The Sum:About/2

1. Presentation

2. How to play

3. Credits

The following steps will help you get through your first game.

Introduction

The Sum is a adventure game, it focuses on exploration and day-to-day survival. To complete a game, you will have to slip into the skin of your character(s) and keep their health status in mind.

New game

1. Click on
   ⦿  PLAY 
   then
   ⦿  NEW 
2. Use the two arrows
    < 
    > 
   to choose among the 22 main characters the one you want to play with.
   
     You can click on

   ⦿  MODIFY 

   to modify its starting characteristics. 
   
   
   
3. Click on
   ⦿  TAKE 
   (or
   ⦿  OK 
   in the page "MODIFY") to start the game.
   
     Each character has his own story and starts the game at a different place. 
   
   
   

Controls

View

The game locations are presented in a isometric manner.

No matter where you are, use the keyboard arrows (

  ↑  

 → 

  ↓  

 ← 

), or move the at the edge of the window to move the view in the desired direction.

  If a character is selected (tab at the bottom with his name on it), you can click on his tab to center the view on him. 

Selection

Select a character by clicking on it "on the field". It will become clear and a tab in the bottom control bar with its name will indicate that it is selected.

To select more than one character, hold down

 shift 

before clicking on each character to be selected, or click, hold and drag the cursor to produce a green rectangle that envelops all the characters to be selected.

Movement

You control (move) a character by selecting him.her, then clicking on the surrounding ground (the cursor indicates that it is possible to move the character). When it is impossible to move, the cursor changes to .

Control

As for the movement, after selecting a character, clicking on an object, a door, a staircase will lead the character to move there, and interact with the object. The action is indicated by the cursor . Clicking on a door will cause the character to try to open it. The same goes for an object on the floor, a computer, a locker, etc.

Dialogues

When a dialog is possible with a character you don't control, your cursor turns into a above that character. Clicking on it moves your character until the conversation takes place.

  In some cases, there is no dialogue. Only a period of exchange of goods is triggered (screen allowing to exchange). 

Start a fight

At any time when a weapon (or no item) is carried, a character can provoke an attack. To do this, hold down

 ctrl 

and do a right click on the character to attack. Your cursor will change to . If the character becomes hostile towards you in turn, the cursor will change to when you fly over this character.

Enter/leave a vehicle

Clicking on a working vehicle causes the character to enter it and start the engine. To exit the vehicle, hold down

 ctrl 

(your cursor will change to ) and click on the ground around the vehicle to exit. You can use the same method (by clicking on the vehicle) to enter again.

  Any vehicle has a maximum number of seats 

Game bar

The view of a location shows a game bar that allows you to interact with the environment. The main spaces and buttons are the following:

• Journal : Displays a list of short informative texts about the environment, hazards and fights.
• Minimap : Displays an overview of your current location.
•  : Activates the display of the Journal.
•  : Activates the Minicard display (electricity required).
•  : Indicates the name of the selected character(s). Clicking on a tab centers the view on that character.
•  : Indicated in bright green, the available actions turn dark gray if used. They come back quickly, allowing the character to perform new actions.
•  : Displays objects carried in one or both hands. Dragging and dropping an object onto one of these buttons replaces any object already there. Below the object are visible (in dark gray) the actions required to use it.
  
    Some objects can be used from this location. Click on it and your cursor will turn into a . Then click on a character (or the tab of a character) or another object (e.g. a door) to use the object on it 
  
  
  
•  : The Friendly, Cautious and Aggressive! buttons determine how the selected character will behave when faced with a hostile character.
  
    The Aggressive! mode may lead the character to attack some characters (or even objects...) without provocation. 
  
  
  
•  : The buttons Standing, Crouching and Lying down determine the mode of movement of the selected character.
  
    Squatting near a water source allows you to collect water continuously. 
  
  
  
•  DO 
   : Displays the buttons Stay here, Live here and the panel of special actions, such as Sneak and Lockpick.
•  BAG 
   : Displays the items and equipment carried by the selected character or vehicle. These items can be dragged and dropped out of the bag or into a hand.
  
    Dragging an item onto another character's tab will drop it into their bag. Both characters must be in close proximity to swap an item 
  
  
  
•  CHAR 
   : Displays the general status of the selected character and his skills. After obtaining an Autonomy Level, it is possible to assign new Skill Points in this window.
•  GPSP 
   : Displays the screen with the tasks to do, past conversations, some recorded notes, the satellite map of the surroundings and some videos.
  
    What is displayed in the GPSP (e.g. tasks to be performed) depends on where the character is, and therefore varies from place to place 
  
  
  
•  MENU 
   : Displays the game menu.

