++ SAPIENS - THE TRIBAL GAME ++

The game Sapiens is divided into different modules where each has a specific function and goal that will be explained in this section.

Natural caves beautified with parietal paintings are the shelters of predilection for the Homo sapiens. Therefore it’s not surprising that each game of Sapiens starts off in the cave.

Image 3.1 : The main menu

The main menu offers 4 choices:

Authentication : Allows you to sign in to the Sapiens server in order to start a game.
Configuration: Gives access to the different game options (section 1.3)
Credits: Displays the list of people that had a part in created the Sapiens game..
Quit : Exits the game and returns you to the windows desktop.

The authentication menu is used to identify your self to the Sapiens server. Enter your user name and your password which were given to you when you created your user account (section 1.2.3).

Click on the Accept button to validate your information. If you have an active character you shall be presented with the Session choice. If you have yet to create a character, or if your character has died, you will be presented with the character creation screen.

The character creation menu allows you to create a character in the Sapiens world. Each player can only have up to 1 character at a time per Sapiens account. If for some reason you no longer wish to play with your current character and would like to start a new one, you will have to send him in exile (section 3.8).

In order to create your character you must specify 4 characteristics before clicking on the Accept button.

Name: The name of your character is very important since it’s the name that you shall be recognized by throughout the game. Try and find something simple, easy to remember and that would fit well in prehistoric times. You can only use a name that has not previously been used before, either by you, or by someone else, dead or alive. As a last resort, you can always add a number to the end your name to differentiate yourself.
Gender: Even though some scientific observations tend to show that there was a division of tasks based on gender, the game Sapiens does not take that into consideration. The gender choice or your character has no consequence on the game, other that aesthetic ones.
Appearance: The choices available for your character’s appearance will help distinguish yourself from the others. You can choose different colours for your skin, as well as some skin tattoos.
Symbol: The symbol of your character represents his affinities on the spiritual plane. It is by this symbol that people shall remember you character in the Sanctuary of the Ancestors.

Before playing Sapiens, you need to choose which session you’re going to join. A session represents a portion of the tribe where you will evolve and can hold up to 32 people simultaneously. Since the tribe is composed of the totality of the sessions available, you are not obliged to choose the same session each time.

You might prefer sessions with less people if your internet connection is not that fast, however the sessions with more people will offer more possibilities of meeting interesting people.

Once you’ve chosen your session, click on the Accept button to continue towards the crossroad.

The crossroad allows you to access the Valley, the Sanctuary, or to return to the main menu.

The sanctuary is the main section of the cave and is divided into 2 sections: active members and worthy ancestors. Each section contains a vast wall where we can find (by decreasing tribal rank) the active members of the tribe and the most worthy ancestors.

In each section you can navigate the list of names with the arrows on the right of the screen, or do a search by typing the name in the field reserved for this at the bottom of the screen and by clicking Ok. Finally you can return to the Sanctuary entrance by clicking the Return button.

Having ones name in the list of Worthy Ancestors is a grand honour, those that come after you will preserve the memory of your exploits by worshipping your soul.

Image 3.2 : The worthy ancestors