Roundtable Discussion: CBGuide, Issue Two

[Elven Doritos]

Now, I know that the first issue isn't out yet, but I'm going to go ahead and give you guys the heads-up:

As of now, I will be accepting submissions for articles, artwork, even webcomics to the Campaign Builder's Guide's second issue.

I'm going to throw a few ideas out there:

This issue, it's my opinion that we should try to shoot for an overarching theme. Since the issue will be released in October, I have selected "Horror & Just Plain Spookiness" as the general theme-- articles of all varieties will be accepted, of course, but any fitting the theme will be looked at with special interest.

Also, I think it'd be interesting to have monthly contributers with regular features-- columnists, basically. It might be a bit premature at this point, but if someone has any features that they think they could provide monthly content for, contact me.

If you have any questions or want to bounce article ideas off of me, feel free to PM me or e-mail me.

The current deadline is Friday, September 22nd, so you have plenty of time to think up articles and write them. Just don't wait to long, or submit them all at the end-- it makes it easier on the editors to get a steady stream, rather than a single block.

E-MAIL: elvendoritos(at)gmail(dot)com

[Wensleydale]

Domoarigatomroboto?

Wow, I bet you don't get much spam...

I'd be willing to do a column on... uh... mechanics, maybe? As in, setting mechanics? Or something?

[Lmns Crn]

After our previous newsletter conversation, I jotted down a number of topics on which I could write some sort of column. Don't know if I can spin any of them in a "spooky/horror" direction, but they're there, nonetheless.

What kind of wordcount are you looking for in these article submissions?

[Ghost]

I signed up for Ishmayl's CAV thread, and i'll definitely have some stuff that I could contribute here. Especially NPCs or maybe monsters.

But i'll echo Luminous Crayon's question of desired wordcount range. It's an important thing.

[Elven Doritos]

Right-- the previous article wordcount limit was around 1500-2000 words, and that should be more than reasonable; if your article runs over or under, feel free to ask me about it anyway. If it's good enough, we might run it anyway.

There are two things I need to stress:

PLEASE, use the best grammar and spelling possible. If we have to rewrite half the article, it makes it less appealing to run. Although this isn't a professional magazine, using good grammar and spelling is a good incentive for us to run the article.

Also: We need art to accompany articles. If you are an artist (or know one willing to work for the Guide), contact me-- We need all the help we can get in this area.

-ElDo

[Elven Doritos]

Another thing-- people wanting to do long-term columns will need to talk to me specially. For a monthly column, I'm going to need to see who's the best qualified, meaning I'm probably going to ask for a sample article to see if your writing style and your ideas are suited for a monthly column, or whether they could be summarized in a single, expanded article instead.

[So-Keher]

I would love ot contribute, but I still have to do a VERY similar thing for our friend Meepo and haven't found the time. I would like to write a regular column but it will probably not be until the next one. I'll get back to you on that.

[limetom]

You can expect a review of the Gates of Hell from me.  Hell seems resonably creepy enough.

[Elven Doritos]

Hey, folks. I've got a few more positions that the more-ambitious Guide could use:

Interviewer: For now, there are some in-site interviews that would make fine additions to the Guide, but we lack a skilled interviewer. Eventually, we hope to expand to other figures in the gaming industry, as well-- PM me if you're interested.

Cover artist: I'd be more than willing to compare cover-making skillz with other members, and will concede this position if someone shows aptitude and willingness. :)

Artist/Art collector: We could use either an artist, someone who has an artist friend willing to do work for us, or someone who has a copius amount of Public Domain images we could apply to the Guide.

That's all for now, folks. Keep them submissions coming!

[CYMRO]

So what is the news about issue #1?

[Elven Doritos]

It's coming very, very soon.

As in, a matter of days.

[Epic Meepo]

[quote Elven Doritos]We could use either an artist, someone who has an artist friend willing to do work for us, or someone who has a copius amount of Public Domain images we could apply to the Guide.[/quote]
I do happen to have copious amounts of public domain images and I'll even bust 'em out from time to time, but 90% of the public domain stuff has little or nothing to do with fantasy themes. Thus far, I've gotten more mileage out of good, old-fashioned Microsoft Office clip art than I have from the public domain.

What the CBG really needs is a dedicated fantasy artist.

[So-Keher]

i am an excvellent artist but alas i have no time to do comissions a sof yet, and am not entirely sure if i am even skilled enough for "pro" work. rowing and school take up all my time. i mostly draw manga nowadays anyway.

[Túrin]

Inside interviews sound totally cool. As an outsider to the actual interior workings of the CBG, I'd be interested in doing this (at least once). You'd have to give me some idea of who I'm supposed to interview and what sort of questions to ask, though. PM or mail me if you're interested. To be clear, I don't claim to have any actual skill in the area, though I'm known to have some aptitude for writing formal stuff.

Túrin

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Turin, I'm glad it sounds fun to you!  He asked me, too, and I've found in the past that I really suck at interviews, but I really wanted someone to do this.  There are a few giants on other sites with other works that I'm planning on getting some interviews for, but we need a good, dedicated interviewer first.