RFL: Settlers of Hope And Fiona Fei's Ribbon Hunt

By Bixyl Shuftan

The theme of this year's Relay season was "Game On, Cancer." And at the Relay track this year, the camps often had a tribute to a game. Several of the camps had builds inspired by Monopoly, such as the Sunbeamers. And some had actual games such as the Second Life Cheerleading Squad's playable game inspired by Donkey Kong. Two I came across offered prizes for completing games. One was in RFL Encourage: "Settlers of Hope."

Sandie Loxingly told me that the game had been made by her Relay Team "Seekers of Hope." It was based off the board game "Settlers of Catan."

 I would come back later with an alt.  In this SL game, a player had to purchase the HUD for 100L.

 As one goes down the track, one clicks on the people next to the signs to get a resource. You only get one good per station. There's also several games on the track, such as this Bejeweled spinoff.

Usually you get the same kind of good as the station. But sometimes a different one will appear. If you prefer the usual kind, click on the person again once or twice again.

Besides the game, there was a little scenery to explore.

At the end of the course, click on the chest at the end to get a prize. What you get depends on what combination of the six resources you have. For instance, one of each will get you a "Gamer Signs Fatpack." But there are others. Trying a combination not mentioned in the notecard, what I got was a token prize. Oh well, next time.

Oh, and Sandie told me one can get an online version of "The Settlers of Catan" for free on Steam (link).

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Encourage/194/113/22

Of the sims, RFL Courage was a unique one, as it was designed by an artist.

Fiona Fei (Fionafei Resident) had designed the exhibit.

One place was meant to say "Pencil and paper games," which certainly described the sim.

Much of the place looked like landscape covered in various scribbling and simple games on paper.

But the place wasn't just scenery. There was also the "Black Ribbon Hunt."

 Clicking on the sign, one would get the first clue, and would find the eight others by finding the eight black ribbons in the sim.

 There were several tiny critters in the sim, that when clicked on would say something, occasionally offering a clue to finding a ribbon.

Some of the ribbons were clearly in plain sight, though others took me a while to find.

 A few of the ribbons had little gifts, such as this overhead, "Game on, Cancer!" (those in furry avatars, don't wear but add).

For getting all of the ribbons, the player gets a tiny "Toontoons" avatar. It seems to be one at random from a couple dozen, in my case getting a female panda.

There are of course more games in the rest of the sims, and a lot to explore. While some people have picked up their camps, there's plenty to look over. But not for long. Eventually the sims will be gone, so look around while you can.

Bixyl Shuftan

Pokemonsters

By Gemma Cleanslate

Two of my fishing friends were having a conversation one day during a contest that caught my attention. They were discussing a new inworld game that is called Pokemonsters. (sound familiar?) I intruded and my friend Emily began to explain the game, and then after the contest took me to the headquarters. I was able to pick up a free hud, information and directions on the game, and get to see the explanation posted on billboards. She then showed me the Pokestops, where, by clicking you get aids to the game,….. apples, candy and pokebawls to help with the capture of the monsters. I was almost overwhelmed by that time so decided to read and take my time absorbing and understanding the hud and the extensive directions. I next visited some of the locations of Pokemonster stops just to check them out and collect some the aids,(apples, pokeballs, candies )to aid in capture. I then felt ready to try and go after those little monsters. 

What a riot. It is not easy to get those little guys. First you have to get them to look at you by giving them an apple ( clicking them). Then you go into mouse look and start bombarding them with pokebawls, quickly!! I feel like I was hitting them square between the eyes but kept missing. or, worse yet, they run away! Then I had to find them or another one and start all over again. I began to have success! I have spent about two weeks running around the grid chasing after all kinds of little monsters. They are cute! The creators of this game, Addict Algoma and .۰Ʀεოs ۰. (Rems57 Resident) have spent a long time working it out to the the stage it is now but are continuing to perfect what is done and look to the future with new ideas.

There is so much more to find out about too. Each monster has combat points. They are capable of fighting in an arena. The lesser point ones you can capture and then transfer and gain more candies.  I heard the arena is one of the things that they are working on.  There are a few pokestop places that have a lot of little critters running around that are not pokemonsters which can trip you up trying to capture them. The monsters make a cute little sound in their own language that will help identify them. They also wiggle, bob and weave which helps to locate them, but then makes it hard to catch them. I have finally become pretty good at doing that though .

The hud you wear has a book on it where it tells you what monsters you have so far. I have saved some of the best combat points in a pokemonster saver that you can also pick up for free at the headquarters and rezz at home. I have also evolved a couple by depositing them in the machine at the HQ . This changes their appearance and also their combat points and cost you candy to do.  Many people sell their high point pokemonsters by putting them in a box that is also available there. There is still a lot more to learn about this complex game but I wanted to let you know all about it so you can go try it yourself. I need to get an egg and I know I can incubate the egg and will see what I get. 

