>>30715159
>Go back to dorm, play arcadia.

>>30715159
>>Do nothing terribly productive; go grocery and snack shopping, hit the gym, contact Jess and see if she wants to meet up for coffee that afternoon.
We gotta be lazy. Shopping is important too!

>>30715159
>Go to class, go to your tutorials, work on your assignments in the breaks with Wing (and Martin if he’s awake.)
Failing out would be bad

>>30715159
Fuck yeah Arcadia!
>Do nothing terribly productive; go grocery and snack shopping, hit the gym, contact Jess and see if she wants to meet up for coffee that afternoon.
It's the afternoon, this is what I'd be doing so...

Ash didn't strike me as the kind of person that went to the gym.

Also, heck ya, Arcadia! I honestly love arguing about equipment and EXP. I don't know if I'm healthy for the quest.

>>30715551
>>30715435
You let Wing know that you're not going to be attending the tutorials in the afternoon, and he says that Martin still hasn't stopped playing. You can tell from his tone that he's both annoyed and slightly worried.

It's never recommended that someone be forcibly separated from their neural interface if it can be avoided, especially when it's being used heavily. You do wonder why he's so unresponsive, however, remembering that Emily managed to get through to you when you were in game.

You text Jess, and head off-campus to do some shopping. It's not raining, at least, but the day is still gloomy. Jess gets back to you and suggests you drop by her room for afternoon tea.

Buy something with chocolate, she suggests, and it's one of the most normal things you've ever heard her say.

You miss Arcadia. Reality smells of damp and motor exhaust. You drift around the shops and you find yourself wondering if any of the strangers around you also know what it's like to play.

You feel a bit better when you hit the gym. Getting your heart pounding and your body moving in reality is satisfying in a way that Arcadia can't quite copy. As you are leaving you get a text from Martin:

Sry I fell asleep in game.

You feel slightly relieved.

>Call him up and tell him what you know about the meat.
>Ask him if he's okay.
>He's fine. Head over to Jess's room with food.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30715800
>He's fine. Head over to Jess's room with food.

>>30715800
>Ask him if he's okay.
No reason not to before heading over to Jess.

>>30715800
>>Call him up and tell him what you know about the meat.
Seriously, it's better we get this over with now then he find out from the guild and recruit him.

Though, now that I think of it, we could use him as a sort of plant to spy on the guild.

>>30715800
>He's fine. Head over to Jess's room with food.
Everything's fine. That's good.

>>30715800
>>Call him up and tell him what you know about the meat.

>>30715800
>Call him up and tell him what you know about the meat.

>>30715889
>>30715879
>>30715849

You put your bag on your bed when you arrive back at you room and decide to give Martin a call. He's in the labs with Wing (no one really needs computer labs when they have their own devices, but the comp sci majors feel happier there than in the library, so that's where they go. Also the vending machines are the best on campus.)

"Hey, what's up?" He sounds like you've just got him out of bed. You can hear him stifle a yawn.

"Um, there's some stuff you should know about Arcadia." You tell him, as succinctly as you can, what it means now that he's died in-game.

Silence.

"Hello?"

"Sorry. Yeah I'm here. I need caffine. What? That doesn't make any sense. You lose your entire class? Have you died yet?"

"Not yet."

"That's bullshit!" At least he sounds a bit more awake. "That's just. Aw, fuck this game. They don't even tell you. Okay, thanks. I think. Arhg. I screwed it up!"

>Tell him it's not so bad; you've met meat players who are doing okay.
>Warn him about the guild and the upcoming war.
>Just a game dude, just thought you should know that's all.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30716021
>Tell him it's not so bad; you've met meat players who are doing okay.

>>30716021
>Tell him it's not so bad; you've met meat players who are doing okay.
Let the poor guy sleep.

>>30716021
>Tell him it's not so bad; you've met meat players who are doing okay.
>Warn him about the guild and the upcoming war.
See if he's up for some espionage. I'd have a blast being an infiltrator playing both sides.

>>30716021
>Tell him it's not so bad; you've met meat players who are doing okay.
>Warn him about the guild and the upcoming war.
>Ask him what he screwed up.

>>30716091
>>30716081
>>30716039

"What did you screw up?" you ask.

"I got killed, didn't I? By some sort of wolf; I mean, if I'd known maybe I'd have been more careful."

"Could have been worse, could have been crabbyapples. Anyway cheer up, I've gone exploring with meat before. It's a little awkward organising stuff but it's not like they're useless, even without abilities. Abilities are on a big cooldown anyway. You're playing on hard mode, that's all."

"Uh huh. Well if you say so." He still sounds sulky and tired.

"There's more you need to know." You tell him a bit about the politics of the game, and what's brewing between the players and the meat. "I don't know where you are on the map; this might be hundreds of miles from you, but uh, let me know if something happens, okay? Like if you meet these guys."

"Huh. What makes you think I'm on your side, Player?"

"Dude, they just want to gank people. Wouldn't you rather have friends would could level up?"

"Maybe, I guess. Are you sure there's no way to get my class back?"

"No, I'm not. I'm looking into it, but all I hear are rumours so far."

"I don't even know if I'll keep playing anyway," he says. You think he's lying. "I gotta do some work, anyway. Thanks Ash."

It's the best you can do for now. He still sounds kind of out of it.

>Head over to Jess's room.
>Study.
>Research.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30716388
>Head over to Jess's room.

>>30716388
>Head over to Jess's room.

>>30716388
>Head over to Jess's room.
Let's get her into Arcadia too. That should be hilarious!

>>30716388
>Head over to Jess's room.
Time for teaparty!

>>30716433

Jess answers the door almost immediately. Her room smells of coffee and faintly of cigarettes. You smile awkwardly at each other and you hold up your bag of confectionery.

"I brought food."

"Cool. Uh, come in." There's no natural light in here; the curtains are firmly drawn. Jess's wall is covered with sticky notes and bits of paper, and she was obviously working at her computer when you arrived. A word document is open on the screen.

"Uh, it's a mess, sorry." She's got books piled up near her bed, but you've visited the guy's dorm and frankly you've seen, and smelled, worse. "I'll make some coffee."

"Yes, thank you." Clearly this isn't a room that sees many visitors. You occupy yourself by unpacking your cupcakes and pocky and looking at the books on Jess's floor. They all look very ...literary. Not your style at all, really.

You're reading the first page of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when Jess returns with some of her excellent coffee.

"Fuck, he's good. God, I'd give all my limbs to write like that," she says when she sees the book in your hand. She sits cross-legged on the floor, with her back to her bed and, when in Rome, so you sit opposite her. "Seen any more graffiti?" she asks.

>Nope. You?
>Tell her what happened in Dr Green's office that morning.
>You don't want to talk about it, ask her about her writing.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30716694
>Tell her what happened in Dr Green's office that morning.
Break out the tinfoil.

