A Tale In The Desert III - Overview

"A Tale in the Desert (also often to referred to as ATITD) is an online game set in ancient Egypt where players work together to build the perfect society. It uses the internet to allow thousands of players to play together in the same world. All of the characters you will see and talk to in the game are controlled by other people just like you, not by a computer. A Tale in the Desert is the first online game to focus on long-term planning and long-term goals rather than combat. Goals include the creation of great works of art and architecture, becoming a powerful leader, and building wealth."

"The game is a blend between city-building games and games of guile like Diplomacy and Illuminati. There's no combat - you must win by smart management and sharp-witted negotiation, not by weapons. The game has a plot that unfolds in response to player actions, and when the story is over, the game ends."

When you first start the game you are a Level 0 Peasant. To gain your first level you must complete the Principles of Citizenship. The principles are clearly listed under a tab of the same name in the lower left hand window. Initially each principle is marked "No", indicating you have not completed that principle. The principle will be marked "Done" when you complete the steps required to satisfy it. Once you have completed all the Principles of Citizenship you will advance to Level 1 and gain the title of "Citizen".

Every time you gain a level you will be presented with a screen that shows what tests and technology you have gained access to, and what you will gain access to when you complete the next level.

As tests are unlocked or released their associated principles become available to players that have achieved or surpassed the level of that test, providing those players with another way in which to gain a level.

You can join with a group of players to create an area in Egypt for yourselves where you share the chores and trials of citizenship.

The game initially began development as primarily economy-based in framework. As the game progressed, more elements began to crop up relating to science, research, and politics. Ultimately, these aspects of the game's structure became known as "disciplines." There are seven disciplines in total in the game: art, leadership, thought, worship, architecture, human body and conflict.

Learning skills is extremely expensive. To recoup the cost, you must figure out how to hire out your skills to other players. As a result the player must figure out what their goods are worth, and what their time is worth. They must decide whether to give things away freely, and hope for generosity in return, or whether to trade on a more controlled, negotiated basis.

See Skills

To progress through the game, players need to increase their powers by performing ritual tests of character These are called 'Tests'.

Each test is a unique ritual that increases the players powers. They run the gamut from building a pyramid, to breeding and exhibiting a scarab beetle, to winning a dueling tournament, to searching for hidden altars, to winning an election. They only have one thing in common: they all require the player to strategize against other players

There is no combat within ATITD III

There is no lore to this game other than it is set in ancient Egypt the players create the lore for themselves.

One of the main objectives for the community of A Tale in The Desert is to lift Egypt out of anarchy to create true civilization.

A civilization must have rules: rules about who gets to own which piece of land, rules about what kind of pollution is permitted, rules about inappropriate behavior, rules about who gets to benefit from your research labors, rules about who owns which vein of ore. Egyptians must choose these rules for themselves