Living In Valimar

Valimar is an attempt to recreate the First Age of Middle Earth, as depicted primarily in The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. This SIM is also a non-profit endeavour that supports the educational needs of disadvantaged children. This is important to keep in mind when you consider renting here, because your money is going to a cause you can embrace.

Over the last few weeks, as we see more and more of Valimar begin to take shape (and we’ve had time to look at the model (still on Level 4)), questions have come up over the issue of renting, building or having a home built in Valimar. This article is written to help clarify things for you.

For those of you who are already Valimarians, there will also be a more detailed notecard available (hopefully by this weekend) through a note giver (we will send you the information on this as soon as everything is completed on the note).

If you have any question, comment, suggestion, or correction, please send a notecard with the date, your name and your question to: Lord Eönwë (Rill Oyen). He will get back with you as soon as your question is carefully researched.

Size, Prim Count and Costs

First and foremost, it is logical to expect that rental costs will depend on the number of square meters you use and the number of prims you use. Here is the scale (as of 8 November 2007):

Rates, lot sizes and pricing are presently being re-calculated and will be posted here again as soon as the final details are completed.


Normal Rental
Size of Lot = M
Standard Number of Prims =
Cost/month = $US

Large Rental
Size of Lot = M
Standard Number of Prims =
Cost /month = $US

Extras
Package of Extra Prims = 25 extra prims
No limit on number of packages*
Cost/Month = $US 2

* What this means is you can rent an extra 25 prims over and above your limit. And you can do this as many times as you want at this rate. Example: If you wanted the whole 15,000 prims, you will pay about US$600 per month for the extras.

Lots are available in specific sizes and unfortunately cannot be partial sizes or odd shapes, unless specifically approved by Lord Manwë.

Official Prim counts will be done by the Security Council and its determination is final.

Rent Payments

All rent payments are due on the first of the month and can be paid in two ways:

- Directly to www.buildersofarda.org (a receipt will be given)
- Paid in Lindens to (yet to be finalized). These payments will be the conversion from $US dollars based upon the exchange rate one week in advance of the due date. This rate will be advertised to Valimarians one week in advance of the due date.

Late With Rent

There is a 2-week grace period when payments are late such that the non-payer’s buildings and objects will not be deleted or returned.

Your Responsibilities

If you rent a dwelling in Valimar you have responsibilities, including:

- To pay your rent on time
- Having your building approved by the Design Council (preferably with a model, mock-up or description) BEFORE major work is done. ( A “Design Guidelines” document is in preparation.) - Your building must be landscaped appropriately to the neighbourhood. (This is also monitored by the Design Council.)
- To abide by the rules of Valimar
- To keep your area tidy

Your Rights

As a renter in Valimar you have the right to:

- Privacy inside your building(s).
- Security for your property in that no one is allowed inside your home without your express invitation
- Keep your property safe and orderly in that no one is permitted to put any object on your property without your permission.

We hope these guidelines and rules help you with your decision to live in Valimar with us.

I'm New to Role Play

Here are some general tips as to what to do when you are new to a new land (SIM) and/or new to Role Play (RP).

Think of RP as a combination of who you really are (your true character) and pretending to be in a different time, or place or situation than you normally are in. (Being in Second Life is all about that in many ways for you can "recreate" your outer appearance, your clothing, your status, your level of success or wealth.)

Be Yourself

But you always remain you. The words you write (sometimes speak) the way you move close to or away from others, the areas you frequent are all about your true character. So that is the most important thing to keep in mind. Even if you find you choose to be a Dragon or a Balrog or a hot beach bum, you are always going to maintain your true essence.

Pretend

Second about pretending. Almost everyone I've ever known can remember a childhood of wonder where you could be cowboys or Indians or fairy princesses or just grown ups (thinking it might be better if only we could tell little kids what to do too.)

Your First Time

When people enter Valimar for the first time they will find something quite unique there and that is that Valimar is a dynamic "play" of sorts that is based directly on the writing of JRR Tolkien and specifically on the First Age of Middle Earth as we find primarily in The Silmarillion.

There are assigned roles (such as the Valar and the Maiar, Dwarves and Elves, etc.). These roles are played by people specifically chosen for their essential character attributes and many other details about them.

These characters do not change and are carefully maintained by the people in those roles. If you are assigned a particular role or even enter for the first time this role play world depends on your joining in the role play.

So first, consider your clothing.

Careful attention has been paid to ensuring you have free clothing to use when you come in, so you fit into the theme of the SIM, so please dress to fit in.

Second, listen.

