FRONTIERS OF DARKNESS: 2024 SUMMER CAMP PLEDGE

SUMMER CAMP ARTICLES

   

Week 1

Assignment 1

Consider what kind of changes would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points.

I've got a whole campaign to build, and while I have the core elements and a lot of world already established in Lore it's my job to add my own twist to the journey, and expand on what I've been given to make this world mine... and my players.  

Assignment 2

Based on this, decide how many prompts you'll go for during Summer Camp. Then, download the pledge document and fill it accordingly!

Crikey I set the bar at GOLD for this event, I'm not to shy away from a challenge, and to be honest I'm loving the world building... mind you it does mean my mini painting isn't going as fast as I would like.  

Assignment 3

Get your categories and tags organized!

I actually spent the last couple of days sorting, tidying, and beautifying my categories. I haven't done any tagging yet, so still a WIP for that.  

Assignment 4

Take a look at your meta, primer, and any other high-level document and update it according to the current state of your world.

That's my homework this weekend, to build my meta. The players primer is mostly there... but I don't want to burden my players with a dump of information at the start.

---

Week Two

Assignment 1

Consider what kinds of refuge would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points.

"In space no one can hear you scream"

It's hard to find a refuge in a universe which doens't care about you, but the party has their ship, their home. An integral part of their party which is possibly the only respite they'll get. When they awake from hyperspace sleep and look out the windows at a new sun and planets then they'll be able to glimpse the beauty that the universe has to offer.  

Assignment 2

Find a community—whether that’s our Discord server, Facebook Group, your RPG or friend group, or something else.

World Anvil Discord is my place to seek knowledge, and my players, my books, and the internet are where I find inspirations and motivation to create the worlds and the stories.  

Assignment 3

Find ways to improve styling and layout in your world!

This is the second world I've built (first is on hold while I paint a few hundred minis!) and I've learnt a lot about how World Anvil works, books covers, formatting, arranging categories, and I think that the organisation of the world is looking pretty good, always happy to have feedback though about what could be done better.  

Assignment 4

If you’re a CSS wizard, maybe take the time now to give it a polish!

I am not a CSS wizard, I use the default settings, and while I'm happy to learn (I've got a question over on Discord at the moment) my priority is getting the world built and functional.

---

Week 3

Assignment 1

Consider what kind of beliefs would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points.

“The more I learn about the universe, the less convinced I am that there's any sort of benevolent force that has anything to do with it, at all.”

— Neil deGrasse Tyson

The Aliens universe is an extension of our own, and in this universe, much like our, there are those who believe in a divine entity, and those that don't... there are also those who worship the engineered monsters that exist in the dark.  

Assignment 2

Create a bank of inspirations! Quotes, music, description of experiences and shower thoughts, etc.

I use a mix of quotes from real people, and from the vast lore that already exists for this universe. And for music I'm using Custom Soundpad, with suitable Alien-esque music and sound effects.  

Assignment 3

Find art and pictures that inspire you, and grab a map if you don't have one (and need one).

Way ahead of you team! I've got a beautiful map of the universe, I've used that map on my chronicle and added all the places of interest which link back to the articles I've written.
I just wish that the map and the chronical map could be the same one!
I also have a vast plethora of imagery I've created with my friendly AI, although I do need to remember to add DALLE's name to all them.  

Assignment 4

Check your inspirations again. Are they still relevant? Can you find any that better represent the current state of your project?

My main inspiration for this project is the Aliens RPG source books, but I'm also using the community Wiki Xenopedia.
However, alot of this is my creation (can you tell which is which?). Where the book or Wiki don't have the information I fill in the blanks, and two thirds of the plots, which I don't think you can see as they are private, are wholly the result of my overactive imagination.
Once we've played them I'll make them public so others can see them.

---

Week 4

Assignment 1

Consider what kind of decay would fit in with your world's themes, genre, and other foundational points.

The campaign I'm building takes place in the far reaches of colonised space, these settlements have been out of contact with the rest of the settled systems for decades due to solar activity that prevented travel and communications. Due to this isolation many of the settlements have collapsed, infrastructure has failed due to a lack of replacement parts, and many thousands of colonists have perished. Meanwhile, back home a war is brewing between the Interstellar Governments and Corporations.  

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!

LOL, a wife, two kids, and two dogs, not to mention a new job, painting a few hundred minis, and running a campaign... what's quiet mean?  

Assignment 3

Review your world homepage to hook potential readers!

I don't know, what do you guys think?
FRONTIERS OF DARKNESS  

Assignment 4

Take a look at your author profile and pillar articles on your world and polish them!

Again, feedback would be appreciated.