[Andols]

How would you feel about developing a shared universe as the sff community?

We could discuss our favorite aspects of world building and lay out the basic history and mechanics, then have authors, posters, and (if they're lucky) staff members write short stories centred in our little universe.

Would you enjoy discussing and developing criteria for such a project? Should it be fantasy, sff or a blend? How much development would be too much?

Let me know what you think.

EDIT: for anyone who does want to join in - http://www.sffworld.com/forums/group.php?groupid=28

[DailyRich]

I've done this before on another message board. The idea was to create our own Castle Rock, a town where various stories from any time period could be told. The site support for its story section sadly lapsed (it's primarily a movie site), so it didn't quite reach its full potential, but it was a fun experience piecing together the geography and lore of the town.

The guidelines were fairly loose: you could add whatever you wanted to the town, as long as it didn't directly contradict or make obsolete something that someone else had already contributed. You could add to or branch off of existing features as well. The goal was to create a rich environment in which our imaginations could run wild.

One important thing we didn't have which I think would be essential is someone compiling everything into a sort of bible so that contradictions and inaccuracies could be avoided.

[Andols]

I agree a thread/blog/wiki to keep track of everything would be essential.

I'm a bit more hopeful now that you had semi-success elsewhere. I think it could be a very fun project.

[PeteMC]

Sounds like it might be kind of fun, although I assume anything we did with it would only be of use/interest to other people on this site.

[Hereford Eye]

Count me in.
Seems as if we could build a thread in the Collab Stories Section for the world building itself, maybe several threads, e.g., one for geological features, one for sociological features, one for the science and/or the magic rules, et al.

[KatG]

If you build the world, I'll write something for it.

[txshusker]

If you build the world, I'll write something for it.

If you build it, Kat will come. Well, that should settle it right there! :)

[PeterWilliam]

How would you feel about developing a shared universe as the sff community?

We could discuss our favorite aspects of world building and lay out the basic history and mechanics, then have authors, posters, and (if they're lucky) staff members write short stories centred in our little universe.

Would you enjoy discussing and developing criteria for such a project? Should it be fantasy, sff or a blend? How much development would be too much?

Let me know what you think.

Sounds like a great idea. My initial reaction is to say go with a blend, as you wouldn't want to install any kind of limitation out of the gate. Concerning how much development is too much - I think it's one of those things that you know it when you see/read it.

Overall, I would say the key is to get your contributors and get started with some very loose guidelines. Procedures and processes for 'hashing out' issues will evolve and, in that limited sense, it will begin to build itself.

Again, great idea. I'm game.

[Holbrook]

Count me in.
Seems as if we could build a thread in the Collab Stories Section for the world building itself, maybe several threads, e.g., one for geological features, one for sociological features, one for the science and/or the magic rules, et al.

And one for the sewer system?;) (Yes, I do read your posts.)

[Hereford Eye]

Never doubted it, ma'am.;)
So, I'll take a stab at a beginning,
http://sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=591264#post591264
Hop in, folks!