Tuesday, June 9, 2009

New ROMA Web Portal

Avete Citizens!

Exciting news from the Palatine! At long last ROMA has its own web domain: www.romacitizens.com.

This will serve as a portal for all of our online content. Virtually all of our previous web pages will continue to exist at their old URLs (such as this blog, the messageboard, the ning.com social sites, etc), but will now be pulled together and fully accessible from www.romacitizens.com.

Now you only need to remember one web address to access all of ROMA!

(Group Officers: If you would like to have any info added, or if you would like to create your own web content for this site, talk to Torin and he'll make it happen.)

Friday, May 15, 2009

ROMA Bona Dea & Mercuralia Schedule

Saturday 16th May

10 am - Bona Dea Ritual & Maypole Dance

Our festivals begin with a ritual for Bona Dea, "The Good Goddess" - Also known as Fauna, She is the daughter of Faunus, and a goddess virginity, fertility, and healing. Bona Dea's rites included only women - even paintings or drawings of men or male animals were forbidden - but in our ROMA, the menfolk are welcome to Her rites. After the rite, we will have the traditional maypole dance, as well as grape-stomping and wine!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim


12pm - Bona Dea Cross-Dressing Contest

Because no women were traditionally allowed to participate in Bona Dea's rites, we have found a way to sneak the men in! We will be having a cross-dressing contest for the boys of ROMA - but there's a catch! Just as in RL, you can change everything but your shape - that must remain male! There will be cash prizes for the Prettiest, Ugliest, Most Realistic, and Most Outrageous costumes - don't be shy, come join in the fun! Please see attached rules for details.
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim


2pm - Bona Dea Carnivale

To help celebrate the return of warm weather and springtime, what's better than a carnivale? Perhaps celebrating one of ROMA's very own MVPs! We are starting a new tradition this year, honouring various ROMA Citizens for their contributions - since Bona Dea is a female festival, our MPV is Spaciva Ivanova! The carnivale will also help raise funds for the Legion & Collegia, who are in danger of losing their HQs. So come along, have some fun and make a difference while you play! (We will be electing a male MVP at Saturnalia as well!)
�ocation: ROMA Fort

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Sunday 17th May

10am - Mercuralia Ritual

Mercury isn't just the herald of the Gods - He's also the patron of merchants and commerce! So this Mercuralia, we will be honouring Him with a ritual in the Mercury Temple at the Macellum! After the ritual, there will be drinking, dancing, and games in the Tavern. Consider it the calm before a long day of contests!
Location: ROMA Subura


11am- Senate Meeting

The public is invited to the ROMA Senate meeting in the ROMA Curia.
Location: ROMA sim


12pm - Mercuralia Footrace

Mercury is known for His swift travel as well - do you think you can match His prowess? Here's your chance to try! We will be having several footraces on the Hippodrome's track in honour of Mercury the Swift. There will be prizes for the 1st place winners of each race, with a race-off of all winners for a Grand Prize. Can you be the leader of the pack? Come prove it!
Location: ROMA sim


2pm - Mercuralia Treasure Hunt

Oh no! While blessing ROMA with good fortune, Mercury has lost all His money pouches! Can you find them for Him? For each purse you find, you'll get a monetary reward - yes, that means cold, hard lindens! How big a reward will you finally reap? Come join the hunt and find out!
Location: ROMA sim


4pm - The Mercury & Fauna Grand Feast

Our Festivals culminate with the Mercury & Fauna Grand Feast - come celebrate the return of Spring with us! We will also be having a trivia contest, courtesy of Mickey James! There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place contest winners!
Location: ROMA sim

Monday, May 4, 2009

ROMA PRO VITA Flea Market a Success!


Thanks to the hard work of the organizers and the generosity of our citizens, the ROMA PRO VITA Flea Market that was held in the ROMA Fort was a great success!

Over L$36,500 was raised, bringing in over $141.00 US to help fight cancer and fund cancer research.

The finale of the market was held on Sunday with a great live music concert in the Fort!

There will be more ROMA PRO VITA events held this spring in ROMA to benefit the Relay For Life organization, so watch the ROMA notices.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

How the upcoming changes regarding "adult regions" will affect ROMA


1. First, be sure to read what Angelia wrote explaining why the changes are happening, and why LL is now attempting to censor sexual and extremely violent content on the grid. This notecard is available on the 'notices' tab of the ROMA Citizens group (soon to be found in world in the Plaza).

