Alternate History Universe
Here are the Core Pillars of This Separate Universe Courtesy of Experiment Alpha:
▲ Diverse Factions
Factions with realistic, personable characters with authentic motivations. Yes, this means actual characters would be interacting with each other, not just a faceless, bodiless voice overseeing a series of fleets.
Behaviours which we want to promote:
- A diverse cast of varied, named characters with backstories of their own, personal motivations, and willingness to interact with the rest of the setting in some manner or another.
- Extensive backstories which delve into the ethos of the faction, their history, and their culture as a people and/or species.
- In-universe descriptions of their technology, how it functions, and the appearance of their people and ships from a non-cosmoteer viewpoint.
▲Meaningful Roleplay
Meaningful roleplay which adds depth and weight to our newly-founded, persistent universe. Characters would remember their interactions and respond according to what their motivations are – not simply acting upon the whims of their creator.
Behaviours which we want to promote:
- Character growth over time, changing their motivations and personalities realistically in accordance to their interactions with other players.
- Actions which lead to changes in the faction’s personality and structure as much as the changes affect the individual.
- Growth and development of the universe, NPC actors, and setting in general as the PCs develop their stories
▲ Emergent Storytelling
It’s not enough to simply exist – players should seek to interact with the universe and other players in order to keep the story moving and growing, sponsoring new interactions with less-active players to keep this from feeling like too much of an ‘elite RPers clique’.
Behaviours which we want to promote:
- Interacting character- to character with other players on a consistent basis, so as to keep the story moving
- Interacting with less-active players, to help shepherd in new players into the ‘verse
- Preventing situations where all players gang up on one player, with exceptions of mutually agreed upon story events.
▲ Real Consequences
Lastly, consequences need to be real and need to be impactful. If there are no consequences people will not feel like their decisions are meaningful; how interesting would a tactical strike against an enemy’s supply lines be if they could simply ‘wizard into existence’ new supplies?
Behaviours which we want to promote:
- Realistic portrayals of tactics, strategy, and combat, such that players could have meaningful and impactful effects on other players in the ‘verse. Such interactions would be arbitrated by moderators/GMs, which would help to negotiate an outcome which does not eradicate a player from the setting as a whole yet still leads to meaningful consequences both for the attacker and the defender.
- The formation of alliances, meta-factions, and other groups which would defend against NPC threats to the galaxy/galaxies as a whole, run via scripted ‘story events’ which would keep tension running even in the downtime when the blood cult isn’t trying to kill everyone where PC on PC conflict is in a lull.
- Realistic portrayals of defeat, wherein a GM arbitrated loss is voluntarily portrayed by a player in a realistic manner; damaged ships, wounded economies, and burned pride.
Season 1 of the AHU is upon us roleplay enthusiasts! While the rulebook will be released tomorrow, today will not be an uneventful day. All along the forums new spacefaring species and their factions will be appearing. These factions will include a general summary of the faction's goals, a summary of what has caused the home planet to become unified, significant characters, an explanation the star system that the faction originates, the first two ships designed for prolonged spaceflight by the faction, and a discord for those who are not yet connected to an AHU faction to join and become a part of the action if they do not wish to create a faction but still have a character. Have fun newfound colonists!
- Jack Weaver, the Translator of HIveminds