Valucre Blog Lite

Full Flavor, Half the Calories.

No, I do not have food on the mind!

The joke is more on the fact that as far as my blog updates go, this one is trimmed down. It seems we had a slow week for new role-plays in development, so I did not have much to go on there. Our new members count was nothing big either, so it's not like I added back some trimmings on that side of the plate. We're doing the lore now, but the randomly selected place from Tellus Mater really did not have that much to work with- so I had to go lighter there as well. All in all, this might be the leanest meal Valucre has given you in quite a while.

We'll just say its because we care, and we worry about your heart- yes, yes, your heart. That's why you are getting the smaller portion sizes today. :P

In all seriousness, this blog is on the lighter side due to both a lighter amount of content being available to work with, and partially due to my own brain fogginess as I am once again running on hours of sleep that most people call a short nap.

Anyway, enjoy your health food version of the Valucre Blog. And no, I am not going to go fetch you a Carrot-pumpkin-kale-wheat germ soy smoothie. 0_0

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Goes to Round Two - Chosen is going on to round two, and if not for extenuating circumstances with the main facilitator, it would have already been up. That said, I know I keep throwing this out here, but the Chosen is active and hopefully a second round of brutal beatdowns will begin soon. So, while you wait, hit up the concessions and go chat in the lounge. Maybe they have some decent food there, who could say.

A Wedding Gift for the Queen- This quest is still available for those looking to flex their muscles and go out and earn some canon-cred®, so if you think you have what it takes to face down the dangers of Umbridge Isle, or you just like earning the favor of queens- go and check it out. And yes, I just trademarked Canon-Cred, so take that!

The Survivors- This too still has room for more people to join in, and I think it could produce some real fun. If you like survival based role-plays involving desperate situations and hard to pull through scenarios, come take a shot at this. Just remember, Survivor scenarios often involve a lack of food- better eat more than this diet tray before you head out on that one.

Shadows of Night: A DC Comics RP- This RP seeks to take the awesomeness of the entire DC universe and combine it into one RP setting, where any hero, and any villain, can meet and clash for the first time- assuming that all of them are in fact DC characters. Any brand new character is welcome, as even the most mundane person could suddenly find themselves empowered with all the strange happenings. This RP promises to strike the balance between high octane action and slow periods to let you catch your breath. See what you can make of it.

Write in Genesaris(!)- Our member Garion implores you to remember just how awesome the entirety of Genesaris is and wishes that more people would come join him for the wealth of available role-play and lore. Remember, Genesaris lets you take control over any city (except capitals, where you share power on a council) assuming you promise to generate activity. So, if you have a moment to look around, think about writing in Genesaris! I hear they have cookies too.

Featured Read of the Week- I cannot say I am terribly surprised that my second pick for this new section involves another role-play with King- King puts out tons of quality and I imagine that in time, many of these listed reads will have had his ‘magic touch’. That aside, I do promise to try to refrain from always picking threads only featuring King. Besides, the man isn’t the only one producing quality in this thread- Aleksei is the partner in this role-play and she too is putting out impressive stuff.

Wait- The writing here once again transcends the normal level of writing quality one expects on a role-play forum (even one as high caliber as our own) and brings the focus back onto two characters and the relationship between them. King reprises the same role here, but the relationship dynamic is not one of romantic love, but that of a deep and meaningful friendship, a bond that could be described as tight as family. What I really like out of this thread is the way that Aleskei brings her character to life- not just through the emotions, thoughts, and fears, but in the little things she does. There are so many details in our lives that we all take for granted, things that seem so insignificant we overlook them- and yet in the way she captures them here, I feel like this character is real. 
  

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: Nu Martyr

At a Glance: 

• Leader (Lead Ship Designer): None Currently.
• Population: A mixture comprised of Renovatian (80%) and Damiryan (20%), totaling about 89,000 people.
• Defenses: SOLDAT (1st and 2nd class): 100 first class and 300 second class. In addition, there is a military police force made up of two thousand guards, who are currently in conflict with the SOLDAT.
• Neighboring Landmarks: Inside of Telarian City- The Statue of Tellus, connected to the holy bridge- a site for prayers, and numerous museums, most of which are old abandoned laboratories once owned by the infamous Tullia. 

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• The Property Laus`Æternus is claimed by The Order of the Valiant Sky!
• The Property Allah`Jua Estate is claimed by Raven's Brand!

Available Quests:

• None Listed

Brief Summary of Lore:
Borrowed from the Lore: Once heavily mana infused in ancient times, the Nu Martyr of today is a Primal city with a marble shell. Reborn within a realm enriched with opportunities, the Grand Capitol stands tall and supreme over her contiguous counties as Renovatio's first Wonder. 

New Members and Returns!

Welcome:

Lenore:
A cafe recruit who still table-top RPs!

Darien:
A well read future theology student who admits his singing won't support him if he quits his day job.

AriesLockhart:
A horror movie fan who hasn't stopped role-playing in five months. They write stories that they never finish because that requires putting RP down for a few minutes.

FallenSeraphim37:
They greet everyone like they are a traveler, and they really don't care if you call them fallen or Sera.

Wooplan:
Hails from Bikini Bottom and speaks in the third person!

Blaze Kazama:
He's busting his forum cherry and hoping to make some new friends!

Witch:
A Neuroscience student who prefers the softer side of science. Looking for an experienced player to drag them out into the sea of RP.

Monster:
A self proclaimed eccentric and tattoo artist looking to get involved with the RP. Likes to shoot the breeze with 12yr old type but promises to RP like an adult!

Returns:

We got none for you today.

Now, this almost looks like I am doing this on purpose- eight people for like what, the fourth or fifth blog in a row, the week after I made a big deal out of it, right? Well, I am not! We really did have eight new members come in and say hello in this last week. I don't know what the deal is, but eight is like, becoming our lucky number! Well, maybe... I did associate it with defecating last week. >_>

Other Highlights?