My father always said we were born with two ears and one mouth and we should keep that in mind and speak half as much as we listen. (If you meet me you will know I haven't yet figured out that balance, but I do try to work on it!)

But if you are new, don't start talking other than to say something like: "Greetings. I am new to Valimar. What can you tell me about this world?"

Then listen to the answer.

It may be you've asked someone who is also new, so together find someone to help show you around. Listen to the way they speak and interact with those they meet. Begin to consider how you may match your speech to the "general speech themes" you observe.

Also, there is a difference between what you say in “Open Chat” and in IM (Internal messaging). IM is private and does not disrupt the flow of open conversation. So it is best to ask OOC (out of character) questions directly with someone in IM.

United Nations of Languages

Valimar is like a United Nations when it comes to nationalities, so here is another hint. Although there will be phrases we may use that are authentically Elven, we also must be very careful of the words we use when speaking with someone who does not speak English as their first language.

Out of courtesy we need to keep our language and our sentences clean and clear. So this means not using words that have no meaning in many languages (unless the person is a classical literature scholar).

So eliminate words such as: thee, thou, makest, shalt, beknownst, aye; even words like m'lady or m'lord or milady or milord are difficult for even some English speakers to figure out.

If you know phrases in an Elven tongue and use them, be sure to follow it up with the translation, such as: “Diola lle arwenamin” (Thank you). We are not in Valimar to try to impress one another or visitors with our great stores of knowledge, but to help others appreciate the value of Tolkien's works, the beauty of Valimar and to help others learn. (remember we are dedicated to education.)

Role Play Classes About to Begin

In the very near future we will begin holding weekly Role Play classes. I encourage you to take as many as you can (and do all the homework assigned!). Until then I hope these simple suggestions have helped you enjoy Valimar even more!

And if you have questions, contact Sheridanne Kelley or one of the Valimar Role Play Council members; or just ask someone with an assigned role, they will be delighted to help you.

Valimar Sim FAQs

(This is not set in stone yet! Please share your comments and ideas. I'll gather and incorporate them into a new edition around 2007-10-10. Love, Arth.)

Q. What is this Valimar sim supposed to look like?

A. "A smiling cluster of buildings on a plain, the City of Bells, Valimar." The ground is gentle slopes, running water, fountains and lawns, pleasant in every way. We want every building and items to be original and exceptional in design and construction, and fit in beautifully with the surroundings. JRR Tolkien mentions gold, silver, brass, green grass, fountains, and bells as prominent, over and over. Then he goes on to say ALL the richest substances are used.

Q. So what all goes in Valimar?

A. Second Life policy requires an information center about our non-profit fund-raising purposes promenently. Logic dictates we put a gathering place & information center regarding our sim and role-play. JRR Tolkien requires: city walls of gold, (thanks for them, Rahan, and the textures, Arianwen) domes and floors of silver, doors of brass, gentle paths, ever-green lawns, Orome's place (think master hunters' pub), Tulkas' place (think elvish sports center), Osse & Uniens place (think city home for sea gods) Aule's place (think crazy inventors' campus with Yavanna's magical orchard) and Melkor's place (think house-arrest home), and obviously, enough other buildings so that the sim looks like a cluster of buildings.

Q. What about the other levels in Valimar?

A. We will in all likelihood be renting out sylistically appropriate shops and residential plots, too, to raise money for the sim on all levels. The other two plats are becoming our "neighborhoods" in Valimar: Currently 600 level is work space and some residences. On the 400 level is "the Forge" with class rooms, display rooms, work rooms, libraries, etc., and Valar "town-mansion" district. On the 200 level is a Maia districts, and homes for the Elves (Noldor & Vanyar) not content to live in Tirion-on-Tùna.

Q. Why are we floating levels at all?

A. Sure, is causes design problems all over the place, but it opens the sim up for wide open plains & uncramped content. To preserve an illusion onf connectedness, we will line the edges of the upper platforms with barriers: backs of buildings, garden walls, impassable hedges, sculpty mountains, rockworks, etc. making the upper levels appear to be walled neighborhoods inside the prime level city, and teleport stations (Thanks, Khyathtu!) Sure, an av can fly over, ending all illusion right then.

Q. So we can fly here?

A. Not everyone. Valar and Maia (mostly spiritual beings) and flying types of animals and that might cross the sim would natually take to the air. Non-flying types are, well, non-flying types.

Q. What about teleports and landmarks?

A. We have only one main entry point, so new visitors will get the Sim guides, a change of clothes. and the main data. Landmarks are generally disabled. We will have teleport devices of various types in various places to get around the sim. You can still give someone a teleport to anywhere you are.

