|
GURPS WebWorlds FAQ v1.1 |
| FAQ Maintainer: Stephane Theriault (m164031@er.uqam.ca)
FAQ Contributors: Soh Kam Hung (soh@zikzak.net), Simon Watkins (swatkins@enterprise.net), Jonathan "Dataweaver" Lang (traveler@io.com), Rick Smathers (smathers@tesi.com), Jeff Wilson (Jeff_Wilson63@bigfoot.com) Last modified: March 8, 1998 IntroductionThis file contains the Frequently Asked Questions concerning the GURPS WebWorlds project, an electronic resource for world/universe/dimension creation using the Generic Universal RolePlaying System. Links to resources can be found at the GURPS WebWorlds Coordination site GURPS and GURPS Time Travel are a trademark of Steve Jackson Games Inc. | |
1. | GURPS WebWorlds Specific Questions |
|---|---|
| Q1-1. | What is the GURPS WebWorlds project? |
| A1-1. | The best way to answer this question is to direct you to the GURPS WebWorlds Charter written by Soh Kam Hung: |
| Q1-2. | What is the GURPS WebWorlds? |
| A1-2. | GURPS WebWorlds is an infinite
number of worlds connected or not between themselves. Like our universe
is divided into groups of galaxies, GURPS WebWorlds is divided into an
infinite number of parts, named clusters. Each cluster can contain from
one to an infinite number of dimensions that are somewhat linked (the
definition of these links is left entirely to the world designer and the
GM, and can be different for each cluster). No world has links with
worlds outside his own cluster.
Of course, each GM is free to assemble his own cluster by deciding which world will be part of it. Habitually, each world/dimension should be part of its own cluster. However, in special situations, it is possible make a world part of two or more clusters. |
| Q1-3. | What can be contained in a cluster? |
| A1-3. | Each cluster is composed of a set of dimensions. Each dimension can be anything the designer or GM wants: a single physical world, an entire universe (like our own), a "mental" plane (e.g. the Astral Plane), etc. Each dimension will have links to none, some or all of the other dimensions in the cluster. |
| Q1-4. | What do you mean by the term "meta-physicks"? |
| A1-4. | Meta-physicks is simply a way of describing GURPS WebWorlds at a meta-level, without going into the particular physics of any cluster (since each cluster can have his own physics). Examples of meta-physicks includes the way of determining the distance between two dimensions in an abstract way, independently of the physics involved in their cluster, and the concept of grouping dimensions into clusters. |
| Q1-5. | Why this talk about meta-physics? Why don't you just set the physics once and for all? |
| A1-5. | One of the basic principle of GURPS WebWorlds is that the GM must be as free as possible to design his own special cluster/dimension. Forcing one universal set of physics on all dimensions/clusters is thus not a good thing. |
| Q1-6. | What about the Infinite Worlds campaign in GURPS Time Travel? Why not use it as a starting point for the GURPS WebWorlds? |
| A1-6. | If you want to use it, go ahead.
However, IW describes a specific universe and campaing setting (see A4).
The proposed meta-physicks are kind of based on TT, but are much more
general and are not bound to a particular universe.
However, someone interested can very easily include the IW setting into the WebWolrds. Just assume that IW is a simple cluster of GURPS WebWorlds, and that the physics of World Jumping in it are the ones described in the IW setting. Since a cluster can contain an infinite number of worlds/dimensions, there will be no differences between the IW setting as described in TT, and the IW cluster of GURPS WebWorlds. |
| Q1-7. | What kind of worlds can I find in GURPS WebWorlds? |
| A1-7. | Any kind you want. That is the
basic tenet of the GURPS WebWorlds. Just design a new world or dimension
using the GURPS WebWorlds Templates (see Q.1.8.), define the links it
has with the rest of the GURPS WebWorlds, and voila! And don't forget to
inform us of your world, so that we can discuss it, and put it in the
list of GURPS WebWorlds worlds. For a complete list of all the existing
worlds, check the GURPS WebWorlds Coordination site.
For a complete list of all the existing worlds, check the GURPS WebWorlds List of Worlds. |
| Q1-8. | What are the templates, and where can I find them? |
| A1-8. | As their names implies, templates are simply a check list of information each cluster, world and dimension must provide to be included in GURPS WebWorlds. You can find templates at http://www.meanspc.com/gww/template.htm |
| Q1-9. | Can I put a world on GURPS WebWorlds without using the Templates? |
| A1-9. | No. Come on, the templates aren't complicated, and it helps us maintain a certain level of control over interdimensional interactions. |
2. | General Questions |
| Q2-1. | Can you tell me what this abbreviation means? |
| A2-1. | Following are the most frequently
used abbreviations used in the GURPS WebWorlds project and the WebWorlds
mailing list. GWW: GURPS WebWorlds, IDC: Inter-Dimensional Coordinators, WD: World Designer, DD: Dimension Designer, CD: Cluster Designer, TT,GTT: Gurps Time Travel, IW, WU: Infinite Worlds / Worlds Unlimited campaign setting in GTT |
| Q2-2. | What, and who, are the Inter-Dimensional Coordinators? |
| A2-2. | Simply put, the IDCs are the ones responsible for maintaining the integrity of the project, and for making sure that all worlds in the GURPS WebWorlds respect the basic tenets of the project (e.g. that it respects the meta-physicks of the WW). There are 3 IDCs in all. They were chosen by acclamation at the start of the project (nobody else wanted the place :) ). They are: Stephane Theriault, Max Kilms, and Matthew Michalak. |
| Q2-3. | How can I be part of the GURPS WebWorlds project? |
| A2-3. | Nothing simpler. Just subscribe to the GURPS WebWorlds mailing list (see section 3-1) and start participating. We welcome world designers, mapmakers, adventure writers, artists, or anybody else who might be able to add something to the project. |
3. | Resources |
| Q3-1. | What are the resources available for GURPS WebWorlds Project? |
| A3-1. | The three main resources are the
GURPS WebWorlds Coordination Site, the WebWorlds mailing list, and the
FTP sites.
The Coordination site can be found at: http://www.meanspc.com/gww/index.html Postings to the mailing list should go to WebWorlds@yahoogroups.com. The ftp sites are detailed below. |
| Q3-2. | Is there an ftp site for the project? |
| A3-2. | Yes. It can be found at: ftp://ftp.io.
com/pub/gurpsworld-l.
For now, it only contains the digests of the mailing list, but we plan to put ascii versions of all the dimensions there to support those webless people out there. |
| Q3-3. | How do I get files from the FTP site using e-mail? |
| A3-3. | US: email to
gurpsworld-l-request@lists.io.com, with 'index' in the body to retrieve
a list of all the files that are available, or 'get <filename>' to
retrieve a particular file.
Europe: e-mail ftpmail@sunsite.auc.dk with ``help'' in the body of your message. The site will send you a list of instructions. |
| Q3-4. | Can I have a list of people currently involved in the GURPS GURPS WebWorlds project? |
| A3-4. | Sure. Here's some, with
corresponding contributions:
Stephane Theriault (Reality Police), Max Kilms, Matthew Michalak, Soh Kam Hung (YAFCWDED), Simon Watkins (Under Africa), Alexander Shearer (NightSky), Jeff Wilson (N'Ferra Sphere), Fred Wolke, Michael C. McNeill (Aetria), Jeffrey Keown (DOOM), Justin Fenderson (DOOMed Earth), Benson Fong (Drifting Worlds), Dataweaver (Four Realms), Steven Marsh (Kellal), Chris Taylor (Senardia), Damien A. Wellman (Yovos) |
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