am181d
Adventurer
The following is a compilation of responses that Anthony Valterra has given, in regards to Wizards of the Coast's current fantasy setting contest/mamma-jamma.
Do not post questions for Anthony to this thread!!! (There's another thread for that.)
Please read the official FAQ that Wizards has released as well:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20020606c
Here is a discussion thread at GamingReport.com with some good advice:
http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=86
A SECOND UNOFFICIAL FAQ
LAST UPDATE: 6/14/02 (evening)
Do not post questions for Anthony to this thread!!! (There's another thread for that.)
Please read the official FAQ that Wizards has released as well:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20020606c
Here is a discussion thread at GamingReport.com with some good advice:
http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=86
A SECOND UNOFFICIAL FAQ
LAST UPDATE: 6/14/02 (evening)
- Important Updates
- General
- Cover Letter
- Submission Agreement/Rights
- Setting Proposal (Format)
- Setting Proposal (Content)
- Multiple Submissions
- Who Can Submit
- Teams
- Foreign Submissions
- Second and Third Rounds
- Advice[/list=1]
1. TWO IMPORTANT UPDATES!!!
(1)
"You must print out our PDF version of the submission agreement form. We cannot accept a printed version from another program (like MSWord). Finally, and this is also critical, a seperate submission agreement must be signed for each world that is submitted."
BUT...
"DO NOT RESUBMIT IF YOU DID NOT USE THE PDF. Our new legal counsel 'Julie' has agreed to reveiw any submissions that come in not using the PDF. As long as no changes were made to the content of the submission agreement we will accept it."
(2)
"Our PR department sent out an erroneous e-mail late yesterday saying that you had to have a PDF file burned to CD (or some such wonkiness). Ignore it completely. Please let everyone know that it was an error on our PR department and it can be safely ignored.
"All that they were supposed to say was that the Submission Agreement must be printed from the PDF version, but you guys already know that.
"Help me out here folks I can't post this as far and wide as I would like I'm starting to get buried."
2. GENERAL
Q. Is this for real?
A. “This is genuine.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Doesn’t Wizard’s timeline seem aggressive?
A. “I know the timeline seems aggressive but we are only looking for a one page submission.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Can you describe how everything will get processed after we submit out entries?
A. “Our admin process the entries. She makes copies for all of the comittee but the copies have the names covers and replaced with a number. She keep the original which also has the number written on it. All we see is the one page submission with a number. She is also the first hurdle as she has been instructed to set aside any submission that has not followed instructions (so we don't even see it).” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Does it matter what order we put our pages (cover letter, submission agreement, proposal) in?
A. "As long as the submission agreement is above the submission then order is unimportant." (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Can we resubmit proposals, if we do something wrong the first time?
A. “Regarding resubmitting. There is nothing in the rules to keep you from resubmitting. Only our admin might know unless we remember that proposal 122 looked a lot like proposal 1098 (which is unlikely).” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Should I post my ideas for a proposal in a thread Anthony has been reading?
A. “Please don't post any of your ideas to this thread or if you feel you must make it a link to another page. As one of the judges I don't want to be biased.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Can you give me feedback if I include a SASE?
A. “We will not be giving anybody feedback on their one page submissions.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
3. COVER LETTER
Q. Who should cover letters be addressed to?
A. “We are not going to worry about who cover letters are addressed to but ‘Selection Committee’ would probably not be improper (nice use of the double negative, eh?)” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. What is the primary purpose of the cover letter?
A. “The primary purpose of the cover letter is to give us your contact information and pertinent information about who you are.” “It must be a seperate page as we will be judging these submission blind.” (source: Enworld and WotC Message Boards)
Q. Can I put setting information in the cover letter?
A. “It will not be looked at by the panel until after we have selected the 10 proposals we want further development on. So any information you put about your setting in the cover letter will be pointless.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. But what if we want to put pointless stuff in?
A. "As long as it has your contact info you can put anything you want into it as it will not be read unless you are picked to be one of the ten." (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Can minors write their own cover letters?
A. “Yes, your parents must sign the submission form but you can write the cover letter and let us know that you are submitting and your parents are signing for you. It won't matter unless you move to the next round.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Should I include my e-mail address with my cover letter?
A. "If you send an e-mail with your cover letter we will let you know by e-mail. If you do have an e-mail please do send it in your cover letter as it will really help our admin out in the contact process. If you do not have an e-mail or you did not send it in the cover letter, don't worry we will send out notice by snail mail." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
4. SUBMISSION AGREEMENT/RIGHTS
Q. There seem to be multiple versions of the submission agreement. Which version should I send in?
A. "You must print out our PDF version of the submission agreement form. We cannot accept a printed version from another program (like MSWord)." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. What do I do if I sent my submission in, but used an MS Word version of the submission agreement?