2. ROMA will remain 'Mature' and not go 'Adult'. This is for two reasons: A) remaining 'Mature' under the new LL system requires only a few minor changes to the overall way ROMA is run and B) we do not wish to exclude unverified accounts from ROMA, many of which are students and teachers affiliated with universities and colleges and museums who usually do not link those accounts with credit card info, etc to verify them. ROMA, however will remain a place where only players above 18 are welcome.

3. The rooms under the Lupanar will be closed. ROMA will no longer offer a place for avatars to engage in virtual sex. The 12 Tables will be changed to reflect that as a ‘mature’ zoned area, we can no longer offer such a space. (The rooms were rarely used so this is in our opinion no big loss).

4. Based on comments from Blondin Linden, male and female avatar nudity can occur in Mature regions. RL pictures of nudity can not. So the Hot Springs will continue to be clothing optional. (the LL policy regarding nudity is still being worked out, so this may change in the future).

5. Merchants selling items where sexual acts are depicted will no longer be able to list them for sale in uncensored form. Right now we will allow, for example, images of ancient erotica to be sold if the images in the vendor are censored to reflect the new LL policy. So put black bars on the advertised image, and sell the uncensored in a manner that it can not be seen until the customer rezzes it at home. Erotic, sexual themed and extremely violent objects can not be advertised in classified, profile picks, or external web pages as being sold in ROMA. We will change the merchant agreements to reflect this.

6. For Subura residents, our Subura rules already stipulate that sexual matters need to remain indoors where they are not visible to the general public. Everyone knows this already, and the Subura residents have been exemplary in adhering to this rule. This policy will remain in effect, with the added caveat that LL now forbids them from advertising public parties or events at their Subura plot if they have sexual themed objects such as erotic art, sex beds, BDSM equipment, etc in their private house. This includes skybox material that will be out of sight. It can’t be on the parcel period if you have a public event. You are still able to have such objects if they are private and kept out of the sight of passer-bys.

7. As for violence, our roleplay does not involve realistic or extreme violence, so I do not see more than some minor tweaks in this area. The Ludus fights and Legion displays are educational (and it would help make this point if the Legion, Legio, and Ludus groups used the words ‘educational’ and ‘recreation’ more in their events and notices. Let us ‘play up’ our educational components.). Legion and Ludus members should refrain from using any gadget or effect that is particularly bloody or gruesome. ROMA is not a combat-oriented roleplay land, and just enjoying a combat system in its place (already spelled out in the 12 Tables and regulated in the sims and by the groups) does not cross us over from ‘mature’ to ‘adult’.

8. Roleplay and roleplay events should also not incorporate overt sexual or violent themes. Our roleplay rules already forbid sexual slavery (of the Gor and BDSM variety) so that will continue to be in force.

Torin Golding
Owner & Prefect, ROMA Sims

Monday, April 13, 2009

April Festival Events

2009 Veneralia/Floralia/Cerealia Festival Schedule

Saturday 18th April


10 am - Veneralia Ritual/Ask Venus and Love Poetry
Our festivals begin with a ritual for Venus Verticordia, "The Changer of Hearts" - to petition Venus for support and aid in one's lovelife. After the rite, you'll get a change to ask all your love questions of Venus Herself, and we will have reading of love poetry as well - so bring your favourite poems or even those you've written yourself!
LOCATION: ROMA Hot Springs, ROMA Transtibirim

12pm - Floralia Ritual/Egg Hunt
Come celebrate the Roman version of Easter with us! The Floralia is the festival of the Goddess Flora, patron of flowers and spring fertility. In Flora's honour, we will have a ritual, followed by a sim wide egg hunt in Transtiberim. Every egg contains a prize, a few of them one-of-a-kind, so don't miss it! (See Hunt instructions in the ROMA Tabularium)
LOCATION: ROMA Transtibirim

2pm - Cerealia Ritual/Garden Harvest Party
Though Flora ushers in the Springtime, it is Ceres who holds sway over the fruitfulness of the Earth entire, and the Cerealia is the Roman festival held in Her honour. In keeping with this ancient tradition, we will be having a ritual in Ceres' honour, followed by a celebration in the Gardens of Ceres (usually known as the Gardens of Maecenas) - come tend the garden, dance in the flowers, and welcome in the springtime with us!
LOCATION: Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA


