Bubble Forming: LOST PARADIGM
After a fair deal of planning and development, it was finally decided that we're ready. Everyone, say hello to Lost Paradigm - a bubble based on The Big O, a film noir sci-fi mystery series featuring giant robots, amazing hairdos and a haunting post-apocalyptic rendition of New York City!
This place, Paradigm City, is a town of forgetfulness.
One day, forty years ago, every person here lost all memories of everything that should've occurred before that day.
But humans are adaptable creatures. They make due and go on with life. If they're smart enough to figure out how to operate machinery and get electricity, they can still have a kind of a civilization, even without a history.
People can survive without knowing what did or didn't happen in the past. Each day they try their hardest to do just that. The only ones who regret the loss of these memories are the city's elderly.
But memories, like nightmares, sometimes come when you least expect them.
Welcome to
PARADIGM CITY
Forty years ago, a mysterious event destroyed the entire world and erased the memories of everyone in it. The only thing left behind was Paradigm City, a massive behemoth filled with now incomprehensible technology and books that none could decipher. Directed by the Paradigm Corporation and the few shreds of memories they could recover, people slowly began to experiment and finally discovered enough to build a new civilization amidst the remnants of the old one.
These days, Paradigm City is a strange and unbalanced existence. The rediscovered technology is all over the place - although people figured out how to run communication devices such as telephones, internet was never reactivated. Androids, human-like robots with elaborate personalities, exist alongside old radios and weaponry from early 20th century. Although cars were brought back into common use, the subways never were. With all the existing maps of the underground tunnels remaining lost, all of them were abandoned and numerous fearful rumors were spread. People rely on the old civilization as much as they are afraid of it, lost and wary existences amidst a phantom city...
But is that all there is to it?
Sometimes, recovered memories don't stack up together. Sometimes, two people remember completely different things about the time before the Event, while others don't remember living in this world at all. Indeed, Paradigm City is quite possibly nothing more than a massive fabrication - a stage where people play out roles expected from them as they move toward a distant and mysterious finale. The true purpose behind it is still unknown... but then, as long as there is a mystery, there are always people who would seek the truth behind it. This time, as well, they are not without resources.
For more information on Paradigm City itself, check out this article. As far as atmosphere goes, Paradigm City is a neo-noir environment. Although its core level of technology is stuck in the early 20th century, there are such advanced devices as androids, Megadeuses, video-phones, massive solar domes and even lost shreds of bio-technology. There is enough space for a sci-fi geek to enjoy themselves.
CAST IN THE NAME OF GOD, YE NOT GUILTY
THE MEGADEUSES
What is a Megadeus?
A Megadeus is a remnant of the lost civilization, a mechanical behemoth designed for battle. Their exact origins are unknown and their variations are numerous. Although most of them are gigantic humanoid figures equipped with weaponry that varies from unit to unit, some of them resemble mythical creatures, animals and other things. Some of them are big enough to fill entire streets, others are small enough to compare to a racing machine. Few people in Paradigm City can control or maintain these monsters. Those who do, are said to be connected to the truth behind the Event from forty years ago.
Although the characters who gain control over a Megadeus are important to the plot, you are in no way obligated to own one in order to leave your mark on the story. Even without a Megadeus, your character can still participate events not related to them or establish connections with those who do have one. For example, a good mechanic or an android who can link up with a Megadeus directly would always be important to a mecha pilot who cannot take good care of their Megadeus on their own.
Furthermore, certain factions within the city are especially cautious around these machines. By not having a visible connection to one, your character may be able to easily access places and social circles that a Megadeus pilot wouldn't reach easily. In addition, certain stories will be set underground or in the underwater ruins, where there is too little place for a Megadeus to get around.
In other words, a Megadeus is not a necessity as much as it's an option created to enhance your interactions with the bubble. You're allowed to have one, but you don't need one in order to have fun with the story.
As a final note, you don't have to use exclusively Megadeuses from the original series. Mecha from your char's fandom are allowed, as is making up your own design. As long as it's functional, it's acceptable.
Every play needs an actor...
CHARACTERS AND ROLES
At this point, you must be wondering how your characters would be affected by being present in this bubble. For the sake of making it interesting, I've prepared several different options for whichever experience you would like.
The first option is for your character to take a role within the existing structure of Paradigm City. This means that their memories are completely replaced by ones of always living in the city, being part of its history and its culture. It's your choice if the result is a complete AU or the original character who was brainwashed and placed into this world. Choose the option that would provide a better long-term experience for you.
The other option is for your character to wake up as they are somewhere on the streets. Don't worry, their memories being out of place won't surprise anyone. Other citizens will simply assume they had their minds affected by memories from 40 years ago and thus went a little crazy. The char will be explained things, maybe even given a place and a job! This option provides a different experience because your char's bond with Paradigm City is weaker and its mysterious nature is more obvious. Feel free to have them build a new life or seek a way to return home!
