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Creating Your First Scenario

Ready to explore an alternate timeline? This guide walks you through the process of creating and generating your first scenario on Altertimeline.

Before You Start

Before diving in, think about what interests you:

  • A historical event you've always wondered about
  • A technological development you're curious about
  • A scientific discovery that fascinates you
  • An economic or social change you'd like to explore
  • A completely imaginative scenario you've dreamed up

Don't overthink it—any "What if" question is a good starting point!

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Navigate to the Create Page

  1. Go to Altertimeline's website
  2. Click the Create button in the navigation menu, or visit the Create page directly
  3. You'll see the scenario creation form

Step 2: Enter Your "What If" Question

In the text field, type your "What if" scenario. You have up to 200 characters to describe your question.

Example scenarios:

  • "What if the internet was invented in 1950?"
  • "What if dinosaurs never went extinct?"
  • "What if World War II never happened?"
  • "What if smartphones existed in the 1980s?"
  • "What if India became the world's largest economy in 2005?"
tip

Writing Tips:

  • Be clear and specific about what you're asking
  • Include enough context so the AI understands your scenario
  • Focus on one main "what if" rather than multiple branching questions
  • Feel free to be creative and imaginative—the AI thrives on unique scenarios

Step 3: Choose Your Tone

Before generating your timeline, select how you want the AI to present the scenario:

Serious — A straightforward, analytical approach focusing on realistic consequences and detailed analysis. Best for educational exploration and serious "what if" questions.

Funny — A humorous, entertaining approach with satire and comedic elements. Best for lighthearted questions and discovering amusing outcomes.

Mixed — A balanced approach combining serious analysis with occasional humor. Best for general exploration without a specific tone preference.

note

You can generate the same scenario with different tones to see how the perspective changes. Each tone will produce a unique timeline!

Step 4: Click "Generate Timeline"

Once you've entered your scenario and selected your tone, click the Generate Timeline button. The AI will analyze your question and create a detailed alternate timeline.

This typically takes just a few seconds. You'll see a loading indicator while the AI is working.

Step 5: Explore Your Timeline

Once generated, your timeline will appear on the screen. It will include:

  • Immediate Impacts — What happens right after your scenario occurs
  • Decade-Long Effects — How the world changes over the next 10 years
  • Global Consequences — The worldwide ripple effects and long-term transformations

Read through the timeline carefully and notice:

  • Specific details and examples the AI included
  • How one change leads to another
  • Unexpected consequences you might not have anticipated
  • How different aspects of society are affected

Common First Scenarios

If you're not sure what to ask, here are some popular first scenarios that work well:

Technology Scenarios

"What if smartphones existed in the 1980s?"

  • Explores how early mobile technology would have changed communication, business, and society
  • Shows the emergence of early tech companies and the internet boom
  • Great for understanding technological evolution

"What if the internet was invented in 1950?"

  • Imagines how the world would be different with 40+ years of internet development
  • Explores the impact on business, communication, and culture
  • Shows how early internet adoption would have changed history

Historical Scenarios

"What if 9/11 never happened?"

  • Explores how the world would be different without this pivotal event
  • Shows the impact on politics, security, and international relations
  • Great for understanding cause and effect in recent history

"What if World War II never happened?"

  • Imagines a world without this defining historical event
  • Shows the impact on technology, politics, and global power structures
  • Explores how different the modern world would be

Science & Space Scenarios

"What if dinosaurs never went extinct?"

  • Explores a world where the asteroid never hit Earth
  • Shows how evolution and civilization would be completely different
  • Great for imaginative, speculative thinking

"What if humans colonized Mars in 1995?"

  • Imagines early space colonization and its consequences
  • Shows how this would have accelerated space exploration and technology
  • Explores the impact on Earth's economy and society

Economy & Society Scenarios

"What if India became the world's largest economy in 2005?"

  • Explores how the world would be different with India as the economic superpower
  • Shows the impact on technology, culture, and global politics
  • Great for understanding economic cause and effect

"What if India had its own Silicon Valley in 1988?"

  • Imagines early tech hub development in India
  • Shows how this would have accelerated India's tech industry
  • Explores the impact on global technology and innovation

After You Generate

Once you've created your first timeline, you have several options:

Share Your Discovery

  • WhatsApp — Send the timeline to friends or groups
  • Twitter — Share on social media
  • Direct Link — Copy and share the scenario link

Try Variations

  • Generate the same scenario with a different tone
  • Modify your scenario slightly and generate a new timeline
  • Explore related "what if" questions

Browse Similar Scenarios

  • Check out the Popular Scenarios library for related ideas
  • Look for scenarios in the same category (history, technology, science, etc.)
  • Use other scenarios as inspiration for your own questions

Save for Later

  • Bookmark scenarios you find interesting
  • Create a collection of your favorite timelines
  • Revisit scenarios to discuss with friends

Tips for Great Scenarios

Be Specific

Instead of: "What if technology was different?" Try: "What if the internet was invented 30 years earlier?"

Specific scenarios produce more detailed and relevant timelines.

Focus on One Change

Instead of: "What if World War II never happened and the internet was invented earlier?" Try: "What if World War II never happened?"

One main scenario works better than multiple branching questions.

Add Context When Helpful

Instead of: "What if printing?" Try: "What if the printing press was invented 200 years earlier?"

Context helps the AI understand and generate better timelines.

Experiment and Have Fun

  • Try scenarios across different categories
  • Mix serious and funny tones
  • Explore both realistic and imaginative "what ifs"
  • Don't be afraid to ask unusual questions

Troubleshooting

My scenario didn't generate

If your timeline didn't generate:

  1. Check that you entered a clear "What if" question
  2. Make sure your scenario is under 200 characters
  3. Try rephrasing your question more specifically
  4. Refresh the page and try again

The timeline seems incomplete

If the generated timeline seems short or incomplete:

  1. Try a more specific scenario
  2. Experiment with different tones
  3. Try a related but different "what if" question
  4. Check your internet connection

I want to try again

You can always:

  1. Go back to the Create page
  2. Enter a new scenario
  3. Select a different tone
  4. Generate a new timeline

There's no limit to how many scenarios you can create!

Next Steps

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