The Basis
Architecture is foremost a discipline of trade and communication. In it, players need to find those willing to perform a task -- whether it's cooperation on a Megalopolis, building of Phoenix statues, or simply staying out of the way long enough for an Obelisk to pass. Therefore, an Architecture test should stress two points: First, trading for requisite materials, and second, finding people willing to cooperate on the production. Material use is secondary to these two facets, but an Architect should be prepared for expense and an investment of time.
The Test of the Contracted Carousel would allow players to merge these two goals into one.
The Design
A carousel, in this test, is not the standard merry-go-round that you see at carnivals. Instead, consider it to be a tower of three tiers, rotating independently of each other, each with seven (occasionally fantastic) animals. These animals are Rams, Camels, Ponies, Cats, Jackals, Phoenixes, and Serpents. On each tier, the seven animals are randomly arranged, such that each carousel is unique. When building a carousel, there are two sides to the design:
- First, the basic shape of the carousel tower must be designed. This will require a fairly large load of bricks, boards, assorted materials, and at least three two-output gearboxes, randomly selected. Additionally, the player responsible for the project may choose up to seven types of paint for the outside of the tower (two per tier, plus the top), and a variety of jewel for the tip. When the carousel runs, the gems at the top will act as a beacon, optionally. This requires seven huge gems of the chosen type, or seven Queen's Tombs of a cut gem.
- Second, the animals will be incorporated into the three tiers.
The centerpiece of the test is the animals. The building has twenty-one 'slots', each with a specific tier and animal. When a player is designated as the creator of that slot, they are given a list of requirements. Some requirements are completely random, while others are the same for each individual animal type...and others are only random for the players. Colour is player-based; a player may be required to give a different variety of paint for each TYPE of animal.
Each player may choose only one slot per carousel, with one exception: the builder of the tower may, on their own, take as many slots as they desire. This requires that they build in that slot with the same resources as if they were only participating. Hence, a single player may find it possible to 'solo' the test, if they have sufficient resources.
Requirements
Carousel Tower
- 16,807 bricks.
- 2,400 treated boards, 600 of each colour (white, blonde, normal, black), all hard and glossy.
- 3 random, two-output gearboxes.
- Seven types of paint, chosen by the player. These can be any colour.
- Seven of one type of huge gem or queen's tomb cuttable, chosen by the player, for the beacon at the top.
- 1,400 concrete, for support.
- 100 iron bars, for support.
Suggested Animal Requirements - Subject to change
- 21 of a completely random type of marble (LESS than 50 perception required), to carve the animal into.
- 300 gold, steel, copper, silver? wire, for highlights.
- 3 types of random paint, based on the player and the animal; a player will have similar requirements for the same animal type.
- 3 types of random raeli colour, based the same way paint is.
- One completely random three-output gearbox.
- 10 cable, for support.
- 10 iron bars, for control.
- Two large or full-eye gems of the same type, based the same way paint is, for the eyes of the animal.
- 200 of a random shade of hard glossy treated board, based the same way paint is.
- 150 concrete.
- 49 of a random resin type, for polishing.
All requirements are likely to change in the final design of the test, for better or for worse.
"Completely random" requirements are not so; they are dependent on the location of the center of the carousel, the slot, and the player's 'randomizing hash'. Therefore, a player may not simply reset their slot to get a different material type.
Passes are accomplished in two ways. First, the builder of the centerpiece passes when all twenty-one animals are created. Second, when a player builds all seven types of animals (requiring they participate in at least seven carousels), they pass. Therefore, for seven towers, up to twenty-eight passes may result, or an average of four per tower.