Donovan's Point of View - Part 9 - Know the Potions You Need

KNOW THE POTIONS YOU NEED FOR EACH SCENARIO

A big part of serving as an effective and good Liege is knowing the tools that are required to assist your friends and minions with the various pitfalls they may encounter in game.  Knowledge of the potions needed for each scenario and how to use them is critical to your success in providing advice and counsel.  The potions are very simple to use, and arrive in the purchasers inventory as a crate that needs to be rezzed, opened and copied before being worn.  Once worn from the inventory, left click the potion in your hand and follow the on-screen menu.  Below is an explanation of the various potions, what they're used for, some notes specific to that particular potion and a cost valuation as of the date of this publication.

THE WORMWOOD POTION

This potion will rescue a soul from Limbo, and return it to the avatar that was in a Limbo Status.  Once taken, the soul will be available once more for the taking if the avatar is ever bitten again.  Transfer of the soul to your count will require still that the avatar purchase and wear the Bloodlines HUD.  I find that avatars that never knew they were bitten in the past really appreciate the gesture of returning their soul to them and "fixing" their problem.  Who knows, down the road that simple act just might change their perceptions of Bloodlines and give way for them to seek you out in the future should they decide to play.  Incidentally, this will be the potion you most often work with as a Bloodlines player.  This potion can be bought and carried in your inventory, and can be splashed by the owner on an affected avatar who's soul is in Limbo.  There is no need for this potion to be directly purchased by the affected avatar themselves.  The cost of the Wormwood Potion at the time of this posting is 249L$.

THE NIGHTSHADE POTION

This potion will cure the Vampire that purchases and drinks if from Vampirism and restore them to Human Status.  The effects of this potion convert units of Vital Blood remaining in the Vampire at the time the potion is taken to a percentage of Humanity.  Once taken the avatar may again become Vampire if desired by simply being once more drained of all humanity and consuming the required 5 Liters of Vital Blood.  A note of caution regarding the Nightshade Potion:  Be sure that any souls in the possession of the person taking the potion are retrieved using a Soul Reaper BEFORE they take the potion.  If this step is missed, all souls in the possession of the person taking a Nightshade will be cast to the Abyss, and would then each require a Hemlock Potion to rescue them.  This potion cannot be gift purchased, nor splashed, on the avatar that desires to use it.  This potion can only be bought directly by the avatar themselves, and then can only be used by them to cure their own Vampirism.  The cost of the Nightshade Potion at the time of this posting is 249L$.

THE HEMLOCK POTION

This potion will rescue a soul that has been lost to the Abyss due to the destruction of the avatars previous Liege.  Taking this potion will restore the soul from the Abyss, and place it in the hands of the next Vampire or Lycan to strike them.  This potion can be bought and carried in your inventory, and can be splashed by the owner on an affected avatar who's soul is in the Abyss.  There is no need for this potion to be directly purchased by the affected avatar themselves.  The cost of the Hemlock Potion at the time of this posting is 249L$.

THE ELECTRUM POTION

This potion is used to move an avatar's soul from the possession of one avatar to another avatar of their choosing.  This potion can only be used ONCE EVERY 90 DAYS, so I advise it be used carefully.  This potion must be purchased by the avatar desiring to move their soul, and can only be used by them.  This potion cannot be gift purchased by a friend or family member, and cannot be splashed.  The second key component of this potion is the "soul trade" required by the person desiring to receive the newly transferred soul.  So if avatar A wants to retrieve their soul from avatar B, and pass it to the safekeeping of avatar C....then avatar C must offer a soul in trade that is then sent automatically to avatar B in exchange.  This process does not require the consent, approval nor presence of avatar B for the transaction to take place.  The cost of the Electrum Potion at the time of this posting is 999L$, and a required soul trade for the potion to work.

