Favorite fictional 'Universe'

[Ihateregistering1]

I've recently started getting back into tabletop games, and I've realized that a big part of the appeal of those games isn't necessarily the actual tabletop game itself (or the models) it's the world-building and the backstories of the whole thing.

So, Escapist, what is your favorite fictional 'universe'? Obviously this can encompass lots of stuff, but I mean (for example) the Star Wars universe, the Witcher universe, Warhammer 40K (or fantasy), Warcraft universe, etc. etc.

For me, I'm going to have to go with the Iron Kingdoms and Warmachine/Hordes. For starters, it's heavily steampunk, something that doesn't get used often enough, plus it combines it with magic and fantasy really well. It's also intriguing because I can't think of a single faction whose look and feel I don't like. From the Soviet styled (coupled with some Transylvania horror) look of Khador, to the beer swilling brawling Scottish inspired Trolls, to the freakish "flesh meets metal" look of Cryx, to the Cajun/Voodoo look of the Blindwater Congregation, pretty much every faction has a large level of appeal and just looks great. The concepts of Warjacks or Beasts is just tons of fun, and really works well at establishing the "nature vs. industry" idea of it as well.

 

[TakerFoxx]

Oh man, where to start.

Well, Mobius for one. Yeah, I know the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has had some real stinkers, but when they drop the dumb humany stuff and just go for balls to the wall weird, it really is spectacular. Hell, the old school 2D games really did a great job of showing off the insanely cool and colorful place Mobius is.

In recent history, gotta go with the world of Bastion, for many of the same reasons. Yeah, I got a think for bizarre and colorful wonderlands, and Caledondia was an excellent example. I loved exploring every bit of it, and the soundtrack and narration just made for an awesomely immersive experience.

For something less colorful, gotta go with the World of Darkness, mainly because I love the intricate political setup the vampires had going.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

While I'm not a fan of grim/dark stories, I still love the World of Darkness (both Classic and New), Cyberpunk and Shadowrun tabletop games, as they contain some of my favorite concepts - fantasy and cyberpunk sci-fi.

Otherwise I like places like Equestria and whatever the name of the world Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra take place in, due to all the different creatures and culture on display.

 

[davidmc1158_v1legacy]

I'm going to go with Palladium Books' Rifts Earth. It has everything: a post-apocalyptic setting, magic, sci-fi technology, psionics, aliens, human survivalists, a nazi-esque main villain, the works. The villains are well-thought out and interesting. The background heroes are decent people (dragons, aliens, etc.) just trying to make a messed up world a better place. And the concepts are imaginative and unique. I've always loved being either a player or a GM in that setting.

In straight-up fiction, I'm really partial to Eric Flint's world in the Ring of Fire series. It is really well put together, even considering all of the various authors Flint has brought in to work on the ongoing series. Even the fan-made short stories mesh really well into the whole.

 

[springheeljack]

I really like the Elder Scrolls universe it would be some place that I would actually want to live in I like the culture and history of Morrowind in particular
I mean provided that they dont have a bunch of portals of hell opened up

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

I have a soft spot for pre-reboot Thief universe and The City.
And when it comes to other fantastic cities: Sigil - city of doors from the Planescape universe could be pretty neat too.

If i had to choose more futuristic setting, i could go for the universe in Futurama. Or, albeit slightly more horrible, Rick and Morty, now that

Spoiler

.

 

[FPLOON]

Well, if I have anything to say on this manner...

Pokemon, where I live out my days telling fellow trainer the magic behind making their own Secret Base...

Other than that... uh... whichever world Fraggle Rock takes place it, I guess... (And, now I'm thinking of a Attack on Titan/Fraggle Rock crossover for some reason...)

Damn, me... You ninja so fine!

But seriously, Pokemon or Fraggle Rock for me...

I would say both the universe of Pokémon and the universe of Fraggle Rock...

Other than that, there's the universe of Kingdom Hearts, Equestria, Tenchi's universe, and Haruhi's universe as a honorable mention...

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Despite the fact that there are apocalypse-level events more often than Nintendo Direct videos, I can't help but like the Marvel and DC universes. In the Marvel Universe, I would likely have an alliterative name and odds are I would have stumbled into a super power the first time I tried changing out the HDD in a laptop. Of course I could have also been born as a Mutant or Inhuman or non-Human living on Earth for reasons...The DC Universe would be similar only I probably wouldn't have an alliterative name but at least if I eventually became super powered the general public wouldn't immediately hate me for it. Also, as super, the doors are wide open for me to never die...or age...and if I DO die I could always come back because of contrivance or malevolent space-bling.

Other than that there's the Elder Scrolls Universe. Since it's a confirmed multiverse and everyone with consciousness is essentially an avatar of a sleeping God, that basically guarantees me as being the undisputed master of all things ever. I could easily be the head of the fighters, mages and, assassin's guild with the ability to turn fucking invisible while ducking no matter how much heavy armor I'm wearing and how many tons of cutlery I have in my pockets. Best thing by far though is how every time I'm born Argonian, that's another lifetime wherein I am going to live a life that is completely disease-free.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I'd go with 40k, despite it getting increasingly bad. Early 2000 or so stuff was very good.

 

[Asclepion]

The Culture. I'm in love.

