Tag: BluShock

Personal log Stardate: 2551.11.10.

After an enforced break at Jasper Point on Idun, and the loss of Resilient Station and its host asteroid a major source of speculation and rumour, it was a relief to receive Commander Constantine’s invitation to take an intra-system jump ship to from the Point to the resource-rich Freya, and the orbit of the coalition’s newest jewel, the USS Sheipnir. Not only had the rumour mill started to get to me, I was keen to see what would be our new home and an opportunity to broaden our exploration of the galaxy, even though the Commander had made it clear elements of the ship were still under construction.

OK, so I’m not actually a part of the Blushock role-play group, but their adventures have been something I’ve been documenting (in part) in these pages, so when the group founder and leader, Fazzy Constantine (Faisel Constantine), invited me to visit the latest chapter in the group’s expanding story and universe, it seems only fitting I should offer some form of in-character notes!

Offering a rich and ever-evolving role-play environment built out from Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition, the Blushock team has a rich history of activity in Second Life dating back over a decade – which in itself pretty impressive. However, rather than re-tread this history here, I invite those interested to find our more by visiting the group’s informative website, to discover more about the group and the Vanaheim system (where most of their adventures have thus far taken place.

When I last visited, the team had just set up a new base of operations – Resilient Station – within a carbonaceous asteroid orbiting Vanaheim in a 19 terrestrial year orbit that periodically carried it close to the lush world of Idun, and the team’s planetary base of Jasper Point (see: Docking at Resilient Station in Second Life). Functioning as a base of operations, an R&R and trading facility and containing research capabilites, the asteroid – Baldur – was mysteriously lost following an experiment involving the artificial creation of black holes.

As a result, Blushock embarked on the development of a new base-of-operations, this time opting to build a massive starship capable of both sub-light and supra-light velocities. In this, the ship uses alien technology able to “fold” space (and time) recovered from pre-existing caverns found deep within Baldur prior to its loss, and which Chief Engineer Noah Constantine (NoahLion) was able to reverse engineer to work with existing Blushock tech.

The result is the USS Sleipnir, a “Dreadnought” class of vessel that is a truly impressive starship. Named for the mythical eight-legged horse ridden by the Norse god Odin (thus further maintaining the Norse mythology theme that runs through the Blushock RP). The name is fitting both for the fact that the mythical horse could carry Odin great distances, and for Sleipnir’s ability to “mediate between earth [in this case planets] and sky [in this case, space].

A multi-level vessel that clearly utilises a form of artificial gravity, USS Sleipnir is designed to perform a variety of roles: her drive systems means she is capable of visiting multiple worlds within any given star system and uses her space-folding abilities to move between different systems – and even different points in time. As a home, she is fully equipped with the essentials of comfortable living, from living quarters to extensive recreational facilities modelled after those found at Resilient Station – a communal swimming pool, a gymnasium, public social spaces and more.

She is also capable of launching, retrieving and maintaining a range of smaller craft – essential of planetary surface operations and also (potentially) for self-defence – as would be the case with the gunship Mjolnir, named for Thor’s hammer, occupying a dedicated docking hanger under the ship’s stern portions.

Not all of the facilities of the ship are open to casual visitors – although guest quarters are available to those wishing to make an extended visit; joining the Blushock community as an active member can result in access being given to those parts of the ship that are otherwise not readily accessible. However, a part of the ship that can be accessed by all is the most impressive: the massive multi-deck atrium that rises from over the engineering spaces along the ship’s keel to her very top and which sits roughly two-thirds of the way back from her bow and directly between crew and guest quarters and the ship’s primary operating spaces.

This huge space is genuinely stunning – and I really urge visitors to approach it on foot rather then camming out and spying on it. Dominated by two huge hemispheres extending outwards from the main hull, it offers unparalleled views of space – or, when in orbit, of a nearby planet. Extending out into each of these great domes are holographic display platforms, one of which at the time of my visit offered a view of our Milky Way galaxy.

Between them, and centrally placed beneath the huge, transparent roof of this gigantic atrium is a stellar illumination sphere that casts a natural level of daylight that both gives light and helps to nourish the plants and trees growing throughout the lower garden levels and on the tiers of rock – yes, rock –  down which fresh water falls to be recycled and purified for re-use in the recreation area’s pool, located on Sleipnir’s uppermost deck.

The public and social heart of the sip, the atrium is home to birds as well as people, and features places to sit, play games, eat and / or meet friends and crewmates, with companionways and elevators connecting decks and providing access to crew and guest accommodation in the forward part of the ship, or – for those with access – the various offices, labs and other spaces towards the rear of the ship.

