At LSU, the odds of making it through the day aren’t in your favor. Before you even wake up, the weather has stacked the cards against you, with heat and humidity knocking your energy and happiness down from the first bead of sweat that trickles down your body.
Every walk to class is a battle. Every meal is a side quest. And with the outside as your greatest opponent, new struggles will be found at every step of the way.
The only question is: do you have what it takes to survive the heat and outlast the humidity?
RULES:
As a player, you are made of 100 energy points and 100 happiness points; with heat and humidity as a given in Baton Rouge, you are automatically at a disadvantage, resulting in your starting levels at 70 each. Be careful, though — you cannot go below 25 at each level since you still need to recover for the following day.
Before you leave for class, you can only pack three survival items. Choose wisely.
TOOL KIT:
Blotting sheets: +5 happiness
Body wipes: +8 happiness
Sunscreen: +5 energy
Antiperspirant: +10 energy
Body spray: +5 happiness
Water bottle: +15 energy
Portable fan: +5 energy
Electrolyte powder: +10 energy
LEVEL ONE: Commuting
Level one is getting to campus. Depending on where you live and which route you take, you just might be able to beat the heat and humidity.
If you live on campus, congrats! You automatically pass this level. Those living within a 3 mile radius who walk may get sweaty, but ultimately pass the level:
-20 energy
-15 happiness
For commuters, you have a few choices.
Overcoming the commuter lot has its trials and tribulations — including having to partner up with a passerby to take their parking spot — but you succeed in your quest swiftly, taking a steady stroll to class:
-10 energy
+5 happiness
Commuters taking buses have a more difficult voyage ahead. Having to wait 20 minutes for the bus to arrive on campus costs you time and energy, and you end up late to class anyway. You pass the level, but you take a hard hit:
-25 energy
-15 energy
LEVEL TWO: Lunch
Now, it’s time to conquer lunch, and in Baton Rouge, there are plenty of options. Be intentional about your next step, though; you are only halfway through a long, humid day.
Driving off campus wastes time, but at least you eat what you want and stay cool. You pass the level:
+5 energy
+15 happiness
If you stay on campus for lunch, you must proceed with caution — the Student Union might be your easiest choice, but walking through Free Speech Alley might make you call quits on the day. Sweaty, hungry and overstimulated, you take a big hit:
-35 energy
-25 happiness
Choosing to go to nearby food trucks or restaurants is probably your best bet for a variety of quick, quality cuisine. You are officially fueling yourself back up with a great victory:
+20 energy
+10 happiness
BONUS LEVEL: Rain
If you are in need of an extra item from the kit, you have to get through the rain first. This level is the most unpredictable, usually catching you during your least prepared moment.
If you pack smart and have an umbrella in your bag, you can move through the rain efficiently. You might lose energy for the inconvenience, but the break from the heat gives you some happiness back:
-5 energy
+10 happiness
On the other hand, those who pack light will struggle. In a light drizzle, you might survive, but in an intense downpour, you are in full survival mode. Between the sopping wet socks and the soaked backpack, the safe haven of campus buildings all feel like they are miles away. Unfortunately, you fail this level:
-20 energy
-30 happiness
Since this was optional, you move onto Level Two, but make your following choices carefully.
LEVEL THREE: Night time
As the day comes to a close, you must decide how to spend your evening. While you might feel tempted to spend the remainder of your energy and happiness to round out the day, be wary — there is always tomorrow to worry about.
Many LSU students have made the decision to spend a night at Tigerland. Afterall, you’ll rack up plenty of happiness points. If you decide to embark on the same journey, make sure you have enough energy to survive it:
-50 energy
+25 happiness
The safest option to fully recover from the day’s events would be to have an early night in, where you no longer require a kit since all of the necessary tools will be at your disposal at home. Drinking water, eating clean food and resting will replenish both your energy and happiness after the long day:
+30 energy
+10 happiness
By the day’s end, every decision stacks up from what you carried with you, where you walked and what you did.
At LSU, there is no perfect way to outlast the humidity. Some days, you plan everything to a T and nothing goes right, while on other days, the random risks you take somehow pay off.
The goal ultimately is not to get your strategy down — it’s to keep energized and happy enough to be able to do it all again tomorrow. Because rain or shine, two things are always certain during springtime in Louisiana: heat and humidity.
