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Submissions in RPG Tips
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Submissions in RPG Tips
#1Don't worry, Obama will have us out of there in 16 months. WAR OVER. HURRAH. ;)
CCd you an email from Johnn at roleplaying tips. Delegate the coordination on that if you have to. Would be nice if we could get that working!
For you all
Hi Mike!
How's things?
A reader sent me the email below and I thought she had a great idea. I currently have a weekly feature called For Your Game, and and NPC, Quest, Location, etc. from Strolen's would fit well in there.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Johnn
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Reviewing Helix the RPG?
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 17:39:17 -0500
From: Jenette
To: johnn@roleplayingtips.com
References:
Hi John,
Also I;m not sure if you're a member or not, but Strolens Citadel http://www.strolen.com/index.php is a excellent resource for rp ideas, npcs, adventures. and everything in between. (I'm known as Silveressa on their site btw)
An idea I had that might help make your weekly rpg tips a bit lengthier (for those times when it's a shorter than usual issue or maybe a new weekly feature? ) is to perhaps feature a random submission from the Strolen site. As long as credit is given as to the original source and author I doubt anyone would mind at all, and it would bring a random useful addition every week.
take care, it was great to hear from you :)
-Jenette
I basically replied hell yes. but we should consensusize it first.
Have to give big kudos to silveressa too. Will write her if I get a few minutes later.
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Submissions in RPG Tips
#2Mine is a hell yes, too. :)
The main thing in my opinion is some public declaration, to assure our members proper credit is given. The remaining details can be sorted out.
Opinions, ideas, questions? -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#3Check with the Member in question first and that should cover it off nicely.
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Submissions in RPG Tips
#4That's what Johnn doesn't want to do and I'm afraid he has a point... the last time we tried this with even a semi-active member, it took a month or so to get a reply. It may be impossible to reach other members.
So to rephrase the question, do we grant a universal reprinting right of a sort? A notification is a logical measure, but do we ask for an explicit permission?
Mine opinion is, that all on the Citadel is already implicitly open for use by others. We can bolster it by updating help and about files, etc, then notify users when their submission is selected (it is not sure whether we will be able to do so before it is published).
This should be sufficient... now I really want to know your opinions. -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#5I think since the purpose of this site is to share, that is not an issue - I agree with your opinion.
Now, does Johnn stand to make money from subs here? That might make it a thornier issue.
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Submissions in RPG Tips
#6He gets some dough from advertising, but I doubt our submissions would change that.
If we started to become highlights, I would immediately demand 87% and bargain down from there, otherwise it will be good...no...AWESOME exposure for the site and our frick'n kick ass awesome authors. -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#7More voices on the topic? Moon, Scras, Muro, anyone? -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#8So long as proper credit is given, maybe a link back to the submission on the site, I am all for it.
Would it be really random, or would there be some sort of check to make sure one of our pieces of Schlock didn't get put out there for the world to see?
I love Shivamuffin's Bra of Holding, but I wouldn't want it on the eZine. -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#9"Hell Yes", I guess.
Scras brings up a good point. If someone is eyeing these subs, with a thought of visiting and/or joining our site, I'm not sure we want Arrkrassh or shivamuffin's bra representing our collective "genius" lol.
Having said that, Johnn is a bright fellow, and I'm sure selecting subs won't be an issue.
So, Hell Yes! -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#10On a slightly seperate note,
"He gets some dough from advertising, but I doubt our submissions would change that.
If we started to become highlights, I would immediately demand 87% and bargain down from there..."- Strolen
When are we going to start getting some dough (as a site, I mean of course) from advertising? :p -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#11He has a point, I know we would like to keep the Citadel add free, but the other forums where I am a member have varying degrees of ads on them. It's only the ones that hijeck the entire page and you have to click to close them that I really hate. A sidebar or header ad wouldn't offend my sensibilities. -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#12from Johnn Four
Awesome!
Peter, how can we do this with minimal number of steps? Maybe give folks a general heads-up, and then I let you know after each issue is sent what content I used? I'd prefer not to get permission prior to each placement, if possible, as that would put a bit of a wrench in my process.
For each placement I'll include the content, author, and original URL. I might make some edits as well - just grammar and online reading usability stuff. Sound ok?
Mike - best wishes to you in Iraq. We'll be thinking of your safety.
Johnn
Just for completeness. And yes, it sounds okay. -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#13online reading usability stuff? -
Submissions in RPG Tips
#14I read that as formatting, but yes, that needs to be cleared up. -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#15Just a Bump here, filtered out this discussion from the Admin Chatter, also sent a Bump email to Johnn. (The idea is to get an example from him to clear any formatting questions once and for all.)
I hope this will work out! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#16Johnn got back to it and has a solid grasp of the look. Strolen likes it as well and had the idea of providing a nice backlink in the submission. Comments?
I think we should have a sort of "Trackback" type thing for Johnn in return to drive more people to his ezine as well. Getting him members will now only help us as well.
