Timeline Contest 2 Discussion
- Thread starter Glen
- Start date
Glen
Moderator
I wonder if we shouldn't request that each participant post something weekly in their entry thread, even if its just a line. That way people keep their momentum going. I think it was a cool idea to have the timelines developed in secrecy so we could see how they might diverge, but I think that also meant that too many people ended up putting it off to the last moment and just didn't have time (yours truly included).
What do people think?
Five potential timelines
1) British botch delivery of the Zimmerman Telegram, revealing that they are listening in on neutral diplomatic traffic in the US, Mexico, and elsewhere. This backfire horribly and keeps the US out of the war while Germany decides to halt the "rumor" or resuming unrestricted submarine warfare. For added effect, perhaps Germany claims it is a desperate move by the British and that the whole affair is a lie.
2) Italy stays very friendly to Germany but goes on a different path after early 1936, building her empire in a very different way and surviving into the postwar world
3) Japan never attacks Pearl Harbor but instead develops synthetic oil capabilities during the 1930s. Imperial forces still attack colonial holdings and develop a trading bloc roughly equal to "ASEAN plus three" US declares war on Germany in later 1942 and Europe is eventually free. Eventually a tripolar world is formed as Japan, Russia, and the US compete. With the collapse of the USSR in 1994 and a *much* greater push into space, the world is a very different place in 2008!
4) Japanese forces under Toyotomi are more successful in Korea in 1593, creating a very different Shogunate and prompting Japan to start establishing colonies abroad.
5) Events at the Alamo are slightly different with an exiled Samurai taking part in the defense. Though everyone is killed, Texas opens up Japan early and starts a series of events that leads to war between the Western Hemisphere and a perilous alliance between the UK, France, and Germany in 1923.
1) British botch delivery of the Zimmerman Telegram, revealing that they are listening in on neutral diplomatic traffic in the US, Mexico, and elsewhere. This backfire horribly and keeps the US out of the war while Germany decides to halt the "rumor" or resuming unrestricted submarine warfare. For added effect, perhaps Germany claims it is a desperate move by the British and that the whole affair is a lie.
2) Italy stays very friendly to Germany but goes on a different path after early 1936, building her empire in a very different way and surviving into the postwar world
3) Japan never attacks Pearl Harbor but instead develops synthetic oil capabilities during the 1930s. Imperial forces still attack colonial holdings and develop a trading bloc roughly equal to "ASEAN plus three" US declares war on Germany in later 1942 and Europe is eventually free. Eventually a tripolar world is formed as Japan, Russia, and the US compete. With the collapse of the USSR in 1994 and a *much* greater push into space, the world is a very different place in 2008!
4) Japanese forces under Toyotomi are more successful in Korea in 1593, creating a very different Shogunate and prompting Japan to start establishing colonies abroad.
5) Events at the Alamo are slightly different with an exiled Samurai taking part in the defense. Though everyone is killed, Texas opens up Japan early and starts a series of events that leads to war between the Western Hemisphere and a perilous alliance between the UK, France, and Germany in 1923.
Jasen777
Donor
I think that's a good idea. We might want to go with a honor system where we agree not to look at other contestants' threads (until the end). I plan on doing that anyways, because I don't want to inadvertently steal other people's ideas.
i'm just not sure what RL events would prevent me from focusing on it. If i can get a rough estimate of how long it would go on for, I'd be able to sign on.
You know what, this POD sounds too good to pass up. I've got a couple of really good ideas for it and I think I can pull off something good.
Glen
Moderator
That's a good idea. Try not to read each others' timelines until the very end.
Let's get it started, and once we've gotten our full roster of participants, we'll take a poll as to how long you want to write for before we call deadline.
Glen
Moderator
Jasen has thrown down the gauntlet:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=83873
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=83873