ThomasHoward

Most of what I'm going to say is what I sent to members of staff a little while ago. The sentiments I expressed were genuine so I see no reason why not to share them again as the backbone of my message to everyone else.
~ ~ ~
My colleagues / friends / friendly strangers with whom I share a hobby with / etc,
For a little while now I’ve been thinking about the best way to serve up the site long term, which is really saying something in light of Valucre's longevity. Along with various other people (desolate has been there just about every step of the way; the people who have worked on this with me for long, early hours I can count on one hand) I’ve managed this project for something like or over 15 years. If I don't want Valucre to be one of those sites which eventually stumbles its way towards a handy abyss then I have to think about what it looks like to keep it going against the natural forces of entropy which conspire against us all.
One thing I know for certain is that my personal commitment, which I recognize as being a considerable component in Valucre's success, can't be the same. It's not simply a matter of keeping the lights on or growing but of staying engaged and innovating while decoupling dependencies. To quote Edwin Catmull, it isn't that I feel Valucre has "arrived or that my work was done . . . I'd spent two decades building a train and laying its track. Now the thought of merely driving it struck me as a far less interesting task."
Improvement doesn't always mean doing and having more, or getting and being bigger. So to that end:
# Sunset and Sunrise
1) Valucre will become a read-only archive.
2) My attention and that of some staff will turn towards a successor project, which has already been created and beta tested. With this announcement it’s reached public access.
I plan to allow the next month or so to serve as a transition period during which we'll work to explain and fine-tune the new platform and systems, after which registrations and posting on Valucre will be locked. Valucre will continue to serve its content, meaning stuff isn't disappearing and bookmarks keep functioning and all that, and members are encouraged to save off content they consider valuable, as has always been the case.
When Valucre is read-only and the dust has settled on the new project, I plan to move the archive to a new host (the same place the new project lives). The cost savings in doing this and in managing the infrastructure myself (we’re lucky staff has the skills to do what we’ve done; without which we’d be having a different conversation) instead of through the provider translates into longer runtime for both the archive and the new project. The fact that any still interested members would be on the new project (or not! I know not everyone will agree, as not everyone has in the past with my decisions and this is a big one) will take a lot of stress off my shoulders if I run into any hiccups swinging Val over.
There are a lot of reasons driving this and I’ll probably rant about them all over time but I think the most immediate concern to players are covered in the migration guide we've put together. One major thing I hope comes across in the experience is that, while still being fundamentally the same thing, still being a roleplay website and one with hopefully plenty of familiar faces, the new project is a new project. Is a departure in terms of both process and platform that trying to turn one thing into the other would have been a long and trying disaster.
Anyway that's what we've done and we hope you enjoy the salty sweat and tangy frustration that went into this. I hope you'll come along for the ride but realize many of us are dealing with many things - pandemic, recession, juggling different high priority responsibilities like work and school and family and personal health, all of the usual things that see people pulled away for years at a time before doing a pulse check to find that yes, we're still here.
See you on the other side!: https://prettygoodrpg.com/
https://prettygoodrpg.com/mediawiki/index.php/Guides:The_Valucre_Migrant_Guide_to_PGRP
Please read the guide in its entirety! Click on the links, read the material. Compared to just recalling information I know this is a nontrivial effort but (one more time now!) it’s a new project with new (even if comfortable) structure and information. It’s not just a continuation of what came before.
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Discussion thread:
 

Maybe yes. I’ll make a post of me leaving then. Gonna try and get settled in with other things 

I am now female

I am now female

Sounds like a plan!

Stories like this work well with only a few people, so we shouldn't wait too long before we try to schedule something akin to a Session 0. I'm thinking that we simply have fun coming with character concepts until Tuesday the 16th, then... just begin writing. Leap into the water and learn to swim, if you will. This is my first time trying something like this, but mistakes are fine, I think.
Let's have fun!

Aye me too. You seem to have most of it figured out XD. I’m really looking forward to writing with ya

So my question is how would you as a refugee get yourself into one of the Terrenian cities. I have often wondered how to smuggle myself into somewhere like Casper, and would like a guide in.

Ehhh, I’m free most of the time. ‘Lest my family decides we go out for sixtieth time. Also that sounds like a good plan

Ehhh, I’m free most of the time. ‘Lest my family decides we go out for sixtieth time. Also that sounds like a good plan

Well Valucre is a large land, and "here" perhaps requires something a little more specific. I'm afraid I know a little bit about the various landmasses and their cultures/history, but I'm willing to delve into one if you're knowledgeable/interested in one in particular. I know there is a place where I believe you can write stories in any setting on this site as long as you adhere to the guidelines & rules.
Life is understandably predictable, but it is in human nature to organize ourselves and prepare for the future. Any days of the week where you might be free for a bit to discuss in detail what sort of story you want to write? I'm going to wait a few days to let more people possibly read and decide they're interested, then I'm going to try to find a day where majority of folks are free for like an hour or so.

