Hi everybody!

This week we've got a great roundup for you based on some recent QOTW threads.

You asked: To what extent does the tutorial portion of the game allow players to experiment with the skill trees? Is it time/mission based before a skill gets "locked in"?
Within the tutorial portion of the game, players will be able to experiment with one signature ability from several skills. This ability is provided by mnemonic adaptation kit that imprints limited memory that allows newly-cloned individuals to experience the execution of certain complex tasks in order to stimulate their brain to respond positively and therefore allowing them to find their future profession on Enterra. Simply put, it lets you test drive certain skills - such as using weapons, crafting, etc. - before you dedicate yourself to development of those skill. The mnemonic adaptation kit uses digital rights management that makes memory unavailable outside the cloning facility to prevent black market distribution of enforced knowledge; therefore once your character leaves the tutorial zone, he is returned back to a blank slate. Still, acquiring and using any automatically imprinted memory inside the tutorial zone is rewarded.
 
You asked: Can you only use your skills when you wear the appropriate equipment? (In other words, are skills tied to equipment?)
 Certain combat skills are used only if the player wears specific armor and wields specific weaponry or gear-integrated devices. The reasoning behind such limitation is that most actions in Earthrise are not character=executed but a property of his gear. For example, ranged weapon experts cannot cause a crippling shot without wielding a ranged weapon at hand. Additionally, weapons require specific type of armor as they draw energy and are assisted by electronics integrated in that type of armor.
 
You asked: Does Criminal Karma decay in real time, or by logged in time?
 Criminal Karma loses its intensity in logged-in time. Players should not feel forced to stay outside of the game to hide from the law.
 
You asked: Can criminals bribe officials in "safe" zones for temporary access?
Once upon a time they could and they did! But since both factions enforced full uncyphered recordings of the watcher chip among law authorities, as well as robotic assistance that evaluates their activities, their conscience is no longer corrupt and bribing is out of question.

We hope this clears some burning questions up, and look forward to seeing you all return next week for another QOTW. Feel free to discuss below.
~m.

Indead, nice.


I want to know if the reverse is true. Can you only equip equipment if you have the skill, or can we equip at items without having skills?

Hopefully this gets cleared up in the community interview.  /nudges Moll

Interesting stuff about the tutorial zone. Thanks!

Cool!
That's some good stuff to know.
A little less chance that you will have to go back and delete character because it wasn't quite what you had envisioned when you started out. 

I like the fact that players can test different skills within the tutorial while not actually affecting the skills of the player. This will help new players learn about different skill sets and what to pursue. This is a good design idea; it makes the tutorial actually worth something.

One ability. Does this mean within the tutorial a player can only choose one skill to explore? I for instance can not try out energy weapons skill then switch to two hand sword skill and see which one I like better? Or does this mean only one skill at a time?

At first I was surprised at this, but after thinking about it, this makes sense. This stops players from defying the law, then just logging onto an alt for the period of the karma decay. Players better think twice before playing criminal for a day.

Maybe the time isn't constant? I suspect your rank and your victim's rank in faction standing matters.

Swwet qotw thx moll

They do Holice - its been described in one of the recent criminal QTOW.

It sounds like it provides the same services as SV or NB except they didn't mention quest terminals.