Chapter 4: Bad Teammate?
It had already been a week since the new server opened. Although currently it was facing an all time high of activity. Since the professional competition had just ended, an influx of invigorated players joined. Organizations--Fractured World's version of Guilds--were trying to recruit players.
Fractured World was a first person game, which made it difficult for many to get a bearing of their surroundings. However Nimin was a professional player with vast experience, it only took a few glances about before he had an idea on where to go. Slipping off into some low traffic alleyway he adjusted his skills to better fit his playstyle.
As players leveled they were granted access to Skill slots. These Skill slots could be used to slot in various skills, depending on how powerful they were. The stronger and higher leveled a skill was, the more slots it would use. These skills were easily switched about, they just required you to be in a safe zone to do so. Since Critical Shot was only level 50, Nimin didn't have too many slots to work with.
Clicking his tongue he noticed he couldn't test his theories with Quick Swap just yet, so he opted for a more streamlined build. Selecting a powerful assault rifle, for a level 50 at least, as his main weapon he then paused.
"Ah, what's a good leveling place for a level 50 again?"
Thinking for a moment he sighed and swiped open a browser. Rapid typing ensued as he cross referenced a few guides, "I remember their locations at least. If I had to look up a video on how to get there. . . I don't think I could call myself a pro."
Moving out of the safe zone he summoned his mount. To call them mounts was slightly improper, for actual mounts were among the rarer of choices. They were more like vehicles. Due to Fractured World's immense map size, these mounts were a must have to traverse quickly. Their speeds and stats depended on rarity and type. For instance, Nimin's current mount was a high tech motorcycle. Tossing out a cylinder caused it to rapidly expand into a street motorcycle. Neon lighting spread out in a pattern and caused it to look kind of cool. . .
"Ohh I forgot how edgy this game can be sometimes. This bike was quite fast if I remember right, a First Season legendary drop?"
He returned to the browser to look up the information. . .
"Oh yeah! It's the sixth fastest now! Used to be the fastest, I remember this had the highest trading value for a long time. Let's see. . . third greatest turn rate! For its speed? Not bad, not bad. Braking power is mediocre, that's a go-figure. Health is actually quite low, but it is a bike. Hm!"
Jumping onto the motorcycle Nimin sped across the map. Passing various players who were exploring and fighting the wild enemies. Enemies could vary from wild beasts, AI people, or beasts. Occasionally elite enemies would spawn and pose a challenge, but the Organizations were quick to handle those.
His current objective was to tackle a dungeon. The experience gain there wouldn't be small, and was the most effective method to level. Although teaming up with random players was risky, he truly lacked better options. No matter how skilled he was, Nimin was not confident in soloing the dungeons. Killing random mobs in the wild was very poor for efficiency and would be a last resort.
Speeding past other players he zoomed across one of the highways on the map. His bike whirred as it gathered more speed. His thoughts drifted for a moment. Did he remember how to play a Gunner? A Gunner's purpose was to deal consistent damage at a range, lacking in Skills but having the highest range. Due to its lack of skills it was common for Gunner builds to carry up to three weapons on them to swap about for the other skills. Since swapping weapons only took an animation this was somewhat viable.
Nimin's eye twitched, "That only made Quick Swap more useless back then too!"
Rapidly tapping the keys he performed a series of actions thoughtlessly. His character swerved the bike and slid to a stop, Critical Shot leaping off as it stopped. As he fell to the ground the bike returned to the cylinder and flew to Critical Shot.
The unnecessary series of actions garnered attention from the players gathering around the dungeon. Nimin hadn't intended this, he used a motorcycle on his previous account so this method of quickly dismounting was second nature to him. Thus while he was deep in his thoughts he performed this difficult technical movement absentmindedly.
This did have its perks however! As he walked a group approached him, "That was sick! You a veteran?"
Nimin opened his mouth and then paused. Eyeing the mic on his headset he decided instead to type out a response.
Critical Shot: Not quite.
He couldn't risk revealing that he was Nimin, not this early!
The player laughed, "I can't believe you! Anyway I won't press further, you trying to level?"
Critical Shot: Yeah, guide mentioned this was the best spot?
"Good guide! The level 50 haven. What class are you? We're lacking one more for a few runs."
