Remnant: The Game
Chapter 1 - Birth of a Gamer
Routines have a powerful effect. They creep up on you, unannounced. In the blink of an eye, months can pass whilst the motions of the day become ingrained in your muscle memory. Suddenly, anything not in your routine is out of place, jarring.
So a status window appearing in front of Weiss Schnee, a week after her 12th birthday, upon waking up was decidedly not routine and resulted in some confusion.
Welcome to Remnant: The Game! As the Gamer, you are the main character of your own story. Explore Remnant at your leisure, meeting new people, discovering new places and possibly unearthing long-lost truths about the nature of Remnant. Good luck, and have fun!
Weiss blinked.
"What? Am I dreaming? Hallucinating? The Gamer?"
Weiss was aware of the concept of video games, but was far removed from the matter as they were expressly forbidden in her house since her father had stated that they caused the mind to rot.
Pinching herself did not remove the aberrant window, nor did turning her head as the window followed her point of view.
"It's clearly visible, but yet not physically present. Objects phase through it, undisturbed. It must be a kind of projection… but from where? Either I am going insane, or… could it be my semblance? My aura was awakened a week ago, though, so it would be very early and additionally all members of the Schnee family have a glyph semblance. Assuming it is true, am I some sort of… video game character?"
Weiss distantly noted that the situation was not distressing her as much as it should have, but dismissed the thought to focus on the problem at hand.
"How can I get rid of it then? Voice activated?"
"Close! Exit! Dismiss!"
Stubbornly, the window sat there, taunting Weiss with its presence.
"So it doesn't want to exit... Do I continu- oh."
Would you like to enter the tutorial? (New players are recommended to do so.)
"So it's thought activated, at the very least… I still don't know if voice commands work, however."
"Yes."
Welcome to the Tutorial! Please select a faction.
[Mankind][Grimm]
*Mankind has been automatically selected*
"Wait. Why was Grimm an option? Continue."
Let's begin with commands. There are two types of commands in this game: soft and hard commands. Soft commands may be activated by thought or speech whilst hard commands may be activated only by speech. An example of the former is commands for navigating the menu, whilst an example of the latter is to activate skills. To continue, think or say 'Next'.
"Next."
Congrats! Soft commands are generally limited to monosyllabic words, such as 'Yes', 'No' or 'Next'. These commands are nonetheless extensive, with many things falling under their purview.
"Next."
Hard commands, as stated before, can only be activated by speech. No one will notice in public if you use them in earshot of others, save those you have informed about this ability. Now, let's open the Main Menu.
From the description, Weiss noted that it appeared as though only a limited number of people could be told about her semblance. She filed it away for future reference.
"Menu."
The Main Menu lists the system features that are currently accessible to you. Take a good look, as this will become very familiar to you.
Status
Skills
Inventory
Quests
Let's start with the Status screen.
"I wonder if this tutorial is rigid. Can I force it to go elsewhere? Inventory."
Don't get cheeky on us, now. Experimenting with the system is certainly encouraged, but for now, let's complete the Tutorial first. Access the Status screen, please.
"So either it has backup routines for when a person deviates or it has limited self-awareness. The latter is more probable, though. Status."
Weiss Schnee
Level: 1
Title: The Gamer
HP: 100/100
HPR: 1/min
AP: 150/150
APR: 1.25/min
STR: 5 (7)
AGI: 8 (11)
VIT: 6 (8)
DEX: 7 (10)
INT: 9 (13)
WIS: 7 (10)
LUK: 6
Stat Points: 0
EXP: 0/50
Credits: 500 Lien
Condition: Refreshed
"Level 1? Am I the weakest person, then?"
This is your profile page. These numbers are critical to you, so learn this page well.
"Next."
The following are explanations of the various statistics displayed on this page.
Level: This is your current Level. Levels are an average of the power of an individual - the higher the level, the more powerful the character is. It is increased by earning Experience Points (EXP). Leveling up increases your base HP and AP and will additionally provide 3 points to allocate to your stats as you wish.
Title: This is your current Title. Each title has various effects associated with it and are unlocked by meeting certain criteria.
Hit Points (HP): Hit Points are representative of how much damage your body can receive before falling. Damage taken reduces your current HP. If the bar drops to zero, you lose consciousness, whilst if more than twice your total HP is taken in damage, death is possible. For example, if you took more than 160 HP of damage right now, death could occur. HP can be recovered by eating, sleeping or using items.
Hit Point Regeneration (HPR): This is how fast you passively recover HP.
