Content Submission System Beta

[Max Dirks]

One of the major releases for Althanas Day will be the content submission system, a program that - you guessed it - will allow all players to build upon the lore of Althanas. Prior to the formal release, we're going to do a two week beta period to allow our content moderators an opportunity to get accustomed to the volume of submissions we're likely to receive. That's where you guys come in. Everyone is eligible for the beta and everyone is encouraged to participate. If you've got some lore saved, submitted it, and we'll get it added to the wiki. Just be sure to check submission requirements for each type of entry (it usually involves creating a wiki page). You might notice that certain things, like regional timelines, aren't posted yet. Feel free to make timeline submissions, or any other submission that isn't available (e.g. missions for mission boards) like normal. Your events will be added if approved once the final feature goes live.

If you have any questions, please submit them here.

Althanas Canon Submission Guide

Welcome to the Canon Submission Guide, your definitive handbook for world building on Althanas. Canon is the official lore of Althanas, including important locations, people and events. In other words, it is the foundation upon which our interactive world is based.

Much of our canon, especially region and historical information, has been compiled over the years by numerous content moderators. Some lands, such as Dheathain, were added through contests, and some events were added following major featured quests, like To Rule All Flesh, the Xem’Zund Saga.

In the past, it was very difficult for individual players to affect canon, but that is about to change with the advent of this system. Starting now, players like you can submit your ideas and make them a permanent part of Althanas’ history. Our players have changed throughout the years, but the core ideas remain. If you submit something to canon, it will be here for years to come.

Affecting Canon

So, how do you affect canon? The short answer is to immerse yourself and your character in the Althanas setting. The long answer is to submit canon for moderator review. Keep in mind that not every idea, wiki entry or storyline you submit will become official canon, and that’s okay. Everyone can have his or her own private storylines on the site, and that will always be encouraged.

What can be submitted to canon? Basically anything. Some common examples include:

1. Flora
2. Fauna
3. Races
4. Religions
5. Cultures
6. Locations
7. Cities
8. Subregion
9. Regions
10. Historical Events
11. Current Events

This is not an exhaustive list. We’ll even consider the more niched material, including songs, ales, or anything else you can come up.

All canon submissions will be reviewed by the content staff, then will be approved or denied accordingly. There are no set rules for the process, as all canon submissions are unique, but we will give fair consideration to everything we receive. Before evaluating the submitted material, the moderator will run a conflict check to ensure that there are no conflicts with existing canon. For example, if you submit the official tree of Corone, we’ll make sure no one has previously submitted it. Then we run a 3 three factor review to determine what submissions will become canon. This is our standard for review.

The factors we use to determine what submissions will become canon are:

1. Severity
2. Scope
3. Permanence

Severity measures how much of an affect the submission will have on writing of other player characters. For example, killing the Jya’s fourth cousin is less extreme than assassinating the Jya herself. Similarly, sowing political unrest in a city is less severe than inciting race riots against elves, which might prevent someone else's elf character from being in that area.

Scope measures the size of the submission’s affected area. For example, adding an entirely new region or subregion, which would require major changes to the map, is larger in size than the addition of a small mining town in Salvar. Similarly, a border skirmish between fiefdoms in Salvar would be smaller than an all out war between Corone and Raiaera for control of Lornius.

Permanence measures the length in in time of the submission will last or remain effective. For example, a quest where characters discover, reveal and destroy an ancient evil in a closed fashion, would be less permanent than a meteor falling from the sky and permanently destroying a portion of Concordia.

Canon submissions are broken down into three tiers. Tier 1 submissions are generally mild in severity, scope and permanence. Tier 2 submissions are generally moderate in severity, scope and permanence. Obviously then, tier 3 submissions are generally great in severity, scope and permanence.

Submitting Canon

Now that you have the basics, here’s how to submit canon:

1) Click the Canon Submission link, located by clicking the "Lore" tab at the top of your screen as seen here:



2) Once you’ve arrived at the Canon Submission Link, choose a type of submission from the drop down list. If you do not see your type listed, please select “Other”. Here is what it looks like:



3) Choose your anticipated tier: 1, 2 or 3, as seen here:



4) Add required information, as indicated below.

Tier 1 submissions will include simple additions to the current regions, like discovering a new plant or animal. Submissions for tier one will require the following information:

1. Name of item
2. A Brief description including any special features
3. Location
4. A link to a completed wiki entry (stub) with all relevant info with suggested edits on core wiki pages

Typically, provided tier 1 submissions do not conflict with existing canon, we will almost always approve them. They generally only require a change or additional link to the core wiki pages.