I'd rather be eating bacon, but whatever.

Thread Ratings- Have you ever seen a thread that you thought was a knockout? A bit of RP that you thought was fantastic? Or maybe someone throws up some junk thread that you swear has about the same appeal as a coconut crab- you can rate it down. In order to rate a thread, click the 'Rate this Thread' option on the bar above the first post on the page. ;)

Did You Know- About that Valucre blog? Of course you did, you're reading it! But did you know you can submit content to it? Yep, you sure can. To learn more, go to this here and get the rest of your Did You Know Archive from over here.

Closing Thoughts?

So, for today's closing thoughts, I decided that I would make myself sound like the world's biggest hypocrite- only sound like mind you- because what I plan to talk about is only contradicted by about half the extent then my situation might first lead one to believe. Now, what could I be planning to discuss that makes me sound like a total hypocrite? 

Self-care of course.

 Contain your laughter for a moment and hear me out- yes, this sleep deprived guy who never takes a moment to breathe, let alone do much anything else related to what resembles taking care of yourself is telling you to take care of yourself.  With a straight face and uncrossed fingers, I am openly declaring that people need to stop and take the time to take care of themselves every now and then. It's important for your physical health, your mental health, and honestly (here is the tie-in folks): I think it can have a huge impact on the way you write and your chances of being successful.

Now, how on earth do I get away with saying this?

Because, while it may seem like that I live my life by throwing my body around at 150mph, going nonstop and doing everything I can to wear out my tread years before the end of the life expectancy, there is self-care going on every now and then. Even I have to stop and do things that allows myself to recharge- it is absolutely imperative that I do! Not only for the sake of my own wellbeing, but because I work in mental health- where at the end of the day, the only tool you have is yourself. I wish you luck with helping patients when all you have is half pair of pliers, three rusty nails, a cracked hammer shaft, and a bent over screwdriver- it sounds silly, but that's the truth- good patient care comes from good self care.

I too become stressed out, sick, emotionally exhausted- hey, I am not superhuman you know. If I let that stuff add up on me, I become ineffective in my job, difficult in my relationships, and start acting like a generally cynical asshole- signs I have had enough. I have never met a person who can burn themselves down at both ends of the wick, do so indefinitely, and not expect it to burn you out. When that burn out sets in, you are tired, stressed out, more likely to get sick. It is hard to concentrate, hard to think, hard to put yourself to work. Essentially, you become useless.

Despite the stereotypical writer being a half dead drunk whom sometimes wonders how the hell they still function at all, I think a lot of the truly successful people out there are the ones who are taking care of themselves. At least- they make enough effort at self-care to keep from totally imploding on themselves. Some writers do a lot of writing and hold down other jobs- this is tough, and it has to be stressful. Yet, they still manage- because they are taking care of themselves.

Now that I have totally rammed that one into the ground and make this ultra lean blog bite just a little fattier (and therefore juicier, right? :P ), we'll move on to what self-care is. Self-care is doing things for yourself. Doing what you need to do to recharge your batteries. Maybe it is having a day where you can sleep an extra three hours. Maybe it will be eating big, calorie laden meal (just once and a while), it's getting exercise, going for a walk, talking things out, having outside activities, spending time with those you care about... all kinds of things!

Hey, for me- it's having some ice cream. It's taking a hard run on the treadmill, or sleeping a few extra hours. Sometimes it's having someone I can just unload on, sometimes it's long walks. Sometimes it's just drawing in the person who matters most, holding them tight, and being thankful for having at least that. I don't always have time to do a lot for myself- so I find the little things. I think about the little things that are making me happy. I have a treat (or three), take that extra breath, remind myself of what I am doing and where I am going. There are numerous things I do, many of which while on the go.

Even then, every once and a while, I do get time for me.

It's wonderful. ;)

That's what I go this week folks, and this takes us into break week. I'll see you all next month!

-          Acies

"It only takes one person to change your life – you."   ~ Ruth Casey

Flying by the Seat of my Pants

Because today, I Have No Clue What I am Doing.

Yep, totally running dry on ideas today, so I have no themes to throw this thing together with, and no closing thoughts even as I write out this introduction. For some reason, my brain is running out fumes, which just makes me sooooo annoyed. Yet, what kind of hypocrite would I be if I let this momentary block get me down- I'm always preaching about pushing through it and doing what you need is necessary for you to get past it- so that's what I am doing. I am going to plod on through this one like I have a plan, even though the plan is the complete absence of a plan. 

Seems legit. 

Given my lack of direction, this is where I just have to wrap up by saying that we do have some awesome content down below (thankfully, finding good shit on Valucre does not require a great deal of brainpower... I will leave that one alone), so you do have that. There is RP to be checking out, a new subsection added below at the behest of an awesome suggestion, and we will have some kind of closing thoughts by the end of this thing. In the meantime, let's see what I cooked up today. By cooked up, I mean what came out during the 'creative process'.

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Goes to Round Two - Looks like the facilitators of The Chosen were ready to jump into round two, as all stalling or completely stalled matches were drawn to a close and winners meted out based on who was the last post. With all the results in, you should expect the next round to start up shortly, with all new pairings for you to enjoy. We draw one step closer to the finals- any bets on who will advance to the finals? Discuss your thoughts in the lounge.

The Survivors- Well, if you like survival based games, this will be one of two little gems I present to you this fine morning. This game has two possible scenarios for the players to choose from, one involving displayed scientists in the arctic and the other displaced civilians after a hurricane- looks like hurricane is on the lean, but there might still be some time for feedback. Regardless, the core of the RP remains the same- Rping out people's struggle for survival in conditions that exceed the ordinary, testing your ability to maintain realism, and think cleverly. Looks fun ;)

Hell's Foothold: A Zombie Apocalypse Game- Now, this is not a spinoff, sequel, or in any other way related to the Zompoc campaigns I had tried to get up and running, but given my ever present love for all things zombies, this has my full endorsement. This one branches away from the simple survival of the outbreak approach and instead looks at the long-term picture, looking at surviving in a world already full of zombies. You are living at an outpost and are either a part of, or know someone involved in, the zombie cleanup crew. This has the potential for multiple angles of RP, and I think that is pretty damn cool.