A. "If someone has already submitted and their is a problem due to any of the above we will contact you and give you the opportunity to correct your submission. So far we have only received one problem submission due to the above issues and our admin is contacting that person (so I don't think this is going to be much of a problem)." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. After I sign the submission agreement, do I still own my creation?
A. “Yes, you own your work until you are one of the top 3. Yes, that is right we will only ask for the rights to the top 3 proposals.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. What rights am I giving up when I sign the submission form?
A. “The submission form is a few pages of legalese. what it says, in essence is that you are submitting an idea and you recognize that it is possible that parts of that idea may be submitted by somebody else. If we pick somebody else you can't sue because one of your ideas happens to be in some other persons proposal - it could actually be a coincidence. Now, here is the important part: At this point you have not signed over your idea!!!! You still own it 100%.” (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. If I make it to round two, but have a change of heart, can I withdraw my entry?
A. “If you are chosen to move to the next submission level you may refuse if you wish and retain your rights.” (source: WotC Message Boards)
5. SETTING PROPOSAL (FORMAT)
Q. Can my proposal REALLY only be one page long?
A. “If your submission is longer than one page it will get roundfiled! This is the ‘are you capable of following simple directions’ test. I guarantee that we will be tossing a whole wad of multi-page proposals because someone can’t follow directions.” "One page means one side of one piece of paper." (source: Enworld Message Boards, WotC Message Boards)
Q. Should proposals include the original questions themselves, or just the answers in paragraph form?
A. "On the issue of labeling the questions in the template - as long as you are clear about the questions you are answring it is not that vital. However, the easier you make it on us the more likely we are to pay attention. If the answers are broken down by paragraph and they follow the same order as the template there won't be a problem. If you turn in an epic poem in which the correct reading of assonance and consonance reveals the hidden answers we won't bother." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Can we include small graphics with our proposals, as long as it all fits on one page?
A. “Other than the information we have asked for in the template what else you put on the one page is your decision. Notes, diagrams, graphics, pictures, money....” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. I was planning on using color as part of my proposal. Will judges be looking at black and white copies?
A. “Yes, but since the original is available if we think seeing it in color will be significant then we can ask the admin to show the color version to us.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Staples? No staples?
A. "Staples or no staples is unimportant." (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Are handwritten entries acceptable?
A. “Typed or word processed entries are the only accepatable entry. If you do not have a typewriter or word processor check your local library or borrower a friends.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. How picky will you be on format (beyond what is explicitly covered in the instructions)?
A. “On format, we are not picky as long as it is professional. Double or single, either is fine. Obviously if we get six point type and no margins we are going to toss it, just like we are going to toss anything not typed (put away your crayons).” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
6. SETTING PROPOSAL (CONTENT)
Q. What kind of settings are you looking for?
A. “We are looking for fantasy medieval settings. That is what we do best. So that is what we mean when we say FR or DL. But if someone brought us Ravenloft or Mystara or Darksun, they would all be close enough to be in the running.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. How far can we stray from the genre?
A. “We are looking for a product that you can use the core rule books for. We are open to new classes, races, maybe even spell systems. But the further you stray the more impressive you are going to need to be. And don't bother with non-medieval I don't care how good the proposal we are no looking for Shadowrun.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Can my setting make use of firearms?
A. “Once you have common use of gunpowder you're probably too far. All of the other ideas are fine. Variant political or social milleus are all fine. We are concerned about technological level not political structure.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. So technology is bad?
A. “I'm not going to give you an exact answer more than I've already given. Just remember the further you get from the core rules the more you will have to impress us. Its your call.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Can I submit a proposal for d20 Modern instead?
A. “Regarding d20 Modern - no we are not interested in submissions for d20 modern only D&D. And no we are not limited to Eurocentric. Medieval should be read as a time period or a technology level not a cultural or geographical location.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Are alternate magic systems, like psionics, acceptable?
A. “Alternate magic systems (we would count PsiH as an alternate magic system) are acceptable. When we say compatible we are more concerned about subtraction or revision then addition.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Why would you want to do this if all you’re looking for is another Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance?
A. “Well, they all made millions of dollars that's why. I pray we end up with another one.” (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Can I submit my campaign setting, if it has already been published or made public?
A. “If you have a campaign setting and it has been made public, but not published you can submit it if you wish. But we will probably want to avoid setting that have been previously published.” “We are looking for worlds that we can own outright, and will probably favor original works since we want full freedom to develop in the way we want.” (source: Enworld Message Boards, OGF Listserv)
Q. How specific should we be with our answers to each question?
A. "Regarding all of the questions we are looking for broad outlines of motivation and 'types' not specific individuals. So this goes for heroes and villains. i.e. There are three main areas that heroes tend to arise from the Pig Farmers of middle lands who are feel they are oppressed and are leading a revolt, the Wichita Linemen of the County who work beneath the hot sun for the glory of their faith in the phone companies and the gameshow contestant survivors who, having had a taste of glory and fame, wish to continue to pursue it in the real world using their game show skills." (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Are you favoring a single, dominant threat to the world, ala Dragonlance?
