OpenGeofiction
Wanted: concise, authoritative and complete history of the world (ha!)
Posted by refried sushi on 29 February 2016 in English.Hello All,
I am having a good deal of trouble learning about the OGF world, such that it has been drawn and wiki-ed to date. I am looking for a broad history and narrative, and even though the world is young and hugely incomplete I know there is plenty out there already. (Languages, migrations, religions, wars, colonial and imperial backstories, etc.) How best do I track those bigger, trans-national ideas down? The trouble is the fundamentally piecemeal nature of the map and especially wiki, and this is by design I know. I don’t expect to be bound to someone else’s history, but I would like to learn it and have the opportunity to play off it in an intelligent way. The “wiki everything around me in widening circles and ignore inconsistency while trying to make sense out of the small amount of overlap in entries” strategy is not working well.
So: What’s the closest thing we have to an accumulated history of the world? Or, asked in a more manageable way: How would a new user learn a little about the world before he or she is let loose upon it?
I know this is a big topic but the question is asked to try to make a richer and more interesting product. Thanks in advance, r.s.
Discussion
Comment from Yuanls on 29 February 2016 at 21:35
There is no organised world history. End of.
Some elements have been drafted out before, such as the [colonial history] (http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Portal:World_History) and [wars] (http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Wars_and_Conflicts), but other countries in the world remain yet unexplained, such as the abundance of generic grid style cities over the world.
There are also no established big superpowers in the OGF universe. Commonia was proposed to be one (I’ll talk about it later). Countries like the UK, France and the USA have played huge roles in world history, but have no equivalents here (except for Ingerland). This makes histories especially difficult.
The OGF planet has only faced 1 world war, fought in Commonia; that is the only fact that has been established. Since this is a massive war, involving many nations, no one has actually set anything in stone yet, and any effort to do so has been unsuccessful. I’ve drafted out a history with Udi (Sorry Udi, I completely forgot about it!), but no one has seen it apart from us 2.
As you can see, there’s not much of a world history at the moment, unless I’ve missed something huge out. I do hope this changes in the future, but looking at the state of the OGF world, I don’t have high hopes.
Comment from Luciano on 29 February 2016 at 22:32
I would like to encourage users who are interested in this to take initiative. If you feel there’s a lack in the wiki, just make something to fill in that gap. There is no prohibition in “regular users” making OGF: namespace pages, for example. Currently, the Portal:World_History page (and its Talk: page) is inadequate.
Perhaps start by collecting all the results of your “research” in from around our existing wiki, and then you could put together some “sandbox” pages on your username (example user sandboxes here and here). Then you can put a note to the diary asking people to contribute and comment. Spend some time looking at what various “real world” history-oriented wiki portals look like, as a model, and just start building.
Everyone understands that everything here is a “work in progress,” so don’t be afraid to take initiative. If people don’t like some idea, that’s OK, too - just accept that and try something else.
Comment from Ūdilugbulgidħū on 1 March 2016 at 00:37
You’re absolutely right - we need more history in general. It explains all - or nearly all - the relations in the real world and it should help do the same for OGF. But as Yuanls says, the problem is that more than half the world is unknown, so for those of us who are here already it feels a bit uncomfortable to decide where to go with it. So what we are doing is gradually building things, trying to work things out piece by piece. Any collaboration is appreciated. The hardest thing isn’t having people not liking an idea - that is to be expected, and it can be resolved - but it is impossible to decide anything if people don’t respond at all. So - and back to you Yuanls - I’ll post that draft of Commonian history while its fresh in our minds - oh, and Luciano - feel free to edit that old Commonian cartographer’s name ;)
Comment from Luciano on 1 March 2016 at 00:57
jesuischianolu
Comment from wangi on 1 March 2016 at 01:53
Commononia is always going to be a nightmare. Put a possible history to Gobrassanya/Alora, Mecyna, Konsiat, etc …
Gobras as a Germany (in situation, not language) analogue shouldn’t be beyond imagination.
Comment from Portopolis on 1 March 2016 at 03:59
Most countries aren’t even near anywhere complete, and since OGF doesn’t believe really on restricting Users their is nothing we can do about it besides take initiative. I have done next to nothing in my wiki’s I am more of a statistics and information person than a history buff and although writing news articles and wiki articles are often fun most of my time has been focused building.. I personally am open to anything and that is why although I have said a few things like Hoppon is –> Japan and Lallemand is –> Nigeria in the possible future {20+ years} (except with more crime???), I don’t know the “ethnicity” of any of these countries and their history is very open, luckily for me non of my neighbors have tried to drastically influence the surrounding nations but the way I see it is that besides Uletha most of the inhabited continents seem to have been colonized either by Ulethans, remained under natives control or people from the other continents, that is the only way I try to “visualize” the world as culturally it seems like every country is Australia, U.K, France or New Zealand with high HDI and being primarily European, or of European descent as most of us are English speakers of European descent living in first world countries this is expected. Their are a few outliers but it seems like OGF reflects the people who made it just like I thought immediately to make a mix of American and African culture which I feel closest too others remade their cultures. Also another difference is we lack large nations, Even Commonia in reality isn’t that large (I think would be a top 10-15 in size but nowhere near top 3 if in our world), this is another reason as why superpowers don’t form, you can’t have America, China or India when no country is that size except for chaotic Commonia. Also you can’t have superpowers when every country large or small has high HDI so their isn’t anything to separate you from the rest. This isn’t a bad thing, I actually want OGF to be human like and realistic but I don’t want it to be like a replica of the real world with different country names. World Wars are great and all but I like Countries like Gobrassanya, Mahhal, Cariocas, Latina etc. although you get certain vibes you honestly can’t draw a real life comparison to it. I also like countries such as Freedemia and Kojo were the history is very developed to the point were even if you can draw parallels map wise you can’t historically at all. My favorite country besides my own and the fully developed nations is probably Belphenia as he took his love for Anime, and turned it into a realistic sounding country. I don’t hate any countries but the OGF world would be interesting to see more countries like that, than a nation that is exact same as another but with a different name. For example Hoppon, which I will continue to move further away from real world Japan. Also sorry for the long post.
Comment from Portopolis on 1 March 2016 at 04:00
Sorry tried to create paragraphs in my post but I forgot you often have to press enter twice to get a new paragraph to form.
Comment from histor on 1 March 2016 at 08:02
See it historical … Every user in the beginning starts isolated his/her country and then - after month - some have the wish to an liguistic and historical stringent devellopement of the OGF-world. SE-Tarephis is colonisized from West Uletha - so Latina from Castellán and old Dagelanden. This is written in the wikis and so seen fact.
If I draw in Latina since 2 1/2 years and only 20% is ready - who will draw a land, what is more big? May be a team of user.