Smackington Academy

The hidden progression value rises through successful events and skills, then decays when momentum is not maintained. The practical shape is Stage 1 ⇄ Stage 2 ⇄ Stage 3 → Stage 4.

Stage-specific play changes: favor light inputs early, mix light and medium inputs in Stage 2, and reserve stronger inputs and skills for the Stage 3 final push.

Light inputs are the efficient baseline. Medium inputs maintain stronger momentum, while heavy inputs provide stronger momentum at higher cost.

Working timing estimates are about 0.4 seconds for light, 0.8 seconds for medium, and 1.2 seconds for heavy. Wait for the animation lock to clear before pressing again; learn the rhythm or watch for the recovery cue.

Stronger or repeated inputs increase injury pressure. Reducing input pressure lets it recover; an injured state causes a substantial interruption at the worst possible time.

Avoid entering a timed event near the injury threshold. Ice Packs clear the condition, Muscle Cream reduces buildup for a limited duration, and careful pacing preserves the run budget.

Authority ranges from Level 0 to Level 3 in the current public model. Successful events can raise it; failed events can lower it.

The office computer is the daily starting point for complaints, schedules, locations, and participant clues. Follow the route record before spending time on optional incidents.

Lower Authority may make some star-powered actions less efficient. Treat exact thresholds and costs as provisional until verified.

Each participant has its own short visual practice exercise. The Practice Lab teaches the timing and cue-recognition skill behind the event.

A successful event improves Authority, grants a star, and pushes the hidden progression value upward. Failure reduces Authority and stamina.

Use the response modifier with the input that matches the prompt category. No response loses Authority; an incorrect response produces no change; a correct response improves Authority and progression.

Stars come from successful resistance events and strong rhythm-mode results. Rhythm mode presents 15 light, medium, or heavy cues and costs part of the stamina budget to enter.

The current demonstration references two skills: one rewards rapid light-input timing, and one uses a spinner with several result zones. Both contribute differently to progression and secondary scoring.

Use the Practice Lab to learn the timing vocabulary. The exact optimized skill sequence belongs in a separate Stage 4 strategy guide.

The clock runs during the active school day, and time-dependent rooms transition the player to a room entrance when an activity begins.

The Prologue has no immediate time pressure. Numbered days introduce schedule discipline, so the Day 1 Assignments page records current windows as provisional reference data.

The Resources Catalog records safe effects such as stamina support, strength support, injury-condition management, quiet movement, photography, and hidden-space investigation.

The Magnifying Glass reveals nearby hidden items or concealed spaces. The Polaroid Camera supports a documented Theater investigation route.

Items are scattered across campus. Some are visible; others require careful observation or the right tool.