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A Tale in the Desert IV
A Tale in the Desert (ATITD) is a multiplayer persistent online world set in ancient Egypt. The game focuses on crafting, production, exploration, and social activity. Cooperation with other players is vital to overcoming many of the game's challenges, both on an individual and a group level.
Other aspects of the game rely on competition between players (but always of a non-violent sort). Cartouche, for one example, is our equivalent of Survivor, with alternate building and voting (you're gone) rounds. It can be brutal. Don't assume for a second that the lack of Thud and Blunder means that miscreants are untouchable. We have become rather adept at using inclusion/isolation to encourage/thwart behaviors.
Unlike most multiplayer online games, ATITD has a built-in goal, as well as a definite beginning and end. The people of Egypt are challenged to pass 49 tests and then, as a nation, build seven Great Monuments. The game ends after a certain amount of time has passed, whether or not Egypt has succeeded in its goal. Win or lose, after the end of the game the world is wiped and the game starts over from scratch.
Tests are designed to be difficult. Some are extremely difficult. Many, by their nature, cannot be passed by more than a handful of people altogether. For example, in the Test of the Demi-Pharaoh, you must win an election to pass. As only a certain number of Demi-Pharaoh elections are held during the course of the Telling, only a few people in Egypt will ever pass this test.
Currently, ATITD is in its third game (Tale 3, or the "Third Telling"), which began on May 27, 2006 and is still ongoing.
° The first full game, Tale 1, lasted from February 2003 until early September 2004, and ended in a win for Egypt.
° The second full game, Tale 2, lasted from September 2004 until end of May 2006, Egypt achieved a partial victory, completing Monuments to 4 of the 7 Disciplines.
In the story of the game, the events of the First and Second Telling are those of earlier generations, and the Egyptians of the present game are the grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of the Egyptians of Tales 1 & 2.
Other aspects of the game rely on competition between players (but always of a non-violent sort). Cartouche, for one example, is our equivalent of Survivor, with alternate building and voting (you're gone) rounds. It can be brutal. Don't assume for a second that the lack of Thud and Blunder means that miscreants are untouchable. We have become rather adept at using inclusion/isolation to encourage/thwart behaviors.
Unlike most multiplayer online games, ATITD has a built-in goal, as well as a definite beginning and end. The people of Egypt are challenged to pass 49 tests and then, as a nation, build seven Great Monuments. The game ends after a certain amount of time has passed, whether or not Egypt has succeeded in its goal. Win or lose, after the end of the game the world is wiped and the game starts over from scratch.
Tests are designed to be difficult. Some are extremely difficult. Many, by their nature, cannot be passed by more than a handful of people altogether. For example, in the Test of the Demi-Pharaoh, you must win an election to pass. As only a certain number of Demi-Pharaoh elections are held during the course of the Telling, only a few people in Egypt will ever pass this test.
Currently, ATITD is in its third game (Tale 3, or the "Third Telling"), which began on May 27, 2006 and is still ongoing.
° The first full game, Tale 1, lasted from February 2003 until early September 2004, and ended in a win for Egypt.
° The second full game, Tale 2, lasted from September 2004 until end of May 2006, Egypt achieved a partial victory, completing Monuments to 4 of the 7 Disciplines.
In the story of the game, the events of the First and Second Telling are those of earlier generations, and the Egyptians of the present game are the grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of the Egyptians of Tales 1 & 2.
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