WotC Seeking Your Setting Proposals (was "Big Wizard announcement")

[Desdichado]

KDLadage:
Interesting angle indeed. I managed to squeeze in a few setting details (as I am sure many have) -- but it did make the "pov" for the writing in that one-pager interesting, to say the least.

Well, yeah, you have to. But it makes me wonder what they're looking for. For most campaign settings I've developed I haven't really thought too far beyond the paradigm that the heroes and villains are always doing what heroes and villains do, although I do look for something different about every campaign setting I develop, the campaign hook as it were.

If they're more focused on heroes or villains that are truly unique, then that may eliminate a lot of hopefuls who haven't really given that too much thought...

 

[scadgrad]

Can't wait to see how all of this plays out..

WOW!

What a great idea. I can't wait to see how this all plays out. It's really a win-win scenario since even if one doesn't make the final cut, at least we'll all be able to enjoy what should be a unique & exciting new campaign world.

I wonder if any details at all will be made public about the 10 finalists or if we'll be kept in the dark until the final 3.

Not to repeat the earlier cover letter question, but the point does seem to be spot-on. AV any comments on the content of the cover letter that you could make would be greatly appreciated.

Good luck to all!

The muse is upon me...

 

[toberane]

Considering that it's going to be blind judging, information about you in your cover letter is pretty much a moot point. Neh?

Your cover letter has to contain your contact information. That's it's main purpose, according to the information sent out by WotC.

And in answer to the people who are mentioning that the writers won't get royalties, there wouldn't be any royalties on this 100 page bible anyway. To my understanding, what the three finalists will produce is a broad overview of the world, its cultures, organizations, history, magic, etc. Whenever I have seen projects with multiple writers in a shared world, that is what the word "bible" referred to. It is not intended to be a publishable work in its final form. It is, however, what the writers who work on the world will use to create the products and stay consistent. As the world evolves, the "bible" will grow, and it will be used in house as a guideline for future products.

If you read the Submission Information, at the end it mentions that the winner of this competition may receive preferential treatment when it comes to assigning authorship of the various supplements and novels. Meaning that, at that point, you would receive other salaries and royalties on the works you authored published. I am not familiar with WotC's policies on royalties for freelance work, and if they even offer any, but the fact that they are not offering any royalties for the 100 page bible, a book that will never be published, makes sense.

In essence, they are paying you $120,000 for the rights to your world. The only royalties you MIGHT get would be on future published works you author.

 

[Tallow]

[/color]
Well, yeah, you have to. But it makes me wonder what they're looking for. For most campaign settings I've developed I haven't really thought too far beyond the paradigm that the heroes and villains are always doing what heroes and villains do, although I do look for something different about every campaign setting I develop, the campaign hook as it were.

If they're more focused on heroes or villains that are truly unique, then that may eliminate a lot of hopefuls who haven't really given that too much thought...

Yes, isn't that the truth. I think one thing that will give people a leg up, is if they can come up with a unique way for the heroes and villains to interact. Or perhaps a unique hero perspective that hasn't been explored entirely or at all yet.

I don't think the idea of Heroes as Villains, or Evil Heroes is what they are looking for. But perhaps some sort of stray from the norm that would give the players another unique environment to enjoy, without it being another type of geography, terrain, or cultural/societal situation. I dare say that I feel I've had this in my campaign for the last several years, but who knows if it will be interesting to the public at large. Guess we will find out soon enough.

On that note, I think it would be a bad idea to stray TOO far from the norm. Wierd or "out there" type stuff will appeal to you or perhaps a small base of people who like that niche.

So I guess its an interesting quandry of finding something new and unique in a rather idea-saturated community without making it unmarketable. A challenge I relish!

Tallow

 

[Zulkir]

Good morning

Hey Folks,
Okay, I'm starting to get nervous about how many entries we are going to get.

First of all, anyone who is entering 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.

Regarding minors: 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.

Regarding the cover letter in general - The primary purpose of the cover letter is to give us your contact information and pertinent information about who you are. However, and this is very important, 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.

Regarding team - 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 minitures, 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.

On technology - I'm not going to give you an exact answer more than I've already given. Just remeber the further you get from the core rules the more you will have to impress us. Its your call.

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.

AV

 

[Tom Cashel]

Re: Good morning

When we get to the bible we will be looking for art

This is the first truly distressing thing I've seen about this fantastic opportunity...we need to be writer/illustrators now?

That's pretty disheartening.

It would be rare that one person could do all that.

Doesn't WotC have any illustrators on staff for that kind of thing?

 

[isirga eth]

by the way...

KDLadage, you say you've already sold your RPG stuff. Here in MExico that is like, an unattainable utopia. WHERE did you go? WHO buys this stuff? HOW does one come around to see his RPG published, and paid for? because that's what I want to make for a living, you know.

Any advice or pointer would be greatly appreciated.

And before you suggest it... OF COURSE I will submit my fantasy setting

 

[isirga eth]

Is that so?

Regarding team - 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 minitures, TCGs, style of clothing, history etc. etc. It would be rare that one person could do all that.

AV

I CAN do all that, all by myself, and can prove it (I'm serious). Do I have a job?

 

[bolen]

It seems to me that the key is to have a fantastic opening sentence. If someone wrote down that generic description that they used in the opening sentence in the example I doubt the FR would exist It is just too bland.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Re: Is that so?

I CAN do all that, all by myself, and can prove it (I'm serious). Do I have a job?

Show-off!