Community-created Chapter?

[PorridgeMeister]

At the moment, I am currently writing my new Scythebearers IA very very carefully, after my failed previous attempt, the Myrmidons which the Liber shot down in flames(*cringe*). Anyway, I was wondering if anybody wanted to write a huge IA with me - basically make up a new chapter! I think this would be an on-going secondary project with other things permitting, with key details (i.e. the name) decided by popular vote or through discussion.

 

It is just an idea presently; I need people to tell me whether they think this is viable or is likely to be popular.

[Octavulg]

At the moment, I am currently writing my new Scythebearers IA very very carefully, after my failed previous attempt, the Myrmidons which the Liber shot down in flames(*cringe*).

 

There there. There there. Here, have a hug. ;)

 

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody wanted to write a huge IA with me - basically make up a new chapter! I think this would be an on-going secondary project with other things permitting, with key details (i.e. the name) decided by popular vote or through discussion.

 

I find committee-designed IAs can often end up lacking a certain spark and the organic feel of singularly produced IAs. You end up expressing ideas simply because you're trying to adhere to a shared vision, and end up with something inoffensive, but a little bland. And that's the ones that get off the ground.

 

Then again, a lot of people seem to enjoy the whole process, and the result. I'm probably being cynical.

[PorridgeMeister]

There there. There there. Here, have a hug.

*sniff* *sniff*

 

I'm probably being cynical.

No, you're being pragmatic - it probably won't be that easy, but personally I think its certainly do-able. I understand what you mean about it being organic/bland, but I thought it would be a fun thing to try and that it would be easier to do as a group. If we got stuck for ideas, I thought we could take a random little-known filler chapter and expand on them.

 

EDIT: Sorry for accidental pre-mature post (i.e. just sniff sniff)!

Edited November 8, 2010 by PorridgeMeister

[Octavulg]

It's OK. Let it out.

[Ecritter]

I was just looking over the Myrmidons ... not sure where you got shot down at. I'd suggest you either continue on it, or start a new chapter. For me the best is to come up with a theme for the chapter. I have the following in work now.

 

1) A Shaolin Monk type Chapter trained by loyal members of a heretic legion.

 

2) Neo-Nazi Spartans with a fire fetish

 

3) A cannabalistic chapter on the edge of turning Chaos

 

For me theme is everything, get an idea you like and build on it ... don't give up (C&C can be harsh) and press forward.

 

Check the 2 guides mentioned, but really theme comes first.

 

****************

 

EDIT: Since you left right after I posted. I hope I didn't run you off. We'll help you develop your idea, but its best for you to have the idea to build around. It's and achievement for you to look forward to.

Edited November 8, 2010 by Ecritter

[The Normish]

I know at the moment there is a certain community Chapter begin developed by Shinzaren, Chapter Master Ignis Domus, and myself (Ecritter helps too)...

 

So perhaps look there for inspiration.

 

There have been a few attempts to create community Chapters before (they seem to be becoming popular), so here are a few tips from my perosnal book of observations:

 

Lay down a plan with a definite organization. The clearer things are, the less likely things are to get confusing and spiral out of control.

Keep the decision-makers a small group. Accept input from everyone, but there should be a few project heads who say yea or nay.

Start off slow. The quicker you go, the easier you would lose track of where you are.

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

To add to what The Normish said, there was a thing like this that was done a few months/weeks ago about a samuraish chapter that slowly started dying because of the amount of people and the fact that they weren't able to get past sections because of the massive number of ideas. If you do this, I would set down a rough schedule and stick to it. Also, have a rough outline of all the sections ready before you begin to work on individual sections. For an example of an IA like this see my sig.

[Octavulg]

Thing is, once you only have one or two people making the decisions, while other throw in ideas, it's basically a normal Chapter. The community contributes ideas to IAs all the time.

[The Normish]

Thing is, once you only have one or two people making the decisions, while other throw in ideas, it's basically a normal Chapter. The community contributes ideas to IAs all the time.

So the best thing to do would be to create a balance between Chapter decision-makers and contributors. I would think that in a self-described Community IA, the ideas would be more open-ended and general in terms of ideas, instead of simply being suggestions to improve what is already there.

[Octavulg]

Except at some point, you need to narrow things down, add details, etc, etc.

 

I have seen very few good collaborative IAs. Very, very few.

[The Normish]

Except at some point, you need to narrow things down, add details, etc, etc.

 

I have seen very few good collaborative IAs. Very, very few.

Do you have links to some good ones then?

It's certainly a challenge, but it would be nice to see one that works.

[calgar101]

I think it sounds like an awesome idea and one I'd be willing to engage in.

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

Except at some point, you need to narrow things down, add details, etc, etc.

 

I have seen very few good collaborative IAs. Very, very few.

 

I view this as a challenge. Prepare to be Purified with Purifying Purification by Purifiers.

[Octavulg]

I honestly can't think of any. I don't remember any making it into the Librarium, either.

 

The only one I can remember at all is the Ultra Templars, and that intentionally set out to be terrible.

 

They rarely get finished.

Edited November 8, 2010 by Octavulg

[The Normish]

I honestly can't think of any. I don't remember any making it into the Librarium, either.

