Going in style

There are all kinds of ways to get around in Second Life.

You can walk, of course, although that’s rather bland. You can run and swim, or try flying to spice things up a bit. And for instant gratification, teleporting is great.

There are also a wide variety of vehicles to take you from point A to point B in style. I’ve tried out a number of them; even tried making them myself (rather disastrously – my first attempt at a boat turned itself 90 degrees when I sat in it). But possibly the best Second Life vehicles I’ve seen are the airships and blimps created by Carrah Rossini and sold at her shop on Dreamfall.

There’s an airship for every budget, from the “Nessie” explorer (249L) to the Selene “Cloud Hugger” fantasy airship coming in at 2699L. Each model offers some serious bang for the buck – security systems, built-in aquariums and TVs, and some of the best texture work you’ll see anywhere on the grid.

The larger ships such as the Cloud Hugger are both big enough to live in and appointed well enough to do so royally – cushy beds and sofas and window seats, even hammocks, provide plenty of elbow room. The interiors are richly appointed and more luxurious than many high-end houses I’ve seen.

But the real fun comes when you take one of the ships out for a spin. I got to try out my friend Poogie’s “Nereide” submarine (although we used it in the air), and I was hooked. The larger ships are out of my Linden range, but I got the cute little “Nessie” explorer and have been having a great time with it.

My little explorer zoomed me all over the sim where I live. The handling was smooth and precise, and being physical, it allowed me to take it smartly right down through my roof and land neatly in the center of my living room. It has a realistic engine running sound effect to add to the experience.

The fun really started, though, when I took it underwater. The particle bubbles from the exhaust and the moving headlamp really made me feel as though I were exploring an undersea world.

For 249L, it would be hard to beat “Nessie.” And the larger ships are priced very competitively with better-quality houses of the same size, with the added bonus of being able to transport you.

So the next time you’re getting bored with walking, flying and TPing, get yourself over to Dreamfall and check out Carrah Rossini’s airships – then start traveling in style.