 22

Okay, today's Thanksgiving over in the States (for our foreign guests), so it's been a mite of a crazy day. In short, not much got done that's released yet, though certifications are in progress finally and I've put more thought into where I want to go with A Cat's storylines. I've also contemplated sweet delicious grenades. Oh, did I mention that grenades are an upcoming feature (and have been for quite some time)? Unrelatedly, I did a fancy little illustration for certifications, though it won't be up until StoryNexus lets me upload my own stuff.

Also, Planetside 2 will probably ruin my life. Great game, though.

November 23

Today has, so far, been almost as crazy as yesterday, but here's a quick blurb on how certifications, augmentation slots, and personas are going to work. Certifications and augmentation slots are all items that you get when you buy them with Veterancy/Augmentations. Personas function similarly in concept but act differently. When you get a certification, it will form a slot for you to put an item into. This is crucial to the development of Shibuya since it's a black market that sells weapons and such, and I don't want to give out weapons before they can be used. You can equip one item for each certification you qualify for. The same rule goes for augmentations, but augmentations are bought with the Augmentations resource in the same method as certifications (see the codex entry on cyberware for justifications of this). You can still only equip one discrete implant for each slot at a time, otherwise the human body can't cope with the strain. This may change in the far future, but it's the way it is for now.

Personas, on the other hand, can each be equipped as desired, and doing so modifies your social skills or disguise abilities. You can equip multiple personas, but they tend to carry overall negative sums, so you'll see less use from them as you add more on. Some personas may be usable as disguises in and of themselves, but they'll be unlocked through the storyline, if they are ever added.

Oh, we've also passed thirty players, which I think is pretty good. So far I haven't had much feedback though, so feel free to like storylines you want to see more stuff like and send me e-mail using the bar above the user interface.

I've also added the Trauma Stick, an alternate way to lower your wounds, which will be available in a number of places. It should ensure that you don't die too often in longer campaign missions, assuming it will work in them. It's not currently available, but will be able to be found in a number of places.

Also, I've gotten ready to implement certifications and gear, as well as discrete implant slots, but I don't yet have enough made up to make them worth revealing to the public. Ranged combat certification will probably be the first.

November 24

Did some more work on certifications, testing weapons and such today. So far there's not very much ready on it, sadly, and I had hoped to release Shibuya today. I've discovered a couple things though: right now Orchestra is very, very difficult, and the street doc can remove all an agent's starting skills. I lowered that to a more reasonable amount, so you no longer have to worry about completely losing everything when you die. Patching yourself up remains unaffected, you'll still take absolutely massive penalties.

I'm not finished working on Orchestra today, but I'm updating early because most of what I'm working on is limited to going back and diversifying old content to include firearms and blades, as well as funny balls, or grenades as the rest of the world knows them. Actually, that last one isn't so much a retrofit as an alternate option in the A Mugging chain, which you guys can't see yet because it's not done. Oh yeah, suspicion and heat have been another focus for today; soon you'll be able to get in trouble, whether it's because people know you've caused trouble, or because you've got too much obvious firepower.

November 25

More progress has been made on heat and suspicion-suspicion is gained by having weapons equipped, and is relative to the size, flashiness, and menacing nature of the weapon, while heat is increased through a number of ways, primarily using firearms and the like. Currently there are ways to bleed off heat and your suspicion is modified by your gear (for instance, a lined duster will lower your suspicion, while a katana will send it sky high. There are encounters linked to suspicion, though I haven't yet worked in the high heat encounters. They'll be increasingly damaging encounters with local forces.

The rest of today focuses on retrofitting weapon use to the game so far, as well as finishing touches on Shibuya.

UPDATE: I lied. I kinda got off track of Shibuya, but now there's a new mini-plot, "A Corpse in the Night" where you investigate a murder. It's not done yet, but it's mostly done, and it is completable, there's just no way to make up for if you fail in the final encounter... yet.

UPDATE: A Corpse in the Night is finished, at least until later when there may be more possible outcomes added, but you've got the full non-faction locked storyline.

UPDATE: Shibuya is almost complete, I'm going to finish it up later tonight. All it needs are two encounters and some playtesting, and one of those doesn't keep me from releasing it.

UPDATE: Shibuya will be up as soon as I run through a couple of tests on it, then I'll introduce a random encounter that comes about as a consequence of having too much heat.

November 26

So apparently I'd forgotten to allow users to access certifications. Oops. They're available to the public now.

I also added the tactical targeting network and stealth field augmentations that you can buy from the Discrete Implant storylet in Character Advancement, and a codex entry with a manifesto from the World League.

UPDATE: I added a couple more general faction backgrounds, including press releases for Metamorphysis and two anarchist manifestos, one of which is the Tolstoy-inspired kind and one of which is more of the "whiskered men throwing bombs" kind, to borrow Tolkien's words.

UPDATE: I've had the death penalty way too high for low-level characters, so if you chose the "heal at home" option and lost all your skills PM me or send me an e-mail through the game so that I know to restore your character's skills: include your chosen class and your character's name.

In addition, November's Happy Feedback item will be the Bug Smasher, a mythical hammer of justice! If you haven't sent me something with your thoughts on the game, send it in for the Happy Feedback reward, and if you have, then remind me with your character's name.

UPDATE: So I discovered one place where bribes were being done with diplomacy rather than negotiation. I changed this, then discovered that negotiation's advancement was broken, so I fixed that. And I added another truly random encounter with the first pointlessly sadistic use of grenades. Oh yeah, and a wandering vendor who sells Trauma Sticks and grenades.

November 27

I've added the first heat-related encounter, "You're under arrest!" to the one-shots, so now you can get in trouble for doing bad stuff. It serves as a decent source of experience, but it also has some of the hardest encounters around.

November 28

Today has been pretty much entirely devoted to bug and typo fixing, as well as taking care of some issues with characters. However, before going to bed tonight (it's still pretty early where I live, though I'm really tired due to the fact that it's been a crazy day) I'll put in the framework for the first bug report/playtesting thing (the Bug Smasher) as well as support for Trophies, which is what playtesting report items will usually fall into as well as some rare storyline rewards. If I get enough time I'll work on Old Odaiba, a nightclub that offers an escape from reality... and the police.

