Raevyn Addams

My first attempt playing with Black Dragon. In-game pic with no edits at all using Luna Jubilee - Springscape WL. I know the lighting is crap but I didn't add any projectors for the first time ever, I just wanted to see what raw shots looked like. And yes I chopped off the top of my head but looked boring complete XD. Feels like it has a kind of retro vibe or something? (Also if anyone knows how to reset the Machinima sidebar sliders to default please let me know! 0.0)

Madpea I've been a fan of the Madpea games (as @Catrie mentioned) for many years. I absolutely love the games and the thought that goes into them with not just huds and themed prizes to win but the set ups and scenes are top-notch and really immersive. There's usually clothing and accessories to wear as you play as well which is a nice little touch. I usually play these alone but for a while there @momomoonusagi and I were blazing a trail through the halls of Spellbound together which was a blast. And the environments are also good for photo shoots! Unlike a lot of others the Madpea group usually does have someone there happy to help and they don't have the usual snark that most groups do. Madpea is probably the best at hud games and a great way to spend a few hours if I need a break from shopping, building, or RL. Absolutely worth the cost and time invested, hands-down. Stat Huds Not sure if you'd class huds like 'Xeolife' or 'BeYou' or 'Life!' as "games" as there's no real objective beyond raising stats - much like 'The Sims' games franchise. But each do have their own group following. The big difference between them to me at least is Xeolife is free to start and a hell of a lot cheaper, very easy to start and use (and it's easy to create your own scripted objects for them too) but it isn't as huge or popular as BeYou, which to me is expensive and a bit more complex or in-depth. And Life! doesn't seem as popular as it once did but I could be wrong about that as I've been out of the loop a long while. Xeolife almost seems more catered for child avatars but doesn't appear to be age-exclusive and BeYou has a library of info to wade through just to get you started. But it does seem more popular in terms of a player base (I could be wrong about that). Reproductive Huds There's also reproductive huds like 'BabyBundles' and 'Tantra' that are games or can be used for RP. Beyond just "getting pregnant" (and being randomly assigned how many kids you get based on stats you can tweak), there's morning sickness, cravings, moods you have to regulate etc, some huds even... well... come with the "risk" of catching an STD/STI that requires doctors visits or medication etc to treat. Different strokes for different folks and all that... But again, especially in some groups the use of these things can be quite popular with parents getting together for meets and such. Outbreak It's not open anymore but I thought this was an effective system I dearly wish I had the skills to recreate and worth the mention. Back when the regions were still around this was part of RP where players had to survive in a small post apoc, zombie-infested town. Wearing the hud you had to search the trash or rubble piles every day or 4 hours or so I think (it's been a while), and barter with other players for weapons, medkits, water or supplies. Use of the hud was optional but encouraged as it was the official "currency" of the game. A few of us played there together for a year or so but the majority of my friends hated the system as they thought it detracted from the RP itself, and there were inevitably those who stockpiled everything to be kings of the proverbial mountain. I personally enjoyed the experience. I haven't found anything that's come close to that since but would be open to doing something similar again under the right circumstances.

Aww thank you so much! This is one of the nicest compliments I've had so really made my day. ❤️❤️ I don't know much about what style it is, I just Googled for "beachy room ideas" and spent a few days interpreting them with what I had or could find without spending much. The landscaping I deliberately kept bare. As much as I'd love tropical it would have felt too cluttered and out of place. I tried to find low LI plants that resemble what was either side of the parcel and repeated them so there was less new textures to render, and the palm trees I used because several houses along the same street were using them so kept on with that theme. The windlight was Annan Adored Realistic ambient and I think it was just default water though it could have been Nacon's Lake Water too, I use that a lot (with graphics on high, DoF enabled, and shadows enabled for the pics if that helps). The moldings etc are just prims with the same wooden texture I use on all my Belli builds (and Edit > Texture > Mapping: Planar just to stretch it out to anything close to what's in the Belli home already, though shape-wise they aren't curved at the top where the original ones are). Where I've meshed internal structures I've meshed the moldings in too, but if it's just one wall I use a prim and tint the shade of the top board so it's not all starkly white. I don't think they're worth selling or uploading as you don't really save much LI using mesh moldings compared to prims (unless you're using a lot of them) and realistically anyone who can stretch a prim and add a texture to it could do it anyway. Maybe if I sold them as part of internal wall structures I guess is the only way it would make sense but if you're really desperate let me know. I also love what you've done with yours. Accentuates the space nicely. 👍 Thanks again.