Sunday 19th April

10am - Veneralia Lupanar Tour/Sex In The Roman World exhibit
Venus was the Roman Goddess of Erotic love - and ancient Rome was an ardent follower of Her sacred mysteries! Come learn about the role sex played in ancient Rome with a guided tour of ROMA's Lupanar (brothel) and it's special exhibit!
LOCATION: Lupanar district, ROMA

12pm - Floralia Egg Race
What's a springtime celebration without some fun contests? For Floralia, we are holding an egg race through the streets of ROMA! Come decorate an egg and try to roll it from the Forum to the Finish Line in the ROMA Plaza - but there's a catch - these eggs *bounce*! Can you make it to the finish without your egg getting away from you? The first one across the finish line wins a prize.
LOCATION: Forum, ROMA

2pm - Cerealia Fox Hunt
Part of ancient Cerealia's celebration was to let loose wild foxes to run free through the Circus Maximus. ROMA has our own fox tradition, the Cerealia Fox Hunt! Come chase our foxes and see how many you can tag in 1 hour - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize purses for those with the most foxes tagged. But beware - ROMA foxes are quick and crafty!
LOCATION: Head of Transtibirim Path, ROMA Transtibirim

4pm - The Tria Deae Grand Feast
Our Spring Festival culminate with the Tria Deae (Three Goddesses) Grand Feast - come dance under the springtime stars with us! We will also be holding a contest for best festival themed costume - love, flowers, gardens, and foxes are a just few of the themes you can choose from. But whatever fits with a Veneralia, Floralia, or Cerealia theme is welcome! (Giant box of Cheerios, anyone?) There will be cash prizes for best male and female costume.
LOCATION: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtibirim

Friday, March 13, 2009

March Festival Schedule

Equirria, Matronalia, Quinquatria, & Bacchanalia

March 14th, 2009

10am - Rekindling Vesta's Holy Flame
Our festivals begin this month with the Rekindling of the Flame in the Temple of Vesta in ROMA. After the ritual, Vesta Herself will lead a procession into Subura where She will give each domus Her blessing. After the blessing, there will be drinking, dancing, and music for all!
Location: ROMA Temple of Vesta

1pm - Subura Equirria Races
In honour of Mars and Equirria, we are having a horse race through the Subura! Anyone can enter the race - you can bring your own horse, or use one of our demo horses. Even Centaurs are welcome! There will be a prize purse for the winner of the race, as well as a 12 prim trophy to display in your domus!
Location: ROMA Subura

3pm - Matronalia Costume Beauty Contest
Matronalia is the Roman equivalent of our Mother's Day, and this year, we are celebrating the beauty that is motherhood! Our beauty contest will be a costume event, and anyone can enter, even men - but your costume theme must relate to mothers and motherhood. There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Please see attached contest rules for details.
Location: Odeon of Marcellus, ROMA


March 15th, 2009

10:30am- ROMA Senate Meeting
All ROMA citizens are welcome to attend the Senate meeting in the Curia @ 10:30 a.m. SLT.
Location: ROMA Curia, Forum

12pm - Quinquatria Legion Battle Demo
At Fort Legio Augusta in ROMA, our beloved Legio will be putting on a battle display in honour of Mars for the Quinquatria. Come see what a Roman war might have looked like, complete with seige engines!
Location: Fort, ROMA

2pm - Quinquatria Ritual for Minerva and Oracle Prophecies
Come to the Temple of Minerva in Subura for a ritual honouring the Goddess! Minerva is the goddess of the Quinquatria, a balancing force of just & honourable battle against the passionate and wild war symbolised by Mars. Our ritual today honours Her wisdom and justice, as well as asking Her blessing upon our ROMA. After the ritual, we will take part in a Quinquatria tradition - that of divination and prophecy. Come ask the Pythia your fate!
Location: Temple of Minerva, ROMA Subura

4pm - Bacchanalia Grand Feast
Come join us for the Grand Feast of the Bacchanalia! We will elect a Bacchus and Chief Maenad to preside over the feast, and a Bacchanal Trivia game, presented by our trivia-master Mickey James! So come dressed in your wild man/wild woman best and party with us!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim (outside Ostia)

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Alt Warning To The ROMA Community


>>> UPDATED WITH FRENCH, GERMAN, & ITALIAN SUMMARY BELOW: <<<>


Avete Citizens

This is a difficult post for me to write. For over a year, one person has been repeatedly harassing ROMA with alts. It has caused myself, the Emperor, our estate management staff, and group officers a great deal of emotional stress and bother.

