Sexstination #11 - Bondage Ranch

On the recommendation of several friends, I saddled up and paid a visit to the Bondage Ranch.

I spent several minutes reading the rules and checking out the arrival area when I got there. Lots of information to be had, and the last thing I wanted to do was be banned from the ranch, so I wanted to be sure I knew the expectations before I ventured onto the ranch itself. There were no rules that were out of the ordinary, they all basically boiled down to 'don't act like an ass'.

The 'ranch' itself really does look like a fairly good representation of a ranch with a large barn, ranch house and expansive open land. I did see one chick on a horse, but as far as animals go, that was about it. There are a few very large circular walkways with lots of different 'equipment' spaced around. There were a lot of people around, but I honestly didn't see a lot of sex going on, just a lot of people standing around, presumably in a private conversation with someone.

There's a lot more to 'Bondage Ranch' than just this area, though. There are many different themed areas to choose from including the Doctor's Office, Scandinavian Fetish Dungeon, Kidnapper's Warehouse, Gerstle Bay Stables, Mystical Bondage, Bondage Playground and a few others.

My first visit to an alternate area was the 'Castle and Village'. To me that seemed very dark and interesting because I was picturing an area with some rough looking villagers hiding around corners or down alleys waiting for a new visitor to pass by. When in reality I was teleported to a big castle - The Damsel Island Bondage Mall. Bluh. I left there, wandered around a bit, and ended up at the Dragon's Den Club. I like to be a girl that keeps an open-mind, and I hate to be negative but this club has to be in the running for the most horrificly ugly club in all of Second Life. I understand the 'dark' theme and idea of creating a bondage-themed club, but come on people. Grey textures, metal grates and flowing, dumb-looking lava are not going to accomplish your objectives. We can do better than this.

After that disappointing adventure, I decided to visit the Doctor's Office - who can help but be aroused at the thought of that yearly gynecological exam all of us women have to endure. I'm wet just thinking about it. The Doctor's Office was just one building with a lot of medical equipment in it - several of which looked like they belonged on the Star Trek Enterprise. There was also a 'ground sex' poseball which I thought was very fitting - I'm constantly having sex on the ground in my doctor's office. Thank God someone thought to include it here.

My next stop was the 'Scandinavian Fetish Dungeon'. I have yet to understand what made it Scandinavian, but it was a small 'underground' feeling room with a sunken love pit and some other equipment. I personally feel that calling it a Scandinavian Fetish Dungeon was a bit of a stretch, but we all tend to exaggerate a bit in Second Life, don't we?

So as a wrap-up, I'm glad I had some people tell me to review the Bondage Ranch, but I'm afraid it didn't live up to my expectations. I had really hoped for a higher quality than what I found. Flashing textures, improper scale, and haphazard placement of objects with no real thought given to creating a cohesive sex playground were things that disappointed me. I loved the idea of making different themed areas, but it's got to be pulled off better than this. I didn't get to visit all of the places, and maybe some of the others are done better than what I saw, but somehow I doubt it.

-xopixox