Tag: My SL

A look back at my SL 2012

Posted on by Inara Pey

In many respects, 2012 has perhaps been my busiest year in SL. This is partly because of the way this blog has gained readership and popularity over the last couple of years, some of which went / goes far beyond anything I’d imagined. Articles-wise, it’s been something of a record with 620 published since January 1st; which given I hit 1000 on this blog this year, and it has been around in its current form since 2009, tends to say a lot (I’m just not sure what, exactly!).

Another reason is that I’ve been reconnecting with some of the things I used to find a lot of fun in SL, and have been fortunate enough to have been introduced to new pastimes. So in addition to my review of the SL year as seen through the pages of this blog, I hope people won’t mind if I’m a little self-indulgent in looking back at some of the things I’ve particularly enjoyed in SL over the year.

Getting back to old pastimes
Getting back to old pastimes

Skydiving was something I used to enjoy a lot in SL, having been a member of several clubs and participated in competitive and team jumps. However, it somehow got left behind at some point; no clear idea why, so it was good to go digging into my inventory and pulling out all the old kit and giving things a go again. I’ve yet to team-up with Ziki and Caliburn; maybe that’ll be something for early 2013…

Only a short step away from skydiving is flying. While I’ve fiddled around with things flight-wise in the past, I’d never seriously given it a go in its own right.

The
The MM Pitts S2C and a flyby of the Titanic as she steamed through Blake Sea (click to enlarge)

But then, I’d never really bothered to explore Blake Sea and its surroundings, either, until LL presented me with a sailboat and I succumbed to the call of the oceans (of which more anon). I wasn’t sure what to expect, flying-wise, so I initially opted for two freebie offerings from the Marketplace in order to wet my toes a little.

Since then, I’ve gathered a small collection of aircraft (including the brilliant little Warbugs – thank you, Lindall!), but have to admit the Terra Stingray from Steve “Cubey Terra” Cavers is my favourite. It is simply a joy to fly – and the fact that it can operate on and under water makes it as much fun to have as my KR Engineering “Fisher’s Menace” Neuspa. To anyone even remotely considering trying out flying, I cannot recommend the Terra Stingray highly enough.

Terra Stingray: great fun flying
Terra Stingray: great fun flying

I’ve had great fun flying all over the Blake Sea and the surrounding continents over the last few months; when wanted to simply get away from things and enjoy doing something in SL, flying offers a wonderful choice, particularly when you have a very capable aircraft around you like the Stingray, which may not be the fastest going, but which can certainly handle region crossings with aplomb.

Exploring Second Life has given me ample opportunity to try to improve / refining my snap taking techniques. I’m nowhere near the league which includes the likes of Honour Mcmillian, but I’ve tried to improve my snaps from the perspective of framing, windlight, etc, – particularly as I prefer not to post-process.

Calas Galadhon - Dimrill Dale
Calas Galadhon – Dimrill Dale: one of many places I’ve visited over the years and which now help me try to refine and improve my SL snapshot abilities

Continue reading “A look back at my SL 2012” →

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas

Posted on by Inara Pey
xmas2012
The Christmas tree at Calas Galadhon in the snow (click to enlarge)

Starship trooping

Posted on by Inara Pey

As regular readers know, I get bitten by the building bug every so often. Until recently, this manifested itself by me routinely taking a proverbial sledgehammer to my home and knocking seven bells out of it before replacing it with something else. usually, when I start banging prims together, I have some idea of what I’m aiming to achieve. Other times I don’t, and it takes several attempts to get things sorted to a point where I’m completely happy.

Things have obviously changed since moving full-time into my Linden Home. While I can tinker around with the insides of this to my heart’s content, I can’t really go knocking it apart and replacing it. However, it doesn’t mean I’m ignoring the old building bug when it comes to call. Which it recently has.

I’ve no idea why, but I’ve had starships on the brain for a while. Maybe it is a hold-over from living in my little “skystation / space station” before jumping over to my Linden Home. Maybe it’s just that I love Bear McCreary’s music for the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. Whatever the reason, it eventually drove me to go out and buy a copy of the LJ Jayde starship by Smith Fizz. Call it an impulse buy; at 80 metres long, this is not the kind of behemoth you find hanging from string from an hobbyist’s ceiling…

The original Jayde in "stock" format
The original LJ Jayde in “stock” format

I’ve actually been aware of Smith Fizz’s work for a number of years – when I was involved with someone way back, we looked at a number of his ships with a view to getting one as an SL home. Well; seemed like a good idea at the time, even if we subsequently didn’t. Get one that is.

My first task on getting the ship – and with due respect to Mr. Fizz, who did not have the advantage of large prim formats when designing and building the original, was to do a little bit of prims shaving from the basic hull and also removing a few bits and pieces I feel are extraneous – such as the tiny wings. In its “stock” build the ship comprises 871 prims. With the new maximum prim size, and some trimming around the hull, I reduced this by some 211.

