Users > ShanVizen > The Test Of Knowledge

Current Tests of Thought all revolve around solving puzzles, cracking riddles and developing an intuition for the test. However, I believe that the discipline of Thought has a different side: that of knowledge, of learning and of preserving for future generations. Therefore, I would like to propose the Test of Knowledge for our grandchildren.

(Please note an example is given below. Also, this is just a general idea, much tuning is in place)

Last revision: January 9th. Much has changed, I will appreciate further comments on the forum thread and through in-game chat. -- ShanVizen

• Introduction to the test
• A short example- please notice it incorporates some ideas not written explicitely in the introduction.
• Why should Egypt choose this test as a test of thought for our grandchildren?
• Forum thread for discussion of this test

The Test of Knowledge

When one starts the Test of Knowledge, she is given an option to build a Laboratory. Once a Laboratory is built, the disciple is sent to one of the other universities of Egypt, and given a subject to study and research. She is given a list of items to acquire and store in his laboratory; two types of items are given:

1. Equipment. These are non-expendable items. Examples include distillation coils of various qualities, raeli tiles, canvas, research tubes, etc.
2. Seven samples. These are expendable items, consumed in the process of research. Examples are herb seeds, resin, wood, charcoal, food products, etc. It is possible some research areas will require multiples of a specific sample (in the example below, 17 Dung).

Once all of the equipment has been assembled, the disciple can start the research process. Her goal is to create a mixture: to add the various samples in a given order. However, there are seven samples and therefore many different options to mix them (Dung, Saltpeter and Carrots; Saltpeter, Dung and Carrots; Carrots, Dung and Saltpeter, etc.). Only one is correct.

When a mixture is created, a reaction occurs, and a constitution timer starts for the disciple. The farther she is from the correct order, the longer the timer. Additionally, farther mixtures will result in lost ingredients from some of the samples. Therefore the disciple must try various different mixtures till the correct one is found.

Completing the Test

Assembling one mixture of samples will allow the disciple to construct a Library, a somewhat decorative structure with two interesting uses. The first is acquired as soon as the first mixture is complete: the library will contain a hint regarding some mechanic of the game, for example- high yield locations for vegetables, a fraction of DNA code for flowers, etc, according to the research goals. The Library is always open to the public, and everyone can read the hint. Additionally, schools and universities of thought will have a list of all libraries in the region.

After completing her first mixture, the samples list is reset to a new list. Assembling another mixture of samples will allow the disciple to pass the test. Additionally, completing this stage will unlock another use for the library: a Test of Knowledge-unique skill will be able available at the library. Again, all of Egypt can learn this skill (for free, much like acquiring skills from a university) and the library cannot be hidden.

Even after passing the test the samples list will reset and a new list of forteen samples will be created. Additionally, some new equipment will have to be acquired in order to proceed the research. Assembling the third mixture will give another hint and reset the list. Assembling the forth will allow expansion of the library, and it'll teach an additional Test of Knowledge-specific skill. The list is reset to twenty one samples. The fifth mixture will give some substantial information about the game (for example, location of suitable herb growing spots) and the sixth will allow a last, third expansion of the library, allowing it to teach three or four Test of Knowledge-specific skills. Do notice one is not expected to complete this delicate process till between eight and ten months since the introduction of the test.

Notes:

1. The initial equipment and samples should not be too expansive, unlike some of the current tests of Thought which border on Architecture. After passing the test (and proceeding to further research) one will be required to assemble some rarities, and the samples may become expansive.
2. The idea is that a network of libraries will replace some of the skills given at universities, for example, Marble Mechanics will only be learned at certain libraries.

Example

• Once again, notice this example includes some additional ideas, not incorporated in the explanation above.

ArinVizen is an eager initiate to Thought who wishes to aid Egypt's research. He approaches a University of Thought:

In order to pass the Test of Knowledge, you must assist our research efforts. The first step will be to build a Laboratory.
We have received assistance requests from the University of Worship. Please go consult with the scientists there once your laboratory is built.

