Tag: Exploring Second Life 2016

Content creator and friend Cube Republic – who is responsible for some superb plants and landscaping kits  – pointed Caitlyn and I towards a fantasy / medieval role-play region he’s been helping out with, and which is open to the public although still under development.

Set no later than the 15th century, Revenland offers a rich environment for role-play utilising a variety of races  – although there are some constraints on what is and isn’t allowed within the information pack available in the skyborne arrival area. Largely the work of littlenixie, the region represents the continuation of an idea which initially started in AOL before moving to the immersive spaces offered by Second Life.

The region itself is divided into two primary areas: the human-controlled castle and town of Redfoem, together with the Ter’li Fields, separated from the rest of the region by a wooden palisade. Beyond these lies Revenland Forest, home to non-human characters, regarded as a bandits by humans, and the Undercity, home to underground dwellers. Mention is also made of the Honeysuckle Falls – which I think can be found towards the centre of the region – and the Lost City of Lava, which is part of the work-in-progress along with some of the underground areas, as region Admin inboccaallupo informed me:

[They’re] a work in progress. The Undercity is something that will be for a faction and come back new and improved build wise. While some things are a bit more for events, such as the catacombs are on sim and accessible but highly dangerous for the time being, and thus would require a skirmish or group to enter in order to stay safe. Nixie is constantly building her own mesh to update, improve, and bring a more unique look to the sim.

The backstory offers insight into the region and role-play here.

In the past there was a rift between humans and other species, as well as the magical arts. Certain territories (Redfoem, Ter’li Fields) are human-controlled, meaning any who do not look or act human or display magical abilities will be run off, tortured, perhaps even killed (this is up to you). However, don’t expect to stroll into these territories and have nothing bad happen if your character does not seem to fit in with the townspeople.

Like-wise, humans might be ill-received in certain other territories on land, such as in the Undercity.

Non-humans wishing to pass safely within the human areas are advised to either shape-shift into human form, or find an alchemist who can furnish them with a transformation potion. Combat may also form a part of game play; where it does, it is dice-driven rather than metered, although free-form combat is also permissible by mutual agreement. A 1d100 dice HUD is provided in the information pack for most combat situations, together with guidelines on character creation and general rules – the latter of which as noted as being fluid, so as not to stifle developing RP and stories.

If the number of areas within the region seem to be a lot, you needn’t worry about things feeling crowded; such is the design, everything fits together at ground level to leave a good feeling of open space to Revenland. This is greatly assisted by the merging of the region with a mountainous sim surround. So effective is this, that is possible to walk up to the region boundary without realising and then find yourself bouncing off of it whilst trying to continue onwards!

Good use is also made of space both above and below ground. Some areas where this occurs may be obvious, others less so, thus demanding people spend time exploring – although again, those in character had best do so with cautious, depending on their race and where they are!

Visitors to the region who do not wish to participate in any ongoing role-play are asked to wear the Observer tag, which is available in the information pack and via the packing crates at the teleport points. Other than this, and a request that they don’t engage in local cha to disrupt and role-play, visitors have a free hand in exploring the region – but do keep in mind there are places available for rent which may be people’s private homes.

For those seeking a new medieval / fantasy RP environment, Revenland might be just the place to hop over to and tour.

SLurl and Links

• Revenland (Rated: Moderate)
• Revenland website

I first visited Roche in 2012 (see here). Then held by ddsm2 Mathy, the region offered a rural setting which was instantly attractive, making it a popular destination for SL travellers. In 2015, it was announced Roche would by closing. However,  Ricco Saenz pointed out to me, it later re-opened as Up to U, a collaborative effort between Fio and ありえす (ArieS Magic), offering a new look and beauty, which I wrote about here.

Over the course of the next year, I lost track of the region, so I was intrigued to catch word from Annie Brightstar that Roche would once again be closing at the end of September, as announced by the region’s current holder, Uta (xoYUUTAox). Intrigued, Caitlyn and I went to have a look.

