Possible new continents no one has seen ?

[browserice]

While thinking about something yesterday, I came to a conclusion that can create new continents on Atys (or maybe they already exist ?). But before my conclusion, I want confirmations on the following possible theory.

Theory #1
If the Sun is a real Sun, then the Sun in the sky is shining for every known continents at the same time. So when it is daytime on one continent, it is daytime everywhere on Atys. So when it is night time somewhere, it is night time everywhere. There is also the fact that we see that giant Saturn planet like at the same place on every continent.

Theory#2
If the Sun is an artificial sun (meaning a satellite), it does not change the fact that when it is night time or day time one place, it is the same everywhere. That artificial Sun is always at the same place. So we can assume it is the same one. There is also the fact that we see that giant Saturn planet like at the same place on every continent.

So can you confirm these 2 theories and if they are true, then continue reading below.

Now with these 2 theories, we can conclude that all the known continents are facing the same direction. Therefore they are all on the same side (face) of the planet. But what about the other side of the planet then ? If it is day time in Fyros, then somewhere on the other side, it is night time (unless there is also an artificial Sun there too synchronizing its time with the one we see).

Now if we all agree that all those continents we know are on one side of the planet and that there is another side that no one has seen, then we can all conclude that this leaves room for NEW POSSIBLE CONTINENTS !!!!

This could give new possibilities to the Dev team to create new places on that other side. There could be so many possibilities for this :

- Why not create evil races or greater menace there ?
- The Gods are living there ?
- Forgotten civilizations are there that would reveal untold truth about the history of Atys, creating doubts into everyone's mine and therefore create chaos ?
- Even more danger for lvl 250 players going there ?

What do you think should be there ?

[kervala]

It was said that actual continents take only 5% of the whole Atys surface

[karmelit]

It was said that actual continents take only 5% of the whole Atys surface

A continent is a landmass that isn't broken by water. Thus, our "continents" are just one continent. And who among us have travelled far enough to reach the shores of any sea?
But yes, there is indeed more landmass out there - we just haven't any true pioneers among us. We are all happy to live and hunt on our turf on Atys. Probably because otherwise we would start missing our friends "back home".

(Actually the scenarios in the ring are new regions to explore - but we all seem to have decided that is way to boring/limited/difficult)

[sidusar]

It was said that actual continents take only 5% of the whole Atys surface

Indeed, so to pull an analogy to the real world, all we've seen of Atys so far is Australia, the rest is still unknown.

If I recall, it was actually said that the known lands make up less than 5% of the whole Atys surface. And don't forget the Prime Roots aren't on the surface. And that there's more layers of Prime Roots beneath the first layer too. And then a canopy above the surface as well. So all in all we probably haven't even seen 1% of Atys.

The lore states that the New Lands (the regions of Atys our characters live now) are tiny in size compared to the Old Lands (where the homins lived before the Great Swarming). And even the Old Lands didn't nearly cover all of Atys.

Actually though, the Sun is in slightly different positions depending on which continent you're in. It's harder to say for the planets, since they move, but I'd assume those are too then.

- Why not create evil races or greater menace there ?

There's been talk of traveling Fyros cities and Dark Matis.

(Actually the scenarios in the ring are new regions to explore - but we all seem to have decided that is way to boring/limited/difficult)

Yup, that's the lore explanation behind the Ring - that Ring scenarios are areas outside of the New Lands. Maybe in the Old Lands, maybe somewhere else entirely. So I resent your statement that there aren't any true pioneers among us - some of us have explored dozens of Ring maps.

[fadebait]

(Actually the scenarios in the ring are new regions to explore - but we all seem to have decided that is way to boring/limited/difficult)

There's something anticlimatic about exploring a region that you actually created. It's really hard to surprise yourself short of terminal schizophrenia.

As for scenarios others have created - the real showstopper seems to be the hosting - the creator not only having to be online but actually be in the scenario is a really major limitation - the only way to play scenarios without waiting for someone to create one then sit around in it for hours is to browse the forums looking for links to published ring files, download them then play them yourself that way.
Not only is this far from convenient and low on immersion, it really misses out on the MM in MMORPG.

The ring was an ambitious project - but given the amount of time that must have been spent in it's creation and the lack of any real content in the game makes the ring feel to me more like a get-out clause for developers that realised they cannot provide the content the game needs than an exciting adventure.

[symolan]

You assume atys to be a globe.

Well, of course, as with the earth too, it's a terrible flat thing ending in a drop into nothing...

Otherwise swimming homins should disappear behind the horizon somewhen. I didn't notice that yet*g*


embrel - menetekel

leanon

[sidusar]

Nah, the Ring was a really ambitious effort to take "player-made content", the only thing Ryzom really did well, to the next level. Based on the theorem that "amount of content even 1% of the playerbase can make" >> "amount of content the devs can make", which is true for any MMO from the smallest to the largest.

I just think the devs severely underestimated how much support such an effort requires to be led into the right lanes. They figured all they had to do was release the Ring, and then just sit back and wait while dozens of playermade scenarios would start popping up on their own. They did nothing to stimulate Ring use anymore after the first patch (like rewarding and perma-hosting a few of the best scenarios), and in fact, build a lot of discouraging mechanics into the Ring to hold it back, because they were afraid people would use it too much.

But let's make a new thread and not hijack this one if we want to discuss that.

As for globey Atys, we've seen a lot of pictures of Atys as a globe, so I think it's safe to assume.

[symolan]

As for globey Atys, we've seen a lot of pictures of Atys as a globe, so I think it's safe to assume.

You almost convinced me.... but, I don't see a globe, just a circle... and still swimming homins don't disappear. doubts still justified methinks.

[sidusar]

On the other hand, they've never been squeamish about rewriting the lore when it suits them.

[ajsuk]

Jeez, don't encourage it.