Hello again. Been a while, hasn't it?
Sorry for how long it was. As predicted, I didn't have near enough time to write a weekly post for you... well, tell a lie - I probably would've had the chance if I'd been clever about it. Sadly, I was not clever, and instead spent the free time between outings and family time reading (about Magic), listening to podcasts (about Magic), and playing a mobile game (... about Magic).
But, to be fair... I had nothing new to write about. I spent the two weeks abroad essentially bereft of anything worth writing about... and, I didn't have any new epiphanies with regards to my various works. So... not really worth making a post just to tell you I have nothing to post about.
Yes, I am aware that this so far is a post about not having had anything to write about, but the reason that's okay is because shut up.
But, yes - for those who are interested; I had a fantastic time. I went to the top of the Monumento de la Revolucion (or, as high as you can without climbing umptillion stairs), climbed halfway up the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan... and then turned around (not a fan of heights), bought an obsidian knife (which, surprisingly, made it through customs) and most importantly, attended my sister's wedding. Which was fun. Loud, and a confusing, but fun.
I also discovered that Hachata, a soft drink made from rice, is the single nicest thing in existence. And that Fish broth means 90% of a fish floating in buttery water. The fish was lovely, the water was ignored.
And then I came home, and ran an RPG basically straight off the bat. Got home, mentioned something I found, and ran a session the following night. It was fun - less interactive than I would've liked, but I guess you can't have everything.
What? Oh - what kinda RPG was it? Magic. Obviously.
Yes, that'll be the next thing I post about - how it went. Not the story - there basically was none. But the mechanics of it seems worth perusing.
... And that's about it. Sorry, but... well, I'm still a little jet-lagged, and I've covered two shifts since touching down, so I don't really have it in me to write anything. And I'm still formulating my opinions on the M:TGRPG, so I don't wanna rush that.
Basically, this is just my opportunity to let you know I still exist, and that I've missed each and every one of you.
Anyway, I hope the past fortnight has been awesome for you guys too. And to remind everyone that, though we missed the actual date, this blog just had a birthday... well, this iteration of the blog anyway. So - yay.
Hope to see you again when I'm semi-coherent.
Volodanti out.
Monday, 29 February 2016
Monday, 8 February 2016
Possible Break
Sorta. In that I don't know how often I can update for a lil while...
Let me explain; on Wednesday, I fly to Mexico for my sister's wedding. Which is fun, but does pose a slight issue for updating this blog. Y'see, I'll probably only have access to the internet for about an hour a day, if that, and realistically there's a pretty good chance it won't be viable to log on, write up a post of any decent length, and then post it. It's not impossible - I'm gonna be on a plane for around 10 hours each way, so I'll probably have time to write something up - whether it's any good or not is a different issue.
But, ultimately, the main problem is just gonna be posting it on the same day...
Anyway, I don't have an answer here - this is more just a heads up that, for the next two weeks, my posts are gonna be a bit irregular. Sorry 'bout that.
... What, this week? Err... I honestly don't have anything to talk about. I've not gamed in a fortnight, and haven't really done anything myself... bought some new cards, but mostly just for the lands... beautiful, full-face, lands...
... Yeah, sorry... I think this is about it. Well, I suppose that's to be expected - preparing for a holiday doesn't really leave much time for anything else...
Anyway, here's hoping I get the chance to post, and don't get too much sunburn.
Volodanti out.
Let me explain; on Wednesday, I fly to Mexico for my sister's wedding. Which is fun, but does pose a slight issue for updating this blog. Y'see, I'll probably only have access to the internet for about an hour a day, if that, and realistically there's a pretty good chance it won't be viable to log on, write up a post of any decent length, and then post it. It's not impossible - I'm gonna be on a plane for around 10 hours each way, so I'll probably have time to write something up - whether it's any good or not is a different issue.
But, ultimately, the main problem is just gonna be posting it on the same day...
Anyway, I don't have an answer here - this is more just a heads up that, for the next two weeks, my posts are gonna be a bit irregular. Sorry 'bout that.
... What, this week? Err... I honestly don't have anything to talk about. I've not gamed in a fortnight, and haven't really done anything myself... bought some new cards, but mostly just for the lands... beautiful, full-face, lands...
... Yeah, sorry... I think this is about it. Well, I suppose that's to be expected - preparing for a holiday doesn't really leave much time for anything else...
Anyway, here's hoping I get the chance to post, and don't get too much sunburn.
Volodanti out.
Monday, 1 February 2016
Making a Setting 2: The Sequel
Or follow-up, continuation, or simply 'the one that comes after the first, and is probably an improvement, but should definitely not have a third follow it.'
... Or am I over thinking things?
Anyway...
Gonna get straight into it, so picking up where we left off...
Right - History.