A playful, sex-crazed utopia run by AIs that are millions of times more intelligent than a human. The Culture's resources are so vast as to be effectively infinite, and their technology has removed nearly all physical constraints on life. People in the Culture can gland drugs within their own bodies, switch gender or species, or live in a virtual world of their choosing. Their spaceships are sentient and have their own personalities, and are the coolest fucking spaceships:

Spoiler: Culture GSV

A GSV (General Systems Vehicle) is classed as a 'Very Large Fast Self-Sufficient' ship type. They are immense mobile habitats with populations of billions of people and controlled by superintelligent AIs. GSVs are surrounded by layers of ellipsoid fields which allow them to dispense with anything resembling an outer protective hull or shell, instead being covered by oceans and continents.

And while the Culture would much prefer to make friends/lovers with you, they are also willing to ruthlessly destroy anything that threatens them. "You might call them soft, because they're very reluctant to kill, and they might agree with you, but they're soft the way the ocean is soft, and, well; ask any sea captain how harmless and puny the ocean can be."

 

[Mikeybb]

I can't pick one favorite.
I just can't.
There are aspects of each that capture me at different times for a myriad of reasons.

40k is a fast favorite.
StarWars of course.
The long earth setting really appeals too.

Fantasy wise, I'd have to point out the setting of "the lies of locke lamora".
Also quite fond of the bas-lag.

 

[Dango]

The alternate one where I have a girlfriend.

As a serious answer, Mass Effect (pre-Mass Effect 2's grim-dark take). I really felt immersed in it and fascinated by the different alien races technology. I think Bioware really did a good job instilling the original Mass Effect with a sense of wonder and mystery.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

As a serious answer, Mass Effect (pre-Mass Effect 2's grim-dark take). I really felt immersed in it and fascinated by the different alien races technology. I think Bioware really did a good job instilling the original Mass Effect with a sense of wonder and mystery.

I honestly sort of liked when Mass Effect moved to "Grim/Dark", because it established the Reapers as essentially being Elder Gods that we're basically hopeless against. It's pretty rare for a game to flat out tell you "yeah you're going to lose no matter what". Of course then they have to create a deus ex machina for you to stand a chance against them.

 

[Zen Bard]

You know, I kind of like the Fable Universe. It's very lush and serene and filled with happy British people. There's just enough magic to make things interesting and just enough technology to bring us advances like glass, gunpowder and clocks.

On the flip side, I do like the World of Darkness universe. Sure it's grim, dark and foreboding...but it's never dull. And I'd probably be one of the Foresaken.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Since this is not about living in that universe, I would have to go with One Piece.
Sure there is no complete map of the planet since it just showing from one island to another but I loved how much lore has been given to that universe.
Forget having a cell/ mobile phone, you got a pet snail in a form of communicated (Den Den Mushi).
To this date, there are still a few mysteries in their universe mainly the poneglyph and the void centery.
The entire theme is about freedom. Fed up with the place you're on? Hope on board on a ship and travel to another!
Most islands has a unquie scenery, want to go to an island that has large bubbles or how about sky island or under the sea with the mermaid and merfolk? Heck there even a samurai/ feudal Japan island coming up aswell!

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

Being a bit of a sci-fi fan, I'd go with:
- Ghost in the Shell
- Deus Ex, and
- Syndicate
Something about bionic augmentation just gets me very excited. Yes, you can tell I'm squirming in my pants for Cyberpunk 2077.

I was going to pick one for fantasy, but they're just so damn depressing most of the time, and magic users seem to get such a hard rap wherever they go. Other than maybe Elder Scrolls, which seems to be hardest on spiritual and cult fanatics, though there are so many of them.

 

[GamemasterAnthony]

Too...many...to choose...

Seriously, though...if I had to pick just one: Myst

This looks like the kind of universe I would want to live in. (Ya know...once the dangerous things are taken care of.) These worlds look absolutely GORGEOUS! They look like the kind of places you'd want to head to in order to just explore them. Seriously...I wish a couple of the Ages could have IRL equivalents. (Besides the Sedona Valley-esque Cleft, that is.)

 

[1981]

I'll go with Mass Effect too. Many games have had a unique atmosphere that I've been drawn to (The Witcher, Assassin's Creed, STALKER...), but Mass Effect is always the first to come to mind.

 

[Selucia]

The old and pre republic era star wars EU, post film EU is too focused on the film cast and the skywalker line.

The warcraft franchise despite blizzard ruining most of the vanilla world with parodies and crappy quest design overall the warcraft setting is still awesome.

Masseffect and Dragons age.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

Being a bit of a sci-fi fan, I'd go with:
- Ghost in the Shell
- Deus Ex, and
- Syndicate
Something about bionic augmentation just gets me very excited. Yes, you can tell I'm squirming in my pants for Cyberpunk 2077.

I was going to pick one for fantasy, but they're just so damn depressing most of the time, and magic users seem to get such a hard rap wherever they go. Other than maybe Elder Scrolls, which seems to be hardest on spiritual and cult fanatics, though there are so many of them.

Syndicate is one I'd really like to see explored in a lot more depth. I think the idea of a world in which Corporations have literally replaced countries and Governments is very interesting, but they never really went into enough depth about how everything works and how life functions in that universe (and after the failure of the last Syndicate game, I doubt we'll see anything more).