Test of the Three Kingdoms

Test of Three Kingdoms

Abstract

In the Test of Three Kingdoms, small groups of players must cooperate to build cenotaphs (a monument of respect to the dead) representing the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms of Egypt. Your work will be inspected daily by the finest instructors of architecture in Egypt. If you can gain enough favor with the instructors, your cenotaph will be constructed! Complete three cenotaphs, representing the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, and you will pass the test! But, how will you complete this task? Will you strictly cooperate with you peers and hope for the best, or will you take the credit all for yourself?

Mechanics of Group Selection

Every day (Egyptian) at midnight, players signed up for the test are sorted into groups. You are eligible for group placement as long as you have signed up and have also logged into your account within the past three Teppy days. There are three types of cenotaphs with different group sizes:

• Old Kingdom - 3 players
• Middle Kingdom - 6 players
• New Kingdom - 12 players

All players are eligible for Old Kingdom, but Middle Kingdom players must have already built an Old Kingdom cenotaph, and likewise New Kingdom players must have already built a Middle Kingdom cenotaph. Each cenotaph you complete grants you one chance to build the next highest type (If you finish 3 Old Kingdom cenotaphs, you can attempt to build a Middle Kingdom type 3 times. There is no requirement to build an Old Kingdom cenotaph.)

The game will attempt to place players in the highest group possible, but if there are not enough players to fill a complete group the game will place them in a lower group. Players who cannot be placed into any of the three group types must wait until the next sorting.

One player in the group, chosen randomly, is given a Cenotaph Construction Kit. This allows that player to place a Cenotaph Construction Site in Egypt much like placing a regular construction site. Your group is given a chat window, and you should place the Construction Site in an easily reachable location for everyone.

Building your Cenotaph

Each of the three cenotaphs has 4 subtypes. Your subtype is randomly chosen when your group is formed. This means not every group is building the exact same type of structure. Subtype details are at the bottom of the page.

Your group has 9 Egyptian days to build your cenotaph. After nine days, failure to build dissolves your group and any progress on the cenotaph is lost, as it crumbles. This check occurs at midnight, so eligible players are immediately sorted into new groups. Note that if you are building a Middle or New Kingdom cenotaph, this counts as one attempt, so you may be required to build another lower level cenotaph to try again.

Each player in the group must make a small contribution to the Cenotaph Construction Site for a building round to be successful. The exact contribution cost is detailed at the bottom of the page. After all players in the group do this and when the next midnight check occurs, the instructors of architecture will inspect your cenotaph and render one of three judgements (picked at random):

• Approve! (Your group gains 7 favor)
• Disapprove. (Your group loses 4 favor. You cannot have less than 0 favor.)
• Mixed feelings... (No favor gained or lost.)

For your cenotaph to be given the 'go ahead' for construction, your group must have a certain amount of favor with the instructors. These are:

• Old Kingdom Cenotaph - 14 favor
• Middle Kingdom Cenotaph - 21 favor
• New Kingdom Cenotaph - 28 favor

If you meet the minimum amount, your cenotaph is finished and all group members receive credit for it! You are eligible for higher level cenotaphs, your group is disbanded, and you are immediately sorted into new groups. If your group doesn't have enough favor, a building round occurs again (each player in the group must re-contribute to the Site again within 9 Egyptian days.) The speed of construction is somewhat group-dependent: a round can finish in as little as 1 Egyptian day or at most 9.

Secret Blueprints

Rumor has it that the Stranger has obtained cenotaph blueprints through illicit means and plans to distribute them to select players. During each building round, one member of the group is randomly chosen to receive secret blueprints to finish the cenotaph site by themselves. This notification is given in the calendar, much like a mentor shrine notification or event prize notification. The cost to do this is considerable: the normal single player contribution cost multiplied by the number of players in your group. If you decide to do this, the contribution is made like a regular one at the Cenotaph Construction Site. When all other members in your group finish their contributions and the next midnight check runs, the cenotaph will automatically get the 'go ahead' you alone will receive credit for its construction! You immediately become eligible for higher level cenotaphs, but unfortunately the other members of your group must try again.

Passing the Test

Finish an Old, Middle, and a New Kingdom cenotaph to pass the test. After passing, you are no longer eligible to placed into groups, but you do become eligible for a new type of Cenotaph group:

• Future Kingdom Cenotaph - 18 players, needs 35 favor to build

The Future Age Cenotaph has no secret blueprints associated with it, so you must cooperate with everyone to build it. Only passed players can be placed into this group, and you may try as many times as you like. Only 1 Future Age Cenotaph can be built in Egypt - one this is done, passed players can no longer participate in any part of the Test of Three Kingdoms. What does the Future Kingdom Cenotaph do? Who knows.... it could be anything!