This is where everything is decided. All those little scrawls over your pretty map... this is where they become real people... or nations... whatever.
First off, I'd sort the broad strokes. Don't bog yourself down with individual wars, alliances or whatever else. Split history down into a few 'eras' (or whatever you want to call them) which are dominated by a single event. The arrival of a race to the region. A cataclysmic event that decimated every nation. The discovery of a new technology that revolutionised war/industry/travel/etc. Whatever you consider an event of such magnitude that it affected everyone on the map (though not necessarily to the same degree).
Taking real-world history into account (and with a focus on western Europe), we'd probably have the following high-points over the past 2 millennia:
-Arrival of Christianity
-Fall of the Roman Empire
-Arrival of Islam
-Crusades
-Mongols
-Bubonic Plague
-Renaissance
-'Discovery' of America
-Industrial Revolution
-World Wars
-Cold War
... This is, of course, ignoring a not insignificant number of very important events... but these, really, are the ones that had continent-spanning effects. Once you can plot out points of this magnitude, you can then fill in the gaps. During times of hardship, chances are everyone will go to war. When things are good, trade will thrive. A new arrival means a simultaneous rush to exploit the wealth they bring, and generally an upsurge in isolationism and xenophobia... We really are not a nice species, are we?
Anyway, once you've wrote in the broad strokes, get into specifics. Maybe a timeline? Or I quite like writing the history of country from the perspective of someone who lives in the world... possibly an NPC you'll meet in the coming campaign, or maybe just someone who works at a university... which will likely colour her writing.
As a warning to writing it from in game... first off, remember that the person writing it will not know everything you do. Intentionally incorrect 'facts', or even just gaps where they can't find any records are a great thing to include... partially for realism, partially for intrigue, but mostly just cos it gives you a bit of wiggle room.
While writing the history... be aware, some things will end up scrapped. When I'm writing, more often than not, something that seems like a great idea will end up just not quite fitting... if this happens to you; don't worry. Even the best ideas can end up on the cutting room floor if they don't match up right, or you can't find a way to comfortably fit it in... or, maybe you just have a better idea. That's fine too.
So... what comes next? Back to the map; it's time to add some detail. By now, you oughta have enough of a feel for everyone involved - along with the necessary history - to plot out any major settlements, sites, or whatever else. Or, for that matter, your starting village... if you're into that.
Really, this is just another chance to tweak that map. You'll never be perfectly happy with it - artists never are - so use every opportunity you can to make it that little bit better.
... and then you're kinda done. You've got to populate the setting now, but as a rule that is on an 'as necessary' sorta basis... there's little point plotting everything out at the start, since so much of it will never even become even vaguely relevant. Which leads to my biggest tip for everyone making their first setting:
Leave. Wiggle. Room.
Here's the deal; a year down the line, you're gonna want to make changes. Something you really loved at the time turned out to be a fad, or perhaps the story has taken an unexpected turn... or maybe you just came up with an amazing idea, and want to fit it in... if you've plotted everything - you're scuppered. There's no opening without retconning so much you'd almost be just as well to start over.
This is not to say don't bother to write anything but the bare minimum. Far from it. When I first started Jugisium, it was incredibly barebones - hence all the posts detailing my attempts to make it more interesting. It's an easy trap to fall into - after all the work you've put in so far, just writing the bare minimum you can now and saying 'it leaves space to grow' is very tempting... but don't do it. You'll regret it in the long run - either when you realise how dull it makes games/stories set there, or else when you hit a blank and have to improvise your way through a big chunk of session/chapter.
And, for anyone who is planning their setting for a game - be it an area for a campaign in a wargame, or a place to explore in an RPG... invite your fellows/players in on the worldbuilding. If you're the GM, obviously don't include them in everything, but... well, they're the ones who have to live there. If you spend weeks making a Samurai-themed continent for them to campaign in, only to discover none of them like feudal-era Japan... well, no one is gonna enjoy themselves. After every step (or two) give them a look at the Work In Progress, and ask what they think. Maybe there's something they dislike, or a bit they want to expand on... and, well - the phrase 'two heads is better than one' is applicable here. They might spot something and come up with a better idea, or something cool to slip in. Really... there's no downside to letting others look at your work.
... Just, remember who's in charge. Not in a dictatorial way, just in that everyone has a lot of ideas, and an opinion of what is 'right', and quite often they are mutually exclusive. If you include everything that everyone wants, you'll probably end up with a mess that no one enjoys. Know when to say 'No' is what I'm saying.
... I don't really know if I can add that much more from here... so I won't. I hope you've enjoyed reading this... I've enjoyed getting back to my world-building roots for what it's worth. And if this helps any of you... well, job well done I'd say.
Volodanti out.
... Or am I over thinking things?
Anyway...