A Ship Towards Orisia- This person is looking to recruit some well established characters to join a character studying vampires, along side her companion who travels with her. Now, they have a set course to head towards Orisia, particularly with the ambition of charming its queen, but they got temporarily stuck in Coastal Grande. So, do you have a character hanging around the area, or one you could put there? Want to go check out Orisia? Well, come check this thread out and hit up it's author.

How to Become a Hero- The title alone captures my fancy, but I enjoy these character development based role-plays. The thread author is looking for some like-minded individuals who want to do some long-term RP centered around developing a character, particularly one who wants to be a hero and is not very good at it... yet. An Rp with lots of opportunity for character growth and some good laughs, with the story starting out in the Gaian Academy. Honestly, had this been around a couple years ago, it would have been a great opportunity for a character of my own, but that character has since gone in different directions. Perhaps it is not too late for your own.

A Wedding Gift for the Queen- An Orisia based quest that will take you to other parts of Genesaris, this quest giver is interested in obtaining the fabled Rose of Umbridge Isle, a black rose said to be out of reach of the living. This man desperately wants that rose as a gift for the queen of Orisia as such, the quest comes with a good VB payment. Go here to get the details.

The Order of the Valiant Sky: Recruitment for Valorious- Well, the very first reason you should go check out the interest check for this is just to go see that utterly creepy purple monster gif that the thread author uses- I am guessing it is something from Adventure Time, but who man, it is an odd one. Anyway, a new group is on the rise and looking to recruit members who think they have something to contribute to the team as a whole- and by something, they mean a wide variety of skill sets, of which any that could help further their cause is welcome. This group is one that looks to tackle quests put up by the board leaders and other members, as well as missions as suggested by their own members. If this sounds appealing, you can get more the scoop over here.

Featured Read of the Week- This is a new subsection that I will be including each week, at the suggestion of Blue Shoelaces, who often contributes awesome stuff (the only problem is, often that awesome contribution would be late. >_>). The idea behind this is that I am going to give you a link to a closed thread (one that you cannot join) but one that I have found contains some awesome reading. So, this week:

It's Not All in Fashion- I went around doing a search for good closed role-plays, and this one certainly knocked my socks off. Between King and Noko, you really could not ask for a better pair of writers to collaborate on some quality role-play. This thread captures your attention right away, offers a poignant dialogue between a couple, addressing old wounds in the midst of present complications. It's an example of taking the extraordinary (gangsters in a fantasy world, all with magic tied in) and mixes it with some very real, normal problems: Pain, jealousy, histories, etc. All of it meshes into a wonderful read, and I look forward to what more comes of this. Perhaps you will too. 

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: Telarian City

At a Glance: 

• Leader (Lead Ship Designer): Unnamed, but a distant relative of Uhltoria, the original ship builder.
• Population: A fine mix of Genesaris based native peoples, in addition to a plethora of other races who come to build airships. There are 1.5 Million people in the entire expanse (Within the city and all outlying villages technically considered a part of Telarian City), of which 910,000 are of working age (16-60). The male/female ratio is 49.9%/50.1%.
• Defenses: Director of Defenses- No specified name (At least an Edgemaster). There are 3,000 basic city guard, with 20 high ranking officers (captain and above), 100 capital guards, 150 guards in the prisons, and 10 special assignments officials (think FBI sorts). In addition to the city guard, nearly 25% of the Rising West's Military power remains stationed in the region, accounting for about 275,000 military personnel, in addition to the majority of the airship fleets.
• Neighboring Landmarks: Inside of Telarian City- Airship Factory (the main production site), Uhltorian Bridge (Tallest structure in Genesaris, serves as the airship take off point, a military base, and a backup source for power).  Aelindra City- due East (700mi-800mi), Wicker Town- due North (350mi-400mi), the west coast (about 300mi) and West Coast Town- West, Northwest (1,000mi or so).

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• None as of yet. Be the first!

Available Quests:

• Authority of the Air: Someone up and stole a Telerian warship and is now invading the skies wreaking terror and shooting down merchant ships. Telerian authorities want your help to blow this rogue ship out of the sky and will give you your own custom airship so long as you create a magnificent explosion. You can create your own or ask for an available one on the Airship List. The Reward includes your Airship and 500vb, and so as such, this will require some extensive RP to obtain.

Brief Summary of Lore:
Telerian is one of the primary lands of magitech, displaying some of the best creations of the genius minds. It is said this is the origin of all magitech, where it first appeared and was put to use, eventually spreading out to offer its convenience and services to all of Genesaris. Indeed, its colleges and universities apply heavy focus on such advancements, and thus it has continued to grow without pause. Proud of its intellectual mind, Telerian is the center for architecture and in particular one of the most important and valued things in Genesaris; airships. Cotninuously growing in design serving many functions from simple transport to warfare, Telerian is where most of all the airships are planned, designed, and built. Other modes of travel are also said to be worked on, which worries those who have always relied on animals to ride.

New Members and Returns!

Welcome, AngelicAshes

Welcome, FoolBornNoise

Welcome, NiikurashiEitan

Welcome, Vergil

Welcome, Kratos

Welcome, Ollpheist

Welcome, WalterF

Welcome, Mach14

Returns:

Welcome back, ASimpleMusician

Well now, this blog is starting to become as regular as the man who lives on prunes and drinks shots of MoM all day long. Apparently, having exactly eight new members sign on each week (now three or four weeks running) is becoming our new norm. Now, I think we could definitely do better than that, but as long as we are doing no worse, I'm not going to lodge complaints. :P

Other Highlights?