>>30716694
>Tell her what happened in Dr Green's office that morning.

Gonna sneak in anymore recommendations?

>>30716694
>Nope. You?
>Tell her what happened in Dr Green's office that morning.
Both important.

>>30716815
>>30716773
>>30716765
"Nope, you?"

"No, but the cops were here earlier, looking at it. And some people from the student mag took pictures." She leans up and twitches the curtain aside. "I've been keeping an eye on it. It's kind of popular, although everyone will have forgotten it in a week, I'll bet."

"Unless more show up."

"Point. Oh, I have some good news. Facilities management were here earlier looking for bugs. They didn't find any but they said they were gonna put out baits and stuff. I guess a fumigation would be too expensive."

You're not convinced it will do any good. Jess doesn't seem to think it will solve all your problems either. As cold as it is, you know Jess has a reputation for being a bit loopy, even if it's mostly sleep-deprivation, and you realise you'd feel a bit more comfortable sharing what happened this morning with someone.

So you tell her. She sips her coffee and nibbles on cake while you talk. "So, I managed to restore his data, or most of it, but I still don't know how it happened."

Jess is silent for a while. An awkwardly long while, and you cover by eating cake.

"Do you believe in weird shit?" she asks eventually, seriously. "Like, Atlantis and all of that?"

>Fuck no. I'm a rationalist.
>Not until weird shit actually started happening.
>Do you?
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30716994
>Not until weird shit actually started happening.

>>30716994
>Not until it starts happening

>>30716994
>Not until weird shit actually started happening.
After flame guy it's hardly strange if you get to thinking...

>>30716994
>Not until weird shit actually started happening.

>>30717051
>>30717043
>>30717033

"Not until weird shit actually started happening," you reply.

Jess frowns and nods. "Yeah, okay, I can go with that." She seems to be nerving herself up for something. Eventually she puts down her mug and pulls a pendant out from under her shirt. It's a simple polished greenish stone on a cord.

"My parents," she begins. "Made me promise never to take this off."

"It's pretty," you say, although you don't really have an opinion on it one way or another.

"It's fluorite. It protects against psychic attacks and absorbs harmful electromagnetic radiation from phones and computers." The corner of her mouth is turned down in a sad and derisive smirk.

>"Pretty sure that's not how electromagnetic radiation works..."
>"I'm sorry. That must be rough."
>"Maybe I should get one of those."
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30717202
>"I'm sorry. That must be rough."

>>30717202
>"I'm sorry. That must be rough."
I don't know what to think of this right now.

File: 1394325263511.jpg-(Spoiler Image, 105 KB, 1080x1051)

105 KB JPG

>>30715159
Found it!

>>30717202
>"I'm sorry. That must be rough."
Seems about right.

>>30717314
what

>>30717202
>"Pretty sure that's not how electromagnetic radiation works..."

>>30717202
>"Pretty sure that's not how electromagnetic radiation works..."

>>30717314
Okay, reverse image searched and read a bit. No idea what your getting at, Anon.

>>30717280
>>30717288
>>30717319

"I'm sorry, that must be rough," you say. You feel a sudden wave of affection for your busy, but mostly normal parents and their mostly normal way of bringing you up.

"First seven or eight years aren't bad. You live in a world of unicorns and guardian spirits and crystals and psychic hugs." She shakes her head, "The next ten aren't so good."

You think back to high school and you can only wince.

"But I'm over it," she says, with a practiced careless shrug. "Or I thought I was. I can be a weirdo on my terms not theirs and all would be well." She looks you in the eye, "And then this starts happening, and believe me my parents never mentioned anything like this, but I see this possibility that maybe they were in some stupid way right about reality. And part of me is really fucking happy to hear it."

She scowls. "I dunno, I'm sorry for dumping all of this on you. Ever since we saw that burning guy, it's been on my mind. I don't know what to believe, or what I want to believe."

>"Let's go with it. Hypothesize it's all real and see where it goes."
>"We believe what we see, nothing more. We have to be scientific."
>"Maybe you should stay out of it. Maybe we both should. We're not qualified for this."
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30717556
>"Let's go with it. Hypothesize it's all real and see where it goes. It's just something to keep in mind, after all, not something we're forced to act on."

>>30717556
>"Let's go with it. Hypothesize it's all real and see where it goes."
We don't have to take this seriously, playing what-if is fun sometimes.

>>30717556
>>"We believe what we see, nothing more. We have to be scientific."

>>30717556
>"We believe what we see, nothing more. We have to be scientific."

>>30717556
>"We believe what we see, nothing more. We have to be scientific."

>>30717556
>Let's go with it

>>30717731
>>30717705
>>30717659

Jess takes a deep breath. "Yeah. We can handle this logically, and if we end up logically drawing pentagrams on the roof at midnight..." she trails off.

"We need to revisit our data," you say faintly.

Jess smiles. It's a wry quirk. It's like most of her emotions are expressed through the corners of her mouth. "Okay, let's see what we have for data. If you want us to, that is."

"It's actually a relief to talk to someone about it. Let's go."

Jess sits up and pulls a notebook and pen from her desk. "Okay." She flips through to a clean page. "We have: fire guy, SILENCE written in asphalt, game software hacking a computer, we have Greek dudes with buried statues that are in this game you're playing, which is also the software that attacked-" She writes fast and scribbles, taking up a lot of paper.

"Bugs," you add.

"Okay, they showed up at the same time too." She looks at her list. "Where should we start?"

>Tell her more about Quest for Arcadia, how the game works, and the lack of information on the internet about it.
>Start with SILENCE; it's concrete proof of ...something, at least.
>Maybe you should start researching those Greeks.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30717952
>Tell her more about Quest for Arcadia, how the game works, and the lack of information on the internet about it.

>>30717952
>Start with SILENCE; It's concrete proof
>Concrete

Son of a bitch...

>>30717952
>Start with SILENCE; it's concrete proof of ...something, at least.
It showed up after we made a thread on /v/, didn't it?

>>30717952
>Start with SILENCE; it's concrete proof of ...something, at least.
Sure, Arcadia after.

>>30717952
>>Maybe you should start researching those Greeks.

>>30717999
>>30717991
>>30718025


"Let's start with SILENCE. It's definitely there; we didn't just hallucinate it or something."

"Okay. You know what's weird about it to me? It's so clear. Like, when this stuff happens in books or whatever it's all mysterious symbols or cryptic prophecies. But this is just one word, in English. I mean, it would probably have taken too long to write a whole paragraph on a parking lot, but still."

"It showed up after I posted on /v/ about Arcadia," you say. "The thread 404d fast too."

"/v/ huh? I used to go to /x/ when I was a teenager. I haven't been back in years though. So you think it's a specific warning to you, to shut up?"

"Maybe."