Gonna get straight into it, so picking up where we left off...
Right - History.
This is where everything is decided. All those little scrawls over your pretty map... this is where they become real people... or nations... whatever.
First off, I'd sort the broad strokes. Don't bog yourself down with individual wars, alliances or whatever else. Split history down into a few 'eras' (or whatever you want to call them) which are dominated by a single event. The arrival of a race to the region. A cataclysmic event that decimated every nation. The discovery of a new technology that revolutionised war/industry/travel/etc. Whatever you consider an event of such magnitude that it affected everyone on the map (though not necessarily to the same degree).
Taking real-world history into account (and with a focus on western Europe), we'd probably have the following high-points over the past 2 millennia:
-Arrival of Christianity
-Fall of the Roman Empire
-Arrival of Islam
-Crusades
-Mongols
-Bubonic Plague
-Renaissance
-'Discovery' of America
-Industrial Revolution
-World Wars
-Cold War
... This is, of course, ignoring a not insignificant number of very important events... but these, really, are the ones that had continent-spanning effects. Once you can plot out points of this magnitude, you can then fill in the gaps. During times of hardship, chances are everyone will go to war. When things are good, trade will thrive. A new arrival means a simultaneous rush to exploit the wealth they bring, and generally an upsurge in isolationism and xenophobia... We really are not a nice species, are we?
Anyway, once you've wrote in the broad strokes, get into specifics. Maybe a timeline? Or I quite like writing the history of country from the perspective of someone who lives in the world... possibly an NPC you'll meet in the coming campaign, or maybe just someone who works at a university... which will likely colour her writing.
As a warning to writing it from in game... first off, remember that the person writing it will not know everything you do. Intentionally incorrect 'facts', or even just gaps where they can't find any records are a great thing to include... partially for realism, partially for intrigue, but mostly just cos it gives you a bit of wiggle room.
While writing the history... be aware, some things will end up scrapped. When I'm writing, more often than not, something that seems like a great idea will end up just not quite fitting... if this happens to you; don't worry. Even the best ideas can end up on the cutting room floor if they don't match up right, or you can't find a way to comfortably fit it in... or, maybe you just have a better idea. That's fine too.
So... what comes next? Back to the map; it's time to add some detail. By now, you oughta have enough of a feel for everyone involved - along with the necessary history - to plot out any major settlements, sites, or whatever else. Or, for that matter, your starting village... if you're into that.
Really, this is just another chance to tweak that map. You'll never be perfectly happy with it - artists never are - so use every opportunity you can to make it that little bit better.
... and then you're kinda done. You've got to populate the setting now, but as a rule that is on an 'as necessary' sorta basis... there's little point plotting everything out at the start, since so much of it will never even become even vaguely relevant. Which leads to my biggest tip for everyone making their first setting:
Leave. Wiggle. Room.
Here's the deal; a year down the line, you're gonna want to make changes. Something you really loved at the time turned out to be a fad, or perhaps the story has taken an unexpected turn... or maybe you just came up with an amazing idea, and want to fit it in... if you've plotted everything - you're scuppered. There's no opening without retconning so much you'd almost be just as well to start over.
This is not to say don't bother to write anything but the bare minimum. Far from it. When I first started Jugisium, it was incredibly barebones - hence all the posts detailing my attempts to make it more interesting. It's an easy trap to fall into - after all the work you've put in so far, just writing the bare minimum you can now and saying 'it leaves space to grow' is very tempting... but don't do it. You'll regret it in the long run - either when you realise how dull it makes games/stories set there, or else when you hit a blank and have to improvise your way through a big chunk of session/chapter.
And, for anyone who is planning their setting for a game - be it an area for a campaign in a wargame, or a place to explore in an RPG... invite your fellows/players in on the worldbuilding. If you're the GM, obviously don't include them in everything, but... well, they're the ones who have to live there. If you spend weeks making a Samurai-themed continent for them to campaign in, only to discover none of them like feudal-era Japan... well, no one is gonna enjoy themselves. After every step (or two) give them a look at the Work In Progress, and ask what they think. Maybe there's something they dislike, or a bit they want to expand on... and, well - the phrase 'two heads is better than one' is applicable here. They might spot something and come up with a better idea, or something cool to slip in. Really... there's no downside to letting others look at your work.
... Just, remember who's in charge. Not in a dictatorial way, just in that everyone has a lot of ideas, and an opinion of what is 'right', and quite often they are mutually exclusive. If you include everything that everyone wants, you'll probably end up with a mess that no one enjoys. Know when to say 'No' is what I'm saying.
... I don't really know if I can add that much more from here... so I won't. I hope you've enjoyed reading this... I've enjoyed getting back to my world-building roots for what it's worth. And if this helps any of you... well, job well done I'd say.
Volodanti out.
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