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

[Olidammara]

Seems like all I'm reading are constraints, constraints, constraints. Why is Wizards of the Coast trying to oppress my creativity?! Why is the company trying to impose so many unreasonable limitations on the human spirit?

If my campaign world has worked well enough to make virtually tens of people happy at my gaming table over the years, it's a little unfair for WotC to dismiss my work out of hand just because I accidentally forgot to dot a 'T' or cross an 'I'.

But while you consider the obvious wisdom of my words, I've got a couple more submission questions: Do I have to use my legal name? And how many women will be on the judging panel?

 

[Ghostwind]

Seems like all I'm reading are constraints, constraints, constraints. Why is Wizards of the Coast trying to oppress my creativity?! Why is the company trying to impose so many unreasonable limitations on the human spirit?

I would like to think this is a tongue-in-cheek question and not meant to be taken seriously. If it is a serious question, the answer should be obvious. Wotc has defined the guidelines and parameters under which they want this new world developed. You need to follow those parameters. This isn't a case of submitting what you want and telling them that they should accept it or else they are stupid. I'm not sure everyone is getting the point that part of this competition is following directions and writing to specifications.

If my campaign world has worked well enough to make virtually tens of people happy at my gaming table over the years, it's a little unfair for WotC to dismiss my work out of hand just because I accidentally forgot to dot a 'T' or cross an 'I'.

It's great that so many others have gotten enjoyment from your world. But professionalism is part of the requirement for being a writer. You need to have the skills to write cleanly and concisely to get your point across. If you have created a great world that is well-defined and written and knocks everyone's socks off, I don't believe you will be penalized for a minor grammatical error. But if it is loaded with bad grammar and spelling errors, then it should be put in the trash. As a writer you are responsible for proofreading and correcting all errors or problems you find before it is submitted.

Do I have to use my legal name?

You're submitting something that you would potentially be paid for. The name you use should be the same that you use that is on any paycheck of legal document. When you sign the legal contract that Wotc has included in the proposal, you are legally bound to use your real name. Anything less would be grounds for throwing out your submission.

And how many women will be on the judging panel?

The make-up of the judging panel should be kept secret, period. Furthermore, the number of women on the panel whould have absolutely no relevance to your submission. This new campaign world has to appeal to men and women across the world. If your campaign is slanted towards one sex or the other, you should probably rework it.

 

[Olidammara]

OK, OK. I think I've just about got all my questions answered. I might not agree with the way this "contest" is being "organized," but I can live with it for $120,000.

One more question: Would it be beneficial to note in my submission that my campaign fixes the broken ranger character rules?

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Seems like all I'm reading are constraints, constraints, constraints. Why is Wizards of the Coast trying to oppress my creativity?! Why is the company trying to impose so many unreasonable limitations on the human spirit?

If my campaign world has worked well enough to make virtually tens of people happy at my gaming table over the years, it's a little unfair for WotC to dismiss my work out of hand just because I accidentally forgot to dot a 'T' or cross an 'I'.

But while you consider the obvious wisdom of my words, I've got a couple more submission questions: Do I have to use my legal name? And how many women will be on the judging panel?

Boy, I hope this post is in jest. For those who might agree with it:


The world of publishing isn't fair. Never has been, never will be.

Think of it this way:

It's unfair for WotC not to dismiss those people who can't remember to dot Is and cross Ts. I want them to round file entries with spelling errors, I want them to round file entries with wonky fonts, I want them to round file entries with "creative" grammar, I want them to round file entries that are more than 1 page and I want them to round file entries without the author's name in the proper place. In other words, I want them to round file every entry that fails to meet a minimum standard of professionalism.

There are thousands of entries pouring in. If 50% of them are tossed because they fail to meet the minimum professional standard, that leaves more time for solid evaluation of those works that are of professional caliber.

Patrick Y.

 

[Christian]

Orcus made a solid point about the long-running homebrew worlds. I happen to have a 20-year old world taking up a few file folders and notebooks, which I'm trying to submit. And I'm almost tempted to throw up my hands ... Frankly, I think it would be easier to build the 100-page bible than try to pick out a few core elements for the one-page summary. Bleah.

I've found it helps to stick those notes in the back of a closet for now & just let everything settle in my mind. And recall as best as I can the ideas that led me to start building this monstrosity back in 1984 or so ... It's an interesting exercise, to be sure.

(The positive: I'm hoping this will inspire me to finish converting this 1st Edition stuff to 3rd Edition. We shall see.)

(Of course, the best-case scenario has something to do with $120,000. But I'll be pretty darn happy if, six months from now, I have a 100-page bible, whether or not I get paid for it. )

 

[Gez]

I've got the strange feeling I'm the only one who have actually looked at Olidammara's nickname before posting a "you're a complete moron, that's a stupid question which has alreadyt been answered ten thousand times !" reply.

Bad humor is part of his portfolio... Hence the "I don't have access to a computer" joke (for someone on the Internet ! And people have bitten the bait ! Kudos, it was a really great one, akin to that "are you frightened by the fact the New Year's Day in year 2000 will be a friday 13 ?" enquiry! People are so silly sometimes...) or, in fact all his other questions.

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I can make a better 1-pager than WotC: compare their FR core ethos with, say, this one:
"The Forgotten Realms are a early renaissance sword-&-sorcery setting where adventurers battles countless evils and discover age-old lost wonders."
Just on the top of my head.

 

[Weeble]

Boy, I hope this post is in jest. For those who might agree with it:


The world of publishing isn't fair. Never has been, never will be.

Think of it this way:

It's unfair for WotC not to dismiss those people who can't remember to dot Is and cross Ts. I want them to round file entries with spelling errors, I want them to round file entries with wonky fonts, I want them to round file entries with "creative" grammar, I want them to round file entries that are more than 1 page and I want them to round file entries without the author's name in the proper place. In other words, I want them to round file every entry that fails to meet a minimum standard of professionalism.

There are thousands of entries pouring in. If 50% of them are tossed because they fail to meet the minimum professional standard, that leaves more time for solid evaluation of those works that are of professional caliber.

Patrick Y.

amen

 

[Storm Raven]

Orcus made a solid point about the long-running homebrew worlds.

I think part of the point of the one page submission requirement (in addition to making the submissions manageably easy to read) is that they don't want extensive detail or intricately networked together political/religious backgrounds with dozens of statted up NPCs, prestige classes and home brewed rules.

What they appear to want is a framework. A jumping off point. Even a 100 page setting bible is a very minute amount of material: a campaign setting painted in very broad strokes at best. I think people submitting very long running, complex and intricately designed settings will not do all that well in the contest.

 

[Mercule]

Boy, I hope this post is in jest. For those who might agree with it:

It might put your mind at ease, as far is Oli's questions go, if you skimmed through Chapter 6 of your Player's Handbook.

 

[edbonny]

What they appear to want is a framework. A jumping off point.

The more I write, the more my setting submission is starting to read like a movie trailer with its "bullet points" of what to expect when it releases. Concise, to the point, filling the viewer with interest and anticipation... anybody else taking this dramatic route?