"But if it was the fire guy, who did it he appeared earlier than that. What did you say, anyway?"

>Tell Jess how you hacked the game to get the Liberated Soul class; you didn't give details on /v/ though.
>As above, don't mention you hacked the game.
>I can't remember.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30718181
>Tell Jess how you hacked the game to get the Liberated Soul class; you didn't give details on /v/ though.

>>30718181
>Tell Jess how you hacked the game to get the Liberated Soul class; you didn't give details on /v/ though.

>>30718181
Don't you sweep that horrible pun under the rug, you Australian bastard!

>As above, but don't mention the hacking.

>>30718181
>Tell Jess how you hacked the game to get the Liberated Soul class; you didn't give details on /v/ though.
We're trying to get to the bottom of this, let's not withhold information.

>>30718181
>>Tell Jess how you hacked the game to get the Liberated Soul class; you didn't give details on /v/ though.

She doesn't play the game so it shouldn't matter.

>>30718223
>>30718241
>>30718248

gaiz no
gaiz
plz

>>30718307
Offer reasoning; maybe we'll agree with you and change votes?

>>30718339
She's going to be doing research, which means she's going to be asking questions. If it gets out that she knows somebody who hacked the game, rumors will spread and eventually who/what is behind all this mystery terrorism and shit is going to get wind. We may be a good hacker, but I'm sure there's some way to find out who is tagged with what class, and while I'm sure Ash isn't the only one to unlock it, odds are she's about the only one in the area. Now, granted, the weird shit the game attracts already seems to know who Ash is, but it could also get Jessica on their radar too, and the next time something comes out of the woodwork we may not be there to help her.

Telling her we hacked the game is going to attract unwanted attention and it's not really necessary that she knows. The closer to our vest we play that aspect, the better.

>>30718415
...we can just ask her not to include those parts in her research then, with a similar explanation. Would still help her to reason things out.

>>30718446
You can ask people to do a lot of things, but there's no guarantee they'll do it.

>>30718217
>>30718223
>>30718241
>>30718248

"I hacked the game," you admit for the first time to another living soul. "I just wanted to see what the extra class was like. It's good, by the way."

Jess frowns. "So, the other people who play this game, does weird shit happen to them too?"

"I've never asked. Everyone's really careful not to break immersion in game. Even people who aren't roleplaying, I've never heard anyone just casually talking about the real world there. People mention it only when they have to."

"Maybe you should ask. But more importantly, when you post on /v/, stuff happens, when Dr Green started looking into the company that makes the game, stuff, real stuff, happened. You hacked the game."

"But nothing happened, I mean, nothing specific. They could cancel my account or something if they wanted. Or force my class to change. Nothing."

"Well, logic's taken us this far at least." Jess still looks pretty puzzled by the whole thing. "Man, I kind of wish I had the money to try this game for myself, but on the other hand I don't really want to risk it either."

>Maybe we should set a trap; post on /v/ again and see what happens.
>Let's try another angle, how about those Greeks?
>I need to talk to my friends in-game, and investigate it from that end.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30718415
Fair point, but I think we can trust Jess to keep the information to herself, or if she needs to, be vague about what she knows. If sharing the info could mean we learn what's going on sooner, I'm willing to risk it.

>>30718476
>Let's try another angle, how about those Greeks?

>>30718476
>Let's try another angle, how about those Greeks?
Let's exhaust some options at least before starting to think of traps.

>>30718476
>Set a trap

>>30718476
>>Maybe we should set a trap; post on /v/ again and see what happens.

>>30718476
>>Maybe we should set a trap; post on /v/ again and see what happens.

Also why can't she try the game, aren't the min system specs really low?

>>30718476
>Let's try another angle, how about those Greeks?

>>30718558
That's a decent point actually. Wonder why.

>>30718558
>Man, I kind of wish I had the money to try this game for myself
She's a poorfag. I think pirating the game, if you even can, would lead to some nasty shit.

>>30718664
Isn't it free?

>>30718685
If her comp's up to code.

>>30718558
She doesn't own a pair of glasses. The neural interface is required; you couldn't play it on a PC. Looking around her room you don't think she's got cash to spare either (unless she gives up the coffee and cigarettes maybe.)
>>30718685
Game itself isn't free. No monthly fee though.

>>30718497
>>30718523
>>30718567

"Let's try another angle, how about those Greeks?"

"Okay, yeah. I'm kind of curious myself. And this is the sort of research I do all the time. Email me your reference list, and we can work on it together. I'll just get some more coffee."

She gets to her feet and collects your cup. You put your glasses to load up your email. You have a couple of texts from Wing and Martin, but it's nothing important; just uni stuff. There's some spam. And a text from Melissa:

This is awesome! Haha. My dude is so hot tho. Let me know if ur gonna play tonite.

>Text Melissa back that you'll play later.
>Tell her you won't be playing tonight.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30718790
>Text Melissa back that you'll play later.
hahaha she made a guy

>>30718790
>Text Melissa back that you'll play later.
I don't think we should, but I really want to get back adventuring in Arcadia.

>>30718790
>>Text Melissa back that you'll play later.
Tell her not to get killed.

>>30718790
>Text Melissa back that you'll play later.

>>30718925
>>30718911
>>30718882
>>30718871

You tell Melissa that you'll be playing later, and that she should try not to get herself killed. By the time Jess gets back with more coffee she hasn't responded, but you're not entirely surprised. She'll see your text when she stops to eat.

You've finished the cupcakes and start on the pocky. Your system is buzzing with sugar and caffeine, and you think you'll probably delay your dinner tonight; you really don't feel hungry. You still eat the pocky though.

"This is actually kind of exciting," Jess says, slumping down in front of her PC. "Well, for searching up references it is." She clicks open your forwarded email.

"You know," she says slowly. "The name of this island's really familiar." She rattles her fingers idly against the keys for a moment. "It'll come to me. Let's go, JSTOR."

You are kind of glad Jess is here to do this; you rarely have to research databases or journal articles, and while you can put together a search string in your sleep, deciphering the language the articles are actually written in is more difficult.

Tonight you have other problems. JSTOR is down; and that's just the start. You find yourself in a labyrinth of individual library databases from all over the world. Not all of them seem to be functioning as intended.

Jess seems equally frustrated. "Not available in full text. What the hell am I paying fees for then? Okay, I'll try here. No don't have a University of Glasgow login. Jesus Christ."

You notice your battery use has picked up, just a bit more than you expect.

>Try and work out what the game's doing now. 1d100 DC 50
>These references aren't panning out. Email Green for some more.
>Give up.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

Rolled 42

>>30719249
>Try and work out what the game's doing now. 1d100 DC 50

Rolled 8

>>30719249
>Try and work out what the game's doing now. 1d100 DC 50
Luck time!

Rolled 94

>>30719249
>Try and work out what the game's doing now.