THE WOLFSBANE POTION

This potion will cure the Lycan that purchases and drinks if from Lycanism and restore them to Human Status.  The effects of this potion convert units of Moonlight remaining in the Lycan at the time the potion is taken to a percentage of Humanity.  Once taken the avatar may again become Lycan if desired by simply being once more drained of all humanity and consuming the required 50 units of Moonlight.  A note of caution regarding the Wolfsbane Potion:  Be sure that any souls in the possession of the person taking the potion are retrieved using a Soul Reaper BEFORE they take the potion.  If this step is missed, all souls in the possession of the person taking a Wolfsbane will be cast to the Abyss, and would then each require a Hemlock Potion to rescue them.  This potion cannot be gift purchased, nor splashed, on the avatar that desires to use it.  This potion can only be bought directly by the avatar themselves, and then can only be used by them to cure their own Vampirism.  The cost of the Wolfsbane Potion at the time of this posting is 249L$.

If you have any additional questions, or feel that you need further clarification before assisting a friend or minion with a Potion transaction, please contact Aklanin Montpenier or Donovan OHanlon in world for assistance.  Tomorrow I'll focus on other tools you may need knowledge of as a Liege including the Spike, the Soul Reaper, the Coffin/Sarcophagus and the Blood/Lumen Scanners.

URGENT - Please Read Immediately

BASIC STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR THE JESSO HOME REGION SIM

Welcome to Haud Pluvia, home to the Haud Pluvia Horde, a family comprised of Vampires, Lycans and Humans alike.  A recent unfortunate event has prompted the urgent need to clarify some basic expectations of Standards of Conduct on the home SIM.  For that reason, Part 9 in the teaching series regarding the various Bloodlines Potions will be delayed till tomorrow so that this urgent matter can be addressed.

The SIM located in the 00 Jesso Region is our home residential territory.  You are welcomed and encouraged to use and enjoy this SIM as your home base, and feel free to set your home location on the family terrain if you desire.  The 00 Jesso Region is our common home base if you will, and people live there.  Therefore, there are a few Standards of Conduct we request you observe on our land to ensure the ambiance remains consistent and that we do not compromise other's enjoyment of the SIM.  Please respect these basic rules at all times, and enjoy yourselves.

PLEASE DO:

Treat this SIM as you would your own home, and conduct yourself as you would at home.

Interact with others on the SIM and develop lasting friendships with other visitors.

Respect others privacy while interacting or changing indoors.

Respect the sanctity of the Private Residences.  These are other's homes.

Have fun and be yourself.  The SIM is here for your enjoyment, it's the only purpose.

Donate to the maintenance and upkeep of the SIM as your heart and ability allow, though there is NO EXPECTATION or REQUIREMENT to donate.  If you can, great, if you can't, that's okay too.

PLEASE DO NOT:

Grief or otherwise harass visitors on the SIMs.

Employ extensive profane or overly vulgar language in Local Chat.  Save profanity for Private IM please.

Change clothing or display your avatar in nude situations outside of the buildings, in public common areas.  Keep all nudity indoors please.

Ignore Local Chat in favor of Voice Chat.  Not all visitors have voice capability, ensure they remain included to the extent possible.

Engage in Sexual Activity or Sexual Gestures in outdoor public common areas, keep that private. (Private areas have been provided for that activity indoors, we encourage the use of those indoor areas.)

Bring private drama onto the SIMs.  If you don't wish for family members and visitors to discuss the matter, keep your private business to yourself.  What you do in your private SL life is none of the family's concern, unless you make our concern, so keep that stuff private.

Make a donation to the SIMs and then think that you have purchased some form of amnesty from the Basic Standards of Conduct on the SIMs.

Rezz objects or crates that you do not intend to pick up when you are finished with them.  We are a PRIM based residential SIM, so please leave nothing behind when you are finished visiting.  (If you reside on the SIM, please adhere to your agreed PRIM usage limit.)

Violate a person's private home.  If you don't live there, don't go in there without permission, and this includes "camming".  Just as you expect and demand privacy in your RL home, so others should expect that here. (The Tavern and mausoleum are public areas to use.)

CAUSES FOR IMMEDIATE BAN:

Age play, or adult role-play with child avatars, is strictly forbidden, and any references or play in Pedophilia will be cause for Immediate and Permanent Banishment from the Haud Pluvia SIM and family.

