Shared Universes

I think an Ultimate like idea is best, sort of like All*Stars. I also agree with the one title for each section. So only one Avengers, only one X-men, only one Fantastic Four, only one Spider-Man title. If someone wanted to do a solo title with a character in a team, then that's of course open too. They just need to be on the same page as the writer of the team book.

And I'd also limit it too one title for each writer only the universe takes off. That way both the universe and the writers themselves are more focused.

I think we can worry about things like DC later. Since we're an X-Men site, I say we concentrate on Marvel.

I've had an idea for an Ultimate X-Men title for a while now and have loosly plotted some of it too. I'd be keen on exploring that with someone else on another title. Justin if you have an Avengers style one maybe we should chat.

Again my life ranges from crazy to insane but I would like to find more time to write. I miss doing it and for a title like Ult. X I would be willing to step into it again but with people involved under the knowledge that my commitment while there may by necessity be intermittent! :(

Cut Off Point continuities (like X-M or every other fan fic site) will likely have the most chance of success.  Think about it this way; the history is already established. In an Ultimate style series there can be issues with establishing the history.  What if one writer puts out a fan fic that says mutants are the result of interbreeding between humans and aliens thousands of years ago, and other writers don't like that? I guess if you had an editor that reviews everything like that and approves of vetoes things it may work.

If you guys do an ultimate imprint, you should call it Ulitmate House of Ideas.

I have about half of an idea for a story-arc or mini-series for KoE Ghost Rider that would feature both the Black Knight and Blackheart. I can't promise more than that, but I can definately sit down and put my thoughts together, see what you think Gibbering.

I'd just like to say that while I can't commit to any REAL writing for a shared universe, I'd be more than happy to edit or guide or help come up with plotlines. I love creating new worlds/stories/characters, I just don't have the time to write.

Por exemplo: I started thinking about UncannyScott's Schism proposition. Personally, I think the Schism should be between Cyclops and Xavier. My whole problem with Logan is that he and Scott have largely gotten along during all of the SF time, so a split like what we're going to see bothers me. I think Logan going his own way is a bit out of left field.

So something happens, somethink like Idie's situation, where the X-Men or mutants are put in situation where it's kill or be killed. Then he doesn't turn them over to the law - on national TV.
Afterwards, Charles goes to confront Cyclops (while others are around, it's a council meeting or something) and confronts him. "I never condoned killing, this isn't what I trained you to do, what were you thinking" - but Emma and the others stand with Scott. Life isn't what Charles thought it would be and THESE are the kinds of decisions they're forced to make. Angry and hurt, Charles storms off.
Cyclops and his council discuss Charles' lack of faith (they find it disturbing) and he decides that Charles needs to leave the island. Cyclops doesn't want him dead, he just can't afford to have dissention in the ranks at the moment. So he and Emma and probably Magneto go to escort Charles off the island, but he resists. A fight breaks out, which then gets the attention of the rest of the island. Those who defend Xavier form the basis for who leaves with him and finally, when all is said and done, Charles and his loyalists do just that. They aren't willing to kill Scott and his allies, but neither is Scott's team - he only wanted Charles off the island. He didn't want this.

So Scott's group stays in San Fran, while Charles' leave. They'd return to the Mansion, but it's being watched by the government! Remember K+Y's MRD in X-Force? They've been waiting for the mutants to return and, after the little X-Men killing spree, have been given the powers necessary to arrest any mutant they deem fit. Charles' team is then on the run, defending a world that fears and actively hunts them.
Meanwhile, in San Fran, the government comes to arrest those who were involved with the killings (plus maybe everyone else). They X-Men defend Utopia until suddenly EXODUS arrives on the scene. He telekinetically lifts all of the anti-mutant forces and moves them out of the city - a gesture of good faith as he asks to follow Cyclops. Cyclops then has to defend his island home, plus the "territory" of San Francisco, PLUS keep his team from becoming power-hunger, do-whatever-it-takes-ers.

I like the idea of a third-group - the New X-Men - but I'm not sure how to use them. I don't think they'd side with Charles, as he has almost no connection to most of them, but their life hasn't been all that great under Cyclops either. If anything, I think Cyclops would actually put them in San Fran as their front line. No one looks at teenage kids and thinks "Oh yeah, THAT guy is totally going to kill us" - the New X-Men aren't accepted, really, as X-Men at all. So they make good "undercover" agents, plus they continue to do "goodwill" work, and can keep an eye out for MRD forces. Something like that?

I would, personally, see the New Mutants/Generation X group as a viable third option. I think that out of all the groups or teams, they are the ones have been indepedant the longest and done the most growing up - look at g1 X-Force, going from Xavier to Magneto to Cable to Wisdom. The Gen X kids may have had Emma and Sean to look over them, but they pretty much only did that - there was little discipline, little "I am in charge and you have to deal with that." They go along with their teachers almost as equals for most of the book.