Tier 2 submissions will include additions to the current regions that provide expanded information, like races, minor events, small cities, specific cultures, and religions. Submissions for tier two items will require the following information:

1. For a new race, information on the history, appearance and any special traits
2. For culture/religion, information on the history, core beliefs, important rituals, holidays, area of influence and major gods
3. For cities, the location, landmarks, unique features, population & any other information that may set the city apart from others in the region
4. For a historical event, information regarding the event, important participants and relative dates
5. For current events, a link to a completed and judged thread incorporating the change with an attached summary
6. For all, a link to a completed wiki entry, with all relevant info with suggested edits on core wiki pages

Our goal is to also approve as many tier 2 submissions as possible, though with greater discretion. When considering events, factors like number of participants in the thread and the score will also be considered. However, they are not dispositive factors, so do not be discouraged from submitting no judgment or workshopped threads as canon events.

Note: Tier 1 and 2 submissions VIA wiki (i.e. those that do not require completed and judged threads) are first come, first served. They can only be changed thereafter VIA quest. For example, if someone has submitted the official flower of Raiaera as a tier 1 submission, a second player cannot submit a change to the flower without a related quest.

Tier 3 submissions will include major changes to a region or the world as a whole. This will include the deaths of any major figures as well as the discovery of a new region or continent. Purifying the Red Forest is an example of a recent major Tier 3 canon change. Submissions for tier 3 items will require the following information:

1. For a new region/continent- Size, location, population, history, dominate races, cultural and religious preferences, technology level, terrain, major imports and exports, weather conditions
2. For a historical event, information regarding the event, important participants and relative dates
3. For current events, a link to a completed and judged thread incorporating the change with an attached summary
4. For all, a link to a full wiki entry, with all relevant info with suggested edits on core wiki pages

Tier 3 approvals will be rare, as they require quite a bit of input from content moderators and other staff members on how to properly incorporate them into the world, but again, do not be discouraged from submitting them. We will try to find ways to turn tier 3 submissions into multiple tier 2 submissions if there is no way to incorporate it as a major change.

5) Click submit. Please allow about 7 days for a submission to be reviewed and an additional 7 days for approved content to be added in important places.

Here is where you input required information and submit. You can adjust the text box size for your submission accordingly by clicking "Increase Size."



Rewards

So what does submitting canon get you? Other than instant recognition and a permanent spot in Althanas’ history, you’ll get a few extra neat perks:

1. You’ll obtain the elusive Wiki Contributor Badge, seen here:
2. All of your wiki entries will receive the official canon marker, seen here:
3. The wiki entry you create will be locked for editing and will forever state, “Submitted by [Your Name].”
4. If you submit an event, you’ll be featured in the permanent timeline threads in each forum and the master regional timeline in the wiki. Note: Tier 3 event submissions will receive a permanent spot in the master Althanas timeline, as well.

If that isn’t good enough for you:

Approved Tier 1 submissions net you 250 EXP AND 100 GP
Approved Tier 2 submissions net you 500 EXP AND 300 GP
Approved Tier 3 submissions net you 1000 EXP AND 500 GP

This is an addition to any bonuses received in the thread, if submitting an event.

You now know all you need to get started, so go out there and write your own legends! If you have any questions, you can ask them here.

[Drumheller]

I am afraid I have questions:

1. if describing part of a city, for instance, like the wall around Pestovo, which I described part of already in a thread, and will continue to describe as the thread continues. From the sound of it, since Pestovo already exists, this would be a level one entry, right? I may have other questions after I test the system out, but this all for the moment, I thank you for your time.

[Logan]

As I am to understand, that is correct Drum. It would be a Tier One submission as it is an addition to a currently established city. If it was a new city, and you had the required extra information, it could be considered a Tier Two submission. Again, since it is already an established city, it is thus a Tier One.

[K-Zu-Ziro]

for tier 2 and 3 submissions is there any consolation prize if you put a lot of effort into creating something that ends up not being approved? i could spend a week coming up with something well considered and significant for maybe the chance of 1k exp or i could come up with multiple neat tier 1s knowing my character will benefit from my time spent.

[Max Dirks]

Not at the moment, but the staff will do everything it can to turn a denied tier 3 into multiple tier 2 entries, if possible.

[K-Zu-Ziro]

i'm really hype about working on the wiki. i can kinda see a future where we can use links to the wiki mid text to elaborate on npcs, creatures, places, etc without constantly re-explaining what a lot of things are every single time we post about them etc. not sure how much of the wiki people will read, but it would be amazing when picking a forum (i.e. place) to rp in if you could go to the wiki and read up on other people's contribution to the lore, environment, inhabitants, flora, fauna, etc and then incorporate it into your posts.

but what really makes it cool is that i can write stuff for the wiki knowing it will probs lead to my actual character getting xp and leveling up. i think alternative routes to leveling up are a great idea. collaboration is a big motivator but because of scheduling and the modern life etc it can be a slow process, so ways to supplement your progress during down time is always going to be a plus.

A+++++ GREAT EBAYER WOULD DO BUSINESS AGAIN TY