Employment or placement of malicious script, copy bots, chat bots, or other tools that Violate the Terms of Service of Linden Labs Second Life User Agreement.

Forms of hate speech that violate Racial, Ethnic, Religious or Sexual Orientation as it pertains to another person's First Life (Real Life) experience and are not within the realms of strictly agreed upon Role Play.  (These role plays if agreed to between parties, should be limited to Private IM only.)

Stalking behaviors will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  No means no.  No excuses.

               

THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY

At Haud Pluvia the concept of family is very important to us.  We intend to take the concept of family seriously to ensure that all who commune with us know how much we love and care for them.  To us, family is far more than simply a group tag or affiliation.  It's also far more than a place to come hang out and meet new friends.  Family genuinely cares about what's happening to you, and goes above and beyond what's expected to be as supportive as possible when you need support.  We accept all people, in whatever form they choose to express themselves each day.  None should ever feel like an outsider in a family.  At Haud Pluvia we don't judge others.  All are welcome, vampire/lycan/donor or not.  Neko or Fae, Human or alien, Dog or Cat, Elemental or even Mushroom.  No matter who you are, if you're above the age of legal majority, there's a place for you at Haud Pluvia.  You simply need to reach out to others.  Families are patient, loving, kind, accepting, and when needed.....well....tough loving as well.  There's a saying that "Only your real friends will tell you the truth".  Well, truth be told, only your "family" will ever give you the entire truth about yourself when you need it.  And they do this out of love for you.  At Haud Pluvia we are open, and honest.  We are accepting and forgiving.  We love each equally.  There is no status barrier here.  The Queen is no more important than our most junior vampire.  We all make contributions that make our family stronger.   Each of us has our strengths and weaknesses, but no one person's strengths are any more important than another's.  We're a family, and you should reach out to us for support and guidance when you need us.  Don't ever sit back silent waiting for others to notice something's wrong.  Reach out, get involved, offer your talents.

WHO TO CONTACT?

If you have any questions, or require any form of clarification of the SIMs rules, please contact Aklanin Montpenier or Donovan OHanlon directly.  We'd both be happy to assist you in any way we can.

Donovan's Point of View - Part 8 - Know Who You're Interacting With

PART 8 - KNOW WHO YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH AT ALL TIMES

This skill takes practice and an understanding of the various categories of results that can appear when you "scan" someone using your HUD.  I find that my habit of scanning people has gotten rather keen over time, and in fact I do it in stores even when I'm not hunting.  It's interesting to know who's around you and what contact, if any, they've had with Bloodlines Players in their past.  There are a few basic categories that all avatars fall into in Bloodlines.  I've provided a short list below for your quick reference, as well as an explanation of what you'll need to successfully "hunt" a person in that category.  All the information to identify the proper category a person is located in can be found in the Local Chat area on your chat screen after completing a scan of that avatar.

THE FRESH VICTIM

A Fresh Victim is an avatar that has never allowed a Bloodlines Player to interact with them in the past using thier HUD.  They've never accepted a bite request in the past and have never worn the Bloodlines HUD in game.  In my experience, it's exponentially more difficult to bite a Fresh Victim as their avatar ages.  For example, to convince a 30 day old avatar to accept your bite request is quite different than convincing a 1200 day old avatar.  The more seasoned avatar has in many cases already decided to decline Bloodlines play for any number of reasons, and at some artificially determined point in time, started to consider it a badge of honor that they had never been bitten in the past.  This is not meant to discourage you against fresh victims, but merely to alert you to the correlation between avatar age and success rate.

To be bitten a Fresh Victim must be older than 15 days of age.  To claim their soul they will only need to have and wear the Bloodlines Thirst HUD.

Proper sequence of events: Bite them, Buy HUD, Wear HUD, Configure HUD.

