# Worldbuilding

**URL:** https://discourse.gplates.org/c/worldbuilding/15.md

[Latest](https://discourse.gplates.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discourse.gplates.org/categories.md)

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## [About the Worldbuilding category](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/about-the-worldbuilding-category/764)

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**Author:** [@john.cannon](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/john.cannon)\
**Replies:** 0

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Worldbuilding is the process of constructing a world, originally an imaginary one, sometimes associated with a fictional universe (according to Wikipedia). GPlates has been designed and written for the scientific commun…

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## [Mid Ocean Ridge Jumping](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/mid-ocean-ridge-jumping/1265)

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**Author:** [@Pico1212](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Pico1212)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [24 September 2026 13:02 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/mid-ocean-ridge-jumping/1265 "2026-09-24T13:02:20Z")

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As you can see on this image, the plate with ID 401 splits off at 1750.0 mya, the mid ocean ridges suddenly jump around the globe. I know this normally is a issue with Plate IDs in the rotation file, but I couldn’t find …

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## [Adjusting Timescale of Simulation Backwards?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/adjusting-timescale-of-simulation-backwards/3278)

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**Author:** [@blackmagikarper](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/blackmagikarper)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [20 September 2026 19:23 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/adjusting-timescale-of-simulation-backwards/3278 "2026-09-20T19:23:27Z")

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I have recently started a project of attempting to simulate the tectonic history of my homebrew D&D setting, and in doing so my first draft was to start with the modern day landmass and work my way backwards through two …

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## [Simulating Earth expansion using GPlates?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/simulating-earth-expansion-using-gplates/3209)

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**Author:** [@OttsGhost](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/OttsGhost)\
**Replies:** 19\
**Last updated:** [31 August 2026 01:10 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/simulating-earth-expansion-using-gplates/3209 "2026-08-31T01:10:56Z")

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Hello, I am trying to develop a 3D visualization of the Expanding Earth hypothesis. Has anyone attempted to use GPlates for this purpose? Does anyone have any idea about how to go about this? My efforts using AI-gener…

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## [How do divergent boundaries behave when they're almost but not quite transform?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-do-divergent-boundaries-behave-when-theyre-almost-but-not-quite-transform/3272)

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**Author:** [@Dewgone95](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Dewgone95)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [3 August 2026 06:49 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-do-divergent-boundaries-behave-when-theyre-almost-but-not-quite-transform/3272 "2026-08-03T06:49:38Z")

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I often end up with situations like the one pictured below (flowlines included for clarity). The time step here is 50 Myr: As you can see, clearly new oceanic crust is being formed here. However, there is significant…

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## [How do we want triple junctions to work?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-do-we-want-triple-junctions-to-work/3267)

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**Author:** [@StephenRider](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/StephenRider)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [23 July 2026 22:50 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-do-we-want-triple-junctions-to-work/3267 "2026-07-23T22:50:11Z")

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I’m using Codex to try to improve gPlates, so far I have one little bit that still needs work, the mythical split polygon with polyline: the next thing I want to tackle is triple junctions, but how do we want these to…

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## [Simulating Earth expansion cont](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/simulating-earth-expansion-cont/3246)

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**Author:** [@johnny99](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/johnny99)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [29 April 2026 18:03 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/simulating-earth-expansion-cont/3246 "2026-04-29T18:03:46Z")

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…You can get around it by completely changing the rotation of Antarctica/Australia, such as: But that rotation is not standard and I think probably for good reason. and it’s still not perfect according to these isochro…

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## [Odd flowline behavior?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/odd-flowline-behavior/3229)

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**Author:** [@MostEgg](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/MostEgg)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [22 March 2026 00:47 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/odd-flowline-behavior/3229 "2026-03-22T00:47:40Z")

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I’m working on an initial supercontinent split, and I think my flowlines are behaving strangely. If I remove all of the timesteps, I can see points that could be the mid-ocean ridge, but when I add the times I only get l…

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## [Correction divergent boundaries](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/correction-divergent-boundaries/1280)

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**Author:** [@Toobi](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Toobi)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [14 January 2026 21:41 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/correction-divergent-boundaries/1280 "2026-01-14T21:41:11Z")

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After using the topology-based method outlined in this Artefexian video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxFpWyAzWqw&t=1485s) to create my divergent boundaries, I’ve run into a problem. At 900 MA, the Divergent boundari…

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## [My ocean crust keeps becoming a resolved topological geometry](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/my-ocean-crust-keeps-becoming-a-resolved-topological-geometry/1159)

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**Author:** [@Rusx](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Rusx)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [14 January 2026 21:27 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/my-ocean-crust-keeps-becoming-a-resolved-topological-geometry/1159 "2026-01-14T21:27:15Z")

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Whenever I create one specific piece of ocean crust whether it’s through topologies or I put every point in manually, it always is put in a new layer also called “ocean crust” but it’s a resolved topological geometries l…

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## [Question about the size of the time slider](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/question-about-the-size-of-the-time-slider/3193)