Framed against Planet Freya, named for Odin’s wife and thus a fitting location for the ship’s construction, USS Sleipnir and Planet Freya presents an ideal visit for anyone who enjoys science-fiction. Further setting (representative of Planet Freya, I believe) are to come; while for those looking for a suitable sci-fi environment for photography (RP allowing), the ship makes a great backdrop. And for those who enjoy RP far removed from the likes of Trek or Star Wars, the Blushock team is an ideal group to join and share adventures. The ship’s stargate (not part of the RP) also makes for an ideal means to visit other sci-fi realms in SL.

SLurl Details

• USS Sleipnir and Planet Freya (Palmbeach, rated Moderate)

Note: the Blushock team relocated and have established a new setting, the USS Sleipinir and Planet Freya – of which more in my update – Boarding the USS Sleipnir in Second Life, so the SLurl within this article has been updated to reflect the new location.

In January, I visited Planet Idun, home of Jasper Point and Ymir base, the operations centre for the Blushock team (see: An away team mission to Planet Idun in Second Life).  It was a fascinating and engaging visit, one that gave me the opportunity to meet with the region’s co-creator Fazzy Constantine (Faisel Constantine). And in the last week, Fazzy contacted me with an intriguing invitation:

We’ve got a full sized region and have been working on our next location for 11 days. We’re close to being ready to open, and I’d like to invite you to come for a sneak VIP preview.

It was an invitation I could hardly refuse given how much I appreciated my trip to Idun, so over the weekend I took the opportunity to warp over to the facilities – and was even more impressed by what I found.

As a small amount of background information (you can find more at the Blushock coalition website), the focus of the group is the Vanaheim star system located in the beta quadrant of the Milky Way galaxy. Centred on a cool, blue giant star, the system has a total of seven planets, two of which have been found suitable for habitation by the mix of races making up the coalition: the ice world of Vanargand and the tropical Idun.

Resilient Station is the latest of the Blushock facilities – in fact the team’s newest base of operations. It  is located on – or within – a 200-300m diameter asteroid orbiting Vanaheim over a period of 19 terrestrial years. By nature the asteroid appears to be typically carbonaceous in type, carrying the official designation of VH706-C, although the Blushock team have christened it – in keeping with the use of old Earth Norse mythology names within the Vanaheim system – Baldur (brave or defiant), thus matching the station’s name of Resilient.

Asteroid VH706-C, better known as Baldur, is a newly discovered body which was discovered by the BluShock team. Originally discovered during one of the teams planetary scans, they sent one of their mechanics, weeks later, to do a recon of the 200m tall rock that was orbiting the star and planets. It was decided that the asteroid would make for a good base of operations for the future, as Idun was becoming more and more unstable for everyday life.

– From the Resilient Station backstory

The landing point is located within a smaller asteroid occupying the same orbit as Baldur. It is where newcomers can gain a degree of orientation and set their viewers appropriately – it is absolutely essential to enable the viewer’s Advanced Lighting Model (Preferences → Graphics → check Advanced Lighting Model) before proceeding to the station proper. Shadows are not required, nor is setting the viewer to High / Ultra (although both will increase the visual enjoyment of the setting). Visitors should also obtain a visitor ID badge from Holly, the station’s AI, who can be found on various wall panel displays in what is a nice nod to Red Dwarf.

Touching the door access panel alongside Holly at the landing point will transfer visitors down to the main reception centre in the station itself. This sits alongside the main docking / landing bay for incoming ships; it is the largest of four such bays that have been hewn out of the asteroid’s rock, with several external locking and landing facilities to provide additional facilities for visiting craft.

Where you go from here is a matter of choice – although do note that some parts of the station have restricted access (as you would expect from such a facility). Exploration can be carried out on foot using the stairways and via the station’s elevator stations that provide access to all of the levels, from engineering at the base of the asteroid, to the very impressive arboretum located on the uppermost level.

An incredible amount of detail has been put into the build by chief architect Noah Constantine (NoahLion); the overall design is entirely logical in nature; major area of occupation are placed deep within the station where they can be protected from cosmic gamma rays and the excesses of local solar radiation without the need for additional shielding (the bedrock should provide that; the exception being the arboretum, although that could well have specialised shielding within the material of the dome. The overall feeling is of a pristine centre of operations – again, well in keeping that the station has only recently been constructed.

We got the region on March 20th. Noah had it ready to move to for role-play by the 23rd, and the rest of us helped decorate and furnish it. We’ve got lots of new planets planned too. Idun was just the 2nd attempt – but this station will be staying.