As you catch more monsters you will rise to a higher level that you can see on your hud. The pokemonsters are really cute and interesting creations.  I have met quite a few addicts so far in my travels around the grid, some playing the “similar “game in real life. Go try it! You can start here at the headquarters and the owners are helpful and there is a group to join that is also helpful with problems. You will also enjoy seeing different locations on the grid where the Pokestops are located. I did. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/North%20Island/35/193/1002

 Gemma Cleanslate

Treasure Quest

By MajikVixen (bluevioletvixen.lorefield)

“Avast Ye Matey, If Ye Be Looking For Treasure, 'Tis Here...!”

Treasure Quest is another relatively new game within Second Life that is pretty fun to play and generates traffic for Land Owners. StormyDaze15 and Chris (chrs1969) developed the game in hopes of improving other coin hunting games out there.  I would say from the abundance of happy chatter going on in the group, that it's definitely the best generation of these types of games.  Players are also free to talk about any game they want in group chat, Stormy and Chris do not fear that threatening TQ.  Players have talked about a multitude of things, from the game itself, to everyday things like pizza, and Dr. Phil.  Players love to chat because it gives them something to do while waiting for a TQ item.

There are free HUDs for both Players and Land Owners (listed as the 2nd link in the Additional Information, URLs section of this article).  Tax is only 10% (which one only pays once, not on every item).

One simply adds the Players HUD and then can search for Coins, Gems, or Mystery Prizes worth L$ or things.  There are buttons on the HUD to check your balance, go to Headquarters (there are items there and an ATM; once you have L$1 you can withdraw with your group tag), go to the website, or find lands to hunt on.  I clicked a few coins at various places and got myself a pretty penny!  It's easy, you just stand within 10 meters of an item, click them, the time counts down in the floating text, then you type in an answer to the simple math question in the blue box that pops up (probably to prove you're not a bot), and your score is presented in nearby chat.

The values of each item have also been listed on their website (listed as the first link in the Additional Information, URLs section of this article), ranging from L$.01 - L$10.  However something new has happened with Mega Coins (also listed on their website)... these are valued at L$25, L$50, L$100, L$200, and L$250.  For example, the L$25 one is worth a 45 minute wait (the more the value, the longer the wait). 

Additionally, anyone can ask for a special Mega Coin to be designed (you can even pick the value), and Stormy and Chris will make them for free.  During the weekend, I asked them to make a Mega Coin with a heart that has bat wings, inspired by my ^v^/<|;) (Bats Out Of Hats) store, and they did!  After some short testing, the Gothic Heart coin was released on 08AUG16 and is valued at L$25.  Players are only allowed one Mega Coin per day, per avatar, per land, but it really pays off!

As a Land Owner, funding is easy, you just rez the Treasure Quest Funds Vendor, fund it, and then you can take it back into your inventory.  Land Owners can rez as many TQ items as they want (TQ is low prim friendly, for example, each Coin is only 1 prim), and once a Mega Coin is rezzed, it goes to sleep (becomes invisible) so a hunter can't follow you to collect them.  As long as you have the Treasure Quest Land Anchor, the Land Owner HUD will tell you what you need to rez to have a Dash at your place.  A player does have to follow the Terms of Service, also listed on their website, but this is to make playing fair for everyone. 

TQ also chose not to do ranks, to keep the game more enjoyable and not stressful.  However, the items one has collected are displayed in nearby chat, and they do have a weekly contest that is like a bonus to playing the game.

Although group chat announces when an item is hidden or found, Treasure Quest players typically never know what awesomeness they may find.  Truly there is no other game out there like this.  ...So get out your Geiger counters and find those worthwhile items just itching for their new owners!


Additional Information:
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shocking%20Blue/17/161/22
URL: http://www.sltreasurequest.biz/wp/
Marketplace URL: (here)    
Groups: Treasure Quest Friends (Group Key: 584874bb-49db-b18c-a324-44472a5c2aba)
    Treasure Quest Owners (Group Key: 03efac2d-2832-7d8b-5f76-5c004fb79096)
Preferred contacts:
    StormyDaze15
    Chris (chrs1969)

MajikVixen

Art Gallery HUD

By Gemma Cleanslate

Since I had a day off in real life  and did not have time to visit the Louvre, I took out my Gallery Hud and decided to see what was going on in the art exhibit world. The Gallery hud is a great way to find and visit lovely art places without much difficulty searching for them. You have a choice of large extensive exhibits , like the Rose Theater and Art Gallery. You can spend a long time at this venue , massive in build and absolutely gorgeous in itself. There are rooms and rooms of art exhibits by various sl artists to enjoy. Or you can arrive at a the Palais Orleans , a three gallery site that I visit often because Morgana Nagorski has two of the galleries exhibiting artists that change every few months and she always has grand opening parties. 

