With a little help from our new dark elf friend, Casey, we were able to get Randy through the tutorial swiftly. Randy didn't get his AI to appear, so we concluded it must be a bug. We made a note of the bug and then we gave Randy some advice about Rpg's, MMO's, and standard fantasy stories about medieval world's, magic and new humanoid races. Casey also added some tips on Healing and support roles in general, She was actually quite knowledgeable on the subject.

"I once had a friend, he would form his party with all DPS, So I always took healing roles to save his sorry ass." She chuckled while she explained. "I kinda chose a DPS class, as homage."

"Yeah that's usually my style, but since I mostly stick to Solo RPG's these days, Ive been wanting to try a 'tank of all trades' build." I added, "This might be a good chance to do it."

"I've only been to the Starter Town a few times, But so far this seems like the most flexible game I've ever played." Casey informed, "Ive seen heavy armored staff wielders, light and heavy armor mismatched sets and now I've seen a dwarven mage. "

"So even tho' I'm a 'mage guy', I could still use a bow, right?" Inquired Randy, hoping to salvage a FPS aspect.

"I haven't seen that particular combo, but as far as I know gear and combat skills are only restricted by stats and not race or class." Casey lectured, "But that's a bit of a double edged sword, for example: you're a mage. Magic is influenced by Intelligence and wisdom. The bow you may want to equip may require high Agility to use. Placing your points in (Agi), means not using the points you could have put in (Int), Understand?"

"I think I get da' basic idea" Randy stated in an enlightened manor. "What if I just punch shit? Or yo, actually could you guys go over the stats again? Like what they do."

"Yo! A supporting Pugilist Build would be off the chain, man!" I thought out loud, rubbing my lip reminded of the haymaker I had received in the recovery room, "But 'normal' healers tend to stay in the back."

I spawned my PAC, and pressed the button for Lila. She materialized, sitting on my shoulder. I pulled up my stats and asked her to explain them to us.

[Some of the stats are simple in what they do, you may learn more about others as you play. Here is what information I have compiled from given resources so far:

Stealth(stl) effects your ability to hide, and the 'aggro' you pull. Some high end light armors may require (stl) to equip. Some daggers get a 'crit' boost from stealth.

Strength(str) effects melee damage potential, and intimidation of NPC's. Sometimes (str) is required for high end heavy armors. Its almost always required for nearly any normal melee weapon like swords, axes etc.]

"...Oh and it partially effects your crafting. The best crafters have high strength and wisdom stats." Added Casey

[Agility(agi) effects your dodging efficiency, your stamina capacity, and I honestly believe it effects how comfortable your armor feels, but I can't prove that... well anyway. (Agi) Is almost always required for nearly any normal bow, and most high end light armors.

Speed(spd) obviously effects how much faster your avatar can move. It also effects how fast your stamina regenerates(regen) I have public logs indicating rumors that If a parties average speed is high, it unlocks hidden time restricted quests. If that's true, I imagine there are other stat based quests too.

I don't have much data on Charisma(chr), I have that it effects a lot of your dialogue with NPC's It also effects the chance/quality of bonus rewards, on quests.

Mercantile(mrc) is simple. It effects the price you pay and receive in trading with NPC's.] Lila informed.

"I hear it can effect what NPC's are willing to sell, also. For example: someone with low (mrc) can only buy a traders common goods, but a high (mrc) can get them to part with rare items. At least that's the rumor." Included Casey

Lila continued, [Vitality(vit) Is Important. It effects your health capacity. Health regeneration exists, but is heavily 'nerfed', for balance, so says the player message boards. Health regen is rare and not effected by any stat. (vit) is sometimes required to use certain high end potions, and some accessories.

Endurance(end) effects all your resistances and armor potential. It also slightly effects your cooldowns. For example: how often skills are used or potions are consumed etc. (end) is almost always required for any normal shield or most common heavy armors. It is sometimes required to equip certain fortifying accessories like '+10 health necklaces' etc.

Intelligence(int) effects your magic capacity. It's also usually required to equip most mage robes and staffs. Also how many elements you can use. For ex: high (int) can use their base element light or dark, and also fire wind water and, or earth.]

"I hear combining elements makes new spells, but you'll need a mage to teach you that." Added Casey.

[Wisdom(wis) is last, but certainly not least. (wis) effects Magic regeneration(regen). It also effects the rate you master your skills. Its sometimes required for high end robes and staffs. Like strength, wisdom also effects crafting.] Lila concluded her lesson.

"Another rumor going around the Tester's is: high (wis) can effect your general EXP gain, but higher level players say its bullshit. Casey gossiped.

[And that's what Is in my data so far, remember... I gather data, just as you gain experience. Let us both make an effort to improve] Lila smiled, and disappeared as the screen on my PAC began to glow.

"Bye lil' one, I'll miss you!" I shouted as if she could hear me in the distance.

Casey let out a soft laugh, and Randy tapped his PAC against his hand.

"Yo, whycome I don't get a tiny bitch, This is bullshit!" Randy howled.