My revised Jayde after prim trimming
My revised LJ Jayde after prim trimming. Still might have a further fiddle with the rear end. If you’ll pardon the expression…

Next up came the major issue of the ship’s interior. Part of this is actually very clever. You see, Smith Fizz, working with Thomas Connover, has developed a scene rezzing system (not, I hasten to add, a temp rezzing system). This means that the forward section of the ship can be used to generate a number of interior rooms, which is quite handy and offers plenty of scope for those wanting a sci-fi role-play environment. The problem is that time has not dealt too kindly with some of the offered interiors, which now look more than a little, well, dated.Some of them also, while very clever in how they work and the flexibility they give, also have bits sticking through the sides of the ship. This isn’t something you notice while moving around in the ship, but cam out, and for a self-confessed  obsessive like me, it’s a red rag to a bull…

So, my first act was to grab a new rezzing system from Smith Fizz (wonderful system if you have limited space and want to put it to multiple uses – just make sure everything going into it is at least COPY), and start re-modelling. I’m still working on things, but I’m rather pleased with the results to date.

The original lounge are of the Jayde - the style of furnishings, coupled with visible poseballs mean this has not aged well
The original lounge are of the Jayde – the style of furnishings, coupled with visible poseballs mean this has not aged well

The first room to get the Pey touch was the lounge. I have no real use for kitchens in SL, so the space devoted to this and a dining area in the original design were lost on me. Instead I reduced the overall rezzing space by adding new interior walls (providing a forward “vestibule” area in the process) and then went for a sunken look, with updated sculpted sofas and recliners, with a small bedroom area beyond a partition (I still can’t shake myself of incorporating one into personal builds). A touch of the Orient to the wall textures and an echo of Fallingwater in the ceiling, and I was done – and in less than a third the prims of the original.

The revised lounge, with a bedroom area beyond
The revised lounge, with a bedroom area beyond

Please use the page numbers below to continue reading this article

Pages: 1 2

Six years … and counting

Posted on by Inara Pey

Is it really a year since I last wrote about logging-in to Second Life for the first time as Inara Pey? Wow. Back then I covered the arrival of my fifth rezday with something of a retrospective on SL itself. The times certainly have been interesting.

I’m not about to delve into another retrospective as with last year – you can follow the link above or wait for my Review of the Year. What I will say that this year, while it has been very uppy-downy for me at times (don’t worry, I’m not going to delve into that either! Suffice it to say there are a couple of people out there – and they known who they are – to whom I’ll always be indebted for their time and shoulders), has also been something of a renewal of SL discovery for me.

MaleoIsle-2_001
Maleo Isle

Given all the doom and gloom which swirl around SL, one can never underestimate the value of getting out and about and simply exploring. While there may well be clouds gathering on the horizon, it is still not too late for the storm to be averted – and in the meantime, there is still so very much to see and enjoy – as I hope my “Destination” articles in this blog have shown over the course of the last couple of years.

This year has also seen me start into a couple of new pastimes in Second Life – flying and sailing. I get an enormous pleasure out of the two, for very different reasons. Flying, at least in the right aeroplane, can be an enormous amount of fun. I’m totally in love with my Terra Stingray (which also doubles at times as a very good boat), and more recently my Warbug  has brought an entirely new meaning to the word “fun”.

Warbug Patrol: keeping the skies over Linden homes free from...errr....
Warbug Patrol: keeping the skies over Linden Homes free from…errr….

Sailing is an altogether different pleasure; one more easily shared with friends in easy conversation, broad sails overhead a fresh winds from behind under warm skies. Whether I’m out in the middle of Blake Sea or hugging the coastline around one of the continents or navigating my way to a destination like Second Norway, just being out on the water – like its real-life equivalent – is strangely liberating. I don’t care if I don’t have the biggest, fastest, best-looking or easily operated boat in the world, I’m having enormous fun out on the open seas…

Soon we were out on the open waters of the sea, and I gave the orders to raise the sails, cutting the engine as I did so. for a moment or two, the Exotix coasted forward, the windlasses rattling as we wound them, the sails rising limpy up the tall mast. Then with a canvas-like snap, they caught the wind and Exotix heeled to starboard, racing forward as the sails filled, and I felt the wheel kick with joy in my hands...
Sailing: an SL pastime I’ve really come to enjoy…

All-in-all it’s been a great SL year for me; one capped-off by having friends old and new with whom I can share it, both in-world and through these pages. And while I don’t want to particularly seem to be plugging it, the fact that so many people appear to enjoy reading this blog (wrats, um w-a-r-t-s and all :)) does genuinely touch me.

