Summer camp 2025

It's been seven years of summer camp for me and it's still exciting to do them, specially because the community, but I'm also a tired pidgeon, so I'm afraid I shall have to swap my beloved Camp Feral for the lovely Camp Chill.

Follow my ramblings during the prep month and then follow the article to see the written articles. Shall I reach my goal? Will I surpass it? Who knows!

And of course, a sheet will pop up in this article that will be able to be used during this summercamp (once its done).

Homework 1 - Week 1

Motivations

I'll be working on Iphars during summer camp, my post-apocalyptic fantasy world where magic is a mess as well as half the world (and we don't talk about the other world). Why? I've always worldbuilt in Iphars during summer camp, and, after 7 years? It's the only thing that feels right.

More specifically, I'll be working (probably, might change the area based on the themes) in the continent of Branul. What's on Branul? Not even god knows. Well, I can say there's like 3 surface lava lakes, some cult/religion shenanigans, and a lots of countries.

I'm going for copper.

Revisit

If you found any outdated articles in your world, update the most important ones now! Do the same with your worldbuilding meta.

*Stares at the camera* This continent (if I stay with Branul) is the region of Iphars that I've worked for longer and I don't even know what's important. There's probably about a hundred articles only in Branul, all of them probably needing updates. Sooo... *skip*

Don't you make me start talking about the meta >:/

Nourishment

Ohhhh boi. Em... That's food right? Not really inspiring of a theme for now but I'll try give it a try.

During this summer camp my unofficial objective is to talk about magic and gods because there's some shenanigans on those themes that I haven't talked *enough*.

So, without getting too in-depth of it (feel free to ask me on discord tho), I think I might get some oportunities to talk about how the magic nourishes the world of Iphars, how the fake gods nourish from magic and faith, and how the real gods nourish themselves from faith that doesn't really go towards them.

Homework 2 - Week 2

Origin

The origin of Iphars is Summer camp. The world was created for summer camp and has seen most of its expansions only during summer camp. Since it's creation, I've been working on one different continent each summer camp, and last year I finally tackled the last continent.

Oh, right, I'm supposed to talk about world hook, homepage, and primer. The hook is basically a planet crashed into Iphars causing an apocalypse in the planet and some weird shit in Iphars. Don't expect to learn a lot about the other planet though. Magic is very chaotic too. Homepage and primer? They both OK. Could be better? Surely, but I ain't got time or energy.

Beginning

I started worldbuilding because I found World Anvil while I was trying to find a place where I could write down my notes of a novel's world so I didn't lose them (like the papers I was using at the time, which I still randomly find sometimes). It was fun. It's still fun.

I'm sure I've done mistakes, don't know whether I learnt from them or not. The good ideas are still in Daeliha (hiatus) so they are already integrated. At the same time, Daeliha has grown a lot *out* of the novel's limits. But that's not related to Summer camp IMO.

Roots

The obvious answer would be to talk about the origin's of people and shit like that. But that's boring... and I'm kinda re-thinking all people's species in Iphars so Imma try to avoid that. Roots is also flora. I'm not too good at flora but it can be fun.

When thinking about roots and my unofficial objective the first thing I think is how magic is changing the roots of the world (civilization, ecosystems, etc) and how the real gods are trying to "root" themselves into this world by stealing the position of the fake gods (again, if any questions: Discord).

Homework 3 - Week 3

Metamorphosis

 

*check notes*

Yeah, no... no way in hell I'm explaining all of the things cuz 50 years ago in Iphars the world got extra land, extra people, magic, extra gods, and whatever the hell more there is when two words crash and one survives and absorbs parts of the other one. There's chaotic magic, there's magical corruption; people are changing, ecosystems are unstable and trying to fix each other, and a lot more.

Who's trying to stop them? Nature is a bit of a █████ when trying to stop it. I'm sure there's some people trying to fix the magical corruption (I know I wrote something about them at one point), and surely there's people trying to stop changes that might affect politics or day-to-day small stuff? But... Yeah.

Inspiration

 

Noup. It's not that I don't like doing that from time to time. It's that I cannot word my thoughts on why I like or hate something (well, the hating sometimes I can) so it would be wasting too many brain cells trying to explain myself for something probably not helpful to me :D

WA Inspiration

 

The community is great and plenty of inspiring. They do amazing articles and many of them trigger inspiration. But I personally feel more inspired talking with the authors. I'd list the people who help me most with inspiration and all of that, but I would feel bad only listing some of all the people who inspire and help me grow as a content creator (also, y'all know who y'all are).