Other than that, the jobs and roles to take in the city are numerous. Your character may be a vigilante, an average office worker, a policeman, a whore, a vagrant, a private detective and much more. The setting is huge and flexible. Give your character whatever role and plot you would like.
To sign up a character for Lost Paradigm, simply comment here with a short description of their role within the bubble. You may participate without doing so, of course, but having the basic information about the char and their plot will allow others to comment to you and plot all kinds of CR!
But what about the script..?
EVENTS AND PLOT
There were regular mentions of plot, so you must be wondering how it will be run or what will happen. Let's start with the second question. Lost Paradigm has room for all kinds of stories. For one, I will be running a number of story arcs that will cover various locations and individuals in the city, reveal some things about its true nature and give everyone some space to participate in discovering the truth. For two, everyone is free to run their own plot of whatever scale they wish, provided it doesn't end with a complete apocalypse for the bubble. Stories centered on specific characters, their pasts and conflicts are welcome and encouraged.
That said, you're probably wondering how all that will be run:
1. A separate post will be set up on thetalesofyore and labeled "Lost Paradigm plot post".
2. The player who desires to start a new storyline, makes a comment on that post. Said comment has the name of the storyline and the basic description of events contained in it. Involved characters, the basic description of events, the thematic elements and limitations should be provided.
3. Anyone can now put up an IC post on Lovesphere/Omnisphere and then comment to the plot description with links to their post. That way, all the posts set in this bubble are immediately archived on the main plot post and can be easily found.
4. The plot begins to run through these posts! It's your choice if you GM their events strictly (that is to say, provide a set story for participants to follow) or provide the basic idea/outline and then let people improvise all the way to the finale.
A sample plot will be provided very soon to help everyone get a feel of how it will work on practice.
Also, don't worry if the stories contradict each other a bit. Remember, Paradigm City is a fabrication. Sometimes, a single play can go through several different versions on its way to the finale.
Obviously, you can also ignore the plot and make one-shot posts where you simply have fun within the bubble's setting! A separate archive thread for one-shots will be made for that purpose.
Well, that's that! Feel free to comment here, ask questions about the bubble and provide descriptions for Lost Paradigm versions of your characters. This post exists to establish the basic information and provide you ample room to plot among each other and plan some CR. I sincerely hope it'll see ample use.
Finally, as the final word, have some atmosphere-setting music:
The Big O: The Original Score #1
The Big O: The Original Score #2
This place, Paradigm City, is a town of forgetfulness.
One day, forty years ago, every person here lost all memories of everything that should've occurred before that day.
But humans are adaptable creatures. They make due and go on with life. If they're smart enough to figure out how to operate machinery and get electricity, they can still have a kind of a civilization, even without a history.
People can survive without knowing what did or didn't happen in the past. Each day they try their hardest to do just that. The only ones who regret the loss of these memories are the city's elderly.
But memories, like nightmares, sometimes come when you least expect them.
Welcome to
PARADIGM CITY
Forty years ago, a mysterious event destroyed the entire world and erased the memories of everyone in it. The only thing left behind was Paradigm City, a massive behemoth filled with now incomprehensible technology and books that none could decipher. Directed by the Paradigm Corporation and the few shreds of memories they could recover, people slowly began to experiment and finally discovered enough to build a new civilization amidst the remnants of the old one.
These days, Paradigm City is a strange and unbalanced existence. The rediscovered technology is all over the place - although people figured out how to run communication devices such as telephones, internet was never reactivated. Androids, human-like robots with elaborate personalities, exist alongside old radios and weaponry from early 20th century. Although cars were brought back into common use, the subways never were. With all the existing maps of the underground tunnels remaining lost, all of them were abandoned and numerous fearful rumors were spread. People rely on the old civilization as much as they are afraid of it, lost and wary existences amidst a phantom city...
But is that all there is to it?
Sometimes, recovered memories don't stack up together. Sometimes, two people remember completely different things about the time before the Event, while others don't remember living in this world at all. Indeed, Paradigm City is quite possibly nothing more than a massive fabrication - a stage where people play out roles expected from them as they move toward a distant and mysterious finale. The true purpose behind it is still unknown... but then, as long as there is a mystery, there are always people who would seek the truth behind it. This time, as well, they are not without resources.
For more information on Paradigm City itself, check out this article. As far as atmosphere goes, Paradigm City is a neo-noir environment. Although its core level of technology is stuck in the early 20th century, there are such advanced devices as androids, Megadeuses, video-phones, massive solar domes and even lost shreds of bio-technology. There is enough space for a sci-fi geek to enjoy themselves.
