Fantasy Faire 2016: a Preview video

Lucentia - Fantasy Faire 2016
Lucentia – Fantasy Faire 2016

Fantasy Faire 2016 has opened its gates, and will run through until Sunday, May 1st. It brings together everyone with a love of fantasy  – enthusiasts, creators, performers and designers  – for eleven days of commerce, special events, live music concerts and more, all to help raise funds for Relay for Life of Second Life.

Rather than write a long preview to this years event – which once again offers some of the most fantastic region builds seen in a virtual world to present visitors with a set of connected realms – I decided to put together a preview video. I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to seeing you in the Fairelands!

Faireland SLurls

 

Fantasy Faire 2016: Tale of Exiles hints and tips

Via Fantasy Faire
Via Fantasy Faire

This year, Fantasy Faire once again presents the hunt in an expanded, story-based quest in which visitors to the Fairelands are invited to participate.

As the Bard Queen’s Emissary to the beleaguered races of the realm once called Belfience, but now cast under the darkness of the Unweaver and called Malfience,  those joining the quest are tasked with finding the Exiles from that once peaceful land, and with their support undo the evil of the Unweaver and bring healing to the land.

To help you play your role to the fullest, here are some hints and suggestions to start you on your way.

Getting Started

There are two versions of the HUD available through the special RFL of SL vendors, which are prices as follows:

  • L$250 – provides you with the quest HUD and tools to get you going
  • L$350 – provides you with the quest HUD and tools to get you going and male and female Emissary costumes so you can be more in character – and it will help you recognise other Emissaries, so you can help and support one another!
You must accept the experience by clicking Yes to participate
You must accept the experience by clicking Yes to participate

When you have purchased your HUD package wear it, and then touch it to unpack the contents to a folder in your Inventory called FF2016 The Tale of Exiles. This contains 3 game elements which must be worn: the Game HUD, and two attachments simply called “Attach Me” and “Attach Me 2”.

On wearing the HUD, a scroll will open on your screen with some important information. – please read it through and then click it to close it.

Your viewer’s World Map will open, together with an invitation for you to join The Tale of Exiles experience (shown right) – you may have to move your world map to one side to see this.

Make sure you click YES to accept the experience, as this will ensure that things behave correctly as you go.

The HUD

As with most HUD-based activities, the HUD tracks your progress, provides hints, and for the quest, provides access to various options, of which Teleport and Inventory at the top let and right are probably going to see the most use – toggle to open / close.

The HUD
The HUD – tracks your progress, provides hints, etc.

Teleport opens a list of the Fairelands (above left), clicking on the name of one will display the World Map, allowing you to teleport to it. Note that the destinations are not necessarily where the Exiles are – although some might be closer than others!

Inventory records the various items you collect during the quest (above right). You can page through the items using the back and forward buttons and – at the appropriate time in your quest, click on Use to make use of the displayed item.

Click Help to obtain a note card describing the rest of the functions.

Saving Progress

You don’t have to complete the quest in a single go; the HUD will record your progress and items collected, allowing you to leave and do other things, and then return to the quest later. You can remove the HUD (and other attachments) on leaving the Fairelands / breaking off from your quest, and then re-attach them when you return to the Fairelands or want to resume your quest.

However, if you want to be completely assured your progress has been saved before stopping, click Setup > Save.

Reloading Progress

Occasionally, things do go wrong in Second Life. If you find your HUD is misbehaving, or failing to display the right information, click Setup > Reload. This should force the HUD to reload information from the quest database and correct problems.

Game Play Guidelines

Gameplay comprises a number of chapters (indicated by the HUD) which can be divided into four parts: Heed the Bard Queen, Seek the Exiles, Find the Eggs, and Heal the Lands.

Part 1: Heed the Bard Queen

When you start the quest, the HUD will open your World Map so you can teleport to the Bard Queen – or you can use the LM supplied with the HUD package. You will also have to return to the Bard Queen once you have located and spoken to all eight of the Exiles.

  • When you arrive at the Bard Queen, click on her to converse through dialogue boxes (top right of your screen)
  • Part of the Bard Queen’s story will be told through videos displayed in your viewer. If the videos do not start automatically, click the screen. If they refuse to run, use the links in local chat to watch them on YouTube (please do not share or embed links to the videos in blogs!)

Continue reading “Fantasy Faire 2016: Tale of Exiles hints and tips”

The Windlight / MadPea Interview photo contest

Will you take the call and join The Interview contest?
Will you take the call and join The Interview contest?

