"Firstly, welcome to our guests, I hope you make the most of this opportunity to study at Central University, as all of our students should. Whilst there are plenty of you here, it is still very difficult to access our walls. Every year tens of thousands apply but only a small group are successful. You should honour every day that you are here and put in your full effort at every opportunity." Chancellor Phillip introduced as everyone was now sat and watching the three people on the stage. His tone was strong and it reverberated throughout the large Auditorium that they were sat in. Dom could see that Andrew and Kai were both listening intently, as for many Chancellor Phillip was a celebrity. "This year's education will be slightly different to previous ones, whilst all choices are selective and you will choose your primary subject for in your final year, there will be three subjects that have been made mandatory. These are History, Engineering and Physical Education"
There were murmurs around the room at this news, not only was it unexpected, but none of the subjects were normally primary choices unless you wanted to go in to a related career. Dom looked to Kai, whose face had paled at the word Physical Education. Whilst Andrew seemed to be thinking about something.
"This may be abrupt, but you will understand more as the semester progresses and you have learnt the relevant knowledge in your classes." Chancellor Phillip explained as he looked around the room, taking a deep breath before he continued. "The World is changing, possibly for the first time in two hundred years, we are now entering a new Era. There has been peace since the end of the last war between the Western Kingdoms and the Eastern Empire. The other Continents have also entered a period of prolonged peace and internal regrowth. Normally, this would mean that wars for resources would begin again, as the populations in each area increase but the finite resources of the World stay."
The room went totally silent as he spoke, with some worrying that he was about to announce another War or something similarly dangerous. Dom could feel the tension in those around him, especially when foreign students had been inducted as well this year.
"The change this time however has been Technology. I do not believe that Wars will not appear again in the next five to ten years, this is an unavoidable situation as it is an unnecessary evil as we all greed for more. However, for now, the release of a certain game has given people a daily pause. With the ability for one day almost to become four due to the time difference, because of this we are able to achieve much more in a single day." Chancellor Phillip continued, "Your classes will show this change, as you will be given homework that is achievable to complete within the game. For those that are not aware of what I am talking about, you may have been hidden under a rock. Recently the game World Conquest Online was released, you will now have access to classes in that. For those that have played the Game, you may wonder how. I will hand you over to Dean De La Cruz to explain."
The Woman beside him stood forwards, she had a striking appearance and she looked up at the crowd, as if scanning all of the faces and trying to remember them. Chancellor Phillip stepped back, but his aura seemed to stay.
"The Game will provide you with resources to complete your studies in what ever aspect of the game world you are in, this will be through your personal inventory space, be that a chest or a backpack. You will also receive system Quests related to it, so that you can track and be aware of what you need to complete." Dean De La Cruz began, as lots of people began to murmur to each other in surprise. Dom had expected that the technology would be used like this, but he had no idea how the University had been able to arrange this. He had heard that Militaries were using it for additional training as well, and wondered what else was being done with the games additional time. "These will be reasonable requests, we understand that you are playing a game and it is your personal time. However, it also needs to benefit your real life and your future. Whilst we all enjoy playing and even have our own accounts, real life is what feeds you and provides you with your future. There will be options to skip certain assessments, based on your current situation. If you are a Warrior and involved in a major battle, then we understand you won't be able to complete an assessment at that stage. I know there will be questions, however time is limited and your Lecturers can answer most of them when you have your classes."
Dean De La Cruz then stepped back, with Chancellor Phillip stepping forwards again as more people began to murmur to each other in shock.
"Are you telling me I need to do homework whilst I am gaming?" Andrew exclaimed quietly as he looked at Kai and Dom. "I know Kai will enjoy it, but it's ridiculous."
"I don't enjoy it." Kai countered, but Dom could see that he didn't seem as bothered as Andrew was.
"If the assessment only takes one or two hours, then doing it in game is still a better time using your real time." Stephen commented from the side, before grumbling slightly. "Even if it is a clear invasion of personal space."
"A Gaming Headset is a personal thing, they shouldn't allow this. We already have to study here for hours and now they are attempting to invade our personal time." Andrew complained again, this time a bit louder as everyone else had seemed to have quietened as Chancellor Phillip was watching. Andrew began to sweat slightly, whilst those around him looked away.