Thank you! ❤️ And honestly not sure yet. It's pretty simple but then so was my original Belli build so... not sure. 🤔

Spent the last few days redecorating my house in Well Springs. Amidst all that I built a gazebo thingy in a similar style to the Adams porch. No decor = 5 LI on medium LOD. Fully decorated as it appears in the pics = 20 LI. I generally shy away from having a solid wall against my parcel border facing the neighbour's yard but since he's rezzed a car port on the other side I figured there was no harm; I wasn't blocking his view as he already was. Didn't see the point of spamming two threads with the same pics so here's the links to the others: https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/435588-the-linden-homes-photo-thread/?do=findComment&comment=2047615, and more here: https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/435588-the-linden-homes-photo-thread/?do=findComment&comment=2047619 😊

^ Living room 2 (looking in to bathroom, or kitchen, or out the back door respectively). ^ Bathroom. ^ Riley's room (from my room). ^ Riley's room (a bit closer). ^ My room. Windlight: Annan Adored Realistic ambient. I've kept the doors that open/close but removed the scripts out of almost all of the furnishings, including all lights, and just kept the scripts in the chairs and bed (and Zooby furniture of course) as I didn't use the rest of it anyway - it's all just decor. By doing that - and linking almost everything to the porch - I saved a lot of Land Impact; I still have 130 spare. That means I can rez Riley fully clothed (instead of just rezzing her in hair and diaper) and still have a few LI left over for attachments if needed. I'm happy with that. And just because I liked it, one more pic over here: https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/436002-bellisserians-show-off-your-home-and-garden/?do=findComment&comment=2047630. 😊

So I felt the need to redecorate lately. I kept the Adams (it's my favourite Traditional style) and kept the majority of my porch. The rest is as follows. ^ Front yard. ^ Back yard. ^ Gazebo (looking out across back yard). ^ Kitchen. ^ Living room. More pics to come.

You (and your alt) are most welcome! Thank YOU (both, *lol*) ❤️ 🤗

Aww thanks @Elora Lunasea. I love what you've done with it and the fact you could make use of it. Looks like a good fit for the area. That truly makes my day! ❤️ 😊 🤗

I'm a few weeks off turning 44. I was told that our mother's are a good indication of when we're likely to get it, but given my mother had Menopause in her mid-50's it seems to have hit me early. To be fair I've endured Menorrhagia most of my life and was diagnosed with Perimenopause several years ago so I'm not sure if any of that plays a part. I thought I had more time. Apparently not. Doctor also told me it can hit anytime after the age of 21.

Feeling miserable in general lately. I don't want to talk to anyone and when I do I burst into tears or fly off into a rage for no reason at all. At least building here in SL is kind of therapeutic. So if you're on my FL and feeling ignored, I'm sorry. Please bear with me. Menopause sucks. Just saying. 😖

Loved Henry Cavill in The Tudors, love him now. My biggest issue with this series (at least this season); IT'S TOO DAMNED SHORT! While I wait for season two I may have to pick up the books. I haven't read them yet (I have a real issue reading things with names I can't pronounce; couldn't read LOTR for that reason) but I may have to make an exception for this (or at least have another crack at the games). Thoroughly recommend and may just have to watch it again!❤️

She could, but like @Blush Bravin I usually build something for myself first (and I have an Adams house). In order to build for other styles I'd need to get my alt back up to premium to catch another house to build around. It's not impossible. Coincidentally, back when I had a Trad in Donovan I did actually make a porch that wraps almost all the way around a Winchester, only it had no rails; https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/436002-bellisserians-show-off-your-home-and-garden/?do=findComment&comment=1962478. It could be modified/redone I guess?