Rolled 76

>>30719249
>Work out how the game's trying to defend itself now.

>>30719265
>>30719294
>>30719312

Jess continues muttering to herself and absently stirring her coffee with the end of a pencil. You start poking around to see what the game is up to.

It's not doing too much; it's sucking more power than it should, but nowhere near as much as it was when it was messing with Green's machine. You trawl through the code, and realise that it's just keeping an eye on you, and possibly Jess's, internet usage, and relaying it back to the game's central server.

It doesn't appear to be interfering. Your battery is at 34%.

>Power it down and disconnect and see if Jess gets better luck now.
>Email Green to see if there are any references in hard-copy available; the internet has been compromised.
>Just let it run and continue as before.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30719440
>Power it down and disconnect and see if Jess gets better luck now.

>>30719440
>Power it down and disconnect and see if Jess gets better luck now.
>Email Green to see if there are any references in hard-copy available; the internet has been compromised.

What's stopping us from doing both?

>>30719440
>Power it down and disconnect and see if Jess gets better luck now.
Might as well.

>>30719440
>>Power it down and disconnect and see if Jess gets better luck now.

>>30719486
This.

>>30719460
>>30719486
>>30719507
>>30719542
>>30719543

You fire off an email to Green, and shut down your glasses. Jess sees you push them up on your forehead and pauses.

"No luck?" she asks.

"I'm thinking it's not a coincidence. Try now."

"Okay. Well, JSTOR's still down. Oh!" Her eyes widen. "I've got it, I've got it." She snaps her fingers. "I remember, that name, that island."

Her shoulders drop, "Well, I dunno how helpful it's going to be."

"Shoot."

"My parents had a book on it. The Last Ruins of Atlantis and How They Will Empower YOUR Life. I remember it because I liked the pictures. They were pretty fanciful; an artist's impression of the power pyramids now lost beneath the waves."

She rolls her eyes and gets back to work.

"Green mentioned Atlantis fanatics were interested in that island in the 70s," you say.

"I hope he didn't take them seriously."

"No, I thought it was pretty funny myself."

"Hey, I found Dr Green," Jess says. "Papers written about the expedition he was on, anyway. Now we're getting somewhere." You get to your feet and drag Jess's roommate's chair over so you can watch her work. You recognize some of the pictures that Green showed you earlier in the day.

The more you read up on the statues, the more they remind you of the slaves. They even have strange pseudo-joints built into them. In reality, they'd never be able to move, of course. The text is quite dry; the authors are merely reporting, rather than speculating.

Jess continues on.

>"You know, as weird as it sounds, maybe you should get your parents read on this. I'm not saying we should take it seriously, but it can't hurt."
>"I'm not going to be much use. Can I leave this with you for now?"
>Just hang out and read Hunter S Thompson and wait for more info.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30719867
>"I'm not going to be much use. Can I leave this with you for now?"

>>30719867
>"I'm not going to be much use. Can I leave this with you for now?"
vidyagaems

>"You know, as weird as it sounds, maybe you should get your parents read on this. I'm not saying we should take it seriously, but it can't hurt."
>"I'm not going to be much use. Can I leave this with you for now?"

>>30719867
>>"I'm not going to be much use. Can I leave this with you for now?"

>>30719867
"You know, as weird as it sounds, maybe you should get your parents read on this. I'm not saying we should take it seriously, but it can't hurt."

>>30719918
>>30719909
>>30719895

Jess blanches. "You want me to tell my parents about this?" She sighs. "Fuck, it's probably the phone call they've been waiting for. I guess it would be kind of stupid not to ask them; they are experts of a sort. They might have something useful to say."

She looks at you, "I'm going to have to wade through a ton of crap to find it though."

"Hey, I appreciate it," you say.

"I appreciate you spilling the beans to me as well. Even if this does turn out to be a whole lot of nothing much and we're just fooling ourselves, at least it's kind of fun. And I could probably get a book out of it."

"If you write about me-"

"Relax, Ash. I don't think I've got the skills to write from your perspective just yet. Besides, I'd have to change a lot. Maybe I should start making notes."

"I don't think I'm going to be much use to you tracking down these references. Can I leave it with you for now?"

"Sure. Drop by any time if you want. I'll probably be awake. And thanks for the cake, and you know, the talking and stuff." She laughs awkwardly. "That's how you make friends, right?"

You add that you emailed Green for more references in hard-copy. "I asked him to cc it to you, so don't be surprised if you get another email."

"Roger that. I need to return some of these books anyway. So I'll head over if I don't have any more luck online."

You bid her farewell, feeling rather cheered by your afternoon. Whatever's going on, you're not facing it by yourself.

>Tell Melissa you're going to play, and wait for her to respond before logging in; try and work out where she is.
>Just go back to your room, plug in to the mains and log on.
>Dinner first, even if you're not hungry.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>30720222
>Go back to room and plug in glasses
>Message Melissa
>Play Arcadia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIrc0UGuV-w

>>30720222
>Play Arcadia.

>>30720222
[x] >>30720283

>>30720222
>Play Arcadia.

>>30720222
[X] Check what Arcadia's code is doing now.

>>30720351
You cautiously turn your glasses on and check the code. It seems dormant for now. You remember that while you're actually playing the game, it shouldn't be possible for it to do anything untoward at least.

>>30720283
>>30720327
>>30720318
>>30720337
You head back to your room. Emily's there, watching stuff on her computer with her headphones on, her study clearly over for the day. She gives you a wave as you walk in, but doesn't pay much more attention.

You plug in your glasses to send Melissa a message. You see she's replied to yours since; she says she's wearing a green robe and has long brown hair, and that she's found a city. It may or may not be the city you're familiar with; there's no real way to tell. You let her know you're logging in, and sit on your bed to play.

You fall into Quest for Arcadia. It's early evening. You're standing near the bridge, which is still in one piece. There are a handful of people about, mostly heading towards the city. The setting sun paints the sky gold and red, and there's not a faintest breeze. You sense that the day has been hot, the earth beneath your feet still warm.

Lily and Wolf are online. Mason is offline.

>Contact Lily.
>Contact Wolf.
>Go looking for Melissa.
>Go looking for Trish or Shrike.
>See about upgrading your gear in the city.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30720560
>Contact Lily.
Let's see what's happened while we were gone, out in pesky 'reality' doing 'schoolwork' and 'making' ''''friends''''.

>>30720560
>Go looking for Melissa.

>>30720560
>Send Lily a greeting
>Look up our favorite meat sacks
>Score some new armor with the power of pixel tits

>>30720560
>>Go looking for Melissa.

>>30720560
>Contact Lily.

>>30720560
>Contact Lily.
"ay gurl wuts hapenin"

>>30720762
"let me get a crack at dem tittays"

>>30720593
>>30720650
>>30720674

You attempt to contact Lily, and a few moments later you succeed.