Hey, I'd gripe about this, but since I am already doing such a bang up job, I might as well do something. Whatever helps me stall from having to write up those closing thoughts. Man, I am almost to those aren't I? Shit. Anything to get out of what I should be doing, AMIRITE? >_>

FAQ- Seems like this one should stick out like a sore thumb, but sometimes things that are easily seen are the ones most often missed. If you are looking for some FAQs that give you a good bit on how to use all the features of Vbulletin to their fullest, you can click right here.

Did You Know- That you can exclude certain forums from your view? Yep, if you have sections of the forum that you never check, and never will, you can exclude them. You can see the details on this from here and get the rest of your Did You Know Archive from over here.

Closing Thoughts?

So, go figure. I get to this point, and I am still stalled for ideas. I finally get an idea, and then that infamous patient you might have heard me gripe about got up and proceeded to go into I need tech support mode, and my morning was shot. So, basically, this was my morning. Throw a gluten reaction on top of it, followed by a malfunctioning website... yeah, I cannot wait to go to bed. Anyhow, this is not the closing thoughts, I really do have a closing thought, and as tempting as it is to rant on days like this, I will stick to the plan I came up with, moments prior to that patient showing up. >>

The subject I decided to cover was one that came up here recently, and was in fact the basis of a panel that I went to during Jordan Con. Now, that panel had was, 'Making the Fake Sound Real in Science Fiction'- not exactly that title, but close enough. It was an hour lecture on trying to find ways to make what you injected into Science Fiction (or even Fantasy) sound realistic and plausible- enough so that the reader would be willing to suspend disbelief at least. Being that this is a fictional world based outside current reality, you have leeway to inject the 'unrealistic' into it- but making too much use of that liberty is sure to alienate your reader and push them away from your writing.

The same could definitely be said of role-play, and as such, I think this is a great subject to cover today.

Given that we are dealing with a different world which operates under its own set of principles and laws, there are going to be differing rules that govern what may be achieved and what may not be. What might not be plausible in our world could be an everyday occurrence in the world for which you are writing. After all, our present world has no such thing as 'way gates' or 'warp gates' or by whatever name you want to call it, a piece of technology that can instantly teleport you from one location to the next. In the world of Valucre, both Genesaris and Terrenus employ that technology, and to such an extent that even the common person can afford to use it, if not often, periodically.  The idea behind it is not one entirely novel or hard to fathom- we accept that some combination of magically engineered technology allows them to do so. Therefore, with the limited information given, we accept it without a second thought, conditioned to be open towards such a concept.

Minimal justification is required, assuming this is the established norm (in this case, it is).

So, what of those things that is not commonplace; the issues that cross the boundaries of what is 'normal' in our world and this fantasy world. It does come up, and sometimes it comes up quite a bit- where we have role-players who might go above and beyond what can be reasonably expected of certain individuals on the basis of their ability to arrive somewhere, perform certain actions, react, etc. If you fall into the trap of breaking the laws of physics surrounding even your own posts, you will have fallen into that dangerous territory where you are losing your readers. If you cannot abide by even the perhaps less restrictive rules of the universe you write (or write within), why should they bother continuing to read? They already know you are just going to go beyond those rules, and often, which is frankly, quite annoying.

After all, who wants to read a story about someone who cannot abide by the rules of physics as applied upon them by the world itself, and with no basis to step outside of it.

The message I am getting at my fellow role-players is that writing with some degree of realism in mind tends to pan out better than writing that intends to have no rules at all. Yes, we recognize that this is not the real world and that there are exceptions all over. There are, however, certain rules that continue to govern the world. Objects that go up will come down, without an external force interfering. People are only able to move so fast, and in doing so are limited in their abilities to travel from one distance to another. Governments only have so many capabilities based on the technology available to them, and even while some of it might be extensive- extensive has its limits. Work within the confines that builds up your lore, and avoid making every extreme available.

What is a story without adversity and difficulty? What is a story without a conflict that took some work to resolve? If you just hand everything over on a platter, you end up with a bad story. In the case of role-play, it could be a bad story, and it could be breeching upon mild powers and metagaming.

There are so many things I could write about when we are talking about going unrealistic- cities with unimaginable and endless power, Mary Sue characters that are designed to outpace other Mary Sue characters... it all leads to a degradation of the quality of role-play. In order to produce good role-play, we must stick within the lore that is available to be used, and we must actually stick to a realistic approach of what we can do given a certain distance, time period, or level of capability involved. If a butterfly farts on the east coast, the west coast should not become immediately aware of it, and have others out ready to respond in short order. No, chances are that butterfly's flatulence will be missed, and even if that land has the most attuned gas detectors in all of Valucre, mobilizing and engaging with that stinky bug will take a fair bit of time- it is a hell of a bit of distance to travel.

Let's keep our role-play believable in so far as that we can suspend disbelief in favor of the lore presented within the region, the realm, and the world itself. Let's work with what characters can reasonably do in a given period of time and what they cannot do, based on their abilities and what constitutes mild powers. Let's not use metagaming to try and push our agendas, when based on all the data at your disposal, you would not be aware of, or in knowledge of, what you are trying to say you were. Stick to what you can and cannot do- the quality of your RP (And your writing) will certainly benefit from it.

Wish I could go into further depth, but I am glutened out.

So, take care Valucre, we'll be back next week. ;) 

-          Acies

"Plotting is like sex. Plotting is about desire and satisfaction, anticipation and release. You have to arouse your reader's desire to know what happens, to unravel the mystery, to see good triumph. You have to sustain it, keep it warm, feed it, just a little bit, not too much at a time, as your story goes on. That's called suspense. It can bring desire to a frenzy, in which case you are in a good position to bring off a wonderful climax."   ~ Colin Greenland

Squirrel!

Ha, What Better Way is There to Procrastinate Than Surfing Valucre!