Q. Are there other sims nearby?

A. Yes - Valimar is on a large plain. On the sim north-west is the highest mountain in creation, Tanequetil. In the next sim north, the gigantic Two Trees are shining on their hill. West and South, the plains of Aman continue with their own points of interest and Valar places. On the sim to the east is a pass througth the incredibly rugged Pelori Mountians to the next sim of Tirion-on-Tuna.

Q. Tirion-on-Tuna?

A. Through the eastern mountain pass, on the hill called Tùna, overlooking the sea, it the city Tirion, home of the blessed Vanyar and Noldor Elves live. For now, they are in Valimar as welcome long-term visitors, but we may acquire and begin Tirion any time now (thanks, for that news, Phoenix!)

Q, Where do I learn more?

A. There is data being added to our build library on 200 level almost every day. As city design, descriptions and specs are generated (yes, we are backlogged in this currently) builds and projects will come up ready to be finally, permanently made!

Q. How do I help? Who do I talk to?

A. Look in your Builders of Valimar Group listing in SL: each group role has a leader and description. If you have a group role other than "everyone" already, talk to your leader. If you don't have one, choose one that looks fun to you and talk to the role-leader for guidance .

Love, Arth Karas 2007-09-29 for Builders-of Valimar

Non-Builders, Scripters or Animators

Editorial

When I first came to, what was then known as Commonwealth, I realised the great value of being able to build. My skills, however, were insignificant to say the least. I had no idea about scripts (thought they came magically inside things) and believed Avatars actually had a will of their own when it came to automation.

I've learned a lot since then! Of course many of you will find this a bit amusing, but I felt useless to the group.

So I claimed a building space of my own and would come in and try to build something. My first attempt was a sceptor for Manwe (what WAS I thinking?) as a gift (I'm still working on this, but he already has one now.). Then I wanted to build a golden bird for Orome, Vana's husband (one of the major builders I had met in Commonwealth - Rahan). That I accomplished as primitive as it was (and if I ever figure out automation intend to get this silly wooden object to fly like Ted does with his birds).

I kept coming to the site many times every day, plus I came to every one of the impromptu and unexpected "come-as-you-are" meetings Phoenix called. So much building and scripting was and still is needed and I was just frustrated with my lack of abilities. Many offered to teach me (and I know they were sincere) but I sensed most were too busy most of the time. So I took a basics course and picked up a little more skill in building (but not much).

Then I would come in and sit on the wonderful chair that Arth built for me in the library (Commonwealth) and work on learning all that was in there. But I would always notice a little green dot on my mini-map near me. One day, I couldn't resist and flew over to the next platform to find TedTheRushBandFan fussing over a script he was writing.

We just chatted for a bit. Every day after that I just went and stood around and "watched" him work. He even had me help him test a script one day and it didn't hurt at all. He said he appreciated the company.

So I added Rahan to my "rounds" (the only builder I had gotten to know) and would go and visit him. He said he appreciated it and told me I could move my building efforts to his platform (frankly I was too embarassed to take him up on his offer because of the quality of his work even though I knew he was sincere too).

Next, I added Arianwen and before I realised it I had something to do in Commonwealth and continue doing this in Valimar (as well as the Role Play).

I have spoken to several non-builder/scriptor/automator people since those days and realise there are others here who feel similar to what I felt. So I propose we ban together and begin to do what we CAN do and not worry that we can't help with these areas like so many do.

There is so much we CAN do!

I've put a little gathering place together on level 4 -- it is near one of the great Two-Trees portals and you can identify it because Vana designed it with lots of flowers and even a wind chime. This little retreat area is for anyone to come and relax, but I would like to start meeting with other non-builder/scripter/automators (we need a name because it takes too much effort to write all that every time).

If you would like to be part of this group and learn how you can make amazing contributions to Valimar with the skills you have (from builders who know), or if you're even feeling a bit lost with who to help, send me an IM so I know who you are.

I can teach some basics of building for the beginner and know we can find others who can help any of us who want to, learn the basics of scripting and animation. But this may not be of interest to you and that is OK because there are still many things that must be done.

With the international diversity we will need to try to find convenient times to chat together, but we can do this because it is important. Let's face it, we are all in Valimar because we see the amazing value of what is being accomplished here - so making an effort to search out areas to contribute is worth it!

The future holds more challenges for us all and there is so much work to do! Come join me!

Enjoy Valimar, Sheri/Vana