Mostly given over to water, the region sits beneath a dark sky, lit to one side by a bright white star caught forever just above the horizon, giving the region a magical, otherworldly feel. Tall trees are scattered across the shallow waters, their willow-like branches glowing dimly and strung with lights as much as leaves. Blue and red lilies carpet the water under some of the trees,  whilst a grove of bamboo stands guard around two oriental style bridges, which rise from the water to span the water, sharing the space with tables of alien-looking blue plants caught in the light of that distant star.

Ruins can be found among the carpets of lilies, and to one side of the region a single rocky outcrop pushes its way clear of the dark water, a giant piglet asleep on its grassy head.  The remaining occupants of the region can be found flapping above a dual line of old electrical poles, or fussing around the litter of chairs and seats scattered in the lee of the poles.

With light falling like raindrops from a cloudless, starry sky and lanterns floating on the water, Roche is a strange, but enchanting place. There is no ambient sound scape; instead the gentle sound of piano solos is offered via the audio stream. For those seeking somewhere to sit, places can be found among the jumble of chairs and seats, at the top of a curving flight of steps, among the ruins, or against the giant piglet on his island.

Roche has always offered unique environments, and Uta’s design is no exception. Whether or not the next incarnation of the region maintains that tradition remains to be seen; as does whatever comes next from Uta’s imagination; I gather she is already thinking about something new elsewhere. In the meantime, if you’ve not paid her vision for Roche a visit, you might want to do so before the region changes hands once again.

SLurl Details

• Roche (Rated: Moderate)

 

Peacehaven – A New Beginning – click any image for full size

In April, I wrote about Peacehaven, a beautifully rugged and picturesque region designed by Purr (PurrBlaize). At the time, the region was slated to close in May 2016, although it remained open a while longer before the doors finally closed and the region passed into new ownership.  Now, and as featured in the Destination Guide, it is back, albeit on a smaller scale, occupying a quarter of a region; but smaller doesn’t mean any less photogenic.

Peacehaven – A New Beginning presents visitors with a compact corner of beauty and peace ready to be explored and enjoyed. Journeys here start in the north-east corner of the land, on a concrete causeway at the foot of the tall spire of a lighthouse.  Two arches on the landward side of the causeway beckon people forward; the first is a natural formation of rock, its top broken in ages past, mosses coating its inner and outer faces. The second is of carved stone blocks and columns, apparently remnants of an ancient structure.

Peacehaven – A New Beginning

Beyond them both, and across the sweeping curve of a river channel which reveals this part of the land to in fact be a small island, the ground thrusts upwards into a rocky plateau. Water tumbles down one face of this mesa, cutting a further channel to link with the river’s curve. Flatted-topped, the plateau is home to a thatched cottage, the short grass around it offering grazing for  horses and cattle, a wide pool – the source of the waterfalls – providing fresh water for them to drink. Behind the cottage, the rock again pushes upwards to form a small flat shoulder, where sits a modest growth of vines from which a harvest of grapes has not entirely been plucked.

The route up to this high perch is via path and stair, which wind between dry stone walls and up shelf-like steps of rock, passing bright splashes of flowers and  a tree-house snug along the way. Or, for those so inclined, a path at the base of the rugged plateau offers the chance to walk around it, passing a freshwater pond where lilies grow in one direction, or over a stout stone bridge and under the shade of trees to where the path divides, presenting a second wooden bridge leading back to the small, wooded island in one direction, or the choice of two further paths between the trees – but I’ll leave it to you to visit yourselves and see where they may take you.

Peacehaven – A New Beginning

For those who prefer their time in the sun, Peaceheaven – A New Beginning offers two beaches, one to the north and the other to the east, both watched over by the lighthouse and set with parasols and dance systems, with one reach by another stone arch, a further reminder of an ancient presence here. Those in a romantic or reflective frame of mind are also catered for, with places to sit and snuggle – one or two of which might take a little careful finding.