"Hey I have to take this. Play without me," she says. "Hi Liandra, I wasn't sure I was gonna see you today." She's not wearing any clothes.

Well, she's wearing the game's underwear, but nothing else. You can hear laughter and splashing around in the background, as well as music. You catch glimpses in the background of what appears to be a beach party.

"Having fun?" you ask, a bit startled.

"Oh yeah, loads." She sits down at a bar to talk to you properly. "This place is like a holiday town. Me and Wolf have been taking turns to keep an eye on things. It's gonna get boring eventually but for now it's pretty fun." She grins.

"Any news though?" you ask.

Lily sighs and then smiles briefly as someone slides some sort of fruity drink across the bar to her. "We've been watching the boats pretty closely; there's a lot of people here, meat and players." She frowns, "And ERPers. Anyway, nothing's really been suspicious so far. Most of the boats have either been local, or they belong to players not meat."

"It would have taken the meat a while to walk there though, surely."

"Yeah, I was thinking that too. Maybe we didn't have to rush yesterday. But we're here now. It's actually kind of relaxing. Can't tell who's a player and who's meat when people dress for the beach. I haven't heard much from Mason either; he wasn't on long today."

"Thanks for the update."

>Ask her about weird shit happening in real life.
>Ask for a lift to beach party town.
>Sign off for now and head into the city.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30720916
>Sign off for now and head into the city.
We got our update, let's look for a friend and new gear.

>>30720916
>Thank her for the show with a wink
>Head into the city

>>30720916
>Sign off for now and head into the city.
I want to griiiiind

>>30720916
>>Sign off for now and head into the city.

>>30720916
[x] >>30720989
Cmon, gotta practice being sociable.

>>30721018
>>30721004
>>30720989
>>30720962

You bid her farewell for now.
"Thanks for the show," you say with an overdone wink. She sticks her tongue out and waves a finger at you with a grin. "You're just jealous of my holiday."

You head into the city. The atmosphere today is quite different from the relaxed feel the city had the last times you've visited. In fact, it's downright tense. The cafes are nearly empty of rpers and general loiterers, and everyone seems slightly rushed.

All the conversations seem serious.

The markets are doing good business. There are a lot more players than usual too, with gleaming weapons and fancy armour in much greater proportion than is usual. Either rumours have started to spread, or Mason's called for help.

>Gear first, just keep an eye out for your friends.
>Check the usual spots for Trish or Shrike.
>Head to a vantage point and try and spot Melissa's character in the crowd.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30721210
>Track down Schmucky McWantsinourpants or whatever his name was. The asshole who sold us the bow. Grill him for info.

Speaking of, how is our arrow supply?

>>30721210
>Check the usual spots for Trish or Shrike.

>>30721210
>gear first
I'm pretty sure we could stand to have a few more arrows at least

>>30721210
>>Head to a vantage point and try and spot Melissa's character in the crowd.

>>30721235
>>30721280
>slap our Piece of Arcadia on the bow
>get infinite ammo
>never worry about ammo again, also fire slightly faster
srsly guys

Guys I forget, what did we want to use our EXP on? We have two.

I was thinking upgrade Pray once and put the other point into our bow.

>>30721325
that sounds pretty good to me

>>30721325
The increased ROF hasn't been confirmed, and I think it's better saved for leveling our armor.

>>30721235
>>30721280
You check your inventory and note that you have 12 arrows, 3 bloodletter iron shards, 4 tears of the lady, and 74 coins. You also recall that making your glaive cost you over a hundred coins, and you suspect that you probably can't afford to make any armour just yet.

You also have two pieces of Arcadia and 2 EXP.

>Buy more arrows from the bald dude with the crush.
>See about turning your bloodletter shards into upgraded arrows of some kind at the crafting NPCs.
>Upgrade and/or spend EXP.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30721483
Can we use a PoA to upgrade our bow to... I don't know, slot in/thread in special materials to add temporary buffs to our weapon? Like, slot in a piece of Bloodletter Iron - get the Bloodletter effect, or slot in a piece of that green shit from the lizards and get that effect, etc? Maybe combine it with another piece for the energy arrows?

>>30721325
No. No. No.

You'd have a case if we relied on our bow, if we were a pure archer I would back this 100%. But we aren't. We use our bow to alpha strike and support, and typically turn our fights into slugging matches with our glaive. We need to make the bow better for ALPHA STRIKING and SUPPORT. Thus, damage or upgrading the stun effect.

And we're using those pieces for whatever armour we buy, then for our boots.

>>30721483
>>Buy more arrows from the bald dude with the crush.

I'd rather spend our piece on our eventual armor.

>>30721483
2 exp into HP
If we get unlimited ammo, can we still use special arrows?

>>30721483
>Spend both EXP on hp

>>30721531
And what do we do when we run out of/lose access to ammo? Bow becomes completely useless.
This is ONE Piece for a HUGE increase in utility.

>>30721539
Yes you can. Unlimited arrows will basically form an arrow whenever you draw the string back, but you can still use other arrows as normal, and the effect won't interfere.

>>30721527
That's a neat idea. Why not? It'll use up the materials of course.

(I'm just gonna let you guys discuss for a while, and answer questions, since especially for PoA there are a lot of options.)

What about putting them in Pray and HP? You all saw what upgraded Preach does, Pray probably gives a way stronger tentacle arm.

>>30721594
Gee, I don't know, use our glaive and powers. We carried around 30 arrows and only used 18 of them fighting the creeps in the tower, the meat that came, then the meat on the bridge. We seriously don't need to worry about ammo, especially if we can conserve more of it by making the bow a more efficient damage dealer.

Ya, it is just ONE piece, but that ONE piece could be so many much more useful things.

>>30721679
Like.
What.

>>30721594
I'd still rather save it for armor. Maybe when we go to that underworld place and we don't have access to supplies we can upgrade it, but now I think it would be better to focus on defense.

>>30721717
>>30721527

>>30721746
We don't have any armour to upgrade.

>>30721717
Damage that let's us kill things faster = less danger to our lives
Stun that let's us kill things easier = less danger to our lives
Protection on armour = guess what that does
Speed on boots = makes us better at killing things and better at not being killed

It's like I'm talking to a wall.

>>30721782
Yes, which is why I said we should save it for our eventual armor.

I like the Megaman bow idea, honestly.
>>30721527

>>30721817
More damage doesn't help if we run out of arrows.
We already have stun.
We have no idea how many Pieces it will take to get a real benefit from armour.

Slot materials into bow and save one piece for armour? Seems good to me.

Are we putting both EXP in HP or what?

>>30721928
>More damage doesn't help if we run out of arrows.
We won't because we carry enough as is. And hey, if we do run out that means it's done it's job spectacularly.

>We already have stun.
It can be better. Hinted that it can be made AoE.

