Most MMORPGs have little or no meaningful role-playing because there is no game mechanical reward for good role-playing. Characters in those games become more powerful by killing monsters and completing pre-programmed quests, not by interacting with each other. Because of that, most players do not feel the need to role-play; after all, whether or not they role-play has no tangible effect on their character and its progress. In order to provide game mechanical support for a true role-playing environment, Lyra Studios introduces a revolutionary RPG concept called Personality Points.

In Reclamation, personality points are rewards which are granted anonymously to players by other players for exceptional role-playing, or just for doing something cool in the game. They're not gained by killing monsters or retrieving treasure. These points can then be used to make the character more powerful, sometimes in ways not otherwise possible by simple level advancement and item acquisition! This provides a strong game mechanical incentive for players to role-play and to do creative and fun things in the game.

Each character is given an allotment of personality points each day that they cannot use for themselves but instead may grant to other players for exceptional play. The number of points in this allotment is determined by various aspects, such as the character's rank in a guild, whether the character is a teacher or has another special function in the game. Personality points are granted as an explicit action by the giver. Whenever personality points are granted, a short explanation must be provided by the player, stating what was done to deserve them. Limitations on how frequently one may grant points to another specific character, spot enforcement and investigation, and penalties for abuse of the personality point system (like removing the ability to grant these points) will all limit potential abuses.

Examples of situations where personality points may be granted legitimately include for storytelling, for exposition on one's personal beliefs or history, or for organization of or involvement in a role-play activity such as a teaching session, quest, artistic performance, duels, or some group action against other players or monsters. Of course, any action which just makes the game fun and cool for other players is eligible to be rewarded through personality points. The game mechanical advantage to acquiring personality points is that they may be used to selectively break the rules of the game! Different actions have different personality point costs, and once spent, personality points may only be regained by grants from other characters for exceptional role-play.

The concept of community role-playing is at the heart of MMORPGs. But to date, most MMORPGs have concentrated the vast majority of game systems on "click on the monster until it dies" combat. Non-combat options are barely existent and poorly supported. The players of these games have continually cried out for more and more support of role-playing so as to foster the community dynamic and Lyra Studios has heard them. In Reclamation, Lyra Studios will not only facilitate the traditional non-combat skills allowing players to facilitate a robust economy, but with the advent of Personality Points, role-playing will be supported and fostered so as to add to the important community dynamic. This system is out of character (OOC), which provides for the reward of both your friends and enemies - where would the hero be without an enemy! Role-players will not only have a creative environment in which to role-play, but these players who add to the community dynamic, will be able to advance because of the game mechanics in place.

Furthermore, the powerful advantages provided by the personality point system not only strongly encourage active role-playing, but also provide a unique mechanism for infinite character customization in ways that are not possible even within Reclamation's own flexible advancement system. It also provides the game with an aura of mystery and the unknown, even to those players who understand the mechanics inside out; anything can happen when personality points are thrown into the equation! Lastly, it provides a mechanism for exceptional role-players to become quite powerful in the game without needing to fight or advance in experience levels, as just about any aspect of character advancement can be emulated with sufficient personality points.

Note, all numbers are subject to change.

Granting

Personality Points (PPs) are gained only when granted by other players for excellent roleplaying. Each Dreamer has a PP "pool" that refreshes daily. Everybody gets 2 PPs per day to grant to others; teachers get 3 per day. There will be a PP Grant icon on the user interface.

Two mechanisms are in place to prevent abuse.

Spending

Below are some of the features you can spend PPs on.

	Buy a permanent element point.·
	Bypass the Train/Plat requirement to learn a new Art or plateau an existing Art.
	Evoke an unlearned Art once at a chosen skill level.
	Gain experience (XP).
	Gain a Focus

Important Notes

	The PP system is a purely out-of-character (OOC) mechanism.
	PP grants are anonymous.
	PP Use is not outwardly distinguishable.

Note, in the following example the out of character (OOC) Personality Point mechanism is presented in italics.

"And so the brave and clever Despasian used his wits to defeat his powerful enemy!"  Leena the Bard concluded her tale of the duel between Despasian and Herrak the Mighty. She bowed as her audience burst into cheers and applause.  Most dreamers relished the story of the underdog winning, the more so as many of them had also been victims of Herrak's bullying.

Many members of the audience were impressed enough with the story and Leena's flare for dramatic retelling that 15 of them granted her Personality Points.

A quiet form at the back of the crowd did not join in the applause, but slipped out unnoticed.  Once on the other side of the portal, Uriah located his patron Herrak and trotted off to tell him about Leena's performance. "…and she had them all laughing and applauding at your defeat, sir," Uriah concluded.  He stepped back hastily as Herrak glowered and clenched his fists. 

"So the Bard mare thinks she can get away with mocking me, does she?"  Herrak raged, "We'll have to see about showing Miss Smart-mouth what it means to slander Herrak the Mighty!"

A dream or two later, Leena was strolling through one of her favorite planes when she entered a room and stopped abruptly. At her entrance, Herrak completed an evoke of Bind and locked the portal at the other end of the room.  He turned with a menacing grin and drew his heavy Gatesmasher, advancing toward the smaller dreamer.

Leena glanced over her shoulder and saw that the portal behind her was also Bound, denying her exit the way she'd come in.  She narrowed her eyes, watching the bully's approach.  She knew that Herrak was a powerful follower of the Way of the Gatekeeper and had many excellent protective arts.  Gambling that he had not bothered with Vision, she raised her hands and began a quick evoke.

Calling on the resources of the Personality Points her bardic prowess had won for her, Leena quickly evoked Blind, an art normally reserved for high Lucidity Fatesenders.

Caught unawares, Herrak shook his head and his stride broke momentarily.  Then he continued his advance, hoping that the weaker dreamer was still standing where he had last seen her. "Think you can use weak arts to defeat me, phant?  I'll show you a thing or two!"

Swiftly and silently, Leena ran across the room to the further portal.  Her quick wits told her that the sound of an evoke of Shatter would alert Herrak to her location.  Besides, she was tired of his bullying.

Determined to teach the bully a sharp lesson, Leena decided to throw more of her Personality Points into an Art not usually available to her. 

She clenched her teeth, raised her hands again and a powerful Razorwind ripped through the room. Herrak screamed and staggered, brought to near dissolution by the fierce wind.  Leena grasped her best chakram and fired several blasts at the already wounded Gatekeeper. 

The shots which normally he would barely have noticed were too much for the bedeviled Herrak.  His avatar shredded into a soulsphere.

Laughing quietly, Leena squandered a few more Personality Points to escape the barrage of foul language emanating from the helpless soulsphere.

In a final gesture, Leena evoked a Gatekeeper art and shattered Herrak's binding, escaping from the room and his infuriated presence.