Summer Camp 2025 Reading

Some summers just melt together in a haze of heat and deadlines. But this one? Somehow, even though I only jumped in during the last three days, I walked away from my very first Summer Camp on World Anvil with a silver badge. I have loved the reading challenge, and it has taken me some time to decide on my favorite articles considering how rich and beautiful every single entry is. So here are the articles I have read from the event: inspiring, clever, and exactly the kind of work that makes you want to go build something yourself.
shared in no particular order!    

worldbuilding goals and the future

Coming into world anvil not just during summer camp, but in the final week of summer camp has been an intense adventure. For starters, I had no idea these kinds of challenges existed in this community, so I wasted 4 days going "hm what the heck is this" while also trying to navigate how the site works in general, made it 10x more challenging. On the last 3 days I decided to crunch down and go for bronze, and from that It unlocked something in me and my enjoyment for world-building. I joined just to take DnD notes, and now I want to draw and make brand new species of flowers!   My goals are pretty simple - I just want to keep going. I want to pace myself, and fester on my inspiration and ideas to keep the fire burning. I have issues with overworking myself, and pushing myself too hard and then loosing interest. I cannot wait for the next events, and I desperately crave more of this insanity. As such, I will keep myself in line! Finally moving all of my campaign lore onto this site but by bit, and then expanding it even more!

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My reads!

I dont know how to write these properly yet so ignore how often i say "this was fun" "this was such a great read!" im trying ok?
Okay this was such a cool read. The way Old Fang came together from Indigenous, Norse, and Gaelic roots just makes it feel so real, like you could actually go look it up in a history book. The idioms are my fave bit — they’ve got so much personality and you can totally picture people actually saying them. I also really like that you showed how it’s kind of dying out, it gives the whole thing this bittersweet vibe. Now I just wanna know what those full Veiltender ceremonies sound like, they’ve gotta be amazing.
   
Okay this one was just plain fun to read. The whole rank ladder is hilarious but also weirdly believable, and I love how even death can bump you up in goblin society. The “Scrabble” bit killed me! I can just picture all these scrappy goblins trying to sneak weapons past a pat down like it’s totally normal. It’s got that perfect mix of brutal and ridiculous that makes goblin culture feel alive. Also now I kinda wanna know what a “motivational speech” from a goblin warchief actually sounds like.
    This was such a cool concept. I really like how the directives make the automatons feel like they’d actually slot into a real army, not just “robot soldier go brr.” The Non-Lethal Directive grabbed me most! it’s weirdly wholesome for something built for war, and it makes me wonder if people would actually trust them walking around in their city. Feels like some would be reassured, others would be side-eyeing them the whole time.
    This was such a neat idea. I love that the land train’s real purpose isn’t just transport, but literally bringing life back to the land. The whole detail about the steam carrying nutrients is so cool — it makes me picture this huge moving greenhouse effect rolling across the countryside. The way you described the wildlife clashing along the revived route is such a fun worldbuilding touch too. Now I’m wondering what it’s like to actually live in one of those little eco-towns it leaves behind.
    This was such a huge, cinematic read. The war feels massive in scale, but I like that it’s grounded in really human (and fae) struggles - famine, sickness, exhaustion, not just endless battles. The champions are all so different, and their origin stories make the team-up feel earned instead of random. I also really like the messy aftermath - the mistrust, the portal closures, the little cultural ripples like cryptids on Earth - it makes the victory feel bittersweet in the best way. Now I’m wondering how many of those Anima Fragments are still out there, and what kind of chaos they could cause if found.
    This was a great read. I like how the lead up to the war is paced so you can see the tension building bit by bit until it boils over. The Marwomab is such a striking moment and it really sets the tone for how brutal Seimon is. The coalition feels believable too with all these different groups coming together out of necessity, and the Gold-Silver Bond is such a smart political detail that makes the peace feel fragile in an interesting way. Now I’m curious how Halwynn handles being the “royal hostage” and what kind of life he ends up with in Auronim.
    This was such a cool concept. I love that Beastroot isn’t just food but a whole ecological driver, shaping animal behaviour and even the danger level of certain seasons. The Beast Surge and Beast Season ideas are great because they make the plant feel like a living part of the world’s rhythm instead of just background detail. The fact that Pathkeepers actively have to manage it adds a nice touch of realism and makes me wonder what happens in places where no one’s doing that work.
    This is such a fun creature concept. I love that it’s not just “a frog with cool skin” but has this whole seasonal rhythm, courtship display, and useful sap that ties it directly into the economy. The breeding season details make it feel alive, you can almost picture them glowing faintly in the moss at night. The harvesting section is great too because it adds that little ethical edge, showing that gatherers have to be careful not to overdo it. Makes me wonder if there’s any folklore around people who mistreat them or drain them dry.
   
I really like how this makes interplanetary politics feel messy and real. The fact that the treaty solved one problem but just pushed the invasions somewhere else gives it that perfect “win with consequences” vibe. The honouring ghomes are such a great detail too! it’s not just political pressure, there’s an actual supernatural death curse keeping people in line. Makes me wonder how many signatories secretly regret it but are too scared to even try breaking it.
    This one made me grin the whole way through. The mix of whimsy and menace is perfect! it’s such a silly idea on the surface but you’ve given it just enough history and superstition to make it feel like a real local legend. I love the debate over its colour and whether it’s even one creature or a whole species, that kind of uncertainty makes the myth feel alive. The Gift to the Great Gummy festival is a great touch too, especially with the implication that it actually works. Now I’m wondering what kind of offerings people leave and whether the Wyrm ever “rejects” them.