Board Thread:Fiction Universe Discussion/@comment-4242472-20160124202207/@comment-1633483-20160125000802

I started using the term "hyperpower" to describe the Cyrannian Empire's status and power over the Cyrannus Galaxy in comparison to native civilisations, only to have it diminish recently due the rise of the Empire's rival galactic government. As such, while the wikipedia definition may apply in that instance, as you said, such a definition simply wouldn't fit a collaborative universe like the Gigaquadrant. Indeed, on a Gigaquadrantic scale I would imagine the "power" system is quite flexible. What may be a hyperpower in one galaxy or one cluster may have relatively minor, or even non-existent, influence in another. Additionally, while users like Xho may consider there to be only three or four hyperpowers in the Gigaquadrant, other users may consider there to be many more.

For example, I would consider a Gigaquadrantic hyperpower to be quite simply the galactic governments of each galaxy. Though that doesn't necessarily mean that others, both in universe and in real life, see it that way.

As such, I think we should be careful about placing criteria or fixed definitions on what civilisations can or cannot be considered a hyperpower. While the term may be diluted by empires self-identifing as hyperpowers, if we keep the term fluid that really shouldn't be a problem. At the end of the day, I would argue that everyone is entitled to make their fiction however they want it to be made. If that includes calling it a "hyperpower", then so be it. Most fictions would be credible enough to use such a term with regard to Gigaquadrantic politics and have the information to back it up. Otherwise we may risk creating a tiered hierarchy of fictions, ranked on their power and influence in the universe, which is reminiscent of periods in the Fiction Universe's history I think we should avoid.