Dev Diary #8: Beta Version 0.3

  “Hello there, players! Your dearest promotional manager is back to bring you a detailed breakdown of the latest update for Magus Academy Online. A lot of time has passed since the previous version, and while there weren’t many major content drops back then because of the aftermath of the undead invasion, this time, we’ve got a whole lot to cover!”

  “Thankfully, our lazy programmers have finally returned from their long-awaited vacation and are now working around the clock to bring you this update. After proposing to their mad girlfriends, most of them are now preparing for married life. A huge round of applause for them, everyone! Of course, this also means they need extra hours to save up for wedding expenses. Let’s just hope these programmers learn to manage their time as well as our scripters and designers do.”

  “Well, with that aside, let’s dive into everything new and exciting in Beta Version 0.3!”

  “First up on the list, we have the ‘Golem Deployment’ content update. Players have undoubtedly seen the mechanical golems roaming the game world and wondered, ‘Will we ever be able to command these bad boys?’ After all, unlike the small earthen golems or temporary summons, these mechanical constructs are permanent.”

  “Well, worry no more! Starting with this version, you will now be able to borrow these cool mechanical golems for a fee — the very same ones that appeared during the undead invasion! Whether for combat, resource gathering, or construction, you now have access to these marvels. Of course, you’ll be expected to follow academy regulations when using them.”

  Given that the citadel’s automated repairs churned out mechanical golems faster than the speed of incubating new players, Victor wouldn’t have minded lending them out for free. However, he didn’t want the players to become too complacent or overly reliant on golems, so he decided to place a merit point cost on “borrowing” them, thus putting more value into this made-up currency.

  “I know that some of you may complain about the fact that you cannot own these golems outright. To address this issue, players can purchase golems through the Artificer Hall or by commissioning player Artificers to craft them. Unlike the borrowed ones, these golems will be permanent possessions, allowing players with the resources to build up their own forces in the game.”

  In a sense, this update served as a buff to life-skills players, providing them with new ways to earn merit points and accelerating their overall progress. Combat-focused players would also gain an advantage by deploying golems in battle and other strategic situations. And, of course, the one who benefited the most from all of this was Victor, as every golem created and deployed ultimately strengthened the academy itself.

  “Now, moving on to the second big addition: Teleportation Waypoints! This is arguably the most exciting feature in this update! Players can now use these devices to travel instantly between two or more locations, significantly reducing travel time. I’ve read plenty of criticisms on the forum from players frustrated with the realistic travel mechanics and the massive scale of the in-game world. While immersion is great, we understand that long-distance travel can sometimes be a hassle. Well, this is the solution to that problem!”

  “Naturally, there’s a small fee each time you use a Teleportation Waypoint. Additionally, players should be aware that if you haven’t reached first-stage Initiate Attunement, you won’t be able to use this function. This is because teleportation requires infused mana to activate. Please note that that this feature is still in its testing phase, so unexpected bugs may occur.”

  Although the experiment conducted previously had proven that the Teleportation Waypoints were functional, there was no guarantee that some sort of accident wouldn’t occur. This was, frankly speaking, a new form of teleportation that hadn’t been thoroughly tested in extreme conditions. While the core mechanics were stable, unexpected anomalies could still arise.

  “I also want to announce that in this update, some lucky players that have fulfilled the criteria and undergone a personal interview by the headmaster NPC have been selected as assistant professors in the game. Starting from the next update, they will become an integral part of the academy, playing a vital role in shaping its future.”

  “There are benefits to becoming an assistant professor. You gain exclusive access to certain academy resources, receive a steady merit point income, and — depending on your contributions — might even receive special privileges and unique opportunities in future updates. On top of that, you will have a direct impact on the development of the academy. For those who have always wanted to hold a position as an assistant lecturer or professor at a university, this is your chance to become one in a prestigious and one and only Magus academy!”

  “Moving on, we’re finally entering winter in the game. The in-game season started in summer, and it has taken months of in-game time to finally transition into winter. Players may notice the gradual drop in temperature, the freezing of water bodies, and the withering of non-magical plant life. However, within the academy’s protective formations, everything will remain stable, and the environment will still feel like spring.”

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  “That said, players venturing outside the academy should prepare accordingly, as winter introduces certain environmental challenges. You might find some areas harder to traverse due to snow accumulation, and some creatures might behave differently in the cold. Stay alert and dress warmly — or, you know, just use fire magic to keep yourself from freezing.”

  “I just hope the server doesn’t lag from the countless small changes caused by the realistically rendered snowflakes.”