Aura Points (AP): Aura Points are a measure of your Aura. They are consumed in place of HP if damage is taken and furthermore are used to cast spells. If Aura is exhausted, damage will begin to impact your HP bar instead. Like HP, AP can be refilled by using the same methods. Aura passively increases your other core stats, excluding LUK, given that there is AP left in the bar.
Aura Point Regeneration (APR): This is how fast you passively recover AP.
"It's logical, if nothing else."
Strength (STR): Strength determines how physically strong your body is. This corresponds to how hard a weapon can be swung or how much weight can be lifted. Your inventory is also governed by this stat.
Agility (AGI): Agility determines the speed at which your body can move. Speed and reflexes are attributable to this stat.
Vitality (VIT): Vitality measures how tough you are. HP, HPR and resistance to illness are affected by this value.
Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity measures how well you can coordinate your body. Skills such as hand-eye coordination or balance are directly affected by this stat.
Intelligence (INT): Intelligence determines how smart you are. The higher this stat is, the faster your learning rate and your maximum AP. Spellcasting is affected by Intelligence.
Wisdom (WIS): Wisdom is how well you utilise knowledge provided to you. This affects intuition and APR.
Luck (LUK): Luck is, well, luck. The higher this stat is, the more probable an outcome is in your favour.
The bolded amount for the core stats is the base value, whilst in brackets is the value after multipliers, such as Aura, have been applied.
Stat Points: This is the amount of points you currently have to allocate amongst your core stats.
Experience Points (EXP): This is representative of your progress between levels. Completing quests or training of skills increases this value.
Credits: This is the amount of money you currently hold. The default currency of Remnant is Lien.
Condition: This is your current state of being. It directly affects your current stats. Right now, since you have just woken up after a deep sleep, you have the condition 'Refreshed'. This increases all stats by 25%, except LUK, but only for one hour.
"I should try to make all long-term plans or strategies whilst under the effects of this boost, then, to maximise the gain from INT and WIS."
Your realisation upon the best method to use this buff increases WIS by 1.
As the effect took hold of her, Weiss felt her mind clear slightly. It was as though a bit of fog had been removed from her mind, demonstrating her increased capacity for decision making: the ideal choice was slightly more apparent to her. As decision making was directly tied to WIS, Weiss decided to try and maximise this stat in the short run, as any further decisions would be improved by her increased wisdom.
Your realisation that WIS is the best stat to increase early in the game increases WIS by 1.
Wisdom, Weiss reasoned, was able to be trained by mental exercise and that the improvements would then pay back themselves with interest down the road. It was equally likely that planning smartly and understanding life lessons would also increase WIS, since it was frequently said that those with the most experience of life were also the wisest - the elderly, for example.
Your understanding of the ideal methods to train WIS increases WIS by 1.
Weiss therefore realised that these rapid increases of WIS were likely due to the relatively low value it held. Increasing the skill at higher ranks would be correspondingly difficult, since she would be much wiser and hence having revelations such as these would be much rarer. It was akin to learning an instrument: moving from grade 0 to grade 1 proficiency was simple, but progressing from being a grade 9 to a grade 10 musician required months, even years, of study and practice. Hence, at that point, raising WIS would depend on repeatedly good decision making or usage of her points from increasing her level. Applying this to all her skills, it would therefore be ideal to level them through natural usage of the skills and then after hitting their plateau to then use the points to raise them further.
Your understanding of the ideal methods to allocate points increases WIS by 1.
"Alright, that's enough on that. Next."
Let's return to the Menu.
"Return."
Status
Skills
Inventory
Quests
Now that we've covered the Status page, let's try accessing the Skills page.
"Skills."
Skill List
Gamer's Mind - Level: MAX
Gamer's Body - Level: MAX
Observe - Level: 1
Aura - Level: 1
Aura Channeling - Level: 1
This is your skill list. It may look a bit barren right now, however as you keep playing the game this list will rapidly swell as you experience more things. Therefore, there are a few features to help with organisation. The layout may be shifted by using the Hard Command 'Grid' or 'List' which may then be arranged by Soft Commanding 'Alphabetical', for example. This page is fully customisable, so feel free to add as many categories or subheadings as you want.
Weiss swapped the layouts a few times, seeing which she preferred, before finally settling on List. Weiss, being a very organised person, then created categories such as 'Active', 'Passive', 'Interest', 'Useful' and 'Litter'. The first two skills she moved to the 'Litter' category, as whilst they were certainly useful, due to their max level there was nothing she could do to improve them and hence were irrelevant to her, beyond knowing their static effects.
