World-Spheres - a Community Campaign Setting (Discussion Thread)

[Nomadic]

EDIT: as far as the 3 rules go, the idea of each of us not wanting to join the project because we want to make our own world is sorta silly. If you want to make your own world you might as well just do it. There is no point in interaction between worlds if it is random anyway; they have to be linked by something for it to matter. This is a project to create a collective setting. I wasn't part of Cebegia, but i looked at it and i can see why people found it constricting. but you can easily make a framework that isn't constricting in the same way without sacrificing options and limiting creativity.

Silly? Hardly. What I said was based on experience. The world I talked about was full of people who wanted to create worlds and join them together. Everyone gave up though because it stopped being about creating their world and started being about creating a world for someone else that fit preconceived notions. I suppose my 3 rules was really me just giving the idea a warning bonk on the noggin.

On that note... I like the rim idea (especially the compressed space idea llum had). I think that one will work just fine as it keeps control solidly in the world builders hands.

[Elemental_Elf]

Ok, taking the idea of the Rims/Realms I have constructed a map (to better visualize what we're talking about). Note this is just a concept rather than an actual map.

 [spoiler]
[/spoiler]

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

While I think it would be much more fun if rims didn't have hard shapes (i.e. the four kinds of space mentioned where all mixed up in each other) it's acceptable enough.

Maybe the Outer "Rim" where anything is possible should be located in space like all the others but instead is an "all encompassing" space (like the Astral Plane from D&D).  Just an idea.

[Llum]

Well the "Rims" don't have to be hard and fast circles, I'm sure you could make it so a "tendril" of the Second "Rim" has snaked its way out to the Fourth "Rim" so there's a sort of  causeway of air that lets you "fly".

Maybe the Outer "Rim" where anything is possible should be located in space like all the others but instead is an "all encompassing" space (like the Astral Plane from D&D). Just an idea.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you say that. Its probably just my unfamiliarity with D&D though.

So what does everyone think about the Liquid-->Air(gas-state)---Vacuum---Everything/Anything goes "Rim" divisions? IF that's what Elemental_Elf divisons are supposed to mean?

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you say that. Its probably just my unfamiliarity with D&D though.

It means that the "Outer Rim" lies in the exact same place as all the other rims but out of "phase" with them such that the stuff in them doesn't interact, but people can use special methods to access this "all encompassing" rim and then traverse it to get to other places without having to transition at the edge of each rim to a new form of transport.

[Superfluous Crow]

Hmm, does anybody have any idea about what world they are going to create?

[Elemental_Elf]

I found a cool picture of a distant galaxy that may serve our purposes.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Essentially, the First Rim is the center of the 'galaxy.' 2 of the Rims are actually a spiral arms. The Fourth Rim is a rim that is much like a foundry; a new core, churning out the new and diverse Spheres. Fifth Rim would be dead and/or empty space.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

If we use the Liquid-->Air-->Vaccum-->Nothing paradigm it isn't as interesting if the second rim doesn't sit entirely between the first and third.

And did we establish rim metas yet?

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Hmm, does anybody have any idea about what world they are going to create?

I'm still working on it.  Preliminary has races/species based around animals important to Asian mythologies.

[Steerpike]

I'd love to get involved with this, however it ends up being designed.  I'll probably do something  post-apocalyptic, dystopian, or just bizarre, though it won't be a clone of the Cadaverous Earth.

[Superfluous Crow]

I had some kind of idea about a prison colony built around a rock in which some primeval being is imprisoned. But i'm not really sure how to on with it so it is up for grabs if anybody wants it : p

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

I think I'll try something like a myth or dream realm, where objects exist in space with a funny relationship to each other: buildings bigger on the inside, Escher rooms, etc.

[Llum]

If we settle on the Liquid--Gas--Vacuum--Nothing "Rim" kinda thing I was thinking about making a Gas Giant in the Gas "Rim" where most people live on moons that orbit it.

Tech level would be roughly turn of the 20th century, not sure on magic. Tripod cities and tentacle sporting blimp animals would show up.

I'll second Silvercat when he says:

If we use the Liquid-->Air-->Vaccum-->Nothing paradigm it isn't as interesting if the second rim doesn't sit entirely between the first and third.

[Superfluous Crow]

And i'll agree with that. If we use this idea it should be like some kind of "magical" air-liquid that flows from the sun and get's thinner as we get farther out, and when it ceases to be there existence ends (the fourth rim or whatever). It's concentrated reality :P (maybe not)
I still find the idea somewhat odd, although i'm warming to it.  

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Wait, is this supposed to be only one star system?