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    • Orioni
      This guide provides an overview of key storytelling elements and formatting conventions used in collaborative writing and roleplaying forums. It covers topics such as story structure, scene descriptions, character introductions, and formatting techniques to enhance readability and engagement. Whether you're new to online storytelling or looking to refine your approach, this resource offers practical tips for crafting compelling narratives and effectively participating in collaborative writing communities.
      * * *
      Story units
      Usually a story will consist of multiple separate story units or elements. We use such units to help describe the outline of a story, to see the story progress, and to make it easier to navigate.
      Borrowing from the arts, you can apply any of these story unit hierarchies.
      From literature: Volume > Book > Part > Chapter > Section > Paragraph From theatre: Play or Script > Act > Scene > Event From a script: Screenplay > Act > Scene For example: the topic you post is your story, and each reply you make is a chapter.
      * * *
      Scene heading
      This is based on the screenwriting terminology for a screenplay. In a screenplay, you will see how the scene is described with some basic information about where and when something is taking place. In a screenplay, you will see this written as:
      Interior or exterior Location, for example: John Doe's House or Kitchen. Day or night We use a similar description to indicate where and when a story is taking place. This description also helps the reader to know whether place and time have changed as compared to a previous part of the story. Obviously, you may choose to put the time before place. This also works. Just be consistent about it.
      If the location stays the same, and only time changes, you may abbreviate this to only show the time-changes. This can also be used to indicate a flashback or flash-forward.
      Where are we?
      Country (perhaps a bit too generic) City, Country (usually good enough) Building, City, Country (also good, and even more very specific) Chair, Room, Floor, Building, City, Country (too specific) When are we?
      The date, for example: Wednesday, 8 December 1982. The time, for example: 11:00h in the morning or 20:21h in the evening. How much time has passed (optional), for example: Three days later. * * *
      Characters
      The first time a character is mentioned, we usually apply bolding to indicate which characters are mentioned in a story. This helps to draw attention. Additionally, this also helps to see when a new character begins to speak.
      Bolding the character name also helps the reader. It allows them to more easily scan the story and see when a character is mentioned in previously in your story.
      When highlighting a character name, only apply this bolding the person’s name, but not to their title. These titles can be king, president, minister, general, etc.
      For example: “As Empress Joni entered the room, the old Admiral Ramius was first to rise from his chair.”
      * * *
      Dialogue and thoughts
      Clear and well-formatted dialogue is crucial for engaging storytelling. It's important that readers can easily understand which character is speaking and when the conversation shifts between characters. Here are some guidelines for formatting dialogue:
      Always use quotation marks to enclose spoken words in quotation marks. For example: “I can't believe it's raining again,” Wayanor said. Start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes. This helps readers follow the conversation. For example:
      “Where are you going?” Von Starinburg asked.
      “To the store,” Staffenberg replied. “We're out of milk.” Use dialogue tags to indicate who is speaking, especially when introducing new speakers or when clarification is needed. For example: “I'm sick and tired of these Perfidious Orinese,” Eugenios Goulielmos grumbled. Instead of dialogue tags, you can use action beats to show who's speaking and add context. For example: Emma crossed her arms. “I don't agree with that decision.” Maintain consistent formatting throughout your story to avoid confusing your readers. Internal thoughts give readers insight into a character's mind. Here are some ways to format thoughts:
      A common method is to use italics without quotation marks. For example: John stared at the sky. I hope it doesn't rain, Deitorr thought. Similar to dialogue tags, you can use thought tags. For example: I can't believe I forgot my keys, Sarah thought, patting her pockets. If writing in third-person limited, you can simply state the character's thoughts. For example: Wayanor wondered if he had made the right choice. In first-person narratives, thoughts can be written as part of the regular narrative. For example: I gazed at the horizon, wondering what adventures awaited me. Remember, consistency is key. Choose a method for indicating thoughts and stick with it throughout your story. By following these guidelines, you'll ensure that your readers can easily follow dialogues and understand characters' internal monologues, enhancing their engagement with your story.
