Liberty Live #8 Sirens Sorrow - Katalinya.
May 1, 2018 7:37:30 GMT
Engineer, encode, and 10 more like this
Post by elfin on May 1, 2018 7:37:30 GMT
WELCOME TO LIBERTY LIVES #8
Sirens Sorrow - Mayor Katalinya
Katalinya is one of the many ‘silent’ players on Sklotopolis. Living in the U.S.A. she finds she has much more time to play in the weekends. Usually one of the cats is on her desk as they like to ‘help’ her play Wurm. “There are a lot of countries represented on Sklo, I like that.”
Elfin: “Yes, I do too. Sklotopolis has a true international player base.”
Katalinya was busy working up in the Haven area, cleaning up old deeds when Elfin caught up with her.
Elfin: “Katalinya, it is nice to meet you. We do not meet very often as we live on opposite side of the world and different time zones. We are more like ships that pass in the night. I have been down where your deed is. Planting cats’ eyes and visiting Olloyd at Hedon. Thank you for taking part in Liberty Lives, would you share how you first played Wurm?"
Katalinya: “Good to meet you too. Back when Wurm Unlimited first came out it came up on Steam as a recommendation. I thought it looked interesting so I bought it. I had no idea what it was like. I had never even heard of Wurm Online.
“I play role playing games so the name was kind of interesting. Dungeons & Dragons is what I grew up with. At the time I was playing Star wars TOR but was bored with it and trying lots of other things. I was playing Neverwinter but didn't really like it much.
“I had a rough start in Wurm though. I picked a server at random and logged in. There was no spawn town or nothing, so I spawned right into a bunch of spiders. I died almost instantly. I tried it again and same thing, so I tried a different server.
"I didn't know anything about skill and action timers, mods etc. I just knew I didn't want PVP, so I picked them if they had PVE in the title.
“There was a couple that ran the server. They were really nice and helped me out."
Elfin: “That makes such a difference in this game.”
Katalinya: “Yes it does. There was a small group on the server of maybe six or seven people. We were all mostly Wurm newbie. “When I started out, I didn't know how to ride a horse so I walked everywhere. Walking means everything else is faster than you, so I died a lot.
“I remember finding a treasure chest and getting chased by horde of trolls.
“When someone did a locate soul spell to find my corpse there were something like nine of them showed up on the server."
Elfin: “Treasure and trolls – charming.”
Katalinya: “After that first server I played on shut down, I tried lots of other ones but didn't like them. Some were too slow, some were too fast, some just didn't feel right.
“I ended up starting my own server. Some of it was pretty simple but I had trouble getting mods to work. It was nice because I could set things up exactly how I wanted them. I learned a lot about what not to do as a GM.
“I also learned a lot about why things worked certain ways in the game. It was a good experience. It didn't last too long, maybe three or four months."
Elfin: “Was that because you got lonely?”
Katalinya: “Yes. There were only ever a few players, maybe four or five at most. Every time I'd post something in the Wurm forums, Sklo would post something so I wasn't on top.
“Not having any players I never had any adventures with bad or cheating players.
“It is what got me to log on to Sklo so see what it was like.
“I had never played on a server with a lot of people. I was amazed by the deeds and how varied they were.
“That was a long time ago, [20:55:29] - You entered through the portal to Wurm on day of Sleep, week 1 of the starfall of the Digging, 987. That's 675 days, 11 hours and 34 minutes ago.
“New Town was the spawn town then.
“I ended up deeding over by Amberly. My first character was named Tebari. Amberly still has my old deed. I played for a while but didn't like my deed location.
“I played on Sklo for a while as well as another server and because I didn't like where my deed was here, I slowly stopped playing. Eventually I logged in and gave everything to Amberly.”
“I played on the other server until it shut down last summer.”
Elfin: “What is it like when a server shuts down like that?”
