A second chance at a Second Life?

[kookalouris]

OK, I'm a little sleep-starved and haven't thought this entirely through.

But would anyone like to be part of a game in Second Life (Virtual worlds, avatars, 3D chat, online meetings - Second Life Official Site)?

For those that don't know, Second Life is a free, virtual universe. Your virtual self (your 'avatar') can be just about anything and you can shape the world around you to some degree.

I have visited Second Life for a few months last year and ultimately found it unsatisfying.

In the end, Second Life is a very pretty chatroom. And, like most chatrooms, the quality of conversation varies and usually isn't worth having.

But then it hit me, what about a RPG played in Second Life? The idea of a bunch of fantastic characters playing a conventional pen-and-paper RPG in the clouds or underwater is very charming to me.

I don't know who would interested or what games and schedules would even be possible so I am just guaging interest right now.

Interested responders should know that Second Life is free but is very graphics-intensive and requires a fast internet connection. It might be possible to play a post-related game through Second Life (or use ENWorld) but the world of SL works best in real-time chat so schedules might have to be coordinated.

Let me know what you think and maybe we will start our Third Lives.

Gerry

 

[Aeolius]

Within second life, your avatar can sit at a virtual table, roll virtual dice, and view maps on a virtual whiteboard. Voice-chat is also available. An enterprising DM might even go so far as to create dungeons, taverns, castles and the like; though there are already such places to explore in SL.

 

[SarahRequiem]

I played secondlife for a while week before. Gotta say my opinion of this.. thing.. is very low. but playing D&D using it could actually make sense. and I dont think you need such a conection for it, since all ther lag is from the servers themself...

 

[kookalouris]

Re-awakened...

Aeolius, SarahRequiem;

Thank you both for posting. I had thought this thread had reached rock bottom and was starting to 'dig.'

I wasn't as articulate or as awake as I should have been my first post.

I think what I'm trying to say is that human beings posting will always be far more interesting then the most beautifully realized virtual world. I guess it helps restore my faith that people still have more 'soul' than machines.

In fact, there is no technical reason why Second Life would work better for an online 'pen-and-paper' game than other methods. I believe it would be more work in some ways.

So, for goodness' sake, why am I trying to garner interest in using such a virtual world in order to ignore most of what it offers?

I guess the reason is why all of us RPG in the first place, to imagine what it would be like to be someone else.

But my thought is, in Second Life, the players would be pretending to be someone else who was pretending to be someone else entirely yet again.

Well, let me share the mental image I had that inspired my first post.

A bunch of ENWorlders take up Second Life identities, making their ENWorld affilation known or not, as they choose. Then these fantastic avatars (for example, an angel, spaceship, giant robot, vampire, etc.) sit down to virtually play a mundane pen-and-paper RPG probably in a perfectly mundane setting (Here and Now, say, Spycraft d20) while the ordinary game table is amongst the clouds, in an undersea grotto, randomly teleporting across the cyberscape.

The surreality of that scenario just tickles. If the avatars kept their real-world ID's secret (or at least less obvious) then the entire exercise would be a kind of RPG squared.

Strange? Needlessly so? Perhaps, I doubt 1% of the ENWorlders would be interested but that would still be enough. But I wanted to be sure to try and get gamers into Second Life rather than Second Lifer's into gaming (that, and I could never quite get the Second Life group feature to work for me).

Although it didn't occur to me at the time, a text-based MUD might be a purer attempt at this, only the sheer quality of the writing and posting would matter. I am thinking of something similar to LambdaMOO.

Anyway, those are my thoughts so far... Posters and lurkers, let me know what you think...

Gerry

 

[Aeolius]

A bunch of ENWorlders take up Second Life identities, making their ENWorld affilation known or not, as they choose.

Oh well. There are two members in SL, with Aeolius at their first name. I'm one of them.

With a bit of help, one can use SL for role-playing, as one can enable the option to damage others, be damaged by others, and die. "Spells" can also be purchased. There are also communities for elves, merfolk, steampunk, goth, furries, and more. Adult settings can also be enabled or disabled.

 

[SarahRequiem]

but its a real pain to customize your character unless you can model your own stuff, or earn enough money in game to purchase them.

 

[kookalouris]

Aeolius, SarahRequiem;

I had hoped that an ENWorld presence in Second Life wouldn't cost anyone any money, real or virtual. But it seems that to have any kind of meaningful experience, you need some kind of resources, which is exactly the kind of 'mallrat' behavior that I am trying to avoid.

It seems to me that the shine is coming off of the SL world, maybe even any kind of other virtual existence, even down to text-based MOOs & MUDs.

Still, there is enough interest left for me to continue a little bit longer. Let's fish or cut bait...

Is there anyone out there willing to meet in one of these virtual worlds? If so, what world and what times?

For myself, I will try any free environment my laptop can run (most if not all of them) and I have Second Life installed. I am free most nights (American Central Time Zone).

Let's give it a week from this post to see if we can get enough people to give it a try. I say we need at least three people to make a meeting, two people is a conversation.

So here we go, clock's a tickin'...

 

[Aeolius]

I had hoped that an ENWorld presence in Second Life wouldn't cost anyone any money, real or virtual. But it seems that to have any kind of meaningful experience, you need some kind of resources, which is exactly the kind of 'mallrat' behavior that I am trying to avoid.

As I suggested over in this thread about Gleemax and the D&D Facebook application:
"I think WotC should set up shop on Second Life, for their "social networking". They could set up a virtual tavern where gamers could meet, above a virtual dungeon that all could explore. Avatars representing various core races and monsters could be made available for sale, along with props for weapons, equipment, and so on. Members could purchase a virtual plot of land in a nearby village, to keep their belongings. Next door, in a virtual castle, gaming rooms are equipped with tables, chairs, dice, and whiteboards for sharing maps. "

I s there anyone out there willing to meet in one of these virtual worlds? If so, what world and what times?...I am free most nights (American Central Time Zone).

I'm on the East Coast, just let me know when. I'll bookmark some appropriate landmarks to explore.

 

[Aeolius]

While I'm thinking about it, there is a group in SL, "Dungeons & Dragons in SL", that was established specifically for the purpose of playing D&D in SL. You might join the group and IM them, for more info (yes, I'm a member).

 

[kookalouris]

I did read the thread, I liked the "furries, gambling and porn" comment.

If there is already a D&D SL group, then perhaps I am trying to re-invent the wheel. I don't know if there is anything new that can be added.

Still, it's time for me to ante up.

I will get back on Second Life (I will probably have to upgrade something or other), if for no other reason but to check out the D&D group. Since you are already there, Aeolius, that's two out of three (SarahRequiem, still interested? )