>We have no idea how many Pieces it will take to get a real benefit from armour.
Are you fucking kidding me. You don't want to improve armour because it uses Pieces? Am I reading that right?

>>30721992
We need the Piece for the Slots thing.
And no, you're not reading that right; I don't want to use our ONLY Piece because it might take MULTIPLE Pieces to get a notable benefit.

I don't know how much you guys enjoy them, but I find these discussions really interesting.

>>30722141
Feel free to pipe in with corrections for our obviously-flawed assumptions.

>>30722094
>You also have two pieces of Arcadia and 2 EXP.

So we shouldn't bother doing anything to the armour at all? Because you think that maybe it'll take too many pieces? How about we go ask Wolf how many pieces he thinks you have to use before noticing a difference, hm? He's online right now.

>>30722094
It doesn't seem that way for the bow, why would it be for the armor?

I believe it was said we would need multiple pieces if we wanted to make our armor fly efficiently.

>>30722204
I feel like we should hang onto at least one piece to open a secret door or something.

>>30722204
The pastebin says we have one piece, I missed that bit in QM's post.
It's not that I don't want to upgrade our armour (that we haven't even acquired yet) EVER, I just think guaranteeing our ammo supply is so ridiculously useful that we should get it immediately.

>>30722218
For the flashier utility effects, yeah. For just straight defense, we'll probably notice a difference after one piece.

>>30722141
If we put a piece into our boots for protection vs a cuirass, would the bonus be lessened?

>>30722278
Given how much QfA seems to mimic the real world, I think it would only apply to foot protection.

Maybe we could make windrunner boots? Can't fly with 'em, but increases our movement speed and lets us take a few steps over empty air before we start falling? Maybe a double-jump?

>>30722275
>I just think guaranteeing our ammo supply is so ridiculously useful that we should get it immediately.

I guess that's a point we'll just never agree on, and it always feels like it's only ever you and me arguing this point. I feel we should just let the issue go to a vote because neither of us are budging. It's just a game, I won't be bitter if it doesn't go my way which I suspect it might.

>>30722171
Honestly, it's kind of up to you guys. I mean, you're gonna find more Pieces eventually, so decisions you make now aren't going to cripple you one way or another (watch me eat those words somehow.)

>>30722218
Yeah, flight's going to take the same sort of effort Lily put into her artifact.

>>30722275
Hm. My notes say you have two currently. Might have missed that bit when updating the pastebin. You've got two now, anyway.

>>30722278
Not lessened, but if someone shoots you in the chest, armour on your boots isn't going to help.

>>30722328
That seems reasonable.

>>30722369
As soon as the game starts rationing arrows, I'll vote for the energy beam spam bow. Until then, they're cheap and plentiful. Using our magic MacGuffin on that right now is a waste. Maybe if we're tits-deep in enemy territory and we need it in an emergency, maybe.

>>30722377
Can you give us clear options to vote on now so we can move on? I want to play Arcadia, not roleplay Ash's internal debates.

>>30722422
>>30722466 yep, it's about that time.


Let's get some numbers.

>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow for infinite ammo.
>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow to accept materials to improve standard arrows.
>Save your Pieces of Arcadia for now.

Spend EXP
>HP
>SP
>Weapon skill (bow/glaive).
>Abilities (preach/pray/foresight/ascend)
>Save EXP for now.

>>30722520
>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow to accept materials to improve standard arrows.

>HP
>Pray

>>30722520
>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow for infinite ammo.
>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow to accept materials to improve standard arrows.
I'm assuming the latter can be applied to the former.
>HP
>Pray

>>30722520
>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow to accept materials to improve standard arrows.

By the way, how many arrows will one hunk of material service?

>Spend EXP on HP
>Spend EXP on Bow

>>30722520
>>Save your Pieces of Arcadia for now.
>>HP
>ascend
One in each

>>30722520
>Save pieces
>>HP

>>30722520
>Use a piece of Arcadia to upgrade your bow for infinite ammo.
>HP
>foresight

>>30722571
>>30722582
>>30722584
>>30722586

You take out your mirror and put an EXP point into HP. Your HP increases from 10 to 13, although you don't really feel any different. You spend your other point on Pray.

You take out one of your Pieces of Arcadia and apply it to your bow. The scales gleaming between the pieces of white wood start to move, and small green snake coils out of the weapon, winding along the length of the bow. It raises its head and its mouth opens and it ceases to move. It still looks alive, its eyes gleaming. You realise it would take only a moments work to fit bloodletter shards and similar objects into its gaping mouth.

Your White Bow of Fangs is now a Ravenous White Bow of Fangs.

>Buy more arrows from Charles.
>Look for Melissa.
>Look for Trish and Shrike.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30722778
>Buy more arrows from Charles.
Top them off to 30

>>30722778
>Buy more arrows from Charles.

>>30722778
>Buy more arrows from Charles.

>>30722778
How many shots will a "charge" last for? Also, can you grind for materials or make gestalt/hybrid materials?

Are there crafting skills?

>>30722841
No crafting skills. You'll have to find out how many charges you get, but it'll be more than the one you'd have gotten if you'd just made it into an arrow. You could grind for mats; kill more of those lizard guys under the city, for example. No hybrid materials.

>>30722832
>>30722823
>>30722812

Charles is still working at his stall, but he doesn't seem as cheerful as he was last time. He's very happy to see you, however.

"Liandra! Oh thank goodness you're all right. These are dark times, my Lady. Dark times indeed. Can you not feel it?" He heaves a great sigh, "I can only hope these meager weapons will be enough to protect you." He regards you soulfully, expecting a response.

>Reply 'in character' as best you can.
>Just buy the arrows, and smile (and lean over) for a discount.
>Ask him for details on these 'dark times' while you shop.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 77

>>30722963
"Why's everyone so gloom-and-doom around here?"

Lean over. Pretend to browse his wares. Expose cleavage. Grind for dat discount.

>>30722985
This

>>30722985
I like this option.

>>30722963
>>Ask him for details on these 'dark times' while you shop.

>>30722963
[x] >>30722985

Rolled 93

>>30722985
This, but not sucking dog-balls at the skill challenge.

>>30722985
>>30723022
>>30723175 (Don't need to roll this time; he's still smitten as long as you play along.)

It worked last time, so you give it another try. You bend over the display of weapons, examining them carefully, wide-eyed with as innocent an expression as you can manage.

"Why is everyone so gloom-and-doom around here?" You cock your head to the side and look up at him.

"You didn't hear?" Charles says, struggling manfully to keep his eyes on your face. "The story is that Mason flushed out a group of meat who were planning some sort of plot to take over the city. Well," he tries to look dignified, "I don't take much stock in rumours, but then well, I heard he was calling in favours, and look around you, old friends and enemies just milling about, waiting for trouble." He leans in close and taps a finger to the side of his nose, "Let me tell you, even if there's nothing in this meat business, Mason's going to have his hands full keeping this lot from each other's throats. All it takes is one argument over the bridge."

