TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge

Planning out some broad ideas to chisel away at with the upcoming prompts!

Interactive Whiteboard

Click the button on the top right to change the zoom level.
(I can't figure out how to get it to load with an initial zoom level)
Loading Whiteboard...
 


  My creative goal for Summer Camp this year is to explore the relatively untouched continent of Rengia, the ancient wildlands. My motivation is to be able to create a fully interactive chronicle with many historical events and locations that are all interconnected on a shiny map of the region :D   Much like last year, I'm not aiming for a particular number of prompts to complete - I'm just going to worldbuild, do my own thing and have fun!  

Preparations

Spring cleaning
I've had a bit of a tidy up of my world's categories and the way I structure my global table of contents, and in doing so I decided that I want to work on a new area of my world this year (last year it was the continent of Anvil).
Reflecting on my Meta
I reviewed my meta page to remind myself of the overall themes and goals of my worldbuilding - all seems fine and I'm good to continue! I will review my meta page again before the best event of the year which is, of course, WorldEmber.
 

Prompt Ideas

These are some ideas within the continent of Rengia that I might be able to explore for the themes of Summer Camp this year (I may shuffle things around as each theme is revealed):
Theme 1: POWER
  1. Many countries here are neither being aligned to the Commonwealth or the Jolundrian Empire. Why? What's the history?
  2. The mountain range has volcanic activity. Lots of natural power in the area, and hard rocks that need powerful tools to harvest or utilise.
  3. Earthquakes and tidal waves are more common on the SE coast. Power from destructive natural forces - can they be harnessed?
  4. Egwa is the most populated country because it's closest to Xendria and has lots of trade there.
  5. Which are the wealthiest trading companies/guilds in Egwa?
  6. How is the region governed?
  7. Who is one of the most powerful individuals in the region?
  8. The middle area is largely uninhabited due to difficult terrain and dangerous wildlife.
  9. How is law enforced in the region? What are the laws like?
  10. How has the introduction of magic shifted the balance of power in different demographics?
Theme 2: FRONTIER
  1. Have any of the wild central regions of Rengia been tamed? By whom and how?
  2. What's the largest peak in the region? Has it been scaled? Why is it so challenging?
  3. What regions are in conflict? Is there an active warzone area?
  4. Which area has never been traversed before? Why?
  5. How many rifts are in this region and what realms/areas do they open up to?
  6. How has the introduction of magic expanded what is possible with technology?
  7. What new inventions have come to the region and how is it affecting balance?
  8. What things (species, cultures, languages, traditions) feel threatened by new stuff?
  9. Who as a person is facing their fears and trying something new or uncertain?
  10. What forms of military are the first lines of defence for a country in the region?
 
Theme 3: RELICS
  1. Museum of many things
  2. Oldest dated discovery so far?
  3. Historical timeline of events in a region that left behind many relics
  4. Treasure/loot hoard
  5. Weapons, ammunition, personal trinkets left behind on battlefield
  6. Ruined buildings - how were they lost?
  7. A person who is so old they're considered a living relic
  8. A creature or plant that's really old and somehow still alive today
  9. A super ancient tradition that dates back to a very very very long time ago
  10. A bizarre historical find that no one knows what it actually is (or was)
Theme 4: COMMUNICATION
  1. How does the postal service work? Who can use it? Cost? Who delivers messages? How far?
  2. How do people talk about difficult or sensitive topics like trauma, death, taboo, shame, fear/phobias, diseases/conditions, relationships, or sex?
  3. How reliable are different forms of communication? What security measures do they have?
  4. A secretive method of communicating - who makes use of it?
  5. Visual languages and the connotations of shapes, materials, and colours
  6. A dead or dying language? A language that has a unique feature to it?
  7. Reading/listening to the language of nature
  8. Laws, contracts, and legally binding documents
  9. Expression in communication: painting, pottery, sculpture, song, dance, and written word
  10. Methods of recording communication, printing, writing, books, carving, casting
 


 

RESOURCES

I've been writing up some handy guides on my blog to help you with the upcoming prompts this summer camp (no matter what they'll be)!   And also check out this guide by Polina "Line" Arteev on How to find free images for worldbuilding that not only look good but won't get you in trouble for art theft or disqualified from Summer Camp either! :D


Cover image: Melior common projection map (placeholder WIP) by TJ Trewin

Comments

Author's Notes

Camp Feral Badge by Strixxline

  For more inspiration, check out some other folks homework and pledges in the comments of the World Anvil blog!  
Question:
How many prompts are you aiming for this year? (Also feel free to copy & paste your article block here in the comments!)


