By Antiquity Times Reporter Mike
For the Antiquity Times I would like to go in depth with some of, what Sir Alan French has answered previously on the questions, which Elena in written format has given to him. We therefore made up a face-to-face talk, that we bring forward to our readers here.
Mike: Greetings Alan – nice you could make time to meet
Sir Alan French: Nice to meet you
Mike: Please have a seat – we have mostly pancakes today and some drinks ^^
Sir Alan French: ty
Mike: Let me start with this question – How long have you been citizen of Antiquity and is there anything to say about the start you had at our community?
Alan: I have been in Antiquity for one year and a half now.
I was in Pirate Destiny before
Mike: So, then you are one of our young and fresh citizens ^^
Alan: yes, I am. I met a citizen who convinced me to join because of the size of the sim and mix of sea + ground + horses
Then I met Jacon who explained me bascics about Antiquity and how to start
Mike: Okay, I see – I have hardly heard much about the Pirate Destiny community. What is the core theme there?
Alan: Christina was admin in PD. It is about sea, farming, and pirate battles. You have very strict rules there, you must be IC all the time. So, Antiquity is more flexible and easier to live at.
Mike: Yes, okay – and some of what you had there, Jacon explained, that you also could get in Antiquity?
Alan: Yes, in fact I gave up Pirate Destiny and joined here
Mike: Nods – about the IC and OCC differences, it sounds that you like a combination better as what you experienced before?
Alan: Yes true, sometimes you just like to live here and relax without thinking of eating or drinking …
Mike: Yes, and that is possible at Antiquity … with the meter turned of, you mean?
Alan: True – In PD you had penalties when doing tp or being OOC. This was boring. Here life is simple and easy if you follow fair rules. This is what I call fair rules: Respect outfits, way of life, and we can all live happily together
Mike nods: Okay – so, having OCC events as we had many of through the last week, suits your needs better than just to have to stay IC all the time?
Alan: Yes true
Alan: Regarding the beginner time, you asked about, Bath Mayor was of great help as many other citizens. You have to understand tools and recipes. This is not obvious.
Mike: But you had sufficient help at your start I can assume?
Alan: Yes, beginner tutorial is great
Mike: Good to know 🙂
Alan: Then I was given the XLS pricelist and this is awesome to understand the recipes.
Mike: Yes, I believe so …
Alan: You just have to find the right tools to proceed and this is also not obvious, so you buy things that are useless
Mike: Nods – turning to his paper: Do you have a title or an occupation?
Alan: I am a Knight since January 1st. I got the medal and all linked signs. This was a great pleasure. Also, I was mounted guard at Pamus’ coronation, it probably helped. It was a great recognition
Mike: Congratulations!
Alan: TY, otherwise I am sailor and brewer in Antiquity
Mike: Is it possible for you to get some good income from the trade runs – and are you robbed by pirates at times?
Alan: I bought an approved boat (a BRS one first) and started to discover seas and harbours around. Then you understand ways and buoys and how to get money and XPs
Mike: Nods – it is full of challenges to get through the waters in good shape, I believe …
Alan: Yes, it was with the Fortuna, light and easy. Then I bought the SSS Cargo, very heavy but more appropriate to trading RP. In fact I had to understand the map, the limits, whales to survive …
Since I sail Europe time, there are no pirates in the sea and I am safe
Mike: Oh, you must be a happy sailor then ^^
Alan: Yes I met Pamus a couple of times but she let me alive hehe
Mike smiles: So, you can get some good money from trading?
Alan: True – this is my best income when I do not sell things to Mariann –
Mike: Okay, do you sell to others as well?
Alan: Yes I have a stall at St Bruno. We had an agreement with Duchess Lysmina. I sell all my beverages (wine+ alcohol) + seafood and rabbits
Mike: Hmmm – cheers then
Mike: Are there things you don’t sell much of?
Alan: Yes honey pots, never sold one. About alcohol this is not great activity either. Seafood are the best sellers … as well as rabbits
Mike: Okay – not good to keep the bees active ^^
Alan: No, and it is a long process in addition
Mike: Yes – things take time
Alan: Yes and you need a lot of material to make honey pots
Mike turns to his paper again: How is your daily routine at Antiquity?
Alan: I first visit my stall to see what is missing and grab or produce it. Then I grab seafood or hunt rabbits when required. According to my level I experiment with new brewing recipes.
Mike: That is the way to come forward to new products, for sure …
Alan: Then I do sailing to get XPs. It is easy to make 100 Xps in 30 minutes – so, I have the map in head and route the right way from one harbour to the next one
Mike: Amazing – I didn’t know, you could get so many XP’s …
Alan: You just have to cross buoys – one buoy is 4xp !!
Mike: Good to know and great – I never thought sailing could be easy smiles
Mike: I heard you say, you have a helper or worker at your place, right? Miss Kate …
Alan: Yes Miss Kate is my ALT in fact. She is Smith and Artisan so she can produce items for me
Mike: Sounds like a good combination of professions you and your Miss Kate have – can you mostly find on the markets, what might be missing in your production work?
Alan: … and it is a great way to make good pictures …
Alan: Yes I buy at the market when I have no time to do it … like barrels or bottles when needed
Mike: Nods – good we have the markets
Alan: Yes but it is getting difficult to buy. A lot of empty vendors out there …
Mike: Oh, I see, yes – we have been dealing with that for a long time
Mike: I am curious. Tell us about the situation in your neighborhood, please
Alan: So, about neighborhood, I have favorite places in Antiquity, like Finlanda, trails, harbours but I do not live there
Mike: Did you rent a parcel or where is it you live for now?
Alan: I did not find a good place close to the sea
Mike: Hard to find, yes
Alan: So, I rent a small island out of Antiquity at Fruit Islands
Mike: Okay – I have been there for surfing once …
Alan: I have all my farms and tools on the sky above the sim
Mike: Great estate they have there and huge …
Alan: Yes, it is a good place to sail and experiment my creations in SL. I designed and created my house as well as the pergola
Mike: Alright – now, how do you look at the diversity of time zones, that can feel as a limitation sometimes … And have you met others who talk French with you?
Alan: Limitations are more about attending social events mostly in the evening or night for me – As you can see, I manage English, so language or French is not an issue. So, as European, I mainly meet UK people – I do not speak German 🙂
Mike: Very well
Mike: Can you tell us a little about your hobbies and how you spent your free time in Antiquity?
Alan: I go to some music places to listen or dance a bit. But mostly now, I try to create for SL (I have a small Market Place)
Mike: Yes, it’s always nice to dance – I like that too
Mike: Do you engage in other hobbies?
Alan: I started with boat textures, then boats with BWIND system (to actually sail), then tried a little seaplane (flying in SL)
Mike: Nice – sounds like a challenge as well …
Mike: Last but not least: What are your future plans ?
Alan: First I want to reach level 10 to get some more recipes in Antiquity to do. Otherwise, meet new people and possibly get a partner one day …
Mike: Sound like great plans, Alan – I would like to thank you for the time you invested, to do our talk today 🙂
Alan: It is a pleasure for me as well