Right now there is an exhibit called ‘After Dark’ in Gallery1 that is worth a visit. The University of West Australia is another huge exhibit area where there are always challenge exhibits to be found. They are all amazing to see, so much creativity in these pieces. Every time I go there I am floored by the diversity. Space for Art is another wonderful place to visit. You will find a number of lovely builds scattered about the whole area. I took a tram ride and stopped off at a whimsical installation by Haveit Neox . Well worth a tour at this region. One gallery that I visited for the first time was in Elven Realm  called Kaleidoscope,where the whimsical art of many artists , best viewed at midnight ,  is displayed in wooded groves . It was a pleasant visit.  I made a stop at the virtual Chelsea Hotel at Gallery 23 to check out the art pieces there . I took a quick look at some of the smaller galleries in the hud. My last visit was to Serendipity to the Art of Judilynn . It is a lovely little gallery filled with her own art. She is a real life and SL artist. I have seen her art at several places in Second Life. 

The art hud is a creation of Sasun Steinbeck. It is a random selection hud that
“will take you on self-guided tours of locations in SL. Simply click on the left and right hands to go to the previous/next location. Click the little map icon in the middle to see the currently selected location again. Click the stars below the navigation controls to rate the gallery you are at.” It gives you a choice of types of galleries to visit also. If you are into paintings and sculpture , chose Gallery , or you may choose Photography , or Erotic, depending on your fancy. Sasun has extensive hud systems at her SasTech HQ but you can go there to pick up a hud and information about the Galleries of SL at her office ( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vertigo/244/147/48 ) or, you can send an IM to me and I will pass you a hud. 

This is a great way to do something different in Second Life when you need some quiet time , or with a friend, to visit the art galleries of sl and see the amazing creations that exist here . There is another possibility with the hud. You can take a bus tour if you like. Wear the hud and click  bus tour on the menu and you will receive an invitation to teleport to some gallery somewhere on the grid . Other bus riders may join you as you travel.There is another choice , events, that will tell you about a party going on at one of the galleries . It is great fun to use.   Consider it a staycation in Second Life. Often people say to me “I need to do something else for a change”. Well, here you are. All free. 

Gemma Cleanslate

Siden Survival/Horror Sim

By Theonlyjohnny Resident

    Siden is an amazing sim, filled with creatures to kill, as well as a vampire castle, a pirate ship, an abandoned town, an elf cave, a place to relax with your partner, and even a hell world. Adding all of this, along with the hud, the weapons, the staff, and the visitors, this is a place a lot of people should check out.

    Siden is mainly a creature killing sim, using a hud, along with a lot of weapons. Like most places, that allow guns, Siden has its own set of weapons, and also allows other weapons. The Siden weapons, unlike most weapons, in SL, are scripted to a minimum. This means they use as little scripts as possible. In fact, they don't even have a draw and sling script. They do, however, have a safe mode. When the weapon is attached, it is automatically put into safe mode, meaning you cannot fire it accidentally. To remove the weapon from safe mode, simply click it. Clicking it again will put it back into safe mode, of course. These weapons don't even have the many mouselook fire scripts that guns usually have. While you can still fire in mouselook, it is not needed to fire/swing these weapons.

    The Siden creatures are affected by nearly all weapons, in SL, but are damaged more by the Siden weapons. This causes more people to want to use the Siden weapons, which reduces lag, a lot. The weapons have a safeguard against griefers. You cannot buy the major weapons, from a vendor. The major weapons are all scattered around the sim, but require a certain level, on your hud, in order to get them. These weapons require ammo, which can be found around the sim, and you must have your weapon, in your hand, in order to pick up ammo. The minor weapons, however, do not require ammo, and can be bought, either around the sim (for free), or at the landing point (using credits). The minor weapons bought, around the sim, are only bats, bloody bats, and crowbars.

    The creatures found here are, rats, minor apparitions, apparitions, strong apparitions, angry ghosts, elder ghosts, hell apparitions, guardians, and then there are the bosses, the Blade Lady, Death Tree, Ghost Lizzy, Flesh Lizzy, and the Siden Van (Siden Mini Event). Of course, the bosses are difficult to defeat. It wouldn't be fun if it was easy. There are also zombies, but killing them does not help you increase your EXP on your hud.

