New Venue for Live Play (Discord)

[Mallory]

Hello, everyone!

We've had some recent discussions in the lobby about increasing the number of IC settings and specific ideas for new rooms. While these discussions have been productive, Discord is not the best forum for tracking these ideas. Now that we're through the holidays and other work we wanted to get done, we'd like to open up a forum discussion and see what everyone is interested in. We'd like to add one room to the IC category this month, with the addition of other channels likely down the road.

Whether you want to see a new bar or cafe or other interior space, somewhere outdoors, or a legacy setting, please post your ideas, justification, and any discussion here. If you'd rather remain anonymous, feel free to use this form to pitch a setting and we will post it to the thread for you. Once we have a decent number of options to consider, we'll make a decision and move to add another IC channel to the server.

To recap our existing IC settings:
The Golden Perch Inn, a cozy tavern with direct access to the Underground, rooms upstairs, jukebox, darts, and Trivia Night
City Square, a roundabout in Old Temple with a statue park in the middle, food vendors, and access to nearby businesses
The Underground, a generic setting for the tunnels beneath the city, such as sewers, catacombs, or an underground rave
Winter Wonderland, a winter festival and our seasonal setting -- will be changed to a spring setting on March 1

One other thing I want to note -- nothing here is set in stone or can never change, and no room we add is presumed to be "forever." Change is an important part of the health of this community, and new ideas, new team members, new things in general will always be a part of our DNA. If we add a room and find that it isn't seeing activity or engagement, we can always change it.

Thanks in advance for your feedback! <3

[Patrick]

Indoor setting. Not a bar / bar-like atmosphere. This is my re-vote for the Atrium or something like it.

[Mesteno]

I've been fairly vocal about my preference for bringing the Medieval Tavern back. I know there's a fair clump of us who have fond memories of the setting and would appreciate seeing it there as an option for more than just nostalgia's sake. That said, I can't ignore the fact that we have a drinking establishment option already and the MT wouldn't necessarily offer enormous variation in play.

For that reason I'd suggest the docks/harbour as an alternative. It's outdoors and expansive, it's gritty and offers opportunity for darker play than would be tolerated somewhere designed for gathering/socialising. People would have more reason to go there than they would to skulk around in sewers, and characters with a less modern leaning might find it a more suitable setting.

[Ehzoterik]

Suggestion One: Replace "city-square" with a more expansive and vague option such as "the-streets" or "city-streets" so that people can use that room for any number of possible venues at any time.

Suggestion Two: Another indoor venue that is not a bar, tavern, inn, or hostel. Some place more cozy like a coffee house or book store (but please not another combination of the two). I'm offering up the Atrium again. I even have an updated and more detailed description of the setting since last it was put on the table. Here is a viewing link to the Google Doc where it is stored: The Atrium.

Suggestion Three: An outdoor setting that is also expansive and vague such as "the-wilds" which could include any environment that is not strictly located within the city of Rhydin.

[PC]

A place like Tea's n Tomes could be cool. Though my idea is one of a bookstore / coffeeshop / internet cafe. Something for both modern players and something for the other players if they choose to ignore the internet cafe part.

The docks/harbour is a cool idea. Being a multi-purpose setting I assume a person could have a pick up setting there, like an outdoor spot with barrels of booze.. or hell, a booze cruise / casino boat.

[Pharlen]

I'd love any of the suggested 'venues', but something loose and easy on the description might be best, give everyone a chance to exchange ideas, change, and swap and sort of mash together something. So, I'd say, like, "RhyDin Muscle Beach", or "Uptown Park" or "Castle Ruins".

That being said, I'd like a new Teas 'n' Tomes and I'd also like something like a wildland glade and a deserted warehouse - that sort of thing. :3

[Sard]

I'm going to say what I would like, and then what I think you should do. I'm sure some or all are aware that I don't consider the current settings - other than the Underground - suitable for the type of character I play. They are all extremely social settings: a carnival, a shopping center, a modern-style bar in the 'good' part of town. I don't believe I've called any of those 'horrible' in themselves, and they are not. They are extremely well suited to enforcing social interaction, and for a socialite character type. Not all characters fall under that category, but many do. I'm fully aware that those who do enjoy a social type of character tend to find those who are not outgoing, friendly and interactive rather annoying! (Yes, that is meant to be taken as humor.)

