"I challenge you to demonstrate Egypt's unity and its perfection in the Seven Disciplines. I shall work with each Discipline's universities to create Seven Tests. Pass them all and build monuments to each Discipline, and you will convince me." --The Stranger
The objective of A Tale in the Desert is to build the ideal civilization by perfecting the Seven Disciplines of Man. Each discipline contains seven tests to challenge the citizens of Egypt.
In order to attempt any of the tests in a discipline, you must first pass the initiation into that discipline. While the tests are often very difficult (many tests cannot, by design, be passed by more than a small percentage of players), the initiations are achievable by any dedicated player and are designed to give a flavour of the discipline.
Completing a Test will (in some cases) give you a level, a new title, and you may get a reward of some kind (ability to make a new building, extra waypoints, improved stats, etc).
Tests also have principles, which are easier than (and designed to be a sample of) the full test, and grant a level on completion.
Tests have level restrictions Before starting a test or initiation, you must visit the appropriate university to apply. Initiation tests can also be applied for at schools.
As part of the challenge of the Seven Disciplines of Man, we must write a test for each discipline for our grandchildren in years to come. There is a separate section where we are accumulating ideas for our Tale 3 Monument Tests. Ktisibios said that Monuments required instructions that could only be reached via airship travel. Here is a list of known locations for these instructions. Lists of construction costs can be put on the following page: Monuments.
The tests on the Test Pass History page are the ones in which there are points given towards passing. Most of these are awarded at Sunday passes with the exception of Test of the Bureaucrat and Test of the Coalition . Test of the Singing Cicada is not included on this page because its pass history is recorded elsewhere. Feel free to update this page after Sunday passes or Bureau or Coalition passes.
Architecture is the discipline of the builder. Architects will build monuments that require many hours of labour to complete.
Art is the creative discipline. Artists create works of beauty and compete to win the approval of others.
Body is the discipline of the traveller. Tests of Body generally require that the player wander far and wide.
Harmony disciples participate in creating the perfect society.
Leaders govern with the support of others.
Followers of Thought design games of skill and chance to entertain their fellow players.
Worship is the discipline of cooperation. Tests of Worship require that many players act together in concert.