ArinVizen builds a Laboratory for 400 Boards, 150 Bricks and 20 Canvas. He then approaches a University of Worship:

Ahhh, at last! A young, brilliant scholar to help us. We are currently carrying research into Advanced Vegetable Growing. Equip your laboratory with the following:
* 200 Mud
* 200 Grass
* 50 Dirt
* 20 Water in Jugs
* 7 Glass Rods
* 6 Raeli Tiles: Black
* 5 Research Tubes (Quality 4k+)
* 4 Tweezers
* 3 Gold
* 2 Distillation Coils (Quality 3k+)
* 1 Silk Cloth

Additionally, you should use the following samples: 17 Dung, 10 Saltpeter, 5 Onions, 3 Leeks, 1 Rabbits, 3 Nefertari's Crown Mushroom, 1 Blue Catalyst.

ArinVizen quickly assembles the above resources with the assistance of his guild. He also manages to acquire a large amount of samples, other than the Nefertari's Crown Mushrooms and the Blue Catalyst, of which he has a precious few. Still, counting on luck to assist him, he quickly assembles the following chain:

3 Leeks -> 1 Blue Catalyst -> 17 Dung -> 5 Onions -> 10 Saltpeter -> 3 NC Mushrooms -> 1 Rabbit

After mixing the chain, he finds out that 2 Dung, 1 Saltpeter, an Onion and a Leek were ruined. Additionally he is incurred with almost two hours of Constitution timer, which he uses to take a short break and watch House MD on television. Returning later, he tries the following mixture:

3 Leeks -> 1 Blue Catalyst -> 5 Onions -> 17 Dung -> 10 Saltpeter -> 3 NC Mushrooms -> 1 Rabbit

However, to his misfortune, 3 Onions, 2 Mushrooms, 1 Dung and his precious Blue Catalyst are lost, along with four hours of Constitution timer... Quite a setback, and he just started! However, Arin is not the one to despair quickly. He trades for more Blue Catalyst, and later returns to his lab, trying:

3 Leeks -> 5 Onions -> 17 Dung -> 1 Blue Catalyst -> 10 Saltpeter -> 3 NC Mushrooms -> 1 Rabbit

And luckily only one of each Leek, Dung and Saltpeter are lost, along with the sad, sad Rabbit, and a timer of slightly less than an hour. Recovering his bunny, Arin tries:

5 Onions -> 3 Leeks -> 17 Dung -> 1 Blue Catalyst -> 3 Nefertari's Crown Mushrooms -> 10 Saltpeter -> 1 Rabbit

Six resources are lost, amongst them another Blue Catalyst, and a pretty long timer is incurred. Using some assistance from his guild, and this time armed with a handy Constitution recipe (which allows him to experiment faster), in a few days Arin manages to find the correct order (which, on this case, is simply the order of the ingredients given above. Wicked irony).

Upon completion he turns in his results to the University of Worship, and given permission to build a library. Anyone can approach the library and read the following clue:

Thanks to ArinVizen's elaborate research, Egypt now knows that a good Onion growing spot exists between 1300,-800 and 1500,-900, and that a good Leek growing spot exists between -400,200 and -500,500.

Additionally, Aran now has a new research goal. Completing it will allow his library to teach Advanced Vegetable Growing.

Why Should the Test of Knowledge be Chosen for Next Telling?

First and foremost, Thought is currently all about puzzles. Building them, designing them, and unfortunately, getting enough votes. Many players consider it a tedious discipline, as it seems to combine the difficult and unfavorable parts of Architecture and Worship. I believe that this test keeps the original spirit of Thought (including an element of puzzle-solving) but breaks the regular mold.

This test is easy to code and implement. It can be released early, allowing Egypt to hasten research efforts of more exotic technologies, without being dependent on universities. Advanced levels can offer some unusual skills, and as the telling draws to its ending, allow Egypt to choose which powerful technologies to obtain. Its difficulty levels allow much tuning (constitution timers and amount of resources used) setting the test to either being a few hours of persistent work, or several days of mixing and trying.

And the most important point- I think this test can be fun, and has a little bit to offer to each player. Leaders can coordinate research efforts, architects can assist in constructing labs, explorers in acquiring resources and thinkers in actually cracking the puzzle and the correct order.