I admit, I am totally the… (SQUIRREL!) type of person- big time ADHD that sometimes interferes in a big way with getting things done- especially if it is something I am not particularly interested in. Then again, I tend to have these squirrel moments even with the things I enjoy, if that activity hits a lull or a difficult patch (writing). Such moments come and pass, sometimes briefly and sometimes with myself wandering off into some other activity where I get lost for hours at a time- you ought to see me when I go surfing Wikipedia or TV-Tropes- man, am I bad!

Shiny! 

Getting back on topic here (for the next thirty seconds or so), we have lots of good stuff to cover today, assuming I can focus long enough to get this blog done. Hey, on my good days, I have this thing done in under a couple of hours, give or take a bit, depending on how long my closing thoughts go. On those bad days (where a certain patient of mine is not the cause- because he often is ><) I can take much, much longer. Now, I have found that taking enough caffeine to make a horse have a coronary is a good way to overcome this, but I try to avoid that means of getting my attention focused back on what I should be doing, if only because I’d rather have the ability to sleep later.

Ah, who am I kidding- I don’t sleep!

…. 

One more thing before we get this blog kicked off for the day- I wanted to take this moment to say Happy Mother’s Day (a few days early, but this blog doesn’t update Sundays >__>) to all the Valucre Mothers out there. It takes hard work to be a mother, and for that I want to say that I am impressed by all that you do, including finding a bit of time to drop a few posts here and there. Hopefully, this isn't at the expense of your child’s wellbeing- but we understand if it is anyway. ;)

With that said, welcome to this week’s edition of the blog, brought to you by the makers of Ritalin.

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Continues - I'm going to keep beating this dead horse, partially because it gives me something to fill this section (particularly on these slower weeks for RP offerings like this one), if only because this is an awesome ongoing event that calls for coverage- Chosen is still there for you to watch and there is much to discuss in the lounge.

Employment- A group called the Valkyries are looking for some facilitators in a planned mission they will undergo, so if you like opportunities akin to Storytellers, this something to give you a taste of it. Now, I like that they put this up and out to the public before opting for a Storyteller, because many of our role-players enjoy opportunities such as these. The OP is looking for someone to play the group or individual hiring their party for the work they are to follow up with- so if Storyteller esque jobs interest you, go have a look.

They Fight Crime (RP)- Not the same thing as the contest we had a few weeks back, this is an opportunity for Role-play in which a diverse set of characters are coming together to form an investigative group to assist Roen's character with his endeavours spanning the world. If you have always wanted to take part in an oddball assortment of characters looking to fight crime, this might be your thing. ;)

A Ship Towards Orisia- This person is looking to recruit some well established characters to join a character studying vampires, along side her companion who travels with her. Now, they have a set course to head towards Orisia, particularly with the ambition of charming its queen, but they got temporarily stuck in Coastal Grande. So, do you have a character hanging around the area, or one you could put there? Want to go check out Orisia? Well, come check this thread out and hit up it's author.

Pre-Planned RP- We all know that RPs sometimes have a tendency to fizzle out before coming to fruition and getting a nice and steady foothold in its progression. The person behind this thread wants to try something a little different- collaborate with others on setting up an RP plot, and then playing out the role-play according to the plans agreed upon. Perhaps having a little more planning and structure might help? If you think so, come help this person out.

Body Snatchers in Dougton- This still has openings, should a thread of unusual and quite dangerous dealings should strike your fancy. Remember, quests come with offerings of great rewards, and present an opportunity for an impact on canon. Come immortalize the name of your character, through good deeds and other practices.Take a look.

Hunger Games RP- This one also continues to have available spaces, and has the potential to be a massive RP with a great deal of potential. If you want to participate in a spin-off of the popular series, utilizing trickery and other underhanded methods to ensure your character's survival, then you should come play out this RP.

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: Weland

At a Glance: 

• Leader (Mayor): Okamura, Taiji
• Population: A diverse mixture of humans, gnomes, halflings, draconian, full and half-breeds, and a higher than average yuan-ti population (No population numbers given).
• Defenses: Director of Defenses- Masato Okamura. Peacekeeper Raphael Zaffre. 10,000 military personnel of Terrenus and 10,000 locally hired town guard. 
• Neighboring Landmarks: ~910mi south of the nearest coastline and 1,300mi south of Patia. ~620mi southwest of the Weland Gorge and 1,300mi of the Labyrinth Forest. ~1,000mi West of Dougton. ~ 1,700mi Northwest of Casper. About 650mi Southeast of Marlboro Keep.

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• The Lady of Day River- A missing woman's death was first blamed on raids by Patia, but after a ghost turned up on the Day River, it was later uncovered that her Father conspired against her, leading to her murder. Thanks to the efforts of a few others, things were righted.
• End Our Sacrifice- The Syndicate of Mercenaries visits Weland, and finds it suffering from the wrath of a Shadow Dragon. The group successfully takes down the Dragon.
• Light the Pyre- A funeral procession for Hotaka Okamura ends when a massive explosion brings Renmin Square to ruin. The characters Jericho and Ventis uncover who the bomber was, and bring him to custody, earning them positions as honorary deputies.  
• If You Dig It- Two terrible monsters begin to ravage Weland, resulting in a prompt response by the city guard. They manage to drop one, but the second absorbs its fallen companion, and then becomes nearly impossible to take down. A mysterious business group (specializing in mercenaries and weapons) steps up and drops the beast. They even stay to assist in the cleanup and reconstruction- but this service comes at a price. 30% of Weland is destroyed, and 45% suffers smoke and fire damage. 

