Campaign Setting Showcase Submission Guidelines

[Ishmayl-Retired]

I figure it's getting about that time that we set up a pretty standard format as to how we post the Showcase write-ups.  The reason is mainly to make sure that everyone who "wins," submits all the relevant information, so that Eldo or myself don't have to chase you down and delay the posting of the content. :)

With that being said, I looked through all the submissions, and picked several that I feel accomplish several things:  namely, a good introduction to the setting, a good layout, and a good introduction.  Here's what I've come up with for a format:

{introduction}
Come up with a short paragraph here that catches the audience's attention.  Maybe think of it like an essay - you're trying to sell your campaign so that others will be interested enough to read it.  Remember, on the "Campaign Showcase" sidebar, I only put a little bit of information, and it's always drawn from your first few sentences, so you want something there that will make people want to read your setting.

{basic information}
This is where you go into more details about what your campaign is about.  Put in a core ethos if you like.  State your intended mood, tone, feel, etc.  Spend a few sentences talking about recent campaign history, and what's going on in the world that makes the campaign fun to play in.  In an essay, if the "introduction" was your thesis, this section would be where you would backup your thesis with examples and explanations.  Take a few paragraphs to really fill this section out.

{points of interest}
List 3 - 5 (or more, if you fancy) points that make your campaign setting different from others.  Your campaign doesn't have magic?  Make sure you list that.  Your campaign world has two suns, from which is derived all philosophical and religious discussion?  Make sure you point that out here.  Put a brief explanation next to each point, but keep these relatively short.

{what's new}
This section is just for those who have already been in the Showcase once, and their second time (or third, or fourth) has come around.  Just list what changes have been made since the last time you were in a showcase, so those who will review (and who reviewed before) will know in particular what to look out for.

{what do you want reviewed?}
Here's where you put what you want others to review.  Are you having trouble making your religious system work?  Say that here, and request that people help you with that.  Are you no good at writing flavor text?  Maybe others can help you with that, but only if they know that you need help.  This is where you get to choose the capacity in which others help, review, and criticize your work.

{closing}
In an essay, this is where you wrap it up.  In the Showcase, you can put a famous NPC's quote here about your world, or the state of things, you can just say "And that's all folks, please come by," if you want, though that may not drive others to go out of their way. ;)

{contact info and campaign location}
Post all relevant contact information, as well as thread locations.  If you have 2 separate threads for your campaign - one for content, and the other for discussion, list both URL's here.  List whatever email address you would like others to reach you at if you need to be privately contacted about anything.  If you have an outside website, list that URL here as well.  I've no problem with that.  Just make sure people have all the tools necessary to read, review, and talk about your campaign, as well as speak to you directly if they choose.

That's it for now folks, I'll link this in each Campaign Showcase Thread from now on, as well as send a link to this thread in emails I send to "winners."

Cheers!

[Lmns Crn]

Are you suggesting that all entrants submit these writeups when they enter, instead of waiting until the die is rolled, in order to get the showcase updated with minimal delay?

Because if so, I think that's a pretty good idea.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I suggest that those that have won before also submit a brief summary of what is new content, for those that had previously reviewed the setting to focus on.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

LC - no, it's just for the "winner's writeup."  It would relieve a little delay, but I don't think we need each Showcase thread cluttered with all that information.  However, those who submit could easily go ahead and be writing their showcases up and saving them somewhere so that when I ask for them, it'll be a quick copy-and-paste to a PM.

PhoenixKnight - Excellent idea, I'll add it in.

[Numinous]

Nice format Ish, I know I always write better when I have a template of sorts, and this might really help out.

[Elven Doritos]

Excellent idea, Ish. I think those cover all the major bases of what the Showcase articles should cover.