The World of Brainstorm
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Categories of Content Online World
Sign On
Players click on the PLAY NOW button on the Home Page. If a player already has an account they can click on the LET’S GO button and Log In. If a player doesn’t have an account then they need to click on the CREATE NEW ACCOUNT button in order to Create a Character.
Create a Character
In order to create a character, players must choose a Character Race as well as have read and agreed to both the Game Rules and the Terms & Conditions. Once this is completed pressing the CONTINUE button sends the player to the Create a New Account screen, where they must answer a few questions and place any codes they may have received. Once these questions have been answered the player enters the Create Screen Name and Password screen. Here the player must come up with their user name, which will be displayed with their character, as well as their password and click on the Create My Account button. This takes them to the Select a Server screen, which shows all active servers and the number of players on each. Clicking on a server sends the player into the game.
**REMEMBER: Do not give your password out!!!**
Character Races
There are currently two races to choose from to play in the world: Dinkees and Gobkins.
Dinkees
The Dinkees are wonderful mini-folk that live in a place called Treefar. Treefar is actually a massive Dinkoia tree in Terra that houses their entire society. In addition to raising crops and caring for many of the creatures in Terra, the Dinkees use the velvety soft leaves of the Dinkoia tree to polish the rare energems mined by the Gobkins. The Dinkees have several crafts that they partake in: Entertainer, Pioneer, and Conservationist.
Gobkins
The mischievous Gobkins inhabit the fossilized Dinkoia Tree ruin called Stump in Dragonia. They mine rare and powerful Energems and trade with the Dinkees. The King of the Gobkins is Frogop. While they may look ferocious with their sharp teeth, they are not carnivorous, and use their teeth to grind into tough roots and use their sharp nails to help dig. The Gobkins have several crafts that they partake in: Trickster, Engineer, and Sentinel.
Log In Screen
Players that already have an account can select their character from the Welcome screen by clicking on the name of the character in the book (if they have chosen to have the character remembered during a previous log in) or can click on the Enter User Name button. This opens the Log In screen, where players enter their User Name and Password as well as choose to have them remembered on their computer.
Players that don’t already have an account can click the Create a New Account button on the Welcome screen to Create a Character.
General Play
Experience/Leveling
Characters can gain experience as they play Mini Games. The better a player is at a game, the higher their score. The higher their score, the more Energems they gain and the more experience they gain. Characters can also gain experience by doing Quests. Quest experience is always a set amount and relies on the completion of that quest. If a character does not finish a quest, they are not rewarded with any experience.
As characters gaining experience reach certain thresholds, they level. These thresholds or levels are graphically represented on the players UI (User Interface) by the Experience Bar. As experience is gained the bar fills. Once full, the character is ready to level.
Once a character’s experience bar is 100% full they are ready to level. Obtaining levels 2 & 3 is achieved by visiting the Lorekeeper in the Acorn Academy, for Dinkees, or the Dean in the Pickaxe Institute, for Gokins.
Upon getting enough experience to reach level 4, the players must now make a commitment and choose their character’s Craft (career path). To enter a craft a player must visit the appropriate Fellowship Hall.
Choosing a Craft (COMING SOON)
Choosing a craft defines the characters abilities and appearance as they progress. Each race has 3 classes to choose from. Dinkees: Entertainer, Pioneer, Conservationist; Gobkins: Engineer, Sentinel, Trickster. Once the character has committed to a craft, they become members of its fellowship, where they train to advance to their next level and where they receive Quests specific to that craft.
All crafts have features that are relatively unique and separate them from each other. The different types of features are discussed in general terms below and in more detail under each individual craft discussion.
Multi-crafting (COMING SOON)
In our game, a player begins by selecting his character’s race (currently Dinkee or Gobkin). The character progresses through the first three levels, advancing by gaining experience. Once they’ve filled their experience bar at third level, they are informed that they must seek out and join a fellowship in order to continue advancing in level. By doing the Quests and reading the training tomes of a particular fellowship they may progress in levels of a given craft.