Available Quests:

• Level Two: A nearby kingdom has launched an invasion!
• Clerics work to Summon a great evil (thread in progress, but stalled)
• Vampires Prey on a nearby village (thread active)

Brief Summary of Lore: 

Weland is a prosperous city known for its sweet scent (thanks to its numerous lotus blooms) and clean air. The city is one described of beauty, noteworthy for its numerous flower gardens and sculpted trees. Numerous tea shops and courtesans are found along cobblestone paths, along with numerous other shops including tailors, smiths, and other merchants. Much entertainment is available to those visiting during holidays, where people are encouraged to share their sword skills and other talents, particularly during tournaments that occur. There are also rumors of underground fighting rings that pay bulging purses to successful combatants. 

New Members and Returns!

Welcome, Fieryblood

Welcome, Selina458

Welcome, Venefirous

Welcome, PandaHat

Welcome, Shadowremenants

Welcome, Topeye

Welcome, Apollymi

Welcome, Angellis Ater

Returns:

NONE!

Well, another week with a gain of eight, a modest gain but nothing that falls short of a decent gain. Now, one of these folks was difficult to find because a certain Admin (*cough* Supernal *cough*) moved their thread from newcomers to the Watercooler because they were inviting others to RP with them. Luckily, I found them when looking for highlights. Hopefully, this has not happened too much in the past- I would feel bad if I missed a few of you lovely new folks. ;)

Other Highlights?

Perhaps I have come to terms with this- I sure do bitch about it a lot less. Perhaps I have come to realize this new generation of people are all just entitled and demanding, constantly pursuing what they think ought to be theirs, or what they are owed. Who can say, who can say. Anyway, here are your stinking highlights.

User Blogs- Now, if you read my blog, I have to assume that you have at least a modicum of interest in blogs, so perhaps you would like to follow the blogging of other members. If such be the case, you can check out what others write by following the blog updates here.

Did You Know- Those of you under the allotted time period (I believe 90 days) can give your first impressions of the site, and get some VB for it to boot. If you are looking to kick off your collection of VB (used in getting RP boards or name changes or giving your name a glow (SHINY!), you can start with this.    Get more details from this thread here and you can check out all the rest of the Did You Know Archive over here.

Closing Thoughts?

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Things happen for a reason’?

Sounds like a bit of a cliché, right? Seems like something people say in response to events they cannot explain, use it as a means to cope with that what seemed outside their control, moving the responsibility of such an occurrence to something more akin to a religious figure or perhaps Karma. I don’t really believe in putting all events into this category- sometimes shit just happens and that’s the way it is. What I do like taking from this is remembering to keep an open perspective on the event itself- sometimes, something good might come of it. Sometimes, how it went was actually a relatively mild means of something that could have been much worse.

I got to thinking about this over the weekend, when a I had a series of unlucky events end up putting a dampener on some of our plans, as well as create a great deal of inconvenience. Oh, I was quite annoyed- there never really is a great time for your car to break down, but it happens, especially when you choose to drive an older car. Sure, you take care of it as best you can, staying on top of maintenance and avoiding doing anything really stupid with it, but some things are unpreventable- such as old parts simply wearing out. You can try to keep up with tracking just how worn those parts are, but sometimes, the part that goes out is the one you really cannot monitor anyway.

Such as what happened to me this weekend

If you are not someone who works on cars, there is a good chance that you have never heard of a part called a ‘Coolant bypass elbow’- I know I sure never had. This $4 part became the subject of a major headache, putting my car at risk for a blow head gasket, potentially getting us stranded, and later $100 in labor (which was actually at a discounted rate, because I had family come help me out). This little 3” part is what takes coolant from your water pump and sends it inside your engine, allowing it to cool. The part itself is simple, and not difficult to figure out how to replace, once you have the multitude of parts in your way pulled out of the car- yes, this is a difficult to access bugger.

It took my Uncle, who has worked on cars since he was a kid (over 40yrs) an hour and a half to get to it and replace it, especially with having to remove melted pieces from both the water pump and the engine.

Yes, melted pieces, as this was what was left https://www.dropbox.com/lightbox/home/Camera%20Uploads of that part.

You might be asking- how does my anecdote tie in with things happening for a reason, or more so, happening in ways that was less serious than what could have been? Well, let’s get to that.

This breakdown occurred at the coast, while we were out with other family members who arrived with their own vehicles. This trip almost did not take place, or else was going to be pushed for the next day, because of scheduling issues. Either way, we had plans to head out of town once again for a trip to our zoo and a fancy restaurant Raze likes to celebrate our anniversary (6 years ;) ). Had we gone on this trip first, or gone on this trip without having gone to the coast, this part would not have failed while we were around other people- it would have happened while we were far from home and without someone to help us out. There was a good chance it would have occurred while we were on the interstate, which presents its own risks. Either way, this part going out while we were on that trip would have been much more difficult to deal with.

I would have not had anywhere safe to stow my car for a day or two (at the coast, an outlet mall was gracious enough to let me keep my car there a couple days while I sorted out how to fix it). I would have been in a real jam to find someone who could get out there to come rescue us. If we were on the interstate, we would have been at serious risk of getting hit- there are a fair bit of accidents out there. If in the city, chances are we’d be stuck in an area with less than savory people out and about, especially at night. Either way, I’d have been much more upset about getting stuck out there.

As you can see, managing to get out on our coast trip with my family actually turned out in our favor. We were able to get a ride home and we were able to find someplace willing to let us stash the car in their parking lot for a day or two while we figured out what happened (at first we thought the water pump went bad). My brother, who is only a permit driver not yet licensed, loaned me his car for the next couple of days, allowing me to get around while making arrangements. As annoying and inconvenient the breakdown was, it turned out fine in the end, and the repair was cheaper than expected.

As for the repair itself- those Coolant elbows are known for wearing out on older GM cars (Mine is a Pontiac).

Now, I have given you the rundown on how things could have been worse- to me, this reinforces why it is important that when things start going to shit, we should stop ourselves from falling to despair, angry and cursing our life or the world, when we should be thinking about- how much worse could this have been? Are there scenarios where this very same thing could have gone even further south? Particularly any that are realistic (saying at least I didn’t get struck by lightning at the end of an awful day might be stretching it a bit)- such as my case of that car very nearly was not at the coast that day, and would have broken down in some place worse.

