Last night I visited New Toulouse for the first time while shopping for a fireplace at Noctis. A man and woman sat in the parlour discussing nonsense –really– in a manner that would make Lewis Carroll proud. The slow southern flavor of the place, flickering candles and surreal conversation lulled me into a comfortable repose for a short while. Time seemed to stand still. Stepping out onto the porch, watching my new friends amble up a primitive road in the sultry evening, I had the feeling that my initial experience of New Toulouse was just about perfect. I imagine that it must have been fairly near what the sim is all about.
My visit to New Toulouse last night, and a spur-of-the-moment guided tour of New Babbage by Mr. Pearse later on, has spurred me to act on an idea I’ve had in mind since returning. I’ve decided to undertake walking tours of the Steamlands, one sim at a time, until I have visited them all.
Granted, this endeavor might take so long that once I’ve finished they will have all changed so much that a new tour will be in order. Be that as it may, I feel it will be a fun and worthwhile experience. I plan to document my journeys with descriptions and images of all that I see, and I hope to come away from it with many stories and new acquaintances.
If the above sounds at all appealing, I would like to extend an open invitation to anyone who would like to join me on one of my rambles. I’ve not yet developed an itinerary, and am open to suggestions based on timing and events that may be occurring in different locations. I will post a notice at least a week in advance of each excursion, and will include a meeting place and time. Anyone who would like to participate can simply show up!
Greetings Mrs Ginsburg,
I would be honored to provide a short tour of a section of New Babbage to anyone who wishes to see New Babbage by hansom cab.
((RL keeps me quite busy, and sometimes while online I other commitments, but I will certainly try to accomodate any and all who wish a tour!))
Yrs Sincerely,
Wiggy Undertone
A wonderful idea, Miss Ginsburg, and you are quite right–it could take you a long time. While most of the steamland communities are of modest size, Caledon is nearly 50 sims by itself. To help people explore Caledon, the Deans of Oxbridge have installed a Quest which will take the participant to about half of the sims. I suggest this as a fun alternative for those who might not have the time to walk every sim, but would like to get a flavor of the country. In addition, the Quest provides a more goal directed activity than a random walk. :)
You can read more about it here:
http://www.steamlander.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3505
The starting location is here:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge/148/181/30
The Quest seems rather interesting. Perhaps when the time allows I shall undertake it. As I recall, there was once discussion about doing something similar in New Babbage. Did anything ever come out of that discussion?
If I am able, I would love to accompany you on some of the tours Miss Ginsburg.
Likewise Ms. Ginsburg, I think it would be very educational and enjoyable.
Thank you for all of the responses! I’m excited to perhaps have company while exploring new areas of the Steamlands (well, new for me, at least).
Mr. Questi, I do appreciate you mentioning the Caledon Quest. I’d not heard of it, and it seems like something that is worth trying. I also had no idea Caledon had grown to that many sims — I knew it had grown, but not that much! They can’t all be contiguous, correct? It doesn’t look as large as that on the map. Outlying territories?
In any case, I was thinking that I might not focus on all of the sims in one city/state/nation one after another, but instead explore various lands in great breadth before depth. Some are only a single sim, after all. I’m certainly open to suggestions when it comes to strategy. :-)
One other thing I would appreciate advice about: when it comes to the “steamlands,” are the community listings available on the Steamlander forums fairly representative (link below)? I believe I’ve read that some of those listed here are no longer among us…
http://www.steamlander.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=110
Alas, many of the nations on that list are no more. Here is a recent update:
http://www.steamlander.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=12805#p12805
Caledon is pretty much contiguous. I count 46 sims.
http://steamlander.com/caledon-oxbridge-map.php
Oh, my goodness, that is an awful lot of sims right there. I’d just not bothered to count them!
:-)
It would be a pleasure to see the wonders of the steam lands with one herself. Count me in.
*blushes scarlet*
I would be delighted to have your company, sir.
It does my heart good to imagine an intrepid band of merry Babbagers traipsing through distant steamlands. All on our very best behavior, of course!
I would be glad to offer the use of one of my airships for a ‘scouting’ tour. One has a map room with the sim below displayed. We could chart our trip and then descend in the ship’s launch. Afterwards, we could have a party in the ship’s ballroom.
Dear Mrs. Ginsburg,
Hello! In addition to the Baron’s extensive list, I might also suggest my own small compendium of Steamland locations, at the Steampunk Travelogue. Though there are a number of defunct sims, I’m in the process of updating it with new sims and SLurls, so you might find a few new locations, at:
http://steampunk-travelogue.blogspot.com/
v/r
Dr. Fabre
Thank you for posting this, Dr. Fabre – I’ve been reading through the Travelogue since you mentioned it. I will most definitely be visiting the places you mentioned, and will mourn the fact that I’ll never be able to see some of the sims that have derezzed.
Be that as it may, exploration must continue!
If you are ever in need of a guest blogger / reporter, I would love to contribute to your project. I’ll be traveling and taking snapshots regardless. :-)
((This sounds like a great way to see the steamlands. With an unpredictable summer schedule I’m not sure I would be a reliable travel partner but please post the itinerary just in case.))