Homework 4 - Week 4

Tomorrow

 

My content in Iphars is, so far, very focused on the present and the past. There's a lot going on rn in the world and there's a lot that has changed and I wanna talk about how it was and how it is now. So the future isn't really in my plans for the world... We'll see how this goes.

Planning

 

I'm a beast at planning! I plan so much that I forget my plans! I organise so much and then forget it all! So basically, haven't done a lot but I'm as ready as I can be taking in account that half the month I'm in an intensive language learning course. *insert sipping emoji, if u know u know*

Accountability

 

I don't have a singular buddy per se, BUT I have TWO great groups of friends and writers that I'm sure will be kicking my ass if I do nothing and if I push myself too much, and I shall do the same to them too.

Artfight

I'm a madman and I shall attempt to do at least a couple or so drawings in Artfight this year (as I did last year)! If you are participating, pls lemme know and let's add each other! :D

Team fossil all the way, if it wasn't obvious with my skull.

> My art fight profile (very empty) <

Custom homework

Am I crazy? Maybe. Also I was gonna try to format the following section but ehhh... too much thinking. Putting in spoiler cuz it's wall of text. Anyway: custom homework made by yours truly. Also yeah, I haven't done custom homework for the last two weeks.
  • What is the things you often avoid most when worldbuilding?
    • Proooobably politics, conflicts/formations aaand... items/technology? Not big fan of politics, conflicts/formations feel meh, and I just never really think of items or technology.
  • What do you think Iphars needs more of?
    • No freaking idea but stats say that basically culture stuff, technology, and military stuff. Fits with what I don't like writing XD
  • What do you like writing the most?
    • Rather than talking about templates, I'll answer with themes. I like talking about natural things (flora, fauna, how they mix, what can affect them, change them, etc. Tho never really got into natural phenomena), I like writing things that leave more questions than answer and writing things that different people have different opinions/ideas/views towards it.
  • What area of your world would you like to expand during this summer camp?
    • Branul... probably. Maybe will change continent depending on the themes but I feel I'm pretty decided on Branul. I'd love to talk about magic, it's consequences, and about the real gods and how they try to introduce themselves into the cultures of Iphars.
  • Pick one of the themes that have been revealed (Nourishment, Roots, or both!) and think of a general no-specific idea for it in your worlds. Got it? Good! Now, pick 2/3 of your less used templates and think how that idea can be tied up to the templates.
    • Less used templates: rank/title, vehicle, professions, military conflicts, formations.
    • Nourishment: magic is nourishing the world and changing it.
    • Profession: a group of biology professionals who are working to record and analyse the changes of foods because the magic. (Probably wouldn't write it tbh)
    • Vehicle: a small lightweight transport that is powered by some crystals that gather up magical energy passively (tho slowly)
    • Roots: gods are trying to establish themselves into the lifes and prayers of Ipharians.
    • Conflict: some skirmish between gods to decide who fits where in a already established pantheon.
  • Looking at the list of templates and how much they've appeared in Summer Camp (added at the end of the message), which templates you think you will struggle most? Do you have a plan to try tackle them or make it easier to work on them?
    • Not really looking at the list, but from memory and experience, I tend to struggle with military conflict and formations, ranks/titles, professions, organizations, ethnicities, languages, and laws. My plan is to ignore them if they don't offer good ideas and motivation, and since I'm going for copper, I'm more than fine ignoring my problems
  • Look at the most used templates and/or the templates you like more. What ideas can you think for them and the themes? (Most used templates in summer camp: species, tradition, character, organisation)
    • Species: they eat magic or magical items (you get general idea cuz if WA can be generic af in prompts, so can I in answers)
    • Traditions: a tradition that supposedly nourishes the future person one will become
    • Character: survived cuz magic, is half dying or finding another source to live
    • Species: they lost they roots. Whether literally or they just come from Ashtara
    • Traditions: this was based on a god, but now the god is giving different signs???

 

Spreadsheet

Summercamp Articles

Iversh tree
Species | Sep 1, 2025

An Ashtarian tree found in one of Branul's cave systems, feeding off mana, shining light from it's leaves, run before you don't want to leave its embrace ever again.