I’ve no idea what the next twelve months will bring; Second Life is officially ten years old in 2013, so I can’t help but feel whatever it is won’t be a closing of the doors, and I still feel that while they may not be working on anything big and sexy, LL are still plugging away, somewhat hamfistedly at times it’s true, trying to improve SL on a technical level, improve our in-world lives and give us more toys to play with.

All things considered, it’s been a great year; perhaps my only disappointment is that Linden Lab don’t seem to be in the mood to celebrate with me. While others get their rezdays marked with a Linden Cake, I see nary a crumb :(. Ah well. Maybe next year. To the rest of you out there, however, whether near or far, thank you for your friendship, your support and your encouragement.

It really is appreciated.

Sea-1_001

Bitten by the (War)bug

Posted on by Inara Pey

So, it’s no secret to regulars to these pages that I’ve become somewhat hooked on SL sailing and flying. I still only have the one premium gift sail boat in my inventory – it is more than enough to keep me happy and has room enough for friends – but my collection of SL aircraft is slowly growing, with the latest addition being a Warbug.

For those unfamiliar with them, Warbugs are little egg-shaped aeroplanes with air-to-air combat capabilities which are, in a word, fun!

I first came across them by chance browsing the SL Marketplace, but it was Lindal Kidd who piqued my curiosity when she mentioned she had a Warbug airfield on her land (along with a skydiving jump zone). Created by Arduenn Schwartzman, Warbugs can be flown for fun, pleasure or air-to-air fighting, and are possibly unique in SL as they allow “full size” avatars to take to wing within a single region without risking running out of airspace – which is not to say they are unable to handle region boundaries.

The aircraft come in a variety of forms which cover everything from World War I through to spaceships (including a set of Star Wars items which could draw a frown or two from Disney…). They can be bought on the Marketplace or via the Warbugs HQ, which also offers free-to-fly variants of some of the models available via a rezzing system (the rezzing systems themselves also being available to buy).

Warbugs HQ

It was through the rezzing system that I had my first exposure to flying a Warbug – and quickly got addicted. The aerial combat aspect requires flying around using the standard controls (arrow keys for up/down, left/right) PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN for the throttle) and trying to line-up your guns on the “opposition” (the left mouse button fires your guns). Aircraft which are purchased come with a gun sight HUD, which makes the latter a little easier, but given the manoeuvrability of these little planes, not by much.

My Spitfire awaits…

The cockpit is a little cramped, but it’s cute watching your avatar fold herself / himself into it. once in, the engine starts, with suitable sounds, and then it’s open the throttle and – away you go!

Air combat can be frenetic – these little planes are highly responsive to the controls, and only have a screen in front of you, tracking the opposition can get hard – even with aids such as the Mini-map and radar tracking (cheats! :)).

Airborne!

Given that the Warbugs on offer represent various “sides” – RAF and USAAF  … Luftwaffe … Rebels … Empire… it is possible to use them for “group” combat as well as having a “free for all” (although the latter does seem to predominate around the Warbugs HQ), which can add an additional element to the flying. And you certainly know it when you’re hit! Not only are you told in chat, the Warbug spews forth black smoke as you spin towards the ground, being ejected shortly before impact, leaving you either to pick up your bruised ego and battered ‘plane and try again or  – when using a rezzer – trudging back to call-up a replacement…

I’m Hit! Mayday! Mayday!

There are various additions for the enthusiast as well – missiles can be added to some aircraft and a conversion kit means that you can try target bombing rather than blowing one another out of the sky. There are also a range of texture and conversion packs, and even a script pack which can be added to your own custom Warbug builds. Other accessories into an asteroid base for the spaceship units, planets (which can be blown up and leave disturbances in the Force), a complete WW I range of accessories, and so on.

Taking to the air in a P-38 to try my hand at target bombing

There is a website dedicated to Warbug flyers across the grid, which also tracks “aces” and scores. This also adds to the nature of the competition, as “aces” are not only tracked in terms of their point, but also their “value”. The first time you shoot down an “ace” you are awarded whatever value has been assigned to them, rather than just the 10 points usually awarded for shooting someone down. This tends to make “aces” a hunted breed for those after points…

My first Warbug

In the latter regard, I was rather surprised to find myself sitting at #17 in the “aces” list after just a couple of turns in actual combat. Scores are recorded locally by any active rezzer / windsock in operation in a region as well.

Flying with Lindal from her home region proved a lot of fun as well – and how well the Warbugs handle region crossings. Even the skyhomes and sky boxes scattered around made things a lot of fun and provided a means for nipping around obstacles and trying to get a “jump” on one another.

