Guide on Novels and Games - VIDEOGAME CHARACTERS - PART 5 - IDLE

This is probably the most brillant and, at the same time, mad thing I'll come out in this guide.

As all of you know this type of games have process active for all the time the player have the game open or not but let me make an example... I start the game and go to a farm and say to grow strawberries, the farm start to work and every 10 minutes give me one unit of food, I close the game and open back after one hour and found that the farm produced six units of food.

When we talk about idle games we need to understand that there are basically two types of them that are the one based on currency and the one based on currency and resources.

## ONLY CURRENCY

In this case all the game is based on obtain the money and use it for boost the activities or buy new activities for increase the quantity produced but let me give you a simple example... I have the map of a city and own a little shop that make bread, from it I obtain money that I can invest for increase the quality of the bread and sell it more (level up for increase the quantity of money produced) but I can too buy a new bakery or another type of shop for increase the money I earn.

Normally in this type of situation the game follow this steps:

1. Start the game
2. Start the level
3. Earn money
4. Upgrade money incoming's source
5. Reach milestone
6. Advance to the next level where you restart from the beginning but without lose eventual unlocked bonus

## CURRENCY AND RESOURCES

At first sight can appear that in this case the only change is that aside manage and obtain money we obtain resources too... well, it's not that wrong think like that but for give you a better idea of how it work let me use an example... I start with some money and buy a sawmill that at the beginning produce logs that I can sell for money, with that I unlock the planks production and using logs, planks and money I unlock a farm that give me food that I use for upgrade the farm, then after obtained enough money I unlock a mine, etcetera etcetera etcetera.

In a idle game with resources I play there is a warehouse with limited space for store the materials, this function is good because add more management to the game, especially since the reources are sold for money and so, have a warehouse with unlimited storing ability break the balance.

As is possible notice, in the second version of the game is a player need to manage and obtain resources that are used for obtain money and upgrade structures

Now I can start to talk about this as a power for characters... probably some had already some idea cross their mind so let me tell you how I think this can be used as power.

First of all the model to use is the one with resources and currency for the simple reason that if you use the currency-only model the progression is stupid and than is better use something else.

For a good explanation of how work I'll list the various structures and their function, please remember that all of this is basically a game like power so while reading visualize this as something an MC use... all the power listed here are basically MC game powers but in this case I think is better remember this more respect the other powers...

* Home, in this structure we can see all the skills and stats that the user have and level them up using the points "harvested" in the other structures, the house is too a source of in game money that can't be used outside. This structure have as upgrade the quantity of money earned, the max level of the structures and how much X time money is earned.
* School/University/Library, in this structure is possible obtain points used for increase mental related stats and abilities, for example is possible increase the ability of memorize, thought speed, etc. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive points and increase the quantity of the points earned.
* Magic school, this structure is think if the MC live in a world where magic is present, in this structure is possible obtain points that can be used on magic skills like specific spells (increase the effect of the spells) or specific type of magic (decrease energy consumprion to the possible minimum without lower the result, basically use the less possible energy input for obtain the max possible output), this two are just examples but one can use the points for anything from boost to add special effects. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive points and increase the quantity of the points earned.
* Book store, from this structure is possible obtain currency and the resource "book" that is used for the upgrade of School/University/Library plus is possible convert "book" into "magic book" that is a resource used for upgrade Magic school. The upgrades of this structure are the unlocking of the magic books, if Magic school is present, increase the quantity of books earned and the lower the delay production of the books
* Gym, in this structure is possible obtain points that are used for level up the physical stats and abilities. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive points and increase the quantity of the points earned.
* Training battle ground, in this structure is possible obtain points that are used for level up battle related skills like gunmanship or weapon techniques like the classical X cut sword skill that we encounter in manga and anime. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive points and increase the quantity of the points earned.
* Engineering department, this structure generate points used for level up crafting and repair skills. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive points and increase the quantity of the points earned.
* Home school, this structure generate points used for level up home related skills like cleaning and cooking. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive points and increase the quantity of the points earned.
* Farm, this structure generate the resource food that is a common resource used for upgrade all the structures. The upgrades of this structure are less the time for receive resources and increase the quantity of the food obtained.
* Factory, this structure give the various materials that are used for the upgrades (metal, wood, electronic parts, etc.) The upgrades of this structure are the unlocking of the various materials for the various upgrades, increase the quantity of books earned and the lower the delay production of the books

Each ability and stats have its own point so for example there are points for the memorize stat, points for the calculation skill, etc.

In the case of magical abilities the points are divided for attributes so there are fire points, water points, etc.

Neutral attribute and spells that don't have one use void attribute that is the japanese neutral attribute

All the structures have as default a single production slot but using money and resources is possible unlock new ones

And now the bonus... for the one that don't know idle games than I need to tell you that in some of them is possible obtain certain bonus completing specific tasks.

In this system the bonus possible are:

* Temporary time boost
* Temporary point earning points
* Low resources required for upgrade
* Low money required for upgrade

If anyone want to use this system is free to alter it as much it want.

In a future version of the guide I'll write more specific values.