A. “That is *not* the case. I strongly recommend that you create the best setting you can and don't try to anticipate our desires.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Do we need a title for our submission?
A. "Title or no title is at the descretion of the creator." (source: WotC Message Boards)
7. MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
Q. Can I submit a million proposals?
A. “Absolutely, but I would focus on making really good submissions rather than shot gunning.” (source: OGF Listserv)
Q. Can I submit two proposals in the same envelope?
A. “You can submit two in the same envelope. They will be processed by our admin so we won't know that you sent in more than one.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Should I submit a separate submission agreement for each world I submit?
A. "A seperate submission agreement must be signed for each world that is submitted." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
8. WHO CAN SUBMIT
Q. Will Wizards of the Coast staff be submitting proposals? If so, how is that fair?
A. “Yes we have our own R&D many of them will be submitting. Judging will be done blind. All R&D submittees are under strict gag order. If they talk to anyone about their ideas before we judge - it is eliminated from consideration. And yes, part of the reason we are doing this is that two of the biggest campaigns came from out of house.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. What about professional authors?
A. “The proposal has also gone out to author's and author agents so a proposal from a name author is not impossible.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Should the person submitting the proposal be able to write a sentence and/or follow directions?
A. “We will be giving favored status (for RPG, novels, minis maybe even TCG development) to the creator/creators of this world we would like someone who can write a sentence and follow directions.” (source: WotC Message Boards)
9. TEAMS
Q. What are your thoughts on teams?
A. “We think teams are great. When we get to the bible we will be looking for art, the look of the campaign, sample stories, rules, ideas for miniatures, TCGs, style of clothing, history etc. etc. It would be rare that one person could do all that. If you are part of a team every memeber that works on the one page must sign a submission form and be introduced in the cover letter. If you make the ten you can add members as you need them. Its up to you.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. What should we do about collecting signatures for an entire team, if they live all over the place?
A. “If you can't get their ink signature on the page to us then add them after you get to the 10 page level (assuming you get there). We do need actual ink signature on actual paper not electronic or faxes.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. How do we list an entire team on the proposal page?
A. “Team members in lower left: Your choice you can either designate a team lead or you could go with last names only if there are only a few (Dewey, Cheatem and Howe).” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. How do we handle the submission agreement for teams?
A. "I have been stating that if a team of people want to submit a world that each of them must sign their own submission agreement form. This is not incorrect, but I am now informed by legal that it is okay for the team to all sign the same form." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
10. FOREIGN SUBMISSIONS
Q. I live in a remote, obscure or otherwise ridiculous part of the world. Can I still participate?
A. “We will accept submissions from anywhere in the world. We only ask that it be post marked by the 21st. But if you are very far away you can do us a huge favor and send it in a bit early.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Muß mein Antrag auf englisch sein? Ich bin nicht von hier.
A. “As long as they are written in English anyone anywhere in the world can submit.” (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Do you penalise for English-English spellings versus American English?
A. “This would be considered a non-issue. In other words don't worry about it.” (source: WotC Message Boards)
Q. Is it okay to send my submission in on A4-sized paper?
A. "We would accept the A4 and you are betting correctly all three must be sent." (source: WotC Message Boards)
11. SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS
Q. Will you provide templates for the 2nd and 3rd round entries?
A. “Regarding 2nd and 3rd rounds we will be providing guidelines but not precise templates. These guidelines are not yet finalized so don't ask.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Will you be publicly announcing the 10 entries selected for the second round?
A. “Regarding making the 10 selected public, we will not do that but they may make themselves public if they wish. We want to respect their privacy. We may do the same for the final three, that is still up for debate.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. If someone makes it to the second round and wants to pitch their setting to a 3rd party d20 company, will you confirm that they were one of the 10?
A. “Yes we will confirm that they were one of the selected 10.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
12. ADVICE
Q. Any words of wisdom?
A. “Someone on this list pointed out that the best thing to do is keep in mind that we could be reading hundereds of these submissions and that you should keep that in mind. So the more you can do to make our job easier the better the chances are you will get paid attention to. If for whateever reason we have to work to read your entry we are likely to give up quick.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Anything else?
A. “Also keep in mind that you are proposing a world that will be used for RPGs, novels, minis and maybe TCGs. You might want to keep that in mind as you are creating - leave room for all of the above.” (source: Enworld Message Boards)
Q. Anything else?
A. "Don't try to 'game' the submission. Don't try to predict what we want. Just submit you're very best idea. If your world has a story then submit that, if it doesn't have a main story but is more like FR (alot of little stories) submit that. If you try to out think us you'll just weaken your proposal." (source: Enworld Message Boards)
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