Your wise decision to organise this window increases WIS by 1.
Frowning at the message, since to Weiss organisation was as natural as breathing, she continued the tutorial.
To see the full effects of a skill, Soft Command the name of it. Try using it on Gamer's Body.
"Gamer's Body."
Gamer's Body (Passive) - Level: MAX
The user is given a body that functions as if in a video game. Therefore, all HP, AP and Status effects are removed after sleep. Sleeping in a bed for more than 6 hours grants an improvement in Condition.
Well done. Check out the other skills you have, now.
"Gamer's Mind."
Gamer's Mind (Passive) - Level: Max
Allows the user to live life as a video game. As such, the user can calmly and logically think through any situation. Immunity to Psychological Effects.
"That explains why I was acting rationally when I first discovered this semblance that has turned me into a video game character… Why me though? Semblances are believed to be reflections of a person's soul - I have never had any experience with video games. I could somewhat understand if it manifested in someone who played video games 24/7, but I don't. So, the question remains - why me?"
Long-term Quest! "The Nature of Aura, Semblances and the Soul"
Description: Discover the nature of the soul, and how this affects one's semblance.
Rewards: 100,000 EXP, Title: Enlightened
Failure Penalty: None.
Do you wish to accept?
"That… is a lot of experience. I'm Level one, and need 100 EXP for Level 2. Extrapolating, that could well be enough for 30-35 levels. Right now however, the point is moot, seeing as Remnant's best scientists are no closer to an answer on this subject than they were five decades ago. I don't think I'll be able to complete it, but since there is no failure penalty, it doesn't hurt to try. I accept."
Quest logged. More features about Quest systems may be found in the Quest tab.
"I should go back to the skills section of the Tutorial. Observe."
Observe (Active/Passive) - Level: 1
Created through continued observation. This skill allows the user to gain information on any object or person. Active use increases the amount of information observed. A higher level corresponds to a greater set of information being revealed.
"Aura."
Aura (Active/Passive) - Level: 1
The manifestation of one's soul. In ages past, Man, born from dust, learned to wield the light of their being against the Grimm. Aura has allowed Man to reach past their limits and drive back the darkness.
Passively increases STR, AGI, VIT, DEX, INT and WIS by 15% + 0.25% per level.
Actively increases STR, AGI, VIT, DEX, INT and WIS by a further 15% + 0.25% per level.
Incoming damage when Aura is available is reduced by 90% and absorbed by your AP as opposed to your HP.
Cost [Static]: 20 AP/min.
Aura Channelling (Active) - Level: 1
The ability to channel Aura into mundane objects, strengthening them or activating Dust within them, where applicable.
Cost [Variable]: 50 AP/dm3
Tip: Skills can be acquired in a variety of ways. Performing Skill Actions, for example, is one way to obtain skills. These actions can be anything from mundane activities to specialised training. Here's a freebie: singing the lyrics to any song will unlock the "Singing" skill. You can also learn skills from Skill Books. These are books that contain the knowledge required to perform the skill. Activating the Skill Book will automatically teach you the skill, but in the process will consume the book.
Now, let's go back to the Main Menu.
"Menu."
Status
Skills
Inventory
Quests
You can choose to complete the Tutorial here, or stay and experiment further with the system.
"Learning about the system is probably a good idea. I should continue."
Your wise decision to stick with the Tutorial has increased WIS by 1.
"Inventory."
This is your Inventory. You don't have anything at the moment. As a reward for staying, here's a Skill Book.
Weiss blinked in surprise as a book materialised in her inventory.
The Inventory page is fully customisable, like the Skills page. The default categories are 'All', 'Usable', 'Weapons', 'Armour', 'Accessories' and 'Quest Items'.
"That seems appropriate for now. I'll just make a Trash category."
To take items out, simply select the item desired and pull it out. It will appear to materialise out of thin air in your hand. Try it with the book.
Weiss did as instructed, jumping slightly when a glowing book landed in her open hands out of nowhere. Curious, she Observed the book.
The Basics of Glyphcasting
Description: A magical tome upon the subject of glyphs and the summoning thereof. Teaches the skill 'Glyphcasting'.
Would you like to learn this skill?
"Yes."
The book disappeared in a flash of golden light as it flowed into Weiss' mind. The feeling of instantaneously learning a skill was… disconcerting. It was as though the process of learning was condensed into a single moment, akin to unblocking a barrier that Weiss was unaware of. The knowledge flowed through her, as she could see how the process was done and hence how to apply it.