UPDATE: Sent out the link to the Bug Smasher for people who sent in feedback. If you gave me feedback and didn't get one let me know, or if you see an error it'll keep being sent out for two more days before I switch to December's reward item.

UPDATE: Added high-heat encounter "Ambush", which is basically meant to kill you for having too much heat. Also added a feature so that all healing options reduce heat relative to how "high-profile" they are.

November 29

I added Odaiba today, it's not finished but it offers some functionality (unlocking guns, a guaranteed total heat removal safehouse) that is necessary to really let players enjoy all the content out there right now. Eventually it'll also be a source of rumors, which will be fun and nifty ways to complete one-shot or normal-length missions.

I'm also adding the Achievement Shop to the game, it'll be a place where you can spend your achievements to gain items and other in-game items. This will offer certain unique items as well as "Achievement Coins" which can be used to gain normally found items in a random fashion. In addition, both the more expensive Achievement Coins and the Achievement Shop itself will provide items that you lose access to on account of your chosen storyline or by random luck in side plots.

I'm also adding another low-frequency random encounter, the Broken Coin encounter, that allows you to find a coin and try to fix it for some easy credits.

Also, since completion of the 5-point Achievement Coin will cause there to be exactly 100 storylets in Orchestra, I'm going to celebrate it by the first Freebie Link. Freebie Links are what I'll scatter throughout the internet on sites I like that might be interested in Orchestra, giving free content for players. This first code will be on Failbetter Games' forum in the Orchestra Playtest thread, and will give three free Achievement Coins to everyone who goes through it.

UPDATE: Everything's live now, the achievement shop, the link from the Failbetter Forums.

November 30

Today was a little bit crazy, but I got work done on the first normal-length random encounter. I also added a new feature, Eli the Arms Dealer. He'll buy weapons you have at a rather low price, but did you really need fifteen Firestorm Assault Platforms? You can get his phone number from a man in a random encounter, should you look sketchy enough to trust.


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News-December 2012

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December 1

Very early this morning I added a couple codex entries and started work at the second normal-length random encounter, An Argument. I want to have three normal-length random encounters, and they'll be A Mugging, An Argument, and something else I haven't decided on yet.

I also added some codex entries about Dominance, in an attempt to start fleshing out the codex, which has been sadly lacking attention in recent days.

I've also begun the conception of a weapon modification system, but this will take a while to implement, depending on how exactly I try to work it. I don't want to bloat my storylet count with a ton of ItemUse storylets that would be required for the system I have in mind, but it may prove to be necessary to allow the most versatile system.

December 2

Today has been a little crazier than normal due to a number of reasons, but I've added an entry on lifestyles in Orchestra to the Codex. This brings the Milestone 1 codex closer and closer to completion.

I'll also try to finish up An Argument, the smaller of the two currently in-progress normal encounters, tonight. I may also work out the prototype weapon modification system.

I've also posted on the forum about my weapon modification issues, since I'm not sure about a way to do it that doesn't artificially inflate the storylets/quality list for each combination while maintaining individual gun complexity (i.e. you can have multiple configurations of the same gun in your inventory). Mostly it's storylet bloat I'm worried about, since it makes the game look larger than it is (Orchestra suffers from this a ton) and also since it results in more chances for HKI error on my behalf. Also, a weapon with 3 attachments that are compatible needs 10 storylets to cover all possible configurations, which is a lot of work to design and clutters up my user interface when I go to work on new storylets.

I didn't get as much stuff done as I meant to tonight on the core encounters, but I made a codex entry where you can browse your phone contacts as well as revised Eli's shop so that larger sales increase your relationship with the mysterious arms dealer.

December 3

News-December 2012

This is where you can read about news for Orchestra's development.

Today I turned off the Important Announcement from November. Soon I should add a reward for using the token, but it'll come around later rather than sooner since the primary concern is working on the normal-length encounters.

UPDATE: I didn't get much done on the encounters, but I started working on a milestone/style guide that will hopefully help deliver much higher quality content in the future. In addition, it includes the stuff that I've worked on in addition to stuff I haven't worked on yet, so I can get a little reminder "no, don't work on another universal one-shot".

December 4

Today I finished up the first bits of the style guide and such. I've given a few people access to it-it's not exactly "secret", but I don't really care to disseminate it far and wide since it contains mostly hypothetical/theoretical stuff, more useful for someone who might want to write content for the game (which I'm not currently opening up) or for someone to game the system with and point out my intentional exceptions to the rules I've laid out within it.

Tonight I'll be finishing up stuff for an Argument and hopefully releasing it.

UPDATE: As of about 11 I've finished up most of An Argument, as well as created a survey which I will release shortly after finishing An Argument, once I hear back from preliminary tests on the survey.

UPDATE: An Argument is "finished" in so far as the options for completing the mission go, but I need to add in the aftermath storylets tomorrow, since I physically just can't keep working tonight.

December 5

I just launched "An Argument", the first Normal length encounter of 3-5 actions. Next on the agenda is adding a couple more entries to A Cat, as well as some codex entries. I'll finish up A Mugging and then I'll start work on the final Normal encounter so that the game's "playable" while I undertake the massive goal of writing the first Metamorphysis story mission.

December 6

Today has been rather crazy, but I did work on moving the A Cat storyline forward. I should be able to release the next segments by Monday, if not earlier.

December 7

I added a new codex entry today and rearranged some things. I also added yesterday's news entry which I forgot to make visible.

I've had a killer headache this week, which is nothing unusual for me, as well as really low amounts of sleep and not very much free time.

I should be able to do some more stuff, but I'm pretty miserable right now what with fatigue, a headache, and other assorted not feeling well things, so while I'm still going to be updating I'm going slower in updates for a while and I'm also moving into stuff I won't be able to release until I've done other stuff, as we're approaching the Milestone 1 big goals.

December 8

As of writing I have not been able to work on Orchestra today due to a personal crisis as well as general school issues, but I may sneak in some edgewise work on A Cat.

UPDATE:I got some stuff done anyway, some of it's related to A Cat and other stuff is related to the future Cyberspace update.

December 9

I finished up a codex entry on computers in 2059 (in so much as I don't think what's currently up needs revision, but there will probably be more added).

I have a lot of work today just as I did yesterday, so I can't guarantee that I'll update again, but if I do I'll be working on the A Cat or A Mugging storylines.

