I figure we could have a thread here where people suggest certain types of articles they would like to see. If you have a suggestion for a future article for the Guide, just put the title and a brief description here, and hopefully someone will get to it. After the new year, I'll hopefully be able to write more myself, but I have a few projects to complete first.
No one's used this yet? Wow.
I just had an idea, and it may well be the kind of thing that's already been proposed by the editors, but reading the interview with Ishy and thinking about the "Setting of the Week/Month" it seemed to me that it might be helpful for other builders if there was a monthly interview with one of the more prolific world-builders about their methods, etc. Everybody wins in this set-up: the readers (especially inexperienced ones) profit by seeing the inner-workings of some of the better world-builders the guild has to offer, and the interviewee gets to give his campaign world a little extra exposure.
Has this already been thought of/mentioned?
Good thought Kalos, and it is something we've discussed a bit. There are some issues with the plan, but it seems as though we may be able to set something similar to this up.
If this is done, I think another method should be found to pick an interviewee for each issue. I don't personally like the idea of putting their settings in a draw for interviewing. Perhaps whoever does the interviews can keep a list of all settings (past, present, and future) and roll for a result each issue, and whoever comes up they contact and ask if they're interested/if said setting is still in function. If not, they roll again, and again until they get someone who can. How does that sound?
I would think that the interviewer would pick the setting himself, based on what settings/designers intrigue him.
In my conception of this process (which may be different than how it's gonna be implemented), it's less about the world in question (a la SotW) and more about the process - each interviewee gets asked to talk about HOW they design settings and make choices while worldbuilding. The setting gets some exposure in the details, but again, it's mostly about the "How?" and not the "What?"
That works. But I still think that people with settings that could potentially be interviewed should get to put their settings in for a draw when they want. Perhaps a user could be selected by a roll, and if they don't want to do an interview, they can be postponed one or more weeks while other people are interviewed in the meantime.
I'd also say that you should get two to three interviews in waiting, so that if one drops out you're not left panicking for another.
Maybe have an interview tied to the guide's setting? For example, if the theme is 'magic', maybe get an interview on how that campaign setting deals with magic or what new system the person uses.
We could still do the random draw, and I like that, it would just require that the person lists some topics he's be willing to interview about with the name.
I was just thinking aloud earlier and this crossed my mind.
For all contributing writers, add a line under the "By so-and-so" to the effect of "Creator of the blank-and-blank world." If the reader likes what they read, they can then go check out the world they're making. Just a thought.
I notice many people seem to either draw maps really well, or admit that they can't do anything in that area.
Furthermore, I don't see many tutorials out there for map making using free programs, like GIMP. Trust me, I've looked.
What would you say to having a series that details how to draw a basic fantasy map, with individual articles going step-by-step through the process using a free paint program? I think that this would be a very good asset to us campaigners.*
Of course, I could have just inhaled too many snowblower fumes.
*I'm not offering to do this, I'm not nearly good enough. Just putting it here so someone can see it.
Excellent idea, Stargate. I think that's a project you should head up!*
Blatantly ignoring the subtext in the above post
Quote from: IshmaylExcellent idea, Stargate. I think that's a project you should head up!*
Blatantly ignoring the subtext in the above post
You think that my crap* is good enough for this?
*I don't think it's crap, really, just not as good. Why are we communicating in subtitles?
Fine then, I guess I'll do it.
I'll need someone to volunteer a map they want me to do though, doing one of mine would take too long.