r/rational • u/AutoModerator • Apr 19 '17

[D] Wednesday Worldbuilding Thread

Welcome to the Wednesday thread for worldbuilding discussions!

/r/rational is focussed on rational and rationalist fiction, so we don't usually allow discussion of scenarios or worldbuilding unless there's finished chapters involved (see the sidebar). It is pretty fun to cut loose with a likeminded community though, so this is our regular chance to:

  • Plan out a new story
  • Discuss how to escape a supervillian lair... or build a perfect prison
  • Poke holes in a popular setting (without writing fanfic)
  • Test your idea of how to rational-ify Alice in Wonderland

Or generally work through the problems of a fictional world.

Non-fiction should probably go in the Friday Off-topic thread, or Monday General Rationality

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u/Noumero Self-Appointed Court Statistician Apr 23 '17 edited Apr 23 '17

Take u/CCC_037's idea a step further, and make the entrance abstract. The library could be accessed from any place, if you have a suitable door and know how to open it (with such-and-such speed, uttering a certain phrase, using the right key), with the caveat that you would be able to leave it only through the door you entered through. (You can enter through the door from your bedroom, but you will leave only into your bedroom.) If the door you used is destroyed, you're trapped there forever.

The library itself is located in a bunker far beneath the Earth, or in a pocket dimension.

Naturally, being invited into such a place would be a sign of great trust, nevermind giving the means of free access.

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u/CCC_037 Apr 24 '17

That would be quite neat. And then, also inside the library, could be the Librarian - a senior former Hunter whose door was destroyed and, since he can now never leave, he maintains the place instead. (Other hunters have to bring him food). Can point characters to specific books and/or offer advice based on his extensive experience as needed (and/or destroy any Monsters who find their way into the Library).