Developer Diary #6: Mystic Tower Veda

Welcome to our ongoing series of Developer Diaries for THE ALCHEMIST CODE—the global version of 誰ガ為のアルケミスト (otherwise known as “For Whom The Alchemist Exists”)—the most widely sought-after mobile Strategy RPG in Japan!

In this series, our development team for THE ALCHEMIST CODE will delve deeper into the vast and rich universe of the game and share behind-the-scenes details on the making of THE ALCHEMIST CODE.

Previously on Developer Diaries, accompanied by THE ALCHEMIST CODE Global Producer Ms. San San Ngan, we went through the changes made in Tutorials to help settle in players new to the genre.

In this Developer Diary, let us bring you to one of Babel’s unmistakably infamous landmarks - The Mystic Tower Veda—and uncover its mysteries. Guiding us through this journey  is Mr. Shang Jia Ting, THE ALCHEMIST CODE Events Game Developer, or in this case, The Tower Master.

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What is the Mystic Tower Veda?

Tower Veda is one of the popular and important on-going events in For Whom The Alchemist Exists, the Japanese Version of THE ALCHEMIST CODE. It is a tower infamously known for its harsh difficulty that demands the best from players. Those attempting to ascend the tower will be greeted by familiar foes accessorized with new tricks and floor arrangements designed to drive them up the wall.

The philosophy behind Tower Veda’s difficulty curve is to validate players’ strategic skills by making them go through different strategic elements of THE ALCHEMIST CODE floor by floor and, at the end, combining all of the elements together. Simply put, it is a test of wits instead of brute force.

Difference between Japanese and Global Version

From the beginning, we knew Tower Veda has always been a vital part of THE ALCHEMIST CODE experience and we were looking for the opportune time to implement it. However, due to its intense difficulty, releasing the tower too early would have prevented a majority of players from climbing it. On the other hand, if we introduce it too late, most players will be overpowered, losing the sense of challenge.

In contrast to the Japanese version, whose tower was released 10 months after the game was launched, Global players will get to experience the tower this month. Using the first 40 floors (the easy 40) as the testing ground, the team and I will be able to gauge if there is a need to re-balance the difficulty of the tower to match the current skills of Global players.

Rewards for the Soul

The rewards for climbing the tower come in 2 different tiers. Players attempting it for the first time can nab floor-specific rewards, such as summon tickets, gems, and ingots to name a few. However, these rewards are only claimable ONCE since players can only attempt each floor once per climb. And that’s a good thing!

Upon clearing the whole tower, players will unlock the second tier rewards. They can reattempt to climb the tower again, from the bottom, to get unique Veda Coins. These coins are exclusively used in the Veda Shop to purchase unique gear. But do take note, these coins cannot be converted into other in-game currencies.

For those looking to climb to the peak, the amount of Veda Coins rewarded increases after completing a set of 7 floors. (i.e. 7, 14, 21, 28, etc). Furthermore, upon completing every 7th floor, players will receive more Veda Coins as a congratulatory token for completing the set.

But do take note, the amount of Veda Coins rewarded will reset to its original number if players wish to reattempt the tower once more after completion. So with these in mind, plan out the best climbing strategy!

The Art of Challenge - Stats and Ranking

Climbing Tower Veda is a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement for the player. They can measure their growth as a strategist by overcoming their own best scores. On the Stats screen, players see their scores based on 4 key points: Turn Count, Units KO, Retreat Count and All Unit Heal Count. These key points are measured every time the player makes a relevant action.

And of course, we have leaderboards for those who wish for a little friendly competition with the other players. They can compete in two different kinds of leaderboards to show off their specific skills. They are Speed Ranking and Technique Ranking.

Speed Ranking, as its name implies, is all about the time taken to complete the tower. Simply put, it depends how many turns are taken to reach the peak. Technique Ranking, on the other hand, measures a player’s skills by assessing the number of player units knocked out during the ascent. I wish for the best to those aiming to be the top player in either ranking— or even better, for both!

Tower Master Tips

Here’s the TOWER MASTER’S TOP 3 TIPS for aspiring Tower Veda, Strategists:

What’s the Future of Tower Veda Like?

The future of The Mystic Tower Veda is very bright! And by that I mean, it will be arduous yet rewarding. We will be releasing the higher echelons of the tower on a regular basis. That means, the tower will be much more challenging to complete. So I highly recommend players clear the first 40 floors of the tower as early as possible!

Additionally, we are also adding unique items such as floor rewards for players willing to take on the odds, making the ascent worthwhile! Look out for these rewards in the coming months!  

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Thank you, Tower Master Shang Jia for this insightful introduction!

Excited to test your mettle against the onslaught of enemies that are unforgiving, yet rewarding to overcome? Come visit The Mystic Tower Veda! Download THE ALCHEMIST CODE, the Pinnacle of Japanese mobile Strategy RPGs, on iOS, Android and Amazon to get your free visa into Babel! The game is available in English, French, German and Spanish.

- THE ALCHEMIST CODE Team