So, how about that notion of things happening for a reason?

Call it how you want- karma, god, fate, chaos theory, life’s strange ability to make things work- sometimes, it does seem like events line up a certain way to ensure things work out. After all, my car did decide to break down at the right kind of place, rather than getting me stuck elsewhere. Yet, this would not be enough to convince me that things happened a way for a reason, only that I actually had some dumb luck for once. That is, it didn’t until the Monday morning, when other things happened.

My Uncle originally planned to take goats (he breeds goats) out to an auction and then do some work around his property. I had given him a call the day before, and he was willing to accommodate his schedule to help me with my car. I was going to help him get his goats through the auction, then we were going to take off early afternoon for my car and get it done. I got to his place, and found out that his truck had decided not to work, and that he had people over looking to buy a few goats directly from him. By the time he had that taken care of, he was not going to have time to get his truck working and get the goats to auction, so he decided to put that off for a couple of weeks, and instead focus on figuring out what my cousin had done to his car. The cousin borrowed it for a few days, and upon returning it, the car shook violently when taken above 45mph.

We took it into town and had the tires balanced- at which time I also bought a replacement water pump at a hardware store. Driving the car back, we found that balancing the tires did not help. So, he takes everything at the wheel apart to check the wheel bearings- mind you, this is getting into early afternoon, at which time we should still have been at the auction- when my Aunt called him over. We get over to her and see the cause for her alarm- a tree was coming down, and about ready to fall on a power line over their greenhouse- both would be ruined in this tree’s fall. As we tried to figure out how to approach it, it snapped some more and did come down on the line- but was held up by another tree just enough not to take it out- we had to act fast.

He took off for a chainsaw while I went and grabbed a 2x4 and got it wedged under the tree, to hold it up. I then hauled this tree up and slid the board further, until I got it about 6” higher, taking pressure off the power line. My Uncle got there and chopped the thing up and off the line, thus saving his green house and power line. My aunt could not have helped with this, as she is partially handicapped and had her arm in a sling. Had we been at the auction that tree would have long since destroyed the greenhouse and line. Had he been home and without help, it still would have, as his wife could not hold it up.

The tree provided a benefit- about $150 in firewood he otherwise would not have had, and at a time where he needs money before the end of the month. Selling the goats will come again in two weeks, so missing this auction was no big. But he needs money by the end of the month to pay certain expenses, and the money from that tree and what I paid him went significantly far in dropping the deficit he had- right place, right time.

I was not happy about what happened to my car this week, but it could have been a lot worse. By having my car in a safe place, I got my uncle to come fix it instead of going to an expensive shop- an Uncle who needed extra money this month. By being at his property and unable to go to the auction, we were able to divert a tree from taking out a major power line and his greenhouse- both additional expenses that he could not afford right now.

Funny, how things worked out.

So, here is my takeaway folks-

Whether you want to chalk it up to a god figure (however your particular faith calls its deity), lucky circumstances, good Karma, or string theory- things had an odd way of working out this weekend. Perhaps there is something to the old saying that some things happen for a reason- and there is definitely a need to realize how much worse something could have been. It is too easy to get upset over what did not go right or what went totally wrong, and sometimes what is more important is how things worked out instead.

Take control of your negative thinking- I bet you will be much happier for it.

Alright folks, that’s the update for this week, see you next week!

-          Acies

"A writer doesn't solve problems. He allows them to emerge."   ~ Friedrich Dürrenmatt

Challenge Accepted!

If You Put Us to the Challenge, Valucre Shall Rise to the Occasion!

Now, I better qualify that statement before someone decides to take it at absolute literal face value and try to draw out some outrageous, if not completely impossible, challenges for our community to undergo. Of course, I speak for the push to grow and improve, to build upon our numbers of dedicated members, quality role-play, developing writers, awesomeness in general, and explosions of course. We've already proven just how dedicated we can be- did you see how awesome that get-together we had was? If you somehow missed it, go look at the last few blog entries, and then realize I am giving you a glaring look of disapproval. 

Seriously though, I have seen that we can really push ourselves to all kinds of new levels, if we get up and make the effort. Every week, I chronicle the rising numbers of new members who join up, many of which become a part of the active member base. The volume of our RP is on a typically upward trend, and it seems like every day we are getting bigger and bigger. For the first time, we had a mass gathering of members, many of which who were along not only for the great company (of which there was plenty) but for all the writing opportunities presented as well. Valucre itself might not yet be at a point where it can support your writing goals entirely, but it sure can connect you to those people. ;)

Alright, I've sang enough praises, let's blow this blog wide open and get to the good parts. 

What's Happening Valucre?

The Next Valucre Gathering- Hey, after the major success of the first one, you didn't think we'd not get started on planning the next gathering? In the year 2014, at Jordan Con 6, there will be the second unofficial Valucre-Con, which with any luck might lead into the first official one in the year following that. We find that the venue for Jordan Con is a great place for everyone to meet, given Jordan Con's emphasis on building upon writing skills and writing related endeavors as well as a place for us WOT fans to go geek out. If you want to be a part of the planning, go to this thread.

It will certainly be big!

The Chosen Continues - Some are fast, some are slow, but many are still on the go. If you somehow missed this with each and every update, pay attention now- Chosen is still there for you to watch and there is much to be discussing in the lounge.

Renovatio Artifacts- If you are one of those types who enjoy opportunities to go out and try to collect Valucre's many artifacts, this is your chance to look into those from Renovatio. Just come this way to check it out.

Coastal Grande Bank Heist- Think you might like to participate in a bank heist? Put a stop to one? Try to hijack one already in progress? Well, you have all those opportunities and possibly more, if you want to look into this thread right here. It looks like a variety of players are called upon, and this could certainly lead up to some quality, enjoyable RP.