      * * *
      Mentions
      Mentioning other players can be done easily thanks to the built-in @mention feature of our website.
      It helps to draw the attention of other players, since they will receive a notification which tells them they’ve been mentioned in your story.
      You can make creative use of to weave a mention into your writing, but appending a suffix to a mention.
      For example: “The @Stedorian, @Gotneskan, @Aurivizht, and @Pojački students were having fun at the beach.”
      * * *
      Images
      Visual elements can greatly enhance your storytelling. When adding images to your posts, please keep the following guidelines in mind.
      We strongly encourage the use of your own creations. This could include artwork, photographs, or digital designs relevant to your story. If you're not using your own images, consider using rights-free stock image websites. These provide a wide variety of images that are safe to use without copyright concerns. For example: Openverse, Unsplash, Pexels. Another excellent source for images is Wikimedia Commons. Be sure to follow the specific licence requirements for any image you use. Please do not hotlink images from other websites, especially Discord. These links often break, leaving your post without the intended visual element. To ensure your images remain accessible, please use one of the following reliable image hosting services. Using these services will help maintain the integrity of your post and ensure that readers can enjoy the visual aspects of your story for the long term.
      Imgur ImgBB Postimages CubeUpload DeviantArt Dropbox Remember, images should complement your writing, not replace it. Use them to enhance your narrative and create a more immersive experience for your readers.
      * * *
      Dinkus separator
      To indicate the end of one chapter or scene, and the beginning of another, we use a ‘dinkus’. What is a ‘dinkus’? From Wikipedia:
      This is preferable to using a blank line, because this might not be obvious to all readers.
      The simplest separators you can use are a centred * * * (three spaced asterisks) or the [ hr ] shortcut (without space, to trigger a horizontal line). The aforementioned Wikipedia article proposes more alternatives:
      * * *
      Spelling
      Before publishing your post, it's crucial to review your work for spelling, grammar, and consistency. This extra step ensures your writing is polished and professional, enhancing the reader's experience.
      Utilise the built-in spellcheck feature in your browser. Most modern browsers come equipped with this tool, making it easy to catch basic spelling errors. We use English on this forum. Choose a specific variant and maintain consistency throughout your writing. For example: American English or British English. Mixing variants can be confusing for readers and may appear unprofessional. Be mindful of your verb tenses. Mixing past or present tense unintentionally can disrupt the flow of your narrative. Pick a primary tense for your story and stick with it unless you have a specific reason for switching. For more comprehensive language checks, consider using free browser add-ons . Some popular options include: LanguageTool or Grammarly. These tools can help identify more complex grammar issues and offer suggestions for improvement. After publishing, if you notice a mistake in your post, you can use the edit button to make corrections. This feature allows you to maintain the quality of your writing even after initial publication. Remember, thorough proofreading not only improves the readability of your post but also shows respect for your readers and fellow writers. Taking the time to polish your work demonstrates your commitment to quality storytelling.
      * * *
      Out-of-character comments
      Finally, you may wish to end your story with some out-of-character (OOC) comments and notes. This may be used to provide additional information that you want your reader to know.
      You can use it to, for example:
      give a TL;DR of what happened, describe what happened in the chapter or scene(s), explain why your character(s) did certain actions, hint at what to expect in the next chapter(s), or perhaps ask questions for feedback or suggestions, etc.
    • A Beginner’s Guide to Basic Economics for World Building
      Creating a realistic world involves understanding and applying various concepts, one of which is economics. Don't worry if you're not an economist! This guide will explain the basic principles of economics in an easy-to-understand manner to help make your fictional world more believable.
      1. Scarcity
      Scarcity is the fundamental concept of economics. It's the basic principle that there is less of a good freely available from nature than people would like.
      In your country, resources could be anything from food and water, to strategic resources, to skilled labourers.
      Scarcity leads to trade-offs: since there isn't enough of everything to satisfy everyone completely, choices must be made about how to use and distribute resources.
