Adstringéndum Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
adstringendummod) wrote2009-01-15 03:45 pm
adstringendummod) wrote2009-01-15 03:45 pm
[In-Depth FAQ] The Safezone and Wastelands
EFFECTIVE SEPT 27 2009: The rules have undergone a revision and can now be found HERE. Please update your links accordingly and make any relevant replies there. Thank you!
The Safezone
The Safezone is a ruined city and living in it isn't supposed to be easy; a bit of the challenge (and fun) is adapting to the environment. Areas that are more densely populated are probably doing better in terms of livability while areas toward the edge of the Safezone are a bit more in shambles and likely to have creatures roaming around. On the other hand, less densely populated areas are likely to have more supplies as they haven't been looted while densely populated areas are likely looted and people would have to rely on each other or travel further for the items they need.
Buildings: Toward the center of the city are some taller, though ruined, skyscrapers. Moving further out, the buildings are a bit smaller. The general guideline is the larger the building and the higher up you go, the more unstable it is for the average human. This means someone like a ninja or shinigami may be able to easily (or quickly) travel over unstable areas, but a regular, un-powered human may have difficulty. At the same time, an unstable 30 story building is probably somewhere no one should be in the event it topples over onto the surrounding area. But finding a place to stay, permanent or temporary, should not be difficult due to the size of the city.
Electricity: Given the amount of people around (both playable characters and NPCs, which I assume is putting the population into the 150-200 people range) as well as the amount of time that's passed, electricity is possible in areas. Generators can be found and fixed up and hooked up, there are probably other things lying around that can be used. However, damaged wiring is a problem as is blowing out fuses. Starting a fire via electrical sparks is also a problem. Any attempts at bringing electricity (or other similar things) to a large area should be run by a moderator first.
Water: Broken water pipes as well as a lack of any water filtration systems is the biggest issue. The current sources for fresh water would come from the lake or river, but even then the water should be boiled. Collecting rain water (and there will be rain) is also possible. However, it is possible a few houses would still have some sort of working water system and anyone who knows anything about plumbing is free to try to fix up a house. But like electricity, I would expect there to be some problems in getting anything stable going (leaks, temperamental systems, etc.)
Gas/Heating: Be wary of broken gas pipes and the such. Heating is something generally lacking in most of the buildings. For cooking, something like a portable propane cooking stove or a wood stove would be the best.
Supplies: Various efforts around the city have produced a somewhat stable source of food. There are also some character-run greenhouses. Otherwise, hunting animals or stocking up canned goods is the best way to get food. Generally, if you look hard enough, you can probably find what you need. It might not be in the best condition, but you can probably find it. Some things might also be easier to find than others due to demand; you're more likely to find fish food than canned tuna, for example. Also, stores do not restock themseves themselves as things within the Safezone shouldn't be changing and this includes items coming from nowhere. However, a decompression attempt by the Scientists or any event that brings in its own stores and areas (such as the Festival Week) will refresh the supply of items.
--Weapons: Weapons, guns especially, should not be easy to find. Considering the amount of people and the usefulness of a weapon, finding a working gun (and ammo) would be difficult to find. Knives, clubs, or items that could be used as weapons (such as a crowbar or wrench) would be easier to find.
Transportation: There are cars, motorcycles, mopeds, etc. around the city, but the condition of each vehicle is varying and the biggest issue would be finding fuel to keep them running. The roads are also badly damaged and would be difficult for something large to travel through. However, this is not to say fixing up a vehicle is impossible, especially if your character is knowledgeable in that area and has the tools needed. Bicycles can also be found, but again, condition is a factor to keep in mind. For those who want to get especially creative, there is also the possibility of tamingchocobos wild animals to ride.
The Fence surrounding the Wastelands
The fence is a mixture between a chain-link fence and an electric fence with gates to allow people in and out of the Safezone and into the Wastelands while keeping the monsters and other oddities in the Wastelands out of the Safezone. Every night between 4 AM and 7 AM, the electric fence drops for recharging. During this time is when things might sneak into the Safezone, either by breaking the fence or sneaking through pre-existing holes. Damage to the fence is possible (for example, if a building collapses onto it), but any large-scale damage would be noted.
The Wastelands
The devastated vastness beyond the Safezone. Constantly changing as different worlds compress and try to overtake one another. Strange beats have been known to prowl, malformed combinations of species that should have never existed in the same space. Characters enter the Wastelands at their own risk. Realistically speaking, if your character is not trained in any sort of combat, armed with a weapon, or even used to harsh environments, they should not be going into the Wastelands.
Within a mile, changes to the environment can be felt or seen before a change occurs; minor earthquakes, the appearance of another location fading in, etc. The fences surrounding the Safezone are visible and serve as a static landmark for anyone who may head outside to travel. Consider this area the "safest" and most "stable" area of the Wastelands. Beyond that, the Safezone cannot be seen, there are no warnings for when an area might shift, and the monsters are larger, and more dangerous.
