● Hub World, Qoyote:
• Pov;
Username: MetaGamer.
Real Name: Olivia Olson.
Nickname: The Were-Krogan.


"What's this?" I sat back in my chair, reading over my notifications. 

I looked down at my Hub Computer, whom I named Qoyote... and who looked like a Coyote... in a starfleet uniform. I uploaded him with the "Q" bundle. To make him act like a mischievous god. It even allowed him to appear in white flashes, with the proper sound effects.

Magic might be my weapon of choice, but I was a major Science Fiction nerd. No one would ever guess, based on my Asari Avatar.

Qoyote smiled at me, "It's a bill, written up by User: Smart Mouth, ID Tag: ColtKit_Productions-V0042."

"Seriously," I blinked. "Just how many player's with the tag 'ColtKit_Productions' exist?" The count usually started with "A" before moving down the alphabet each time the numbers reached 9999.

"He custom ordered the tag."

I blinked again, "Now that's just a waste of money." before reading over the bill. A few of the other Administrators had come up with ideas for the game, though not a lot passed.

We Mods doubled as beta testers. Working out the kinks in the game, and coming up with ideas to make it better.

With such a small pool, a few million, it was easy to integrate these changes.

I choked on my morning tea, as I read over this bill. "They want to limit combat powers to direct Avatars?"

"Not all powers," Qoyote informed. "And not for Admins. That advantage is supposed to make it harder for players who break the rules, to get a leg up over law enforcement.

"Basically, the bill would encourage regular players to Switch out their Avatars more often. In order to experiment with combat powers. Well also removing the level cap for everyone's primary Avatar. Which can only be reassigned through a million coin charge. Doubling each time the Primary Avatar is switched with a new racial template. In order to prevent abuse of the system by the player, you understand.

"This new system will also allow all Avatars to be upgraded. By buying new tomes to allow for a pre-set chain of powers. The Tomes will start at one million, times 5, per powers that have already been purchased for that specific Avatar."

"So he wants to make it pay to win." I scowled.

"It's already pay to win." Qoyote grinned at me, with the lopsided grin I gave him... which I somehow found very annoying in that moment. "Or do you think the fact you spent your entire billion credits, on spells and magical power ups, was fair to other players?"

I frowned, reading more, "He also wants to limit how many tomes we can buy, per level."

"That will prevent the rich from merely purchasing all powerful Avatars," My hub insisted.

I frowned more, "I... guess it would. But a Limit of 5 does seem a little low."

"You can add a counter bill, when this one passes."

"When?" I blinked.

"Well most of the Admins are split on it, but we AIs rather like the idea. Most of us have already upvoted it." He confessed. "Honestly, your vote is kinda meaningless at this point. As it already has enough upvotes to be presented to the Council of Programmers. But more player upvotes may convince the Programmers it will actually make the game more fun for players. Which I think it will.

"It's kinda the best of both worlds. The players who want to stay as one type of Avatar can. Where players that crave variety can switch racial templates to their hearts content. And well they can't expand their Avatar's stats beyond the pre-set levels, for non primary Avatars, they can add new powers, and level those up."

"The limited Tome purchases will definitely make it so players can't just buy legendary stats at level one. The current method, of tome purchases having no effect on experience... isn't exactly working as the great deterrent it was intended."

I sighed, "Not really," I admitted. Having done that myself. "I still don't like that players will be restricted by their Avatars, for what powers they can use."

"That's combat powers. Most skill perks, and techniques, will be unaffected. And it really doesn't matter as the bill suggest adding 'Augments', which will only hold a single power or two."

I perked, going back to the screen. "They are bringing back artifacts?"

"Not exactly. More like Gems that can be attached to an Avatar directly.

"Most magical, or superpowered, races could be equipped with 2 Augments. Where as other races, with large penalties, could have up to 3. Weaker races, with lackluster bonuses, could have up to 4. Then Humans could have the most Augments with a wapping total of 5. The most powerful races could have only 1 Augment, or even zero. 

"It really depends on where the race falls on the Power Chart: Novice, Apprentice, Journeymen, Expert, Master, Grand Master, or Legendary 

"However, unlike racial perk, which will have chains of powers, and upgrades. Augments typically only have the one ability. Similar to the 'Fable' series Augments, or how in 'Elder Scrolls: Oblivion' Sigil Stones added a free enchantment. Although Augments slowly get better with use."

"However, they remain a type of free magical enchantment, just attached to the Avatar. Which can be found laying around, earned as quest rewards, or even bought. 

"They will also have a number of uses, per long rest, instead of feeding off your Stamina."

"So more like a wand in dungeons and dragons?" I grinned.

"I suggest you read over the whole thing, before voting on it. Just cuz I like it doesn't mean you will agree with everything. You should always have a complete understanding of what you're voting for."

"Right," I was smiling now. Then frowned. It was only three pages, and while it seemed fine. I had other concerns. "I'll vote on this later," I said, after finishing it.

"Best not to make snap decisions," Qoyote agreed.

"We both know that's not the reason," I sighed.

Qoyote frowned back, "The bill will be presented to the Programmers tomorrow morning... If you go to the Main Oasis Server now, what with it running twice as fast as the Hub computers... you may not get a chance to vote on the bill."

". . . I need to see him.

### •

After calling him, and making sure he was free, I made my way into the Main Oasis Server. I like to spend a week in my VGPs, followed by a few hours in my hub world, then a night in the Oasis, rinse and repeat. That way I can mingle with players, while still working to unlock AIs, even having time to care for townsfolk. It's what the Hub Computers suggested to all players.

I had gone to the usual cafe, just outside the log in station on Market World, at the center of the Galaxy.

