Miro Collas recently pointed out to me via Twitter that it’s been over three years since I’d last visited Alpha Auer’s region, Alpha.Tribe (see Finding fool’s gold in Second Life for more), and suggested a return visit might be in order – and he was right!
From the region description, it would seem the current region design is a follow-on from the one I visited back in 2015, and carries a number of echoes of that build whilst presenting something new as well. Captain Nemo remains well represented, for example, with not one but two copies of his Nautilus present – both of them serenely circling the sky, making an interesting trio with a steampunk airship.
This time around I wanted to build a sim that (unlike the previous version which was around for a very long time) did not have any gold whatsoever – at least on the ground level, since the golden Blueprint City is still around on one of the sky levels. While the previous rez was called “fool’s gold” this one now is called “The Straits” because of the strait that runs through it. I am not sure that it has a theme, as did “fool’s gold” but I know that you folks will be spinning your own tales as you wander around.
– Alpha Auer describing the current Alpha.Tribe
Part of the ground area is an amusement park – the rides can be tried and Alpha recommends the visitors “thoroughly plunder the grab a duck kiosk”, but I’d caution on using the bumper cars: when I tried, the ride was … bumpier … than might be expected.
Also to be found on the ground level is the aqua gym, located within a floating geodesic dome, which Alpha notes goes all the way back to aqua gym that dates all the way back to her Syncretia region. Close by is a “chemistry garden” (look for the departing galleon), while towards the centre of the region is another reminder of the previous build: the crazy cat parlour.
Island float above, and in sight of, the ground level, while higher up, alpha has retained her Blueprint City, together with a new build, Midnight Wastes, which Alpha recommends viewing into the altitude windlight (Wastes Midnight). This is a stunning city-style environment built on a glass platform, its “reflection” visible below, ornate buildings and structures raised on stilts and platforms.
Getting around the builds is best achieved by walking / flying at ground level, and using the teleport cylinders that are scattered around to reach the sky builds (and which also connect to the ground-level areas). As with past builds this incorporates elements by Arcadia Asylum, which Alpha has re-textured and re-purposed to suit her design and which share the region with works by other Second Life creators.
Always fascinating, rich in curios, Alpha.Tribe remains an artistic expression and pleasing visit. However, do be aware the region can impact viewers that are running with high draw distances, shadows enabled, etc.
SLurl Details
- Alpha.Tribe (alphatribe, rated: Moderate)
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