THE LIMBO

An avatar who's soul is in Limbo has been bitten by a vampire before.  Some don't even realize that they have been bitten in the past, if you can believe that.  Many vampires are deceptive when they bite, and fail to explain to the victim the full implications of the bite request.  When you scan someone and it tells you that their soul is in Limbo, it will also identify who bit them, as their soul is prepared to go to that person in the event they equip the Bloodlines HUD.  To prevent that person from obtaining the avatars soul, and to ensure you receive it, they must be provided with a Wormwood Potion before they equip the HUD.  Those who's souls are in Limbo tend to be more open to Bloodlines Play than others, as they've encountered it before.  The level of their receptiveness tends to be based on their prior experiences with Vampires and Lycans.  More previous negative experiences will translate into more work on your part to prove that you're not like all the others.

For a bite to count when the person is in Limbo, the avatar will need to have taken a Wormwood Potion first.  This will restore their soul to them, whereby they can then be bitten by you and have it dog eared in your name.  If they equip the HUD, then their soul will transfer to you.

Proper sequence of events: Buy Wormwood, they Drink Wormwood, Bite them, Buy HUD, Wear HUD, Configure HUD.

THE "WAS IN LIMBO"

This avatar has been bitten in the past, has already taken a Wormwood Potion, and is ready to be bitten again at their own discretion.  They tend to be open to Bloodlines play, yet are very fickle about whom they choose to allow to bite them.  This category can be tricky in that they tend to be saving the bite for "the right one", with no clear definition of what makes someone the right one.  For a bite to count in this category, they only need to allow you to bite them.

Proper sequence of events: Bite them, Buy HUD, Wear HUD, Configure HUD

THE REGISTERED

This avatar has equipped the Bloodlines HUD System and has a registered status in the game.  They are either a Vampire, a Lycan or a Human in the Bloodlines System.  If they are a Vampire or a Lycan, any bite you proffer to them will draw Vital Blood from them in proportion to the amount of Vital Blood they have remaining.  If they are a Human and have been bitten before, you will drain roughly 5% of their remaining humanity if you bite them.  If they are Human and have never been bitten before, they will be more of a challenge.  Many times these folks have chosen to equip the HUD simply for the scanning benefits you enjoy as an equipped player.

Proper sequence of events: Bite them and enjoy the Role Play

THE DESTROYED

This avatar was bitten before and became a Vampire or a Lycan, then did not feed as required to avoid being destroyed by The Curse.  Basically, their Vital Blood or Vital Lumens were depleted to Zero.  When they became destroyed the subordinate souls they had in their care were lost to the Abyss.  All a destroyed Vampire or Lycan needs to become restored to life is either consume Vital Blood or Vital Lumens.  Often this is simply accomplished by allowing them to bite or scratch you.  A caution on the Destroyed however is that many who are destroyed are destroyed for a reason.  Reasons vary, ranging from lack of interest or lack of funds, to outright dissatisfaction with their previous family or not fitting in with the group.  Talk to these avatars and listen carefully for their individual stories.  Though each story is unique to that avatar, you'll find that many consistent themes arise as you get to know people.

You cannot bite a destroyed Vampire or Lycan until they have restored themselves.  This can easily be accomplished by allowing them to bite you twice.  This will ensure that there is enough Vital Blood or Lumens in them to remain restored after you bite them back.

Proper sequence of events: Allow them to bite or scratch you twice, Bite them and enjoy the Role Play.

THE REVENANT

This category of Avatar has been bitten before, became a Human Blood Doll, and was fully drained of all their humanity.  These avatars are basically the walking dead.  They have 0% Humanity remaining, and only need to consume 5 Full Liters of Vital Blood or Lumens (depending on the HUD they own) to become a full Vampire or Lycan.

THE GARLIC NECKLACE

An avatar that has worn the Garlic Necklace has explicitly and overtly decided not to participate in Bloodlines Role Play or Game Play.  Please do not disturb persons in this category as it's considered rude behavior.  All residents in Second Life have the right to determine the fate and destiny of their individual avatars, and those who have equipped a Garlic Necklace should be respected in their decisions.  Please do not disturb these avatars under any circumstances with talk of Bloodlines play.

