Setting concept submissions are now closed. We will be accepting reviews of the submissions until February 27, 2010. It is just as important that we have good feedback on the concepts as it is that we receive good concepts. Get out the vote!
In order to guide and inspire the creation of an RPG setting by Swarm, we need to have a setting concept to use. A setting concept describes the RPG setting in a way that captures the major themes and elements that make the setting unique. A good setting concept is one that is well-written and will cover enough of the basic elements of the setting that other people can use it to add content to it. A great setting concept inspires dozens or even hundreds of writers and artists - the Swarm - to contribute to its construction.
Schedule
Once setting concept submissions are open, we will be accepting submissions until we have at least 20 setting concepts with at least 40 reviews each. Once we reach that point, we will announce that the threshhold has been met with two weeks for any final submissions or edits. Reviews will be accepted for another two weeks after that. At that point we will double-check the review counts and announce the winning setting concept. To summarize, once the number of setting concepts with the minimum number of reviews is reached, we will announce two weeks remaining to make edits or submit new setting concepts and four weeks remaining to post reviews.
How to Submit a Setting Concept
Log in and go to this page to complete the form. All fields are required. We are accepting setting concepts from several genres. In addition to choosing a primary genre for the setting, you will also need to describe things like the general theme, the background, and the role of the PCs.
| Cyberpunk | Post-Apocalyptic |
| Historical | Science Fiction |
| Horror | Space Opera |
| Fantasy | Steampunk |
| Modern | Supers |
Forums
When a new setting concept is created, a parallel forum topic is generated where more open discussion of te concept can take place. The forum provides a way for the Swarm to ask the author questions, give feedback, and generate discussion that can result in even better setting concepts.
Reviews
While review authors are encouraged to include feedback for the author, you can submit a setting concept review with only your votes for the setting concept in three different categories. Each category is not weighted equally in the scoring, but each has a very important impact on the overall ranking of a setting concept.
- Originality, the setting concept's own original creative spark
- Inspiring, how inspired you would be to write or illustrate for this setting concept and add your ideas to the framework
- Writing, how well the setting concept is presented, written, expressed, how well it communicates a clear idea
Schedule
Once setting concept submissions are open, we plan to accept submissions until we have at least 20 setting concepts with at least 40 reviews each, but we might adjust that depending on the response volume. Once we reach that point, we will announce that the threshhold has been met with two weeks for any final submissions or edits. Reviews will be accepted for another two weeks after that. At that point we will double-check the review counts and announce the winning setting concept. To summarize, once the number of setting concepts with the minimum number of reviews is reached, we will announce two weeks remaining to make edits or submit new setting concepts and four weeks remaining to post reviews.
Winning Setting Concept
Only setting concepts that have at least 10 reviews will be eligible to win. The setting concept with the highest combined and weighted rating will be declared the winner once its reviews have been checked and the author contacted. Once we are confirmed, we'll make the announcement and begin the system voting shortly after that.
Good luck!
