Summer Camp 2024 Game Plan
Woooo Yeah Baby That's What I've Been Waiting For, First Summer Camp Let's Goooo
So, Summer Camp is another case where technically I HAVE participated but not actually. Goblins & Trolls didn't have anything to do with Summer Camp I just made it at the same time and noticed it fit into one of the wildcard prompts.
To be completely honest, I'm still kinda on the fence with this one since prompt-based events are far from my strong suit. (My brother in Ethleone I lasted like 4 prompts in Cabinet of Curiosities) But there's no harm in trying and having fun, so here I am Locking In for Summer Camp.
Me when I cast 75 consecutive Arcane Missiles 
to fucking obliterate a level 1 Kobold who tried to rob me
(It was self-defense)
to fucking obliterate a level 1 Kobold who tried to rob me(It was self-defense)
Week 1: Change
Goal
For me time isn't an issue, but that'll be balanced by the irresponsible amount of shadow boxing I'll have to do with my brain in order to stay productive. That being said I know I'm capable of doing daily short articles, so the strat here is probably to stretch that ability out for a month and go for 8 prompts.
Categories & Tags
Yeah I'm good on this I always keep my world organized. That being said I primarily use categories and learning the tags system probably isn't something I should worry over just before a challenge.
Meta
Okay you're gonna laugh. I don't really use the meta, personally it's kinda overwhelming and I just don't vibe with it, but at the same time the way I write anyway already functions as one. The language I use, the aloud boxes for commentary, the links to videos and music I include, most notably the author's notes; I'm very open about what inspires me and my world, I just opt to sprinkle bits and pieces in the relevant places rather than one big collection. Also I'm not very good at describing my world, it's all just vibes vfsbfdskjhvb.
Week 2: Refuge
Accountability
A wacky development has happened since writing that Resolutions article back in January. Did I finally start interacting in the WA Discord Server? Nope, I'm still too shy and anxious and cringe for that. What happened was something even more unexpected. You see, I had been selected to join an elite Circle of Storytellers. A Story-Teller's Circle, if you will. A Circle of some of the fiiinest Story-Tellers you've ever seen. The cream of the crop. Absolute chefs they are. In fact, I don't even know why I was chosen that's how peak they are. I don't actually know if I'd be participating in Summer Camp if it wasn't for their encouragement, let's hope I don't fail them jhbvjhsdfbv.
Styling
I think the styling is still perfect as is. I'd like to think that the formatting, layout, and organization are some of the biggest strengths in my world, so much so that formatting as I write is just second-nature at this point. No issues here.
CSS Hotfix
At some point I plan on learning CSS and giving my whole world a big ass visual update, but that point is not now. There's been a small hotfix, though, and that's all thanks to the aforementioned Circle of Story-Tellers (Thank you Myth and Cato!!!). Now the cool nova fonts should actually be working and showing up for everyone else instead of just for me.
Week 3: Belief
Touching Grass
If I made a BANK of inspirations and showed it here it would probably rival the 12,000 words of The Hunt of Honeymeadow so I'm gonna spare you the read fbasdjfb. My ideas come from pretty much any source, even if it has absolutely NOTHING to do with anything even remotely related to worldbuilding. I could be listening to a video while playing video games and I hear a single word or second of music that immediately spawns a paragraph-length idea that I need to pause everything and write down. My notes are CHAOTIC.
I don't know what to put in this aloud I just think the contrast looks nice.
Artwork & Cartography
Funny you mention artwork actually. Not many people know this about me, but I'm a bit of an art enjoyer myself. In fact, a couple weeks ago I stumbled upon this really cool art on Twitter. I have no idea who the artist is so I can't really get their permission but I'm gonna post it anyway cause it's neat.
Inspirations
This is pretty much the same deal as the Meta, I'm OBNOXIOUSLY shameless about what inspires me and how that translates to what I cook. If you follow this world and something inspires me, you're gonna know about it. If you don't believe me, click on that artwork. Do it. I dare you. Click on it and start reading the essay I wrote. A nice bowl of yapperoni and cheese if I do say so myself yes siree.