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**Author:** [@MrUks](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/MrUks)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [14 January 2026 19:36 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/question-about-the-size-of-the-time-slider/3193 "2026-01-14T19:36:15Z")

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Hi everyone, I didn’t know if this should be a suggestion or just a question in worldbuilding, so I thought I’ll ask here: is there a way to increase the size of the time slider? Currently it only goes to 2 decimals, bu…

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## [Adding ocean crust and creating plates in new Pacific-type plate](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/adding-ocean-crust-and-creating-plates-in-new-pacific-type-plate/1278)

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**Author:** [@Toobi](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Toobi)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [22 October 2025 21:56 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/adding-ocean-crust-and-creating-plates-in-new-pacific-type-plate/1278 "2025-10-22T21:56:40Z")

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After using topologies to track divergent plate boundaries and MIRs, a new Pacific-type oceanic plate arrived. Do I fill in the empty triangle using the topologies and assign it a new plate ID, or do I do something el…

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## [Batch-edit feature ages/dates?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/batch-edit-feature-ages-dates/3087)

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**Author:** [@kittycatcaoimhe](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/kittycatcaoimhe)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [15 October 2025 02:50 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/batch-edit-feature-ages-dates/3087 "2025-10-15T02:50:52Z")

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I’m putting this in the Worldbuilding section because I’m using this for worldbuilding purposes, and can’t think of a real-world reconstruction project where someone would make many features with the wrong age data, but …

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## [Need help with rifting event/rotation file](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/need-help-with-rifting-event-rotation-file/3089)

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**Author:** [@mapmaker12](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/mapmaker12)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [15 October 2025 01:33 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/need-help-with-rifting-event-rotation-file/3089 "2025-10-15T01:33:25Z")

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I’m working on a new rifting event (my second since the initial super continent split) and I’m running into some trouble. I’m looking to split the continent along the rift that’s highlighted in orange (and some porti…

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## [Seeking help with unmoving plates at the beginning of a simulation](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/seeking-help-with-unmoving-plates-at-the-beginning-of-a-simulation/1264)

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**Author:** [@doometella](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/doometella)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [1 August 2025 08:48 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/seeking-help-with-unmoving-plates-at-the-beginning-of-a-simulation/1264 "2025-08-01T08:48:20Z")

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Hello, I’ve been using GPlates on-and-off for quite a while for a personal project, but I’m clearly rusty enough after a few months away that I’m running into some roadblocks while attempting to start again from scratch…

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## [Drift correction for rotation file makes half-stage rotation feature jump across continent](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/drift-correction-for-rotation-file-makes-half-stage-rotation-feature-jump-across-continent/1248)

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**Author:** [@EwokalypseNow](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/EwokalypseNow)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [29 July 2025 17:22 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/drift-correction-for-rotation-file-makes-half-stage-rotation-feature-jump-across-continent/1248 "2025-07-29T17:22:51Z")

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Hello everyone, I’m having an issue while colliding two continents. After inputting the drift correction, my mid-ocean ridge (created using the half-stage rotation feature) jumps to a wildly unintended location. Removing…

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## [Flowlines encircle globe instead of following drifting continents](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/flowlines-encircle-globe-instead-of-following-drifting-continents/1279)

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**Author:** [@EwokalypseNow](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/EwokalypseNow)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [29 July 2025 17:20 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/flowlines-encircle-globe-instead-of-following-drifting-continents/1279 "2025-07-29T17:20:01Z")

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Hi there, I’ve run into a trouble with my flowlines. I have a Craton (Craton B) with a plate ID of 200 that had been following Craton A with ID of 100 for about 300 my, before it collided with another continent and was …

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## [Is there Any Ones that is like 500 MYA and Starts with MD Earth?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/is-there-any-ones-that-is-like-500-mya-and-starts-with-md-earth/1261)

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**Author:** [@TAH](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/TAH)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [10 July 2025 11:04 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/is-there-any-ones-that-is-like-500-mya-and-starts-with-md-earth/1261 "2025-07-10T11:04:30Z")

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I’m trying to do like a Post-MD Alt Geo thing, and I can’t find one

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## [Topologies not appearing when I create them](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/topologies-not-appearing-when-i-create-them/1219)

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**Author:** [@Mme.Kali](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Mme.Kali)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [14 May 2025 07:22 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/topologies-not-appearing-when-i-create-them/1219 "2025-05-14T07:22:14Z")

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Its to the point that I don’t know if they are even being created. I am a world builder but this seems like a bug question. So I have a map of all my lovely fault lines that go around the planet and (to the best of m…

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## [Plate jumps to original position when I change its parent plate ID in the rotation file](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/plate-jumps-to-original-position-when-i-change-its-parent-plate-id-in-the-rotation-file/1167)

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**Author:** [@leviathan](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/leviathan)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [2 March 2025 23:57 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/plate-jumps-to-original-position-when-i-change-its-parent-plate-id-in-the-rotation-file/1167 "2025-03-02T23:57:18Z")

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Hello. I am following Artefexian and WorldbuildingPasta’s tutorials on gplates, and I’m trying to get my continents to collide. I’m stuck on the part where you link one continent to the parent continent so they can start…