Please Login in order to comment!
6 Jun, 2023 17:50

Good luck, TJ! <3 I'm excited to read all the things.   Also Egwa is fun to say.

Emy x   Etrea | Vazdimet
7 Jun, 2023 14:24

Thank youuu! haha it is :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
6 Jun, 2023 18:23

Good luck! Can't wait to read everything :D <3

I hope you have a great day!   Summer Camp with Mochi :D
7 Jun, 2023 14:24

eeee thanks! I'm excited to see what the prompts are :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
6 Jun, 2023 18:52

All the best with SC'23 TJ! Can't wait to read what you create! Also, that witeboard idea and the way you've executed it is awesome!

VISCERIUM_signature-v1.png
7 Jun, 2023 14:29

Thank you!! I thought I'd give it one last try xD


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
Sage strixxline
Polina "Line" Arteev
7 Jun, 2023 03:39

Have the loveliest of SummerCamp seasons!! Excited to see what you build over in Rengia! :D


Seek a new dawn, in Malkora!
Join me in Camp Feral this SummerCamp!
7 Jun, 2023 14:31

Thank youuuu! ALSO I have proudly slapped the Camp Feral sticker onto my whiteboard (and in the Author Notes to show credits to your awesome creation, of course) :D GIB PROMPS


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
7 Jun, 2023 14:58

What a lovely use of whiteboards! Looking forward to seeing what you make!


Summer Camp is here and I'm so excited! It's my favorite World Anvil event of the year! Keep up to date with my progress on my personal Summer Camp page!

9 Jun, 2023 13:56

Thanks kitoypoy! :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
7 Jun, 2023 18:32

The attention to layout isn't a surprise, but the use of whiteboards is! A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. I like the goal of not having a numeric goal too, and the ten points about power is great—would be fun if each point fit one of the 10 prompts of the theme!   I found a couple of typos: "relatively untouced continent of Rengia" (should be "untouched") and "remind myself of the overal themes" ("overall"). Let me know if you prefer not to get this sort of feedback and I'll keep it in mind!

[they/them] Creator of Black Light, a science-fantasy universe.
7 Jun, 2023 18:33

Also dummy Ondo forgot to wish you good luck >:( Good luck have fun! :D

[they/them] Creator of Black Light, a science-fantasy universe.
9 Jun, 2023 13:55

Haha thanks Ondo!! Best of luck to you, too <3 I'm really grateful for you spotting the typos, they're all fixed now :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
7 Jun, 2023 20:26

Best of luck with Summercamp! Looking forward to seeing how Regnia develops :)

9 Jun, 2023 13:57

Thank youuu! I'm excited for it too as Rengia is one of the least written-about areas of my world right now :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
8 Jun, 2023 00:10

Really awesome use of the white board! And inspirational, too <3

What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark?
9 Jun, 2023 13:58

Thank you so much! :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
Grandmaster nnie
Annie Stein
8 Jun, 2023 18:19

I think there's no better way to go about Worldbuilding than to follow your heart, and let inspiration and fun take you wherever it takes you. Best of luck this Summercamp, I hope you have a great time!

Creator of Solaris -— Come Explore! | Summercamp in Solaris
9 Jun, 2023 13:59

Absolutely! Good luck to you as well and have a lovely summer camp :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
Sage EmilyArmstrong
Emily Armstrong
9 Jun, 2023 15:00

Whoa absolutely lovin' the whiteboard! Makes me want to dig back into them and see what they can do hahah. I can't wait to see your chronicle and the new content around the wildlands!! That sounds so siiiick, sending you the best summer vibes!

Check out my worlds of Beckettville and Culinarypunk!
9 Jun, 2023 15:05

Thank youuuuu! :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
10 Jun, 2023 14:43

I am definitely following you! I love how you structured your page. I am new to world building and this is my first summer camp, Please feel free to follow my world and provide feedback for improvement. Cheers!

Lucious
__________   Check out my World! The New Realm
  Don't forget to follow!
 
*Spelling mistakes, subject changes and other peculiar oddities curtesy of my ADD.
10 Jun, 2023 15:36

Thanks so much! I'll check back in on your world once the event starts :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
11 Jun, 2023 18:07

Whooo good luck with getting Diamond this year \o/ I love some of the questions of power you have (if you don't mind, I'll use a few myself ^^). Also, such a cool way to use whiteboards! :D

Summer Camp, when the writin' is easy. Words are flowin' and the hype is high.
11 Jun, 2023 18:21

Thank youuu! If I reach Diamond that will be a nice bonus, but I'll be perfectly happy with any level of completion :D   By all means use as many of the questions as you like! I'm glad you find them helpful and I'm excited to see how you interpret them in your world :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
11 Jun, 2023 21:18

Love your attitude! I like how you're working toward the goal of a chronicle, and I like how you set up your pledge document with questions getting specific about each prompt. Looks like you're pretty well prepped!