Some classes were obvious at a glance, for instance the Phaseblade was a particularly edgy class that held two blades on their hip. Gunners would usually have their weapons somewhere on their body, but Nimin had unequipped his weapon while adjusting his Skills.
Critical Shot: Gunner.
"Fitting of your name! That class works, we're planning on doing three or so runs, want in?"
Critical Shot: If you don't mind. I'm not too experienced.
"Haha, no problem! We just need the number. You know the basics of dungeons?"
Critical Shot: I know that much, anything I lack I can look up.
"That works! Join the party we're diving in."
< Strange Smile invited you to a party! >
Clicking the accept button Nimin felt pleased that he didn't need to spend too long finding a party. Perhaps being flashy had its benefits!
Following the group into the dungeon Nimin quickly refreshed his memory on its contents. The name of this dungeon was Stage Fright. Compared to usual dungeons which had you progress, this dungeon was more of a hold your ground type. The player's goal was to defend the stage from the swarms of mannequins charging it. Since the players didn't need to move much, it was considered the leveling haven of the 50s.
A cutscene played introducing the dungeon, but was rapidly skipped via a vote. Nimin's screen faded and he found the rest of his party standing on the stage. Immediately Strange Smile gave orders, "Simon you're in charge of tanking the blows from the Elites. Hold them off until we clear enough of the grunts to assist."
Simon, a player who stepped forward as soon as his name was called, responded confidently, "I can hold them off no problem!"
Nimin eyed the character, "Manifest tank, pretty standard. Medic for healing, Techmancer to control the field. . ."
A basic team composition, but one thing made Nimin curious. His fingers rapidly typed up a sentence in an astonishing speed.
Critical Shot: Smile, what class are you?
"Delusionist."
"Ah so it was DPS they were lacking. Techmancer can't sustain constant damage."
These classes had their own uniqueness about them. Manifest was a special close ranged class that specialized in materializing various body parts through elements. These parts could be of an animal or a human. Since they were close ranged classes, their HP scaled higher than other classes. Thus it was a popular choice to tank.
Medic was a self explanatory class. Their job was healing and removing status effects. Although strangely enough they lacked range of a typical Priest in standard RPGs. Most of the healing required the Medic to be within arms reach. Thus it was common to build them with speed to move throughout a chaotic battlefield. In exchange for this downfall, it provided the highest healing in the game.
Techmancer was a mimicry of standard spellcasters in RPGs. Instead of using mana, they used high tech staffs to release elemental damage. These classes deal massive damage, but have long cooldowns. Add their low movement speed and health, the class was clearly meant to be a glass cannon. Making it a good choice for bosses.
Finally Delusionist. A melee class that oddly didn't deal too much damage with its attacks. Rather it specialized in status effects. Applying debuffs or DoTs to the enemy they attack. A very huge help in team battles against a boss, for a good Delusionist can increase the team's overall damage output by 30% or higher.
Spotlights lit up the center stage, signaling the start of the dungeon. The sound of wooden clacking could be heard from a distance as several mannequins began to run through the doors. The first wave! A few simple mannequins that would fall quickly after receiving a few hits.
Simon's character, one covered in various tattoos, performed a shoulder rolling animation. The tattoos began to release a purple glow and two massive arms appeared behind them. Made of purple electricity they crackled viciously. Strange Smile pulled out two daggers and stepped back, "Leave the first wave to Simon. Lemon do you have your vials set up?"
The Techmancer waved their staff, "Fire based like you asked."
"Good, target the big one next wave. The first three waves are easy to deal with once the fourth starts things will get rough. Remember, leave the big guy to Simon, our job is to handle the small fry first."
Bang-!
Strange Smile flinched at his keyboard, "Shot? Did you fire?"
Critical Shot: I mean I can just hit them here can't I?
"Just leave them to Simon! You can shoot at the fourth wave, conserve your ammo!"
Nimin paused for a second. Pressing the inputs to reload his weapon he rapidly typed up a response.
Critical Shot: Alright.
Strange Smile sighed happily. It was fine if Critical Shot was a bad player, as long as he could follow orders Smile would be happy.
(Author Note: DoT stands for Damage over Time.)
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