I'm thinking a Session 0 will be needed to establish what the concept of the story is, and who are the characters that are participating. I'm not entirely familiar with how everything on this site is setup, but I believe there is a way to simply message me which should allow for more efficient communication, so anyone interested should feel free to do so. I will try to organize a loose time period where people can brainstorm ideas together, though this will not be mandatory for joining in the future, or joining even in the beginning.
Those interested in joining, please reply using this following template:
Preference: Valucre, or Different Setting?
Genre & Themes: What type of story would you be interested in writing?
Character: Just one brief conceptual sentence about who they are.
Schedule: What times during the days of the week would you be free for a Session 0?

Have lots of characters available, I can offer you my exiled monk if you wish?

I'm looking to write a story on this site, and hoping I can find fellow creative writers here to embark on this endeavor with me. The goal is to write fairly frequently with a minimum of at least one post per day. I'm willing to write any type of story, so for people who want to dedicate a little bit of themselves to exploration and fiction, please feel free to share ideas with me on a story you want to write.
I don't really have a character, and I'm with either adhering to Valucre's lore or creating new lore. I like all types of stories, but since this is a collaborative art, I think dramatic personal stories would be for the best. Stories that have characters with goals that require interacting with and understanding other writer's characters in order to achieve said goals. Stories like The Shawshank Redemption, Romeo & Juliet, The Darjeeling Unlimited, and The Godfather, etc. (Random, I know, but these stories focus on the characters, not the action or something you see in a Heroes Journey type of tale)
*Note, this is simply a preference, and I'm willing to adapt and expand my horizons in writing and reading.

He stared at the drink. He hesitated to drink it at first as he wasn’t sure of the contents within ‘What if it had been poisoned? What if it’s an explosive drink? What if the drink is alive?!’ These were the questions that ran through his head, it worried him and he immediately moved the drink away out of fear. William then threw his cigarette and returned the drink to himself before moving it back and returning it to him, he repeated this about 4 times before sighing, slamming his fist down and downing the entire drink in one go.
 
It was normal alcohol 
William wanted to slap himself

William paused hearing the name ‘Cara’ he was slightly confused. His name wasn’t cara. He wanted to correct her but paused again, thinking it was part of her language. ‘What type of language calls people Cara?’ He thought to himself, and then for some reason, he began debating in his head whether it was a mistake or a language thing. Eventually he concluded it was a language thing and let out a small smile.
 
”Coulda I have, drink?”

He stared at the drink. He hesitated to drink it at first as he wasn’t sure of the contents within ‘What if it had been poisoned? What if it’s an explosive drink? What if the drink is alive?!’ These were the questions that ran through his head, it worried him and he immediately moved the drink away out of fear. William then threw his cigarette and returned the drink to himself before moving it back and returning it to him, he repeated this about 4 times before sighing, slamming his fist down and downing the entire drink in one go.
 
It was normal alcohol 
William wanted to slap himself

William paused hearing the name ‘Cara’ he was slightly confused. His name wasn’t cara. He wanted to correct her but paused again, thinking it was part of her language. ‘What type of language calls people Cara?’ He thought to himself, and then for some reason, he began debating in his head whether it was a mistake or a language thing. Eventually he concluded it was a language thing and let out a small smile.
 
”Coulda I have, drink?”

Sorry for not marking most of them, I’m new so I might make a few errors 
| Name: William Howard
| Alias: None
| Sobriquet: Will 
| Title: Mr Howard
| Actual Age: 36
| Apparent Age: 30
| Date of Birth: 1786
| Race: White
| Gender: Male
| Height: ‘5,8’
| Weight: 86-112
| Dominant Side:....?
| Physique: Slightly skinny
| Joints: Strong
| Eyes: Green
| Hair color: Black
| Hair style: Rugged
| Skin Tincture: idk
| Domicile: None. Traveling man
| Region: New England
| Affiliations: None
| Occupation: Hunting/Trapping
| Nature: Hothead
| Alignment: None.
| Diety: None.
| Soft Spot: Dogs
| Likes: Smoking, making friends, annoying others
| Dislikes: The scraping of knives.
Attire -
| Shoulders: Usually hunched
| Torso: Bent forwards most of the time
| Arms: Skinny and usually at the sides
| Hands: Mostly covered up by gloves
| Hips:
| Legs:
| Footgear:

William stared at them, they were quick and swift and firm with their movements. He nodded at his statement and held his head down as they walked over to @Purple Eagle and began talking. He seemed more coached into this strange land, obviously he wasn’t gonna get immediately used to all the strange beings and creatures but maybe he would. Maybe he could start to develop with the things he perceived as the devils. 
 