Unlike other games however, our players are allowed (at any point after 3rd level) to approach any other race appropriate fellowship, do its quests, read its training tomes and advance in its craft as well. As the character acquires a craft, it gains a tab on its UI Pocket. Gaining a second craft, gains it a second tab. Clicking on a specific tab “activates” that craft and gives the character its abilities, appearance etc. Having an “active” tab also determines which craft gains experience.
Sheathing (COMING SOON)
Our game further allows players to have a total character experience by allowing characters to change race by a process called Sheathing. Once a character reaches a level where they gain Continental Travel (the ability to travel from their starting continent to one of the others) they gain access to a Quest Giver that provides them with a Sheathing Quest. The completion of this quest applies a sheathing aura on the character, effectively changing them into a first level character of the appropriate race matching that continent (Dinkee for Terra, Gobkin for Dragonia). As long as the player leaves the sheathing aura active, the character progresses in that race, gaining experience and leveling (including in crafts of that race that have been acquired via quests and tomes). The character can turn off the aura at any time and revert back to the original race at the levels and condition previous to the change.
Main Game Screen
Once a player has entered the game, they will find their character at the center of the Main Game Screen, in an area called the Playing Field. The stylized frame that surrounds the screen is called the User Interface and has many buttons and features that aid and enhance the player’s gaming experience. These buttons/features are discussed below:
Public Homes Button/Feature
Clicking the Public Homes opens the Public Homes Box. Players can select and visit the homes of players that have chosen to open their homes to the public.
Chat Button/Feature
Clicking the Chat Button opens the Chat Bar. Players can type text in the Chat Bar and hit send to have the text appear above the character’s head in the Playing Field.
Emote Button/Feature
Clicking the Emote Button opens the Emote Window. Clicking on a specific emote will cause the emote symbol to appear above the character’s head in the Playing Field. Emotes are a graphic representation of a character’s mood.
Experience Scroll
The Experience Scroll shows players their relative progress in a level both graphically and as a percentage. The more experience a character gains the more the bar in the scroll fills. Once the bar is completely full (at 100%) the character is ready to Level.
Friends Button/Feature
The Friends Button allows:
1. Players to view their friends list and what friends are logged on their current server.
2. Players to view their ignore list.
3. Players can click on a character on either the friends list or the ignore list and it will open that character’s Card in the Playing Field.
Home Button/Feature
Clicking on the Home Button of a player’s UI sends their character directly to the interior of their home.
All characters start the game owning the basic home for their race. Gobkins have cave-like dwellings called Hubbles. Dinkees have CiCi Hut homes, carved out of giant nuts. Clicking the Upgrade Home button allows players to purchase additions and enlarge their homes.
Players can purchase items to decorate their home by clicking on the Buy Items button and entering the Home Furniture Store screen. Clicking on the Decorate Your Home button allows the player to see what furnishings they have purchased and to move them into their home.
Pressing the Lock/Unlock Home Button allows players to make or remove their home from the public.
Map Button/Feature
Clicking on the Map Button opens a scroll map of the Kingdom the character is currently on. Landmarked zones are also displayed on the map. Scrolling over a landmark gives its name and a brief description of the area. Clicking on one of these transports the character directly to that zone.
In the lower left corner is a world icon. Clicking on this opens a map of the world and allows the player to select other Kingdoms and highlight their landmarks.
Currently there are two accessible Kingdoms: Terra and Dragonia
Games Button/Feature
The Game Button opens a drop down menu which allows:
1. Players to view the leader board of our Mini Games.
2. Players to quickly select and play Mini Games.
Actions Button/Feature
Clicking on the Action Button opens the Action Menu. The Action Menu allows the player to click on icons which cause the character to perform matching animations. The characters are able to scroll through the menu and access any actions they have acquired. Some of the actions are unique to a character’s Craft while others may be purchased or obtained through Quests.
Pocket Button/Feature
Clicking the Pocket Button causes a graphic of three fanned playing cards (the pocket) to appear in the center of the Playing Field. These cards are a graphic representation of the character’s Appearance and Inventory, as well as their Bank and Rewards.
Appearance Card: shows a graphic representation of the character and what items the character has equipped.
It also shows an inventory of items the character has, but hasn’t equipped.
Bank Card: shows the player the amount and type of Energems his character has available.
Recharge button: allows the player to quickly access the Energem Recharge feature.