Hunger Games RP- We had one of these once before, but the person facilitating it took off and the RP went down with their departure. This is headed up by a new member and they have some rather interesting ideas already. They are talking about doing things by region, and using groups to conceal information from one and other. I think that is a unique take on things, and could definitely shape up to something cool.

Develop Solum- Orisia is going through some expansion again, and they now have an area that is fairly new and not yet broken in. If you are the type who likes to try and reshape new lands and contribute to the development of their place in the world, this land is ripe for the picking. Head over this way to take a look.

High Flying Fiasco- If you ever try to tell me that I don't put up enough quest opportunities for you, let it be known that I shall dub thee a liar! For I am constantly putting these up. A Master Alchemist needs some strapping young adventurers to assist him in gathering Griffon feathers from a known roosting site- something far more perilous than it might first sound. If you end up accidentally touching a griffon baby... well, may the gods have your back in that corner you just got stuck in. Your reward for this endeavor is gold for your character of course, as well as 250vb and a quiver full of arrows with these magical feathers. Are you up for some high rising challenges?

Body Snatchers in Dougton- Looks like several of the initially interested people went and flaked out, so there are at least a couple/few positions available for you. Body-snatchers are taking over, and if left unchecked, few will remain. Keep in mind, this is a particularly perilous quest, with a great deal of risk to your character. If you feel ready for a thrill, come take a look.

Valucre Trivia Question!

Bah! No one answers these either. I went for interactive pursuits, but people are just so disinclined to respond. Well, I am going to end this section as well. Sorry folks. I have a replacement in mind anyway.

New Section- Featured Lore of the Week!

Ran Iji gave me a most excellent idea earlier, and I decided I am going to run with it. Each week, we will feature a bit of lore on a specific place within Valucre, rotating between lands. So, starting next week, I will have a featured land for Terrenus. Then, the week after, I will feature one for Genesaris. On the following week, there will be one for Tellus Mater. Then, on the first update of June, we will have one for Iseyler- and so on from there.

I think this will be a great way to teach you some new things. It makes me feel pretty damn excited!

New Members and Returns!

Welcome, Ngdaniel96

Welcome, Daithilus

Welcome, Lord Daddy Bossman

Welcome, Cast Off Petals

Welcome, Aingeal

Welcome, Jaslyn Ardellius

Welcome, Epic Myth

Welcome, Stefan

Welcome, Mupin

Welcome, Lithray

Welcome, Bullet

Welcome, Kaizuken

Welcome, Horus

Welcome, Vice

Welcome, Silver Fox

Welcome, HopeyHope

Returns:



Welcome Back, Eternity

Welcome Back, Bardic Knowledge

Welcome Back, .Atlas


Sixteen newcomers and three returns. If this were only one week, I'd be ecstatic  but this is the long gap blog- that means I am covering two weeks. Eight per week is nothing to complain about, but it is not quite as much as I, or especially Carlos, would like. Just remember new folks- the candy at the back of Supernal's van is a lie! The candy is a lie!

Other Highlights?

I could just add a highlight reel of explosions, but I figure I should add some real content.

Calendars- Hey, Valucre has its own inbuilt calendar! It has everyone's (that has made it public) birthday listed, and you can add entries of your own as well. Planning a big event? Add it to the calender! If more people were to begin using it, it could become quite the handy tool.

Did You Know- You can get a thread featured in the monthly newsletter as a spotlight- a way to recognize awesome threads.   Get more details from this thread here and you can check out all the rest of the Did You Know Archive over here.

Closing Thoughts?

Now, to be honest, I am not feeling 100%- been working nonstop ever since getting back from Atlanta, and even my days off were filled to the very limit. With that in mind, I hope I don’t do too terrible of a job with this closing thought.

Since putting in featured lore will be a regular thing, I thought maybe I would take a bit of time to get you all thinking about the lore, and just how much work went into putting all of that together. Valucre has a ton of material to work with- I think one of the great things about Valucre over other places I have been is the amount of depth that has been put into the world, setting boundaries while simultaneously giving you lots of room to develop and create as well. By having existing boundaries, you have a location that feels real and operates on certain rules designed to make things run smoothly, and stay fair as well. It is also a great foundational basis for contributing your own work as well!

I think the majority of members are good about utilizing the lore. I have seen many role-plays come about that are based on information pull from the written lore provided by board leaders. In much of the reading I have done myself, I find that people for the most part are conscientious about ensuring that they honor the lore and stay within the confines of requirements for canonization- because if anything, many people would like to have their thread count towards the canon. Canonizing a thread that has had a significant impact on events is in fact a way to contribute to the lore, especially from an In-Character perspective.

Now, while the majority of members are good about sticking to the lore and staying inside the reasonable boundaries of mild powers and the like, I do see some occasions where things are… stretched, to say the least. We do get people from time to time who have not given any thought to the lore of the Land, the region, or even the city itself, choosing to role-play in whatever means they see fit. The lore is disregarded and/or abused, and it seems like a real insult to the person who spent their time trying to put that lore together. It is one thing to try and see how you can create changes, another thing entirely to blatantly ignore limitations and resistances brought upon you by the lore situation occurring at that time.

I admit, I am a bit biased on all this lore stuff, considering I helped write quite a bit of it for Genesaris- I’d like to see people use some of the stuff I took the time to put together. However, it is frustrating to see someone change major details of locations, pretend certain NPCs do not exist, or even assume that nothing they do will be met with a negative consequence- it’s disrespectful, really. You have to keep in mind- certain places already have established NPCs, that cities can defend themselves (Genesaris has a tremendous military, and Terrenus has peacekeepers), and other aspects of lore might be important as well.

Before firing up a few posts, take a moment to read the lore for the city. You might learn something really cool. ;)

Well everyone, I leave you with this final bit. Enjoy.

- Acies

"It only takes one person to change your life – you." 

 ~ Ruth Casey