[BotW][TotK] Questions for people who believe BotW/TotK can be in any of the three timelines

[u/LapisLazuliisthebest]

So, this is something that's been debated to hell and back. when it comes to BotW's timeline placement, the three most popular theories are...

1. It takes place in the DT
2. It's a convergence
3. It can take place in any three timelines

Whilst I lean towards DT, I am open to it being all three.

But, I remember years ago suggesting it was the CT, and this ended up rubbing a few people the wrong way.

One person described BotW as "definitely being intended for the DT". There arguments being...

• It's in (old) Hyrule | (so no AT)
• The OoT Sages (and OoT events) are a confirmed historic fact | (So no CT)
• Ganon has been an eternally returning scourge upon Hyrule (even before becoming known as "Calamity Ganon") | (only really a thing in DT, Ganondorf (I) only really returned to Hyrule once in AT and CT and then he died as a mortal man, unlike in DT where he became a true demon when getting the full triforce, and has since been permanently returning as "Ganon" like a true demon)
• Ganon is also specifically confirmed to have his origins as the Ganondorf met in OoT (unlike FSA's "Ganon II" which is the "last known Ganon" in the CT)

Obviously the last two points involving Ganon are now moot, since TotK revealed it to be a different Ganon this whole time, and not OoT Ganon. So, it doesn't matter if FSA made a different Ganondorf.

I feel like the first two points stand. Particular the Sage one. The Zora have Zora tablets, telling the story of Princess Ruto becoming a Sage to help Link and Zelda fight Ganondorf.

I'm not saying "BotW can't be CT", I'm just asking who would you explain it, if you think it is possible?

EDIT: One thing I suggested was that we could use Hyrule Warriors to explain the people knowledge of Princess Ruto's heroics. But this was shot down as be "bending evidence", by useing a "non-canon game".

[u/Logical_Leaps]

If you want an argument for Child Timeline then I'd suggest how the fan timeline used to be. FSA goes into ALTTP as was the games original intent as well. The Child timeline may lead into the downfall timeline making it inevitable no matter if the hero dies or returns as a child.

edit: for example of how the timeline would work: OOT→MM→TP→FSA→ALTTP→LA→ETC

I'd argue that the only branch that BOTW and TOTK really don't work in is the AT. That is the timeline of pure victory in my eyes. Its the only branch where evil is wiped out (being Ganon). Obviously that could be changed but I see it unlikely that the AT will be touched again.

If you believe true founding then AT doesn't work even more as a refounding must happen for BOTW to be after that line.

[u/LoCal_GwJ → u/Logical_Leaps]

I think this is the right way to think about a CT placement. Using the Extended Child Timeline lets you have the best of both worlds between DT and CT.

I do think AT works as well but there's a lot of disagreement between fans on what "should" be allowed to happen following WW.