But for now he would wait at a table, smoking a cigarette and darting his eyes left and right while clenching his fists ever so slightly before unclenching them.

@ThomasHoward
They closed their book with a resounding THUMP, sat it in their backpack, and put it around their back. They pushed the chair they were sitting on out from under the table and made a grunt as they stood. "I have business to attend to." They said to William with finality. "Don't get yourself killed." They added on. They then stepped over to @Purple Eagle, their shoes tapping against the hard wood of the floor. "Would you happen to be staff here? I don't mean to bother but there's much... eccentricity here, and I just need to know what's actually going on... here? In this weird tavern... thing... place." They said, matter of factly. Their hazel eyes looked at her intimidating form and was not phased. They had seen worse, it showed in the way they had no fear, yet seemed to have the air of experience, despite looking... very youthful for a human. Perhaps immortality? It was hard to tell.
"And my name is Tez, if you require it." 

An orc lady is sat at the bar area, a cigarette in hand as she surveys the area with her grey eyes, the lightness contrasting with the utter blackness of her cornea. She's dressed like a motorcyclist: jacket, gloves, leather pants and steel-toed motorcyclist boots. Her jacket's been unzipped, revealing the black tank top she wears, covering her tattooed body. Hidden under the sleeves, however, are the beads around her left wrist.
This orc is a bit different from other orcs, for those used to such. Sure, her skin is green, but there are no tusks in sight, and her face looks not-at-all piggish. In fact, one can make out a mix of Polish and Brazilian features, clear as day. She does have the requisite battle scar one would expect: a long gash across her left eyelid. Her gloves are webbed, hinting at the possibility that her digits are, as well.
Cassandra Torres takes a huge drag of her cigarette as she scans the area. "Just holler if you need some help, old man." Her voice is no less louder than it normally is as she addresses Vaddok, who smiles and sighs. "Once a bartender, always a bartender, eh Cass? You're a customer here, so I'm good. Enjoy yourself!" His reply causes the sea orc to grunt in annoyance, hoping he'd have said yes but fully expecting the answer she got. "Shitballs."
She ignores his latest attempt to tell her about some place she might be interested in based on how she looks and the things she's spoken of, and turns her attention once more to the scenery. She might catch the attention of one of the newcomers looking for a friendly face to chat with, even if that friendly face carries herself as someone not to be messed with.

William, instead of acting like a mature adult, understanding that there’s no going back, resolving his issues and trying to develop into a kind and nice man and get used to the strange world he was in...
Decided to shrivel up into a ball of fear.
Truth be told he didn’t know what he was supposed to do in a situation like this, he could just grab his guns, lose his mind and start shooting everything he sees but he wasn’t gonna do that, instead he would pathetically slump to the floor and begin silently crying while holding his hands onto his head and rocking backwards and forth.

@ThomasHoward @Rembrandtt @PolarEye44 @SarcasticDruid
Hey what's up. I'm just a Tavern helper, so I'll RP if the Mentors can't. Gabriel's kinda an odd duck, but he'll help guide your characters in a similar way to me. Let's have some fun, yeah? 

From down the bar, a disheveled man's eyes brightened with some inner flame. He smiled to himself, gaze shifting from the sorry state of his meal and toward Vaddock. Now, Gabriel knew that Vaddock wasn't the chef. He also knew that the cold chicken he'd been served wasn't standard for the Tavern. No, usually the food here was divine, prepped with care and panache. To make a scene about tonight's slip up was simply not Gabriel's style and so he'd been agonizing over how to leave the plate without insulting the staff. To get up and make a break for the door would be so rude. However, to bid Vaddock farewell would invite too much attention to the unfinished and hardly touched meal. Sneaking away would draw the eyes of the other patrons, which would attract attention. Not that, then. 
But now, this man with his questions could save Gabriel. He cleared his throat and rose from his stool with flourish, adjusting his red beret as he approached the Englishman and left his dinner behind. 
"England?" Gabriel asked with a grin. "I've heard of England, but I don't think it's very new. How strange, that you sound nothing like the English." The poet met all manner of people, and he could tell when someone had arrived in Valucre from some other reality. This man seemed to fit the bill. Yes, that confusion and panic. He was likely very far from home. "As far as I know, there's no way back. Only forward, into Valucre. Friend, I am called Gabriel. I am pleased to meet you." 
His smile widened as he offered a hand to shake. "You've arrived at the Tavern of Legend. It's a good place to find if you're lost. Prices always seem to be quite reasonable, no matter the currency you're using. It's a strange place, certainly, but quell your fear. You're in good company."
@ThomasHoward @SarcasticDruid @Rembrandtt @PolarEye44