Katalinya: “Depressing. You can tell when it is going to happen - the owner stops showing up, then the staff stops showing up and then the latest patch does not get installed and the next thing you know poof, no more server,
“I ended up quitting Wurm after that one.”
Elfin: “I understand your getting depressed and not having the will to play after that. It would be better when a server closes down that there is one last big event, like a last hurrah so all players and have good, honest ending.”
Katalinya: “Sadly that does not happen. I started playing Elder Scrolls Online after that. I really enjoy it. It is different than Wurm. I now split my game time between it and Wurm now.
“After taking a Wurm break for a few months, I decided to log into Sklo just to see what had changed. Unfortunately my character no longer had a horse. So, I made Kat here just for the free starter horse.
“Genesis was my spawn town this time but I ported to New Town since that was where I started, I basically just made a cart and was going to drive around just to see what had changed. Lots of stuff had changed."
Elfin: “Poor New Town was no longer new.”
Katalinya: “True. There was no one there. Unlike the first time I came to Sklo. “I drove around a bit and looked at spots I remembered. Unfortunately most of the old deeds had been disbanded and were gone. There were not too many people I remembered either but I wandered a bit and found a spot I liked and ended making a deed. Unfortunately about two days later someone else deeded right next to me."
Elfin: “UGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Katalinya: “That is exactly what I thought. Their token was not more than 35 tiles from mine. I disbanded my deed and moved. I had not put much time into it, mostly just removing the old deed fences and pavement. I moved to my current spot which has worked out quite well I think.
“I love to build things. In RL I have more Lego bricks than a toy store. “I really love to build things.”
Elfin: “Has that affected how you play Wurm?”
Katalinya: “To an extent - one of the things I love about Sklo is that I don't have to go out and hunt for bounties to pay upkeep. On other servers, I'd run out of room to build. I also like to make roads in Wurm. There aren't too many places that need roads here now. There has to be a reason for a road though. Building a road to nowhere doesn't seem worth it to me
“That is my story on how I came to Sklo, left and then came back.”
Elfin: “Are there any adventures, experiences, events um good and bad?”
Katalinya: “I remember my first slaying. It was here on Sklo and it was a champion Troll King. Just as the fight was about to start, my internet died. So I missed it. “Right after it we were going to kill a green dragon. I did manage to get reconnected before the dragon and everyone was nice enough to wait for me.
“We couldn't kill the dragon.”
Elfin: “The green dragon kicked our butts.”
Katalinya: “Yes! That was my first experience with a unique. We tried to kill it and couldn't. I remember poor Gatwick was our healer, he got killed. I think pretty much everyone died Engineer told us where the dragon was since no one could find it. We did get revenge the next weekend if I remember correctly. I won the rare bone too. i was happy about that. I ended up giving it to Amberly.
“There was an impalong shortly after I came back the second time, it was up at Concrete Jungle. it was perfect timing for me - got all my tools imped up.
“I didn't participate in the events though, I am a very shy person that is part of it but I had also just started a deed and wanted to work on it. I don't like to stand around doing nothing and I felt it would be rude for me to sit in the castle and make shafts and planks and spam everyone's event tab.
"I did look around the castle at Concrete Jungle. It is nice and well done.
"When I am building I do not use deed planner for anything. I love building however I am not good at decorating.”
Elfin: “Have you tried the cave building yet?”
Katalinya: “Not on Sklo I haven't. I built some underground buildings on the last server when I ran out of space above ground. I am not a huge fan of underground buildings. However, underground bridges can be cool if you do them right. They are cool if you get two tunnels at 90 degrees, especially when there is big height difference between the two tunnels."
Elfin: “How did you get involved in the earth day?”
Katalinya: “I just wanted to help out. I just needed a little push. I have tried to get friends to play here but they complain that the map is cluttered and messy. When you do not log in and just look at the map it looks full.
“For the first few months when playing Wurm I did not know about auto walk. So I was holding the 'W' key down every time I wanted to move. My advice to new players is to learn about the ‘x’ key.”
