SUMMER CAMP 2023 READING CHALLENGE

Tue Aug 1st - Sat Aug 26th

Get inspired by the community, and up your worldbuilding game!

Prompt 12. A SETTLEMENT AT THE LIMITS OF THE “KNOWN” OR “CIVILIZED” WORLD [SETTLEMENT]

Article One: FREEDOM'S PROGRESS

BY [email protected]

"Freedom's Progress is a unique town located on the Ggantija Superoid within the Mikhail Subsector Galactica. As the largest settlement on the superoid, it serves as a refuge for a diverse population of around 2,500 individuals who have a shared past as mercenaries, pirates, and criminals. These residents have made a deliberate choice to distance themselves from their previous criminal lifestyles and pursue a new existence, away from the reach of law enforcement agencies like the Galactic Corporate Empire (GCE)."
I liked the idea of building a new settelment in space from spaceship modules of those arriving and wanting to turn their lives around. The diary entry was particuly insightful as it showed the day to day existence of a reformed law breaker into a Hardy Cattle Breeder.

Article Two:RIFLKEN

BY FURYOUMIKO

"Riflken is run by a council made up of all of the adults in the hamlet. The council is usually led by the person who called the meeting, but all opinions are, in theory, equally weighted. In reality, the town alchemist, the priest of Andrael Vas, the priest of Soma, and the barkeep are considered to have deeper insight than the rest of the farmers and tradesmen."

I do like the town's history and that this was an older town not too far away that people came from. I would be interested in what the rift in the earth is all about. It is good to understand why characters move away from the populated areas and what keeps people in such an isolated place.

Article Three:TINGLEY

BY HEAVY

"There is nothing between Tingley and the jewels of the dunes. None travel too or from the town. It started as an expedition hamlet. For those stopping off before descending into the Shadowfell, found at the deepest part of the Grey Hills stretching away from Tingley."

I like the idea of an expedition outpost becoming a town surviving where many have not. The river sounds intriguing, and I wonder if there is a way to purify the water to make it safe to drink. The small community seems suspicious of outsiders. There must be some history here, or perhaps the town is hiding a great treasure.

Prompt 27. A SPECIES NOW CONSIDERED EXTINCT [SPECIES]

Article One:LARGE DODO'S

BY NATHALIABOOKS1993

"These birds didn't have much in common with the extinct Dodo here on planet Earth. No they would have rather looked a lot like terror birds. The way they were standing high on their legs and their ability to run fast distances."

A well-researched and written article. The birds' description, discovery, and journey to extinction captivated me. I also like the details listed down the side with the tech specs of the Large Dodos. Does the black market trade in the Bones and DNA of these birds?

Article Two:WATCHING-LILY

BY AYRA926

"Watching-lilies are an extinct flower once native to the Dragonback mountains that featured prominently in magefolk art and legends."

These flowers sound beautiful. Such a valuable resource in healing and treating people is a sad loss to the land's inhabitants. I love the description of the flowers and their history through the ages. That they look like an eye and are called Watching Lilies is cool. I wonder if there is any truth to the tales of them being used to spy on people.

Article Three:NORDAMERIKANISCHE LASSOMÄUSE

BY RACUSSA

"Lassom mice looked similar to the European-African-Asian voles, but they had an extremely elongated tail that they could swing like a lasso to catch fruits or flowers from the food plants. The tail length exceeded the body length by twice. An own muscle joint ensured the agility of the whip-like lasso device."

I am glad for a translator so that I could read the delightful description you have written. I love the sound of these tail-lassoing mice—such a cute and exciting creature. I also like the tech specs down the side of the main article such a good idea. This is a well-presented and entertaining article. I wish I could have met one of these little guys.

Prompt 40, A “NEGATIVE” CONDITION THAT HAS HIDDEN ADVANTAGES [CONDITION]

Article One:ITADAROA

BY CARGOJADE

"Itadaroa is a condition that affects elven souls where the soul manifests in a body that for some reason cannot easily contain it."

I like the layout and colours of this article. You have explained this in easy-to-understand language to what seems a complex issue. I do like the spin-off of the condition being positive in influencing others.

Article Two:PATINA

BY SHAAMAN

"Being mechanical in nature and constructed mainly from metals prone to oxidation, the S'aue spend every minute of the day being exposed to the elements which causes these metals to tarnish over time, eventually forming a layer of patina upon their metallic bodies."

This is a beautiful article. The graphics, fonts, background and writing all contribute to a wonderfully informative read. This is entertaining, and I want to learn more about this fantastic robo-punk world.

Article Three:MÉMOIRE PERDUE

BY HELLAY

"Forgetting your past, or your present depending on the case, is a scourge that can upset an entire life. Although there are many different forms of this trauma, all have in common to make vulnerable to the manipulation of his entourage who can invent a whole part of the victim's past, without her being able to cling to a memory of these events."

I like that you have placed a twist on this little-known condition. A well-written and graphically inviting article. What was I saying again......

My Worldbuilding Goals For Next Half Year:

The beuty of the articles have shown me what is possible when building a world. I need to learn how to include these things into my world. I have been away from WA for a long while and need to relearn the basics and dive into some polishing of articles and make the look and feel be relevant for the world I am building. Create a theme, if you will.

Thank you to all the people involved.