"Meta!!!" I heard my name called, as if by an excited puppy. Standing up, I spotted Aech. One of the top Programmers in the world, and member of the High 5, ruling body of the entire planet... and my boyfriend.

He embraced me in a big hug. "I'm happy to see you. It's boring here all by myself." Like Townsfolk, Programmers had a fractured Intelligence. Although their's was due to this massive implant in their heads. It allowed them to multi-task with the skill of a computer.

One version of them was in the Main Oasis Server. Another was in the Ether, as in the "Programming Level" of the game. Then another was in their Hub World, playing VGPs and tending to their Townsfolk. With potentially dozens more of themselves, scattered throughout their MMOs.

Each of these selves was independent, well still connected to each other in a hive mind. With the one in the Hub World being a type of command mode. All thoughts going through them, and being transmitted to everyone else in the hive mind. However they were all the same person.

I smiled as the Cyborg, both in and out of the Oasis, pulled me into a kiss. Once we broke apart, I gave my condolences. "Sorry no one liked the Combat system you designed." as I took my seat.

He rolled his eyes, taking his own. Pulling out the menu to grab a bite to eat. "You know, most of the system is still in use. It's just recieving a few tweeks."

"Pretty major tweeks," I sighed. "Really, how you dealing?"

"It's what a beta test is for." He dismissed.

"So you wouldn't mind if I upvoted the changes?"

He tensed, "Have you?"

"I'm still undecided."

Aech sighed, "They sound like pretty good ideas, I can even see why they are necessary changes... I just wish I thought more about the problems so they wouldn't BE problems."

He looked up. "Looks like you missed your chance to vote... it's just come before us. We've begun debating it."

I reached out and held his hand. He just flashed me his cocky grin. "Don't sweat it, but I could use a bit of a distraction, and this could take a while. Let's eat."

I smiled back, "It's a shame eating is mandatory in a virtual world."

"Now THAT has nothing to do with me," He laughed. "But it does give players an excuse to eat forever, and not worry about getting fat."

### •

● Market Port:
• Pov;
Username: Aech.
Real Name: Helen Harris.
Nickname: H.


After our meal, we decided to stock up on ration packs, and walk over to the port. I could just pull out my ship anywhere, but that was illegal within a city. I didn't feel like fighting the VI guard right now. Once in the port, I found a landing bay, and pulled out my ship from the vehicle inventory, on my profile. 

It currently was the size of a toy. That is until I activated it by giving it a kiss, and throwing it a few yards away. It transformed into a cloud of pixels, and grew to an extraordinary height, before reassembling itself as none other then the XGP, from the anime "Outlaw Star".

Unlike the anime, this baby didn't need multiple people driving it... regardless.

"You mind sitting in navigation?" I tried to act cool as we boarded the ship.

"You just wanna see me naked." She teased. Although once we got into the cockpit, she went down the hatch without a complaint. Even giving me a bit of a show. By turning off her clothes before she even opened the hatch.

I was blushing like mad, but I had asked for it.

Soon after the hatch closed, it began to raise. Revealing a tube, filled with blue liquid, with a very naked Asari.

"Well?" she looked at me, "Aren't you going to get in the pilot's seat?" 

I groaned, realizing she was deliberately teasing me. "Not cool Meta," I huffed, before getting in the pilot's seat.

"You did ask for it." My hub computer commented, from his place in the ship. He didn't NEED to talk to me through the ship, in order to communicate, but he preferred to keep to game mechanics.

I might have better implants in my head, giving me superior computing powers and a hive mind, but I still needed an AI to assist me... mostly to prevent me from cheating too much... and keep me from boredom.

"Shut it Hal!" I pouted. I based him off the rogue AI, from 2001 a Space Odyssey. Which we both got a kick out of. I could tell he found it funny, cuz he was part of my Hive Mind. Which is also how HE could tell I wasn't intending to be rude... although I imagine any outsider could think that.

I began flipping Switches, and turning dials. Flying a ship, was more a luxury. So we tried to make it as complicated, and user friendly, as possible. We programmers understood people would want the joy of flying a real ship, without years of schooling. 

The Teleportation booths were a much easier, and faster, way to travel. Where as Ships were filled with danger... and adventure.

I smiled at the naked lady behind me... it was kinda weird.

I was born a girl, but preferred playing a Male Avatars. Whereas Metagamer was born a boy, and leaned more towards being female. Although they did like the option of switching genders at will. Thinking of themselves as the gender they were wearing at the time... which actually worked for me, given I was bisexual.

We were an odd couple, and only been dating for a little under a year. I had been planning on spoiling her, during our first anniversary... but truthfully wasn't counting on her being selected as a Deputy.

It made sense, I thought as the engines revved up. She was one of the most skilled spell casters in "Oasis: Dreamscape". With magic not really changing much, in this sequel game... 

And she totally cheated, giving herself 10 thousand Magicka points, at level one. Thanks to all the tomes she bought. As well increasing her spell DC to ungodly levels. Before re-buying all her favorite spells.

Frankly her blatant abuse of my system... kinda hit home how flawed it was. I should have realized players wouldn't be satisfied with that... I was mostly upset that such a large update was needed, as opposed to a bill being written to correct it.

Still I couldn't blame any of the players for abusing the system. As a long time Modder, I can say players will often do something because they can, even if it hinders their experience. 

Cheat codes are a thing in most games, and while they can make things more interesting, they can also destroy all challenge a game has.

I'm just glad we caught this  before we went public... just as I'm glad my girlfriend realized I need her right now. This oversight was a rather epic failure on my part. As I had been the one to design that system... and Meta sensed I needed a distraction.

"Woooo," I cheered, as the engine finally produced enough thrust to lift up the ship. "Let's go pirate hunting!" 

"What else would you do with an XGP?" Meta snarked.

"Hell yeah!" This girl got me.