¶ Guide to Maintaining the Barrier and Deciphering Scrolls
¶ Stability Mechanics
The Barrier has a Stabilityparameter. This is its "health," which gradually depletes over time.
Main parameters:
- Maximum stability: 60 units.
- Natural drain: 0.7 units per minute.
- Effect of growths: Increases stability drain.
Values may change during the round. Always consult the current information in the game.
¶ Checking Its Condition
Any player can interact with the Barrier to assess the current situation.
How to check the Barrier's status:
- Approach the Barrier.
- Hold the SHIFT key and press ПКМ (the right mouse button) on the Barrier.
An information window will open containing:
- Current stability level.
- Stability drain per minute.
- Information about growths: their number and the areas where they are located.
Ignoring growths can critically accelerate the loss of stability and shorten the round.
¶ Ways to Restore Stability
There are two main ways to replenish the Barrier's stability.
Method
Description
Sacrifice a Scroll
Take a magical scroll and use it to interact with the Barrier. The scroll can be deciphered to increase its effectiveness.
Voluntary Sacrifice
Available to any character. Select "Sacrifice Yourself" when interacting with the Barrier. The character then dies.
¶ Finding Scrolls
Magical scrolls are a valuable resource for maintaining the Barrier. The College of Mages should organize their discovery and collection.
Where to find scrolls:
- Treasure chests: Scrolls have a small chance of appearing in treasure chests scattered around the map.
- Frequency: Check chests regularly; their contents may refresh during the round.
Search recommendations:
- Plan a route: Plot an efficient path between chest spawn points to save time.
- Pay attention: Remember the locations and chests you have checked so you do not return too soon.
- Safety: Remain cautious; certain areas may be dangerous for Mages or controlled by cultists.
Coordinate the search with other players. Divide areas of responsibility so that you cover the entire map without checking the same chests several times.
Not every chest contains a scroll. The drop chance is low, so do not spend all your time searching for them; combine the search with your role's other duties.
¶ Deciphering Scrolls
To get the most from a scroll, decipher it before sacrificing it. Each scroll can be upgraded up to 4 times ; at every deciphering level, it restores more Barrier stability when sacrificed.
Only roles from the College of Mages faction can decipher scrolls:
- Archmage of the College.
- College Mage.
- College Novice.
Deciphering Result
Consequences
Success
The scroll gains an additional bonus to stability restoration.
Failure
The scroll explodes in the mage's hands, dealing damage and destroying itself.
¶ "MINESWEEPER" Minigame
Deciphering takes the form of a minigame based on classic Minesweeper. The goal is to reveal every safe cell on the board while avoiding hidden mines. Using deduction, players mark mines with flags and reveal empty areas to win.
¶ Basic Rules and Mechanics
- Game board: A grid of covered cells. The number of mines on the board is known in advance, but their locations are hidden.
- Revealing a cell: Clicking a cell with the left mouse button reveals it. If it contains a mine, the game ends.
- Numbers in cells: If a revealed cell contains no mine, it displays a number (from 1 to 8). This number shows how many mines occupy the eight adjacent cells around it.
- Flags: If a player is certain that a cell contains a mine, they can mark it with a flag, usually with the right mouse button, to avoid revealing it accidentally.
- Victory: Achieved when every cell without a mine has been revealed.
¶ Runes
Successful deciphering requires knowledge of the Rune of the particular scroll.
- Start of the round: Every College Mage knows 1 random rune out of 8 possible runes.
- During the round: Every College Mage can learn 4 different runes.
- Learning new runes: Additional runes have a small chance to be obtained when butchering monsters. Absorbing such a rune teaches it to the character and allows them to decipher the corresponding scrolls.
Kael
Lun
Mira
Oth
Ryn
Seth
Thar
Vel
If another mage knows the rune needed to decipher a scroll you found, it is better to leave the deciphering to them.
¶ Stability Overflow
Restoration has a limit. If the restored stability would exceed its maximum value (60), it is reset to 60 Barrier stability.
Watch the stability level. If the Barrier is almost full, do not sacrifice powerful scrolls or yourself, as this would waste restoration efficiency.
¶ Maintenance Tips
Roleplaying Tips
- Check the Barrier regularly with SHIFT + RMB. Do not wait for critical values.
- Coordinate your actions with the other College Mages. Divide the duties of finding and deciphering scrolls.
- Inform other factions and players about the Barrier's condition; someone may be willing to make a voluntary sacrifice at a critical moment.
Mechanics Tips
- When deciphering, make sure you are in a safe place. An exploding scroll can injure you and those nearby.
- If the status window shows many growths, prioritize removing them, if your role's mechanics permit it, to slow the stability drain.
¶ Conclusion
Maintaining the Barrier is a team effort in which College Mages play a critical role, though help from other players—such as clearing growths or making a voluntary sacrifice at a critical moment—is also invaluable. Understanding the stability mechanics, using scrolls properly, and responding promptly to changes in the Barrier's status will prolong the round and give players and factions more time to accomplish their goals.
Every restored point of stability is additional time. Act in a coordinated and efficient manner.