What should I look for in a writer?

[Creamsteak]

I'm working on the FFTD20 project (currently the 0.1 pdf can be downloaded from the mainpage of www.nuklearpower.com) and I have 19 applicants so far. Each applicant is simply telling me that he/she is interested, and I can only keep 4-6 of them. I plan on sending out a more formal email to them with some information I need to request.

I would like to know, what should I look for in a writer?

Should I ask for writing samples? Should I put some "problem solving" questions to test their abilities to use the d20 system to make something work? I'm pretty sure that I cannot pay any of them, since I don't make money on my project, so how do I ask about how much time they plan to spend on the project? Should I check their editing skills so that they can edit each other's work when I can't?

Are there things I'm completely forgetting?

I'll be happy with any advice, even if it just applies to general applications and such.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Just a couple of suggestions. First of all, since you aren't paying them, you might want to consider tenatively accepting all offers so that you have people to shift the workload to if someone isn't able to fulfill their part of the project.

You might want to ask for a sample of their writing and a listing of any previously published works. This can help you weed out the people who don't have any writing skills, or those who can write but can't do game design well.

It doesn't hurt to ask them how much time they have to devote to the project. Some people just don't understand how much work is really involved with game design, and an extended project can lead to them getting bogged down, ignoring the people in their lives, etc, so you might lose some that way.

If you really want to weed people out, put together a test that is designed to demonstrate how well they follow instructions. Give them a task that involves the D20 rules and see what comes back.

 

[Creamsteak]

My reply to my applicants

You are one of 25 initial applicants. I am tentatively accepting all offers so that I have people to shift the workload to if someone isn't able to fulfill their part of the project. There are a few questions I need each of you to answer and a challenging writing sample to see how strong your problem solving skills with the d20 system are. If you ever feel like re-applying, feel free to. I’ll always be willing to accept extra help.

This application has three steps. First, you must answer five simple questions in complete sentences to check your sentence structure and background. Using the Iron DM contest as a guideline

-Please include the question, followed by the answer-

1) What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live? What is your current occupation? How much time can you dedicate to the project each week?

Ex. My name is Anthony Heman, 17, from suburban St. Louis Missouri. I am a high-school student, and I can spend as much as 10 hours a week on the project.

2) What Final Fantasy titles do you have available to yourself immediately, for ‘research’ purposes?

3) What d20 books, from any publisher, do you own?

4) How do you feel about the d20 system, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the conversion?

5) Have you been published before? Can you provide references?



Iron DM contest guidelines: Iron DM is a competitive game to test a person's ability to take a set of 6 "ingredients" and turn it into a workable character class, prestige class, feat, feat-chain, or scenario.

The ingredients are elements that must be used in the designing of a scenario/adventure - which should be written up in overview form - players can be as specific as they like - but detailed stat-blocks and the like are not weighed as heavily as uniqueness and playability of the ideas.

I judge the final results.

Your challenge: Create a character class, feat, or scenario using six elements.

Elements
Action: Lock-picking
Item: A normal samurai sword
Creature: A single hamster
Place: Graveyard
Random: Sacred Tortoise
Random: Grandfather

This may be difficult, but for examples of IRON DM go to
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?threadid=28400&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

Please have fun with it, as said in the beginning; I’m accepting all tentative applicants.

 

[jmucchiello]

Re: My reply to my applicants

Your challenge: Create a character class, feat, or scenario using six elements.

Elements
Action: Lock-picking
Item: A normal samurai sword
Creature: A single hamster
Place: Graveyard
Random: Sacred Tortoise
Random: Grandfather

Free Advice: If you get someone who replies with a single worthwhile feat encompassing those 6 elements yet he knows nothing about FFT, you should still keep him.

 

[Creamsteak]

Re: Re: My reply to my applicants

Free Advice: If you get someone who replies with a single worthwhile feat encompassing those 6 elements yet he knows nothing about FFT, you should still keep him.

Exactly .

 

[Creamsteak]

Sei's Submission

GONE

 

[Creamsteak]

Tony Mack's Submission

GONE

 

[Creamsteak]

Chaotica500's Submission

GONE

 

[Creamsteak]

Nigel Joseph O'Rear's Application

GONE

 

[Creamsteak]

Erickei's Application

GONE