Multiverse Characters

[IthickS]

I am new to Realm Works and am loving it so far. I have a question about the following situation:

My campaign takes place through the Multiverse. There are many multiverses and players will be exploring different ones. Certain characters will show up in different multiverses. Sometimes same name, sometimes different. Same personality or possibly different. Some will also travel the multiverse.

So what is the best method to create an NPC that is connected to all other versions of themselves, but also keep them separate and distinct?

Thanks,

 

[AEIOU]

Normally, I'd say uses aliases, but you stipulate that each one is different in each multiverse.

So I'd recommend creating each as a separate entry. Then create an arbitrary relationship between each one. That way if you open any entry, you can see its relationships to the other versions.

 

[Viking2054]

My question would be, how big of a multiverse? What I mean is, are we mostly talking about multiple earths that people are slipping in between, or are we talking multiple universes where you can travel between star systems and also travel between dimensions?

If your only dealing with multiple realities of a single planet (something like the old sliders tv show) then I'd probably do a lot of copy/paste as I create the various version worlds and then come back and make changes as necessary.

However if we are talking multiple versions of multiple star systems, I'd probably wait until the repository goes live and we are given the ability to copy whole realms. Then I'd do the basic realm and copy it multiple times with slightly different realm names to differentiate one from another. Then I'd modify each realm as needed.

 

[IthickS]

Multiple realities of Earth. At this point I don't see it going beyond that (maybe some day and I'll deal with it then).

I do like the idea of the arbitrary relationships between the "same" person between realities.

Thank you.

 

[Pollution]

Like Sliders?

Can I play?



Seriously though, Here's what I'd do.

You have your NPC entry for the character in question. We'll call him the Cabbie.

First game, you have Cabbie Earth Prime, he's inputted normally, nothing special about him. Let's use his description as the example. Here's how I'd put it in:

Earth Prime
This cabbie smells like hot dogs and speaks in a Russian accent.

The players meet him, and you reveal the description.

The next game, your players take a cab and you reveal the SAME information, but this time, there's a second, separate, description:

Earth 2
This cabbie smells like cheese and speaks in a Southern accent.

Reveal this as well once they meet him. They now see the first and the second descriptions.

Third game:

Earth 3
This cabbie smells like a hospital and speaks in a British accent.

Again, reveal.

You now have different "characters" that are the exact same guy, but have different descriptions. You can keep track, so you remember that you need a british voice for your cabbie one game and a russian one in another. Your players can keep track of who they've met using these bolded titles and different descriptions. With the player edition, they can have all the fun of tracking just how many cabs they've taken and marvel at how it's the same driver each time, and laugh at the differences and how they go with your world.

You can even do this for stats or character sheets for your own use. Cabbie Prime has his stat block all nice and formatted. You need to change some things out, because in Earth 52 he's driving a limo, so you copy the block, and paste it into a new snippet with the title Earth 52 at the top. Change out driving skill (cabs) 3 ability with driving skill (limo) 3, add a finance knowledge skill, or maybe some fighting skills (he's a bodyguard in Earth 52, why not) and save it. Your players don't have to see that, but you can.

You can do this for each entry you change around, even with smart images.

Say you have a house and a smart image for Earth 3. Put it in, do your work. The label next to the tag is Earth 3. Add ANOTHER separate smart image, label it Earth 35, have its layout be slightly different. If you're linking rooms, have a separate container for Earth 35 from Earth 3, copy the contents of Earth 3, change what you need to change and BAM! Different universes.

Don't make it too complex, you'll go nuts keeping it all straight. Just have 1 entry for 99% of the people and places, but ADD descriptions for each version of earth. Make sure you label them in bold at the top and you'll be able to keep it straight. Plus, your players can review what versions they've seen before in a nice neat format.

 

[IthickS]

Yes, the game is a Sliders-esque game w/ time travel. All characters nor normal people (no heroes). Pretty excited and was going crazy trying to track everything. Realm Works is making it SO MUCH easier. I am so glad I found it.

Tracking multiple timelines, adjusted timelimes, alternate realities and locations and NPCs from different realities... was starting to get difficult. As I am getting more comfortable with Realm Works, it is making it much simpler.

