OBT Forum

General BattleTech => Alternate Universe => Topic started by: Ice Hellion on October 25, 2012, 02:59:09 PM

Title: How to?
Post by: Ice Hellion on October 25, 2012, 02:59:09 PM
Simple question: what is your preferred method for building an Alternate Universe?

Go piece by piece? Frog leap with your ideas and make up the holes later?
Is there another way?
Title: Re: How to?
Post by: Blacknova on October 25, 2012, 11:00:55 PM
1. Foundation First. Get and idea and map it, that is the base.

2. Determine major players, their roles, interactions and motivations.

3. Nuts and bolts, what are the forces and industry etc. as well as opposition groups and social fabrics

4. Mileposts and Goal.  Where will the main arc end up and what are the major events along the way.

5. Start from there and keep detailed notes so as not to contradict and to provide possible threads for later use.

6. Be willing to modify or ignore milestones, or add new ones, as the story grows.

That's the basics I follow.


Title: Re: How to?
Post by: Corbeau on November 20, 2012, 08:42:57 AM
1. Pick the major event that makes it different from canon.
2. Figure out which if any canon characters belong.
3. Determine a rough end point.
4. Start writing.
5. Have fun with it.
Title: Re: How to?
Post by: Dragon Cat on November 20, 2012, 09:30:06 AM
How I did it

http://www.ourbattletech.com/2012/alternate-timeline-with-thanks-how-its-done/ (http://www.ourbattletech.com/2012/alternate-timeline-with-thanks-how-its-done/)
Title: Re: How to?
Post by: Knightmare on November 20, 2012, 06:02:06 PM
I start a monkey-crap fight at the zoo. Whichever ape wins writes out the winning idea in poo and I run with it. While the system works, my first attempts at AU develop were pretty spectacular failures. Do you have any idea how long it takes to learn monkeypooanese? It's a pretty complex language that requires a cast-iron stomach and nerves of steel. Not for the faint of heart.