Elfin laughed and shared that she had done exactly the same thing.
Katalinya: “I do not feel so bad then. I will be back at my deed soon. I’m about to set sail.”
Elfin made a note to ask about Katalinya’s sailing experiences.
Katalinya: “I will tease a bit - do not jump out of the boat where there are sharks. I have died in pretty much every way you can die. Except killed by a hen. Once I get to 70 FS I stop. I can kill trolls and that is all I need to be able to do."
Elfin: “Have you sailed to Novus or Caza?”
Katalinya: “Yes. I am not a fan of Caza. Again, there is nothing to do there, but kill things. I explored Novus when it was new but haven't been back since December."
Elfin: “Of course which is what a hunting server for......... no gorillas on lib please. They all belong on Caza, the hunting server.”
Katalinya: “Same with the hyenas. I totally agree with you.
"The nice thing about having all three servers connected is it is easier to sail to the east side of Liberty than go overland. You sail west to Caza, east to Novus and then west back to Liberty. It takes less time than going by wagon. Knarr is the only boat worth having. I have probably offended all the pirates out there.”
THE TOUR
A few days later Iamyourfather, Goodgirl and I arrived at Katalinya's deed from different directions.
Katalinya was waiting to meet us with freshly baked cookies. She shared a few thoughts on her deed and the buildings before the tour.
Katalinya: “There are a lot of things that are started and not yet complete.”
“I do not use the deed planner or any program. Everything is in my head. Sometimes it does not work out quite like I imagined.
“Square buildings are boring. I work with building plans in real life. As a Plans Examiner I check plans to make sure they meet the building codes. I see nothing but square buildings. It is a stressful job at times. I like the chill of Wurm.
“The different wall types were one of my favourite changes to happen in the game . I love sandstone and pottery brick.
“Roofs are the one thing Wurm lacks. Right now everything is hip roof or flat roof. I would like more variety. Like a lower style and gable roofs.
“No two buildings are the same. Some are symmetrical. I try to orientate them to have a nice view. Where there isn't one there is usually solid wall.
“I have played a lot and made lots of deeds. I try to keep things open and easy. I hate cooking and mining. I have 72 mining and most of it is from surface mining.”
We began the tour by starting at the entrance which is a few steps from the main highway. It was a little park with a meditation rug for travellers to use. Katalinya shared that eventually she wanted to put altars there.
Singing Sirens Inn was right by the park. This has many rooms for travellers, including a deluxe suite and one for travelling vampires, which has the comfiest coffin in Skoltopolis. Katalinya shared that she likes to create the unexpected.
We moved onto an area which was the “Greenhouse
Katalinya: “It wasn't planned - I needed a place for planters and this space was empty.”
From there to the Katbox Beverages building where Katalinya does her brewing. As we looked around upstairs she shared that most of the second floors act as storage areas
Katalinya: “This is a place to do pottery. I have everything separated by skill. Otherwise I have a giant mess and can't find anything.”
On to the Cotton Exchange.
Then out into the sun where we saw a venerable hen in a pen. Katalinya collects domestic animals.
She unequipped her weapon and posed for a picture, “I don't want it to think it might be dinner.”
The next was the tailoring/leatherworking workshop, named Sirens Loom. There we explored the balcony
Katalinya hugs a fat old sheep. “Black sheep are cool.”
We moved down a terrace towards the docks.
Katalinya: “This is where I first settled here. Not my original, but this is where it started.
We posed between two tall banners.
Katalinya: “I got these at the rift yesterday
We moved on into Kats Smithy. In one corner were many anvils which Katalinya had collected from disbanded deeds. She shared that she stores all things from abandoned deeds and her collections were impressive.
Katalinya: “I had to stop picking up the large anvils. All these racks are weapons and tools I have found while wandering. I pick them up and imp them to 70.”
Katalinya: “A lot of the furniture and stuff are things you see I picked up from abandoned deeds.”