    The Hud is what makes it so you can collect resources, buy things with credits, and level up. The hud is a circle, surrounded by 4 meters. The top meter is purple and it keeps track of your body condition. Each time you die, your body condition will decrease, however there are ways to raise it again, but that is something you need to find for yourself. The right hand meter is cyan, and it keeps track of your Nourishment. There are ways to keep your nourishment high, but what is the fun in me giving you all the answers? The yellow meter, under the hud, keeps track of your Life Style points. And the left hand meter is your health.

    Inside the circle, of your hud, are three rows of words, followed by the menu button, and then there are three circle buttons. The rows of words, in order from top to bottom, are your level, then your cash amount (I like to call them credits), and then there are your experience points (showing how much you have, and the number needed for the next level). The menu shows you, well, the menu, and it is how you can switch between different pages in the hud, of course you will have to figure out them for yourself. The three buttons, on the bottom of the hud, are another thing you will need to figure out for yourself.

    The look of the place is amazing, as so much detail was put into it, and so much work. It is hard to not be impressed by it all. Even the placement of the creatures is amazing, as if they have a plan for everything. This is truly one of a kind, and is a place really worth paying a visit to.


The Siden Survival horror - Elven/Pirate RPG , is at Emata Almarae (115, 8, 656)

Theonlyjohnny Resident

Tiny Empires

About a month or so ago, I was pointed at the in-game game known as Tiny Empires. It's a simple turn-based hud game where you, in the role of lord and liege, need to gain land and gold (usually for a lord and liege that you're sworn to). The more gold and land you gain, the higher in rank you achieve.

You start as a Wanderer, and can advance all the way up to Queen or King of your own kingdom. As of this writing, I was a few acres of land shy of Prince; I've got a LONG way to go before I make King --- I have a gold amount in the hundreds of thousands; most of the Queens of the kingdom I am in are well into the millions and -make- millions per turn.

The first thing that I saw upon playing is that in order for you to get subjects of your own (or to swear yourself to a liege), you need to find a player who also has the hud attached --- all subjects and lieges in the game are other residents of Second Life. Then you stand near them and when a turn passes, the opportunity comes up to become their liege or subject (depending on rank). This can be good if you're social and hang out in a lot of social areas (where there might be many people playing at once, but if you're a social recluse like myself, you might have trouble finding a liege or subjects. Fortunately, there is a Tiny Empires Recruiters group you can join in order to look for other players.

The game has a trial period, after which you'll have to pay 800 $L to get the full version. For another 600 $L after that, you can upgrade to the Federation version, which offers a LOT more options (The Alchemist, a Festival every now and then, the ability to form Alliances with other players, and the Path to Royalty among them). You'd need to upgrade to the full version first before buying the Federation version, however.

During the game, the hud often will pose a "vote", or an event will happen that gives you gold (a "gold windfall"). So far there aren't any events that I've seen that drain gold (except if you bet wrong on someone during a festival). If your vote is in the majority, the Emperor will give you an amount of gold (and sometimes a kitten, I guess he's a cat person). Gold gained seems to be in proportion to the amount of land you hold; the more land you have, the richer you get.

Sometimes the Trader will show up (again, price of his item is based on land), and other times the Alchemist will show up ("The moon shimmers with a red glow") so if you somehow earned an item known as a Gold Bar, you can trade it to the Alchemist for a potion of some kind. Some potions grant gold windfalls, others protect you from "sabotage" (where another player damages your land and you lose up to about six or seven acres, and it can rebound against you!), and still other potions could get you more land the next time your Liege grants a land tract to all of their subjects under them.


After playing it for a month, I've found it's addicting enough for me to keep playing because I ended up in a group with a lot of nice people in it --- you can meet a lot of new friends this way. There are not a lot of events or variations of the vote, so you'll see a lot (and I mean a LOT) of the same stuff. It's also exponential --- the more you buy land, the more expensive the next acre of land is and the more expensive other things are as well. At the time I write this, an acre of land costs me 537,000 gold and the next one will be even more expensive. I think this game has the serious potential for improvement if the Emperor (Ultralite Soleil, the man behind it all) finds time to code in more features into the hud.

One thing made me think. What's to stop someone from making a lot of alts and using those as subjects and allies, padding someone's gold and land stash? I asked Ultralite Soleil this, and he basically said "Nothing's stopping people from doing that, but it ruins the spirit of the game." I like his honesty about that; rather than fight a losing battle against billions of alts, admit it's a problem and that if people want to do it that way, then fine. :)

I'm going to give the game Four Dragon Hoards out of five. It's fun enough to keep playing even if it is a bit on the repeating side. You can find it at the Kitster sim (149,42,53) and the $L cost is well worth it. There is also Tiny Empires 3000, which is essentially Tiny Empires in a space theme instead of medieval one.

Xymbers Slade