Fazzy Constantine on Reslient Station and Blushock’s plans

Similarly, the main landing bay is through-and-though, ideal for manoeuvring large vessels in and out of it, whilst the smaller bays leave more than enough room for shuttles and other small craft to manoeuvre within their confines. True, there is a fair amount of debris occupying the same space as the station – presumably chunks of rock that were broken free during Resilient’s construction – that look like they might be a hazard to local navigation; but presumably these will be cleared away in due course.

Two places most definitely worth seeing in the station are the aforementioned arboretum on level 8 and also the spa and pool on level 2. There’s also  Vanaheim’s Eclipse and the public and crew facilities on levels 5 and 6. But really, the entire station fully deserves careful exploration.

Resilient Station is a genuinely superb design that officially opens its doors on Tuesday, April 13th, although visitors are able to explore now. For those wishing to catch upon the story of the Blushock Team should visit the official website and particularly take a look through the Events section for a recap of what’s happened through until now.

My thanks to Fazzy for the invite to get this first look, and kudos to Noah on the work in developing the station’s look and feel. I look forward to future visits!

SLurl and Website

• Asteroid VH706-C Baldur and Resilient Station (Azrael, rated Moderate)
• Blushock website

Note: the Blushock team relocated and have established a new setting, the USS Sleipinir and Planet Freya – of which more in my update – Boarding the USS Sleipnir in Second Life, so the SLurl within this article has been updated to reflect the new location.

CK Ballyhoo dropped me a line concerning Planet Idun, a new role-play / photography region with which she has been involved, inviting me to hop over and join her in taking a look around, with region holder and co-creator Fazzy Constantine (Faisel Constantine) also on-hand to chat and answer questions.

Idun. A tropical jungle planet, set in the far reaches of the Milky Way galaxy. Featuring a full day and night cycle, dynamic weather, stunning scenery, views and hidden spots.

– from the region’s About Land description

Located on a Homestead  region, Planet Idun is the latest design Fazzy and his team have worked on under the BluShock RP group banner – a group with a role-play history that stretches back over a decade, and which has been responsible for some impressive designs, such as the ice world Vanargand, complete with its Oblivion-inspired spaceport tower, and also the world of Aegis Prime (as will as having a penchant for Norse mythology, as some of the name indicate!).

For Planet Idun, the BluShock team have opted to create a setting potentially warmer than Vanargand: a rugged, rain forested world where water in places falls from a teal sky to join with that tumbling from high cliffs into the gorge of a narrow river. Largely untamed, this is a world that does have some signs of civilisation – but finding your own way around will call for the explorer within you, as paths are not always obvious, at times relying on narrow ledges of rock.

The clearest sign of habitation is the large ultra-modern base built into the high cliffs towards the north-west of the setting. It is built around two covered landing areas for air / space craft, one of which is dominated by a monster hammerhead of a spacer I’d personally not have liked to pilot into its landing. Inside the base are comfortable living spaces as well as multiple workspaces, whilst its location is marked by both the manner in which its backs into the cliffs and the impressive communications arrays sitting on the peak above it.

However, this in not the only structure to be found within the setting. awaiting discovery on the tip of a high finger of rock pointing to the sky on the east side of the region is Idun’s Roof. A bar / house constructed of wood, presumably gathered from the local forest and reached via a long, winding stair. Elsewhere are other artificial constructs – an open-air landing pad, the region’s own landing point (complete with teleport connecting it with the Deep Space Destination Hub, a nexus for travelling between different sci-fi settings (just accept the experience to use the system for automatic teleports).

As a role-play environment, the region is intended to support free-form RP by members of BluShock and can support short RP situations created by other groups (e.g. as the location for an away team mission). There are a fair number of opportunities scattered around that can be used to built game play – camp sites, crashed vehicles, hidden walks and tracks (some obvious, others not so – as I said, you’ll need the explorer in you), and kayaks to explore the waters as well as the aforementioned bar and the cliff-side base.

Our last region, Vanargand, relied heavily on missions and events, off world time travel and so on. But this time we’ve decided to take a back seat and just build an enjoyable region. A few interested parties are also coming down from other groups to enjoy role-playing.  We’ve been inspired by a few sci-fi games – Mass Effect and Halo, for example.

– Fazzy Constantine

friendly group BluShock is also open to those interested in free-form sci-fi based role-play where the emphasis is on fun rather than an overburdening set of rules and requirements. In addition, those looking for sci-fi / fantasy-based photography may also find Idun to their liking, the dynamic custom day / night environment helps to add depth to the setting / photography.

Planet Idun will be officially opening at 11:00 SLT on Saturday, January 23rd, with a party and celebration at Idun’s Roof. However, it is currently available for general visits for those wishing to look around ahead of the official opening.

SLurl and Links

• Planet Idun (Jasper Point, rated Moderate)