I've known for a long time what the first Metamorphysis mission will be (it's adapted from a tabletop scenario), but I have yet to start on it in StoryNexus terms.

Soon I'll send out a survey about player experiences in Orchestra that will allow me to help better the game, so keep your eyes peeled. It'll be a mandatory announcement that gives a December Announcement Token, and will be available from the 15th to the 22nd.

If you'd like to take the survey early, you may submit a report request and I'll send you the link, but it won't be available after the 22nd.

December 10

Not much happened today for Real Life reasons, though I am approaching a period where I'll be able to work more.

I started work on a Settings menu tonight-once this is finished you'll be able to hide/show old news, opt out of the (currently) mandatory announcements, select difficulty for random encounters (once that gets put in), and opt out of seeing the Premium Content shop (once that gets put in as well).

The Premium Content shop will sell things from old surveys and such that players missed, allowing everyone to have access to everything, though all the new content in the game will, at least as far as I have plans, either be free to acquire (survey and feedback rewards) until being added to the Premium Shop (and then only survey rewards will probably be added), or consist of a storyline separate from the core story of Orchestra (i.e. alternate time scenarios set between now and the time of Orchestra, like the Somalia Incident), and be entirely tangential to enjoying Orchestra as a game.

December 11

Today was a crazy day with not much practical work getting done, but tomorrow should be an opportunity to work on Orchestra a ton.

December 12

I added the settings menu in its final form tonight; I also added an experimental content toggle that doesn't do anything yet, but soon it'll allow you to access content that's not in the final game yet.

Right now I haven't flagged anything for it yet, but it'll basically be for plot dead ends that need more work before a full release as well as "homeless" storylets that haven't been implemented into their current content yet.

Tomorrow I'll add in a few new pieces of gear/cybernetic enhancements, possibly a reward for the November Announcement Token, and for December's upcoming survey and bug report rewards. I may also add in a new Achievement Coin at either 10 or 15 points to showcase the new content before it gets in-game.

Only the hide old news setting button does anything right now, because there are no announcements nor is there released experimental content, but these features will come in handy a little bit down the road.

December 13

I didn't get any work done on Orchestra today due to pressing real life needs: I should be able to do what I was going to do today tomorrow. I've got a big test tomorrow, so I have to study.

December 14

I'm really beat today due to having an early morning and I have a lot of work due tomorrow, so the survey's going to be pushed back a week. I haven't done anything today except for flesh out some concepts, which aren't available yet.

December 15

The good news is that I did some work for adding new discrete augmentations, gear, and more to Orchestra including silenced firearms.

The bad news is that this will almost not be available, even in the experimental shop, until tomorrow because I didn't finish up my work today until later than I had expected.

December 16

Added new implants to the character advancement page. That's not all that will be done today, but it's all I have time for right now.

UPDATE: I just revised the training mission for Tokyo-there were some minor errors but they should be fixed now.

UPDATE: Was going to get some more stuff today but crazy happened, so it'll have to wait for tomorrow. There should be some stuff in the Experimental Shop for stuff to see.

I've also decided that you won't see terribly many new plot things being made because the platform Orchestra is hosted on is getting some new upgrades-namely, the ability to link storylets, which in the past had to be done with an inefficient, user-error heavy system. As such, expect to see more short-length content, possibly the next chapter of A Cat, than the storyline or lengthy encounters until the update releases.

December 17

Today I'm working on adding the first experimental weapon, the TAW-7. It is special because it will be wholly modifiable, top-to-bottom, with a total of 5 potential add-ons configured in a large number of ways (No Mod/Stock/Recoil Compensator, Foregrip/No Foregrip, Silencer/No Barrel Attachment, No Upper Attachment/4x Optics/Laser Dot, No Lower Attachment/Laser Dot), which means that it has to have a lot of potential outcomes.

Depending on how hard it is to set all this up/make sure it's working, this may be the sort of gun that goes into the final game, or alternatively guns in the final game may come in a variety of non-modifiable configurations.

December 18

I didn't get anything done today because it was a little crazy, but it should be my last crazy time for a while.

December 19/20

News-December 2012

I wasn't able to update yesterday because I was visiting family and it wound up taking longer than I had expected.

I've set up a work environment I can use, so expect to see more today, after some small things happen.

December 21

I'm not going to get much done today because it has been busy so far and will continue to be so. However, I am confident that I will be able to send out the survey this weekend, as promised, despite the relative lack of work on Orchestra because I got some cyberware done, and while I'm waiting for the next StoryNexus update for certain things I should be able to continue making progress, hopefully at a much greater rate as the crazy holidays draw to an end.

December 22

The world is still here, as am I! As a result, a new announcement is going around with a URL link to the survey. If you have opted out of announcements, but wish to take the survey, you can re-enable them at any time to see the announcement and get the December Announcement Token or you can get the link to the storylet by scrolling down to the Take the December Survey storylet wherever you are.

Unfortunately, today is crazy and I've got a killer headache for no good reason, so I probably won't make much progress today.

December 23

I'm going to be working on some stuff today, namely the first storyline mission for Metamorphysis, based on some incredibly balanced feedback from the surveys. I'll also create the survey reward trophy today.

December 24-26

I'm not dead and neither is Orchestra! Today I'm going to start work on the Metamorphysis storyline (as in put the first storylines in and flesh out the alternate ending).

For those who are interested I will be posting a sample storylet and the outline (with spoilers/whatnot removed) on the Failbetter forum today (Dec. 26th) or tomorrow.

I'm coming off a cold, family festivities, and more, so I'm not sure anything I do right now will be final, since I'm on very little sleep and will probably make errors.

December 27

Today I'm beginning the implementation of the first Metamorphysis mission, including a new item. It will be completed in parts, just as seen in the outline (which can be found via a link on the Failbetter forums), so it probably won't be available outside of the experimental phase for a while yet, though I hope to release it this year.

UPDATE: I got most of the work done on experimental modifiable weapons, which means it'll just be a little bit more. Unfortunately, technical issues on my end earlier followed up by a killer headache mean I probably won't be very productive for the rest of the day.

December 30

Today's work marks an important milestone, because today I'm crafting the living story that boots up the first Metamorphysis mission (a similar thing will be used for all the other storylines, except for ones unlocked in a subsequent play, which may start in media res without a tutorial.