Thinking a type of "This article was featured in roleplayingtips.come issue #343" or whatever with a link to his site (Johnn can maybe come up with what he wants) and then that can be displayed somewhere, maybe the right or left column depending, somewhere sort of prominent with maybe a small rptips graphic or something.
Howdy guys! Here is my idea for content.
There are two columns I would like to run in the e-zine. The first I'd call Strolen's Feature Article. It would reprint select articles and provide author attribution and a link back to the original article and its comments.
Strolen's Feature Article would appear roughly once a month. With the 10 links I've picked below, that would cover us for a year's worth of columns.
The second column is For Your Game. This is currently running in the e-zine, and is meant to be lists, tables, and ideas GMs can immediately use in their games. I've selected 20 Strolen articles for this, and envision putting a Strolen list in about every second or third issue. That would also give about a year's content. Each column would provide author(s) attribution and link back to the original article.
Some of the content at Strolen's is a bit long for the For Your Game column. So, instead of the 30 format, I'd pick the best from each link and make a 10, 15, or 20 list. If I do this, I'll call out that there are even more entries at the original link and advise GMs to go there for the complete content. This will be a great way to get traffic for your site.
Both columns will serve to highlight the awesome depth of content Strolen's has and you will attract fresh contributors as time goes on, as my subscriber count keeps rising every week in a steady trickle.
After the year-long run, we can assess, and if all has worked out well, we can queue up another batch.
Here is my proposed content list for your review:
Strolen's Feature Article
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5473
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2606
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2908
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5441
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2590
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4888
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2103
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2712
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=1350
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2263
For Your Game entries
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5497
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3059
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4876
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4520
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4346
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3789
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5039
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=2977
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5315
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3237
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5093
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3827
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4145
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3991
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4551
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3020
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3790
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=3785
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4122
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5073
Here's a sample For Your Game column:
For Your Game: 10 Pocket Dimensions for Supers and Modern Horror
By Aramax, with permission from Strolen's Citadel:
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5073
1. Shangri-La
Located in a remote section of Tibet, Shangri-La is a
paradise with a dark side. The dimension consists of a large
Tibetan village surrounded by farms and sheep. The village is
filled with temples and homes with only a few shops. The
residents are immortal, happy, and free from the stresses of
modern society.
The villagers manifest various superhuman abilities. Many of
the monks possess super natural abilities with martial arts
and can pass some of these secrets to the PCs. Other Monks
can speak with the dead. Some others can heal and (depending
on the campaign) raise the dead.
On the outskirts of the dimension are passages to Hell and
the land of the dead-keep out.
More correctly called Shamballa.
2. Jake the Road
A 30 mile stretch of old US highway 66 in Arizona that is
sentient. If you travel the whole 30 miles in a US made red
convertible at exactly 66.6 miles an hour you will cross
onto Jake. The road will at first give you normal exits
(usually Barstow and San Bernadino). Later it will give you
exotic exits(Paris or Tokyo). Then the fun comes. Canals of
Mars. The Roman Senate. The Battle of New Orleans. Wherever
and whenever you want to go. As Jake becomes used to you he
can tailor exits for where you want to go.
(This is my version of Danny the Street from DC comics-I
strongly advise checking out the wikipedia listing.)
3. Realm of the Othermen
This is the realm of where the neandertals disappeared to.
It is a primal forest of mammoths and sabretooth tigers.
The neandertals hate and fear humans. Beware their powerful
shaman. It is entered through a portal in a Ukrainian
forest.
4. Wilde Berkeley
One too many acid trips in a dorm room in Berkeley caused a
mini dimension to form. The realm looks like an LSD version
of the campus. Filled with pink elephants and talking
fire hydrants, it is entered by doing acid in just the right
dorm room. Beware of bad trips!
5. The Hole of Moscow
Similar to Wilde Berkeley, The Hole was formed by the KGB's
experiments with drugs, ESP and Black Magic. It is a dark
realm of shadows and thoughts given bodies. Not as trippy as
Wilde, but dangerous from the hostility it was born of.
Entered through the Moscow Subway.
6. Tesla's Micro Universe
When the great inventor Tesla died his soul ended up forming
a workshop just outside reality. It is filled with
incredible inventions and many electrical devices. Unhappy
with the unwanted visitors, he has littered the place with
killer robots and electrical death traps. If you brave the
dangers, fabulous devices can be found.
7. Worm Hole Experiments
Scientists experimenting with worm holes created several
small permanent holes that shift from place to place and are
able to randomly enter the pockets on this list. The
experiments were abandoned after several of their attempts
at exploration ended in TPK.
8. True Salem
The truth of the Salem witch trials was they were witches
but only one of them was evil and deserved her fate. The
innocent witches became trapped in a realm created by their
suffering. Slowly, they drew their persecutors into the
realm with them. Now they are all burning over and over.
They need to face their deaths and to be released.
9. Croatoan
In 1587 an English colony vanished from Roanoke Island.