Peaceheaven – A New Beginning is another demonstration that you don’t necessarily need an entire region to build something special. Exploring it is a genuine pleasure, with the snuggle spots and beaches ideal for resting-up afterwards, the sound of birdsong in the trees and waves on the sand forming a suitable backdrop for lazing away the time.

Peacehaven – A New Beginning

SLurl Details

• Peacehaven – A New Beginning (Rated: Adult)

Yasminia – click any image for full size

“The plan was to close it, but I don’t mind people coming to see it really,” Busta (BadboyHi) says of Yasminia, his homestead region. He’d originally opened it to public access for a limited time, the original intention being to close at the end of August. However, When I dropped in recently, it was still accesible and Busta indicated there was no immediate plan to close. “So yes, you are welcome to come see :)”, he told me.

I’d actually come across Yasimina via Loverdag’s fabulous photos of the region back in August, and dropped in shortly before the end of the month to have a look around for myself. I didn’t blog then because of the word it would be closing. However, Following Busta’s confirmation, I jumped back for another explore and a round of picture-taking.

Yasminia

This is a simple pastoral region, offering a landscape idea for wandering and escaping the world and which rolls from rocky hills to low-lying pastures cut by waterlogged land and channels spanned by wooden bridges; a place where trees offer shade from the sun and rutted tracks lead the visitor onwards and the air is vibrant with nature’s many sounds.

A farmhouse sits on a ledge of rocky land on the east side of the region, where the sails of a windmill turn in a gentle breeze, and ducks, geese and chickens wander the grassy yard. Down a path and a track from here – visitors have a choice of routes – fields sit alongside the calm waters, horses grazing contentedly. A tractor is parked to one side of the tracks, speaking to this being very much a working farm.

Yasminia

A footpath to one side of the tractor offers the way down between fences and onward over a small bridge to where apples are being plucked from their trees. A second bridge – this one of stone – then provides the means to reach a little gathering of chairs and sofas at the water’s edge – a place, perhaps, where those from the farm come to sit at the end of a long day’s work. It is one of several little posts visitors might find in their wanderings where they might sit and rest, and if so minded, enjoy a little cuddle.

The beauty of Yasminia is in its simplicity; beyond the farm, the region lies uncluttered with signs of living, yet has enough to offer the curious or those seeking a place to relax with a friend. The trees grow tall, the cuddle spots are widely separated to ensure some privacy, and the footpaths and tracks make for an amiable walk, accompanied by the region’s soft, natural sound scape as the surrounding hills beyond the region give it a feeling of intimacy.

Yasminia

The region has a neutral windlight, but the design is such that it offers itself to most settings with equal beauty, making it an ideal location for photography, as I hope my efforts here show, all of which were intentionally taken using a different preset, suitably adjusted.

Many thanks to Busta for offering his creation for us all to enjoy – and a belated happy rezday as well!

SLurl Details

• Yasminia (Rated: General)

Vintage Romance – click any image for full size

Vintage Romance, designed by Britain Leigh Knave (Britain Knave), her partner, Marcus Knave (Marcus688) and Nïc Bour  (NicBor), is a place almost literally caught in time, a reflection of the moment at which the coming together of two hearts in love is forever frozen in Timeless Love.

At first glance a near-monochrome, frosted world, Vintage Romance presents visitors with a land of rocky islets sitting over freezing waters and beneath cloud-laden skies. Trees stand with boughs glistening in hoar-frost and wooden bridges span the cold, still waters. However, despite the cold look, this is a place with much to attract the eye and the camera and offers a romantic warmth.

Vintage Romance

The region has a distinctly west-east orientation, offering something of a narrative around the idea of love and marriage. Visitors arrive on the west side, where the bride’s limousine is parked. From here, the route points eastwards, passing a frozen fountain and under arches of frosted boughs to a small table on which sit bouquets, candles, what might be an order of ceremony book, a camera and photos of a newly wed couple.