So if anyone doesn't feel the need to connect to Cyclops or Charles, I'd say either those two particular groups or the New X-Men, who I could totally see going off on their own.

I'm only really interested in writing one-shots or mini-series right now, so I don't know if that's what you guys are really looking for with the Omniverse Imprint. I do have an idea for it though that I was originally going to use in the Amalgam universe I was creating for New Titans. It was going to be a kind of mixture of Kitty Pryde/Selena Kyle. I mean, Catwoman with phasing powers and the ability to disrupt electrical flows would make a pretty unstoppable thief ha ha. If the two characters were combined, it wouldn't stop anybody from using either character seperately in the future of the imprint if they wished.

Sorry, Mackers couldn't reply back your PM box is full. My email is InfiernoSE@aol.com. Scott since you want to do Spidey maybe the three of us need to find a place to discuss how to get this universe off the ground and if anyone else wants in as well.

According to the Omniverse thread you guys aren't allowing mash-up characters. That would be most of my ideas for the omniverse, so nevermind on that.

Writing is paramount indeed. Though we do need to keep this discussion current and going, as the ones for Omniverse and such always fall away deep into the forum as discussion stops and then a new one has to start and discussion wanes, and on and on. Starting small and just getting stuff in is the best way though encouraging some new stuff will help too as writing something new does invigorate people sometimes as I've had titles before that I let sit by the wayside thinking it was just time or non-interest of others that made me put it aside when really when I sat and looked at it all I no longer fully had the interest to do it. Yet then when I did something new bam I had interest in revamping the old thing as well as continuing the new because the new thing got me back into writing again. But yeah we definitely need to get some stuff written and in.

I also am liking the Schism idea the more we all discuss it as it would be really fun to do and expand on what is going on. It's one of the things that I loved about doing with X-M. Taking what was in place and turning it on its head to go new ways. Ultimate is a good way to do a fresh take as well. Schism we'll probably eventually need a new thread for that as its not just picking titles but also coming to a decision on who caused the schism and runs the sides and who is going where and why and such.

Ultimate and Omniverse are easier to get into cause the Omniverse I'm overseeing things and making sure they fit into it and then for Ultimate we'll have someone doing that as well.

Xtreme - I like you comment caution, and suggest focusing on producing some new work, and then proceed to enthsiastically endorse all the various unis. : ) Such a sweetie.

I've just finished up a script I was writing for a buddy of mine, and then I have 2 issues left of an Agent 13 series for Altered Visions to write. Once that's done, I'll sit down and put my CoE Ghost Rider idea together - I've been meaning to do this for awhile, and riding off everyone's "LET'S WRITE!" enthusiasm should help greatly.

As for Schism, I think I may have settled onto the third faction: HOPE.

Don't lynch me yet, hear me out! I suggest we put this THOI-Schism right after Second Coming. The X-Men at large have just learned about X-Force, they've lost some friends and colleagues, and this young, mysterious savior has been plunked into their laps.
Now, my take on Hope is VASTLY different from Fraction/Gillens. Hope's been raised in a plethora of desolate time lines, filled with danger and enemies, with only one real constant sense of safety: Nathan. With him gone, she's alone and withdrawn, not sure of who to trust and what their motivations are. She just saw Cyclops send Cable to his death, so no there; Wolverine wants nothing to do with her, so no there; and both Xavier and Magnus have kinda taken a "hands off" approach to the current mutant administration.
So she ends up hooking up with the New X-Men. Specifically Julian - whose confident, quiet anger reminds her - at times - of Nathan. And so, when the Schism goes down, Hope and the New X-Men take off, looking for their place and role in the world.

The Lights could still end up being involved - both in this and the other books - but we could totally reinvent the characters, the concepts, and the logic built into the system.

Now that would be a really great twist, and I more than trust fan fiction writers here or other places I write to make Hope not only less insufferable as a character but give us the answer to who and what she is that isn't drawn out forever and be teased so much that when it comes out its so obvious and a let down as Marvel will do lol.

Here is one way to approach the Schism stuff and not getting too far ahead of ourselves. Find someone to write this Schism event mini that will put things into the direction that others want to take things, and then once that is done and each issue has gone up then worry about writers branching off with the differing titles. Cause with these sorts of changes to the cut off point, it needs to be chronicled for reference for writers and readers opposed to DC's new thing of just moving ahead and not talking about what came before.

That also gives time for people to build up stuff and not be all crazy and also turn in stuff for their other writing so that the site has things to put up.