The Safezone
The Safezone is a ruined city and living in it isn't supposed to be easy; a bit of the challenge (and fun) is adapting to the environment. Areas that are more densely populated are probably doing better in terms of livability while areas toward the edge of the Safezone are a bit more in shambles and likely to have creatures roaming around. On the other hand, less densely populated areas are likely to have more supplies as they haven't been looted while densely populated areas are likely looted and people would have to rely on each other or travel further for the items they need.
Buildings: Toward the center of the city are some taller, though ruined, skyscrapers. Moving further out, the buildings are a bit smaller. The general guideline is the larger the building and the higher up you go, the more unstable it is for the average human. This means someone like a ninja or shinigami may be able to easily (or quickly) travel over unstable areas, but a regular, un-powered human may have difficulty. At the same time, an unstable 30 story building is probably somewhere no one should be in the event it topples over onto the surrounding area. But finding a place to stay, permanent or temporary, should not be difficult due to the size of the city.
Electricity: Given the amount of people around (both playable characters and NPCs, which I assume is putting the population into the 150-200 people range) as well as the amount of time that's passed, electricity is possible in areas. Generators can be found and fixed up and hooked up, there are probably other things lying around that can be used. However, damaged wiring is a problem as is blowing out fuses. Starting a fire via electrical sparks is also a problem. Any attempts at bringing electricity (or other similar things) to a large area should be run by a moderator first.
Water: Broken water pipes as well as a lack of any water filtration systems is the biggest issue. The current sources for fresh water would come from the lake or river, but even then the water should be boiled. Collecting rain water (and there will be rain) is also possible. However, it is possible a few houses would still have some sort of working water system and anyone who knows anything about plumbing is free to try to fix up a house. But like electricity, I would expect there to be some problems in getting anything stable going (leaks, temperamental systems, etc.)
Gas/Heating: Be wary of broken gas pipes and the such. Heating is something generally lacking in most of the buildings. For cooking, something like a portable propane cooking stove or a wood stove would be the best.
Supplies: Various efforts around the city have produced a somewhat stable source of food. There are also some character-run greenhouses. Otherwise, hunting animals or stocking up canned goods is the best way to get food. Generally, if you look hard enough, you can probably find what you need. It might not be in the best condition, but you can probably find it. Some things might also be easier to find than others due to demand; you're more likely to find fish food than canned tuna, for example. Also, stores do not restock themseves themselves as things within the Safezone shouldn't be changing and this includes items coming from nowhere. However, a decompression attempt by the Scientists or any event that brings in its own stores and areas (such as the Festival Week) will refresh the supply of items.
--Weapons: Weapons, guns especially, should not be easy to find. Considering the amount of people and the usefulness of a weapon, finding a working gun (and ammo) would be difficult to find. Knives, clubs, or items that could be used as weapons (such as a crowbar or wrench) would be easier to find.
Transportation: There are cars, motorcycles, mopeds, etc. around the city, but the condition of each vehicle is varying and the biggest issue would be finding fuel to keep them running. The roads are also badly damaged and would be difficult for something large to travel through. However, this is not to say fixing up a vehicle is impossible, especially if your character is knowledgeable in that area and has the tools needed. Bicycles can also be found, but again, condition is a factor to keep in mind. For those who want to get especially creative, there is also the possibility of taming
The Fence surrounding the Wastelands
The fence is a mixture between a chain-link fence and an electric fence with gates to allow people in and out of the Safezone and into the Wastelands while keeping the monsters and other oddities in the Wastelands out of the Safezone. Every night between 4 AM and 7 AM, the electric fence drops for recharging. During this time is when things might sneak into the Safezone, either by breaking the fence or sneaking through pre-existing holes. Damage to the fence is possible (for example, if a building collapses onto it), but any large-scale damage would be noted.
The Wastelands
The devastated vastness beyond the Safezone. Constantly changing as different worlds compress and try to overtake one another. Strange beats have been known to prowl, malformed combinations of species that should have never existed in the same space. Characters enter the Wastelands at their own risk. Realistically speaking, if your character is not trained in any sort of combat, armed with a weapon, or even used to harsh environments, they should not be going into the Wastelands.
Within a mile, changes to the environment can be felt or seen before a change occurs; minor earthquakes, the appearance of another location fading in, etc. The fences surrounding the Safezone are visible and serve as a static landmark for anyone who may head outside to travel. Consider this area the "safest" and most "stable" area of the Wastelands. Beyond that, the Safezone cannot be seen, there are no warnings for when an area might shift, and the monsters are larger, and more dangerous.