      Example:
      In a desert country, water might be a scarce resource. As a result, conflicts arise over control of oases and wells, or significant resources might be devoted to technology that can produce fresh water.
      See also: map of resources on Eurth.
      2. Supply and Demand
      Supply and demand are key to understanding market dynamics. Demand refers to how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers. Supply represents how much the market can offer.
      When demand exceeds supply, prices tend to rise. Conversely, when supply exceeds demand, prices tend to fall. The point at which supply and demand meet is the equilibrium price, and that is typically the "market price."
      Example:
      If your country has a unique medicinal herb that can heal any injury, but it's very rare (low supply), and many people want it (high demand), the price of this herb will be very high.
      3. Money and Currency
      Money is any commonly recognized item which can be used for transactions. A well-designed monetary system in your country can add depth and realism. The system should take into account things like: Who mints the money? What is it backed by? (gold, silver, faith in the government, etc.). How are counterfeits prevented?
      Example: A kingdom might use gold coins as currency, minted by the royal treasury. The treasury stamps each coin with the king's face to prevent counterfeiting.
      See also: list of currencies on Eurth.
      4. Trade and Exchange
      Trade is the voluntary exchange of goods and services. Trade can occur between individuals, regions, and different countries. Some places will have abundant resources that others lack, and vice versa, which is why trade becomes beneficial.
      Example:
      If coastal cities in your country have abundant seafood but lack timber, and mountain towns have abundant timber but lack seafood, they can trade to mutual benefit.
      See also: Economic organisations on Eurth,
      5. Government and Economics
      The government plays a role in shaping the economy. It can set policies and regulations, levy taxes, and even control certain industries. The level of government intervention can vary from a laissez-faire approach (minimal intervention) to a command economy (complete control), with many options in between.
      Example:
      In a country ruled by an autocratic dictator, the regime might heavily control and regulate the use and distribution of scare goods.
      See also: Index of economic freedoms on Eurth.
      6. Inflation and Deflation
      Inflation is when average prices are rising, while deflation is when average prices are falling. Moderate inflation is common and often seen as a sign of a healthy economy. However, hyperinflation (extremely high and typically accelerating inflation) can erode savings and destabilize societies.
      Example:
      If your country discovers new gold mines and floods the market with gold coins, this could lead to inflation as the increased money supply devalues the currency.
      7. Unemployment and Labour Force
      The unemployment rate measures the number of people who are willing and able to work but cannot find jobs. The labour force includes all people aged 16 and older who are either employed or actively looking for work.
      Example:
      In a country devastated by an enemy attack, many people might be unemployed while the country is rebuilt.
      8. Gross Domestic Product
      GDP is a measure of the total value of all goods and services produced by a country in a certain period. It's a way to measure the size and performance of a country's economy. It includes everything from the sandwich you bought for lunch to the cost of a brand-new building.
      Example:
      In a thriving country with bustling markets, mines full of precious metals, and fields overflowing with crops, the country's GDP would be quite high, signifying a productive, prosperous economy. If production slows due to a war or disease, the GDP would decrease.
      See also: List of countries on Eurth by GDP.
      9. GDP per capita
      This is the GDP of a country divided by its population. It's an average, so it doesn't show the distribution of wealth within a country, but it gives a rough measure of the average economic output per person. In world-building, this can help give an idea of the average standard of living in different countries or continents.
      Example:
      If your country has a high GDP but also a very large population, the GDP per capita might be low, suggesting that while the kingdom as a whole is wealthy, individual citizens might not be. On the other hand, a small city-state with a modest total GDP but a tiny population might have a high GDP per capita, suggesting a high standard of living.
      See also: List of countries on Eurth by GDP per capita.
      10. Conclusion
      Remember, economics is about making choices in the face of scarcity. It's about how people, societies, and organizations use resources to fulfil their needs and wants. How your world navigates these challenges will greatly contribute to its depth and realism. Happy world building!

