The Campaign Builder's Guild

The Archives => Meta (Archived) => Topic started by: Neubert on March 26, 2008, 06:24:11 PM

Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Neubert on March 26, 2008, 06:24:11 PM
Hey everyone.

As a new poster, I find it hard to figure out how to go about posting your world for the rest of the members to see and critique. I have recently started to post about my world, but I am in doubt about how to best present it. What I would like is a discussion on the subject, that might help other new people as well.

I can see people here are doing various solutions, and I am wondering which way will get most exposure. Having a wiki is nice and easy for readers to navigate, but I think that threads on the forum generally gets more views. I would prefer not to have both, as I would have to write every change twice. I also see some people presenting their world in one thread and discussing it in another. What is the benefits of that?

I see many options, but I am not sure what you think the best solution is?
1) Make a wiki and have everything there - world info, comments, the works.
2) Make a single thread with info and where people can discuss that info.
3) Make a thread for discussing and one for showing information about the world.
4) Make a wiki with the info and a thread for discussing
5) Make both a wiki and thread with info on the world (and either have comments there or in a seperate thread)
6) Make a wiki with world info and a thread for updates/new information you would like to have extra attention (that you either just posted or need help with). And then either have comments there or in a seperate thread.


Also I would like to know what the the views are upon updating the threads. Should I make a new thread every time I post new information I want comments on (I doubt that is a good idea), post in my concurrent discussion thread (although I can see the discussions in such a thread getting outdated and the need to "clean it out" by making a new) or simply update my posts and hope people notice?


Obviously some of these questions or suggestions are "foolish" and not something I would normally do, but I figured I would try and spark some discussion with this.


-Neubert.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: LordVreeg on March 26, 2008, 06:25:45 PM
go look at my threads.  Then do the opposite.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Hibou on March 26, 2008, 07:35:08 PM
Post in your current thread when you have new information to read - a new thread every time can take up a lot of space and make one seem like a board hog. Different people like to do things different ways, but I find having a single thread for information and discussion is best - that way you don't have two different threads that people will have to open to know what's going on. If you do this, I suggest reserving the first 5-10 posts in your thread for material, and leaving the rest for discussion. :)
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Seraph on March 26, 2008, 08:07:44 PM
I started out with one thread that included both material and discussion, but the problem with that, is that when you add new material, it gets difficult to find where a particular entry is.  Granted, reserving the first few posts does help, but if you reserve five posts, before people start discussing, and then later come up with something you need a sixth post for, it will be separated from the rest of your information.  It is better to have a "Setting Thread" with the actual campaign information, and a "Discussion Thread" for comments.  However, it is perfectly acceptable to use Wiki's as well, and I know several of our fellow Campaign Builders do so.  If you choose to do this, make sure that your discussion thread has a link to it (duh) and you might think about putting links to your threads/wikis/etc. in your signature for ease of navigation.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Seraph on March 26, 2008, 08:12:48 PM
I started out with one thread that included both material and discussion, but the problem with that, is that when you add new material, it gets difficult to find where a particular entry is.  Granted, reserving the first few posts does help, but if you reserve five posts, before people start discussing, and then later come up with something you need a sixth post for, it will be separated from the rest of your information.  It is better to have a "Setting Thread" with the actual campaign information, and a "Discussion Thread" for comments.  However, it is perfectly acceptable to use Wiki's as well, and I know several of our fellow Campaign Builders do so.  If you choose to do this, make sure that your discussion thread has a link to it (duh) and you might think about putting links to your threads/wikis/etc. in your signature for ease of navigation.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Xeviat on March 26, 2008, 11:14:49 PM
I think I'm the only one here who would like to get the community together and work on a generic template we can all follow; others feel this would get in the way of creativity.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Neubert on March 27, 2008, 03:21:08 AM
I wouldn't mind a template either, though I do see the need for people to do it their way. It would however be nice to know how  or where to find a specific kind of information (threads that has gone on for a long time, can be hard to navigate and "jump" into. I tried to look over some of LV's world, but I felt there was just too much information to be read for me to do a review on a small part of it).
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: MythMage on March 27, 2008, 05:04:32 AM
I find templates help my creativity. Whenever I make something new that I know there will be more of, such as when I started working on organizations for Diarend, I like to create a template for myself. I would suggest working on one for forum CSs, so long as it is clear that this is merely a helpful suggestion, and not something people are expected to use or frowned upon for ignoring.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Neubert on March 27, 2008, 05:47:43 AM
It might also help you to remember all the bits of information you might otherwise forget, if you have headlines to remind you.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Matt Larkin (author) on March 27, 2008, 07:47:26 AM
A generic template is interesting, Xev. I'd never really considered it.

