When playing a roleplaying game, it's fun to start the game and just mess
around for awhile. But eventually, you will find that reading the instructions
is an enormous help. You can play without knowing this stuff, so don't worry.
Roleplaying games are about exploring everywhere, doing everything and
talking to everyone. Explore every area and talk to every character multiple
times or you might miss out on secrets, like items, plot points, or hints on how
to solve puzzles or get to the next area. To talk to characters, write a
message. You will also write messages to initiate actions, to search the ground,
to select menu items, to open things, to activate items, or to progress through
a mini game.
Basics of Exploration
To make things easier on you, the player, this game allows you to type in shortcuts for your actions instead of typing out long sentences. In the case of repetitive actions, this can be extremely helpful.
Note: The prefix # Should come before any keyboard shortcut so that the game master does not get confused.
A list of keyboard shortcuts can be found at https://www.angelfire.com/mo2/Pudgy/Shortcuts.html
There are two different ways to acquire items in this game. You will find
certain items by looking around, exploring and talking to people, and you may
also create items at key locations like metal shops and kitchens. Certain items
progress the plot, others serve varied purposes during gameplay. Characters can
only carry a certain amount of items in their inventory. The rest must be put in
a bag or storage container, or traded to a different character. Items are
sometimes found in battle instead of money, but they can be sold for an increase
of wealth.
Shops in Gardenia offer several different options. You can buy, sell, trade, or haggle with the clerk, as well as many other options depending on the storyline.
There are two ways you can improve your character in this game. You can learn by fighting, and you can learn by studying. You can only learn battle skills in combat. You can only learn skills like cooking and such by studying and practice.
The hobbies and skills you listed in the signup sheet influence what your areas of expertise are. Favorites begin at a higher level than other subjects. Your skills can be brought up with Learning Points. Learning points can be attained by visiting special areas, talking to special characters,
attending classes or studying your enemy in battle. Disciplines can be combined to produce special skills.
Certain skills are battle related and can only be improved by Chart Points,
which are acquired by reaching a certain number of combat experience points
(EXP). While the original skill may have been aquired by learning, the point
category can only be changed with Chart Points from battle.
Whenever you use a Whammy (Magic power, special attack move, etc.), it requires energy. Each character has a limited amount of energy they can use. This energy can be refilled by the combined effects of resting, eating, sleeping and recreation.
Most characters (like humans) are omnivores. But not every character can eat every food or use every item. Some items will
heal them, but others will cause damage. For the most part, you don't need to worry about this. But if you are an animal character, and you decide to eat hamburger, it will become a problem.
In order to summon powerful allies in this game, you need a cell phone. You
can call on a cell phone at any time, but it may not always work in every
situation or area.
In towns, you can rest at hotels and houses, but while traveling, you may not
always be near a place to rest. During these times, you will need to camp.
Camping requires either a tent or a vehicle and a supply package. These items
can be found, earned, or purchased or traded for in towns.
After periods of strenuous activity, some energy can be restored by simply
stopping and letting characters rest. This is not the same as letting them sleep
in a bed, so resting restores only a few points at a time.
Characters can't perform effectively if they don't eat on a regular basis.
Eating provides a fair amount of energy.
Each character can function for about 18 hours without sleep before fatigue
sets in and their energy level is cut in half. Characters are typically day or
night `people,' waking at various times during the day or evening. Changing
sleep patterns involves keeping the character awake during the desired time
frame and allowing energy levels to temporarily drop.
As energy levels increase, characters require recreation to fully top out
their energy levels. Try video games, dancing, watching TV and other things a
character is interested in.
If you fall in love with another character, things are slightly different than what you expect. Prepare yourself for hot, steamy, passionate Stork Summoning. For more details, read "Stork Summoning For Dummies."