Personally, something like a 'Public Garden/Greenhouse/Atrium' would suit my character. So would a generic 'Harborside/Docks'. I think either of those would be fantastic settings, though the first one might not be appropriate for most of the more 'gritty' and unsocial types of characters that I feel the current settings don't work well for.

However, my observation has been that those settings would not end up in random collaborative use. They would end up being used for couples and small groups who had previously agreed to play there, similar to how... pretty much all of the rooms except RDI and, to a lesser degree, Teas were in the past. There seems to be a discomfort level in simply joining in a scenario, unless it's with an existing playing partner, that prevents random interaction outside of the 'safety' of a bar setting. Understand, this is not a complaint about the player base. I've come to understand that there are some fairly good reasons for it. It's simply my personal observation of what would, and would not, work.

Therefor, and for additional reasons, despite my distaste for bar settings, I put my full support behind a revival of the Medieval Tavern, so long as it's located somewhere in the harbor/docks district. That kind of kills two birds with one stone - people could play a 'harbor' scene there leading up to their arrival, if they wanted to. It is, to my understanding, a much more primitive establishment than the Perch, and locating it in the harbor district would create a more crude, gritty environment better suited to those who wouldn't be likely to show up in the 'good' part of town to go get a few drinks, maybe get involved in a brawl, that type of thing. Just, please, give it a large covered porch if it's created.

Now, to the additional reasons I support a revival of that establishment. Since I arrived on RDI a couple years and some ago, I've repeatedly seen people reminiscing about 'the good old days'. Almost invariably, Medieval Tavern came up in those discussions. It's a familiar name, a piece of history that I suspect a lot of the long-term players probably recall in some fashion or other. To be blunt, I don't see a great number of people writing in rooms other than the dueling rooms, and I have no idea how many actual 'players' are involved there. Most of what I see happening in the other rooms involves the same small group of individuals, for the most part. I would hope that an old familiar name might encourage some of the older players that aren't writing, or at least aren't writing on RoD, to come out of the woodwork and give it a try.

Bear in mind that I'm not suggesting this as a replacement for the Perch. The Perch serves a very good function, and provides a 'nice' place for characters that wouldn't be suited to something in the 'bad' part of town. The Trivia nights and such are a fantastic idea, for the type of character that would want to be involved in them - again, I am not criticizing that personality type,they're what keep the social aspects of the chat alive and thriving. Just because it's not what I, personally, am comfortable writing doesn't mean I am not aware of that! I think that both settings could be functional, useful and beneficial simultaneously.

[Jake]

We'd discussed this in chat at one point, and so bringing it over here.

Kaiju Lake

A sandy beach area, next to the lake, off of New Haven. An outdoor bar (and BBQ?) for socializing. Water sports. Maybe some fishing. Occasional evening fireworks from the sleeping kaiju in the center of the lake, when it spews fire and smoke.

[Kalamere]

Another theme that had been discussed in the lobby was something more space-centric.

I feel with the current venues for play, combined with how RhyDin itself has matured over the years, we're serving fantasy and modern genre characters well overall. We don't have anything for the spacer or, to a lesser degree, cyberpunk themed characters though.

A suggestion I rather liked was a space elevator named Yggdrasil.

[Gren Blockman]

If we’re talking about either a legacy setting or a medieval tavern, we could always bring back the Great Helm Tavern. I’m a little biased for that one because that’s where Gren met Izira.

I’d also like to see a space setting just for the change of pace.

[PrlUnicorn]

During Fio's tenure as Governor, the Rhydin Observatory Complex and Botanical Garden was created as part a community project. It's a mixed bag of things that can suit a lot play needs/wants. It has always been meant to be a public use setting with Rhiannon Harker managing the ROC and Eregor managing the BG. If nothing else, I'd like to get it on the Rhydin map and have it be available for everyone to use.

Here's the run down of what's inside the Rhydin Observatory Complex

Basement Level:
Morgan le Fey du Cornwall Magic and Alchemy Laboratory
Edward Batten Science Laboratory
Mur Ollavan Vinification Laboratory
G'nort Dragoon-Talanador Recreation Center
Candy R. Hart Natatorium

Ground Level:
Kathryn Batten Cafe
Sheridan Driscoll Performing Arts Center
Tasslehofl Momus Library and Media Center
Ebon and Phen Ilnaren Childcare Center
The Fountain of Healing Waters in the garden area is dedicated to the Scathachian Sisterhood.