The last couple days have been busy with getting back in touch with some friends as well as crippling headaches, but progress resumes today. I'm hoping to have at least one full arc of Part 1 of 3 of the storyline mission done, and then I'll be able to make the others relatively quickly.


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News-January 2013

This is where you can find the news for Orchestra in January of 2013.

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January 2

I can't believe I'm not dead! Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but the holidays have hit me hard. Now with the normal year resuming, I should be more free to work on Orchestra now that I have less free time (odd dichotomy, that).

Other than feeling really bad about breaking my diet, plans have been made to continue working on Orchestra further: the first Metamorphysis story mission remains top priority, while the underground fight club had its planned system replaced again. Soon there will be updates in the A Cat storyline once it's finished, to use new Living Stories, which are being retrofitted as we speak into the world.

Since living stories will be used to boot up storyline missions this means that every character currently made cannot participate in their storylines, whether they are aligned with the anarchists or with Metamorphysis.

This seems like an excellent time to introduce Doctor Yagi's clinic, an alternative to healing yourself that allows you to buy away your pesky wounds, and keep your character "healthy" by getting regular inoculations (which will trigger the storyline missions you have missed out on).

January 6

I apologize profusely for the lack of news updates-I had made the January 2nd news post, but only made it available for people during character creation.

As far as stuff goes, I'm still working more on the background writing than the StoryNexus stuff, since I've discovered that I want to refine my approach, especially in light of the upcoming linked storylets feature, so don't expect very much update stuff until then. I will continue to run the survey until this next Saturday, January 12, when I will (finally) send out the rewards for participating (they already exist, but I'd wind up sending eighteen or so to the same person if I tried to do it all out of one batch, so if you want yours now, you can use the Contact Creator function to tell me you want it now and I'll have record of giving it to you.

January 8

Sorry for the lack of content, I've been working on various pre-production things before I move into the next phase of Orchestra outside of the storyline mission, and the storyline mission is, in part, waiting on linked storylets, and in part waiting on me getting together the exact true-to-storylet idea of how things will go, where the paths will cross over to save on storylets and where they absolutely cannot to keep things making sense. To be honest, it's probably going to almost double Orchestra's current content.

In the more immediate meantime, I'll add in the experimental shop, which I keep on changing the content for and delaying by accident, no later than Friday, and the survey that is out will close on Saturday (a couple weeks later than I had planned, but my personal life ran into some hitches as well. Another major focus is the addition of a safehouse system, and the revision of the fight club that was going to be released experimentally a while back but proved too clumsy and inflexible to really do with the means I wanted to. I will also be adding in the clinic as a place to go for medical help, though the storyline related elements will obviously wait until the storyline is ready.

Oh, and by the way, I'm planning on adding in a few more pieces of gear, cybernetic enhancements, and the first Level 11-20 encounters that require a difficulty setting. A Cat will receive its living storylet sometime soon as well, which will allow it to continue as it should, though this will require a Clinic thing, since it's currently at the point where the living storylet would be encountered.

January 9

Linked storylets are here! People can expect to see a couple things today:

All players will have an action bank increase to 50. I have nothing against later increasing it to 100, but right now that will allow you to play through a good deal of the content.

Players who have opted in to experimental content will be able to access the briefing for the first Metamorphysis mission today or tomorrow. It will not, however, link to the mission yet, nor will it be faction restricted. This will come later. Anarchists won't be able to do it, though, even if they're in the briefing when it updates.

Survey rewards are prepped, but it occurred to me that I haven't set out December troubleshooting things. I'll go through my archives-if you helped out in December you may wanna send me something again through the same method you used to tell me the first time, so I can search my e-mail archives for it.

Progress on the higher level random encounters will be delayed slightly, but the clinic, safehouse, and fight club will all be pushed to top priority so that they'll be around soon.

It is now possible for us to set action points on branches as well. I am not planning on using this much; I am plenty generous with actions but do not feel I am overly so, so I have no plans to charge increased action costs for certain branches or to remove any in the game. The exception to this rule, however, is experimental content with its rewards removed; while rewards or progression are impossible in experimental content their action cost will be temporarily set to zero.

The reason for this is solely because I wish to support Failbetter Games, and shutting down their servers by allowing Orchestra to eat up massive amounts of resources is not a good way to do that.

UPDATE: The briefing is up for people who can see experimental content. There is also a new Tech codex entry. I'll work on Part 1 of the mission tomorrow.

January 12

Today I'm giving everyone who participated in the survey their rewards.

I will also be continuing work on A Cat just to finish up what I have so far, then I will go back to work on Part 1 of Metamorphysis' first story mission.

UPDATE: One of the survey-givers didn't put their name in right (or else the thing's giving me an issue); if you don't see a new trophy in your inventory, please contact me (it will be the Homemade Tuque).

January 21

I'm not dead! I don't know how many people caught the livestream (not many, I'm sure), but I got a good part of Part 1 for the Metamorphysis story mission done. Parts 2 and 3 will be shorter and much quicker to complete.

I have made a decision that Parts 1-3 of the mission will not be available experimentally before release, because of issues that could happen if the storylets go to their live, quality interacting, format with people stuck in the middle. As such, you will have to wait to see them until release.

As soon as MM1 is done, my next goal will be completing A Cat, the Mugging storyline that is a normal-length random encounter (akin to the current Argument storyline).

I'm too tired to do complex stuff tonight, so I'm working on the safehouse, which is relatively simple, plus the core functionality is really, really easy and the advanced functionality is a little less so.

January 22

The safehouse is "done" (at least two of the main functions to be added), but I forgot to enable the encounters to get to it. It is now ready. If you have met Eli you should be able to encounter someone with a proposition if you do one-shot storylets.


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Search the Codex

Read about the world of Orchestra here.

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Enter the Codex

Read about the world of Orchestra here.

You log onto the Infonet to get an idea of what awaits you out in the world.


You go to browse the codex.

Enter the Codex

Search the Codex

Read about the world of Orchestra here.

You prepare to learn more about the world around you, hopefully gaining an edge on your opposition.

You moved to a new setting: Codex.


Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.


Credits

This is the page where we give credits to everyone who's contributed to Orchestra.

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Developers

Kyle "Squire Ned" Willey is the primary developer of Orchestra, having been interested in cyberpunk since he was a boy, he's always loved designing worlds but has never before undertaken an endeavor on the scale of Orchestra. He is responsible for the setting of Orchestra, developing the Codex, and handling its administration. You can reach him by going under the Help option on the StoryNexus toolbar and selecting "Contact Creator".