This griefer has taken complete advantage of our collective trusting nature and the good graces of the entire ROMA community. To date they have utilized over 35 (!!!) alts to attempt to cause financial, emotional and social stress to ROMA. Today, when a group of officers confronted their latest alt, they did what they have always done- they ran away, no doubt to try and come back again as another alt.

Therefore we are forced to take the unprecedented step now of publicly declaring to the community what we believe to be many of the alts of this person. We hope by listing the names we will show the community the breadth of the problem this person engenders as well as alert the community to the issue. The management of ROMA suggests you be on your guard when dealing with these individuals or currently unknown alts that may be the same individual. The alts have all been banned from ROMA and removed from all closed groups.

ROMA will not tolerate the use of alts to harass our community. We have a tremendous group of people here, which is probably why sick people like this griefer have targeted us in the past.

Many thanks to everyone who has been helpful in unmasking this serial griefer. It has been a several month-long sting operation covering several countries. We know exactly who the griefer is outside of SL and will be delivering an abuse report directly to LL.

Please join with me in rejecting the twisted actions of this sick individual. ROMA is better than them.

Valete

1) Arada Arado
2) Tullia Lanzius
3) Liquid Gold
4) Nemesis Hydraconis
5) Lu Le
6) Helveticus Kultus
7) Egyptian Scribe
8) Clementia Schapira
9) Xylophonia Gelles
10) Maat Destiny
11) Delicia Juliesse
12) Venus Baragula
13) Gaius Cuttita
14) Cecilia Halberstadt
15) SlaveofCecilia Halberstadt
16) Grandiosa Vendetta
17) Hypatia Sparta
18) Norma Lauria
19) Publius Cornelius
20) Persipina Rhiadra
21) Xenobia Thespian
22) Legatus Mimulus
23) Robin McCall
24) Diamantha Burnstein
25) Paulette Lefevre
26) GrandeDuchesse Juliesse
27) Barbara Flinders
28) tamara Slyusarenko
29) Thane Woodford
30) Sister Hood
31) Salome Karillion
32) Lucretia Larnia
33) Minucius Mimulus
34) Nuntius Mimulus
35) Amethystangel Ember
36) Isis Khandr
37) Shahrazad Kharg
38) Drucilla Galicia

Please note this is a partial, not complete list of this person's alts - there are too many to conveniently list here. We have listed the more well-known alts around ROMA.


FRANCAIS:
AVERTISSEMENT A LA COMMUNAUTE DE ROMA
======================================
Depuis plus d'un an, plusieurs avatars, qui ne sont en fait qu'une seule personne, ont visé ROMA. Ces avatars ont causé des torts financiers, moraux et causé du stress émotionnel et social à toute la communauté. Nous avons pris la décision de déclarer publiquement la liste des noms de ces avatars, à toute la communauté afin que cela cesse. La direction vous recommande vivement d'être sur vos gardes si vous êtes en face de ces individus, ainsi qu'avec des autres avatars inconnus qui pourraient être en fait toujours la même personne.

DEUTSCH:
WARNUNG AN DIE COMMUNITY VON ROMA
===================================
Mehr als ein Jahr lang haben alts unter der Kontrolle einer Person in ROMA ihr Unwesen getrieben. Sie haben finanziellen, emotionalen und öffentlichen Ärger in ROMA und dessen Community verursacht. Wir gehen nun den Schitt, der Community eine Liste von alt Namen öffentlich bekannt zu machen. Das Management mahnt jeden dringlich, Vorsicht im Umgang mit diesen Individuen walten zu lassen. Dies gilt auch für bisher noch nicht bekannte oder noch unentdeckte alts, die die gleiche Person sein können. Bitte beachten Sie, daß dies nur eine Auswahl und keine komplette Liste der alts dieser Person ist - es sind schlicht zu viele um sie alle namentlich zu nennen. Aufgeführt sind nur die bekannteren alts die sich in ROMA aufhielten.