Reward Card: shows the character the Energems the character has acquired through the Dinkee Links Program.
Info button: gives a more detailed report. Clicking the Redeem button transfers the Energems to the character’s Bank.
Quest Log Button/Feature
Clicking the Quest Log Button opens the Quest Log which keeps track of the character quest, both completed and ones currently on along with a small description of each.
Contact Us Button
Clicking the Contact Us Button allows the player to send input and emails to Professor Brainstorm or to upgrade their account.
Energem Recharge Button
Clicking this button takes the player to the Energems Recharge Screen, where they (or their parents, if they are under 18 years of age) can purchase additional Energems for their account.
Logout Button
Clicking the Logout Button ends the player’s session and removes their character from the world.
Store Button
The Store Button allows the player to visit Professor Brainstorm’s Online Store. There can be found limited edition real-world cards and merchandise that can be purchased using energems.
Travel
There are various ways in which a character can travel throughout the game. A character begins the game in the Zone and Kingdom based on their race selections: Dinkees start in The Rootlands zone of Terra and Gobkins start in Stump zone of Dragonia. As they explore their starting zones, characters will find signposts of other zones. By clicking these signposts the characters enter a new zone. Once characters have been to a zone once, they are able click on the Map Button in the UI and travel to that zone instantly. This only applies to zones on the same Kingdom as the zone they currently occupy.
In order to travel to another Kingdom a character must make their way to the Travel Station, where they can book passage to other Kingdoms. Once they are on the new Kingdom they can explore and travel through it as before.
Zone/Location Descriptions
Each Kingdom is separated into several zones or locations for the characters to explore. Each zone has its own unique terrain and contains various NPCs, buildings and items for the characters to discover and interact with.
Terra
Terra, the most Earth-like Kingdom, has fantastic animals, lush forests, and radiant mountains.
The Rootlands
Trunktown
Midbark
Sticky Swamp (Coming Soon)
Hollow Hills (Coming Soon)
Travel Station
Dragonia
Dragonia, the mystical Dragon Kingdom, is where powerful Energems are found on a dragon shaped volcanic island.
Stump
Upper Mines
Hammerstone Mines (Coming Soon)
Harsh Marsh
Melting Dunes (Coming Soon)
Travel Station
Non-Player Characters (NPCs)
Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are the different personalities that populate the world and are controlled by the computer. Many of these personalities can offer the players Quests or advice and are activated by placing the mouse cursor over them and clicking on them. This opens a Story window that typically shows the NPC’s dialogue as well as response choices for the player to choose from. It is always good for a player to think about how they interact with an NPC, since they may have information or tasks that can be very helpful.
Currency
Energems are our world’s currency and they are earned by players in an assortment of ways. The most common way to earn energems is by playing Mini Games, but they can also be earned through our referral program (see Dinkee Links) and even be purchased through our Energems Recharge feature.
Ruby – most common energems.
Emerald - uncommon energems.
Sapphire – rare energems.
Diamond – the rarest of energems. Players can only gain diamond energems through our
Energem Recharge program.
Player’s can use energems to purchase a variety of in-game items, from clothing and foodstuffs to more exclusive items such as high-end housing and rare pets. Further, energems can be used to purchase/acquire certain Real World Items, such as promotional cards and posters, and even retail products such as decks, mats, t-shirts, etc.
Mini Games
Our game contains several Mini Games for the characters to play. Many of these games can simply be accessed by clicking on the Game Button of the character’s UI. Others are played as part of a Quest. Finally there are games that are unique to a character’s Craft.
Aside from the fun, playing Mini Games provides a character with both Experience and Energems. The better the player is and the higher the score, the more energems and experience they receive. As the character advances in Level, games might provide fewer rewards than before. It is recommended that the player increase the difficulty so that the reward can increase as well. It is important to note that each game rewards a specific type of Energem, so it is important to play a variety of games.
Word Challenge: This is a version of Professor Brainstorm’s famous Word Challenge Card Game. You are dealt 5 blue (consonant) cards and 6 orange (vowel) cards. Try and spell up to 10 of the largest words that you can; the bigger the words the higher the score. Can you be a Professor?