Week 4: Decay
Optimization
You better believe I am at peak optimization at all times. My room is cozy, my notes are always open for whenever I get random ideas, playlists and other such media at the ready, coffee in stock, Discord open and primed for harassing my friends with lore, and my Lock-In Pills (prescribed Adderall) on STANDBY.
Homepage
Funnily enough I updated my homepage the moment that feature trickle down dropped. I think what I have now is really good. The vignette is much more in line with my current writing style, albeit a bit long, the suggested articles are all good picks, the current events article is up to date, and the columns are better filled and organized. My favorite addition is probably the Best Work section, cause I think those articles need more love I'm not gonna lie to ya. (Mark my words, Knights will be my most liked article eventually)
Introductions
For the most part I think my Author Page is fine and completely up to date, so no big changes or comments there. The pillar articles, on the other hand, could use some work. The ancestry articles are still completely up to date and good to go, and I think you could get a solid understanding of the world even if you just read those, but the primer definitely needed an update. As of right now, I just cleaned up a lot of the writing, added more context, and made sure everything there is accurate. But I have been planning a major rework for a while now, one that will go on the backburner until after Summer Camp.
Themes
Change
At first I didn't think I could fit into this theme, it's almost like my genre is centered around perpetually existing in a single historical time period devoid of technological advancement (guns). But the more I thought about it, Change is actually REALLY prevalent in this world.
The Ancestries serve as 3 distinct chapters in the world's development, Elves go through rapid changes in culture compared to Valkyr and Knights, creatures like Goblins & Trolls mirroring elements and concepts, and probably the most obvious, Knights evolving as they grow to reflect their greatest passion. I think it's clear I have a bias for the literal interpretation, I like Evolution. I think evolutions are neat.
So Change is already present, where can I go from here? What can I introduce to shake things up a bit? Lol I don't know I'll cross that Bridge when I get to it. Maybe I WILL introduce guns, but like magic guns that shoot magic spells.
The Ancestries serve as 3 distinct chapters in the world's development, Elves go through rapid changes in culture compared to Valkyr and Knights, creatures like Goblins & Trolls mirroring elements and concepts, and probably the most obvious, Knights evolving as they grow to reflect their greatest passion. I think it's clear I have a bias for the literal interpretation, I like Evolution. I think evolutions are neat.
So Change is already present, where can I go from here? What can I introduce to shake things up a bit? Lol I don't know I'll cross that Bridge when I get to it. Maybe I WILL introduce guns, but like magic guns that shoot magic spells.
Refuge
This one is MUCH easier to contextualize for me, the idea of refuge shows up a hell of a lot more often in Adventure Fantasy than you probably think. I in particular play around with this theme a LOT.
Refuge can be a fortified Keep keeping out monsters and shit, it can be a roadside tavern in the middle of a rainy night, a small little room sequestered in the middle of a hostile dungeon, a homecooked meal after a brutal fight, or even just a stranger's hospitality.
Funny thing about that last one, I have a short story that's literally just that. Highly recommend you read it, it's easily one of my best works. It even has some prime engagement-bait baked into it! (You're the main character)
Refuge can be a fortified Keep keeping out monsters and shit, it can be a roadside tavern in the middle of a rainy night, a small little room sequestered in the middle of a hostile dungeon, a homecooked meal after a brutal fight, or even just a stranger's hospitality.
Funny thing about that last one, I have a short story that's literally just that. Highly recommend you read it, it's easily one of my best works. It even has some prime engagement-bait baked into it! (You're the main character)
Belief
Okay so this is the hardest one so far. I'm sure it's no surprise that I don't really do the whole religion thing here, even though realistically speaking there probably are groups of people out there in Oniran who believe in one. Luckily for me that's not literally the only definition of belief that exists.
Elves actually DO believe in an afterlife, that their sparks join the Elders as stars in the night sky, and that Edene is still reincarnating out of love for them. Valkyrian beliefs lean more towards belief in themselves, their own strengths and bonds that allow them to thrive in The North, the belief that they CAN thrive in The North. You can actually learn a lot about Knight beliefs through the stories they tell and what those stories mean to them, no matter how fake they might be there's at least ONE Knight who will believe it and act accordingly.
Who knows, the odds that all of them are completely right are actually pretty good.