Survival

The Sum has a survival element, which means that you can't discover all the content the game has to offer without surviving to experience it!

It is essential, for example, to find enough food, because if you don't eat, you will eventually starve.

Useful tools for survival

• Knife: not just for fighting, but (especially) for butchering hunted animals.
  
    Most Random encounters containing a shore have Shells, which can be used as an improvised knife. In some random encounter locations, you can find a Wood Shard, which can be used as a knife. The Steel Knives may be rare for most characters at first 
  
  
  
• Clothing: wearing clothing helps you avoid dying from heat or cold. Each garment also protects you physically, some better than others.
• Lighter: You need a lighter or enough Survival skill to start a Campfire (as well as Wood or any paper for fuel).
• Wood: abundant in any natural place, wood fuels a campfire that allows you to cook food or boil water. Cooked food keeps indefinitely while boiled water is healthy and non-toxic.
• Sleeping bag / Skin: Sleeping helps you heal from wounds and recover Life Points. The chance of recovering Life points depends on your Survival skill.
  
    The skin of a large skinned animal can be used as an improvised sleeping bag 
  
  
  
• Fishing Rod/Spear: having this tool in hand while standing near a stream or other body of water allows you to fish automatically. The caught fish appears in your cooler.

Useful skills for survival

Investing points in the following skills will help you survive longer:

• Scavenge: Experience with scavenging and fishing. Changes the speed of fishing and the chance of finding hidden objects (Fishing Rod or Spear required as a fishing tool).
  
    With 50 or more Skill, it is possible to find fruit tales and mushrooms on the Map. 
  
  
  

• Traps: Detection and removal of booby traps, dangerous junk (such as broken glass) or construction weaknesses. Assists in the use of explosives for demolition purposes.
  
    With 50 or more Skill, it is possible to (automatically) trap animals in the wilds while traveling on the Map. 
  
  
  

• Survival: Experience preparing a shelter to recover from wounds and toxins (You need a sleeping bag or animal skin to be able to sleep).
  
    With 50 or more Skill, it is possible to start a fire without a lighter. 
  
  
  

Progression

You gain experience (Autonomy Points) over time (only by surviving) and additional Points for completed Quests or tasks or by winning a battle. After a certain number of points (indicated in the Template:False Button menu), the character acquires a Autonomy Level and earns a certain number of points to be allocated in a Skill, or even a new Perk to be chosen from a list. The

 STATUS 

button allows to assign these points or choose this Perk at any time.

What to do first

1. Stay away from fights at the beginning of the game!
2. Find a food source
   
     Some Random Encounters contain food (Mushrooms, Fruits, Roots): If you find such a place, notice the position of the square you found and visit it again by clicking on that square when your food supply is exhausted 
   
   
   
3. If you have found fishing equipment, look for river or lake spaces suitable for fishing, as most have bodies of water where you can fish.
4. Avoid crossing open water areas, or save your game before doing so.
5. Random encounters are also fixed to squares. If you encounter a deer, you are likely to encounter another one if you travel back to that square.
6. Some random encounters can be very dangerous and such squares should not be crossed, or you might die (later in the game, with certain skills or tools, you can ignore them).
7. If you find a good food square, it's a good idea to trigger that spot again by clicking on your position.
   
     On it, collect some food/fish/pelt; make a fire; cook the meat you have (cooked food keeps better). Repeat until you have the supply of food you need to travel again 
   
   
   
8. Boil (cook) any amount of water before drinking it! Water is often toxic and can poison you.
9. Keep in mind that by doing this, you will gain experience points and autonomy levels to improve your skills.
10. Once you are well prepared, you can focus on traveling!

Recommended items / equipments

• Rope: Can be used to climb down (and out) of specific areas (holes and elevator shafts that offer a firm grip). It is possible to remove a rope to use it elsewhere.
• Battery: Any battery will fill your portable power supply, to be used by various tools (such as a flashlight). Double-click a battery in the bag to recharge your electricity.
• Flashlight: Most places don't have electricity, so it's dark at night. A flashlight will come in handy (as long as you have the electricity to run it!)
• Kits: Various kits can come in handy on your travels! A first aid kit allows you to heal yourself (Medicine skill). A toolbox allows you to repair, among other things, electrical controllers (Repair skill).
• GPS Watch: Activating a GPS tool (if of course you have enough electricity), allows you to instantly leave the map you are in. It's more convenient and you save a lot of time.
• GES Module: Activating a GES module (if of course you have enough electricity), allows you to know the toxicity level of an area, and thus avoid the most dangerous places. A GES module also warns you automatically in case of an emergency or immediate danger.