"I understand the complaints of the young gentlemen in the seat above, we will be limited study hours so that you can still play on your game. However, some activities are worth missing the game for. Also you will get to a point in life where you will need to work for large chunks of the day and playing a game for eighteen hours isn't going to help you achieve any of that." Chancellor Phillip replied fairly, before turning to Dean Pellistri. "The Dean of History shall talk to you a bit more next."
Dean Pellistri stepped forwards, his steps measured as the whole room looked down towards him. It was clear that the History Faculty wasn't normally the most sort after, but suddenly it was the limelight.
"You are probably wondering why Engineering, History and Physical Education have all been made mandatory subjects. I am going to explain them all and I am sure you will soon understand. I would like to think that the intelligent ones amongst you have already worked it out, but I am often disappointed." Dean Pellistri began, causing some groups to look amongst each other and see if any of them had realised. For once, Andrew seemed quite proud of himself. "If you are playing a game, that is set in an unruly world with thousands of years of history span across it, then it is quite important that you can get some grasp of the History that is taking place within it. History is become a mandatory subject so that you can better understand the world you are playing in. For example, there are Cities amongst the map from vast different Eras and Geography of History. You could be in the Capital of Han China from the first Century in one moment, before travelling four days South to the Pataliputra the Ancient Capital of Mauryan Dynasty of Ancient India. You travel further South and you are now in the City of Troy before the Trojan Wars or a small Celtic Town that was far removed from the invasions of the Romans. You need to learn the History so that you can survive and flourish. Once you have a good understanding, you can then develop yourselves further and use the Game World to further your Real World."
Dean Pellistri paused for a second to let everyone take in what he had just said. Dom completely agreed with him, whilst he was a Lord Player and his situation was different, he had such a large number of Heroes and Civilians from different Eras and locations in History that he didn't understand the basics he needed to himself. Shang Yang and his Legalism was worlds apart from Soga No Umako's Buddhist beliefs. The issue for Dom was that the History was so varied that he felt it was an impossible task to learn about it all. His mind was still thinking when Dean Pellistri continued.
"Physical Education is the next Mandatory lesson that has been set up due to the nature of the World we live in, but also the World you now play in. World Conquest Online feeds of your personal data, knowing the size of your body, your muscle definition and the other data that makes you, well you." Dean Pellistri continued, seemingly uncomfortable with this being a mandatory lesson himself from the tone in his voice. "The fitter you are in reality, the fitter you are in the game. We are an Institution want you to create yourselves some space in the game to study and experiment, which we will come on to soon. The best way to do that is to be able to survive in the first place, rather than missing out due to death penalties or struggling to survive in the first place. Physical Education Classes will continue to improve your fitness, strength and skills with weapons and tools."
There were some nods of agreement in the room, whilst others seemed to not want to agree with the reality of what Dean Pellistri had just said. Regardless of the situation, they needed to be healthy to survive in a vast world with unknown dangers at all corners. Thankfully for them, it was a game, but Dom's training in game had impacted him in reality and he was confident it was the same in the other direction.
"The final Mandatory Class is probably the one that will surprise you the most, and that is Engineering. Dean De La Cruz can tell you more about it, but the three subjects plus the ones you have chosen for yourself, will make a huge difference to not only your time here as a student, but your future Careers." Dean Pellistri finished, as Dean De La Cruz came forwards.
"Engineering covers everything from building a Road, to building a Ship. There are a lot of skills that we have grown and improved throughout the thousands of years we as a species have developed. However, in game there are many techniques that have been lost to time." Dean De La Cruz began, "However, whilst we can learn a lot from the game, one of the things we do struggle with is time to learn here ourselves. The Engineering course will allow you to understand the world that we live in, and allow you to try out some of those techniques in a Game World with near infinite resources. Some of you may be Warriors, or Bakers, or Candle Stick Makers. Some of you may be Sailors, Gate Keepers or even Lords. However, you can all learn things that you want to do in your future years and practice it in World Conquest Online. I play and I am currently trying to implement a stone crusher in the small Town that I spawned in several weeks ago so that the Town can build stronger roads. Imagine the technologies you can learn and take as well."