THE ABYSS

If you run across an avatar that has a status result showing their soul is in the Abyss, this means they have been bitten, equipped the HUD and became either Vampire, Lycan or Human, and later, their Liege became destroyed.  To save them from the Abyss, the avatar will need to consume a Hemlock Potion.  I often find that persons in the Abyss had no idea they were in the Abyss to start with, and aren't very active players.  Often they are humans that agreed to entertain the Second Life of a friend that played Bloodlines, but know nothing of Bloodlines individually.  The benefit to meeting a person in this category is that should you be successful at inspiring them to resume play, this avatar will merely require a single Hemlock Potion to retrieve them from the Abyss and then later be bitten by you after they consume the potion.  Once that process is completed, that soul will transfer to your possession for safekeeping.

Proper sequence of events: Buy Hemlock Potion, they Drink the Hemlock Potion, Bite them, Reconfigure HUD settings to pledge allegiance to you.

Tomorrow I'll explain the various potions and other things that Bloodlines provides to assist you with restoring or repairing avatars in the various categories we've described above.  Check back soon!  :)

Welcome home Vinto Darkfire!

On behalf of the entire Haud Pluvia family, we extend a warm welcome to Vinto Darkfire. Welcome to our family brother! :)

Donovan's Point of View - Part 7 - Some Basic Principles

PART 7 - SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES

As with any activity in life, there are basic guidelines and principles that you must follow to achieve success.  Were a sports team to simply run wild on the field without rules or structure, basic principles of their approach, they wouldn't be very successful in achieving their stated goals.  Our stated goal is to find long term friends that are like minded and desire a broader and more rich enjoyment of their Second Lives.  Here are some very simple principles to follow to achieve that stated goal.

                1. NEVER RANDOM BITE REQUEST ANYONE

                The single most important lesson that vampires lose sight of is the art of respect.  This means accepting all for who they are, in whatever form they express themselves and respecting them for what they each individually bring to the table.  The bare naked truth is that vampires do not exist in any realm without their human counterparts.  Too often clans are interested in growing their numbers and such things, and fail to retain respect for the human contributions to their cause.  To randomly approach a human fresh victim you've never met before and simply proffer a "Bite Request" is short-sighted and rude.  Many find it so overtly offensive that some areas have banned Bloodlines play within the realms of their entire SIM.  It can be seen as a form of unwanted harassment, and not unlike the annoying calls from telemarketers, can drive many to simply "Reject" the request of all vampires on the basis of guilt by association. 

                That's the precise reason I do not bite request anyone that I do not deeply care for, or know on an interpersonal level.  The fact is, of all my souls collected and minions who Lieged to me only one was ever solicited by me directly.  And even that request by me was to a friend I'd grown very fond of, and felt a deep sense of reverence towards.  Parenthetically, some clans refer to their human counterparts as "Blood Dolls", rather than how the Haud Pluvia Horde refers to our human members as "Beloved" family.  But that issue will be discussed in further detail in another section.  It's of the highest importance to remain respectful in all your dealings with others and bring credit upon the lifestyle you've embraced.  Every action you take and every word you speak influences how others perceive all of us, and what you do or say today will have positive or negative ripple effects throughout the realm.  Remember, each person that has a bad experience is statistically more likely to tell three friends about it than even one person about a good experience.

                2. KNOW THE BLOODLINES SYSTEM COMPLETELY AND INTIMATELY

                There are few things that sadden me more than meeting a Vampire or Lycan that has been in the Bloodlines Realm for a while, yet still knows nothing about the system.  In fact, it's nearly embarrassing when I meet a year old Vampire that has no idea how to restore a Human's Humanity with Apples.  Look, we all could stand to learn more about the game, but the basics should come naturally from you due to your own research and knowledge.  This type of skill and knowledge base lends itself to your credibility, and further it communicates your seriousness to others when you are involved in an activity such as hunting.  If it's embarrassing for me to meet a year old Vampire that doesn't know anything about their own game, imagine the perceptions of the person you're speaking to during your hunt.  There are many resources to turn to for information about Bloodlines Game Play.  An excellent place to start is on the Bloodlines main webpage, reading the Game Guide (http://www.slbloodlines.com/guide).