    • Map Information

      By Xio, in Wiki,

      V5 Cartography of Eurth Directory Hub
       
      An Introduction to Eurth
      📄 An Introduction to Eurth 📄
      These are the four concepts/guidelines members are expected to follow when role-playing on Eurth. Although these concepts are not directly related to map applications, they should be taken into consideration when applying for the Eurth map. The four concepts are:
      Progression Realism Quality Teamwork  
      Eurth Starting Stats
      📄 Eurth.v5 Starting Stats Google Doc 📄
      This link takes you to the document with the 4-point system Eurth uses. The points are used to ensure newer members are balanced to current geopolitics upon arrival.
       
      Map Application
      📄 Eurth.v5 Map Application Google Doc 📄
      The Eurth map application form document, the rules for applying to Eurth, formatting your application, and where to post your application. This document also outlines how the cartographers process applications and manage territorial consent. This link also provides several maps that may help pre-determine where your country may go.
       
      Map Thread
      📄 Eurth.v5 Map Forum Thread 📄
      A thread of maps. The first post on the thread will be changed with every update (not draft) with maps of topography, blank maps with and without borders, et cetera. Everyone is free to post their own maps to the thread.
       
      Expansions and NPC Guidelines
      📄 Eurth.v5 Expansions and NPC Guidelines Google Doc 📄
      All current rules and guidelines for expansions and Non-Player Countries are written here, as well as how to apply for an expansion and the requirements to do so. It will also discuss the differences between Lore NPCs, Expansion NPCs, and Reserved Territory.
       
      Inactivity and Termination
      📄 Eurth.v5 Inactivity and Termination Google Doc 📄
      Guidelines for what constitutes inactivity and the process for dealing with inactivity, which tend to be:
      Reduction in territory (~ ½) Scrubbed from the map & Eurth/regional lore IP seizure & converted into an NPC  
      Map Requests
      📄 Eurth.v5 Map Requests Google Doc 📄
      Document for making requests for map edits.


      Other Map-Related Threads
      Map of Eurth Map v5: Drafts Naming the Seas Naming the Mountains Using our wurld map in Google Eurth Pro

    • Handling NPCs on Eurth

      By Orioni, in Wiki,

      From 2020-2021 the staff held regular meetings to discuss the need, governance and rules involved with the creation and use of a NPC or Non-Player Country. This document is the summary of these discussions.

    • Worldbuilding Prompts

      By Glimmer, in Wiki,

      With world building, there is plenty of ground to be covered in creating a whole new environment and setting. From the beautiful fauna that grows in our countrysides to the concrete and glass skyscrapers in our cities. From the refined cuisine of the upper class and elite, to the essential staples of the lower class' daily meals. What does your nation look like? What does it sound like, taste like, smell like, feel like? With world building prompts, they can be the guiding questions you need to fill in the blanks, or start anew.
      1 Geography
      What are your nation's famous cities, and why? (Bonus brownie points for cities excluding your capital) What features make your cities unique? How are your urban areas developing in the present day, and what are the plans for the future? What are the most important or interesting regions of your nation, whether administrative or cultural? What makes the residents of these regions stand out among other groups? And how does the climate of your various regions influence their people? What bodies of water are the most indispensable or famous in your nation? How has access to water (or lack thereof) featured in your country's history? Land! What is the terrain of your nation's land? How is the ownership of land divided between various groups and classes? Are there any lands that lay outside your nation's borders that are considered traditionally part of your nation? Weather! What are the most common weather patterns in your nation? How have your people adapted to the weather? What, if any, natural disasters or hazardous weather commonly plague your nation. Parks and Preserves! What does the average public park look like in your nation? Do you have wildlife or other natural preserves and reservations? What is the ecological future of your nation's flora and fauna? Tourists want to travel from one end of your country to the other end. Which places do they visit? Describe the 5 natural wonders of your country. What sort of biomes and landscapes are found on your country? Are they rare compared to other countries? Describe the most beautiful valleys in your country, or the most hellish ones. Name the greatest rivers of your country, and their ports. Name your country's islands from greatest to smallest. Identify the major mountain ranges of your country. How did your nation decide which city was to be its capital? I’ve spent some time in the city, and decide to travel to the countryside. How different is life there? How does the balance between civilisation and nature hold up in your country? Does one overwhelm the other? Do they struggle against, or compliment one another? 2 History
      List and describe some of the most famous ruins in your country: what were they in the glory days, why were they built, why are they in ruin? What are the mysterious landmarks in your country, where ancient culture built it but no one knows why? Lost Arts! What skills or trades from your country's history have waned or even died off over the years? Is there a technique or substance from your distance past that modern people are unable to reconstruct? Are there any efforts are maintaining or reviving these lost arts? Migration! Are your people the original inhabitants of your nation's lands, or did they displace another group? In more recent history, how are your people moving around within their borders? Are some regions experiencing a population boom, and are others experiencing a shortage of people? Why? Can you give me the synopsis of one of your people's cultural/national epics? (The foundational myths.) What's the closest your country has been to wholesale destruction? (Apocalypse) I'm reading through the history books. Which names am I sure to come across? From knights of virtue to pirates on the seven seas, what types of people have been romanticised in your country? What’s the most legendary artefact lusted for by adventurers and scholars alike? How do your people think the world began and will end? Are they correct? By what means & how did your nation become independent? Who is considered the founding “father” or “mother” of your modern nation? What is considered the “Darkest Day” in your nation's history? 3 Politics
      Government
      Who is the leader of your country? How did they get into power? What do people in your country value most in a leader? (Strength? Kindness? Rationality?) Tell us about a famous dynasty or family in your country. Which political parties exist, what are their differences, and how do they work together?  Describe the election process in your country. Describe the different government buildings in your country. Law & Order
      Police. Wandering through one of your country's cities, a thief steals my wallet. I report the incident to a local authority. Who would they be, and what will (Or won't) they do about my stolen wallet? What powers and restraints does your police force (or other primary security agency) possess? Can the judiciary strike down laws in your nation? Why/why not? What are the gun laws of your country? Can you tell me a little something about the organised crime in your country? A complex series of murders has been committed, and it has become aware that the rank and file police won’t be able to solve it. Who is sent to solve the case? (And will they succeed in finding the killer?) Can you give me an overview of what could be found in your country’s black markets? What is the single greatest threat, be it natural/meteorological, political or social unrest, that your country faces today? A great calamity has occurred, be it fire, flooding or Kaiju attack. Who is sent for clean-up and repair? Foreign relations
      Which international organisations are you a member of? Who are your allies and enemies? Who is your nation's closest ally and why? What is the most significant foreign policy goal for your nation's current government? How are the immigration procedures in your country? Military