As to the OP, it depends (to me) on how much material there is. If it's just brainstorming, a thread is better. If you have tons of info, a website or wiki is probably better. Either way, you're liable to get more feedback on a smaller setting. It's just the nature of the beast--most people don't want to set aside hours to read someone else's setting, even if they tell themselves they'll get around to it sooner or later. There are exceptions, of course.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Ishmayl-Retired on March 27, 2008, 10:10:32 AM
I don't mind generic templates at all, Xeviat.  In fact, I think that, even if everyone didn't use it, it would provide some great aid to new people like Neubert who aren't really sure where to go.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Poseptune on March 27, 2008, 10:43:12 AM
It depends on your style really.

Quote from: NeubertI see many options, but I am not sure what you think the best solution is?
1) Make a wiki and have everything there - world info, comments, the works.

Like you said the Wiki gets less views than the threads, but you can organize things a little nicer than in the threads. Making some things easier to find and read. I suggest using the Wiki for things that you are happy with and that have little chance of changing.

Quote from: Neubert2) Make a single thread with info and where people can discuss that info.

This option is good if you know how many posts you need to reserve before allowing comments. Otherwise information can get lost within the comments. The benefit of this method is that the reader doesn't have to go to another thread to read what people have said about your setting and your response to those comments.

Quote from: Neubert3) Make a thread for discussing and one for showing information about the world.

If your world is constantly growing and you are unsure of the number of posts it will consume or you just want a clean thread, then this is the way to go. The drawback is that it splits the focus of your reader to two threads.

Quote from: Neubert4) Make a wiki with the info and a thread for discussing

Better than the wiki alone, but similar to the two thread option. It's better than the wiki alone, because the discussion thread should have a link to the wiki, which will increase viewage.

Quote from: Neubert5) Make both a wiki and thread with info on the world (and either have comments there or in a seperate thread)

Now you're splitting not only your reader's focus, but your own as well because you will need to visit both places to read comments. You also have to make sure that you make the same changes in two different places.

Quote from: Neubert6) Make a wiki with world info and a thread for updates/new information you would like to have extra attention (that you either just posted or need help with). And then either have comments there or in a seperate thread.

Personally (if I were using the wiki) I would go with this option. Post things that are in a state of flux or are just being born and use the comments to finalize the information. When you are happy with it update the Wiki with the new information.

Comments on the material will be focused on what you want comments and help on.


Quote from: NeubertAlso I would like to know what the the views are upon updating the threads. Should I make a new thread every time I post new information I want comments on (I doubt that is a good idea), post in my concurrent discussion thread (although I can see the discussions in such a thread getting outdated and the need to "clean it out" by making a new) or simply update my posts and hope people notice?

I usually use the last option and secretly update stuff. However a simple "bump" post, usually 'updated _____", will do.

Quote from: NeubertObviously some of these questions or suggestions are "foolish" and not something I would normally do, but I figured I would try and spark some discussion with this.


-Neubert.

*WARNING cliche' coming WARNING*
The only foolish question is the one not asked...
(I warned you, it's your own fault you read it)






My method:

I use the single thread method reserving a bunch of posts up front. When I make a nation or such I create a new thread for that nation (so that the comments are focused on the nation) and provide a link to it in my main setting thread.

Example: Adveria (http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?15955.0) has links to a few of its nations Delkun, Tirein, and Kerdith. Each nation is a single thread for content and discussion.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Matt Larkin (author) on March 27, 2008, 10:50:25 AM
Quote from: sea godThe only foolish question is the one not asked...
Is that a challenge?

Really?

And how many frogs had to climb in your pants to pose that question without avenging any jello drums from the moons of Mars?

Well then, if it is a challenge, what would you do if I made a camel drink the whole ocean and store it all in its hump until 6:43 (pm) when it would be devoured by a gopher and sent into a parallel multiverse contained entirely within an armoire?
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Poseptune on March 27, 2008, 10:56:07 AM
Quote from: Phoenix
Quote from: PhoenixReally?
Really...
Quote from: PhoenixAnd how many frogs had to climb in your pants to pose that question without avenging any jello drums from the moons of Mars?

I'd say three...

Quote from: PhoenixWell then, if it is a challenge, what would you do if I made a camel drink the whole ocean and store it all in its hump until 6:43 (pm) when it would be devoured by a gopher and sent into a parallel multiverse contained entirely within an armoire?

I would take a heavy machine gun to fill the hump full of holes so that my precious sea creatures wouldn't die....



Now we can get back on topic.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Xeviat on March 27, 2008, 11:16:03 AM
::clap::
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: Neubert on March 27, 2008, 12:01:19 PM
Thanks for the extensive reply Poseidon! :)
I think I have decided on the wiki solution with an thread for new information that I am working on.
Title: How to present your campaign setting/world
Post by: WormShade on March 27, 2008, 12:03:59 PM
My plans are to make extensive use of the wiki, and once I get the Saga up and running properly (it's very new for me), I will make a thread and start a discussion.