Iversh' call
Condition | Jul 30, 2025

You've had contact with the tree. You want to stay with the tree. So why don't spent the rest of your life with it?

Iversh' lamp
Material | Jul 31, 2025

A lumiscent growths of the Iversh tree that smell horrible when broken. What do you mean it smells like your childhood?

Soufest system
Geographic Location | Aug 1, 2025

A cave system that has changed greatly over the past 50 years, being used as a tool to attempt to win a hidden war.

Keetharsi
Geographic Location | Aug 2, 2025

A floating island with a portal as its heart, causing the island to ever-change from magic corruption.

Saf'haa
Settlement | Aug 3, 2025

Once a city proud of perfect situation for magical training, now, merely a husk of what it was, filled with corrupted life, but still visited for its magic.

Shal'aa
Settlement | Aug 1, 2025

A city proud of its cleanliness and rich architecture, often visited by people interested in magic and water-related activities. Now, it is in constant need of reconstruction to adapt to the ever changing environment.

Real Points Network
Technology / Science | Aug 1, 2025

A magic-based technology created to mitigate the chaos effects of magic, acting like a shell surrounding the mana-dense area and lowering the amount of mana crossing it. It has side effects, though they are not considered dangerous enough to be important.

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Comments

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Jun 9, 2025 19:18

Good luck! I hope it goes well for you. o7 - and a salute for your 7 years of Summer Camp!

Fly high, Guardian. o7
— Nulcheck
Jun 9, 2025 19:44 by Catoblepon

Thank you! Hope yours go well as well!

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

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Jun 9, 2025 19:48

I think you're one of the few who's actually been here that long. Truly amazing! I wish you the best of luck and, above all, fun at your summer camp. May the prompts be kind to you and bring you many inspiring copper ideas.

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Jun 9, 2025 20:08 by Catoblepon

Thank you! It's a fun event to look forward too, so I keep doing it. I'm a bit bummed that I missed 2018, but I joined too late (ish) xD

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Jun 9, 2025 21:53 by Imagica

Best of luck Cato! I can't wait to see your articles during summer camp :) Also, 7 years (!!!) wow, now that is awesome <3

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Jun 10, 2025 09:32 by Catoblepon

Thank you! And yes! 7 years! That's a lot :D

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

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Jun 14, 2025 22:37 by Kat Chiron

Hope you have a great Summer Camp and many more to come! :)

⛱️See my Summer Camp Homework 2025   ⚒️Watch me build Vyrvania: City of Secrets  
Jun 14, 2025 22:39 by Catoblepon

Thank you! Hope the same for ya <3

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

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Jun 16, 2025 01:46 by Owen Davies

Wishing you the best of luck on Summer Camp!!

Nonvyrox A fantasy setting scarred by a divine war.   Check out my articles from Summer Camp 2025!!
Jun 16, 2025 13:09 by Catoblepon

Same to you! <3

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

WE is upon us! Check my hub for WE 2025

Jun 20, 2025 21:06 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Seven years, wooo! Good luck, Cato! :D

Emy x
Explore Etrea | WorldEmber 2025
Jun 20, 2025 22:59 by Catoblepon

Thank you! And you too! Can't wait to read about Etrea

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

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Jun 25, 2025 12:43 by Keon Croucher

7 years, how time flies and also feels like it makes no sense! I cannot wait to see what you come up with this time around Cato, good luck, I hope you have a blast, reach all your goals and enjoy the ride along the way!!!

Keon Croucher, Chronicler of the Age of Revitalization
Jun 26, 2025 15:37 by Catoblepon

Time *does* fly! Can't believe we already are past half the year :O I wish you best of luck and best of ideas :D

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

WE is upon us! Check my hub for WE 2025

Jun 26, 2025 12:08

Well, that's a LOT of badges. I'm looking forward to spend my second summer camp with you. And thanks for all you have done! I wish you simply the best of times.

Join me at the sandy beaches of Aran'sha for new adventures.
Jun 26, 2025 15:41 by Catoblepon

It is a lot of badges yeee. I can't wait to see what you do! Have luck and fun <3

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

WE is upon us! Check my hub for WE 2025

Jun 26, 2025 14:16 by Bart

spread sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Jun 26, 2025 15:41 by Catoblepon

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Visit Iphars, Shattered & Vaelis Arin.

WE is upon us! Check my hub for WE 2025