Windlight and MadPea Games have teamed up for a new photo competition using MadPea’s latest grid-wide mystery puzzle game, The Interview.

Up for grabs are three cash prizes with the winner also getting a couple of nice bonuse prizes:

  • 1st place – L$2,500, together with a L$1,000 MadPea gift card and a double page ad in Windlight Magazine
  • 2nd Place – L$1,500
  • 3rd Place – L$1,000.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is join in with The Interview, and then photograph yourself at any of the locations used by the game.

HUDs for the game can be purchased from the WindLight Gallery or from the MadPea Base.  General information on playing the game can be found on the MadPea website.

When you’ve purchased the HUD, await further instructions – and get ready for your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the very secret Goliathus Society, and not only have a chance of winning the prizes in the Windlight Magazine Photo Contest, but also reap the rewards of your successes in surviving taking The Interview!

General Guidelines

  • All photos have to be posted in the official MadPea-Windlight Interview Photo Contest Group
  • No more than 2 submissions per entrant
  • When posting your photos please use the following naming convention: MadPea Interview Photo Contest – Photo #1-Your SL Name (please do not use display names). Add a #2 if you are submitting a second photo
  • All photos must:
    • Include the SLurl of The Interview location that you used (please make sure you obtain the permission of the venue owner to use their location in your submissions, and be respectful of region rules and covenants)
    • Be new and original, but you can add the photo to other groups
  • Nudity or adult behaviour is not allowed
  • Editing via Photoshop, Gimp, or any other graphics tools is permitted.

All entries must be submitted by midnight, Sunday May 15, 2016, and the Flickr date and time stamps will be used to assess whether or not entries meet this criteria, so check your time zones. Winners will be announced on Wednesday May 25th, 2016.

Judges will be independent of the contest and cannot enter this contest. Entries will be judged on the following criteria: creativity, originality, technique, incorporation of the location in your photos and following of submission and guideline rules.

Earth Day and Lindens at Calas Galadhon, April 22

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, Feb 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon – click any image for full size

Update April 20th: Xiola has now blogged on this get-together.

Friday April 22nd marks Earth Day, when events are held all over the world in support of  environmental protection.

First held in 1970, Earth Day is now  marked in 193 countries around the world, and coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network. This year, Earth Day will also be marked by the formal signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change, negotiated earlier in the year, is due to be signed by 120 nations.Earth-Day

I’ve had my little birds flitting around Second Life, and I’ve heard from one of them that to mark Earth Day in-world, the Lab is planning another Meet the Lindens event for Friday, April 22nd.

The get-together will take place, I understand from around 10:00 through until noon SLT at the marvellous Calas Galadhon Park.

For those who haven’t visited Calas Galadhon, it is a stunning vision of the outdoors, covering 10 regions, and as such is the ideal location in which to get together with staff from the Lab (and perhaps a few Moles). I understand – although this is subject to confirmation – the main Calas landing point will be used for the meet-up.

There hasn’t been an official blog post on the meet-up as yet, but I understand that Xiola will be producing one in the near future – so keep an eye on the official blog for the latest on the meet-up. I’ll be updating this article once Xiola has posted 🙂 .

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, Feb 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon

Reading poetry, saying “yes” and encountering evil and terror

It’s time to kick-off a week of story-telling in voice, brought to our virtual lives by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s Second Life home at Bradley University, unless otherwise indicated.

Sunday, April 17th

11:30 Crazy Eights: A Celebration of Poetry

PoetryFounded by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month takes place every April as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States.

To mark the month, Seanchai Library has invited ten Second Life Poets to share both their own poetry and their favourite works of poetry by other poets.

Taking place at the the Crazy Eights special events area, A Celebration of Poetry presents Dubhna Rhiadra, Sabreman Carter. Seersha Heart, Michael Romani, Stranger Nightfire, Morgue McMillan, Talkwithmarie Resident, Rosedrop Rust, Sangreal Arnica, and Klannex Northmead.

Monday April 18th, 19:00 at Crazy Eights: Silent Running

silent runningGyro Muggins concludes reading Harlan Thompson’s novelization of the 1972 screenplay for Silent Running, by screenplay by Mike Cimino, Deric Washburn, and Steven Bochco.