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## [What to do with mid-ocean ridge in collision?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/what-to-do-with-mid-ocean-ridge-in-collision/1004)

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**Author:** [@PointyOrb](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/PointyOrb)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [28 February 2025 18:14 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/what-to-do-with-mid-ocean-ridge-in-collision/1004 "2025-02-28T18:14:25Z")

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The two continents at the top are about to collide into each other, and the oceanic crust connected to them has a mid ocean ridge in between. My question is; What happens to the mid-ocean ridge here? Does it get dele…

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## [Please help. I keep getting 'Error reading moving plate ID'](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/please-help-i-keep-getting-error-reading-moving-plate-id/1137)

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**Author:** [@Dayna](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Dayna)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [20 January 2025 00:39 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/please-help-i-keep-getting-error-reading-moving-plate-id/1137 "2025-01-20T00:39:16Z")

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Hello, I have read through the discussions and have not found any solutions to ‘Error reading moving plate ID. The pole was discarded’. I’ve done exactly what Artifexian says to do in his tutorial. I gave each craton an…

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## [Changing parent ids in the rotation file](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/changing-parent-ids-in-the-rotation-file/997)

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**Author:** [@abbzcreates](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/abbzcreates)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [14 January 2025 17:54 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/changing-parent-ids-in-the-rotation-file/997 "2025-01-14T17:54:51Z")

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I am at the point where I need to pair a craton with a different parent ID, but it is not working. Every time I try to do this, it keeps moving in a way I do not want it to. How do I fix this? This is my rotation: 100 …

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## [Help with Relative rotations to anchored plate](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/help-with-relative-rotations-to-anchored-plate/994)

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**Author:** [@abbzcreates](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/abbzcreates)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [8 November 2024 02:37 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/help-with-relative-rotations-to-anchored-plate/994 "2024-11-08T02:37:37Z")

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Hello! I’m following Artifexian’s guide. I’m trying to move a craton from its anchored plate, but when I try to change the poles, it always says indeterminate. This is the relative relation pole: Here is the rotati…

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## [Coupling the colliding continents doesn't work for me?](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/coupling-the-colliding-continents-doesnt-work-for-me/980)

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**Author:** [@Nasko1194](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Nasko1194)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [28 September 2024 20:28 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/coupling-the-colliding-continents-doesnt-work-for-me/980 "2024-09-28T20:28:25Z")

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Hello. I am using Artifexian’s tutorial (relatively, at least - since I don’t put much detail into the ocean crust I form every timestep), and have recently collided two continents - let’s call them A (ID:100) and I (ID:…

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## [Help for my project](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/help-for-my-project/978)

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**Author:** [@muhoaga](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/muhoaga)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [28 September 2024 12:38 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/help-for-my-project/978 "2024-09-28T12:38:20Z")

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I want help for my project. I have started working on a planet simulation of approximately 700 million years old, but using gplates consumes a lot of time, so I have to get your help. If anyone can help me with this, ple…

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## [How to make non-plate tectonics in GPlates](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-to-make-non-plate-tectonics-in-gplates/977)

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**Author:** [@Enderlook](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Enderlook)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [28 September 2024 12:06 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-to-make-non-plate-tectonics-in-gplates/977 "2024-09-28T12:06:20Z")

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I know GPlates is designed to show plate tectonics, but has someone tried to show any tectonics instead? I wanted to simulate the entire history of a planet, which includes Heat Pipe Tectonics and maybe Drip-and-Plume (a…

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## [Problem with ocean crusts](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/problem-with-ocean-crusts/932)

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**Author:** [@MrUks](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/MrUks)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [4 September 2024 07:57 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/problem-with-ocean-crusts/932 "2024-09-04T07:57:44Z")

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Hi everyone, I’m working on my world’s map (based on the tutorials from artifaxian and worldbuilding pasta) and have been stumped by this. I’ve created an oceancrust, but unlike the other ones, it doesn’t seem to become …

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## [I can't seem to connect my cratons together to move them](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/i-cant-seem-to-connect-my-cratons-together-to-move-them/961)

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**Author:** [@redr\_m](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/redr_m)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [31 August 2024 23:25 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/i-cant-seem-to-connect-my-cratons-together-to-move-them/961 "2024-08-31T23:25:44Z")

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So…I just started using GPlates about a week or so ago. Like I’m sure a few of are, I’ve been following Artifexian’s tutorial and though helpful thus far, I can’t seem to get over this one hurdle. I have 12 cratons and t…

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## [GPlates continents breaking every time I change .grot file](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/gplates-continents-breaking-every-time-i-change-grot-file/959)

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**Author:** [@Twoblad3z](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Twoblad3z)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [29 August 2024 02:42 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/gplates-continents-breaking-every-time-i-change-grot-file/959 "2024-08-29T02:42:21Z")

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I’ve been using GPlates to map my Fictional planet and it’s tectonic History (inspired by artifexian and loosely following guidelines while also implementing my own “expertise” with using Gplates) problem is, recently wh…

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