                3. KNOW YOUR HUD

                You must be able to use and navigate your Bloodlines Thirst HUD Attachment with ease to be successful at hunting.  Everything you do as a Vampire or Lycan depends on your knowledge and use of your HUD.  Just as a Soldier's success on the battlefield depends on his or her knowledge and use of their weapon, so too can your success be measured as a hunter by the knowledge and use of your HUD System.  There's only one way to learn your HUD, and that's to use it.  I never detach my HUDS.  My screen is always active with both my Thirst and Rage HUDs.  When in public I use them to keep myself reminded of their functions.  Wear your HUD, and while you're out and about in public, use it to scan others around you.  Just be sure that you are on a SIM that will allow your HUD to function.  Thankfully, Bloodlines has also prepared basic instructions for the HUD.

For Vampires please visit (http://www.slbloodlines.com/instructions/thirst)

For Lycans please visit (http://lycan.slbloodlines.com/instructions/rage)

                4. KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS

                This principle is extremely important to you as a "hunter".  You wouldn't walk off into the forest to hunt bears without first stopping by the Ranger's Station to get a map and some general advice on the land would you?  Okay, that said, every SIM you port onto has information available about their rules and restrictions right in your viewers information bar, and often they supplement this information with note card dispensers, and signs.  What is the Rating of the SIM you are on?  Is it PG, Mature or Adult?  Are scripts allowed on the parcel?  This will determine if your HUD will function or not, so very important.  Is the SIM combat enabled?  Can damage be dealt on that SIM.  Look the list of what you can learn is endless, the point I'm trying to make is this: Don't just port onto a SIM and think it's okay to start hunting away.  Some SIMs in fact ban Bloodlines Play throughout their SIMs.  Are you on a SIM like that?  If you're not in the habit now of knowing what's going on around you, get into that habit as soon as you can.

Tomorrow I'll try to delve into a topic of knowing whom you're interacting with at all times.  I'll try to explain further the various categories of "Scan" results that are possible from your HUD, what they mean, and what is required of you or them in order to interact with them.

Donovan's Point of View - Part 6 - Avoiding Simple Errors

PART 6 - SIMPLE MISTAKES MAKE FOR FRUSTRATING ERRORS, SO AVOID THEM!

Have you ever made a simple oversight, not recognized it, and the error was so obvious...yet...you missed it, and you end up smacking your own forehead afterwards saying to yourself "Man, how did I make that mistake"?  Well, that can happen all the time as you learn your Bloodlines HUD and Equipment.  There are some basic mistakes to watch out for, and paying attention to these easy to make mistakes will help you to avoid them and add to your professionalism when interacting with your friends and minions.  I've listed them in the form of principles to follow, with an example of how a mistake could trip you up in game.

                1.  Always wear  your HUD and your Fangs or Claws.

                This one is pretty simple.  If you don't have your HUD on, you can't use it's features.  If you don't have your fangs or claws on, you can't get the HUD to recognize the action you're wishing to take.  A good practice is to just keep them on at all times.  That way, you don't need to search for them and waste valuable time trying to find them.  Fangs and claws can both be set to hidden on the HUD, which makes them not visible on your avatar, and even in "hidden" mode they still function normally as if they were exposed.  Just, bottom line, keep them both on all the time.  Imagine if you will that you have found a Fresh Victim that desires to allow you to bite them.  You have on your HUD, so you think all is fine and dandy.  You attempt to send them a bite request, and for some strange reason after you've selected the avatar to bite.....they get no Accept Box to approve the bite.  You stand there, and try again.  Nothing happens.  So politely tell them that you're sorry, your stuff isn't working, and you try again.  It doesn't take many attempts before the person that had agreed to your role play will lose interest, and you'll appear that you don't know your own game.  Later, when you realize you didn't have your teeth in, it's already too late to call them back.