Glyphcasting (Active) - Level 1
A physical representation of one's Aura. Glyphs can be used in a wide variety of ways, such as simple platforms or complex spellcasting.
Cost [Variable]: 100 AP/glyph.
"That's… convenient. I can use this at least to pretend my Semblance is Glyphcasting to avoid suspicion. Furthermore, there's this mention of Variable vs. Static cost. I'm assuming that Static means the cost will not change whilst Variable means the cost will change, perhaps as level increases.
On the left of the Inventory is the Equipment Screen. It is not necessary to access this screen to change equipment, but it is useful to quickly show what you are currently wearing."
Finally, let's look at Quests. Menu."
Status
Skills
Inventory
Quests
"Quests."
Quests are tasks you can choose to undertake. These can be literally anything, ranging from defeating monsters, attending an event or simply fetching an item for someone. The rewards are variable, but often worthwhile whilst failure can have disastrous consequences. Be sure that when you accept a Quest you are capable of completing it.
There are three categories for Quests: Available, In Progress and Complete. To select a Quest to view its information, simply Soft Command the name of it.
Quests may be completed by marking them as finished in the information section of the quest when it has been completed or by triggering an action that signifies its completion. For example, if a Quest was to fetch an item for someone, giving the item to the Quest giver automatically completes it.
There were three Quests under the In Progress tab.
"The Nature of Aura, Semblances and the Soul."
"Complete the Tutorial."
"Breaking the Fourth Wall."
"Breaking the Fourth Wall."
Breaking the Fourth Wall (In Progress)
Main Objective: Discover why you cannot inform more than 5 people about the nature of your semblance. Current people who know: 0/5
Rewards
Main Objective: 250,000 EXP, Ability to freely share details of your Semblance, Title: Prophet
"Really? There's a limit on how many people I can inform of my semblance? In that case, who should I tell... Winter seems like a good choice, but I'll hold off on the rest for now."
"Complete the Tutorial."
Complete the Tutorial (In Progress)
Main Objective: Finish the Tutorial! (In Progress)
Bonus Objective (1): Cheeky - Disobey a system command. (Complete)
Bonus Objective (2): Thorough Investigator - Examine all of the Main Menu options. (Complete)
Bonus Objective (3): Perfectionist - Complete all of the Objectives. (In Progress)
Rewards
Main Objective: +50 EXP, +1 to STR, AGI, VIT, DEX, INT, WIS
Bonus Objectives (1), (2) and (3): +25 EXP and +1 Stat Point per objective complete
"Finish"
Congratulations, you have taken the first step of your journey as the Gamer! Now, armed with the tools you need, go forth into Remnant and forge your own destiny! Most importantly, however, enjoy yourself!
"Complete the Tutorial" - Quest Complete!
Rewards: +125 EXP, +1 to STR, AGI, VIT, DEX, INT, WIS, +3 Stat Points
You have gained a level! You are now Level 2.
"So, my semblance has turned me into a video game character. I have absolutely no idea how video games work, but I need to start researching them. This is a system: inherently, it can be broken to maximise the potential present in it. It's my life; I should therefore squeeze every advantage I can out of it. I'll need more information than I have currently, but as far as I can tell, the core stats have various effects upon my body. From the descriptions, it seems likely VIT is tied to my HP value, whilst INT and WIS affect my AP and APR. Figuring out the formulas linking those will likely give me an increase in INT. For now, I should gather as much information as possible and see if it is applicable to my situation."
Your thorough understanding and dissection of the situation has increased INT by 1.
Weiss Schnee
Level: 2
Title: The Gamer
HP: 140
HPR: 1.4/min
AP: 190
APR: 1.85/min
STR: 6 (8)
AGI: 9 (13)
VIT: 7 (10)
DEX: 8 (11)
INT: 11 (15)
WIS: 14 (20)
LUK: 6
Stat Points: 6
EXP: 75/150
Credits: 500 Lien
Condition: Refreshed
Hello everyone!
Commando here with a Gamer/RWBY crossover, with Weiss as the MC. I've seen Jaune, Ruby, Blake and Pyrrha all done as the MC in this type of fic, but never Weiss.
One could argue that Weiss isn't the type to get this Semblance, but hey, that's what the quest is for.
The numbers are difficult to balance - I hope the system I've got at the moment works, but if you spot any particularly broken synergies between abilities, feel free to let me know.
Reviews of all kinds are appreciated, and please follow/favourite if you enjoyed reading.