He looks deep into your ...eyes. "I want you to be careful, someone as young and kind as you could get caught up in this mess all too easily. Look after yourself."

"Well, I'd like to, but I need more arrows," you smile tremulously. "I wanted to upgrade my armour as well but I don't have the money-"

"Ah, such expenses, shall I give you a little discount?" He winks.

"Oh, thank you Charles!" You're very glad you don't have to do this all the time. You kind of feel like you need a bath.

Charles sells you arrows for half price. 20 for 5 coins.

>Buy 20.
>Buy 40
>Buy 60
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30723244
Buy 60 if we can afford it. What's he got for armor?

>>30723244
>>Buy 20.

>>30723244
>Buy 40
Half-price? Why the fuck not?

These don't encumber us too bad, do they?

>>30723280
>>30723287
>>30723326
Geez guys, the Piece I could understand, but arrows?

>Buy 40

>>30723244
>>Buy 40

>>30723280
Charles only sells mundane weapons.

>>30723326
Low gravity means you're not feeling weighed down as much as you might expect. It's more a matter of bulk.

You buy forty arrows and they fit in your quiver just fine. You now have 52 arrows and 64 coins. You're bidding Charles a fond (at least on his part) farewell, when you sense trouble in the crowd. Nothing specific, just raised voices.

You pop up on your toes to get a better look, and you think you see Shrike, looking unhappy at the center of a small knot of players.

You edge forward. It's definitely Shrike, you hear him object, "I know Mason!"

>Approach and defend Shrike aggressively.
>Approach and try and defuse the situation nicely.
>Shrike can probably look after himself. He won't die in Mason's city after all.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30723464
>Approach and try and defuse the situation nicely.

>>30723464
>Approach and try and defuse the situation nicely.
We don't want to make ourselves stand out TOO much.

>>30723464
>Approach and defend Shrike aggressively.
Gotta look out for our bros

>>30723464
>Approach and defend Shrike aggressively

Fuck anyone who lays a hand on him. Preferably with our glaive.

>>30723464
>>Approach and try and defuse the situation nicely.

>>30723464
>Approach and try and defuse the situation nicely.

>>30723464
>Approach and try and defuse the situation nicely.

>>30723464
>Approach and defend Shrike aggressively.
Best way to keep him safe.

>>30723535
>>30723494
>>30723488

You take a deep breath and elbow your way through the crowd to Shrike's side.

"Hi Shrike!" you say loudly and brightly with a big smile. "What's going on here? Did my friend upset someone?" you ask the group of players, putting an emphasis on 'friend'.

"I didn't do-" You stomp on Shrike's foot, and thankfully he gets the hint.

"Well." There are shifty eyes and shrugs. "He's just fucking annoying, that's all," a guy with a mohawk and a green and black leather armour says. "And where'd the hell he get that bow?"

Ah yes, Shrike's got a new bow. It's black and silver, and it doesn't gleam or shine like a player's bow, but it looks very, very nice for meat gear.

1D100 social skills check.

>Keep being nice.
>Bare your teeth.
>Name drop some people.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 12

>>30723641
"Who cares where he got the fucking bow? You going to ask me where I got mine? I mean, I wouldn't just come up to you and ask why you chose to get a green bird's ass on top of your character model. Now fuck off."

>>30723641
>Name drop some people.
sounds like he was doing that anyway might as well back him up

Rolled 89

>>30723641
>Name drop some people.
Don't agitate the people, everything could blow up on us.

Rolled 62

>>30723670
Misread the description as the guy having a green mohawk.

>>30723641
>>Bare your teeth.
Fuck that guy.

Rolled 61

>>30723641
>Name drop some people.
We went exploring with Lily recently, he probably paid for it with his loot from that, or something.

>>30723736
>>30723692
>>30723677

"He made that bow from finger bones of a banshee undead lady that he helped kill. I was there. So was Lily." They don't seem to know Lily. "And then Wolf showed up, I could contact him if you want, and he'd back me up." You think. You hope.

They don't think much of your speech. But on the bright side, they look like they're losing interest in the whole conversation.

"Yeah, whatever." They start to drift away, giving you both unimpressed looks, but it seems you've managed to rescue Shrike at least.

Shrike sighs with relief. "Man am I glad to see you. Actually, I was hoping to run into you. It kind of sucks to be meat on the streets today. Let's go somewhere else. Have you heard any news from Lily or Wolf?"

"Not much. Lily's having a nice time at the beach."

"I wish I was at the beach," he says sourly, and leads you through the market, at some speed, his head down.

>"Hang on, a friend if mine might be here. Can you help me find her- err, him?" Look for Melissa with Shrike.
>"Um, where are we going?"
>Ask him about his bow.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 11

>>30723914
"Fuck those guys, Shrike. Seriously, fuck 'em. I don't know why Mason thought it would be a good idea to gather so many players here. I mean, I understand defending the city, but all this has done is turn it into a powder keg. Shit! Hang on, a friend if mine might be here. Can you help me find her- err, him?"

>>30723914
>"Um, where are we going?"
Waa, what are gonna do in the back alley?

>>30723914
>"Hang on, a friend if mine might be here. Can you help me find her- err, him?" Look for Melissa with Shrike.
We helped him, now he goes where we go.

>>30723914
>"Um, where are we going?"

>>30723914
>>"Hang on, a friend if mine might be here. Can you help me find her- err, him?" Look for Melissa with Shrike.

>>30724049
>>30724026
>>30723966
"Fuck those guys, Shrike. Seriously, fuck 'em. I don't know why Mason thought it would be a good idea to gather so many players here. I mean, I understand defending the city, but all this has done is turn it into a powder keg. Shit! Hang on, a friend if mine might be here. Can you help me find her- err, him?"

"I honestly don't know how much of this is Mason's doing," Shrike says. "Part of the problem is that he hasn't been online much today. Word's got out about the meat, and after what happened at Lightning Bridge, people are just mad as hell and looking for some way of getting back at the guild." Shrike pauses, "A friend? Meat or player?"

"Player still, I hope. I don't even know if sh- he's here, but if they are I don't want them stumbling into this mess."

"Yeah, if they're new they're gonna look like meat, even if they ain't. Okay, come on, let's head up." Trish and Shrike know their way well around this city, and Shrike leads you confidently up a flight of stairs to the upper level of the city, with the rotating towers and the narrow bridges.

"Okay, he should have brown hair and a green robe and is apparently, err...hot," you say.

"Okay." Shrike looks a little nonplussed. You start circling the market place from your elevated position, looking out for someone who might match Melissa's description.

You're beginning to think Melissa spawned near a different city when spot someone who might be her wandering near the forges. At least, you see long brown hair and a light green silk robe. They're carrying a plain staff.