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            You need Impossible! 1 and Impossible! no more than 1

Editors

Ryan "Squire Zed" Willey is the preliminary tester and painfully mean about typos. He's also a writer, and soon may even have his own storylines in Orchestra.

Sources

I have, on occasion, been known to quote things, and this is where I will reference all the quotes I use.

Leo Tolstoy's quote about anarchy is from On Anarchy, one of his writings you can find in various places on the internet.


Credits

This is the page where we give credits to everyone who's contributed to Orchestra...

Premium Content Guide

At this time Orchestra has no premium content, but when it does it will use a simple system...

Leave the Codex

Leave the Codex and return to your adventures...

Manifesto of the World League

The following statement is provided by the World League to explain their role in world affairs:

Metamorphysis Press Release

Metamorphysis has the following statement up on their corporate homepage:

History: Independent Agencies

Independent Agencies sprung up during the early 21st century that seemed to have no purpose across several major governments...

History: The Rise of the World League

This record details the World League's rise to a position of global power, one it maintains to this day...

History: The Cataclysms and Dominance

Dominance and the Cataclysms are inherently linked, as it was the reality warping Cataclysms that allowed humans' minds to interface with the Dominance and change the world around them with a thought...

Local Knowledge: Tokyo

Tokyo is a major city in Japan, with more than fifty million citizens in its metropolitan area...

2059: Life in the Post-Cataclysm

This entry examines the general way of life after the Cataclysms versus that of the early 21st century...

2059: Anti-World League Regions

There are still a number of regions in the world that remain hostile to or uncaptured by the World League...

2059: Computers and Security

Society has incredible degrees of digital integration in 2059...

Technology: Augmentations

Augmentations are common in the world of Orchestra; the most common augmentations come in the form of CHIMERA kits...

Technology: Modern Disguises

Disguise is more difficult in a time when scanners are built to see not just the surface of an individual but also to check anything they carry, what they are wearing, and even their bodies...

Dominance: The Background of Dominance

Dominance is a mysterious force, but several things are known about it...

Dominance: Dominance and You

This instructional pamphlet is occasionally issued to help people who have recently discovered Dominance adjust to their new-found powers...

Skills

Skills dominate the gameplay of Orchestra; they are used both openly to do certain things and covertly to provide better outcomes...

Knowledge Skills

Knowledge Skills unlock Codex entries...

Gear and Cryptographic Credits

There are a number of items to encounter through the course of Orchestra, which will each be grouped into slots...

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Premium Content Guide

At this time Orchestra has no premium content, but when it does it will use a simple system.

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Liking Storylines

Like a storylet, and contact me using the Help->Contact Creator menu above to tell me why you like it (please include detail) you can get an item for your troubles. If you tip Nex as well you can get an item made for you; 1 Nex gets you a rare donor item chosen at random, 3 Nex will give a custom item I come up with. Include a description of your character and I'll make it something appropriate. For 5 Nex you get a custom item and you can name it (nothing obscene, please). If you contribute a whopping 10 Nex I'll let you send me details of an item you want added to the game, named after your appropriate and non-trademarked ideas, and I'll work with you to settle on its attributes, where it should be placed in shops (if it should) or storylines it should be in. You will also receive a spot in the credits, including what item you contributed.

Also, you can get a special reward for reporting bugs using the Help->Contact Creator function on the StoryNexus bar, one of a variety of useful items.

Nex-Locked Story Arcs

When the time comes there will be a Premium Content Access option for any location in the game, outside of the Codex. When you select this, you will be able to see a variety of content behind Nex gates. When you buy content, it's yours forever to play whenever, your character will get a quality which unlocks a Nex-free version of that under an Owned Content option available wherever the Premium Content Access option is. You will be able to play your content as many times as you wish, and if you ever need a replacement you can use the Help->Contact Creator feature to get help.

Orchestra's main storyline with Metamorphysis is guaranteed to remain free to play, and any non-Nex gated character creation path will be accessible to players.

The current planned Premium Content storyline is Independent Agencies, which focuses on the time directly before the California Cataclysm.

Action Refills

You can pay Nex to refill your actions, as you can in all StoryNexus games. This is a mandatory feature of monetization, which all worlds that enable it share.

Referral Links

People who want to write about Orchestra can drop me a line using the Contact Creator option and I'll send them a special link for their blog/website/review that players can use to gain additional in-game goodies!

The idea of this is to reward people who spread the word by drawing people who want the unique loot that these links provide to search out sites that have links.

Unfortunately, at this time there are no plans to reward people who are frequent referrers (other than a potential unique piece of gear), but this could change at some point down the road.


Credits

This is the page where we give credits to everyone who's contributed to Orchestra...

Premium Content Guide

At this time Orchestra has no premium content, but when it does it will use a simple system...

Leave the Codex

Leave the Codex and return to your adventures...

Manifesto of the World League

The following statement is provided by the World League to explain their role in world affairs:

Metamorphysis Press Release

Metamorphysis has the following statement up on their corporate homepage:

History: Independent Agencies

Independent Agencies sprung up during the early 21st century that seemed to have no purpose across several major governments...

History: The Rise of the World League

This record details the World League's rise to a position of global power, one it maintains to this day...

History: The Cataclysms and Dominance

Dominance and the Cataclysms are inherently linked, as it was the reality warping Cataclysms that allowed humans' minds to interface with the Dominance and change the world around them with a thought...

Local Knowledge: Tokyo

Tokyo is a major city in Japan, with more than fifty million citizens in its metropolitan area...

2059: Life in the Post-Cataclysm

This entry examines the general way of life after the Cataclysms versus that of the early 21st century...

2059: Anti-World League Regions

There are still a number of regions in the world that remain hostile to or uncaptured by the World League...

2059: Computers and Security

Society has incredible degrees of digital integration in 2059...

Technology: Augmentations

Augmentations are common in the world of Orchestra; the most common augmentations come in the form of CHIMERA kits...

Technology: Modern Disguises

Disguise is more difficult in a time when scanners are built to see not just the surface of an individual but also to check anything they carry, what they are wearing, and even their bodies...

