EA-LEC Weekly Prompt: Game Mechanics

Okay, I’m not sure WHY I made this decision, but I wanted to take something from my national culture and incorporate it into this prompt. I was trying to have fun… it ended up going in a weird direction. I understand this is just really, erm, WEIRD, but I couldn’t think of any other way. So, enjoy. Or try to.

[This is the middle of a round of pro-gaming of what has recently become the most popular MMORPG game, Exercitus Artifex: League of Extraordinary Characters. There are two players, sitting in front of their computers in the “stadium”. On one end is Psyche, with Lima at the other end. Between them is a large screen, projecting the gameplay each side is doing. Below the screen, at the back center of the stage, three people are sitting in front of microphones: Diana, Tiny, and Uotome.]

Diana: And it currently seems as if Psyche is gaining the upper hand! Seems like she’s made the right choice of characters!

Uotome: Indeed. You’d think that with a character like Laine, you wouldn’t make much headway against anyone.

Diana: Even at a low level, it seems that some player can utilize the character’s Shockwave Magic fairly well!

[The screen displays Laine, Psyche’s chosen main character, firing a bunch of red shockwaves at Yuuden, Lima’s chosen main character. The boy is constantly taking hits from the girl on all ends, unable to attack the girl at her current speed.]

Tiny: It seems that Lima’s going to have to step up her game a little in order to pull through!

[Lima’s other supporting characters have just defeated a bunch of surrounding ents and join up behind Laine.]

Diana: Uh-oh! It seems Lima’s characters were able to get rid of the distractions on their side first! Psyche’s gonna have to prepa--

All Announcers: Aaaahhhh…

Tiny: She was too late. (shakes head with a smile)

[Onscreen, Laine is taking a series of sword slices from Zaina, while Ashley launches a rather brutal ice attack. In comes Drake, moving faster than Laine, barreling into the character and sending her flying across the screen.]

Diana: Ohoho! This has gotten exciting! Folks, it’s a four-on-one battle, and things are not looking up for Laine’s team. Can Psyche pull the team together in time?

[At that moment, from the upper left corner of the screen, Charcoal, Necross, and Sierra appear. They run towards the battlefield.]

Tiny: Ho, would you look at that!

Uotome: Speak of the devil!

[Charcoal immediately lets out a large blast of fire, damaging everyone on the opposing team.]

Diana: Ohhhh, burn! Unfortunately, using a character like Charcoal uses up a whole lot of MP.

Tiny: Wonder what she’s planning. She’s got an odd combination of characters.

Uotome: For that matter, both sides have picked a few unusual characters to support their main.

Diana: Eh. We’ll have to wait and see.

[Onscreen, all eight characters are shown closing in at the center, preparing for an all-out battle. The audience begins to grow wild with cheers and whoops.]