Known as the Lost Colony, they are trapped in a dimensional
hell of their own making. A religious leader arose among
them and said he could lead them to paradise - all they had
to do was trust him and perform one little human sacrifice.
Desperate and starving, the settlers agreed and newborn
Virginia Dare was sacrificed. The leader used the energy to
open a portal to a pocket dimension.
The dimension appears as a small English colony circa 1600.
The leader, still alive, controls and manipulates the poor,
suffering inhabitants.
10. Aleister Crowley's Retreat
This occultist did not die in 1947, but passed on to his
private little dimension. When he was on Earth, some people
called him the 'Wickedest man alive.' He continues in
isolation, dragging people in for magical experimentation,
drug use, and chess.
Want more? Get 20 more pocket dimensions at:
http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=5073
How does this all sound to you?
Johnn Four
Note: we will need a worthy announcement for the cooperation with RPG Tips. Now it's literary work that is asked for! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#17What a cool idea :up: Aye, a worthy announcement is in order. -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#18Indeed! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#19Just thinking, that in my 3 years here, this may be the coolest idea I've seen.
Synergy!! Collaboration!! Visibility!! Expansion!! Exposure!! (and other similar words come to mind) :D -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#20NICE! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#21"
Strolen's Citadel is proud to announce a new form of cooperation with Roleplayingtips.com, to inspire gamers across the world and of course bring us more exposure.
RPG Tips will from now on feature some of the best articles and submissions from the Citadel. All authors will be properly credited and links will be provided to their submissions. We hope this will bring more recognition to their great ideas and more members in the long run. Stay tuned for more news on this topic!
"
...should do it for a start, can someone pimp it up? -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#22That is it right there! Barely needs pimping if at all. I'd leave out the word "best" from this sentence---RPG Tips will from now on feature some of the best articles and submissions from the Citadel---
best is a strange word :)
other than that, the point is made perfectly, imo. Someone else want to pimp it up?
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Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#23I guess we can get it some stilleto high heels, a leopard print mini skirt and a silver lamay halter tpo, maybe a pair of oversized Lohan-Hilton sunglasses and we can take turns slapping it around. -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#24After some back and forth with Strolen, we decided this plan to conquer the world can be given the green light!
There is some coding to do, which Strolen will graciously provide, but that is no reason to stop Johnn from giving us more exposure. ;)
I have sent the email... once it is confirmed, we can announce the whole thing with any upcoming issue. -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#25It looks like it will happen with the very next issue - which should be around today. :) -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#26As you might have noticed between those crazy downtimes, Issue 435 already came out with the first installment!
Woot! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#27Ohkay, I could handle a little writer's touch to sell the fact that we don't announce this beforehand (and I could need some genuine joy in that thread, too :) ).
"Tragic as it may appear, no. There will be announcing and alerting in sync with the issues coming out, we even have some functionality planned out to flag the submissions and show them thus more respect, and there will be of course comments. Attempting to do this prematurely is only to ask for temporal anomalies - been there, tried that, didn't work out."
Now I need me some pimpin'. Maybe I should drop some more details on how it will work?
---
I have also sent a PM to the author of the first submission. Looks like we will have to do this everytime. :)
Hallo Aramax,
as you may have learned, your submission "10 Pocket Dimensions" was just featured in the issue 435 of the Roleplayingwips Weekly, an ezine we have entered a partnership with. This will generate more interest into our site - and of course your work! You have also the honor that your submission was the first to be featured in this way.
Congratulations - and have a nice day! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#28Question answered, I could also finally link to the website: http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=435#F1
The submission was also Bumped with a comment. (The fun thing is, it's not even a completed submission yet. :) )
There we go! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#29This thing is working as intended, glad to see that.
Now, it looks like the special tagging functionality will take some time to come, which reminded me of the already existing tags - how about we add a freetext, say, 'Featured in RPG Tips' to those submissions? It's not the shiniest reward, but it will suffice for now.
We could also give the users an award/badge for bragging rights, once that is in place. -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#30Thought about how to implement this and came up with a couple options.
1) We track it just like a quest except for each rpgtips I can make it so that the rpgtips thing comes up instead of the quest icon. It will just be a running quest that admins will be able to add new additions to.
2) Make it a Codex or a Region which will connect all the posts together in that way.
3) Just have each sub that is used in rpgtips have a flag on it and it is specially identified.
I am sort of leaning towards the quest way. Once it is done we can put the link to the rpgtips.
Each sub we pop the link to the issue?
Trying to figure out a seemless way to integrate them. Help.... -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#31Actually... that would be quite neat!
Think a Codex or a Region should be enough to connect them nicely with existing means. Now, if we'll just feature the current selections, a Codex is sufficient. But if we include also the other things - like the big Dungeon Quest, plus a few others - a Region could serve just right. -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#32If we submit it as a Codex, I think we should post it in Johnn's name (after letting him know, of course).
Is there a second? -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#33second! -
Re: Submissions in RPG Tips
#34I think a region might work - we could customize the Region page to link RPGTips and perhaps even harmonize the look and feel.