Dominance: The Background of Dominance

Dominance is a mysterious force, but several things are known about it...

Dominance: Dominance and You

This instructional pamphlet is occasionally issued to help people who have recently discovered Dominance adjust to their new-found powers...

Skills

Skills dominate the gameplay of Orchestra; they are used both openly to do certain things and covertly to provide better outcomes...

Knowledge Skills

Knowledge Skills unlock Codex entries...

Gear and Cryptographic Credits

There are a number of items to encounter through the course of Orchestra, which will each be grouped into slots...

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Leave the Codex

Leave the Codex and return to your adventures.

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Return to reality.

You've spent enough time looking at the codex entries. It's time to go back to reality.


You log off the Infonet.

This trip to the Codex is over, it's time to get back to business.

You moved to a new setting: Orchestra default setting.


Faction Selection

Character Creation

Here you can create your character's background before beginning to play Orchestra.

Choose your faction; each will determine where you start in the world and which faction is friendly to you.

If you decide to change your mind, you can return to faction selection at any time during character creation.

This is a part of character creation that is absolutely vital.

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Corporation

Corporations gained a new degree of influence after the power vacuum created by the World League annexing most of the world's governments because only the corporations were willing to operate in devastated regions to restore order.

Starting as a Corporate Agent you can begin in Phoenix, Tokyo, or New California, depending on which corporation you align with.

Anarchist

You have aligned yourself with no faction, abandoning authority to live your own life.

WARNING: If you choose this option, you will start without a faction, allowing you to start anywhere and be the most flexible, but you may have difficulty accessing storyline quests, faction stores, and some sidequests.

World League

The World League, based out of Phoenix, is a massive world-spanning authoritarian regime that restored civilization after the cataclysms.

If you pick the World League, you will start in Phoenix.

Locals

Local forces fight for the survival of their way of life in the face of the crushing influence of the World League.

If you align with local forces you can select to start in either Tokyo or New California.


Corporate Agent

You signed up with your corporation, and now you get to be on the front lines of espionage and action.

You are ready to choose your corporation.

You've changed your faction orientation.


Ready To Choose Corporation

You are ready to choose your corporation.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.


Corporation Selection

Your starting background will give you some credits, skills, or gear, as well as proficiency in equipping certain items. Once the game is complete, you should be able to gain all proficiencies in play.

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Corporation: Metamorphysis

Currently being a corporate agent of the biotechnology giant Metamorphysis is the only character creation option.


Joined Metamorphysis

Since your youth, it was clear you'd be a part of Metamorphysis.

You've aligned yourself with a faction.


Faction Chosen

Faction Chosen Corporation: Metamorphysis

You've chosen your side.

Faction Chosen: Corporation: Metamorphysis


Specialist Training

Choose what you've been trained for before setting out in the world.

Any character will be able to pursue any path while out in the world, this just determines what they will start good at. You can't go back and change this if you make a mistake, so choose wisely.

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Agent

Jack of all trades, masters of none, Agents are chosen from those who exhibit latent Dominance abilities and given a well-balanced training regimen, and a few light augmentations.

Cyborg

You were trained in the arts of cybernetic combat and given a variety of implants. You will start with very good augmentations, but cyborgs aren't expected to exhibit Dominance or social skills.

Ascendant

Your Dominance powers were clear when you entered training, so you were given training aimed at boosting your abilities, at the cost of combat training and augmentations; your supernatural powers have earned you the title "Ascendant", after your miraculous abilities.

Face

Specialist Training

Character Creation

Here you can create your character's background before beginning to play Orchestra.

You were trained to be someone who fits in anywhere, getting training on bluffing your way in where you're going and getting out. You have high social skills, but you didn't get very heavily augmented and missed some combat training.

Infiltrator

Your place to shine is in the dark. You've mastered moving without detection and keeping out of sight. You may be a master at electronics and breaking and entering, but you weren't trained for Dominance and your combat and social skills could be better.

Rebel

You're not one to sit still and learn from anyone; you make your own lessons in life.

WARNING: If you choose this path, you will be forced to start out without any points to spend on Augmentations/Dominance abilities other than whatever you chose prior to this, and fewer skill points than will buy you equivalent skills to the other classes. It's for players who want their own road at all costs.


You've been trained as an Agent.

Your role is simple; you do whatever is needed, regardless of the nature of the task. You may not be a master of anything, but you never get caught without the ability to do something.

0 change points, 6 more needed to reach level 6.

You feel your eyes refocus.

The world seems to slow down for a moment.

Your muscles feel different.

You feel jittery, like you have to move.

You feel like taking a swing at something.

Your feel the blood flowing through your wrists.

You've chosen your training.

Your powers wash over the things around you, changing them minutely.

You catch a flicker of a thought.

Time seems to stop and go around you.

You feel yourself speaking quickly.

You feel like others feel more easy in your presence.

You feel like going to a store.

You find yourself altering your gait.

You feel like running some current through something.

You feel yourself reaching to turn a steering wheel.

You feel yourself stepping into the shadows.

You look around for a water supply.


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.


Location Selection

Character Creation

Here you can create your character's background before beginning to play Orchestra.

Choose where you want to go.

WARNING: This will end character creation.

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Tokyo

Tokyo is an ancient city, rebuilt by the World League after a destructive military campaign as a symbol of the new regime. It still languishes under martial law, but the industrious can find plenty of work in the shadows of the skyscrapers.


Waking Up

You wake up to the sound of an alarm. You hear English and Japanese being spoken in the hallway as you switch off the clock. You stand up. Training begins today.

You have moved to a new area: Tokyo


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.


Training

Tokyo

After being taken over by the World League, Tokyo is still a bustling city, rebuilt on a continent city plate, but the influence of the pancontinental World League is easily apparent.

It's a cloudy day, and what light filters between the skyscrapers everything around you is white. You arrive at the training facility for your last day. Soon you'll be a full-fledged Agent.

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Go inside.

Complete your training and become a full-fledged Agent, ready to go on wild adventures for your corporation.

Call in sick.

You're skilled enough already, you don't need another day of training. They'll pass you through either way.


Enter

You walk into the building, one of the few still standing since before the war. The receptionist motions you over, telling you to take your badge.

This badge says you're supposed to be training at the Tokyo Threat Response Academy.

You pick up your badge at the door.

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

You head to the obstacle course.


Training

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.

