Infinite and Awkward

Underlight : Echoes of Chaos

Underlight: Echoes of Chaos

Playing two such vastly different games (WoW/Underlight) does provide food for thought. I am convinced at this point that a massive game environment could never support a truly immersive role playing environment. Looking back to years ago when I wrote the business proposal for Manifest Destiny, I think it was smart to coin the term “IORPG” or Immersive Online Role playing Game. With all of the costs associated with the market now, and the bells and whistles the player base demands, a truly immersive environment needs the staff and players willing to embrace and support a niche product.

For a long time though anytime you used “niche” people seemed to get upset, as if you were dooming the product to fail. I do not think that is the case. I think if you have pride in the product enough you should be proud to say this is an exclusive product. “We know it will not appeal to everyone, and we’re happy to have it that way. If however you do want a role playing environment where you can have true depth of character without the dice rolls and breaks in flow, then give it a go.”

There are massive communities out there filled with very talented role players who, in order to enjoy their games are limited to very few outlets. Finding good role playing opportunities in the various MMO”RPG”S is all but impossible. While the graphics are something to be worked on, the passion of the team dedicated to doing such is not lacking. And what’s more, the passion of those who play the game and explore its role play opportunities has always been rewarded. You’re not going to find that anywhere else, you simply won’t.

So if you’re a character builder, a walker of worlds, one who can see great potential in the abstract, I say give it a go. While you may have to find you sea-legs as you jump into such a unique environment, the opportunities for creative writing and character concept are fantastic.

You never know where that crazy idea could possible take you, you just have to dare to dream.

Underlight : Shades of Truth

A community member typed this up, so I thought I would share it as well.

Underlight: Shades of Truth! - 
http://www.shadesoftruth.net/

Brief Summary:
Underlight is an online roleplaying game that originated as one of the first of its kind just before the turn of the century. Unlike many other RPGs to follow, Underlight would focus on traditional roleplay, promoting creative interactions and complex political structures that, for the most part, evolved at the hands of the players themselves. Mindless power gaming was discouraged to promote the realistic nature of the roleplay environment.

Non-Player Characters would be limited completely to dark creatures that provided an outlet for combat and experience. All other player interactions were represented by the actual controllers of players or gamemasters that worked to guide and support the storylines as they developed.

The environment would unfold, quite literally, in a dream. The premise being that certain individuals, otherwise separated physically on their home world of Cloudsbreak, would advance not technologically but mentally, learning to control their conscious in order to enter a shared dreamstate and interact with others that did the same. Their collective thoughts would create the city of Underlight.

Underlight was created and ran by Lyra Studios for over a decade until they announced in 2007 that the dream had ended. Later that year, Ixios Development and many of the players, unwilling to let the dream die, would pick up the project, and operate it free of charge. Thus, Shades of Truth was born with the same desire to promote true roleplay in a creative graphic environment. The premise of the dream city remains, but the story takes place many thousands of years later as the newly awakened find themselves in a city long ago abandoned, facing new terrors and challenges.

The City of Dreams awaits you…


Instructions:
Firstly I would like to introduce all of you Role Players to a true role playing game! Here we have the creativity to do anything we desire with the help of the GameMasters and other players! Anything is possible even the creation of a new technique you came up with on your own or even forming your own group and owning your own giant stronghold with a strong team of your own! The choice is yours!

To get started, Create an account and download the client.. Depending on your internet speed this could take up to at least… 2-5 mins and for slower connections.. Up to possibly 5-10 mins. It is a very big game on the inside but does not take up to much computer space at all!

Creating a new character is the best part to me personally! Before you name your very first character think about what you wish to be… Think about.. What variant am I from? What do I represent? Am I evil? Am I good? Do I want many followers? Do I want to follow? The choice is yours! Be as creative as possible.. Please no REAL LIFE references when creating your new character.. This is a completely different realm than what we known in the real world so the dreamers would have no idea what you are speaking of if you refer to some real life situations.. Not to mention it will be a quick way to get banned from the server entirely.

Here is a list of focuses, and/or classes to choose from while picking your character!

GateKeeper: Known as the warrior class. Mainly focuses his energy’s on his own will power.. Able to ward portals. Able to cast sprint and run very fast. And also gains a damage bonus as you gain spheres.. A very warrior like class!

DreamSeer: Known as the.. Tactical class persay.. Able to hit your targets from long range with arts known as blast and also you are able to cast vision and even chamele/disappear from sight with your arts! This class focuses on the energys of insight. A very versatile class indeed!

SoulMaster: Known as the healers of the dream! This class is able to heal and restore, fix shields and even poison your foes! It’s main focus is the Resilience energy and the class focus on one thing.. Your dreamsoul.. Either it will cause you serious pain or will heal you and help you in the long run.. A known favorite to most dreamers..

FateSender: Known as the Tricksters of the dream.. This class is able to cast scare, stagger and even paralyze you in place. A very great class to choose from if you wish to control the others dreamers movements and other capabilities.. This class focuses on the Lucidity Energy and is a very good class indeed!


Combat:
Combat is one of the best parts about the game! You have many different ways of combat. Mainly the use of CHAKRAMS(Energy Balls) which are basically weapons that shoot energy towards your foe damaging them based on the strength of your chakram. This is mainly the best weapon of choice in the game in my opinion.. Their is also your own personal energy ball which you can task from a Teacher and Strengthen it yourself and shoot your own powerful beam from your ownself! 

If you are the up close and personal type of way then the sword is your best option. Sword combat can be fun. It is mainly used for duels and fighting off weaker mares within the dream.

Arts are your best bet if you wish to succeed. Depending on your class arts will be your best friend as you gain more spheres and levels!

Finally:
In closing.. Please help our community grow as role players as we are in need of a bigger and larger community like we once use to be. This game will never end because it is completely based on the players and the players creativity to make it last!

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this and please even if you just would like to check it out and not plan on staying.. Come check it out and enjoy yourself to a brand new experience in ROLE PLAY!! THANK YOU!

Mists of Pandawesome

I have decided that now that I am back and settling in to World of Warcraft once more I will blog about my experiences.

While I am not the first to do it I will admit I offer my own brand of sardonic craziness tempered with a care bear nature that makes for an infinite amount of interesting and often awkward observations and encounters.

Server - Blackhand (Horde)

Main Character - Moowyn

Guild - Shades of Truth

To start off, my main character is a Shadow Priest. I decided to play Horde side this time around and settled on the Blackhand server. Why Blackhand? Well I have also played an online imersive role playing game called Underlight, since 2000. The current rights holder and his cousin, who is the most amazing and slightly crazy coder, threw together the Shades of Truth guild and as a sign of loyalty I was happy to sign on.

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