Presenting your world: The Makings of a How-To Guide

[Xeviat]

We have 102 members now, and a few of those members have begun posting their settings. Now, I know that a lot of people object to ridged guidelines, but I know that having a set of guidelines that you can choose to follow if you'd like really helps some people remain focused.

So, I think it's about time we decide on a "standardized" setting posting system. This system will both show a new world builder what they should think about, and it will help people whose settings are already vastly developed present their setting in such a way that it feels like it is growing with the wielder.

For instance, my setting has been in development for 3 years. If I just started at the beginning with history and nations and all that, I think that might be a little boring. On the oposite side of the spectrum, one of our new posters is brainstorming for ideas for a setting he'll be running with his son. Because the setting is just starting out, it's easy to follow; and a year down the road if the same thread is still alive, new readers will be able to follow it easily.

[Numinous]

It can be very hard to set up such a template, and from what I understood, this project/idea had been taken for dead.

If we want to make a template, we should start by making a list of what is in a setting.  then, we can organize it all(or most of it anyway) into a template for public use.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

So then, what are your ideas?  I'm game for this, but I'm not really sure where to start.  Is it your proposal that we come up with essentially a few documents with "fill in the blank" type options to keep things standard, or what?

[CYMRO]

I.  Introduction
II. Player Information
  A.  Races
  B.  Classes
  C.  New Skill/Feat information
  D.  Combat rules variants(if any)
  E.  Magic/Psionics
III.  Gazetteer
  A.  Cosmology/physics/calendar
  B.  Timeline
  C.  Nations/NPCs of note
IV.   New Monsters

[Xeviat]

Ish, I'm not interested in a "plug and play" form, I don't think that is conducive to readers (because such guidelines would have to assist the writer and reader).

CYMRO, that is pretty close to what I think we need. But, Player Info should be III, Gazetter IV, and New Monsters V; II should be a blurb on the ideas behind the setting. This particular piece wouldn't be useful for publishing, but it would help readers to become involved in the world (because it is difficult to dive into a world full of mechanics, such as mine).

I'm at work right now, but when I get home I'll see about making a list of questions I'd like to have answered as a reader.

[Xathan]

I really, really don't like the idea of an organized 'way' to make your world. I just don't think it can generically apply. That's just me, though: If a really good guide is produced, I'll use it.

CYMRO, if I were to use your guide, I'd make the sections of the Gazetteer narrower: Divide sections A and C into seperate sections, IMO.

[Epic Meepo]

While I have nothing against templates, I would personally be wary of using one.  The presentation of a setting is very much a part of that setting.  Changing the way that the description of a setting is organized can change the entire character of the setting itself, and a format that works for one campaign world might instead ruin one's first impression of a setting with a different theme.

[Xeviat]

I don't mean a guide for how to make your world, just a way of presenting it.

I've got some ideas and I'll post them tonight. Pretty much just generic things, nothing specific.

[Túrin]

III D: Religion
III E: Organizations

@ Xathan and Epic Meepo: I think Xeviat is trying to create this template not for you, but rather for inexperienced worldbuilders who are wondering where to start. Rather than starting a complex discussion, we could simply post a link to such a format whenever someone starts a thread here or at WotC "Starting to build a world, please help". Thus, IMO, it should be simple and basic, with only a few categories but lots of explanation what exactly goes into those categories.

[Hibou]

I'm assuming this would be a template for working out mechanical details after you've come up with the fluff.

[Xeviat]

Turin's right, except that it's more focused around explanations. And I think experienced world builders would benefit too.

I just got an idea. How about instead of a whole presentational guide, just a "first post" guide with different topics, so anyone who comes into the thread can get an immediate idea of what the setting is about. I know I've seen several people post an introduction, including the setting's tone and assumptions, but this would be going one step further.

And of course, you aren't kicked out of the guild for failing to comply. It's only a guideline.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

No, no, I think a guild-ban would definitely be in order :)

Xeviat, I'm behind this as a guideline, let's keep brainstorming here, and then make an actual sticky post in "Elements and Design" once we have something set.