That is a brilliant and elegant solution. Also makes reusing NPCs easier.

The only issue, is tracking location of some of the NPCs (since some will be also "sliding", but those are rare instances I can do seperately.

 

[AEIOU]

With my method separating each version, you could add a tag for location for every piece of your content. That would be super useful as you could sort on Earth 3 and only the information for that reality would be shown to you.

With Pollution's method, you could add a tag for location for each version of the NPC. You'll have more "noise" when/if you filter as there's info that isn't relevant to the current location but you also gain context which could be valuable.

Dealer's choice....

 

[Pollution]

With my method separating each version, you could add a tag for location for every piece of your content. That would be super useful as you could sort on Earth 3 and only the information for that reality would be shown to you.

With Pollution's method, you could add a tag for location for each version of the NPC. You'll have more "noise" when/if you filter as there's info that isn't relevant to the current location but you also gain context which could be valuable.

Dealer's choice....

I would go with the tag solution myself. You'll save a ton of time with not having to re-enter and readjust everything. Also, again, they can see Cabbie over and over again and track where they've seen him.

So I'd tag Cabbie with EARTH 52 if he's a slider too to denote where he is currently. If it's a standard "everyworld" npc then tag it as "EveryEarth" or something. Then you can filter your NPCs by "Earth52 + EveryEarth" and that will tell you who's in that world.

OR, here's an idea.... Do both these methods. Make your Recurring Slider NPCs like AEIOU suggested, and your flavor NPCs like I suggest. Cuts down on the HUGE list of NPCs you'd have in AEIOU's solution, but leave some quick easy access for complex characters at the same time.

 

[rob]

There's a third, slightly different approach to consider here for many NPCs. Use a single topic for all of them. However, modify the base category definition to add a new "Multiverses" section type. Once that's done, each NPC will have a "Multiverses" section. Within that section, you can then place all the details that are unique to each multiverse. You can even create custom sub-sections therein for each specific 'verse, with all the different flavor of that 'verse in the appropriate sub-section.

This let's you re-use all the same information that is common across all 'verses without having to duplicate it. It also provides a clean way to encapsulate the differences between each 'verse.

Hope this helps!

 

[Pollution]

There's a third, slightly different approach to consider here for many NPCs. Use a single topic for all of them. However, modify the base category definition to add a new "Multiverses" section type. Once that's done, each NPC will have a "Multiverses" section. Within that section, you can then place all the details that are unique to each multiverse. You can even create custom sub-sections therein for each specific 'verse, with all the different flavor of that 'verse in the appropriate sub-section.

This let's you re-use all the same information that is common across all 'verses without having to duplicate it. It also provides a clean way to encapsulate the differences between each 'verse.

Hope this helps!

Very good suggestion, just make sure you copy the category and modify your copy if you want to share this with others. That way you don't bork the main category, and maybe cause problems.

Right?

 

[rob]

Very good suggestion, just make sure you copy the category and modify your copy if you want to share this with others. That way you don't bork the main category, and maybe cause problems.

Right?

There's NO need to copy the category for modification. If the ONLY thing you're doing is ADDING your own new section and/or snippet types, you're completely safe. It's similarly safe if you hide various elements. The problem is when you CHANGE the nature of the category and the various elements within it (e.g. changing default tags for snippet types). Adding and hiding are separate and safe.

 

[Dark Lord Galen]

There's a third, slightly different approach to consider here for many NPCs. Use a single topic for all of them. However, modify the base category definition to add a new "Multiverses" section type. Once that's done, each NPC will have a "Multiverses" section. Within that section, you can then place all the details that are unique to each multiverse. You can even create custom sub-sections therein for each specific 'verse, with all the different flavor of that 'verse in the appropriate sub-section.

This let's you re-use all the same information that is common across all 'verses without having to duplicate it. It also provides a clean way to encapsulate the differences between each 'verse.

Hope this helps!

@IthickS>I like the premise using a bit of time shifting multiple realities myself... So will be watching how you handle this.

@ Rob> I like the thought of not having to duplicate everything, (certainly makes things more compressed and reduces redundant file bloat) BUT how will that work for the auto linking feature and other cross indexing?

Won't those still pull up links that may not be a part of that particular "reality"?