      Wartime and Peacetime! How long have your people known peace? How has conflict (or the lack thereof) shaped your modern history? Are there any civic rituals observed by your government during either period? Armed Forces! How many branches of your military are there? What are famous formations within it? What is its history and social standing in your nation? And what are the plans for the future? What are your country's military branches? Create an organisational chart of each military branch based on rank. Describe a day in the life of an average soldier in training. Who are the greatest, most feared enemies in your country? List the greatest battles in your country: When they were fought, who fought in them, why they were fought, how the winner’s won. What tactics provided the greatest advantages in battle? List out military strategy that has inspired your country. Describe the different military uniforms for the countries and branches within your country. Describe the royal guard and the holy guards of your country. List all of its ships from smallest to largest, and detail what they’re known for. List the different forts and castles from smallest to largest and detail who built them and why. Describe the different civil wars in your country. What is your nation's stance on nuclear weapons? Does your nation have conscription, why so or why not? 4 Economy

      How do your people prefer to get around? How does this differ between urban and rural areas? Does your nation employ unique modes of transportation, and how have they been affected by globalization? Hunting and Fishing! What are the preferred targets for hunters and anglers in your nation? How prevalent is either activity, and what bodies regulate it? Are any quarries prized above others? How are your country's major trading partners, and why are they important? What forms of gambling are legal in your country? Which are the most popular? What is the major gambling centre(s) in your nation? Is it lucrative? Who or what controls the gambling scene? What’s the public perception on gambling? Drugs! What are the most common recreational substances in your nation? What is their legality? Which demographics use which drugs the most? What is the War on Drugs like in your country? Travel! What are some popular destinations, foreign and domestic, for your country's citizens? Do people tend to travel more for work or for pleasure? And which other countries on Eurth are most likely to visit your nation? What are the railways like in your country? Is it isolated, or is it part of a wider network? What gauge, motive power, and coupling systems are used? Where are the best trade ports in your country? What is your country's largest export? What's the currency of your country? How did it come to be used? What preceded it? Which kinds of building materials are available? Where does the drinking water come from, and how is it distributed? Who makes the food? What happens to rubbish and sewage? Are there banks? If so, do they provide loans, bookkeeping, Worker pensions etc? Is there a centralised banking system, or are they independent? Is there any form of financial regulation? Or is Cronyism the standard practice? What are your country's main revenue sources from agriculture? What do your farmers harvest? What are your country's main revenue sources from industry? How many people are working, what's the worldwide rank? What are the occupation percentages? What's the most valuable material in your country, and how is it used? Where do people get the news? How much of a career can a writer have in your country? I am searching for work. Where could, would, and should I apply? By now I’ve spent quite some time in your country, and would like to settle down. How do I obtain a house? How does a package or message arrive from one place to another? 5 Demographics
      Society
      The youth! What is your nation's age of majority? What are the activities that children and teenagers are primarily associated within your culture? And most importantly… are the kids alright? Generations! What are the defined generations of your nation, age-wise and culturally? How do different generations get along? And who makes up the next generation to lead your country in the future? Is there a class system in your society? If so, what style is this system? Does this system allow for class movement? Can the lower class become upper class? Is there a form of discrimination or segregation? If so, how is it justified? Does a nobility exist or other societal elites? If so, what constitutes an elite? Do the nobles interact with other members of society? Is there a strict separation? Who’s making the big bucks in your country? (Bonus: What’s the difference between the old and newly rich?) Most expensive and poorest zones in your capital (prices, safety, etc)? Are there any separate attitudes regarding gender? Are there particular jobs/activities reserved for only one gender? Are extra benefits granted to one particular gender? What does an average household look like? (Is it a modern nuclear family, or a multi-generational feudal household? Do pets live inside?) Who is regarded as the prime parent? Can you tell me about the itinerant folk of your country? (Bonus: Why do they travel?) How are children treated in your country? (Until what age are they considered