VRChat launch link (Friends+ instance). Post in your browser;
vrchat://launch?ref=vrchat.com&id=wrld_e06ef2d3-34b1-4f8d-835a-4ca58c9bd1c1:60585~hidden(usr_bd367393-13bb-461e-9c79-434e26c92bec)~nonce(e7c47ba8-78d2-4e8a-9e29-ca130b2b2094)
This world… this world. To explain this world without raging the FUCK out over how fucking IMPOSSIBLE it is (for me), is thus.
If you’ve been playing VRChat since about a month ago, a brand new climbing mechanic was introduced by user ‘CyanLaser‘. This mechanic in a sense, simulates playspace mover with full body tracking (being able to climb up surfaces).
Since then, he has released the prefab allowing world builders to make their own worlds based off of the climbing mechanic.
The latest climbing world came out a few days ago (which is the world at the top of this blog post); titled ‘Climbing Carnival’. It even has some lore behind the world, of finding out what happened to an expedition of climbers that scaled up the mile-high cliff
face… and yes, I wasn’t kidding when I said ‘mile-high’.
This world, can take 3-4+ HOURS (real life hours) to climb (with breaks)! Some brave souls claim they have made it to the very top in just over an hour, however they were never seen since, only their so-called ‘proof’ on a small rock (as being part of the ‘rock of fame’) is what remains of them. Others say they were frozen solid for their lies, and the ‘victors’ are part of that rock, encased forever.
–
So clearly (IMHO), this world is for advanced climbers; it tests your speed and endurance.
Question is.. how high will you go before your arms say “FUCK THIS”?
Or will you (like me) suddenly lose your grip at the 1/3rd point of the climb, being unable to use your momentum to swing over to the cliff face (as you’re too far away from it), and end up back at the start (looking like pizza as your body is compressed into one from the sudden stop at the end (the ground), with all of your bones breaking at once)?
Well, minus the gruesome ‘fail state’, it still feels like it when you go up so high, then you mis-click or your controllers suddenly aren’t registering a grab, and you lose grip.
…I’ve been beaten by multiple Desktop users, and someone who has the same exact headset and controllers as I do. PLUS.. it was his first time using the climbing mechanic.
Actually, you know what, I’m just going to call
on him!! Because there’s NO WAY he got that lucky! Even Frost agrees with me! lol
.
To me, this.. thing, shows what I have to get over to change my life. But instead of an enormous bottomless gap with no ending or clear way to get across (as my ‘baby
steps’), it’s an enormous pillar with no ending!
EDIT: I was going to be doing a few tweaks on a laying down animation that Kovo sent
me, but I decided to spend pretty much all day trying to climb that thing (using that Friends+ link I posted). And here’s some pictures of my climb (all legit);
I look like “I needed this vacation to get away from the stress this year.”
The twisty section (halfway to Base Camp 1): it took about 20 minutes to reach, finally going past the 1/3rd mark. Going up the twisty section to reach the rest of the pillar, is quite easy and enjoyable compared to getting up to this point.
–
About an hour later (compensating for failure and resting time), I finally reached
Base Camp 1! So the time to get up here is pretty realistic (indicated on the sign behind me). This is also the furthest point I reached illegit (flying) a day ago. Rest assured, this time it was completely legit.
About 1/4 further up (on my way to Base Camp 2), it was nearing dinnertime. Decided to take off my headset and put something infront of the sensor to keep it from turning off and losing my progress.
–
When I came back and after dealing with some other things that forced me to leave the pillar (but was able to get a flight back), I continued my climb. Though the one that helped me decided to join me on my way back up, and he got stuck.
Slowly made our way near where I had reached, but he had to leave and I continued the climb by myself. Soon I made it back to my previous point, and continued on.
–
The snow layer really kicked in, now halfway to Base Camp 2 (while taking another rest on a cliff. Taking breaks is very important, especially in VR).
Finding ledges (to rest my arms and let my forehead cool as it was 85*F in my room with the AC on at full blast) at this altitude, is a godsend.
–
Now 3/4 to Base Camp 2, I stumbled upon a boo-boo of the map maker..
–
Decided to get a selfie on this very large resting ledge. How I wish I could turn it into my own personal Base Camp!
If I was to guesstimate the time to get up to this point (not including dinnertime), about two hours.
–
*panting* Almost… there…. the gateway to Base Camp 2. The snow squalls up here are nearly blinding!
–
Formulating a plan to reach BC2… and folks, this is when things really started getting intense!! 2 doesn’t fucking play around.
Had a few moments where I swore I was further than this point, suddenly losing grip. And at one point I was forced to go nearly 90* backwards (as there was no other way up), trying to reach a gap in a fortified section. That part, made me extremely nervous, knowing if I lose grip there.. there would be no ground for 1.5 miles.
…But my dragon determination, would not let up. It was grueling, it was ridiculous, it nearly felt impossible… but I’m a dragon. I REFUSE to give up at this point!!
Because I HAVE DONE IT!!
Base Camp 2 REACHED, LEGIT! BOO-YA!!! 😀
*happy dragon roar sounds could be heard all the way to the ground*
Or there would be, if I showed it. But to keep what’s beyond Base Camp 2 a secret, I won’t post it. All I can say is there’s rumors of another pillar that extends to 2,850 meters shorter than the highest point on Earth (Mount Everest). There’s also rumors of riches (and
fame) beyond your wildest dreams on the top of it.
But I didn’t care about such things, as reaching Base Camp 2 is all I wanted (as my headset fell asleep and closed VRChat).
Just goes to show, with enough patience, focus, and determination, you can achieve anything (in a video game.. not a real life lesson :P).
That was fun challenge, and I’ll likely be going past Base Camp 2 in the near future, when I’m good and rested (after flying myself up there of course, because fuck THAT noise of climbing that damn thing again!!), just to see what’s up there.
This time though, the only picture I will post is reaching the very top.
EDIT… The map maker has made it even harder. Though this doesn’t change the climb to Base Camp 2, it makes what’s beyond now higher than Mount Everest (making it the highest known point ever reached in VRChat).
In addition, a future update will require you to use the rock climbing pickaxes instead of your hands (as the grip balls will be moved to the tips of the pickaxes). But to make it easier, there will be an audible sound to let you know when your swing makes contact with a surface; so no more assuming your hand is locked in (when it might not be).
EDIT2 (7/31/19)… It’s even harder (and higher) now, going all the way to the fucking MOON!! The pillar can now be seen as a ‘space elevator for manly men’.
Also it seems the map maker was unable to make it possible for the rock climbing pickaxes to be used as the main mode of climbing. Didn’t think it would be possible; too ambiguous of a task. So your hands are the only way to climb.
The map maker has also fixed issues with sound (from the latest VRChat update). The carnival music can now be heard as it was before the update.