>Whistle.
>Yell Melissa's name.
>Just jump down and run over to them.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>30724290
Tail them.

Rolled 12

>>30724290
>Message Melissa in-game. Ask her where she is.

>>30724290
>Just jump down and run over to them.
Don't break character!

>>30724290
>Just jump down and run over to them.

>>30724328
You can't message her if she's not on your contacts. If you message her on another program, she probably won't notice; texts don't get through to you when you're playing.

>>30724328
We don't have her contact details, so we'd have to message her out of game.

Rolled 51

>>30724385
>>30724395
Ah, right.

Then yell her name, or an affectionate "Hey, Jiggletits!"

>>30724290
>Just jump down and run over to them.

>>30724384
>>30724339

"I think that's them," you say, and bound down a few flights of stairs, and take the last floor at a flying leap, Shrike close at your heels.

The sound of your running feet draws the attention of the player and they turn and look at you with surprise. He is exceptionally pretty; deep green eyes, and flawless skin and high cheekbones. Long brown hair frames his face.

"Hello!" you say with a smile, hoping they don't take fright. "I think we might know each other."

"Oh? Oh As-"

"Shh! Hi. Yeah, it's me. Um, I'm Liandra here."

"Oh. You're so cute." He grins. He sounds like a dude as well. It's a little strange. "Isn't this great? Everything feels so real." He spins on the spot, his hair and robes swishing around him.

"Yeah. Uh, this is Shrike."

"Hello," Shrike says politely. He might be trying not to laugh a little.

"Oh, hi. Crap, I need a name, don't I? Umm. Well. Lemmie think."

"Let's go back to my place while you think," Shrike says. "Trish should be logging in soon and I said I'd meet her there."

~~~
That'll do me for today. I'm starving, and this is probably a good place to end. Thanks for playing, as always.

Can't run this Monday; have to organise stuff. Don't know abut next Saturday because my players haven't gotten back to me.

This is why I like you guys; I tell you when I'm going to run and you pop up, like mushrooms after rain, and I don't have to chase you down. I'll run next Sat at the earliest, next Mon at the latest EST.

I'll be around for a little while if you've got stuff to ask etc.

>>30724574
Quest for Arcadia is actually an AI trying to learn how to be human, isn't it?

>>30724574
thx budi

>>30724623
An ambitious theory.

>>30724574
Always a pleasure.

The "concrete" pun earlier was delightfully horrible.

I wanted to ask how much platforming, like going after the second slave, is actually going to count in this game?

>>30724574
Thank you for running! I really appreciate that you did today, the quest is really fun.

So is Pocky a common thing is Australia? I can only find it in my Chinatown and a small part of grocery stores.

>>30724724
You can get it at most Japanese/Chinese/Korean groceries here. You have to go out of your way to get it a bit, but it's not that hard to find in the city at least.

>>30724687
A good question and it will depend on how the story goes. I'd say it'll probably be relevant at some point. If you go to the Underground it obviously will be depending on what rank Ascend is at.

>>30724767
So then the Skywalk boots I pitched above might be a good idea? Or getting some gloves that give Spiderclimb or something?

>>30724789
Yeah, it's not going to be useless. And if you have the gear, I'm more likely to pitch scenarios that use it; I don't want you guys to spend points on things you wouldn't use.

>>30724824
I like you. Adaptable.

Also, can we replace the robe with something that might be easier to move around in?

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>>30724856
Adapting's half the fun of GMing, and half the pain.

You're not actually wearing a robe, you're wearing something ill-described but cute and sleeveless. The starting clothes' appearance is randomly generated so players don't all look alike.

>>30724789
We agreed before that we're tricking out our boots. Super speed, double jump, feather falling, wall running; the works. I want like 10 Pieces in these things.

>>30724922
>but I find these discussions really interesting.
In what way? Are we like a Petri dish for your IRL group? You did liken us to mushrooms...

>>30724922
Ah, all right. And does armor cover that, or is there an in-game option to make armor invisible/transparent, allowing us to show off cosmetic/"RP" clothes?

>>30724944
As long as we reap the benefits of the GMing, what's the problem if we are?

As for maxing out the boots, I don't know if I want to go hog-wild on them -yet-. I mean, if we can upgrade the base material of them to provide different abilities, like with our weapons, we don't want to sink all our Pieces into our starting gear.

Besides, I think focusing entirely on one item is a bad idea. We should equally level up our entire outfit. I mean, you never see a wizard running around with just a single super-powered item. I mean, this is like the real world. Fucker could jack us for our kicks, yo.

Side-questions:

1) Is there a post-use market for items enchanted with pieces, and

2) In the case of the above (base material upgrade), are enchantments transferable?

>>30724944
Nah, I run something completely different for my rl group. I just like seeing how people think and apply themselves to a scenario I've created. And the fact that people care enough to argue about it is heartening, of course, as long as it doesn't come to blows.

>>30724958
Armour will cover it, but if you make armour from materials etc, rather than just buying it in the markets it will probably look equally good.

>>30725012
Nope. Once something's got a Piece in it it's basically soulbound and non-transferrable.

>>30725060
So if we sink pieces into our boots, and find something later with a higher base defense/base speed/whatever, and we decide to use them instead, we've more or less wasted our pieces? Or does the upgrade system in QfA work like that?

>>30725060
These glasses. How cyber-punk are they? Is there a Google Glass mode where 'pins'/title cards are superimposed on landmarks and bus stops as you see them?

If someone wants, can they display a profile of themselves that you'd see hovering over their heads?

Does anybody use shoddily repaired glasses with a jury-rigged battery pack strapped to their backs? Something like that, at least.

>>30725012
Sure of course, spread the love on all our gear. I really want bombing boots as our defining item, though, instead of the flying earth that Lily has.

>>30725090
I don't think it would be that big a deal. Lily put pieces into her robe for protection instead of getting a metal breastplate, so that makes me think the base material doesn't matter very much for players.

>>30725090
>>30725110
That's a succinct way of putting it. Stuff you find in the wild is meat gear, basically. The exception are materials like the Tears of the Lady, but they can be made into a number of things so if you've already upgraded your boots you could make them into gloves (just a random example.)

>>30725093
Probably everything but the latter; phones and such are still a thing; glasses are far from ubiquitous.

>>30725194
So no cyber-implants then? Your brain isn't co-opted as extra hard drive space?

I love cyber-punk, no matter how mild or full blown it is.

>>30725285
No, not this time. I think having something like QfA sitting in your brain would probably be a very bad thing.

>>30725345
Well, goodnight for me Arcadian. Hope you can run again soon! I'm not being polite saying this is my favourite quest right now.

>>30725417
I'm still stunned when people say things like that. I'll see you next time, and thank you.

>>30725488
Australia must suck. Come live in Canada.