Some fellow compatriots and I were on IRC discussing a seemingly common problem shared by a few of us worldbuilders - specifically, while we are still very interested in writing new material for our creations, we aren't always sure what to do next. Even very basic frameworks for adventuring can seem overwhelmingly complex sometimes. What next - Monsters? Coinage? Demographics? Geography? Races? Politics?
The best way to solve this is with input - it's incredibly helpful when someone asks
you a question or tells you what they'd like to see you do next. As we all know, however, we can't have input all the time, and sometimes we just don't want to go in a direction other folks might be interested in. Our mutual suggestion, then, is a "suggested topic," a single word or phrase (like "sea travel," "livestock," "crime," or "weaponry") that is changed regularly (every two weeks was my suggestion).
This would not be a contest. There would be no competition and no prizes, but whoever maintained the topic thread would keep a list of shoutouts/links to people working on the current topic in their campaigns, allowing people to see how various authors both new and old are working with a single subject or theme. The topic thread could double as a discussion area for the theme in general. Having a site-wide theme like this would take minimal effort and no prior preparation on anybody's part (save that we'd have to vote on a new topic), making it a good choice for a site whose members often have less time to write and review than they'd like.
*Does this seem like it would be helpful to you?*If so, what kind of themes would you like to see - more general, or more specific?*How long should a certain topic last before we change it?*Do you have suggestions to improve this idea?
This seems like a pretty great idea actually :)
General themes would probably by best overall; that way we can assure that every type of creativity can make it work. But we could perhaps go as far as to post both a general and a specific theme? Both would count, but people would able to spread out a bit if they didn't feel like doing anything with the specific one. e.g. Livestock might be obsolete in a sci-fi setting were you grow all meat in vats.
2-3 weeks sounds good as far as durations go.
Instead of voting we should perhaps just construct a list of themes and then roll randomly. Although we'd have to create the lists it cuts down on subsequent preparation times as we don't need votes then.
Quote from: Cataclysmic CrowThis seems like a pretty great idea actually :)
General themes would probably by best overall; that way we can assure that every type of creativity can make it work. But we could perhaps go as far as to post both a general and a specific theme? Both would count, but people would able to spread out a bit if they didn't feel like doing anything with the specific one. e.g. Livestock might be obsolete in a sci-fi setting were you grow all meat in vats.
2-3 weeks sounds good as far as durations go.
Instead of voting we should perhaps just construct a list of themes and then roll randomly. Although we'd have to create the lists it cuts down on subsequent preparation times as we don't need votes then.
The above has been posted with much wisdom. Topics should not be limited to specifics (a space sci-fi setting probably won't have much to add to a sea travel topic, and a bronze age setting isn't going to get much out of topics on firearms) but should encompass general ideas (travel, siege warfare, diplomatic politics, trade, geography, etc). Stuff that most settings have something on. However I am not against a flavor within a flavor concept like that posted above. Perhaps the overarching topic is vehicle transportation, and then under it you have the subtopics: naval warships, science vessels, and caravans. This gives a generic catch all that almost any one can use, and beneath it several specific topics spread across multiple genres to help various settings find something to go on.
I've been trying to figure out how I could work on Tephra through the CBG, and I think you've just handed me the solution, Polycarp. Thank you, and to all those who were a part of the conversation.
I am completely on board with this one.
General, specific, all of the above. Just about anything could work. I would also put it at 2 weeks. If it were me, I would say every week, but I'm not sure everyone would support that. I'm still voting for 1 week if that gets rolling. ^_^
No suggestions, I say go for it.
Here's my idea list:
* Common Resources and Crops (and they're affect on society)
* Unusual Methods of Travel
* Sea Life
* Areas to Explore
* Monsters
* Three Biggest Cities
* Lost Relics
* World History
* Cosmogony
* Cosmology
* Ancient Heroes
* Common Holidays
* Royalty
* Nobility
* Cultural Festivals and Fairs
* Law and Punishments
* Death Rituals
* Magic or Unusual Sciences
* Geography
* Weather
* Desert/Forest/Jungle/Underwater/Swamp-dwelling Cultures
* Deities and Religion
* Prominent Organizations
* Evil Organizations
* Holy Organizations
* Adventure Hooks
* Famous Heroes
* Infamous Villains
* Recent Wars
* Ancient Wars
* Political Symbols (flags, swords, shields, crests, etc)
* Trade Routes and Networks
* International Interplay
* "A Common Tavern"
* Knighthoods or Military Organizations
* Mercenary Groups
* Pirates, Scoundrels, and Bandits
* Crime Syndicates
* Ancient Evils
So that could be a start. :blah:
Sounds like an interesting idea.