Training Badge

This badge says you're supposed to be training at the Tokyo Threat Response Academy.


The Obstacle Course

Tokyo

After being taken over by the World League, Tokyo is still a bustling city, rebuilt on a continent city plate, but the influence of the pancontinental World League is easily apparent.

Your instructor comes over. "After today, you'll be a prepared Agent and ready to go out on missions. Just show us what you've got one last time."

Orchestra is heavily reliant on challenges, and these challenges give you an idea of what you can do with them. Orchestra is also heavily reliant on your character's skills, and this course should give you an idea of what you're doing.

The room's been filled with various obstacles, all of which come together to make the space look like a warehouse. You ready yourself.

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A straightforward challenge

Set to work climbing over and between the crates.

Time to make all that parkour and gymnastics training pay off. May as well show off what you've got.

Bend the crates around you.

A straightforward challenge

A straightforward challenge

Focusing your mind, you decide to try to mix parkour and your Dominance training to boost yourself past the crates.

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            You need Dominance- Warping 3 (you have 5)

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            Unlocked with Dominance- Warping 3 - you have 5

Talk your instructor out of it.

A very modest challenge

You don't actually need another thing of training, and besides it'll just make your muscles sore.

Power through the crates.

If you have enough augmentations, you may as well shove your way past the crates, since they won't do a thing to slow you down.

            7
            You need Augmentation- Strength 7 (you have 5)

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            Unlocked with Augmentation- Strength 7 - you have 5


Success!

A straightforward challenge

You made it past the crates with the grace of a cat! The instructor looks on approvingly. "Well done, Agent. Let's see how you do at the CQB field."

The four challenges here reflect the three major types of challenges you'll encounter: Difficulty Challenges, which pit your score versus a difficulty rating, Rating Gates, which require you to have a specific skill rating in order to pass, and Qualified Challenge Gates, which require you to have a certain attribute at a certain level and make a test.

1 change point, 5 more needed to reach level 6.

You succeeded in a Miscellaneous- Infiltration challenge! (Simple challenges mean you don't learn so much.)

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

You continue on to the CQB area.


Training

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.

Training Badge

This badge says you're supposed to be training at the Tokyo Threat Response Academy.


CQB Training

Tokyo

After being taken over by the World League, Tokyo is still a bustling city, rebuilt on a continent city plate, but the influence of the pancontinental World League is easily apparent.

Your instructor leads you into a maze. "You shouldn't have any problem here, Agent, but I'd like to see what you can do one more time."

"Take this laser gun, you know the rules, just like old-school laser tag. Shoot anyone who goes to shoot you. Here's your testing rig."

You've memorized the way to the exit, the only challenge is getting there without being tagged by another trainee.

Always

Always

Shoot your way through.

A chancy challenge

You've been through here enough that you've mastered your aim, so there's no need for subtlety, you can just run and gun through the trainees.

Hack your rig.

A very modest challenge

Is it cheating? Maybe. But if the rig you're wearing doesn't register a laser hit, you've technically passed the course. It's cheap, but you're confident enough in your CQB training.

Avoid everyone.

It's impossible to sneak in the well-lit maze, but it is possible to use your power of mental reading to figure out where everyone is and just choose alternate routes.

            5
            You need Dominance- Reading 5 (you have 5)

            5
            Unlocked with Dominance- Reading 5 - you have 5

Your augmented perception gives you the ability to hear people through walls, and the lasers show up on your scanners. You would have no problem finding safe routes through the maze.

            5
            You need Augmentation- Perception 5 (you have 5)

            5
            Unlocked with Augmentation- Perception 5 - you have 5


Success!

Shoot your way through.

A chancy challenge

Your training pays off! You navigate the maze quickly, using your training to take shots from cover and eliminate the trainees, who grumble as they line up outside the maze.

"Well done Agent, I expected as much from you. Continue on to the infiltration test."

There were two options on this test that may or may not have been visible to you, linked to Reading and Perception. Tests like this have a specific threshold and are not visible to people who don't qualify for them. This keeps your options more simple, and encourages you to replay with more practice to find alternate routes and different rewards.

3 change points, 3 more needed to reach level 6.

You succeeded in a Combat- Ranged challenge!

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

You head to the infiltration test zone.


Training

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.

Training Badge

This badge says you're supposed to be training at the Tokyo Threat Response Academy.


Infiltration Test

Tokyo

After being taken over by the World League, Tokyo is still a bustling city, rebuilt on a continent city plate, but the influence of the pancontinental World League is easily apparent.

You leave the structure and enter an enclosed "field" formed from concrete, under a giant dome with simulated lighting attempting to emulate natural light. Grass grows over hills, a recent addition to add to the realism. "Agent, this is your second to last test. Make me proud." Your instructor motions to the largest mound. "You know the drill, you have to get up the hill without anyone noticing."

Always

Always

Sneak up on the installation.

A very chancy challenge

Well, the instructor said to sneak up there and that's what you're going to do.

Cloud the area.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

A very chancy challenge

A very modest challenge

Use your Dominance abilities to make a fog to cover your advance.

Run for it!

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

A modest challenge

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

A modest challenge

A modest challenge

Stealth? Who needs stealth when you can move really fast? Run at full speed, trying to dodge in between the line of sight for all the guards. You'll need all your augmentations to even have a chance to succeed.


Success!

Sneak up on the installation.

A very chancy challenge

You go through the lowlands between the hills, making your way to the largest one, and make a mad dash up it, getting to your objective before the guard turns around to look at you.

Your instructor congratulates you. "One more test and then you're ready for the field. Come with me."

Some branches require multiple Difficulty Challenges, drastically reducing the chance of success. However, you'll find that these often represent creative mixes of skills that make the challenge easier, or grant greater rewards for success.

4 change points, 2 more needed to reach level 6.

You succeeded in a Miscellaneous- Infiltration challenge! (Risky challenges mean you learn more.)

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

You enter a room with a fake ship on stilts in a pool of water.


Training

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.

Training Badge

This badge says you're supposed to be training at the Tokyo Threat Response Academy.


The Final Test

Tokyo

After being taken over by the World League, Tokyo is still a bustling city, rebuilt on a continent city plate, but the influence of the pancontinental World League is easily apparent.

