Affirmative. A recommended class is given by the Administrators at the end of the Tutorial. A player may decline and try to gain a class on their own, but a class is both difficult to acquire and expensive. Classes generally seem to be a combination of an area of expertise and a job or role. For instance, a Nanotech Medic, a Psi Healer, an Energy Swordsman, a Techno-thief, a Space Marine or a Fighter Pilot, to name a few. Of course, players may perform any of these roles without the class, just much more ineffectively.
Additionally, a player may choose to hold any number of classes. As classes require a large number of skill points to be invested in them, most players concentrate on one or two classes. Most class-abilities have a general ability counterpart, which anyone can learn.
Huh, Alan thought, so pretty much any sort of job imaginable is fair game, along with some sort of sub-class or sub-field.
Yes, though psi-based abilities and technology tend to not mix well.
All right, so… wait, Alan sent, a thought suddenly occurring to him, Let’s say I did end up being marked as hostile by the United World Government; would that mean in real life I’d be determined an enemy of the state?
Negative. As previously stated in the Senator’s speech, the Game is meant to be a virtual space for war. All Gamers possess various fundamental rights granted to them by the Enforcers, the real world arm of the Administrators. Any violent action against or detention of a Gamer against their will in the real world is punishable by death.
Wait, death?
Correct. Any serious threats, bribes or crimes committed outside the Game are similarly punished by the Enforcers, who may be easily contacted either through the game capsule, an Administrator or a provided phone number and email address. While you may think people are capable of getting away with murder or such crimes through proxies and the like, the Enforcers possess technology and resources far beyond any other civilization. There have been no recorded cases of successful kidnapping or murder of Gamers in the known universe since the Game began.
Damn. That’s sort of badass. And scary. Wait, also, you’re saying this only applies to Gamers? What about my parents?
Any actions against your parents to coerce you would be considered similar to an action against you. A random mugging would not, unless it resulted in death, as murder of any sentient life is taken seriously by the Enforcers. This distinction has caused a tiered system within the universe. An upper class, Gamers, and then those who are unable to play the Game. Nevertheless, I would surmise there are also various jobs in the real world that only non-gamers would be able to hold. If you had paid any attention to current events, you’d have noticed all the reports of a remarkable decrease in crime, and the protests against the Enforcers orbiting Earth, punishing criminals who commit crimes on Earth. Many are upset by the idea that the entirety of the universe is under the Enforcers’ jurisdiction.
Alan jogged along, five minutes away from the base, trying to process this new information, when he was interrupted by a message from Thiago:
T: We’re pretty sure this is your fault. You’d better be able to explain yourself fully.
Great.
***
Alan took a deep breath before he spoke, staring into the glaring, accusing eyes of the rest of the group. They’d all gathered in the main room in the bunker, standing around Alan as he tried to defend his actions.
“Look, I’m sorry for what happened," Alan said. "It was stupid, and I know that, but let me explain myself. After Ace and Daisy left, everything went to hell. There was a full on war downtown!
"Eve suggested that in the confusion I try to kill a sniper and steal their items, as I was still missing a ranged weapon. So, I did. But, somehow, the United World Government was able to determine I killed the sniper. It was an accident, and it never should have turned out this way.”
“Are you a fucking moron?” DaLong asked, rage seething in his eyes, as he pushed Alan into a table. “Did you seriously think, oh, this is just a stupid fucking game, I can go kill that player, take their items, and no one will care? Did you consider that you, a nobody who shouldn’t even be here, could jeopardize this entire group with your actions?”
Alan began a reply, struggling to move away from DaLong, “Hey, wait, look, I wasn’t trying—”
“Of course you weren’t. You weren’t trying to fuck us all over, but you did. You continue to think of this as a game, rather than an actual world, a world where a single action can affect everything else, perhaps even the fate of humanity. Instead, you’re preoccupied with gathering loot and experience and skills, unaware that your every action could change the balance.
"What if you taking out a sniper changed the fate of this battle? Do you even know which side is which? No, of course you don’t, you’re just a little kid out of his depth, being told what to do by the babysitter you invented. I don’t get how someone so fucking smart that they created a functioning AI can make so many stupid decisions.” DaLong continued ranting, spittle spraying onto Alan’s face.
“Now, look," Alan said, "I don’t know about you, but I have zero experience with any of this shit. I’ve never fought anybody but a couple of kids in grade school. Making Eve, that was done using an online tutorial, with lots of time, dumb luck and book smarts. She basically taught herself, playing games that I provided.
"The only experience close to this is what I’ve read in books or seen in movies or played in games. I haven’t had time to consider the implications of my every action, and, despite what you seem to think, this is clearly a game. That means taking risks when the rewards are worth it,” Alan replied as he stared back at DaLong.
Thiago stepped forward, grabbing DaLong’s arm as he almost struck Alan, pulling him back. “Yes, this is a game," Thiago said. "But it is also the Game, and currently, your actions don’t just affect your own standing, but our entire group’s. All of our reputations with the United World Government have been lowered, which is problematic. For now though we need to focus on the Tutorial.
"There are bigger forces at play, things beyond the scope of your understanding. We are playing for much greater stakes and you need to take that into account. If you cross the line again, and act against our interests, I will end you. I will ensure that you are hunted, unable to play the Game, by putting a bounty on your head so large nowhere in the galaxy will be safe.”
Aren’t threats punishable? Report him! Alan sent Eve.
Only outside the Game. Threats inside the Game are perfectly permissible. Now, I advise that you try to shift blame, question their interests, accuse Ace of betraying the group, providing the United World Government with the information necessary to identify you. Alan, fueled by rage, readily accepted Eve’s advice, as it also struck a chord of truth in his own mind.
“Wait, act against your interests?" Alan asked. "How am I supposed to not act against your interests when I don’t even know what your interests are? There’s clearly something that you’re hiding from me. The only reason that the United World Government was even able to identify me is because Ace over there sold them information about our group, which, if I’d been informed of, probably would have influenced my actions.”
“Is this true, Ace?” Thiago asked, turning to look at the quiet soldier. Ace shrugged. Thiago narrowed his eyes, then looked back at Alan. “All right, whatever. We’ll discuss this further after the fight, if you manage to survive. Know that you’re walking on thin ice. Go spend your ability points or whatever, I hope you can use that sniper rifle you got. Then go make yourself useful and scout out this base. Ace can hopefully help us figure out how to capture it.”