New Player Basics
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What is Vana?
Vana combines live role play (RP) and gaming. We role play live using CHAT. And use the Unity Meter (a HUD loaded to one's avie) to add to RP gaming combat, with weapons and magic.
We play with other sims, in particular Lundene to our East, with whom we share factions, guilds, and stories.
Both sims are members of the GA (Great Alliance) and adhere to the Rules of Engagement (RoE), which sets consistent standards for races, classes, and combat. The Unity Meter is an updated, lo-lag version of the Spellfire combat system..
If you wish to combat you must wear the meter. But you don't have to combat or wear a meter. If so, you cannot insult of goad others into violence, then walk away. Also, you can choose to simply enjoy Vana as a place to explore and experience and not RP. You would be ‘background population’ for the purposes of RP.
By entering the realm IN CHARACTER (i.e. wearing a meter, proper clothing, weaponry, etc.), you’re consenting to be a full participant in any RP. This means you may be shot, captured, and/or killed. Not to mention confronted verbally — all in good fun. You may also be smiled at and spoken to sweetly…
Please make yourself familiar with these rules before before playing. The sim encourages adult stories and themes. No one under 18 allowed. No child avatars or child play allowed. No Furries.
We play with other sims, in particular Lundene to our East, with whom we share factions, guilds, and stories.
Both sims are members of the GA (Great Alliance) and adhere to the Rules of Engagement (RoE), which sets consistent standards for races, classes, and combat. The Unity Meter is an updated, lo-lag version of the Spellfire combat system..
If you wish to combat you must wear the meter. But you don't have to combat or wear a meter. If so, you cannot insult of goad others into violence, then walk away. Also, you can choose to simply enjoy Vana as a place to explore and experience and not RP. You would be ‘background population’ for the purposes of RP.
By entering the realm IN CHARACTER (i.e. wearing a meter, proper clothing, weaponry, etc.), you’re consenting to be a full participant in any RP. This means you may be shot, captured, and/or killed. Not to mention confronted verbally — all in good fun. You may also be smiled at and spoken to sweetly…
Please make yourself familiar with these rules before before playing. The sim encourages adult stories and themes. No one under 18 allowed. No child avatars or child play allowed. No Furries.
Vana IC Overview
Vana is a realm of Lovelight, a sanctuary of love, freedom, and individual empowerment.
At the bidding of the Triple Goddess (in her aspect of Mother Luna), it was conjured (many times) from a dusty dessert to a paradise by Princess Fur, whose charge is to protect her loving land free from tyrants.
She reigns in a spirit of community guardianship, but does not ‘rule’, all living wild and free in this elemental wilderness, Lovelight setting here the seeds of a kinder Fifth Earth to be. Vana is not a courtly society and Fur wishes none to bow to her, blushing when people genuflect to her rank.
There is one main 'faction' in Vana, which is shared with Lundene, the realm to the East. The Summer Court of Vana & Lundene. It includes light (good) woodland orientated magical beings such as fae, wood elves, pixies, centaurs, dryads satyr, unicorns, and even Eilisitraee drow.
All are charged to protect the Princess and the realm’s Freedom, honor her Alliance with Queen Beatrix of Lundene (and also Queen Comet of Sylvhara), and never prey on other Vanans as a group. All are prepared to go to war as one to protect the realm, and fight on the Alliance side.
The Five Elements are strong in Vana, and should there be disharmony or a threat to Nature itself, the land’s Sage Elemental Guardians will seek to bring all back in Balance — lethally if necessary.
There is a dark element in Vana, centered upon the lava skylet of Xaoc. Mother Xaoc, as dark aspect of the Triple Goddess, the Crone, the Destroyer, seeks to usurp the Princess bringing in many a dark creature, to join her malevolent brood. Yet both Princess and Crone quietly respect the balance each other represents, even if their followers do not.
At the bidding of the Triple Goddess (in her aspect of Mother Luna), it was conjured (many times) from a dusty dessert to a paradise by Princess Fur, whose charge is to protect her loving land free from tyrants.
