Summer Camp 2024 Pledge and Prep

SummerCamp 2024

My first time entering the Summer Camp! As I'm relatively new with Worldanvil and just recently started exploring all the functionalities of WorldAnvil I hope to learn a lot about world building. So I set my goals somewhat low and could always do more than expected!   I will start running my first D&D 5e campaign in the world of Ethelas soon. I would like to build upon ideas that I have to make my world feel more alive. What are other areas of my world doing? What other threats are there in this world? This Summer Camp is a good way to build further. With the assignments in mind i'm stoked to build my world further and set the world to Change.   Side note: English isn't my first language and although I work and think in English when writing, my writing skills are subpar. I translate most of my articles in Dutch when I run my game, however I continue writing in English. English just helps as most of my inspiration is in English but I do apologizes if I make spelling mistakes.  

Week 1 - Assignment 1:

A great change to the world of Ethelas happened when the Gods descended and the Elemental Powers were brought low. The Old Ones defeated, and the rule of the Magocracies abolished, destroyed, and dispersed. Regular folk gained more power and influence to shape their destinies. New countries were founded, nations rise and fall, for a couple of centuries the worldorder is stable. Larger conquests are done with, a rennaisance, a Golden Age ensued. Now.. things are changing again.. If Change would happen it would be a mayor threat to the world as a whole. It would start small and would gain momentum if left unchallenged (I think this would be a great start of a new campaign).  

An old threat long though defeated might return from the more isolated parts of the world (my first thought). "Something" would try to regain it's power and settle itself after most other rivals are long gone.. But not this one, this one was patient, calculating, and now (because of events (WIP)) has seen the opportunity to strike.

A new threat: New research and developments might change the world as it is. Some for good, some not so much? What will happen to nature, the way of life? What happens if other forces want to take control and more nefarious elements are added.

Assignment 2:

My goal is to atleast get to Silver. I do this not to set the bar too high, but also to challenge me to keep on going. My writing speed varies but uasually when i'm at it my hands keep working away at the keyboard    

Assignment 3:

This will be great starting point to start working. Although I categorize a lot, and have recently overhauld large pieces of my world, but I have not worked with tags yet. I will do so during this challenge!  

Assignment 4:

As my first campaign is about to start I have worked on some parts of the Meta. I will update this more: I'm currently on 29,7% and will update it with timestamps in the article.   June 6th 29.7% June 7th 55.6%  

Week 2 - Assignment 1:

  Consider what kinds of refuge would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points:   In my scenario's within interesting times people will find refuge in different ways:

Some will join the new or old threat: finding solace in the winds of change. Feeling dislocated and let down by the world that is. Seeking promises for a different future with a place for them. Maybe (un)knowingly sealing their fate and that of others.

Some will seek shelter with the Gods and their communities. Banding together to face the changes to come. With the 'old' threat they will likely stay together and face down the dangers and domination of the past. With the 'new' threat things will be different. Some changes will come, let's say technological changes, if you want to or not. It depends on how well the change will be regulated, will changes be forced? And who seems to gain from these changes? It will split the communities and people will find refuge in more polarized parts of society.. with a large middle not taking sides untill things change too much or too stagnant.

Assignment 2:

Starting with the Summer Camp prep connected me to the WorldAnvil Community. It has prompted me to write more and be more connected on WA. My first campaign has it's session 0 soon, starting after the summer in full. They will keep me accountable to keep the world alive (even though this SummerCamp will push towards the world towards.. campaign 2!). Having two ways to push the world into, the outcome of campaign 1 will set the tone.  

Assignment 3 and 4:

Find ways to improve styling and layout in your world! Soon after starting the SummerCamp I've been seeing other peoples pages on WA and started to use the image covers. Maybe start to use the Side panels, different Fonts, and started to use images. It's a WIP and keep on learning CSS and starting to use links in my articles more. As my campaign is starting I will keep pushing for my articles to be complete.  