Elves actually DO believe in an afterlife, that their sparks join the Elders as stars in the night sky, and that Edene is still reincarnating out of love for them. Valkyrian beliefs lean more towards belief in themselves, their own strengths and bonds that allow them to thrive in The North, the belief that they CAN thrive in The North. You can actually learn a lot about Knight beliefs through the stories they tell and what those stories mean to them, no matter how fake they might be there's at least ONE Knight who will believe it and act accordingly.
Who knows, the odds that all of them are completely right are actually pretty good.
Decay
Alright sick it's time to put Oniran through a Dark Souls arc. Decay shows up in this world in a variety of extremely literal ways. Dungeons and ruins kinda already fit the bill pretty well, and on a fundamental level the world will never actually run out of them. The pseudo-element of Corruption plays a significant part of the lore, specifically for Elves.
And oh my god I LOVE fungi. I'm really hoping there'll be some mushroom prompts in this one I'm not gonna lie to ya. Oh and also the Dark Souls thing has already happened and I've hinted at it every now and then, not enough to piece together but definitely enough to raise questions. That's about it, I don't have much to say for this one cause it's super straight forward in my case.
And oh my god I LOVE fungi. I'm really hoping there'll be some mushroom prompts in this one I'm not gonna lie to ya. Oh and also the Dark Souls thing has already happened and I've hinted at it every now and then, not enough to piece together but definitely enough to raise questions. That's about it, I don't have much to say for this one cause it's super straight forward in my case.
Notepad
When it comes to prompt-based challenges, my usual approach is to take ideas I already had and fanangle them into prompts that seem like a good fit. This is probably like the exact opposite of what I'm supposed to be doing with prompts. But as part of my preparation I'll list ideas for some small articles that pop into my head.
Currencies
Guildball
Monster Hunter-style Locales
Buildings, Landmarks, and Establishments that I've already referenced before
The in-depth implications of Beast Type Knights with plant related Affinities that my plant-loving friend suggested
The idea that at some point someone is gonna wanna write Omegaverse content for the animal related Beast Types
The History of Jousting
A significantly more insane version of Jousting
Man, a Chisel Bee infestation would be SUPER inconvenient
Luffy-coding magic users by requiring them to eat irresponsible amounts of food in order to maintain their strength
Lore's disembodied hands would actually make it REALLY easy to quickly form Arcane circles mid-combat, perhaps even the ability to make Arcane Armillary Spheres
Forging with Lightning
I've recently fallen back in an MtG fixation so I've been thining a lot about card game mechanics
Monster Hunter ecology lore
"BOY I SAY, I SAY BOY WHAT IN TARNATION WERE YA THINKIN’? YA FIGHTIN’ A RUBBER MAN WITH LIGHTNIN’? BOY I SAY THE ONLY THING SHOCKIN’ HERE IS HOW LOW YA IQ IS! I SAY YA REALLY BLUNDERED THIS BOY"
I've been playing an unhealthy amount of Deep Rock Galactic ever since Season 5 dropped so I'm thinking some alcohol lore is in order
Incorporating RPG elements into the short stories
Something crafting related
Charged Lemonade
Camping during the summer
My strat for Summer Camp is to weaponize whatever came over me when writing Bridge of Ethena, and it's for that reason there's a non-zero chance (don't count on it) you might see a bunch of food related articles show up (I've been wanting to watch more Dungeon Meshi but I'm saving it for Summer Camp cause I KNOW it's gonna spark stuff).
My strat for Summer Camp is to weaponize whatever came over me when writing Bridge of Ethena, and it's for that reason there's a non-zero chance (don't count on it) you might see a bunch of food related articles show up (I've been wanting to watch more Dungeon Meshi but I'm saving it for Summer Camp cause I KNOW it's gonna spark stuff).
Good Luck Charm
Here's a little magic item as a gift cause we're friends, you and I. It's me as a marketable plushie.
All the art is made by me unless labled otherwise!
I can understand your concerns very well, as I too found the calls last year overwhelming or intimidating and I don't have 100 ideas in my head right away. Nevertheless, you should definitely try your luck - I would be very happy to read your articles.
Good to know I'm not alone, wishing you luck as well!!!