She reigns in a spirit of community guardianship, but does not ‘rule’, all living wild and free in this elemental wilderness, Lovelight setting here the seeds of a kinder Fifth Earth to be. Vana is not a courtly society and Fur wishes none to bow to her, blushing when people genuflect to her rank.
There is one main 'faction' in Vana, which is shared with Lundene, the realm to the East. The Summer Court of Vana & Lundene. It includes light (good) woodland orientated magical beings such as fae, wood elves, pixies, centaurs, dryads satyr, unicorns, and even Eilisitraee drow.
All are charged to protect the Princess and the realm’s Freedom, honor her Alliance with Queen Beatrix of Lundene (and also Queen Comet of Sylvhara), and never prey on other Vanans as a group. All are prepared to go to war as one to protect the realm, and fight on the Alliance side.
The Five Elements are strong in Vana, and should there be disharmony or a threat to Nature itself, the land’s Sage Elemental Guardians will seek to bring all back in Balance — lethally if necessary.
There is a dark element in Vana, centered upon the lava skylet of Xaoc. Mother Xaoc, as dark aspect of the Triple Goddess, the Crone, the Destroyer, seeks to usurp the Princess bringing in many a dark creature, to join her malevolent brood. Yet both Princess and Crone quietly respect the balance each other represents, even if their followers do not.
Vana OOC Overview
Vana is geographically located in the ‘intersim’, an area of interconnected or physically proximate sims, They are a mixture GA, GA-friendly, and non-GA realms, but all have Fantasy RP in common. They include: Vana, Lundene, Sylvhara, Taure Ru, Island of Shadows, Uhre, Alasse, and many more.
Aside from using the same set of rules, GA sims have an ongoing epic narrative in which there are two ‘sides’, ‘light’ and ‘dark’. The ALLIANCE is Light (L) and the SHADOW LEGION is Dark or Shadow (S).
Shadow sims include: Island of Shadows (S), Tuare Ru (S), and The Moors (S).
Light sims include: Sylvhara (L), Vana (L)
Most realms are either LIGHT or SHADOW. However, people of contrary alignments often ‘bat for the other side’, for any number of logical (or illogical) reasons. Therefore individual Characters can be Good, Neutral, or Evil in any realm.
In Vana, a Light character going Dark can very exciting and generate bucket loads of great RP. Please consider consulting widely, if doing so. This is not a constraint to your RP, but a way to make darker RPs fun and unscary for all.
Aside from using the same set of rules, GA sims have an ongoing epic narrative in which there are two ‘sides’, ‘light’ and ‘dark’. The ALLIANCE is Light (L) and the SHADOW LEGION is Dark or Shadow (S).
Shadow sims include: Island of Shadows (S), Tuare Ru (S), and The Moors (S).
Light sims include: Sylvhara (L), Vana (L)
Most realms are either LIGHT or SHADOW. However, people of contrary alignments often ‘bat for the other side’, for any number of logical (or illogical) reasons. Therefore individual Characters can be Good, Neutral, or Evil in any realm.
In Vana, a Light character going Dark can very exciting and generate bucket loads of great RP. Please consider consulting widely, if doing so. This is not a constraint to your RP, but a way to make darker RPs fun and unscary for all.
BASIC RULES
IC & OOC
IC (in character) is the default communication mode. OOC (out of character) messages must be within ((double parentheses)), or it may be interpreted as IC. Keep OOC to a minimum in Local Chat. Too much OOC disrupts the ‘suspension of reality’ that is the hallmark of good RP. When IC, try to refrain from references to the modern world, slang (eg ok, cool, fab), web acronyms (eg lol, btw, kk), and facts learnt OOC (notecards, rules, ooc gossip etc). Use IM for longer OOC chats.
OOC insults and/or abusive language are not acceptable in either open chat, group chat or IM. If you’re subject to OOC abusive in VANA save the chat or IM and submit a complaint to Fur or Rio.
Please consider when RP is IC confronting, insulting, or dark, some people may need OOC reassurance its ‘not real’. A nice ‘hi’ or ‘good fight’ in IM can work wonders.