We walked up a ramp to view more storage areas.
Then we moved onto Kat’s House. There was a shiny door step in the form of a rare slab, a small courtyard with a garden seat and there we rested.
Into her decorated kitchen which smelt of the freshly baked cookies. In the house was a sitting room, a bedroom, where Iamyourfather discovered a secret room, and a balcony.
We then hopped aboard Katalinya’s shiny, really red, large cart which she had won in a raffle at a slaying event.
Katalinya took us into a beautifully laid out mine, which doubles as a cellar. She shared that she disliked mining and that the mine had already been there. We were given a sample of red wine which had been aged.
Feeling mellow we were shown the horse pens, cow pens and deer pen.
Katalinya: “I have a bad habit of adopting every stray creature I find. I do farming when I don't know what else to do.”
We then drove down to the harbour.
Katalinya: “It took me a couple of days to make the obelisk. I like bridges too.”
Back on through the carpentry shop. An upper store room for unfinished things where Katalinya hopes to one day make a rare.
Katalinya: “I have never made a rare or better cart of boat.”
Into the bakery where all the grains are kept.
Katalinya: “This is the only building I have ever built on more than one server.”
The next building was the Seaside Cottage. A gnome was enjoying the views.
On past the present construction site to the finished shipyard.
Katalinya: “I made every ship. I only need to finish a rowboat and caravel.”
Katalinya: “This is my ‘monstrosity’ of a monastery. It looked different in my head…”
Katalinya: “The whole purpose of the building is the staircase. The views are the only reason I didn't demolish it. It looks like a giant black cube.”
Katalinya: “This is my building for dirt.”
Then Katalinya took us to her favourite spot.
Katalinya: “I love the view coming down the road here.”
After admiring the view and reflecting on the many wonderful and varied buildings we mounted our carts and all headed to our various homes calling out our goodbyes.
Katalinya: “Thank you for visiting.”
Badgirl: “Amazing, thank you for having us.”
Iamyourfather: “Ty for the tour Kat it was lots of fun.”
Elfin: “I will not look at buildings ever the same now.”
Katalinya: “Come back in a few months. I have so many things in my head.”
As I drove away I reflected on how varied Katalinya's buildings were. No two roofs were the same if you ever visit ask Katalinya to take you up to the top of her monastery for the view.
Thanks Kat.
Editor - Eflin and Elfin team
Photographer and Assistant - Goodgirl and Iamyourfather
Special thanks to Tomservo for the original idea of Liberty Lives.
A few days later Iamyourfather, Goodgirl and I arrived at Katalinya's deed from different directions.
Katalinya was waiting to meet us with freshly baked cookies. She shared a few thoughts on her deed and the buildings before the tour.
Katalinya: “There are a lot of things that are started and not yet complete.”
“I do not use the deed planner or any program. Everything is in my head. Sometimes it does not work out quite like I imagined.
“Square buildings are boring. I work with building plans in real life. As a Plans Examiner I check plans to make sure they meet the building codes. I see nothing but square buildings. It is a stressful job at times. I like the chill of Wurm.
“The different wall types were one of my favourite changes to happen in the game . I love sandstone and pottery brick.
“Roofs are the one thing Wurm lacks. Right now everything is hip roof or flat roof. I would like more variety. Like a lower style and gable roofs.
“No two buildings are the same. Some are symmetrical. I try to orientate them to have a nice view. Where there isn't one there is usually solid wall.
“I have played a lot and made lots of deeds. I try to keep things open and easy. I hate cooking and mining. I have 72 mining and most of it is from surface mining.”
We began the tour by starting at the entrance which is a few steps from the main highway. It was a little park with a meditation rug for travellers to use. Katalinya shared that eventually she wanted to put altars there.
Singing Sirens Inn was right by the park. This has many rooms for travellers, including a deluxe suite and one for travelling vampires, which has the comfiest coffin in Skoltopolis. Katalinya shared that she likes to create the unexpected.