If you’re into flying and haven’t tried out Warbugs, I’d really encourage you to try them out. If you’re into competitive games with a difference (and some of the Warbug people are very competitive!), again, there’s a lot of fun to be had with these little ‘planes. I’ve been bapping about in them for the last few days (and am currently considering adding a Sopwith Camel and / or the Spitfire to my growing collection of aircraft).

Great fun!

Related Links

Settling-in

Posted on by Inara Pey

So today I gave up the last 4096 sq m of private land I paid tier on. It was actually odd, turning-in the keys (so to speak), without having land “of my own” to go to.

The reason I’ve done so is explained elsewhere, but in short, I opted to re-up at Premium for another year and to make proper use of my Linden Home, which I’ve been using as my “primary” residence for the last couple of months & slowly getting used to it.

All moved in

Even so, cancelling rental on the last parcel of land was a little hard; for most of the nigh-on six years I’ve been back in SL, I’ve shared my land with a good friend – Kelly. We’ve alternated having our respective homes on the ground and in the air – with me being the airborne resident for most of the last year or so, and sometimes, when my holdings were larger, having our houses side-by-side on the ground, amidst shared gardens or beach. Seeing her go off to a new home in SL was a little like seeing a member of the family up stakes and move away to a new town. IM will doubtless become our version of the weekly long-distance ‘phone chats, and we’ll be picking out places in SL we can meet-up directly when a face-to-face chin-wag is needed…

Adjusting to living in the limited space of a Linden Home hasn’t actually been that bad; as I’ve commented in the past, the 117 prim allowance / land capacity provided with each house can allow rather a lot to be done with them – particularly if you shop right. What’s more some of the houses lend themselves to low-prim conversions and do actually exist in reasonable neighbourhoods. Or at least, I think the Tahoe range does…

The Aspen interior, as supplied

I opted for the Aspen in the Tahoe range. It’s one of the “long” versions of these A-framed houses, and the only one with the front door in one of the long walls, something I particularly wanted. After moving in, I did do a small amount of conversion – I installed a second vertical wall in the place so I had room to hang pictures and added a basic loft area at one end of the house to make space for a (never used) bedroom (do avatars dream of electric sheep?) – but other than that, didn’t really do that much with the place beyond slapping in some furniture.

After deciding to make the place my primary abode, I re-worked things a little, dividing the single room into two, and re-modelling the stairs and loft. This all came to a cost of nine prims (the magic of sculpts!), although it could have been less; I wanted a different floor in the “back” room, and a door separating it from the lounge.

At home – the Aspen remodelled

I’m particularly proud of the picture frames on the long wall and over the fireplace amount to just 2 prims and as well as allowing me to display 4 prints, they contain scripts which activate a warm level of lighting at dusk before turning it off again at dawn.

For the rest of the place, as mentioned, I went with Ample Clarity’s PrimPossible! items. which give me a plant, a lounge suite, tables (even books!), rug, piano, bed and upstairs sofa for the princely sum of five prims. Throw in an ornament or two, and that’s the place remodelled and furnished for just 20 prims – leaving me 97 still to play with, should I get extravagant.

The Patio

Another reason I like the Aspen is that it has a decent patio area, so there’s room for me to entertain outdoors and enjoy the late afternoon Sun. The railings on the patio are mine – but again only amount to 1 prim.The patio also comes in handy for rezzing purposes as well.

Linden Homes get heavily critiqued for being cookie-cutter packed into the available space; I know this because I’ve been one of those doing a lot of the critiquing. The truth is, I still do find much of the Linden Home regions to be something of an eyesore; hence why I say to anyone thinking of getting one to shop arround. Look at the different classes of build, their surroundings and the various styles of house offered in each class. But, the additional truth is that, pick wisely (and be prepared to bounce around a few houses), you can land a perfect comfortable place with surrounding that aren’t really that bad – although admittedly, Linden Lab could really do with updating the textures they use for – well, just about everything, actually.

Paddling upriver from ny “new” home

In my own case, I have a navigable river close to hand (OK, so I have to rez my boat at home and then “drive” it overland to the water – but it is all downhill) which allows for a little paddling around (or puttering, in the case of something larger), and a couple of regions away – reachable on foot or via water – there is an area of parkland to be enjoyed.

The parkland also lets me take my Neuspa for the occasional spin without annoying the neighbours. Again, being amphibious, it means I can use it to travel to the park by water well out of people’s way, and drive ashore for a little putter around without upsetting others with noise and the risk of being run over.

So, that’s me settled all Linden-y like in the Aspen. It’s only taken me a year to get there, and I’ve enjoyed myself doing a little more exploring in the local neighbourhood; after living on private islands for so long, being able to walk out my front door and simply go a-wanderin’ without having to resort to landmarks and teleports is a novel experience; I’m rather enjoying it.

Four wheels on my wagon – taking a break from wandering around my local Tahoe regions.