Role
play is very popular in SL, from escapades in outer space to western sims and
anything the mind may imagine in between those examples. One of the most popular RP groups are those
modeled after the planet of Gor. Gor was
conceived within the science fiction novels of John Norman. SL resident’s participant in Gorean culture
either as BTB [by the book] or GE [Gorean evolved]. For more information on Gor, I have provided
links below.
A
resident of a Turia [Spanish Gorean SIM], Sombra.Magic developed an intricate
role playing agricultural society.
Originally it was designed for his SIM and other practicing Gorean
SIMS. Today G&S products may be seen
throughout SL used by many different individuals as well as RP groups. All aspects of the G&S products are
modeled after the lives in the John Norman novels. The clever G&S designs have objects that
both interact with each other and interact with the player. This RP system has evolved to a wide array of
activities for the user.
One
example of the circular nature of one of the processes would begin with
crops. I began with a Grain field. This field needs water to survive and thrive. I obtained my buckets of water from a water
well. I placed water on the field and
would replace it if it disappeared [was used].
After 5 days, the field would display that it was ready to be
harvested. By clicking on the field, I
would receive 1 bag of grain for that field.
Next, I purchased a Verr [goat] for my farm. The Verr needs both water from the well and
grain from the field. The Verr may be
bred with other Verr for increasing livestock.
The Verr only ‘live’ for 40 days so I must manage my livestock carefully. The lives and the breeding of animals is
thoughtfully designed using Gregor Johann Mendel’s Principles of
Inheritance. The Verr provide many
products; Milk, meat, wool and skin.
Each of these products may be used with other products to make items
such as thread, rugs, tapestries or to cook several recipes.
That
Verr example is one of hundreds of scenarios one can set up using the G&S
RP items. This RP system has definitely
‘bloomed’ in SL and continues to grow within and outside of the Gor
communities. Exciting news
After
working with several of the G&S items, I submitted some questions to Sombra
and G&S right hand Erica to learn more about the system and the future.
SEERSHA: When [what year] did G&S begin within
the Spanish Gorean SIM it was designed for?
SOMBRA: G&S started in 2008 in the Spanish sim
of Turia.
SEERSHA: When did G&S begin selling products
beyond that SIM?
SOMBRA: It was that same year, a few months after
starting. The English sim of Turia, convinced me to sell the products in all SL.
SEERSHA: For our readers, the main G&S page [below]
also has a “G&S trading list”. This
provides G&S product providers. I am
very curious, who are the developers?
SOMBRA:
Guardian Baron is the main developer of the Mesh. And I of the scripts, Erica
participates in different phases of development and customer service.
SEERSHA: I have met Erica through my use of the
G&S products. She provides excellent
and quick answers to a lot of questions.
I have spoked to a few different developers of RP environments in SL. One thing I love to learn is what the
developers notice in player behavior that emerges as the product is put into
service. Have you noticed any emergent
behavior that you did not anticipate once you began selling G&S products to
everyone in SL?
SOMBRA:
Above all I notice it in fishing. At first, we thought that there would not be
many people fishing, but it exceeded all our calculations, we even had to put
an extra server to support it.
SEERSHA: I noticed the fishing as well. I haven’t tried it yet but I am sure too at
one point. Are there any plans to make
different types of HUDs for the RP?
SOMBRA:there
will be updates for the Hud, but not different types.
SEERSHA: Is there any plan to add some of the other
102 insects and animals found on GOR such as larls or sleens?
SOMBRA: For animals, yes, sleens, kailas, larls,
tarns, but I had never thought about insects, it could be interesting.
“Suddenly a great shadow covered the ledge. My tarn
had returned. I looked up and, to my horror, saw that it was not my tarn. It
was another tarn, a wild tarn. He lit on the ledge, snapping his beak. This
time I had none of the careful conditioning of the tarn keepers working in my
favor.”
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 143
SEERSHA: *smiles* From my research I learned that
generally Tharlarions are for those who have not yet mastered Tarns. Any plans to develop Tarns? The G&S crowd loves to race those
Tharlarions!
SOMBRA:
Of course, I always have tarns in mind. :)
“There are different varieties of domestic tarns,
some bred for war, some for racing, and some for draft purposes, the haulage of
tarn baskets, which may contain cargo or passengers, or, in the case of slaves,
slave cargo. A tarnster commonly controls the tarn with reins from the basket,
unless there is a line of tarns, tied together, which commonly follows a lead
tarn, with its own tarnster and basket.”
Rebels of Gor Book 33 Page 90
SEERSHA: I am using the G&S system. I know of other individuals using
G&S. What are some of the other RP
communities that you know are using G&S?
SOMBRA:
I've seen some very varied, almost all set in medieval RP, and I've seen some
very curious, Star Wars, and another set in the Europe of 1800
SEERSHA: Star Wars?
*laughs* may the force be with them, right? I read from on your G&S Trading page that
there have been hackers to your system.
Have you experienced support from LL to curb this practice? Have you taken this abuse outside of SL to
pursue violators in a rl court?
SOMBRA:
LL Helped a little, especially in the illegal copies put on sale in the market,but,
I’m from the old school,and these battles also fascinate me, and sincerely, I
have not received attacks so strong or that could not be rejected with a little
ingenuity to use the laws outside of SL.
SEERSHA: That is good to know that LL has lended some
support. I have provided links to the
main G&S page below. What other
items would you like the readers of this article to know about G&S and the
roleplay system?
SOMBRA: I think this is all, we have no facebook or twitter.
G&S
is the only group to make a full range of Gorean roleplay agricultural and
animal roleplay items. There are other
Gor items produced by residents of SL you will find on Market Place. Many thinks of the Gor SIMs only for the human
interaction from the novels. As with
most things in SL, dig a little deeper and there is much more to be found. In the case of the Gorean RP, this is much
more complex than one might imagine. And
on these SIMs and in this roleplay, there are many creative members who are
dedicated to making the experience close to the novels.
On
their webpage there are instructions to submit questions via NC to Kristal
Clarity.
Seersha Heart [saoirseheart resident]
saoirseheart@gmail.com
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