Wanted: Worldbuilders, Galaxy-builders, Universe-builders, and Intuitive Minds

[Holeypaladin]

I'm looking for a certain kind of writer. The goal is not to develop a single RP, or to join just one story that is bound to end eventually, but to build upon existing foundations, expand on early concepts to build a masterpiece that is more than the sum of its parts.

The final objective is simple: A setting in which multiple RPs can take place. Where you can re-use characters and ideas, re-use nations and races, build new concepts and reference past stories, while allowing new and better stories that add on to the existing lore and depth of the universe.

I want writers with ideas. Who can take a concept, build on it, mold it, and add it to a collective of other concepts written by a collaborations of like-minded writers to be a truly unique creation.

I want writers who with a desire for a setting in which they can re-use their favorite characters or create new ones as they so desire. Too often I spent time developing a character over the course of an RP... only to have the RP die off, and not have any other place to use said character.

I want co-GMs and participants, creative minds with a love of science fiction, people who are willing to take the initial plunge into the unknown in order to make it known, build it from the ground up, and make a great universe, and proudly say, "I helped build that."

I understand the need for familiarity. I understand that starting something foreign, adapting into someone else's world can be difficult. It is my understanding that most of the writers I am looking for would prefer to run an RP rather than participate... I know, because I am the same way.

However, I believe the potential benefits outweigh the initial hardships. I've tried to make a few RPs in this universe as an attempt to familiarize players to the environment, and they've met with limited success so far. It is my understanding that people desire familiarity, and are hesitant to join something that looks too different from what they're used to.

This is why I want writers to help build it themselves. One is most familiar with their own creation, after all.

So, would anyone like to build new worlds and new civilizations, in a collaborative galaxy building project?

I ask only that you adhere to some universal laws of consistency, so as to make this galaxy balanced and consistent with itself. I have established guidelines for doing so, but I am always open to suggestions in order to expand these guidelines.

I find my standards to be quite lenient... most commonly-used science fiction technology is acceptable, and if it is not, I may be able to assist in making it more acceptable. I stress a very logical and analytic way of deciding what works and what doesn't. There may be arguments and disagreements, as there always are between great minds, but at times it is more essential to enforce balance than it is to allow new ideas that can drastically alter every RP that takes place in this galaxy.

[RainTheifAustin]

Ok, well, you already know me, so do you think I am intuitve enough to do this? I have yet to see my true power! It is over 9000!

[Holeypaladin]

I would love to see what you can produce. I'm not particularly picky... just think of ideas for worlds, empires, races, nations, etc. and build on them. It helps to build on something you really like, that allows you to go into greater detail in describing them.

As you're already familiar with the group in which I host my world informations, feel free to post some of your concepts there.

[RainTheifAustin]

Thank you, be warned, I will be working heavily on a Quarian/Medival concept.

[Durandal]

I would be interested in possibly bringing the idea of Livonia to this, although I'd have to know a general timeframe for what you are aiming for.

[Database Error]

Interesting opening post, you've certainly got my attention, but if I now said "yes" - Where would you go from there?

[Quest]

This would be excellent to be a part of. I could supply you with a few races every now and then, with a complete description of their appearances, where they live, their relations with other races, beliefs, etc.

Again, brilliant idea. What would you call it?

Edit: Here's an example.

Race name: The Ssion
Appearance: Walking seven-foot tall lizards. Their scales are purple and their arms have long, metal claws on the end used as weapons.
Relationship: Hostile
Home planet: Ssarion, a purple planet with mountains and a purple haze. The haze is toxic to all races except the Ssion. They live in caves and do not build structures, relying on natural formations.

(Unfinished)

[Holeypaladin]

I'm not familiar with Livonia, but there is a very wide range of technology available... Ranging from at least 500 years more advanced than Earth, to include modern Earth, and less-developed worlds with little to no technology. While there are "galactic laws" against interfering with less-developed worlds... it doesn't stop people from visiting them, so they might very well come into play.

The general timeframe indicates that all races currently able to travel between stars have been able to do so for under 1000 years... this is primarily to help me contain technology to fairly comprehensible levels rather than exotic superscience that I can't even begin to understand. And also for balance purposes... since there is potential for player empires to fight each other in a competitive setting, I don't want anyone to have such a huge technological advantage over everyone else that they are completely invincible. Although there are a wide variety of different technology levels among the advanced races as well, so some races DO have a clear advantage over others.

As far as where to go after saying yes... I do have a discussion group particularly focused on the galactic worldbuilding aspect and ideas. Everyone is welcome to join in or create discussions there. There is also the option to join or create RPs taking place in this galaxy, though I'd ask that anyone creating them would include me as a co-GM so that I can keep everything consistent with the galactic norms that I use to regulate balance and all that.

The Ssion are an interesting example of a race, but I'd like to include details such as "What does that purple haze consist of" using actual toxic gasses (I don't like made-up elements, but exotic matter that can be manufactured through nanotechnology is fine). Also I wouldn't think it hostile to ALL races... just most. There's always the other life forms that co-exist on their own planet, after all, as life cannot exist without an ecosystem (organisms eat other organisms).

Another particularly noteworthy point is that this galaxy co-exists alongside modern Earth... meaning that humans don't have the ability to travel faster than light. This is because so many have a different idea of what "future humans" would be like, and the fact that since most writers are human, they tend to automatically place humans as the protaganists. Since the purpose of this project is to allow every writer to view himself as the protaganist, humans are factored out by saying they're still living in 2013.

[Quest]

The Ssion are an interesting example of a race, but I'd like to include details such as "What does that purple haze consist of" using actual toxic gasses (I don't like made-up elements, but exotic matter that can be manufactured through nanotechnology is fine). Also I wouldn't think it hostile to ALL races... just most. There's always the other life forms that co-exist on their own planet, after all, as life cannot exist without an ecosystem (organisms eat other organisms).

Those were things I was thinking about when I was writing that; hostility to all races would just be foolish.

Hmm, how about a strange plant that they eat? It spreads extremely quickly, and has the appearance of purple grass. Or we could change the eating habits of Ssions to practically nothing, or the corpses of each other.

Hm. Anyway, this seems like something I'd enjoy, can you link to the discussion group?

[Holeypaladin]

There's a link at the bottom of my signature.

It's not really possible to survive on eating practically nothing, or your own corpses, due to the inefficiency of digestion and the energy requirements for growth and activity... consider how many pounds of food humans consume over a given year, for example.