The only NPCs (Non-player Characters) in Reclamation will be some of the nightmares. While it may seem unusual to not have them standing readily available at most every turn, removing them from the environment serves to further roleplaying and interaction between players. Players can have the ability to give and receive quests.
A focus is a template that follows certain characteristics. These determine certain features about the character, such as additional art levels, experience and item modifiers, among other things. Each focus will have both positive and negative characteristics.
The current announced
foci include:
Advocate
DreamSeer
DreamSmith
FateSender
GateKeeper
Kabalist
Scholar
SoulMaster
Player characters cannot be multi-focused. You can, however, abandon one focus for another.
No. You can get quite far along without choosing a focus. There are positive and negative effects from this, and you will not be able to grow as strong as you might have been able to if you never choose a focus.
There is no ‘winning’ in the usual sense in Reclamation. Because you choose what to do and what not to do, your choices determine what will happen to your character. There is no ultimate goal other than what you set forth for your character to achieve in the game, be it becoming a Teacher, the leader of a powerful House, or the greatest (or worst) ‘bad guy’ in memory.
Fighting in Reclamation is real-time first person. Lyra's proprietary networking system provides ultra fast, low latency game play and supports real-time combat and interactions among users.
Each Dreamer in the City comes from his or her own tiny portion of the world of Cloudsbreak. These worlds within worlds are called shards. More on understanding Cloudsbreak and how to know what is appropriate in defining your character's shard can be found in the
Roleplaying Guide. Though there are some guidelines in determining where your character is from, there is still plenty of room for creativity, even to the point of developing a culture, religion, or language unique to your character and his or her shard.
Being a member of a House in Reclamation can be compared to being a member of a Guild in other games, but this experience is unique. It is a group a character can join because of like beliefs. Each House is different, with unique beliefs, attributes, and distinguishing characteristics.
Characters in Houses have opportunities and abilities that are not available outside of House life. Houses provide safety in fights, other characters to back yours, and characters who have similar likes and interests to yours. Distinct arts are granted only to House members, including arts available only to characters within a specific House. House members have access to areas that non-members cannot enter, including storage space and impressive rooms outsiders cannot view.
Members of Houses are visibly marked, with visible differences among ranks. Each House has its own specific set of beliefs, which not only make each one different, but also make it far more likely for every player to find a place that fits their character.
It will be possible to form a group and take over a House out from under its current owners.
It is perfectly acceptable for two or more Houses to go to war over a difference in beliefs or territory, but the gain can be determined by more than just who won the most battles. On-going wars will take their toll on each and every side.
Teachers/Mentors are characters, usually controlled by normal players, that have the ability to raise another players arts or orbits. Teachers/Mentors require something from their students first, usually in the form of tasks. Each task your character does was made by another player specifically for your character. This helps give questing in Reclamation more personalized feeling.
A Mentor is defined as having the art Minor Plateau. As everyone starts Reclamation with the art, everyone is a Mentor. Mentors are able to plateau another Dreamers' arts up to level 19. Mentors cannot plateau over that or obtain the art Train without passing the Ordainment Ritual, which would make them a Teacher.
Teachers possess, in addition to Minor Plateau, the arts of Middle, Greater, and Master Plateau, as well as Train. These are granted upon completion of the Ordainment Ritual. They are able to train past the plateau of 19, so long as their own art levels allow it. Teachers are also able to train in new arts.
Arts and plateaus are valuable attractions to Dreamers, and thus a Teacher or Mentor writes a task that they feel is equivalent to the art or plateau's worth. Tasks may be able virtually anything that the Teacher or Mentor feels is worthy. Tasks can be a great way to promote and facilitate roleplaying in the Reclamation Environment.
Much like the nightmares in our own dreams, the City of Dreams is prowled by creatures of all shapes and sizes. Nightmares come in many forms. From those so stupid they wander aimlessly in search of prey, even attacking other nightmares, to those who those who communicate with both each other and Dreamers. They are foul, misshapen creatures who speak an unpleasant, guttural language. The question remains, are they friend, or are they foe?
Pacifism is itself a gateway to interesting roleplaying. It is definitely possible for characters to rise, gain power, prestige, and even experience without ever lifting a weapon or using a violent art. From personality points to experience given for exceptional roleplaying, peaceful characters are capable of as much as non-peaceful ones.
