Idea: Collaboratively Building a Persistent World

So, here's my idea. Collaboratively build a territory using Microscope RPG ( <a href="http://www.lamemage.com/microscope/" rel="nofollow">http://www.lamemage.com/microscope/</a> ) and then run a D&amp;D campaign in it.&nbsp; Here's where it gets interesting though. Other groups could then play a different campaign set in the same world, fleshing out more of the history or a neighboring area. Then the DM's could work together to make sure events in either campaign coincide and affect each other.&nbsp; Would anyone be interested in playing in or running something like this?&nbsp;

I would be interested in the dnd portion if you were accepting new players. I have minimal dnd experience, but very creative.

I am in the process of building an online persistent shared world experience like you describe.&nbsp; I have taken place in something similar at the start of the 2000's and it was ahead of its time.&nbsp; I am recreating the idea but with a custom world designed for this type of idea.&nbsp; Currently the site is in full production and the details of everything is in the process of being fleshed out.&nbsp; I am working on this solo at the moment, but would love to have some early access DM's step in and help mold the world. For more information send me a PM.&nbsp; We are not accepting players yet, only DM's to get things rolling.

Very (possibly exceedingly) ambitious, but certainly sounds like a lot of fun to try. Per Pollux' post, is the worldbuilding open to all players or just prospective DMs? I see pros/cons to both approaches, but I know I'd be more interested in a larger pool of potential contributors.

I cannot DM, but maybe assist with world building? Ive never dmed at all so i wouldnt even know where to start. But I can definitely help with ideas

RayRay said: Very (possibly exceedingly) ambitious, but certainly sounds like a lot of fun to try. Per Pollux' post, is the worldbuilding open to all players or just prospective DMs? I see pros/cons to both approaches, but I know I'd be more interested in a larger pool of potential contributors. So currently I am the only one involved in the entire process.&nbsp; I do not have a problem with future players helping in some of the world building process, and yes I agree that pros/cons can be had with both approaches. However, some aspects of the world building and fleshing out I think is best left to the DM's that will be running campaigns in the world. Since this got some interest right of the top, Ill provide a small bit of how things will be working once up and running.&nbsp; DM's will have an application process to go through.&nbsp; It's fairly simple and just a precaution that the incoming DM's have an idea of what they are getting involved with and what the standards are going to be for them.&nbsp; This does not limit someone that has never DM'ed before from becoming a DM in this world.&nbsp; Sessions will be ran on roll20 and supported by our forums.&nbsp; The forums will host IC and OOC opportunities for discussion between players and DM's alike.&nbsp; DM's will be free to run whatever type of campaign they want inside of the world, and if they want to help advance the over all story arc that will be going on in the background. As a Player joining you have a few options. First is creating an approved character, which is pretty simple.&nbsp; We will be using 5e core books, with a small amount of home brew mixed in a the start.&nbsp; Down the road we can introduce more home brew options as we get into things further as a community.&nbsp; Second finding a DM and group, which will be the toughest part for players in the beginning.&nbsp; It is a simple fact that we will probably always have more players than DM's once things get going.&nbsp; I have set up IC forums for players to participate in both relating to the world and not relating to the world.&nbsp; This way players can participate in official out of session events that might happen over the forums or start an RP thread of their very own for them to RP with the community free of the DM's. This will also give newer players a chance to interact with the world while waiting for a DM Ambitious? Absolutely but possible if I get enough people interested in participating.&nbsp; Like I said earlier, this has been done before following this format and was very successful for awhile.&nbsp; It was by far the most fun and involved I've been when playing or DMing, and the fact that every person involved can *actually* contribute to the growth of the in game world is what always attracted me to do it. With the covid-19 pandemic the world is dealing with, what better time to try and get a project like this off the ground and running. edit: I will be hosting the first campaign in this world, but not until I feel the world is fleshed out enough to start games in it.

See, the big reason that I wanted players to help create the world is because it organically creates player interest in the setting. You automatically have buy-in when the players are part of the world-building process. I also think that it creates a much more three-dimensional world when you have multiple people working on it. And you're more likely to get a mood and atmosphere that fits the players' expectations. I like Microscope RPG because it does a really good job at negotiating what each player wants and does not want in the story.&nbsp; Now, I do think there are cons to allowing the players a large part in the world-building; ostensibly, you don't get to surprise them as a DM. But here I think Microscope does a good job in setting boundaries to the world-building. Whether you're taking the chronological or the geographic approach, you start off by setting boundaries in the timeline / map. That means that outside of those boundaries, the DM can take liberties. As well, there could be places events, organizations, etc. that exist in the region or timeline that weren't fleshed out during the Microscope session. Beyond that, I would just trust the players to separate player and character knowledge. All in all, I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. What do you guys think?&nbsp;&nbsp; I was thinking of starting with a single group of players. Maybe 2-4. Would anyone be interested?

I understand your points of view, I personally feel its the DM's responsibility to provide the settings.&nbsp; The history of the world, religions, politics, city design, ect all falls under that category in my eyes.&nbsp; Having the players create from the inside is the goal here. Driving the overall story arc together thru different DM's perspectives and campaigns. Giving a mostly fleshed out world to the group of DM's and saying here you go, have fun.

I guess it's just a different perspective. I'm trying to figure out how to get players most emotionally invested in the story, you know?

pretty much. Everyone has different opinions and thats fine.&nbsp; We will be getting players emotionally invested by participating in the story to come, not the background.

Wait, this confused me for a moment, as I was about to decline and express best wishes going forward. I share Alberto's perspective, especially with applying something like Microscope or Dungeon World/The Perilous Wilds. I'm not a fan of the Fate mechanics behind Spirit of the Century, but it similarly puts the players (not player characters) on equal footing in regards to creating the setting during session zero or session minus-one or whatever. So, I guess I'm still intrigued by Alberto's initial pitch but not in the framework Pollux proposes, not that there's anything at all wrong with it. It's just not what interests me at the moment. I had a blast playing in a format similar to what Pollux describes at PrinceCon for several years, and it definitely can work wonders with the investment of a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and more blood. To Alberto's point about surprising the players, I've had groups recognize this flaw and make it a feature. "I think there's an ancient wizard tower here that just kind of stops at like the fourth floor. It's not crumbled with age, just... missing. Like it disintegrated or got shunted into another plane or something. And no one seems to know if the wizard's alive, dead, trapped, missing, or what. I guess we should leave all that for the DM to decide..." By getting a say in content, the players also get a say in what questions remain deliberately unanswered.

Best part about this game is the fact that it's open to interpretation.&nbsp; I wish you guys the best of luck finding what you are looking for.&nbsp; Stay safe and stay healthy.