When I'm not in Deadwood, chances are good that I can be found in Berlin 1920. This is a very well built sim where you can find a lot of interesting buildings in which to play, and often a few people who are willing to talk with you. Children are welcome, as long as they follow all the rules. It would be likely that children could be found in the streets of Berlin in this time period - not all would be orphans or homeless, but many would be outside, working or trying to get outside of small stuffy apartments! Avatar animals - dogs and cats - are also welcome, as long as they look realistic and are played like animals, not like talking animals.
There are too many nooks and crannies to show you in the pictures I took - but the city is incredibly well laid out, with apartments available over shops, restaurants and tucked away in unexpected places. Here's an overview - a lot of which you can see from the apartment I share with a friend. I've been renting there for a month or more, but have only just started venturing out into the community. And this is a community, where people care about the sim and each other.
Me, lounging on one of our shabby couches
I decided a bicycle was a great way to get around, although walking allows you to explore alleys and climb up stairs.
Of course, wholesome young American college student that I am, I didn't realize that the building I'm standing outside of is a brothel - I had no way of seeing inside (but you can).
After bicycling for a bit, I decided to cool off in the public pool - free swim suits are offered as you walk in -- this is the 1920's woman suit.
After cooling off, I continued around and stumbled upon the local Police station - as with many places, there are poseballs that put you in some interesting positions - here I'm listening in. You can also get into arguments, or find yourself passionately kissing your companion.
There are Happy Hours every day, as well as other scheduled events.
Hardcore roleplayers may find the talk about town a little unsettling, as not everyone is familiar with role play - conversation can change from the 1920's to present day in a heart beat, though efforts are being made to encourage people to learn and enjoy.
So far the rules about staying in character are not strict, although any variation from the dress code will get you a swift and firm IM request to change or get out of town.
The welcome area offers no reason to be inappropriately dressed - you'll find two great, if somewhat dowdy, dresses for ladies (I took this one and modified it to make a very cute outfit, befitting my 20 something character)...
and a man's suit and short hair cut modeled by my handsome friend here
. An umbrella and period automobile are also provided, along with other freebies most provided by vendors who are also active citizens of Berlin.
The activities and politics are all pre-Nazi era - no roleplay, reference to or dress is allowed that refers to Hitler or Nazism - this is a pleasant, relaxed 1920's time period between World War I and II. You can learn more about this by visiting the
website and the
forum.
This is a great sim with a lot of possibility -- nice to find another place (like Deadwood) where there is a focus on history, where there's an interest in roleplay and storylines, and where forced sex, violence and angst are not the major themes.
Useful things to know:
1) Don't tp into the location you see on someone's Profile - go to the welcome area - I accidentally tp'd an inappropriately dressed alt in to what I thought was the welcome area but it was outside of my apartment - within 1 second I had a less than warm welcome that would have turned me off if I wasn't already a resident!
2) Don't wear guns - from information I found on a bulletin board outside the Police station:
Please read this notecard carefully as breaking the gun laws in Berlin can get you permanently banned.
-Do NOT carry a gun in public.
-Do NOT shoot a gun in public.
-DO NOT SHOOT SOMEONE
-You can buy a gun, own a gun and carry it inside your own private residence.
-If you are seen carrying a gun in public you will be arrested by the Berlin Polizei, you will be locked up in a police cell for 1 week (RL time), you can of course leave the cell and do as you please outside Berlin but for this period you may not walk around Berlin and only visit the sim if you will spend the time you are there in the cell.
You will also have to pay a 1000L$ fine.
-If you fire a gun in public you will be arrested by the Berlin Polizei, you will be locked up in a police cell for 1 month (RL time), you can of course leave the cell and do as you please outside Berlin but for this period you may not walk around Berlin and only visit the sim if you will spend the time you are there in the cell.
You will also have to pay a 5000L$ fine.
-If you fire a gun in public and actually shoot someone you will be arrested by the Berlin Polizei, you will be locked up in a police cell for 3 months (RL time), you can of course leave the cell and do as you please outside Berlin but for this period you may not walk around Berlin and only visit the sim if you will spend the time you are there in the cell.
You will also have to pay a 15000L$ fine.
These are the maximum possible punishments, it may also be decided to give you a lower punishment depending on the situation but know that you may receive something as heavy as what you read above.
In the end it of course all depends on the situation.
Just don't carry or use a gun in 1920s Berlin without realising the risks you run.
We are not a 'Wild West' or '1920s Chigago gangsters' sim and will not allow people walking around with guns and shooting them unless there is a VERY good roleplay motivated realistic scenario.
And even then those involved can receive a punishment.
We base our response on history, you will be treated as you would have been treated by the Berlin Law in late 1920s Berlin.
FAILING TO ABIDE BY THESE PUNISHMENTS MAY GET YOU BANNED FROM THIS SIM.
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Another interesting note I found in the same place was that dying in Berlin can get you permanently banned.
- If you die in Berlin, you risk being banned forever!
Of course this only happens if the situation is realistic and not just some crazy griefer shooting the place up. But, if you roleplay death, you may have to sacrifice your avatar, as dead people can no longer walk the Berlin streets.
- The police force is mainly in Berlin to maintain order, and to enforce real sim rules. They may not be interested in taking part in roleplay.
Please keep this in mind when contacting them for a roleplay situation.
This is a sim with a lot of possibilities - if you're looking for another place for serious immersive roleplay, come and try it out!