Reading Circle Temple Because magic isn't just fiction
12 Jun, 2023 13:40

Thank youuu! I'm super excited to see what the prompts are once revealed :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
12 Jun, 2023 17:01

Good Luck TJ! Good to see you excited for SC! Let's get back on writing! I am aiming low because I don't know how much time /energy I will have (and I will be on holiday in Italy for the last 10 days of SC so I doubt I will reach diamond or even gold. But a solid copper going to silver is doable, I think.

12 Jun, 2023 18:57

Yesss :D Copper is a great goal! I believe in youuuuu! Ping me if you wanna do sprints some time!


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
13 Jun, 2023 15:00

<3 You too!

14 Jun, 2023 09:56

As always, an inspirational article, and what a great use of Whiteboards! Wishing you the best of luck and all the fun for Summer Camp! I look forward to seeing what you write!

Maker of Maps | AP.Cartography
 
Writer of Words | Summer Camp '23
14 Jun, 2023 12:47

Thank youuu!


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
14 Jun, 2023 13:36

I have been meaning to come and see a bit of the pledge, but time is running just a little bit ahead of me.   I like your pledge article. I dunno if it is the neat collumns with the prompts, or the fact you have a 'prep' section that just makes me think "Hmm, that is things one does right?", because I don't always get to do the simple preping (organizing categories and rereading the meta). I like this, that is the point.   Here are my honest wishes for a nice and fun Summer Camp!

14 Jun, 2023 14:30

Thanks!! :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
15 Jun, 2023 19:11

Your ideas for Summer Camp sound really interesting! I look forward to reading your answers to the coming prompts!

15 Jun, 2023 19:12

Thank you! :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
22 Jun, 2023 17:24

AHHHHHH---we are finally HERE, TJ!! I know you love WorldEmber, and I do also -- but Summer Camp?   Oh,...my...goodness, I'm excited. And just as excited to see what you and all my friends make for me to enjoy when you're all done.   (insert giggles here)

JAIME BUCKLEY
Your New Author Friend =)
Let's Talk Fiction!
29 Jun, 2023 14:00

Wooo!


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
24 Jun, 2023 14:11

Good luck with your Summer Camp entry! I love the detailed list of questions that you've created for each theme. You've got a lot of great artwork and your maps are amazing.

29 Jun, 2023 14:00

Thanks so much!


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
26 Jun, 2023 04:57

Nice! You have some decent questions there :)

Check out what Mimi got up to last year over Summer Camp Mimi Lakes Fileas we prep for this year! Summer Camp 2023 Pledge
29 Jun, 2023 14:00

Thanks :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
26 Jun, 2023 15:49

I've tried several times to integrate whiteboards into my articles, but the layout always slipped. Nice to see it really works. Thanks for the little tips on how to deal with the prompts, I'll try some of them. Good luck and success at your summer camp, I look forward to your articles. Best regards

Stay imaginative and feel free to browse through my Summer Camp .
29 Jun, 2023 14:01

Thank youuu! :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
26 Jun, 2023 19:21

Good luck with your new world. Is it something brewing or something smithing? We do not know, but I want to have a taste of it :)

You wanna see what we did for Summer Camp? This way please: Eddie's Summercamp 2023
29 Jun, 2023 14:02

It's not a new world, just an unexplored region I'm working on within it :D this map is in a different projection because different factions in Melior sometimes use this one instead of the other


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
27 Jun, 2023 01:37

Great stuff, TJ. Your lists for the Summer Camp themes are really helpful and got me thinking about some things I hadn't considered, And the 6 Question method is super helpful, also. Thanks for sharing them.

29 Jun, 2023 14:03

Thanks! Glad it helped spark some ideas :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
28 Jun, 2023 12:45

Writing your own prompts is smart as hell! Good luck with SC!


welcome to my signature! check out istralar!
29 Jun, 2023 14:03

Thanks Han! You toooooo :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
Autumnkitsune
Autumn Riverwood
30 Jun, 2023 20:59

Best of luck!! I'm so excited to read all of your articles :D

1 Jul, 2023 20:35

Thank youuu, good luck to you as well :D


Creator of the dark fantasy world of Melior
Latest Work:
TJ's Summer Camp 2023 Pledge - including an interactive whiteboard and my plans for a new region in Melior this year!
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