RTS Free Roam

Either in-between the two main mission lines or at the end of the second mission line the player is given access to wander freely throughout the entire RTS world.  Icons will begin popping up on the compass and the map indicating various activities that they can get involved in.  There are Side Missions to get involved in, Lore Collectibles to find, Respawn Towers to unlock and just general sites to see.  Below is a partial list of things you can come across.

## Side Missions

Side Missions are similar in structure to many of the tasks found in the main missions.  They are straight forward and usually contain a single task for the player to do.  If you fail to do it, the mission will start over giving you another chance to complete it.  If you succeed in completing it, a Flag Icon will appear somewhere in the area and interacting with it will let you play the mission again.

If you don’t feel like completing the mission you are on, you can always just walk away from the area.  This will end the mission and you are free to head off and try other things.

### Mining Camp Chaos

##### Synopsis

Defend the ore deposits in the cave from waves of Undead Workers.

##### Solution

 You only have to survive a certain number of waves, so as long as you stop them from mining every piece of ore you’ll win.  If you find the area getting low on ore you can choose to stand your ground by one piece and defend it with everything you have.

### Construction Destruction

##### Synopsis

The village is trying to expand but the Undead are certainly making it hard for them. They could use a little protection while they get their structures up and running.

##### Solution

 If you’ve already done the Crossover Mission, the Dash is great for closing distance quickly and hitting a group of Undead who are swarming around the building.  And the Head Stomp is great for taking out higher Hit Point enemies like the Dark Fighters and Death Knights.

### Hilltop Farm Invasion

##### Synopsis

Defeat multiple waves of the Undead as they assault the Hilltop Farm, for... wheat-related reasons, no doubt.

##### Hint

Use whatever skills you have to stay alive

##### Solution

 Keep a close eye on your health and retreat to a safe spot as often as you can.  You only have one life here, so if you die at any point in this mission you have to do the whole thing over.

### Minor Miners

##### Synopsis

Jessica and Jeremy, also known as Jessemy, oh and also their friend Cubby, are apparently mining right next to the enemy wall. They need some help as this is a profoundly bad decision.

##### Solution

 **Pro Tip:** This event happens near the path of a wandering army.  Depending on the timing, the fighting happening here might draw in extra enemies making the encounter that much harder.  If you see them out wandering around, you might want to consider taking them out before starting this encounter.

### Quaint Quagmire

##### Synopsis

Defend the quaintest farmstead ever from the Undead, thus preserving its quaintness.

##### Solution

 **Pro Tip:** This event happens near the path of a wandering army.  Depending on the timing, the fighting happening here might draw in extra enemies making the encounter that much harder.  If you see them out wandering around, you might want to consider taking them out before starting this encounter.

## Lore Collectibles

Scattered all throughout the RTS world are pieces of Lore that you can find.  Some of the lore has been created by Ada, your AI companion and exists as USB drives.  The rest of it was created by the AI that live in the world and exists in all sorts of different forms like books, scrolls, notes, etc.  All of it will give you insight into what life is like inside the RTS world.  In your JOURNAL you will find a LORE tab that will help you keep track of what you have found and what you haven’t.

Ada’s Lore will show up on the Map and the Compass with an icon that looks like a USB drive while the in-world lore will be displayed as a piece of paper icon.  Search everywhere, as most of the Lore will not show up on the compass until you get within close range of it.  Some of them will be out in the open and easy to find, while others might be tucked away in some dark crevasse, and still others won’t be accessable until you solve a puzzle.

### Ada’s USBs

##### Synopsis

Scattered throughout the RTS world are USB Drives containing observations from Ada about life here.

##### Hint

The majority of Ada’s lore are only acquirable by solving a puzzle.  Observation and experimentation are key for solving them.

### Fearn’s Journal

##### Synopsis

Scattered throughout the RTS forests are pages from Fearn’s journal that give you more insight into her life.

##### Hint

If you find a magical fairy, you might want to try following it.

### Human Town

##### Synopsis

Scattered throughout the Human Town are various books, scrolls and notes all containing samples of life from the various people that wrote them.

##### Hint

Search everywhere.  The lore will only pop up on your compass when you get pretty close to them.

### Undead City

##### Synopsis

Scattered throughout the Undead City are various items all containing samples of life from the various Undead that wrote them.