ITALIANO:
======================================
Per oltre un anno, degli ''Alts'' (diversi avatars controllati da una persona sola) sotto il controllo di una persona hanno bersagliato ROMA. Hanno causato stess finanziari, emozionali e sociali all'intera community. Stiamo ora rendendo pubblica la notizia e dichiarando la lista degli alts a tutta la community in maniera da poterli fermare. Il managament suggerisce di stare in guardia quando incontrate questi individui oppure altri alts sconosciuti che potrebbero essere lo stesso individuo. Prego notare che questa è una parziale, non completa, lista degli alts di questa persona (ce ne sono troppi per poterli inserire nella lista). Abbiamo inserito nelal lista i più conosciuti alts di ROMA.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Lupercalia 2009 Schedule

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21

10am - Lupercal Cave - Lupercalia Ritual and The Running of the Luperci

In celebration of this most ancient of festivals we will be performing the official Rite of Faunus Lupercus, for Faunus Lupercus, God of the Wilds and Lupa, the shewolf who nourished the founding fathers Romulus and Remus. After the rite, we will have the Running of The Luperci - half-naked youths who bless the young ladies of the city. The women will line the path to the city gates, to submit to being lightly flogged with goatskin floggers in hopes of fertility (both of mind and body).


12 noon - Forum - Presentation of the Legion, and the Escort of Venus

The Legio, in a time honored military display, will present arms (and their new uniforms) to our Imperator Julian Augustus. This presentation will be attended by the lovely Goddess Venus, who will be escorted to the baths where citizens may consult Her. Don't miss your chance to see our beloved Imperator!


12:30ish - Baths of Caracalla - Ask Venus

Our lovely Goddess Venus will hold court in the Baths of Caracalla for those who seek council about matters of love and romance! Please join us with your questions, or just to hang out and hear what others wish to know. No question is too personal or trivial - Venus will answer them all!


2pm - Gardens of Maecenas - Lovelorn Date Auction

Need a lovely or handsome valentine for this day of love and romance? Then bring your lindens and bid on the avatar of your dreams and win a date! Or perhaps you'd rather put yourself on the auction block and trust to fate. Perhaps you'll meet the one you've always dreamed of partnering! The proceeds go to The Collegia Religio Romana to help bring you more of these wonderful festivals.


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

9am - Ludus - Lecture on Roman Military Life

The Commanders of the Legio will demonstrate and discuss the rigors of military life. Topics will include organization, uniforms, equipment, and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about Roman Military life!


10am - Ludus - Gladiatorial Games

Come cheer for your favorite gladiator or gladiatrix! The battles of grit and determination are sure to entertain. Sponsored by the Ludus Dacicus Gladiatorii, in honor of Lupercalia.


12noon - Senator Hunt

Can't find a Senator when you need one? Now's your chance! Sponsered by the Senate Curia, we will hunt the senators through ROMA, ROMA Subura, and ROMA Transtiberim in the manner of a foxhunt. Prizes will be awarded to the one who has tagged the most politicos.


4pm - Grand Feast and Sweetheart Gift Show and Tell

To top off this festival weekend, we have The Grand Feast of Lupercalia! This is your chance to show off the gift sent to you by your mystery sweetheart, and dance till the sun comes up. We promise you a wild time - and clothing will be optional. ;)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The ROMA “IN SUO ANNO” New Merchant Program

In the Roman world, a Citizen was said to be “in suo anno” if he achieved each political office in sequential order at the youngest possible age, usually with a lot of external help from established politicians. It was one way of fast-tracking their political career. In ROMA, we would like to extend a similar helping hand to content creators that are just starting out in Second Life.

The ROMA “IN SUO ANNO” New Merchant Program provides free prime rental in the Roman Market for one month, where hopefully a beginning content creator will be able to raise enough funds to start their own commercial career in SL. In return, ROMA attracts a new and dynamic content creator every month, and ROMA Citizens are exposed to a wide range of fresh content.

More information is available from a notecard giving sign in the Customs House, Market, and Tabularium.

If you, or you know of someone, who qualifies and would like to participate, please contact Ludovik Cazenove.

Thursday, February 5, 2009