                2.  Don't walk around completely full on Blood or Lumens.

                I keep myself hovering at just above 4 Liters of Vital Blood, and 40 Units of Vital Lumens.  I rarely allow my avatar to exceed that, and certainly do not stay full if I achieve that amount.  This is because you cannot bite or scratch another player unless you have room in your avatar to take the Blood or Lumens from the other player during the attack.  You must have room to take.  Once the gas tank on your car is full, you're not getting more gas down that nozzle.  Same principle applies in Bloodlines as it pertains to Blood or Lumens.  Think back to the previous scenario regarding your teeth.  Now imagine your frustration when you have your HUD and Fangs or Claws on, but still can't bite your victim.  The results will be similar.  No bite or scratch will happen, but this time simply because you don't have room to collect the Blood or Lumens.  And the fact that you're full might be the last thing you consider as you attempt to troubleshoot your avatar.  If you find you're getting somewhat full, go to the family casks and drain off a bit.  You can drain very small or very large quantities as you wish.  Just make sure you don't drain completely and become destroyed.  If you're at 5 full units of blood, drain off 1 Liter to the family cask by left clicking the cask, then choosing "Fill", and then choosing "1".  This will make enough room for you to attack at least 4 other avatars before needing to drain again.

                3.   Don't try to attack an avatar that's less than 15 days old.

                Simply put, you can't.  It's built into the system.  The only way to bite an avatar that's less than 15 days old is to get them the HUD and ask them to wear it first.  It's designed that way to ensure new avatars have a chance to understand Second Life a while before agreeing to something when they do not understand the ramifications.  Interestingly also is that you cannot "Gift Purchase" the HUD for someone under 15 days of age either.  You must bring them in person and pass them the Lindens, and they have to buy it themselves.  This will force a consent to Terms of Service  prior to the purchase.  These restrictions may seem silly at first, however, if you think about it they are making an effort to protect the new players in world.  That alone is commendable.  You don't even have to try to imagine the scenario I'm about to describe.  I've seen it so many times in my Bloodlines Life it's become routine.  You meet an avatar that's fairly seasoned and get to know them.  You know from scanning them that their soul is in Limbo.  They've been bitten in the past and never wore the HUD.  When the topic comes up and you tell them of this, they're shocked!  They had no idea they had ever agreed to such a thing.  They get angry, and their disgust for ALL Vampires and Lycans is suddenly magnified by emotion.  To avoid this, just never bite someone under 15 days old, and by all means ensure that anyone you do bite is fully advised of what's happening.  Remember, full disclosure up front pays long term peace dividends down the road.

Always keep learning, never allow a new found experience go unshared, and just have fun everyone!  :)

Donovan's Point of View - Part 5 - What Exactly Is Hunting?

PART 5 - WHAT EXACTLY IS "HUNTING"?

To correctly define hunting as an activity requires first a more full clarification of hunting as a concept.  To many families in Bloodlines hunting is the process of finding others in Second Life that are not currently members of Bloodlines, and convincing them to join to increase that family's soul count.  To see hunting this way is a critical mistake made by many, and further alienates Bloodlines members from others in Second Life.  At Haud Pluvia there is NO REQUIREMENT to hunt, and in fact I would go as far as to state that "hunting" outright doesn't exist in this family.  What DOES exist here is "outreach".  Haud Pluvia is about family, relationships and friends.  That's the bottom line.  But this is not to suggest that Haud Pluvia is a clique, or an inner circle in any way.  Far be that from the truth.  Rather, Haud Pluvia seeks to welcome anyone that desires similar relationships in their Second Life, whether they desire to become a Bloodlines Member at all, or not.  In fact, several of our family members are not even Bloodlines Equipped at all, yet we see them no differently.  Many though who do come to us in a Bloodlines way are seeking a better path in the realm.  For those we offer our hand of friendship, and our closeness and guidance to assist them.  At Haud Pluvia we outreach to others that are searching for something different or better in their Second Lives, and in some cases they find it a fit with our family and our way of existing in this place.  In summary, if you view hunting as a "hunt" you'll only seek numbers, whereas if you view hunting as an "outreach activity" you'll find only hearts and souls that desire your deeper friendship.

WHAT'S OUR GOAL AT HAUD PLUVIA?

This is a very simple question to answer.  There is only one correct answer.  Our stated goal is to find long term friends that are like minded and desire a broader and more rich enjoyment of their Second Lives.  If you bite or turn someone for any other reason than the goal stated above you're setting yourself, and the person you've interacted with, up for failure and a disappointing experience.