OOC insults and/or abusive language are not acceptable in either open chat, group chat or IM. If you’re subject to OOC abusive in VANA save the chat or IM and submit a complaint to Fur or Rio.
Please consider when RP is IC confronting, insulting, or dark, some people may need OOC reassurance its ‘not real’. A nice ‘hi’ or ‘good fight’ in IM can work wonders.
Meter Color
Set the meter to WHITE for Vana. Sylvhara sets theirs to GREEN. (We set to GREEN for GA Battles.) Shadows set theirs to RED.
Alliance & Shadow
Shadows, in whatever form, may be considered adversaries to VANA and the Alliance, and if ‘discovered’, may be confronted. But you need to ‘know’ this IC. Players may reveal nothing, may be hooded or doing quests — please respect their IC ‘cover’. IC you don’t know the information on their meter, so you must somehow ‘discover’ their identity in RP.
Initiating Combat
Three lines of RP is the minimum requirement before any COMBAT. You cannot attack someone without warning. Do not provoke someone wearing a meter and then ignore a challenge to fight. You’re not allowed to use any damage or healing spells if not wearing a meter.
Flying
No Flying, unless your race has wings.
Child AVies
VANA does not allow child avatars, or any child or 'age' play. Small avatars such as goblins, hobbits and other small creatures are permitted, if they look and speak like adults of their character race. An avie of small stature is permitted if it is obviously adult in appearance, such as some of the fairy races playing on sim (Fairy, pixie, sprite, Imp, etc.). All characters and players must be at least 18 years in age — and look as if they are. Vana is a MATURE sim, please ensure your characters are as well.
Furries
No furry races are allowed. Werecats are ok. Realistic animal characters, not cartoons, who emote and DO NOT display anthropomorphic behavior are permitted with Admin approval.
Gor, Bloodlines, Hardcore Sex
We are not a Gorean/slave culture. Please do not openly RP master/slave screening, RLV or explicit sexual behaviour. Bloodlines has no place here. Combat and capture in Vana is clean. There is to be no torture or sexualized violence or rape.
Nudity
Nudity. Please use good taste and discretion.
Your Limits, Others Limits, & Behavior
If something happens in RP that goes beyond your limits (ie. you feel uncomfortable with violence or sexual references), IM the person immediately and politely let them know your concerns. If the problem persists after this, report the incident to Fur.
VANA will not tolerate sexist, racist, or homophobic behavior.
Linden Labs TOS applies.
VANA will not tolerate sexist, racist, or homophobic behavior.
Linden Labs TOS applies.
How to Join and Play
VANA welcomes visitors and new players. Yet, in order not to disturb ongoing RP, we ask you to follow some basic rules:
- Wear fantasy/medieval clothes to blend in. We’re not overly strict about dress codes, but dressing in theme helps all have a better experience.
- Regular players are very friendly (regardless of how scary they may look) and may offer greetings in IM or OOC, but if there’s RP taking place they may ignore you. Please do not take it personally.
- Please adhere to good standards of roleplay (no godmoding, no metagaming). Make sure that your RP does not disrupt/hijack ongoing storylines. ParaRP is welcomed here but meters are expected as we have various RP styles, and all combat is done with the meter. If you ParaRP you can still be attacked.
- In order to become a ‘regular’ roleplayer in VANA, you need to join the ‘VANA’ group. Its enrolment is open. You must then submit a CHARACTER CARD to the sim owner Princess Fur (Fur Yifu) or an Vana Elder. Visit us in world to acquire a CC.
- It is also recommended you join the ‘Light and Shadow Role Play’. group. This provides OOC news and IC postings of RPs from across the GA sims. Its enrolment is also open.
- When reading IC notices from any posting group please remember: your character does not know this information IC. They would need to learn the information during an RP to use or act on it. To act on information read in NCs is 'metagaming.'
