Dependencies in a Model
Still working on the next sections of Architect of Worlds.
What’s interesting is that we’re coming to a number of items that fall into a web of dependencies. Some items affect the most likely outcome of others, and it’s not a nicely linear process. Just to give you a sample, here’s some storyboarding I’ve been doing using the Miro application online:
Where this mostly comes into play is with the order that the steps need to come in the design sequence. Fortunately, I have yet to come across any dependency loops. As long as the sequence moves more or less left to right, everything should work properly . . .
5 thoughts on “Dependencies in a Model”
I made a similar graph for non-GG planets from the GURPS Space 4E Advanced Worldbuilding chapter. There were some big jumps between steps, but no loops there.
A lot of the potential loops were eliminated from the GURPS Space model by applying planetary archetypes up front (classifying a planet as a “Standard Ocean” world, for example). There are a few more potential pitfalls in this design.
Unfortunately, I’ve thought of at least a limited case where there might be a loop. Have to see if I can avoid writing that into these rules . . .
I’m excited to see these next few sections, since this is where the worldbuilding process gets really interesting for me. Determining the properties of the star(s), the number of planets, their orbits and so on is all very nice, but now you find out the actual conditions on these worlds that the die rolls (or your choices) have created. What is the temperature? What is the atmosphere like? How much water is there? Et cetera.
It’s all pretty complicated, since we now know that planetary systems can change quite a bit over the course of their evolution, with planets migrating, late cometary bombardments and so on. I think “Architect of Worlds” captures this very well. The diagram is great – you should consider putting it (or a later, finalisted version) in the book. I think it gives readers a clearer impression of the sequence that is to come than several paragraphs of text would.
Looking forward to reading the next sections!
Thanks! I am rather pleased at how the whole system is coming out, although to be sure there’s a lot more work to be done, and I want to do some extensive stress-testing before I move on to the next stage of the project.