One of the key features we wanted to implement into CRUSADE is empowering the players to build the knowledge base of the world, and to gain credit for it. We also wanted a system of up to date news and information where the players could easily look up the latest details of the evolving world they play in.Â
Thus the Library was born; a built-in game system that players can access from anywhere in the game with the click of a button to look up news, information on locations, creatures, quests, and items. Â
Players can gather information on the world around them by purchasing Crystals specific to the type of information to be gathered, with each Crystal available in numerous levels of power. Lower level crystals can only capture basic information on lower level targets, while higher level crystals obtain more information on higher level targets.Â
For example, a player can purchase a level 1 Entity Crystal, run out and use it on a Goblin. That crystal may record the location, name, type, and some basic information on the creature. Each crystal can hold multiple sets of information (or charges). The player runs back and submits the crystal to a local “library keeper†and gets credit for the information based on whether or not other players have reported the same thing, or if it’s the first time. Credit may come in the form of gold, items, or both. Â
A much more experienced player may purchase a level 5 Entity Crystal and use it on a goblin in the same area. Once turned in, all of the information for that creature is available in the library – statistics, allegiances, abilities, etc.; and the player gets the credit of submitting the first set of Level 5 details.Â
The ability to obtain and submit information is based on a skill and study category specifically built for explorers called Reconnaissance. Players can participate in the gathering of information throughout the world by utilizing these skills and studies, and those who are more adept at Reconnaissance will be able to gather information on tougher targets and more powerful items.Â
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Reconnaissance studies directly affect what level crystals you can use, and since studies are learned in real-time at a set rate, we can control the rate at which each world “grows†its library. While players can begin entering basic data from day one, the goal is to have each world take a number of years before players are able to register all of the data (at the maximum level); and that doesn’t count the expansion of content. We want players to be able to get the information they need about their world without being forced to go to 3rd party websites. The reason for it to take years to gather all information from the highest level crystal is the information will be far more detailed than any 3rd party website could possibly gather.Â
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The interface of the library is fairly simple – the player clicks a button their UI to bring up the main Library window. On this main window is the latest news – information about the most powerful families, guilds, crusades, and important battles worn – a “newspaper†if you will – that players can check regularly to keep up on events with. From this main window, players can browse stories and news, look up information on deities, or enter the Library Repository and begin their search for creatures, places, items, and quests. If information exists, they’ll receive details on where and when the data was gathered, and what the data shows. News can also be viewed from the official Crusade website, so you keep up with world events even if you can’t manage to log on every day.Â
Overall, the Library is one of my favorite features of CRUSADE; presenting up to date news on the achievements and status of the world to the player, and empowering the players to actively participate in the building of knowledge of a particular world that is available for all to use, and most importantly, to gain credit for being the first to see a specific creature, find an item, or a location that nobody else has before; or to gather more detailed information than was available before.Â
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