"I assume your 'spose to have one. I have one, Ned had one, Casey do you have one too?" I asked.

Casey spawned her PAC and seconds later, an AI all of 8 inches tall, and composed of a swirling nexus of holographic digits, the same color as Caseys skin, Appeared in the palm of her hand.

"Meet Melony." Casey Introduced her digital buddy.

Said Melony.

"Hey there, mini digital lady!" I said with a grin.

"Yo! Whycome I. Don't get. A tiny bitch! ...This is BULLSHIT!!" Randy shouted, louder than before.

"We logged it as a Bug. When we log out, hopefully they will fix it." Casey Oh, wait isn't this your first dive, Dwarf?! We should log out anyway. Its best to keep your first dive short. Lets your body adapt." Casey suggested.

"I have a name" Randy commented

"Just press the little house button on your PAC. then hold your thumb on logout." Casey directed, ignoring Randy.

"Hey before you log out... how can I get a hold of you, in the future?" I asked, my new dark elf friend.

"Are you asking for my number?!" Casey teased, doing her best to prolong the awkward situation. " I don't know..."

"You aint gon' get it." Randy outright proclaimed. "I asked for her digits, from the jump. She aint down."

Casey glared at Randy and then turned to me, "Pull up my stats, then find the 'request contact info' icon. Its between 'send message' and 'Invite to party."

I pulled up her status:

Name: Casey Jones Level:2

Race: Nightkin. Class: Assassin. HP:120/120 ST:160/160 MP:126/126.

Age: 21 Height: 5'08 Weight: YUSO nosey* *AI override

Stealth:10, Strength:6, Agility:9, Speed:8, Charisma:7, Mercantile:5, Vitality:7, Endurance:6, Intelligence:7, Wisdom:6.

Skills: Cloak (Racial/active) (novice 10%) Basic Waterblast (Magic/active) (novice 11%) Appraise (General/active) (novice 14%)

Active effects: +5% max magic (racial), +2% physical damage(racial), +1agi (armor bonus)

Armor base:10 Damage base:14

I guess Randy and I don't get official levels until we complete the tutorial? I wondered to myself. (Damn, I wanted to see my HP.)

I found the icon and pressed it with a little smile.

"I'll get yours, later." She said nonchalantly, then glared at Randy again,"Don't give it to the Dwarf!"

She pressed a button on her PAC and she disappeared.

"Yo, you gon' hook me up?!" Randy asked.

"Nah, dude. Sorry" I grinned at him.

"Ah man! I see how it is." The Dwarf shouted.

-----

Waking up from a dive was getting easier. I guess I was adapting to the ManaGear. I almost felt refreshed, climbing out of the scifi pod. I looked at Randy, who resembled me before I've had my morning coffee, rubbing at the implant on his neck.

"Damn, I'm fat again" I said, while looking down at my beer belly.

Randy took the opportunity to laugh at my self-satirizing remark.

"I dunno, I'd say your pleasantly plump" I heard Undead Ned's voice say behind me.

I like Ned

"Hey! Is that you Ned?" I turned and offered my hand, and he offered his warm, living hand in return.

"That's a lot better, now that your not dead." I teased.

Randy looked puzzled, but Nodded his head, to Ned as a 'greeting.'

Ned was a thin guy, with small but well toned muscle mass. He stood about 5 foot 10 inches tall and had medium length, unkept light brown hair. Perched on his modest nose, were a circular pair of wire rimmed glasses. The kind made famous by a certain movie wizard. Ned had thin lips and piercing blue eyes, and wore the same wetsuit-looking jumper that we did.

"You guys make it to Greenthorn?" Ned inquired.

"Nah, we didn't try for the Starter Town yet, We just finished the Tutorial. We're gonna grab a quick bite and a short power nap, then give it a go." I announced, "Wanna party up when we do? We'll need some starter gear, then we can go farm EXP."

"Uh, ok. I should already be in-game when you dive, just search my name on your PAC when you get there. Your AI should be able to help you join my lobby." Ned offered.

"Oh sure, I'll see ya then." I waived, as Randy and I started heading for the cafeteria.

After our cheap, but high quality meal consisting of a tuna melt for myself and a cheeseburger for Randy, We saw Ms Raven Leibowitz, asst chief science officer speaking to what looked like two interns by a coffee machine.

"I wanna wake up next to you!" I shouted much louder than I needed to, for the short distance away she was.

She practically did a spit-take like on TV (oh well, maybe next time) and turned to me with hateful eyes.

"That is entirely inappropriate!" She hissed, "What on earth were you thinking?!"

"I was wondering if I could borrow your office for a nap, why... did I phrase it strangely?" I asked, faking innocence.

"You knew exactly what you wee doing, and the answer is NO." She emphasized the no part clearly, "There are dorms for the Testers, use those."

"Might as well. I doubt I would survive the pillow talk." I surrendered and made my way to the dorms.

Her sweet honeyed voice probably was fatal, and I imagine half of the US Air Force would agree.