Stardew Valley-type joint series?

[JWZagst]

This wouldn't happen for quite some time, but I wanted to start probing others now to see if there would be any interest in this. Basically, my idea is to create a setting similar to Stardew Valley, and then invite other writers and artists to help create characters to live and work in the town and it's surrounding area. We could start a Discord server to hash out all the details, and then depending on what everyone wants, the community-created characters could either appear in the flagship series I'd be writing, or a companion series written by someone else.

One of the Discord channels could be dedicated purely to tracking the day, season, and year within the meta series to ensure all the narrative threads are in sync. There would also be the option for prequel series set in the past of the current valley as well, so long as we work together to avoid plotholes.

As for the overall plot, it would be mostly slice of life/romance at first, with some fantasy action for those characters who go hunting in the woods or descend into the monster-infested mines. One of the characters I would create would by an old wizard who runs an alchemy shop in town and provides magic tutoring services. Eventually, he would be a leading voice when a group of miners accidentally uncover a secret chamber underground where a dark relic has been stored for centuries and forgotten about. This magical device awakens an evil power that causes the monsters in the mines to go berserk and flood to the surface and out into the valley. The dark aura then spreads to all the animals in the forest and mountains as well as some of the townspeople who have enough anger in their hearts.

I think this might be a cool fun adventure for a bunch of us to have together, I'd love to hear your thoughts:D.

[shfra13]

Ahh, that sounds interesting! It sounds like everyone's characters can be the main character, I assume? So, like, a stardew multiplayer kinda stuff, but also the villagers are also everyone's OC? I think that would be really cool! We can even create some fun seasonal events, some lore, and add a lot of genre at once lol

[JWZagst]

Yeah, the idea would be similar to a comic book world where each writer crafts the stories of specific characters within a shared world, as well as some crossover characters that are present in multiple series.

[JWZagst]

Like, each "main" character would have their own series written by that character's creator, and each "main writer" would discuss ideas and plans on the Discord channel to ensure everyone is on the same page and there are not plotholes or inconsistencies. And then we could also have "main artists" to create comics set within the world, as well as images of various events, such as all the main characters sitting at a feast or joining forces to battle a boss monster. There would be no need to worry about splitting revenue either since each main writer or artist would have their own novel or comic to generate revenue, and we can all advertise for each other to ensure the popularity is shared by all of us.

[shfra13]

So, like, MCU(?), but Stardew? Will it only be about several comics/novels in one setting, or will there also be one series where it's, like, a crossover of all the other comics/novels from this series? Also, are all the characters in a same timeline, or is it flexible to choose? (for example, the world itself is set in 2020, but I'm writing a character's story in 1995, so, when there's like, a crossover, my character will be much older. Or stuff like that!)

[JWZagst]

A lot of that will be open to discussion if we get a few interested writers and artists, but my idea was for it to be set in a custom world where there are aspects of both magic and modern technology, similar to Stardew but it's own world and continuity. Ideally, most of the main series would take place in a small town in a wooded valley, but there could also be a large port city along the coast on the other side of the mountains that the characters can travel to and from.

But yeah, I was thinking similar to the MCU, most of the main characters existing in the same town and continuity. Like, if it's early spring in the town, most of the main series would also be set at that same time, with each writer telling events from the perspective of their characters. So, for instance, if one series is following characters on a hunt in the woods, another focused on a shop in town, and another following characters in the mines, and a meteorite crashes down somewhere nearby, then all three series would be able to interpret that event from the perspective of their characters. Kinda like that.

[shfra13]

I see. That sounds interesting! If anyone else is joining, I'd like to consider it!

[JWZagst]

So far not a lot of interest, but we'll see. I may just do it as a solo series for now and then probe again if the series becomes popular.

[SummerBoredom]

Do you need a writer?

[JWZagst]

Were you interested in doing a companion series to this idea?

[SummerBoredom]

I dont mind doing anything.

[system]

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