We moved onto an area which was the “Greenhouse
Katalinya: “It wasn't planned - I needed a place for planters and this space was empty.”
From there to the Katbox Beverages building where Katalinya does her brewing. As we looked around upstairs she shared that most of the second floors act as storage areas
Katalinya: “This is a place to do pottery. I have everything separated by skill. Otherwise I have a giant mess and can't find anything.”
On to the Cotton Exchange.
Then out into the sun where we saw a venerable hen in a pen. Katalinya collects domestic animals.
She unequipped her weapon and posed for a picture, “I don't want it to think it might be dinner.”
The next was the tailoring/leatherworking workshop, named Sirens Loom. There we explored the balcony
Katalinya hugs a fat old sheep. “Black sheep are cool.”
We moved down a terrace towards the docks.
Katalinya: “This is where I first settled here. Not my original, but this is where it started.
We posed between two tall banners.
Katalinya: “I got these at the rift yesterday
We moved on into Kats Smithy. In one corner were many anvils which Katalinya had collected from disbanded deeds. She shared that she stores all things from abandoned deeds and her collections were impressive.
Katalinya: “I had to stop picking up the large anvils. All these racks are weapons and tools I have found while wandering. I pick them up and imp them to 70.”
Katalinya: “A lot of the furniture and stuff are things you see I picked up from abandoned deeds.”
We walked up a ramp to view more storage areas.
Then we moved onto Kat’s House. There was a shiny door step in the form of a rare slab, a small courtyard with a garden seat and there we rested.
Into her decorated kitchen which smelt of the freshly baked cookies. In the house was a sitting room, a bedroom, where Iamyourfather discovered a secret room, and a balcony.
We then hopped aboard Katalinya’s shiny, really red, large cart which she had won in a raffle at a slaying event.
Katalinya took us into a beautifully laid out mine, which doubles as a cellar. She shared that she disliked mining and that the mine had already been there. We were given a sample of red wine which had been aged.
Feeling mellow we were shown the horse pens, cow pens and deer pen.
Katalinya: “I have a bad habit of adopting every stray creature I find. I do farming when I don't know what else to do.”
We then drove down to the harbour.
Katalinya: “It took me a couple of days to make the obelisk. I like bridges too.”
Back on through the carpentry shop. An upper store room for unfinished things where Katalinya hopes to one day make a rare.
Katalinya: “I have never made a rare or better cart of boat.”
Into the bakery where all the grains are kept.
Katalinya: “This is the only building I have ever built on more than one server.”
The next building was the Seaside Cottage. A gnome was enjoying the views.
On past the present construction site to the finished shipyard.
Katalinya: “I made every ship. I only need to finish a rowboat and caravel.”
Katalinya: “This is my ‘monstrosity’ of a monastery. It looked different in my head…”
Katalinya: “The whole purpose of the building is the staircase. The views are the only reason I didn't demolish it. It looks like a giant black cube.”
Katalinya: “This is my building for dirt.”
Then Katalinya took us to her favourite spot.
Katalinya: “I love the view coming down the road here.”
After admiring the view and reflecting on the many wonderful and varied buildings we mounted our carts and all headed to our various homes calling out our goodbyes.
Katalinya: “Thank you for visiting.”
Badgirl: “Amazing, thank you for having us.”
Iamyourfather: “Ty for the tour Kat it was lots of fun.”
Elfin: “I will not look at buildings ever the same now.”
Katalinya: “Come back in a few months. I have so many things in my head.”
As I drove away I reflected on how varied Katalinya's buildings were. No two roofs were the same if you ever visit ask Katalinya to take you up to the top of her monastery for the view.
Thanks Kat.
Editor - Eflin and Elfin team
Photographer and Assistant - Goodgirl and Iamyourfather
Special thanks to Tomservo for the original idea of Liberty Lives.