Panel-A-Day Notes: Setting
I decided to break up my notes into sections, because otherwise oh god I would break LJ's character limits I'm sure. So here's the notes on the setting, mostly the dreamworld where the battles take place
Setting:
REALITY: Roughly modern technology level; American style ethnic mix (a little of everything); I do NOT want a generic Japanese-y setting, either in culture (because that would require research lol) or names (because then everyone take too long to name). I'm thinking probably a not-quite-Earth world with unnamed geography (like so many other anime lol).
On the small scale, the plot mostly takes place at the highschool where most characters are freshmen-age (15-16), and the town around it. For the most part, magic doesn't work in the real world. The exceptions are *cute magical mascot* and the ability to enter the dreamworld physically.
DREAMWORLD: It's a dreamworld. The "magic" of the dreamworld mostly comes from the imaginations of the characters who are active in it, either by lucid dreams (most common method of entry) or by entering physically. Because of this, appearance in the dream world is rarely the same as it is in the physical world-generally in the dreamworld, colors become brighter, and things such as hair and eye color may change to things that are not seen naturally in the real world.
The dreamworld is rarely the same two nights in a row; while characters can influence while dreaming, when they wake up it returns to its "wild" state. Additionally, if two characters are fighting for control, the dreamworld will usually combine the two desires. If the two desires cannot be combined, the character with higher gem rank will prevail. Controlling the dreamworld is as important to battle as actually fighting your opponent, but it is an aspect often overlooked by newcomers.
ENTERING THE DREAMWORLD: Most characters simply enter the dreamworld through their dreams at night, usually in place of a normal dream.
It is also possible to enter the dreamworld physically. In this state, the imagination is more powerful (because the character is more closely tied to the dream world), but physical bodies cannot be modified. Entering the dream world this way must deal with their physical limitations, with the exception of the fact that they do not grow tired or need to sleep. (Food and water is still required, but readily available via magic.) Ususally this is done with the assistance of *cute magical mascot*, but some possess the ability to open physical gateways on their own. The gateways are often created in mirrors or other large, reflective surfaces; only permanant surfaces establish long-lasting gateways, as a portal such as water will ripple and ruin the reflective surface (and thus the gateway). A character who leaves the dreamworld after entering physically will always exit through the same portal they entered, however.
A character in the dreamworld physically will maintain the shape of the dreamworld around them. (When the dreamworld IS the same two nights in a row, this is usually the cause.) Because characters who enter in this way do not sleep, they are never out of touch with the dreamworld and thus it remains under their control.
DEATH IN THE DREAM WORLD: A character who dies while lucid dreaming will simply wake up-however, except in a few cases, their gem will be missing, and they will not be able to enter the dreamworld again without assistance. A winner may chose to not take the lower's gem, however, or it may be protected by other characters. In this instance, a losing character would be able to reenter the dream world as though they had not died.
Characters who are physically in the dreamworld at the time of death will die permanantly; other characters may be able to retrieve their bodies, but they will remain dead. In most cases, however, they simply disappear.
THOUGHTS ON ART: Perhaps render only the dream world in color, and leave the physical world in black and white to show the contrast between the two?
INSPRIATIONS: PMMM (specifically the mindfuck witch barriers) contributed to the bright, odd nature of the dreamworld. The Wheel of Time series contributed to the rules of the dreamworld, specifically the ability to enter physically. Rozen Maiden's N-field contributed to the reflective-surfaces-as-portals.
STILL NEED: A better name than "dreamworld" lmao
If anyone has any ideas/suggestions/comments/whatever, I'd be glad to hear them :3
Setting:
REALITY: Roughly modern technology level; American style ethnic mix (a little of everything); I do NOT want a generic Japanese-y setting, either in culture (because that would require research lol) or names (because then everyone take too long to name). I'm thinking probably a not-quite-Earth world with unnamed geography (like so many other anime lol).
On the small scale, the plot mostly takes place at the highschool where most characters are freshmen-age (15-16), and the town around it. For the most part, magic doesn't work in the real world. The exceptions are *cute magical mascot* and the ability to enter the dreamworld physically.
DREAMWORLD: It's a dreamworld. The "magic" of the dreamworld mostly comes from the imaginations of the characters who are active in it, either by lucid dreams (most common method of entry) or by entering physically. Because of this, appearance in the dream world is rarely the same as it is in the physical world-generally in the dreamworld, colors become brighter, and things such as hair and eye color may change to things that are not seen naturally in the real world.
The dreamworld is rarely the same two nights in a row; while characters can influence while dreaming, when they wake up it returns to its "wild" state. Additionally, if two characters are fighting for control, the dreamworld will usually combine the two desires. If the two desires cannot be combined, the character with higher gem rank will prevail. Controlling the dreamworld is as important to battle as actually fighting your opponent, but it is an aspect often overlooked by newcomers.
ENTERING THE DREAMWORLD: Most characters simply enter the dreamworld through their dreams at night, usually in place of a normal dream.
It is also possible to enter the dreamworld physically. In this state, the imagination is more powerful (because the character is more closely tied to the dream world), but physical bodies cannot be modified. Entering the dream world this way must deal with their physical limitations, with the exception of the fact that they do not grow tired or need to sleep. (Food and water is still required, but readily available via magic.) Ususally this is done with the assistance of *cute magical mascot*, but some possess the ability to open physical gateways on their own. The gateways are often created in mirrors or other large, reflective surfaces; only permanant surfaces establish long-lasting gateways, as a portal such as water will ripple and ruin the reflective surface (and thus the gateway). A character who leaves the dreamworld after entering physically will always exit through the same portal they entered, however.
A character in the dreamworld physically will maintain the shape of the dreamworld around them. (When the dreamworld IS the same two nights in a row, this is usually the cause.) Because characters who enter in this way do not sleep, they are never out of touch with the dreamworld and thus it remains under their control.
DEATH IN THE DREAM WORLD: A character who dies while lucid dreaming will simply wake up-however, except in a few cases, their gem will be missing, and they will not be able to enter the dreamworld again without assistance. A winner may chose to not take the lower's gem, however, or it may be protected by other characters. In this instance, a losing character would be able to reenter the dream world as though they had not died.
Characters who are physically in the dreamworld at the time of death will die permanantly; other characters may be able to retrieve their bodies, but they will remain dead. In most cases, however, they simply disappear.
THOUGHTS ON ART: Perhaps render only the dream world in color, and leave the physical world in black and white to show the contrast between the two?
INSPRIATIONS: PMMM (specifically the mindfuck witch barriers) contributed to the bright, odd nature of the dreamworld. The Wheel of Time series contributed to the rules of the dreamworld, specifically the ability to enter physically. Rozen Maiden's N-field contributed to the reflective-surfaces-as-portals.
STILL NEED: A better name than "dreamworld" lmao
If anyone has any ideas/suggestions/comments/whatever, I'd be glad to hear them :3