Nice list Jharviss!
Quote from: Prone to WanderingTopics should not be limited to specifics (a space sci-fi setting probably won't have much to add to a sea travel topic, and a bronze age setting isn't going to get much out of topics on firearms) but should encompass general ideas (travel, siege warfare, diplomatic politics, trade, geography, etc).
Just about anything could work. I would also put it at 2 weeks. If it were me, I would say every week, but I'm not sure everyone would support that. I'm still voting for 1 week if that gets rolling. ^_^[/quote]
Well, I think I prefer 2 weeks just because it gives people more time to jump on board. Since we can change it at any time, we might as well start with that (as it seems to have some fairly broad support) and switch to 1, 3 or even 4 weeks as we see fit. (Thanks for the list, by the way!)
To all: I imagine any vote on the topic would be fairly informal. Random rolling would also work. Heck, we could just assign one new person to pick it every two weeks and that would probably suffice too.
This sounds like somthing I would enjoy.
What if there was also a "re-envisioning" of RPG staples?
Like this week (or two) take a classic race like elves and rebuild them to suit your world. Or just for fun. Somthing like that.
Quote from: Polycarp!Makes sense, though I don't think having a specific theme would be too harmful. For instance, if your setting has beef vats instead of livestock, you use the opportunity to talk about beef vats. If your setting has space travel instead of sea travel, you talk about space travel. If your bronze age world doesn't have firearms, talk about ballistae (or something). Since it's not a contest, I imagine you'd be free to interpret the theme in a way you saw fit.
It's inevitably going to happen that you are going to say a specific topic and someone who really was looking forward to the next week to get them ideas is going to be frustrated because their setting has no analog to it.
I feel the best way would be to do general topics and give them a couple subtopics (which then could be more exact). That way everyone should have something (even if its just the main topic) to draw from.
Quote from: NomadicI feel the best way would be to do general topics and give them a couple subtopics (which then could be more exact). That way everyone should have something (even if its just the main topic) to draw from.
This! I'm not really a fan of the general topic (I think its too general, we need specifics). I think this is the perfect solution. So like it could be
Travel
-Sea travel
-Land travel
-Space Travel
-Air Travel
--Heavier than Air
--Lighter than Air
Now obviously topics don't have to go more then 1 sub-topic (probably isn't worth it go more then 1 anyway).
Another thing, I think 1/week is good. One every 2 weeks is ok, but I mean, its not like once a topics been used, its off-limits. If someone didn't get around to using a topic in a week, they can go into the "archive".
Yea, or something like:
Travel:
- Naval Warships
- Mining Vehicles
- Shuttles
Quote from: Prone To WanderingYea, or something like:
Travel:
- Naval Warships
- Mining Vehicles
- Shuttles
Naval warships seems like something better under military than travel.
Quote from: LlumQuote from: NomadicI feel the best way would be to do general topics and give them a couple subtopics (which then could be more exact). That way everyone should have something (even if its just the main topic) to draw from.
With anything too general, you run the risk of getting back to the original problem the fish mentioned.
E.g. If I say let's work on politics...that's so broad I rarely know where to start.
Quote from: PhoenixQuote from: LlumQuote from: NomadicI feel the best way would be to do general topics and give them a couple subtopics (which then could be more exact). That way everyone should have something (even if its just the main topic) to draw from.
With anything too general, you run the risk of getting back to the original problem the fish mentioned.
E.g. If I say let's work on politics...that's so broad I rarely know where to start.
And if you don't give something general you run the risk of people not getting any use out of a topic. I am not "pro-general topic" I am for including a general topic and several more exact topics below it so that people have a chance to find something that works for them (and is exact enough to be useful). And the other post is semantics as that was an example to explain how my idea would be laid out not an actual topic to use itself.