Your instructor leads you to a model of a ship. "This is your last test. You will have to rescue a hostage from a group of terrorists. Complete this mission and you'll officially be a fully trained Agent."

You enter the pool of water surrounding the fake ship, it's about eight feet deep.

You climb onto the ship's deck, and see that the hostage is in the cabin. A man in a ski mask with a paint gun is looking the other direction.

Always

Always

Rush the terrorist.

A chancy challenge

You're close enough that you think you can rush the terrorist, crash through the door, and tackle him before he turns around shoots the hostage.

Talk the terrorist down.

A modest challenge

You decide to try talking to the terrorist, figuring out his demands, and convincing him to release the hostage.


Success!

Rush the terrorist.

A chancy challenge

You tackle the man to the ground, and he grunts as you tackle him, struggling to get free.

"You win!" You release the man and he struggles to his feet. Your instructor congratulates you. "You've proven that your training was a success. We'll call you tomorrow."

Having completed your training, you are now free to roam Tokyo or complete storyline missions.

3 change points, 3 more needed to reach level 6.

You succeeded in a Combat- Melee challenge!

You're back to practice some more before heading out on missions.

You've completed training.

You drop off the badge as you leave.

You've left training and are ready to do whatever you need to get done.

You've completed training.


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Out in the World

You've left training and are ready to do whatever you need to get done.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Out in the World

You've left training and are ready to do whatever you need to get done.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Out in the World

You've left training and are ready to do whatever you need to get done.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.


Jumped by thugs.

As you walk down the street a couple men come out of the shadows, looking to take what's yours and leave you behind. One of them has a bulge in his coat pocket.

One-Shot

Draw a card to experience a one-storylet random encounter.

Fight back.

An almost impossible challenge

You figure that since these individuals don't exactly look like upstanding citizens you may as well try to clean up the place by taking out the trash.

Talk them out of it.

An almost impossible challenge

You may as well try to get the thugs to leave you alone. Maybe if you're lucky they'll leave you alone.

Attack the men.

A tough challenge

You activate your boosted reflexes as you prepare to unleash an onslaught of pain on the men.

            5
            You need Augmentation- Reflexes 5 (you have 5)

            5
            Unlocked with Augmentation- Reflexes 5 - you have 5

Run away!

A very chancy challenge

A modest challenge

You run down the street, vaulting over obstacles to get away from your attackers. Discretion is the better part of valor.

Bribe the men.

A high-risk challenge

Maybe if you give them some money they'll go away.

            250
            You need 250 x CCredits  (you have 0)

            250
            Unlocked with 250 x CCredits


Beaten!

Fight back.

An almost impossible challenge

At least the thugs don't take anything, though they spend a good amount of time kicking at you after one of them knocks you to the ground with an uppercut.

1 change point, 6 more needed to reach level 7.

Combat- Melee 5 failed in a challenge! (When you try a challenge that's difficult for you, you learn more even when you fail.)

You've been injured, but you have a chance to heal yourself.

You've been bloodied.

Wounds represent how much your character has been hurt. If you have ten wounds or more you'll be taken to a hospital, where you can get them treated.

You have taken wounds. You are currently: Scratched.


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Out in the World

You've left training and are ready to do whatever you need to get done.

Bloodied!

You've been injured, but you have a chance to heal yourself.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Wounds

Wounds represent how much your character has been hurt. If you have ten wounds or more you'll be taken to a hospital, where you can get them treated.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.


Patch yourself up.

You've been beaten up in combat, so it's time to do some quick first-aid.

Always

Always

Do basic first aid.

A high-risk challenge

You know enough to bandage your wounds, you think. Hopefully it'll pay off.

Heal yourself using Dominance.

An almost impossible challenge

You think you could focus on knitting your flesh back together.


Bandaged!

Do basic first aid.

A high-risk challenge

You managed to apply dressings to your wounds, and they feel better now.

5 change points, 1 more needed to reach level 6.

You look around for a water supply.

You succeeded in a Miscellaneous- Survival challenge! (Risky challenges mean you learn more.)

You've been injured, but you have a chance to heal yourself.

That's the best you can do for now.

Wounds represent how much your character has been hurt. If you have ten wounds or more you'll be taken to a hospital, where you can get them treated.

Learning allows you to opgrade your skills.

You've learned something.


Faction Chosen

You've chosen your side.

Out in the World

You've left training and are ready to do whatever you need to get done.

Settings: Show Old News Enabled

This means that you can see old news entries at any major area.

Dominance

Dominance measures your ability to warp reality using your mind. You can dedicate points of this to gaining specific powers.

Learning

Learning allows you to opgrade your skills.

Wounds

Wounds represent how much your character has been hurt. If you have ten wounds or more you'll be taken to a hospital, where you can get them treated.

Augmentation- Reflexes

This measures how well your augmentations boost your reflexes.

Augmentation- Perception

Perception augmentations grant increased likelihood of noticing subtle movments and sounds.

Dominance- Creation

Creation is the ability to do various things relating to the modification of matter using Dominance.

Dominance- Reading

Reading is the Dominance ability associated with powers that are often described as "psychic", allowing people to gain insight to those around them.

Dominance- Warping

Warping covers Dominance powers that involve the manipulation of energy and space-time.

Influence- Con

Con is the player's ability to talk their way out of awkward situations and inspire confidence in others based on a lie.

Influence- Diplomacy

Diplomacy is your character's ability to smooth over hurt feelings and talk people out of drastic action.

Influence- Negotiation

Negotiation can be used to get a better reward or at the very least mitigate others' demands.

Combat- Ranged

Ranged combat governs a character's skill with all sorts of personal-scale weapons.

Combat- Melee

Melee combat is the art of landing meaninful blows in close quarters combat while avoiding injury.

Combat- Evasion

Evasion measures a character's ability to get out of harm's way when necessary.

Miscellaneous- Electronics

Electronics measures a character's skill with computers and other electronics.

Miscellaneous- Infiltration

Infiltration measures the ability to move unnoticed, climb, and generally get into places one isn't supposed to be.

Miscellaneous- Piloting

Piloting measures a character's skill with all sorts of vehicles.

Miscellaneous- Survival

Survival measures a character's ability to make do with what they have when stuck in the wilderness.

Miscellaneous- Disguise

Disguise is a character's ability to pass themselves off as someone else, either to evade people looking for them or to pass themselves off as the person they are imitating.