Parallel universes, one Manhattan
An experiment with ether crystals has split the world into countless parallel universes. All players play in the same Manhattan – but each in their own version of it. The inspiration comes from shows like Fringe.
The universes differ only slightly. In one, the Empire State Building carries a mooring mast for zeppelins; in another, it is an ether tower. One universe has Prohibition, another doesn't. These variations bring small bonuses.
Four stages of contact
- Glimpse: With a small ether crystal, an opponent's world flickers over your own for a moment.
- Contact & trade: Messages and goods exchanged through portals.
- Crossing: Agents and expeditions cross over – including encounters with doppelgängers.
- Merging: Two universes overlap. Buildings in the same spot compete or become hybrids.
Every connection costs stability. Push too hard and your own universe starts to tear, with rifts and anomalies.