IMPORTANT INFO.
On this page you will find information you may need to help you understand the sim a bit better. Check back often as we will add things as the sim grows.
LOCATION
The sim is set in the fictional town of Cypress Valley Washington.
The real-world location this was loosely based on is Nighthawk, Wa.
Geographic and Weather will be based off of Nighthawk should you want to google to get a better idea. Weather will be posted somehow on the sim or group notices.
CURRENCY & TRADE
While the USD may in reality hold no value post apoc. For the ease of roleplay & cause less confusion we have decided it was the best form of currency for the time being. With that said we do encourage players to also trade/barter for items. On the business page you will find out more info from each business (sim & player) what forms of payment and items/services they offer. (Coming soon)
It is up to leads or sim staff what the business wants to charge for items. In times such as this a beer that may have once been a few bucks may cost $50 usd. or a shot of whiskey may come at the cost of a round of ammo.
TOWN TAXES
This is something that will come into play once the player base grows. But quick notes are this: The town has power, water, medical and protection. These services are not free! However with that said people who serve the community are "paying" their debt and receive these services plus weekly allowance from the market aka the LAST Stop N' Shop. Others who do not work for either Law, Medical, Mines or other municipal lines of work have the options of these services if they work within the town. Part of the IC income would be "taxed" to receive these services. Others who have their own business or crops would give a % of goods to the town to receive their services. (NOTE: Those living in NOMANS land are not eligible to work in town NOR receive services or protection from the City of Cypress Valley - Businesses may also opt to not serve those "not from town" this is to create IC friction - places may put up signs or make note on their business page if they do not ICly serve non-townies)
POWER / WATER / GAS
Power is available in town (only) municipal businesses have power (city run buildings) private residents have the option for power but must pay a “power tax” this is done by trade of work or items (credits at various places around town more info on this coming soon). Places without power or residents who do not want to pay the power tax can use other forms of power, rather with generators or even solar panels/batteries they have found and rigged.
Water is a bit different - there is city water coming from the tank that is reserved for the hospital & base. Other places rely on personal wells. Plumbing is by septic only. Most shouldn't flush much paper, and most homes' plumbing have been altered so that all grey water is piped out into the back of property so as not to fill tanks too quickly. Not many septic pump trucks these days if any, and no one wants that shit backing up in their homes (literally).
More information coming on natural gas & propane. As far as gasoline/petrol/diesel as per the lore of the town & colonies there is oil and gas down in Texas (and maybe up North) and due to the trade systems set up with the other colonies our town gets oil and gas from drops/shipments brought up the coast and such. However with that said there is never a HUGE supply at any given time. Maybe a tanker to last months for the whole town - and keep in mind there would be shortage at times and maybe run completely out. So gas would always be something of great value much like ammo.
GUNS & AMMO
Post apocalypse it's safe to say guns wouldn't be hard to come across. With less people in the world they would be just about anywhere they may be picked over but we don't see it as hard to get your hands on one or a few. HOWEVER ammo is a different subject. While you can use a gun over and over a bullet is tech a one shot. Sure the casings can be reused but there are other components needed that are in short supply. Gun powder is one of the things brought in with trade from the other colonies but like gas we only get so much. Lead is scavenged and melted down. We just ask that players write in a way that reflects the limited supply of ammo citizens would have. More info on this can be found on the business page under the GunSmith.
FOOD
Let's face it the days when someone could drive-thu Tacobell and get a few cheap tacos on Tuesday are over. We now rely on growing crops, hunting, milking cows and so on. While players can grow & hunt their own food there is the Stop N' Shop Market in town. Town people who work or pay their town taxes get a weekly rations depending on their "family" size. With a mix of grains, milk products, fruits, vegetables and even meat when available. People may also bring in items and trade for others. (ex. A hunter may bring in a kill to the market and take trade the meat for fruits and vegetables) This is great for those that do not work for the town or get the weekly rations. (NOTE: This is NOT an option for non-townies in fact there is a sign stating only town people allowed due to the protection of the towns food) More info about the market with what foods it has will be updated on the business page.
ATTIRE & SETTING
These are just suggestions! Keep that in mind. Players can dress how they wish as long as it is sim fitting and does not go against rules.
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For those who live in town it is safe to say they would have access to clean and mended clothing/shoes. While we may not have a fancy name brand store, there are plenty of homes that have been looted and brought back to town. We also have a shop in town that mends clothes! Just keep in mind you are still living in a world with bite fetish zombies, so those high heels, pearls and diamonds may be something you leave at home.
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Nomads... now you guys are a WHOLE other story! When the sim was created this part of the sim was meant for those who didn't want to live in town, or who were kicked from town and don't have the luxuries or means to get better clothing/items. Nomads would also need to be fully protected with the threat of the zombies and other raiders roaming freely in the area they call home. NOMANS land was meant to be a place for the ones who wanted that pure post apoc survival setting.
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While players can dress how they want (unless they work at a place and icly are told otherwise) these are just suggestions same with how people set up their homes. In town homes may have been left behind already furnished (rather sim furnished or if someone moving in wants to say they moved into a furnished home) People can have nice items or not so nice. That is up to the player.
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Businesses may have set uniforms or a dress code. This is up to the lead or sim staff if sim ran business. This is all IC and should be handled IC if players do not dress accordingly. More info on dress codes for business will be listed on the business page (coming soon!)
NOMADS & NOMANS LAND
Nomans Land and Nomads has been mentioned here and there on the website but wanted to just do a quick note on it to try and help players understand the thoughts behind this area/role.
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While the town is pretty safe, secure has more than most any other place in times such as these - we felt the sim still needed that fear factor which is where NOMANS LAND came into play and was added. Those that decide to live in this area must understand that there is a IC separation between them and the people in town. They can not work in town, and in cases not be in town all together ICly.
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The nomads may sneak into town, or businesses (with ooc consent for businesses) or try and blend in if just wondering around town. Unless ICly banished from town people may not know who is a townie and who is a nomad.
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This may mean there is less chance of RP for people who have opted to live in this area so should be taken in consideration when creating your story or wanting to rent in this area.
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ALSO town people please if you could keep this in mind as far as lore goes. Nomans land is a dangerous area, it is not patrolled, bad people and things are out there. We are also not trying to make peace with them as that would void out the whole purpose of this part of the sim and lore and at this time we do not want that. We want to offer people a place that is not all nice and safe. We want to cater to all types of players.