As I've said in other threads before this I used to play as a male character back when I first joined SL. It was a liberating experience and for the most part I enjoyed it. But too many people started pushing for RL info, especially in RP circles. Of course I didn't want to catfish but not saying anything and avoiding questions just added fuel to their fire and gossip and OOC drama started spilling out even beyond SL itself. It's ridiculous but apparently some people really don't have anything better to do. Honesty is an ideal strategy but not always doable. The longer the lie goes on the harder it gets to tell anyone. As hard as this concept may be to grasp not everyone who plays as a different sex is intentionally out to trick anyone; it's more about the experience. Actors don't come on stage and say "I'm pretending to portray a murderer but I'm not a murderer in real life!" We suspend belief when it suits us but people seem to have a real issue being able to do that or even separate what they see from what they expect here. Add to that being honest from the start can and often will alter how others will react to you. I'm speaking from experience. My original account didn't have that disclaimer but my house hunting alt for Bellisseria and occasional RP character did; by saying that I was actually a RL women behind the man the immersion for ME was gone. Guys don't talk to you like "one of them" if you aren't one of them. It's subtle perhaps but the feeling of authenticity immediately vanishes (despite the fact for you it was never authentic, but the experience was as close as you could get without having a RL sex change or something equally as drastic perhaps). It never ceases to amaze me how divisive this topic is and has been for years. I personally don't care what sex you are behind the avatar, I really don't need to know. I enjoy the mystery and take the avatar at face value. I don't look at horse avatars and expect a RL horse behind the keyboard; why do people expect any different with genders? As for the group it sounds like a great idea. Of course you're not likely to attract those who are actively "hiding" their RL gender but Suum cuique (to each their own).

I'm a little annoyed that we can't choose from the previous list. So for those of us who weren't here when those names were rolled out they're now completely off-limits? That stinks. I'd still happily pay for one of those (everyone knows I want to be Rae Hardy, dammit! If they didn't they do now.) With this competition they could have still allowed us to choose our favourites of those AND any new ones we had in mind. I was excited but now I'm irked. 😞

I have it hanging in Riley's bedroom so I can and will see it every day. It just brightens up the room I think... @Matty Luminos I hope you have a fantastic, amazing, wonderful and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks so much! ❤️🎄

This is so cute! And the red contrasts with the soft blue background well; classic example of perspective using colour. Well done. If I may ask where did you get your shoes and jumper? It's so hard finding winter clothing that doesn't make one look like a... um... well, a Moll (or Mole as we Aussies call them. Sorry LDPW! 😆)

As embarrassed as I am to admit this I've never played any Linden Realms game in the years I've been here. The most I've done has been the Swaginator hunts. But on closer inspection I actually do intend to play them if I can. I love the effort that's been put into them too. SL could have been strictly left to Residents to entertain themselves so having these is an added bonus. And can I just say the videos are really well done! I laughed at the one for Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches. I saw a video Patch Linden mentioned in one of the Bellisseria Community groups months ago it must have been (I think?) and loved that too. Though the voice of Magellan still reminds me of Sarg from the Rooster Teeth series Red Vs Blue. (And worthy of more love for that fact too!) But yes, definitely something to try that I should have done ages ago. Be good when it's all operational again (most seem to be but one at least isn't), as I'm looking forward to it. Thank you Linden Lab!

In my previous parcel in Donovan I was situated right beside the Panamole Canal and directly behind the beach. After I had decorated and settled in I sailed a few times. It was a fun way to spend an hour or so and a good way to see regions I hadn't up to that point. I took my baby for a ride around Belli's waterways and twice I took a friend too. The biggest issue I faced was lag. Sailing anywhere near house boats usually had me snapping back more often than not, even with settings down as low as they could go, and slamming into other boats or parcels only to be warned I was trespassing. By the time my screen unfroze (or the dreaded black screen left) I was out of the boat with no chance to correct. Unfortunately to sail you also need DD up which generally means more to render which means lag, and there's not much you can do besides derender everything around you and hope you don't accidentally run into someone or something that is still technically in your path. Another major issue I had was access. Sailing around the mainland of Belli isn't bad (lag aside) but the accessibility of inland waterways are. Had we the ability to sail to where the campers are or sail inland that would have been fun too. I realize that land elevation varies from region to region and these variances are offset by waterfalls and such which are quite beautiful and well done, but they're dead ends if you intend to visit by water. For the most part the novelty has worn off now even though I have sailed a few times from current lot in Well Springs. The fact I can at present only go in one direction isn't a huge issue as I know the surrounding waterways will open in good time. Watching others come screaming past to slam into that invisible brick wall of an unopened region is kind of funny but it is lag-tastic too, and a danger to small-boaters such as myself. 🥺 And @Evangeline Arcadia is right; I love the view of the water more than anything. Sailing is secondary. The argument of having waterways not being used is no different to people asking for more community areas and not using the multitude of the ones we already have; it's all there to use at our discretion.