Week 3 - Assignment 1

Consider what kind of beliefs would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points:   There are three kinds of believes in the World of Ethelas:

First there was the believe in the Elemental Powers - The Magic that Wizards gained from Elementals and used it to build and shape the world. Building their Empires that fell down after the descendance of the Gods. There are those that still yearn for that power, now shielded away by sturdy Astral Barriers and protections. Some whish to weaken these barriers and let things go back as they were. Grand Wizard Empires where magic and the study of these magicks reigned Supreme.

The Second believe is that in the Gods: all of the Pantheon - Good or Evil. They give power to the commoner, that tamed the world and broke the Elemental Powers wielded by the Wizards. Now squables and Greed have taken hold. The clergy complacent and more and more people taking the Gods, their gifts, and worship for granted. With Greed and other Sins taking hold Evil powers start to take hold as well, other Gods are gaining followings of their own and make their mark. With the coming of the Gods a whole new set of problems emerged.

The third believe system is that of those who hold the Gods to the same standard as the Elemental Powers. They are uncaring Powers that just 'are'. Where there is Good there is also Evil, and where believe in Elemental Powers corrupt so does the believe in Gods. The people who are more hostile or uncaring to the Gods view that worship of the Gods is bowing to new Overlords. The world is better off with the Gods further away from society. Placing their trust in science and ones own hard labour.

Assignment 2 & 3

Create a bank of inspirations! Quotes, music, description of experiences and shower thoughts, etc. I've been using dsryb.com and maps built using Inkarnate.com to use for inspiration. Creating a playlist on Dscyb to have the right kind of ambience. Other than that I use music a lot for inspiration. It was Powerwolfs - "Fire and Forgive" that was my inspiration for this campaign. It was also suprising to see that Highroller D&D - Althea campaign has some simularities that are a great source of inspiration. However I do want to keep my world original and not lend something from the wonderful DM - Mark Hulmes.   It has become a hobby to build maps on Inkarnate, however it takes a lot of time. So I have been trying out some Patreon based artists for maps. But for the big things like city design or a specific dungeon im developing my skills as a map maker. For Imaging i have been updating my page with AI generated art. It helps me have a clear picture about how the world looks and feels. Besides that it helps me to have a certain sense about how a NPC will look.  

Assignment 4

Check your inspirations again. Are they still relevant? Can you find any that better represent the current state of your project?   My world has been a more than a year in the making. New inspiration has come from a lot of sources. Letting myself stew on a questline or event for a week and find a RL example of how things could be fixed. I have a sense that my inspirations are alive and kicking! The best steps now are to let my players enter the world and start making it their own as well.  

Week 4 - Assignment 1

Consider what kind of decay would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points.   The whole essence of my first (and now starting campaign) is decay. The 'new' has become stale like old bread and is starting to grow mold. There are those that seek advantage to abolish that which is an obstruction and clear a path to their own Power and Ruling. Will the heroes do away with it all, throwing the baby out with the bath water? Or will they save the system, purge it's corruption and try to be a source of inspiration and trust again. Will the Nation of Emeras further fall into the corruption? Or is it able to redeem itself and the Gods?  

Assignment 2

If you like special tea when you write, stock up for a month. Tidy your office, make a “do not disturb” sign, and think about any other last-minute strategies to optimize your writing space and time!   Monday evenings will be writing time! It's just a matter of planning. I have my coffee at the ready, the wife and kids are doing their thing. It's being creative time! write articles, make maps, assemble a playlist, or generate some fitting images for my world.  

Assignment 3

Review your world homepage to hook potential readers!   I will need to start working at this, although im afraid that I will spoil things for my players. I'll give an update on this, although I did update my Meta a lot more. Using pictures in my Homepage and keep figuring more functions on WorldAnvil! Update:24th of June - I've rewriten my introduction and (with the right colour font) have an introduction to my Homepage.  

Assignment 4

Take a look at your author profile and pillar articles on your world and polish them! My author page and pillar articles are skeletal in nature at the moment. I dont seek the spotlight (yet!) I will look into them and give an update aswell. Update: 24th of June - I've learned how to create the Books back on the page. Working on my Pillar articles, learning more about what that could be and how to write those.