 

The only one I can remember at all is the Ultra Templars, and that intentionally set out to be terrible.

 

They rarely get finished.

 

Perseverance is key.

[Octavulg]

Here's a search result

 

Of the three that made it over one page, one is finished (and it's actually in the Librarium - the Dark Sons). That said, Ferrata appears to have done the actual writing, while the rest was discussion. Which is basically a slightly more decentralized version of the normal process.

[PorridgeMeister]

@ Octavulg: If we have people like those who have posted, people amongst the creme of the B&C's posters and article writers on board, then I see no reason why we can't do it! We just keep at it and we might just get it done; we don't have a deadline to meet and no end of ideas/inspiration. If we take it step by step, we could potentially create a complete IA that forms a cohesive image. *blag* *blag*

 

@ TheNormish: Thank you for your candour. I agree with you - it seems sensible that it should work like that as not everybody will be able to contribute in equal measure.

 

@ Calgar101: At least someone wants to do it! Thanks ;)

 

If there is a WE, then I would be happy to undertake this. And yes, it will be a challenge...

[Ferrata]

Technically, both the Imperial Castellans and Dark Sons were community based chapters. However, over time they have become my chapters based on discussion and ideas of other posters. It wasn't quite a standard chapter, but it wasn't quite a hippy loving take it in turns to write a word chapter :turned:

[Shinzaren]

Technically, both the Imperial Castellans and Dark Sons were community based chapters. However, over time they have become my chapters based on discussion and ideas of other posters. It wasn't quite a standard chapter, but it wasn't quite a hippy loving take it in turns to write a word chapter :ph34r:

Stupid hippies...

[Octavulg]

We'll have no Commie chapters here.

 

Better Red than bread!

 

Wait, no...that's not it...

[Shinzaren]

We'll have no Commie chapters here.

 

Better Red than bread!

 

Wait, no...that's not it...

 

Be Special! Be Unique! Join the Red Army!

 

?

[Brother Tyler]

How about if we take a different approach to a "community" DIY Chapter?

 

Instead of being the free-for-all that these things usually become, we'll take it in small pieces.

 

I'll provide each piece as a challenge, with participants taking a set amount of time to develop their proposal to meet the challenge. All proposals will be submitted to me via PM. After the pre-determined time has ended, I'll post all of the proposals as a poll, allowing anyone and everyone to vote for the winner(s). We would then proceed to the second challenge and so on through the challenges, building upon the winners of the previous challenges in developing a Chapter.

 

For example, and this is purely hypothetical, the first challenge might be to develop a Chapter badge that incorporates a hand. Members would then develop a badge that somehow incorporates a hand. It could be a clenched fist (a la the Crimson Fists), an open hand (a la the Iron Hands), a hand holding a sword (a la the Imperial Castellans), or some other depiction, as long as a hand is somehow incorporated into the design.

 

Challenges would include such things as the Chapter badge, color scheme/heraldry, Chapter name, homeworld, Chapter organization, etc. And I might come up with some random things such as "the Chapter has a long-standing animosity towards the X Chapter - explain this animosity" and similar things.

 

Once we've selected the winners of all of the challenges, we'd take a little bit of time to do some refinement, making minor adjustments here and there while retaining the basic elements of the winning proposals in order to finalize a community DIY Chapter.

 

Would that sound like something people would be interested in participating in?

[Shinzaren]

How about if we take a different approach to a "community" DIY Chapter?

 

Instead of being the free-for-all that these things usually become, we'll take it in small pieces.

 

I'll provide each piece as a challenge, with participants taking a set amount of time to develop their proposal to meet the challenge. All proposals will be submitted to me via PM. After the pre-determined time has ended, I'll post all of the proposals as a poll, allowing anyone and everyone to vote for the winner(s). We would then proceed to the second challenge and so on through the challenges, building upon the winners of the previous challenges in developing a Chapter.

 

For example, and this is purely hypothetical, the first challenge might be to develop a Chapter badge that incorporates a hand. Members would then develop a badge that somehow incorporates a hand. It could be a clenched fist (a la the Crimson Fists), an open hand (a la the Iron Hands), a hand holding a sword (a la the Imperial Castellans), or some other depiction, as long as a hand is somehow incorporated into the design.

 

Challenges would include such things as the Chapter badge, color scheme/heraldry, Chapter name, homeworld, Chapter organization, etc. And I might come up with some random things such as "the Chapter has a long-standing animosity towards the X Chapter - explain this animosity" and similar things.

 

Once we've selected the winners of all of the challenges, we'd take a little bit of time to do some refinement, making minor adjustments here and there while retaining the basic elements of the winning proposals in order to finalize a community DIY Chapter.

 

Would that sound like something people would be interested in participating in?

Sure. Might I suggest, as a way to garner a bit more interest and possibly encourage further participation, that we work with someone with mad art skills to make signatures for the winners of each "challenge"? It seems to me that every time one of these challenges or events is thought up, people try extra hard when they know they can get something. I'll be in regardless, this was just a thought ;)

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

That sounds like an excellent idea.

[The Normish]

Why not? Just one more thing on my plate for this forum, haha.

 

Also, this is my 1337 post. I was saving it up for something special, but couldn't find anything interesting. So, whatever. But until I post again, I am officially 1337.