CAST IN THE NAME OF GOD, YE NOT GUILTY
THE MEGADEUSES
What is a Megadeus?
A Megadeus is a remnant of the lost civilization, a mechanical behemoth designed for battle. Their exact origins are unknown and their variations are numerous. Although most of them are gigantic humanoid figures equipped with weaponry that varies from unit to unit, some of them resemble mythical creatures, animals and other things. Some of them are big enough to fill entire streets, others are small enough to compare to a racing machine. Few people in Paradigm City can control or maintain these monsters. Those who do, are said to be connected to the truth behind the Event from forty years ago.
Although the characters who gain control over a Megadeus are important to the plot, you are in no way obligated to own one in order to leave your mark on the story. Even without a Megadeus, your character can still participate events not related to them or establish connections with those who do have one. For example, a good mechanic or an android who can link up with a Megadeus directly would always be important to a mecha pilot who cannot take good care of their Megadeus on their own.
Furthermore, certain factions within the city are especially cautious around these machines. By not having a visible connection to one, your character may be able to easily access places and social circles that a Megadeus pilot wouldn't reach easily. In addition, certain stories will be set underground or in the underwater ruins, where there is too little place for a Megadeus to get around.
In other words, a Megadeus is not a necessity as much as it's an option created to enhance your interactions with the bubble. You're allowed to have one, but you don't need one in order to have fun with the story.
As a final note, you don't have to use exclusively Megadeuses from the original series. Mecha from your char's fandom are allowed, as is making up your own design. As long as it's functional, it's acceptable.
Every play needs an actor...
CHARACTERS AND ROLES
At this point, you must be wondering how your characters would be affected by being present in this bubble. For the sake of making it interesting, I've prepared several different options for whichever experience you would like.
The first option is for your character to take a role within the existing structure of Paradigm City. This means that their memories are completely replaced by ones of always living in the city, being part of its history and its culture. It's your choice if the result is a complete AU or the original character who was brainwashed and placed into this world. Choose the option that would provide a better long-term experience for you.
The other option is for your character to wake up as they are somewhere on the streets. Don't worry, their memories being out of place won't surprise anyone. Other citizens will simply assume they had their minds affected by memories from 40 years ago and thus went a little crazy. The char will be explained things, maybe even given a place and a job! This option provides a different experience because your char's bond with Paradigm City is weaker and its mysterious nature is more obvious. Feel free to have them build a new life or seek a way to return home!
Other than that, the jobs and roles to take in the city are numerous. Your character may be a vigilante, an average office worker, a policeman, a whore, a vagrant, a private detective and much more. The setting is huge and flexible. Give your character whatever role and plot you would like.
To sign up a character for Lost Paradigm, simply comment here with a short description of their role within the bubble. You may participate without doing so, of course, but having the basic information about the char and their plot will allow others to comment to you and plot all kinds of CR!
But what about the script..?
EVENTS AND PLOT
There were regular mentions of plot, so you must be wondering how it will be run or what will happen. Let's start with the second question. Lost Paradigm has room for all kinds of stories. For one, I will be running a number of story arcs that will cover various locations and individuals in the city, reveal some things about its true nature and give everyone some space to participate in discovering the truth. For two, everyone is free to run their own plot of whatever scale they wish, provided it doesn't end with a complete apocalypse for the bubble. Stories centered on specific characters, their pasts and conflicts are welcome and encouraged.
That said, you're probably wondering how all that will be run:
1. A separate post will be set up on thetalesofyore and labeled "Lost Paradigm plot post".
2. The player who desires to start a new storyline, makes a comment on that post. Said comment has the name of the storyline and the basic description of events contained in it. Involved characters, the basic description of events, the thematic elements and limitations should be provided.
3. Anyone can now put up an IC post on Lovesphere/Omnisphere and then comment to the plot description with links to their post. That way, all the posts set in this bubble are immediately archived on the main plot post and can be easily found.
4. The plot begins to run through these posts! It's your choice if you GM their events strictly (that is to say, provide a set story for participants to follow) or provide the basic idea/outline and then let people improvise all the way to the finale.
A sample plot will be provided very soon to help everyone get a feel of how it will work on practice.
Also, don't worry if the stories contradict each other a bit. Remember, Paradigm City is a fabrication. Sometimes, a single play can go through several different versions on its way to the finale.
Obviously, you can also ignore the plot and make one-shot posts where you simply have fun within the bubble's setting! A separate archive thread for one-shots will be made for that purpose.
Well, that's that! Feel free to comment here, ask questions about the bubble and provide descriptions for Lost Paradigm versions of your characters. This post exists to establish the basic information and provide you ample room to plot among each other and plan some CR. I sincerely hope it'll see ample use.
Finally, as the final word, have some atmosphere-setting music:
The Big O: The Original Score #1
The Big O: The Original Score #2