Beyond this little tableau, reminding us of the wedding act, the path splits, leftward, across a wooden bridge, lies a reception area with set ready for music, guests and dancing, and completed by a place of honour for the bride and groom. Meanwhile, the remaining path, also spanning the waters on a trestle bridge, leads to the place where the wedding ceremony itself is held.

Vintage Romance

Open to the sky, wooden doors guard the entrance, a further arched tunnel of trees beyond leading to guest seating and the altar. More trees, trunks bent as with time, line either side of this rocky place, standing as sentinels watching over proceedings – or perhaps as the columns of nature’s church, delicate net curtains draped from their boughs.

Linking these two  – place of ceremony and place of celebration – are further wooden bridges suspended beneath white balloons, the waters between the two islets and the suspending bridges home to Mistero Hifeng’s che ci importa del mondo (we care about the world), a very visual expression of love and cherishing another.

Vintage Romance

Around these major locations there is much more to be seen. A (tracked) steam train sits to one side of the region, the cab plushly arranged, a “just married” sign hanging from its safety rail, all suggestive of happy couples heading off to honeymoons in romantic locations (in this case, Paris). Also to be found are places to sit and vignettes telling other aspects of that special day.

Whether you’re a romantic at heart or looking for a location just that little bit different from other places you may have visited, whether for photographs or simply to enjoy, Vintage Romance has much to offer visitors. Those who do visit and take photos are asked to share them in the Vintage romance Flickr group.

Vintage Romance

SLurl Details

• Vintage Romance (Timeless Love) – Rated Moderate

Opening September 16th, 2016: Pandora Resort – click any image for full size

Note: this vision of Pandora Box of Dreams has closed.

I’ve admired the region designs by Lokhe Angel Verlack (Jackson Verlack) ever since first encountering Pandora’s Box of Dreams, an evolving series of designs he created, intended to encourage visitors to relax, free their minds, and simply dream. Towards the end of 2015, I was invited by Lokhe’s partner, Miza, to preview their role-playing environment Château Village, which drew inspiration from the World of Darkness universe.

On September 16th, Lokhe and Miza will be opening their latest venture in Second Life called Pandora Resort, which they’ve been working on for the past few months. In their preparations for this, Miza kindly extended another invitation for Caitlyn and I to pay a visit in the run up to the doors opening – and I can honestly say that what we found completely blew us away, presenting visitors with one of the most exquisitely designed regions in Second Life. So much so, that I’ve hopped back daily ever since.

Opening September 16th, 2016: Pandora Resort

As the region won’t be open to everyone until mid-month, I’m not going to offer an in-depth look here, as that would pre-empt things too much. Instead, I’ll leave my more usual travelogue post for around the time the gates are opened for everyone, and use this article – with Miza’s and Lokhe’s permission – as something of a sneak peek of Pandora Resort, which I hope will whet appetites.

“We really wanted to create something different. Well mostly Lokhe! He really got a wide scope of ideas,” Miza said to me during one of my visits. “He really went out of his way this time to bring something unique.”

Opening September 16th, 2016: Pandora Resort

“Unique” is certainly a fitting adjective for Pandora Resort, as is “stunning”,  the word which immediately entered my head as I first flycammed around the region. I can say without any exaggeration that over the years I’ve visited many regions in my Exploring Second Life series, and Pandora Resort offers one of the most impressive landscapes and use of ground space, both horizontally and vertically, I’ve ever witnessed. As your explorations take you from paved streets with boutique shops, public gardens and café seating, to rugged paths passing  through clefts and alongside deep gorges, it is genuinely hard to believe everything is contained within the space of a single region.

Pordora Resort is, to use a final adjective, breathtaking. So do make a note in your diaries / calendars for the weekend of Friday, September 16th, and get yourself ready to take a trip and see for yourself? You will not be disappointed.

Opening September 16th, 2016: Pandora Resort

For those interested, my articles on Pandora’s Box of Dreams can be found here, here and here, and my review of Château Village can be found here.