Editing Map the Multiverse (section)

==Weird Axis==
This measures the chaotic anomalies that differentiate Shadows from similar ones. It means a Shadow is closer to the Courts of Chaos than it should be given its traits. The Weird rating should be based on the most prominent/powerful anomaly. If the Shadow has two discrepancies of equal level, then it can be bumped to the rating above.

Details covered by Tech or Magic don’t justify a Weird rating greater than zero. For example, zombies are not an unusual thing to have in a magical world, so no Weird. In a modern Earth with no magic, though, such as The Walking Dead setting, they are, especially if the technological “explanation” is clearly handwaving. Seers or people with the Sight don’t merit a Weird rating if the origin of their power is magical.

Shadows located between Yggdrasil and the Courts of Chaos (see the Merlin Asks sidebar in the next page) tend to have strange physical laws, even if their Weird rating is zero. Examples include anomalous gravity, chemical oddities, cosmic aberrations and so on. High Weird, though, can be used to represent otherwise "normal" settings that have extraordinary features.

For example, a world of swashbucklers and galleons with Low magic, Renaissance tech, x2 time differential and Weird zero would be much closer to Amber than Chaos. However, this might feel odd if this reality's civilization lives in floating islands located in a gaseous ring of breathable air surrounding a giant, glowing ball of blue liquid. Weird can be used to fine-tune this.

The names of the level are just examples of conditions for that step.

• '''None:''' there’s no anomaly in this Shadow. It behaves exactly like expected.

• '''One Feature:''' there’s one thing that’s different in this Shadow when compared to other reflections: colors (people, sky, sun, etc.), languages, existence/inexistence of a minor technology or feature.

• '''Significant Detail:''' there’s one major anomaly or a few minor ones: species (lizardmen instead of humans), existence/inexistence of a major technology or feature (gunpowder doesn’t ignite, zombies in an otherwise normal world, lightsabers in an Arthurian Shadow).

• '''Paranormal:''' this Shadow features a single paranormal ability (precognition, supersense of smell, world jumping, etc.); the existence/inexistence of a technological field, school of magic or features.

• '''Thematic Powers:''' there’s a group of thematically linked abilities with a single origin (psionics, supernormals, etc.); the Shadow is permissible to a technology or magical tradition from another reality.

• '''Superabilities:''' there are various different abilities, but they all stem from a single origin (virus, genes, exposure to a substance, etc.). “People with powers” realities are usually found in this level.

• '''Metahumans:''' this Shadow features several different superpowers from a myriad of origins. It’s the Weird level of most super-hero worlds. Here you can also find Shadows that are permissible to a group of technologies or magical traditions from another reality, or one technological field or magical tradition from several Shadows.

• '''Cosmic:''' Shadow-wide or even inter-Shadow conflicts and cataclysms, “relatable” cosmic entities, and almost constant timeline rearrangement are the province of this level. Shadows that are permissible to all technologies or magical traditions of another reality, or a group of technologies or magical traditions from several Shadows belong here as well.

• '''Mythoic:''' insanity-inducing, dimensional-bending cosmic monstrosities can be found here.

• '''Cross-Shadow:''' these Shadows are so close to the Courts of Chaos that the boundaries between realities are tenuous. You can find worlds that are a patchwork of different Shadows. Cynosure, Sigil, Nexus and such exist at this level. Here you also find Shadows that are permissible to all technologies and/or magical traditions from other realities.