A view from the inside... (UnderLight)

[Shadow Voice]

Shadow Voice enters the room, settles quietly in the corner, and begins a story of minor importance to some and minor irritation to others....

Hello citizens. I can not give you my identity for a number of reasons but my words will not lessen in their value because of it.

I am a citizen of the DreamWorld you call UnderLight. I have been a citizen of that land in various forms and under many disguises for about 5... Shadow Voice pauses and furrows his brow ....no, 6 years now. I would like to tell you why I keep coming back.

1) Roleplaying -

UnderLight IS roleplaying at its very core. The world is set up in such a way that you have to be social in order to exist. There is no way you can enter this world and not interact with the others. Everything from Sphere advancement (levels) to the actual acquiring of new arts depends on someone else. (See Advancement)

The "Dreamers" (citizens) of UnderLight are very unique and individualized because no two of us have the exact same Roleplaying skills. It is very possible to get caught up in someone elses RP, never intending to, and find your gaming experience changed in the most amazing ways.


2) Advancement -

Oh, certainly you can walk in as a 'newly" or 'noob'.... Shadow Voice audibly shudders at that word .....wielding a very weak blade and work your way up the beginning rung of the ladder, but there you will be stopped until you have another player grant you avenues of advancement.

There are arts to learn that have to be taught, there are levels of those arts that have to be taught, and there are levels to your avatar (Sphere) that has to be taught. The ones who teach you are regular citizens of the world. Of course when you have exhausted all of the capabilities of the regular teachers then you can go to the Master Teachers. When those have been exhausted, you can go to the actual "Seneschals" of the Dream. (Lyra Staff themselves)

If you are not social, if you want to just "Hack and Slash" then you will never get anywhere in UnderLight. Play Quake instead.


3) Social Groups -

The Dream is divided by Houses and Beliefs, etc... as any good community is. There are different points of view on each and every subject making for some fascinating discussions and arguments. And yes, if you disagree with someone strong enough, and he/she says "lets take this outside" you can actually go and try to collapse them! (Kick their butt)

Just like any community the varying degrees beliefs is what makes it interesting.


4) NightMares -

Yes, there are NPC characters that you can hunt for experience. But...... Shadow Voice chuckles a bit evilly .... some of these are being controlled by a real person. You just don't know if the thing attacking you is really intelligent or artificially so. You, too, can be one of these.


5) Friendships -

It is very hard to put this much time and energy into feelings and emotions that you will share with another, and let them share with you, and not get attached to them. First their character is your friend and after awhile the real controller comes through.

There have been many dreamers over the last few years that I have met in the world of Underlight that still haunt my other houses on a day to day basis. Friends are important.


6) Game

The game is older than most. Its graphics are not State of the Art..... its engine is a little dated and it still hiccups now and again. But I am not here to look at pretty graphics. I wander the dream in search of the Dream itself. Most of the time our dreams are inside our head anyway.... so the UnderLight world is just a guide.

Shadow Voice pauses and you can hear a soft sigh as the memories flood over him.

I could go on and on, but I won't keep you any longer. Suffice to say that if you do choose to inhabit the world of UnderLight please be prepared. Be prepared to reach deep inside yourself to see just what kind of character you can be.... and maybe what kind of person YOU can be.

I have spent many years in the Dream world. I have gone to find greener pastures in the past but I always.... ALWAYS... keep coming back here. If you give it a chance you will see, as I have, that there is no other option.

Dream well, new friends, and someday perhaps I will meet you in our little world called UnderLight.

Shadow Voice gathers his robes around him and disappears back into the darkness with utter silence........