I was agreeing with Llum's assessment that general topics could be backed up by subtopics. So I'm not sure we disagree on anything here.
Though I might add you cannot expect every member of the community can or will be capable of working on every topic.
Since your examples were explicitly counterexamples to Llum's (via the "or something like" line), I'm not sure you can claim anyone disputing them as "semantics"--any degree to which the discussion is semantic was precipitated by the choice to offer alternatives in first place.
Quote from: PhoenixI was agreeing with Llum's assessment that general topics could be backed up by subtopics. So I'm not sure we disagree on anything here.
Though I might add you cannot expect every member of the community can or will be capable of working on every topic.
[/quote]
Since your examples were explicitly counterexamples to Llum's (via the "or something like" line), I'm not sure you can claim anyone disputing them as "semantics"--any degree to which the discussion is semantic was precipitated by the choice to offer alternatives in first place.
[/quote]
They were nothing of the sort, I was approving of what Llum had put forward in regards to my earlier idea and reinforcing it with my own concept of what I felt he was getting at (something I completely agree with).
Also... cheese! (ha, take that)
I'm not huge on why we need subtopics. If we're talking about travel for these two weeks, doesn't that lend itself to all forms of travel? The subtopics just sounds like a guiding hand sort of thing.
Quote from: JharvissI'm not huge on why we need subtopics. If we're talking about travel for these two weeks, doesn't that lend itself to all forms of travel? The subtopics just sounds like a guiding hand sort of thing.
The subtopic concept was an attempt to connect the two camps (the one that wanted specific ideas and the one that wanted general ideas). As an aside... the whole point of this thing is to have a guiding hand, so subtopics being a guiding hand can only be a good thing.
The other thing to consider here is that for every topic we will have an accompanying thread, and that thread would be a fine place for people to propose subtopics and other related or more precise areas of exploration. Since the topic is only a suggestion anyway, there's not much of a difference between the "real topic" and various permutations that people come up with when discussing the topic.
Example:
A: The new topic is livestock. Tell us about meat on the hoof!
B: Aww, but my dystopian future world full of questionable genetic experiments doesn't have livestock.
C: So what to they eat then?
B: Well, they mostly eat gruel, but they can also grow flesh in vats...
C: Gross! You should write about meat vats then.
B: Ok!
I don't think we should expect every topic to apply equally well to everyone. Sometimes, strictly speaking, a topic won't apply to you - it's not big deal. Even with 2 weeks each, I don't intend to religiously write something for each one (though I may try). Sure, we'll never do something like "elves" or "steam engines" because that automatically excludes many/most settings, but being left out of a topic every now and then isn't really something I'm concerned about.
I think I'll do some random generation and post a real thread for this tomorrow. I'll try and write up a somewhat general topic, but suggest some possible areas of inquiry within that topic, and you folks can give feedback in the thread. If it's too general, we'll get more specific for the next one, and vice versa.
Sounds good Polycarp!, I am looking forward to seeing the first results!
Quote from: multifishThe TFC isn't a contest or competition; there are no judges, no winners, and no prizes.
Maybe we should have a prize, like a badge for the most inspiring each fortnight.
Well, that would require more voting
Quote from: Cataclysmic CrowWell, that would require more voting
Or a rotating (non-participating) judge or panel.
My personal view on this is that people will be more likely to participate if they are not concerned about competition - that is, if the topic club is understood as an informal discussion and exploration of a specific topic rather than something that is judged and ranked. The point is to give people an optional topic to explore and to share relevant work between authors and settings, and I'm unsure that creating a prize furthers that point. Contests inevitably insert at least a bit of drama into the whole affair, and I'd like the TFC to be as informal and drama-free as possible.
Additionally, one of the attractions of the idea (in my mind) was that it would take so little effort to do - someone makes a topic post every two weeks, and lets people discuss and post about it. Maintaining a judge/panel and making that judgment every two weeks considerably increases the required time investment.
You're probably right.
Remember too that we can always change/add in the future - it's just an experiment right now. If this becomes popular and there is general agreement that a prize would be good/useful/cool, we can re-consider it then.