#1 - Modern (Palo Alto Modern hands down #1, yes!) ❤️ #2 - Adobes. 😍 I'd love to see a desert-style landscaped section of Bellisseria to offset the green, sand and occasional rocky terrain. Imagine the varied plant life, the red sand blowing across the plains like the snow gusts at Winter wonderland... Campers and Cabins* could fit that terrain too? #3 - Brownstones. (I'd love something more urban as opposed to suburban). ☺️ Impossible as it may seem I'd love something that feels like living in the city and apartments just seem like a headache waiting to happen. It's not inconceivable to have rows of Brownstones (think Brooklyn Brownstones) though they would likely have to be given the illusion of "joined" by fake walls or shells between which would limit Resident's yards (offset by narrower backyards and basements perhaps?) and not be "as pretty" as the wide open spaces with lots of greenery (or water) as we currently have. Another downside would likely be the lag produced by lots of objects to render in dense areas such as we currently see with houseboats. But should the day ever come when we did get faux stores townhouses might suit those areas well. #4 - Post Apoc. 🤔 It's a niche market and not something I'd ever really expect to see or would fit into Bellisseria as we have it right now well at all, but it's as fanciful as floating islands, underwater cities and fantasy builds so I thought I'd throw this into the mix. I doubt many would want to live next door to rusty, broken down hovels but imagine a shanty town and campers next to the train tracks! #4 (option 2) - Beach / tropical bungalow. 🤩 Since there's many coastal areas to islands and we already have lots of sandy terrain this seems like a no-brainer and a nice gap-filler for these areas between Traditionals, Campers and Houseboats. It may just be a matter of creating lots of lagoon type areas so there's enough water to go around. * As for cabins; I'd like to see them as they would blend into the current landscaping of Belli well. And if there were to ever be some snowy regions cabins would be ideal. But given the fact we have a mountain log cabin as a premium gift and already scattered throughout the camping areas it might be like reinventing the wheel for the LDPW and not much of a building challenge. As much as it pains me to say having followed the forums for a while now I can imagine Residents comparing the Belli cabin to the premium gift cabin and complaining they didn't get something "unique" and feeling shortchanged (as cabins can technically be used already by us on Mainland if we want to, just not in Belli).

Correction; "SoBel Homes" (aka South Bellisseria). I'm kidding! I'm kidding! 😅

No I'm not where I started and I can't remember how many homes I've been in since. But I do love the parcel I'm in now and despite how much Belli has grown and just how amazing the landscaping has developed over time I have absolutely zero interest in leaving that any time soon.

View from Well Springs looking south. That's my house bottom middle of the screen. Draw distance maxed out. I know all this is nothing new but I am surprised and relieved in all honesty that the houseboats weren't closer. I remember when I first got my house in Well Springs getting an IM from someone telling me to "enjoy the view while I had it since there were going to be houseboats in front of me and that road that ends there (in Well Springs) was going to be continued (south) soon." (Not a direct quote but that was the general jist of it). I'm glad to see neither of those things have happened - yet - and since I usually keep my DD at 60 or less I can't see any of those newer regions from my backyard. Phew! I understand why the water regions (Eel Bank and Northwest Passage) are locked (no access yet) but look forward to the day they are so people screaming past on their boats stop smacking into an invisible wall and crashing. 😖