Difference between revisions of "FAQ"

Revision as of 02:27, 29 March 2014

Q: What is Unification?

A: Unification is the event that brings a universe (or world) into the Multiverse. Mass-unifications are usually significant events, but every world that becomes integrated into the Multiverse experiences Unification. At one moment they're alone in their universe, and the next they're quite suddenly not so alone.

Q: How does a world unify? Can a universe leave the Multiverse once it has unified?

A: Unification is achieved when a temporal tweak introduces an alternate timeline in which the target universe unifies into the Multiverse. It's not possible to leave the Multiverse, because there's nothing to go back to -- your timeline is here now.

Q: How much of my setting comes with me to the Multiverse?

A: Only the important parts. But, depending on setting that might be quite a lot. Star Wars is likely to bring the whole galaxy, while Fullmetal Alchemist will probably only bring along a single planet, or at bare minimum maybe just a few nations.

Q: What is a warpgate?

A: A warpgate is an entry point to a sort of subspace highway. Each warpgate is a hub connecting to a limited number of nearby warp gates, permitting long-distance travel across astronomical distances. It is possible to make artificial warpgates, but the most commonly known warpgates are naturally occurring.

Q: Does my world have warpgates?

A: All worlds in the Multiverse have warpgates. Some fewer than others, but you can usually expect to have enough for every major region in your setting to have access to them.

Q: Can I destroy a warpgate?

A: You can destroy artificial warpgates, but natural warpgates are indestructible, and every world has at least a few of those. This is largely to prevent people from disconnecting their setting from the MUSH. This isn't a sandbox -- you're expected to participate with the rest of the MUSH!

Warpgates CAN be secured, and often are using crude devices similar to the iris mechanisms from "Stargate". Depending on the size of the warpgate, this might not be plausible. Some are large enough to allow even something colossal like a Star Destroyer to pass through.

Q: The news files say souls are retroactively indestructible across all settings. But my series relies a lot on souls being destroyed! What do I do?

A: Souls CAN be maimed to the point that they cannot be resurrected or reincarnated, and this can be hard to distinguish between actual destruction. This is easily mistaken for the destruction of the soul.

Q: If all of these settings are sharing with each other, does that mean I can get a lightsaber or a phaser as easily as a sword or a gun?

A: Yes! Keep in mind, rare or unique items from other settings shouldn't be obtained without significant RP and an upgrade application, and getting actual powers from other settings is its own can of worms. But, if something is common in any given world you can get it pretty easily. So yes, you could buy a phaser or a blaster pretty easily. Maybe not a lightsaber, but definitely a beam sword, or commercially available materia.

Q: What about heavy military stuff, like Star Destroyers?

A: Even very rich people usually can't purchase an aircraft carrier. Most people can't purchase a Star Destroyer. On the other hand, purchasing a YT-1300 Freighter (like the Millennium Falcon) or a Runabout from Star Trek, or a Firefly-class starship, is rather like purchasing an automobile or 18 wheeler.

Q: If I (as an off-worlder) buy a YT-1300 or Firefly-class starship, could they be better than the Millennium Falcon or Serenity?

A: This is a complex question. As a general rule, no, and definitely not right out of the gate. It's poor form to take something from another setting and try to pass it off as better than the big guns of that setting, and you probably wouldn't want that done to you. In the long haul, with a lot of RP and a character (or group of characters) competent in the relevant fields, this isn't completely impossible but it is still iffy. It's also a lot easier for those big guns to upgrade past you with much less effort.

Q: What stops General Zod from opening a Star Destroyer like a can opener and venting the crew into space, or Nightcrawler from teleporting into the cockpit of a mecha and taking out the helpless pilot?

A: This is a form of powergaming. It is a veiled attempt at an instant death/knockout effect, and even if the combat code dictates that a direct hit is achieved, the target player can pose receiving significantly less severe damage. This sort of thing isn't fun for anybody but the person who thinks they should be able to do it, so it isn't allowed.

Q: Why are settings assumed to be equal? My setting has better stuff in it than everybody else's!

A: The MUSH is not about any one setting, least of all your pet series. This wouldn't be fun for the people NOT in "your" setting, so the MUSH is set up specifically so settings do not have primacy over one another. Some settings have advantages over others, but mostly the playing field is level so everybody gets to have a good time. And yeah, that means settings like Warhammer 40k lose a lot of their oomph in the translation.

Q: Does that mean that I got nerfed when I came to the Multiverse?

A: No. This sort of thinking promotes all kinds of wankery. Our setting just works that way. This is, by the way, to your benefit. No matter what your pet series is and how great you think it is, we can find something that could stomp it and anything in it flat.

Q: Which is better, Magic or Technology/Science?

A: Neither. Magic and Science are equal. One might be more contextually relevant than the other in some circumstances, but neither is better than the other. Using one to debunk or debase the other is OOCly bad form, and is ICly just wrong. They are simply different means to an end: Solving problems, and good role play.

In short, have fun with your toys, and don't deny people the legitimacy and flavor of their own.