You should Vid. It's still the best "story so far" resource we have even in its unfinished form.

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MOUL KI# 10281985
MOULa KI# 1492059

Fear is the mind-killer

Hi all,

I saw this "new explorer" post and thought this was probably the right place to post a quick intro and related questions. First the intro:

I'm older, having played Myst when it first came out while I was in grad school. My poor old Mac would creak and groan under the pressure. I also played Riven, and now I have both of those games on my iPhone. The esthetics of Myst and Riven, et al are what called me back. My real life commitments are grueling and I don't have much time to play, but a recent round of stomach flu in the family gave me a windfall of free time. Yay for silver linings! I have played through MOULA's 4 Bahro totem columns as a solo player.

IRL I am quietly goofy and not at all shy, however I have had some truly unpleasant MMORPG experiences and I'm now "twice shy" in online environments. I am getting the clue that the rest of MOULA really does require I make appearances in public places. I have lurked around these forums awhile (even though I only signed up last week) and see that the posts are not at all trolly or cruel, and this makes me cautiously optimistic. That said, setting foot in my empty Bavin makes me queasy and I obsessively check my KI to make sure no one is around - neurotic perhaps, but it is what it is. The fact is that I have also had many wonderful online experiences, just not in a MMORPG. Also, my MMORPG experience is now very outdated from a tech standpoint - I have no clue about voice chat for example.

Given that 1) I have very limited time usually, and 2) I'm a bit freaked out about MMORPG interactions, these are my questions:

• I was assigned to a random neighborhood - do people generally talk to each other in these random neighborhoods?
  
• If being in a random neighborhood isn't the greatest idea (I dunno - is it?) is making your own neighborhood and keeping it private a good idea? Or is it better to join a known neighborhood?
  
• Do most people type or use voice? (In my household, voice is kind of a deal breaker. There's too much other stuff going on, including sleeping.)
  
• When you show up in one of the public places (like the pubs I think - I dunno, I've never been) and you're new... do people approach new unknown players and talk to them at random? I'd just love to know what to expect.
  
• Finally, and I know this is hard to answer, where are the best places for a skittish person to go?

I'm not antisocial or neurotic about most things in life - just a few bad experiences have left some strong impressions.

Thanks to any and all who answer.

Adar

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Be happy.

Shorah Adar and welcome to the community!

I believe our players are generally more friendly than in other online games. I won't promise that you won't meet a bad apple in the cavern on occasion, but it would be rare. Feel free to go to the public instance of the city, any of the pubs or other public places, even any neighborhood listed on the nexus. Your Relto book is your insurance. Don't like what you see or someone you meet? Just Relto-away.

Most people only stay in their assigned DRC hood until they make friends and/or meet others with similar interests and then find they want to join a neighborhood. Some people also start their own neighborhoods, either for privacy or with the intention of inviting others.

Most explorers use text.

Check out the upcoming MOULA Second Anniversary Celebrations. I can promise that you'll meet lots of friendly people at these events.

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OpenUru.org Minkata Test Shard is
OU-Minkata Shard Testers Guide (in laymen's terms)

Thanks Tai'lahr, I appreciate your kind and informative response. I will check out those events - looks like I signed up at just the right time for a party. Go me! I hope my schedule permits seeing some of this stuff.

Adar

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Be happy.

Greetings Adar and Welcome to D'ni

Quote:

I was assigned to a random neighborhood - do people generally talk to each other in these random neighborhoods?

Depends on how outgoing or familiar they are with each other, I suppose. Since those in a numbered DRC neighborhood are likely to be new, like you, they're still getting a tentative footing in the cavern and still getting to know people. Getting to know the folks in your initial hood is a great way for newcomers to figure out things on their own.

Still, many players start their own neighborhoods and keep them private or invite others to join them or join an existing neighborhood themselves. One way is just as good as any other.

Everyone can text chat and they will. URU is a very social experience and people chat often. Sometimes, for convenience, groups will voice chat, but no one is ever required to, and those who don't can still hear what is being said so long as they have voice chat enable and their game/system volume on.

Quote:

When you show up in one of the public places (like the pubs I think - I dunno, I've never been) and you're new... do people approach new unknown players and talk to them at random?

I guess that depends. If there are ever any calls for assistance people are often eager to respond, and people might ask if a stranger needs any help, but I wouldn't say many would press a new face with details if they haven't been introduced yet. Regardless, as a long time explorer who has made many good friends in D'ni I can say there is nobody anyone should feel uneasy with in URU. There are the occasional griefers and trolls but they are easy enough to identify when ya see em.

Quote:

Finally, and I know this is hard to answer, where are the best places for a skittish person to go?

Well, areas are split between public and private instances. Ages tend to be private and the cavern area known as Ae'gura is public and freely accessible to anyone. There are also "hood" instances available only to members of your same Bevin neighborhood. If you don't have any neighbors, of course, no one but you can be there. Friends can be invited to personal ages though, so explorers can control who has access to them.

Public areas that don't see much traffic include the Guild Halls, Kirel, and the Watcher Pub. People tend to congregate in Ae'gura, but traffic will come and go. You never really know who you'll encounter in those areas. I admire them for that and link in often to see who I might surprise... and who might surprise me!

The explorers here are a friendly and accommodating bunch. Many know each other well and tend to make friendly jabs at each other that shouldn't be misconstrued as griefing. We laugh, tell stories and spout nonsense for the fun of it.

Enjoy exploring the ages of D'ni, Adar!

Thank you Main_Avvie!

This is a lot of good info and I really appreciate it.

It seems the household is recovering from the stomach flu and I won't get the long stretches of gaming time I had last week, but I can't really be too sad because it was all such a painful gawdawful mess that I'm glad to see go. But anyway I'll get out to the Cavern when I can so that maybe I can move into a "friendly neighborhood" sooner rather than later.

Much obliged.

Adar

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Be happy.

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MOUL Mod/Cyan Intern