Changes

=== Shop ===

=== Shop ===

:The player can access the shop any time not in battle during the game by pressing the O (circle) button. Once in the shop, the player can select an item by using the directional pad or by clicking on it. They will then be able to select a quantity in the same fashion. However, it is up to the player to input how much they are willing to pay for items and up to the player whether or not to accept deals on the merchant’s end. The idea behind this is to simulate real world scenarios. The merchant will occasionally intend to provide the player a bad deal as well.

:Players can have access to an in-game shop by finding our friend, the merchant. He will be located in random rooms throughout the game. When the player encounters him, they will be able to open up a shop menu. From here, they may choose to buy or sell items. The merchant accepts akhals, which is fortunate because these coins are the available currency picked up in the dungeons. Use akhals to purchase various items or sell collectables in exchange for more akhals. Upon selecting a desired item to buy or sell, the player can then input how many of the item he or she wishes to include in the deal. The merchant’s store will keep updating as the game progresses so be sure to keep an eye for new arrivals.

 

:There is a trick to shopping with this merchant, however. He will attempt to confuse the players into being cheated out of their hard earned money. Everything available in the shop for purchase as well as selling has a suggested akhal value associated with it. The players are responsible for calculating their own deals with the merchant. He or the player can get the better end of things, so exercise caution when dealing with this slippery fellow. Don’t become a victim!

 

Consumer mode is the easiest setting, virtually turning off the merchant’s ability to confuse the player. This will cause the shop interactions to be normal and fair representations of a store. They player will still be responsible for solving the mathematical aspects, but the merchant will aid the player through the process, not allowing for an incorrect input. Thus, the player will learn how to very accurately count their fortune. In a scenario, the player wishes to purchase four remedies at a suggested 20 akhal a piece. The merchant will ask for input from the player, who believes that the inherent problem of “4 x 20” is “100.” He inputs “100” as the answer. The merchant then says, “That will be 80 akhal please. Hey, wait a second. You gave me too much here. Could you count that again?” The merchant will ensure the player is accurate with the transaction so the deal is not tipped in anyone’s favor. The deal is always exactly what is stated.

 

:Trader mode is a normal difficulty setting for the shop and set by default. This mode will cause the merchant to confuse players, attempting to elicit money from them. He will cloud their judgment in their calculations and attempt to cause the players to accept a corrupt deal. Players may also seek to do the same to the merchant while selling stock as well. In a scenario, if a player wishes to purchase four remedies, which are marked at a suggested 20 akhal a piece, they must inherently solve the multiplication problem “4 x 20”. The player knows that to be “80” and tells the merchant. Being a crafty individual, the merchant says to the player, “I don’t think so! You sure you know how to calculate math? 90 please. What do you think?” Well our player is no slump, so he offers “80” again. The merchant then retorts with, “Fine. I can see there’s no tricking you today. Here.” In this scenario, the player stuck to their roots to make a proper deal with the merchant. Things get rather tricky when the player is wrong. In this case, the merchant will (after the deal has been made) mention it to the player. “Ha ha, I just made an extra 20 akhal profit! Better luck next time.” The deal in this difficulty can go in anyone’s favor. The merchant is open to more types of trade and thus, the player can potentially take advantage of a more beneficial deal.

 

:Merchant mode is a hard difficulty setting. The main difference here is that you may only encounter the merchant a limited number of times. After you reach this amount, he will no longer pay mind to you. This forces the players to make larger deals at a single time since they may no longer visit him as freely as they may need. In a scenario, the player wishes to purchase four remedies at a suggested 20 akhal a piece. Knowing the merchant is going no longer be available in the future, the player also figures he may as well purchase two elixirs at a suggested 30 akhal a piece. Rather than the inherent math being a simple multiplication problem (4 x 20), it has been forced to become a complex one (4 x 20 + 2 x 30). The same sort of dialogue transpires between the merchant and player as mentioned above in Trader mode. This time, though, the deals are more complex so there is more at stake. The merchant is more apt to accept deals that can heavily benefit the player. (more so than in Trader mode)