Guilds and Magic
Magic use must be approved by the VANA Guild. To use any sort of magic, one must join the appropriate Guild, and complete the requisite training — before the use of HUDS is allowed. Non magic users: find a Healer or find a Healing Shrine if you are injured. There are three basic classes of casters:
VANA offers a path for any Caster to rise to full power. Once trained, a Bard (for example) may earn the right to use the Arch Bard HUD, even if there is another Arch in the sim. The exception being superiority in other sims or on the battlefield, where we adhere to ROE (eg. whilst there may be TWO Arch Bards in the realm, only ONE can assume these powers outside of it any given time).
Our Guildmaster is Fur Yifu
CURRENT VANA ARCHES
Arches are the highest order of casters. Vana's Arches are:
- MAGES
- HEALERS which includes Clerics, Shamen, Druids, Bards, Sages
- WARRIORS which includes Rangers, Templars, Paladins, Cavaliers and Samurai
VANA offers a path for any Caster to rise to full power. Once trained, a Bard (for example) may earn the right to use the Arch Bard HUD, even if there is another Arch in the sim. The exception being superiority in other sims or on the battlefield, where we adhere to ROE (eg. whilst there may be TWO Arch Bards in the realm, only ONE can assume these powers outside of it any given time).
Our Guildmaster is Fur Yifu
- Guild approved casters from other GA Realms may use Magic if visiting temporarily. However in you RP in Vana for a longer period, you must join our GUILD (see above).
- Vana and Lundene GUILDS are autonomous, but help each other out with training, especially if the other realm does not have a presiding Arch.. EG Fur trains Bards in Lundene as well as Vana, at time of writing
CURRENT VANA ARCHES
Arches are the highest order of casters. Vana's Arches are:
- ARCH BARD: Princess Fur
- ARCH DRUID: Yilix Nyn
- ARCH MAGE: William Foresight
- GRAND SHAMAN: Rhia (she is also GS of Lundene)
- HIGH PRIESTESS: Stormy Scorpio
- HIGH SAGE ELEMENTAL: Stormy Scorpio
Factions
Being a small realm, there are currently no factions in Vana. Solo RP is permitted in Vana. However, upon becoming a member of VANA you may choose to open a FACTION. Please IM Fur to discuss.
Be Sim Friendly
VANA is a Homestead sim. This means it only supports 20 avies at a time and a total of 3750 prims (a full sim supports up to 100 avies and 15,000 prims)
SL is very well suited to roleplay. But it has flaws. We can help keep the sim performing if we do not use laggy attachments like radars, etc. Dragons and other prim-heavy avatars are inherently laggy. A group of dragons can easily bring a sim down. Please prepare a biped/anthro form which you can assume in busy times.
Please keep particle effects (which effect players’ pcs) and heavy-load effects within reasonable bounds. Don’t litter our lands with objects. If you rez something, remove it when done with the RP. Rezzing must be related to RP. Nothing above 15 prims should be rezzed without permission of Fur, even if rezzed for a short time. Objects you’d like to see in the sim long term (more than a few minutes), need approval.
Orbiting and griefing can bring an immediate ban.
VANA runs on the generosity of the good people who support it. Donation stones are located in prominent places on the sim. Or become a regular donor. $5, $10, $15 per month makes a big difference when many people contribute small amounts regularly. Thank you so much for your support! Donation stones are located in prominent places on the sim.
SL is very well suited to roleplay. But it has flaws. We can help keep the sim performing if we do not use laggy attachments like radars, etc. Dragons and other prim-heavy avatars are inherently laggy. A group of dragons can easily bring a sim down. Please prepare a biped/anthro form which you can assume in busy times.
Please keep particle effects (which effect players’ pcs) and heavy-load effects within reasonable bounds. Don’t litter our lands with objects. If you rez something, remove it when done with the RP. Rezzing must be related to RP. Nothing above 15 prims should be rezzed without permission of Fur, even if rezzed for a short time. Objects you’d like to see in the sim long term (more than a few minutes), need approval.
Orbiting and griefing can bring an immediate ban.
VANA runs on the generosity of the good people who support it. Donation stones are located in prominent places on the sim. Or become a regular donor. $5, $10, $15 per month makes a big difference when many people contribute small amounts regularly. Thank you so much for your support! Donation stones are located in prominent places on the sim.
Visit us in-world for more information and to start your roleplay journey.