Second Level:
Fionna Helston Reception and Lecture Center
Ariana MacGyldren Culinary Arts Center
Riley Lo Memorial Dance Studio
Sylus Kurgan Sculpture and Art Studio

Observation Deck
Matthew Simon Astronomical Center

Slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSSkPg6n-LA

Botanical Garden was dedicated in memory of Fayalki.

There are small greenhouses and various sized gardening plots for public use. Some small ponds freeze up during the winter and are suitable for ice skating. The grounds around the complex and botanical garden are large enough to have outdoor gatherings or have some solitude. Booze Fest has been hosted there several times.

[Bailey Raptis]

I know the Golden Perch functions as a partial replacement for the quiet setting of Teas 'N' Tomes, but I would like to see a coffee shop setting that's a bit further subdued. I've seen a couple of players here also throw that idea out, so treat this as two cents worth.

I also expect (though this is by no means an endorsement or a criticism of the idea!) that there will likely be a "temporary" outdoorsy sort of channel created for Beltane -- if it's vague enough, that can easily last into summer. I know the Southern Glen got spotty usage over on RDI, and some of that usage was...problematic, but it does feel like a non-urban outdoor setting would be a nice thing to have. Maybe the Kaiju Lake idea would be good long-term?

[Ebon Ilnaren]

I do like the Atrium setting that Ehz linked. Very nice.

Kaiju Lake

A sandy beach area, next to the lake, off of New Haven. An outdoor bar (and BBQ?) for socializing. Water sports. Maybe some fishing. Occasional evening fireworks from the sleeping kaiju in the center of the lake, when it spews fire and smoke.

I am very fond of this suggestion and support it wholeheartedly.

Another theme that had been discussed in the lobby was something more space-centric.

I feel with the current venues for play, combined with how RhyDin itself has matured over the years, we're serving fantasy and modern genre characters well overall. We don't have anything for the spacer or, to a lesser degree, cyberpunk themed characters though.

A suggestion I rather liked was a space elevator named Yggdrasil.

Wouldn't the elevator itself be better named Ratatoskr?

In all seriousness, I agree that a space-centric would make a fresh change, especially if it's not solely a bar/cantina. At one point I'd planned to create a space station setting using Eregor, and in fact he does have one in orbit, but it's been used in one birthday post and one Rhydin event. If there's interest, I could write something up and offer it to the community as Ehz and Collie have done.

[Senka Tihomir]

What about a Docks/Boardwalk area?

The main building of the setting has a glass wall on one side looking out towards the docks and water and of course has it's own boardwalk and docks for people to walk or boat up to. It could be a middle ground area between the industrial waters and the resort/beachy waters- kind of where they meet. The building could have a main gathering area that has comfy seats, a bookshop/stand, coffee and tea bar, and a snack stand. Maybe one end of the building has shops and restaurants, and the other end some lodging for travelers. Perhaps there is also a ticket terminal for daily boating adventures and those traveling by boat.

This is inspired by the Denver Union Station (Train Station) and Navy Pier in Chicago.

I was thinking the glass wall would allow for people inside or outside to see what's going on and therefore open up play. For those instances when you enter a room and say your character is outside and wants to enjoy the sunshine but their friend is inside and now you can't reasonably explain away a reason for them to interact. A glass wall would allow someone to see and could build that interaction bridge. Or, for someone to randomly see what's going on and perhaps approach someone new. Of course there could also be a glare or someone is completely unaware and sees nothing, that's fine too. The extensions of the setting (shops, lodgings, etc) offer up some unique play opportunities and areas to escape to or incorporate.

Visual Examples:
Denver Union Station Court. This is the main part of the station with restaurants, snack bars, a flower bar, ticket terminal etc: https://afar-production.imgix.net/uploa ... q=80&w=954

Outside of Union Station. You can see it's a large building with restaurants, shops, and a hotel: http://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/im ... 647822.jpg

Navy Pier: https://cache-graphicslib.viator.com/gr ... 786248.jpg
Pier 2: https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media ... o-navy.jpg

[Goldglo]

Throwing my two cents in for a 'futuristic'/space setting. Doesn't necessarily have to be a bar, but could be a place that has a bar or eatery in addition to other things (for instance: docking rings/stations, cargo bays/warehouses, traditional runways or VTOL pads, etc.).