The idea behind bySwarm is to collaboratively build an RPG setting using the web site community, which we call the Swarm. As writers, artists, and other community members contribute content to the setting, their submissions will be rated by the community which will earn the contributors recognition within the Swarm and potentially the larger gaming community.

When we have enough highly-rated content to pull together into print and PDF products, we'll be giving at least 60% of the revenue back to the people whose submissions made it into those products. With so many people trying to get noticed in the RPG industry or wanting to work on something, bySwarm gives them that opportunity to contribute, get noticed, and make a little money if they really have the talent.

Our first project is to design a vibrant role-playing game setting with detailed locations, engaging NPCs, and interesting stories for any gaming group to use. The difference between this site and a regular game publisher is that the setting will be imagined, designed, and written by you, by Swarm. Whether you design games for a living or you have dreamed of having your writing or drawings published, this project is for you.

For you...

The game designer

Getting beyond the basic concept of a setting, we all know there is an immense opportunity for depth in a setting's history, in its places, and in its characters. Whether you want to write as many of those as you can, or whether you want to make one really excellent character write-up, working on a project by Swarm gives you that opportunity to be the game designer you always wanted to be. By contributing to the site, you become published and receive feedback on your work. You just might make a little money at it, too.

The game illustrator

Writers are not the only creative types we want to encourage to be a part of the Swarm. We also want artists and illustrators to take this opportunity to show their stuff to the community. You never know, your work might catch the eye of one of the big publishers who asks you to do some work for them, too. In the end, you get published and can say your name is on a game out there. If your creation individually or as part of a larger work makes any money, you get a share of the profits.

The GM

The larger game publishers can only design and support so many settings. With the Swarm, you have an entire community of people building and contributing to a setting that you can run. Print out maps, NPCs, and more with which your players can interact. We also plan to create GM tools to help plan and organize your gaming sessions. You might even get the desire to contribute an interesting event that happened in your game to become a part of the history in the setting. When running a game that has been built by Swarm, you and your players have an opportunity to contribute in new, unique ways.

The Player

Your GM offers to run a game in a setting that sounds interesting to you. What is the most likely first step for you to become as informed as possible? To go out and buy the setting book, right? Well, the setting developed by Swarm will be fully open to you on this site. You can print or save the sections that are interesting or useful to you, and you can leave the rest for another time. Or because you like it so much, you might spend the money to get yourself a hard copy. The choice is yours.

How are we going to accomplish this? Check out the plan.