Equation Invasion: This is a version of Professor Brainstorm’s famous Equation Invasion Card Game. You are dealt 5 blue (2-9) cards and 6 orange (1,0,+,-, x, ÷) cards. Try and make up to 10 of the largest balanced equations that you can; the bigger the equations the higher the score. Can you be a Professor?
Energem Jam: Swap any two given Energems to make a horizontal or vertical row of three or more, which causes them to disappear. Gaps at the top are filled with a random selection of new Energems. Every time you make a match the container at the right fills up a little. Once it’s full, you’ve completed a level. Look for out of the ordinary items with unusual powers.
Gobko Mining Madness: Control the movable paddle with your mouse to bounce the ball upward and back into the layer of bricks. Break all the assorted bricks to advance to the next level. Don't let your ball touch the bottom of the screen or you will lose a life. Look for special bubbles that give you powers.
Dragon Gem Sorty: Click on chunks of 3 or more matching Energems to make them disappear. Prevent the Energems from touching the top of the screen until the line number to the right reaches 0 to move on to the next level. Watch for glowing gems, they make all other gems of the same type disappear.
Professor Brainstorm’s Card Craze: Turn over two cards (one at a time). If they match they stay face up, if they don’t they are turned face down again. The objective is to match all the cards as fast as possible.
Gobkin Glider: Fly through the air collecting balloons and avoiding obstacles. When you hit obstacles, your life bar lowers until it is empty and you lose a life.
Dinkee Dunk: Read the hint and guess the letters in the word or short phrase. If that letter is in the word(s) then it will fill in the blanks and be cross out in the alphabet. If the letter isn't in the word then you lose a turn and that much closer to getting dunked. Continue guessing letters until you either solve the word (or phrase) or have lost all six turns and get dunked into the tub.
Iggy’s Puzzles: Pick a picture and scramble it. Remember what it looks like and put it back together. The more pieces you pick, the harder the puzzle and the bigger your score.
Gobkin Grab: Move through the maze while collecting Energems and runes. The more Energems you collect, the more points you score, but beware the Red Gobkins. If they tag you, you lose a life. Collect Sapphire Energems and you can tag the Red Gobkins. Collect all the runes and spell the power word to open the level gate.
Magnetian Maneuver: You’ve been transformed into a Magnetian Snake. Use the arrow keys to maneuver and pick up your function the number of times needed to open the gate and escape. Avoid picking up the wrong function or more Magnetians will attach to you and make your “tail” grow. Avoid crashing into walls and your tail or you will lose a life.
Word Wizard: Find all the words hidden within the puzzle. The word list on the right side of the game will show you all of the words that are hidden on the board. Use your mouse to select words by clicking and dragging all the letters in a word. If you’ve selected a word correctly, the word will highlight on the game board. To complete the game you must find all the words in the puzzle.
Gobkin Gladiator: Use the arrow keys to move through the mines. Touching monsters damages your life bar, but jumping on top of them stuns them temporarily. If your life bar fills with damage, you lose a life. Keep your eyes out for signs. They give you valuable game hints.
Gobkin Gadget Gang: Place the gadgets to help the Gobkin Miners maneuver around obstacles, collect treasures and make it to the exit. Make sure to collect enough treasure to meet their quota before time runs out.
Quests
Quests are a vital way for characters to explore and advance in the world. Players are initially introduced to quests when they first enter the game by meeting and performing tasks for the newbie Quest Givers. These Quest Givers are NPCs (non-player characters) that give out simple tasks that, when completed, allow a character to gain experience and, sometimes, rewards. These simple tasks can include meeting other NPCs, finding basic items to give to NPCs, helping with simple tasks as well as exploring parts of the world. When characters reach enough experience to obtain 4th level, they are directed to the Fellowship Halls.
To obtain 4th level and beyond quests are given out at the character’s chosen fellowship hall. Quests are given by the Fellowships Trainers and Leaders. These quests become more complex, involving multiple phases. Some of the phases or quest parts earn the character one of four medallions (Iron, Bronze, Silver and Gold). Obtaining ALL four medallion types of the given level and purchasing/reading the appropriate Tome earns the Character their new level.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Keep an eye out for NPCs that glow, they can help you along on your quests!