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

[Tallow]

This was my thinking. If you have 100 pages of settings that are like Forgotten Relams but different and each page only has 300 words, how many are going to be near identicle?

I think the fluff is what is going to be the tie breakers. Your submission has to stand out somehow and I don't think it can do that with just a few sentences of "core" infomation.

Well, I guess its possible, but unlikely.

I agree with you here. That's why I believe that the top 10 will be between 500 and 900 words. Its one thing to belt out point for point in as little words as possible, but there is such a thing as being too concise.

The problem will come in that these concise papers will get lost in the quagmire of simplicity. They will be overlooked for the 800 word ones that are written so well that despite the panel's overworked eye-strain migraines, they will want to continue reading them because they are so good, or so on the money with what they are looking for.

I wrote what I thought was my best work at 815 words. If it isn't chosen, its not because of word count. Its because the world didn't fit their criterea for something that could be merchandised easily.

I also think that those who sent in more than one submission will be at a loss, because they divided their creativity more than one direction.

Andy Christian

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

I also think that those who sent in more than one submission will be at a loss, because they divided their creativity more than one direction.

Andy Christian

I think that depends on WHY more than one submission was entered.

I entered two very distinct worlds. The other three I entered where variations of those. They don't like the idea of Illithid invasion? How about demons? That sort of thing. Too much psionics? Well here is a version without them.

I wanted to avoid this scenerio.

Anthony: "I would have picked this one, but it centers too much on psionics." *Trash*

Instead....

Anthony: "Hey! Here is that same great idea but without psionics!" *Into the good folder*.

See what I mean?

 

[Voneth]

I also think that those who sent in more than one submission will be at a loss, because they divided their creativity more than one direction.

Andy Christian

Depends on how much creativity you have, I suppose.

I can't agree on this point for a one page template. If the first round had been a 5 page or 10 page submission, then I would agree.

 

[Weeble]

I also think that those who sent in more than one submission will be at a loss, because they divided their creativity more than one direction.

Andy Christian

It also depends on wether or not you had other settings already fleshed out.

 

[Jamie44]

That's why I believe that the top 10 will be between 500 and 900 words. Its one thing to belt out point for point in as little words as possible, but there is such a thing as being too concise.

This is possible, but I don't agree completely. A good writer can grab your attention with only a few words. I feel like this is what the 1st round is all about. Grab their attention and Make them interested in you.

Although I have to admit, the one thing I bug myself about is not having enough space to fully explain some of the things I said. But I just have to believe that what I did have room for was intriguing enough to make them want more.

 

[Zappo]

Re: Great Fun!

This is my first post to ENWorld, this thread seems to have seen a lot of first time posts. I mailed the entry for our team Wednesday. I will echo the sentiments that this thread was the authoritative voice for the contest from the very beginning. To everyone who gave input along the way, Thanks! Especially Zulkir and Parcher. If I had felt I could have contributed to the information being imparted I would have posted before this, but I felt it was better to keep the clutter to a minimum. Good luck to everyone! I hope to find time to post more often.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[seasong]

I agree with you here. That's why I believe that the top 10 will be between 500 and 900 words. Its one thing to belt out point for point in as little words as possible, but there is such a thing as being too concise.

I think I've said this before, but...

Different ideas will have different ideal word ranges. To use some real world examples, Athas would probably sit fairly well at 400-500, with a heavy emphasis in questions #1 and #5. Ravenloft could easily be proposed with 300 words or less, mostly in #1 and #2. DragonLance would want 600+, mostly in #2, #5 and #6. Talislanta would probably require 750-900 words, and it would be real painful to pare it down to that few.

The trick is getting the right word range, and then making that as readable as possible.

 

[Tallow]

This is possible, but I don't agree completely. A good writer can grab your attention with only a few words. I feel like this is what the 1st round is all about. Grab their attention and Make them interested in you.

Although I have to admit, the one thing I bug myself about is not having enough space to fully explain some of the things I said. But I just have to believe that what I did have room for was intriguing enough to make them want more.

In one way I agree, in another I don't. Being concise and capturing the interest of someone with as few words as possible is a quality a good writer needs to publish. But if in being concise, I can put twice the information than I could if I was ridiculously wordy, why not use the space I was given?

I was given a full page. If I can't find the words to fill that page, why should I be chosen? Good writer or not. Journalists often have to fill 500 or 1000 or more word blocks for stories. So if they have a crap load of information, the conciseness becomes necessary. If they have very little info and need to fill 500 words, they gotta become creative with how they write.

The point is, I wrote a very poignant and concise submission (at least I think so, and my editors think so too). But I filled the page and wrote 815 words, not because I had to, to convey my idea, but because I could, to add more flavor to capture more imagination.

They gave me a yard, so I took a yard. Why take only a foot or an inch when you have 3 feet to work with?

Andy Christian

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

The point is, I wrote a very poignant and concise submission (at least I think so, and my editors think so too). But I filled the page and wrote 815 words, not because I had to, to convey my idea, but because I could, to add more flavor to capture more imagination.

They gave me a yard, so I took a yard. Why take only a foot or an inch when you have 3 feet to work with?

Andy Christian

Ditto! My thoughts exactly.

 

[Hakkenshi]

quote:
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Originally posted by Hakkenshi
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Cheers, fellas, you've made this contest work!



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except that this isn't a contest, this is an opportunity.

Pursuant to your correction of my above statement, I have altered my statement to use the term "non-competitive selection process". I hope this satisfies your desire for exact wording.

What happened to "It's the thought that counts?"
I don't think either Zulkir or Parcher will take my thanks amiss because I called it a contest. Besides, since this "opportunity" includes submissions by many in order to be chosen above all others, I'd say it IS a contest, albeit one which provides, as you said, a great opportunity for a great many people.

So, to reiterate, thanks to all the WotC people (including those behind the scenes who don't post on the boards) who gave, or are giving, their time for this opportunity/contest.