##### Hint

Search everywhere.  The lore will only pop up on your compass when you get pretty close to them.  Some might be in out of the way spots.

### Mining Camp

##### Synopsis

Scattered throughout the Mining Camp are various journals containing the foreman’s thoughts about things happening there.

##### Hint

Some of the journals are out in the open, others will take some creative thinking to acquire.

### Construction Site

##### Synopsis

Scattered throughout the Construction Site (AKA New Village) are various books, scrolls and notes all containing samples of life from the various people that wrote them.

##### Hint

Search everywhere.  The lore will only pop up on your compass when you get pretty close to them.

## Respawn Towers

##### Synopsis

At various spots in the RTS World you can discover what appears to be a small tower with a flag on it, surrounded by a few crates. These objects are Respawn Towers. Towers must be activated in order for you to use them and you do so by interacting with them. Once activated they serve a dual purpose:

1. If you happen to die during Free Roam mode, you will respawn at the closest activated tower.
2. Also during Free Roam, if you open your map and click on one of the Tower Icons, you will find in the info panel next to it that you have the option to "Travel" to it. Clicking that button will instantly teleport you to that tower location allowing you to fast travel across the world. This only works during Free Roam! If you try to use it while you are on a Mission you will get a notice letting you know that you can't do it.

## Crossover Mission

##### Synopsis

Somewhere in the world is a mysterious portal that takes you to a completely different land and when you arrive you embark on an adventure to aid someone there.

### Task 1: Level Intro

##### Synopsis

Having arrived in the strange new land, Ada explains a little of what she thinks is happening and equips you with some new gifts to aid you.

##### Solution

 Dash is an active ability and can be swapped in to replace your Sword (the first time you arrive here that should automatically happen). It causes you to surge forward and do damage to everything you hit. Double Jump and Head Stomp are passive abilities and have now been integrated as part of your normal abilities. Double Jump allows you to press the jump button a second time to get extra distance and/or extra height on your jump. Head Stomp allows you to land on the head of an enemy after a jump and do damage to them.

### Task 2: Defeat the Undead Forces

##### Synopsis

The bad guys have appeared and its up to you to take care of them.

##### Solution

 The Undead Forces will head towards towards you and towards the boat nearby. It is your job to defeat every one of them. Doing so will trigger your next task. Because of their size, sometimes it can be easy to miss seeing them. You might have to search all around the boat area to find all of them.

### Task 3: Approach the Boat

##### Synopsis

A strange voice triggers your interest in the near by boat.

### Meeting Pilbee Cinematic

##### Synopsis

You meet a new friend who asks for your help in escaping the island

### Task 4: Follow Pilbee

##### Synopsis

You start following your new friend and begin your new quest.

### Task 5: Solve the Ruins Puzzle

##### Synopsis

You have been led to some ruins that seem to block your way.

##### Solution

 The solution for each one is rather easy, as all you need to do is move the only slider value available to you until the piece locks into place in the correct location. The first two platforms require you to adjust their Rotation and the next two require you to adjust their Position.

### Task 6: Solve the Switches Puzzle

##### Synopsis

Pilbee leads you to the edge of a volcano that doesn't appear to have a way across.

##### Solution

 Standing on that switch causes a third to light up in the temple-like structure that will be right in front of you. Some skillful jumping will get you over to it and allow you to flip the third switch. Doing so will cause a pathway to rise up out of the lava and allow Pilbee to get across.

### Task 7: Solve the Final Puzzle

##### Synopsis

Pilbee has arrived at another impassible barrier and needs your help yet again in order to finish his journey.

##### Solution

 Once you flip the fourth switch, the rocks will stop moving and form a path that Pilbee can get across. But the job is not over yet. Undead Forces begin appearing again and you need to take care of them so Pilbee can safely make his way along the lip of the volcano to the Portal. There is no one solution here, just use whatever you like that will get rid of the enemies blocking the way. Be careful if you use Dash here though because if you overshoot, you can sail right off the volcano and will have to work your way all the way back up.

### End Cinematic

##### Synopsis

Pilbee thanks you for your help and you send him on his way.

Once the cinematic is over, you have to interact with the portal yourself in order to make your way back to the RTS World.