  “Next up, we have an update to the auction system. From now on, auctions will be held weekly, and players will be able to freely put up their valuable items for bidding. However, before an item can be put up for auction, it must first be registered through your Shadowlink Mark and undergo an inspection to ensure its authenticity and value. Please note that there will be a listing fee when submitting an item for auction, whether the item is accepted or not, as well as a tax deducted from the final sale price once the item is sold.”

  The only reason he added the listing fee was to prevent trolls from flooding the auction with random or useless items. After all, it would be ridiculous if someone put up a plain rock as an auctioned item. But Victor was certain that this wouldn’t completely stop trolls from trying.

  “Now, aside from this feature, a brand-new gacha-style mechanic is being introduced in the auction called ‘Mystery Box.’ Players will be able to purchase these in the intermittent periods between auctioned items, and each Mystery Box will be sold at a fixed price. The contents of these boxes will vary, ranging from common materials to rare and exclusive items like powerful magic tools that cannot be obtained anywhere else. Of course, luck will play a major role, so may the odds be in your favor.”

  This gacha system was the perfect gimmick to consistently rile up the players. By mirroring the mechanics of gacha games, it would create excitement and anticipation, especially when someone managed to pull an incredibly valuable item. After all, the excitement of not knowing what you would get and hoping that you would hit the jackpot was what made these systems so addictive.

  “The next point — the guild system — is something that I’ve personally anticipated ever since we first introduced the party system. After all, what kind of MMORPG doesn’t have a proper guild system?”

  “Up until now, players have had to rely on small party formations or loosely coordinated groups, which wasn’t ideal for larger-scale conflicts. With this update, players who have reached the third stage of Initiate Attunement will now be able to form and register guilds through their Shadowlink Mark, though doing so will require a rather high merit point cost (2,000) and has a member limit of one hundred.”

  “But I must give some advice: being in a guild comes with its perks. For example, guilds will have access to unique, guild-exclusive missions and special bonuses in future updates. Of course, for players who prefer to play solo or stick with a small group of friends, not joining or forming a guild won’t negatively impact your gameplay. However, for those who want to make a name for themselves and leave their mark on the world, this is the perfect opportunity.”

  “In the future, guilds will also be able to form formal alliances or even unite under a greater organization known as a ‘legion.’ However, this feature is still in development and will be implemented once we’ve fine-tuned the game for better balance.”

  With the increasing number of players, it became nearly impossible to micromanage them all. Victor wanted players to unite into larger groups, making it easier for him to control and direct them. Once war inevitably broke out between his Magus academy and other Magus forces, these groups could serve as organized cannon fodder or even be shaped into specialized combat units. It was a win-win situation — for him and the players.

  “Last on the content update, there will be a grand project happening in this version. The headmaster has issued a mission for you acolytes, which is to construct twelve Magus towers for the academy. Naturally, everything starts with just one, but he’s offering generous rewards for those who contribute to this endeavor. Please check the mission list for more details once you’re back in the game, players.”

  “Guess that’s it for the eighth installment of the dev diary. I feel like this is one of the longest dev diaries I’ve written so far. Hopefully, everything here gives you a clear understanding of the new content. Happy gaming!”

  After writing and reading through everything twice, Victor tapped enter to upload the development diary. This was undoubtedly the longest one he had written, covering a wide range of new content to make up for the lackluster previous patch. He knew that without a proper explanation, some players might complain that there wasn’t anything interesting in the game. This update, however, had plenty to offer, and he was confident it would keep them engaged for the time that he would be away.

  As if to prove his point, the official website forum where he had uploaded the development diary immediately exploded with waves of replies. Numerous comments of excitement, speculation, and, of course, the usual hilarious mix of complaints flooded the thread.

  Victor skipped over the netizens who had too much free time and commented, “First, thank you for the post,” and whatnot to focus on the more important and amusing ones.

  Storm Bringer: “Finally! A real content update! About time!”

  QuantumMind: “Mom, Dad! I’m about to become an assistant professor soon! My master’s degree is useful! ????”

  Castlefrost: “What do you mean? The selected candidates haven’t been revealed yet. Don’t get too excited too soon.”

  Captain Derp: “Mystery Box gacha?? Time to gamble away my accumulated merit points!”

  ButaYaarou: “Yo, where’s my Department of Waifu Studies? This is discrimination! (ノ?益?)ノ”

  SirLaughsALot: “Someone hold ButaYaarou back before the mods ban him.”

  Victor stared at the screen, rubbing his temples. “These people…”

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