In the future, all plant life on Earth has become extinct. A few specimens have been preserved in enormous, greenhouse-like geodesic domes attached to a fleet of space freighters, currently just beyond the orbit of Saturn.

Freeman Lowell, one of four crewmen aboard the freighter Valley Forge, is the resident botanist and ecologist who carefully preserves a variety of plants for their eventual return to Earth and the reforestation of the planet. Lowell spends most of his time in the domes, both cultivating the crops and attending to the animal life.

Then, orders come from Earth to jettison and destroy the domes with nuclear charges and return the freighters to commercial service. Orders Lowell’s crewmates are only too happy to follow if it means a return to Earth. Lowell, however, is less than sanguine about this new turn of events.

Tuesday April 19th, 19:00: Year of Yes

Year of YesCaledonia Skytower reads selections from Shonda Rhimes’ bestseller.

Shonda Rhimes is best known as the creator of television’s Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, as well as an executive TV producer. Despite her success and career, she is introverted and prefers to say “no” to invitations and engagements.

Then her sister presents a challenge to which Shonda reluctantly agrees: spend a year saying “yes” to unexpected invitations and opportunities.

This book is a record of that year, and how just saying one simple word – “yes” – had a positive and transformative impact on one woman’s life.

Wednesday April 20th 19:00: Dead Man’s Chest

Shandon Loring presents a reading of the second instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Dead Man’s Chest.

Thursday, April 21st

19:00: Solomon Kane

Shandon Loring reads from the exploits of Robert E. Howard’s 16th/17th fictional Puritan, Solomon Kane.

A “tall, sombre and gloomy man of pale skin, gaunt face and cold eyes”, Solomon Kane travels through Europe and Africa, seeking to vanquish evil wherever he might encounter it, armed with a rapier, a dagger, a brace of pistols – and the Staff of Solomon.

whispers21:00: Whispers from the Abyss

Shandon Loring opens the pages of this anthology of 33 short stories inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, edited by Kat Rocha.

On the subway, during lunch, or even under the fluorescent glow of your cubical—there is no escape! Now your slow descent into madness can follow you through the day.

Created as a ebook to be read by people on the move, the stories each present concentrated spine-chilling terror by the likes of Greg Stolze, Nick Mamata, Tim PrattDennis Detwiller, Greg Van Eekhout, A.C. Wise, David Tallerman and Silvia Moreno-Garcia

—–

Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.

The featured charity for March / April is Project Children, building peace in Ireland one child at a time.

Additional Links

SL13B: participation applications are open

via SL13B website
via SL13B website

Friday, April 15th marked the opening of applications to participate in the SL13B Community Celebration to mark the 13th anniversary of Second Life entering it public beta. Celebrations this year will run from Sunday, June 19th through to Sunday, June 26th inclusive, all under the theme of The Shared Adventure.

In particular, the organisers are seeking applications from exhibitors, performers, presenters and volunteers; applications for the Press Day will open in due course. Those wishing to apply for any of these positions are asked to read the General Event Policies for SL13B, and then proceed as follows:

This year, the celebrations will cover 17 regions offering some 200 parcels for exhibits, as well as the core entertainments stages, Welcome Area, auditorium and so on.

SL12B (2015) Cake Stage - Mitaki Slade
SL12B (2015) Cake Stage – Mitaki Slade

Timeline of Activities

  • Friday, April 15th: Exhibitor/Performer/Volunteer/Auditorium Applications open
  • Friday, May 13th: Exhibitor and Volunteer Applications closed
  • Friday, May 20th: Performer and Auditorium Applications closed
  • Monday, May 23rd to Wednesday, May 25th: First round exhibitors notified via email
  • Wednesday, May 25th: regions open to exhibitors
  • Friday June 10th: Performers notified
  • Wednesday, June 15th to Friday, June 17th: regions closed to exhibitors for walk-through
  • Friday, June 17th and Saturday, June 18th: regions open to exhibitors for adjustments
  • Saturday, June 18th: Press Day
  • Sunday, June 19th, noon SLT: Opening Day
  • Thursday June 23rd: The Birthday
  • Sunday, June 26th: last day of celebration performances and activities
  • Monday, June 27th to Sunday, July 3rd: regions open for viewing, no performances
  • Sunday, July 3rd: Staff party
  • Monday, July 4th to Wednesday, July 6th: Breakdown
  • Thursday, July 7th: Sims go off-line.

Keep up-to-date with all things SL13B through the SL Community Celebration Website.