children? Are children allowed to work? Can they vote? Are they considered people or property? Do daycares and schools exist? Has the concept of teenager/young adult been introduced in your country?) What about weddings? (Who officiates? Where are they typically held? How many people are invited? How significant is marriage in your country? What would be an ideal wedding?) What about funerals? How are they performed? Who is invited? How significant are they? How are the dead honoured? What happens to their body? Are they given a stone, a cross, something else? Can you tell me about one of your country’s secret societies? Greasers, punks, goths, and tunnel snakes who rule. What subcultures do rebellious youth join in your country? What are the largest minority groups in your nation? How has the life in your country changed in the past 10 years? Language
      Can you give me a linguistic overview of your country? (Language families, broad distribution, intelligibility, lingua franca, trade language, etcetera.) What are some common names in your country? (Bonus: Why are they popular?) Can you give me a proverb or two (or more) from your country? What are the days, weeks, months, years called? Education
      Now stuck in your country, I would like to continue my studies. What university, academy or similar institution would I want to apply for? (Bonus question: Where would I actually end up studying?) Astronaut, fireman, doctor. What's the profession that your kids (and adults for that matter) tend to dream of becoming? Religion
      Funerals! What rituals and ceremonies are observed when someone dies in your nation? How does this vary between different religions or ethnicities? What are the common burial practices of your nation? Is there anything else (for instance, wearing black clothing in the real-world West) that is associated with death or funerals in your culture? What are the different religions in your country? What is the primary religion of your country? How do people worship in your country? What are the greatest sins of your country? Create an organisational chart of your holy leaders. Who has more power, the political or the religious leaders? Describe your people's idea of the afterlife. Make a calendar of the holy days in your country and describe what happens on that day. List the different holy texts of each religion in your country. When broken down to its essence, what do the biggest religions in your country believe in? (Bonus: How do they treat each other?) Are there religious communities or foundations? What are they like, and what role do they play in society? Health
      Healthcare! What are the most common causes of death and injury in your nation? How is your healthcare system structured? How available is access to healthcare in your nation? What do sick people do if they want to get better? Disease shaped our world, so what role have plagues and the like played in your country? Where, and by whom is healthcare taken care of? What about specialised care? Dentistry, physical therapy, eye care, palliative care. And what of alternative medicine such as acupuncture and chiropractic care. 6 Culture

      How do the people of your nation spend the days when they are not working? How long are your weekends? Who gets to take weekends off? How have domestic animal companions shaped the history and culture of your people? Are certain pets held in higher or lower regard than others? And which pets are signifiers of a particular group or subgroup? Are there any interesting laws governing the ownership of pets in your nation? What do your people consider to be art? Who are the major artists in your country, and what are they known for? Meals! Do your people gather for the conventional 3 meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner, or do they follow an alternate arrangement? What is the largest meal of the day? What are some favourite foods served at particular meals? Etiquette! What qualifies as good manners among your people? How do people behave at meals and other social gatherings? What's a major faux pas? What are the most well-known folk stories in your nation? Who's the bringer of good fortune and springtime, and who's the scary boogeyman who parents scare their children with? How have folk tales been reinterpreted and recycled in your modern popular culture? Which old folk stories do grandparents tell their grandchildren? What are these stories meant to achieve? Clothes! What are the traditional elements of formal wear on your various occasions, and what do your citizens wear while relaxing? How has clothing changed over time, and why? What outfit(s) might be considered your “national dress”? What do your people find fashionable? Which differences in clothing exist between classes and generations? What's the latest fashion trend in your country? What sorts of headgear do people wear? (And why? Is it functional? Ceremonial? Prestigious?) Who is the most renowned celebrity in your nation? What sort of music is popular in your nation? Is there a genre that your nation has created or contributed to? What sports do your people play? What are the most popular sports in your nation? What is their history, and how is professional play regulated? Are there any unique sports made up by your nation's inhabitants? Are there any “extreme” sports that are popular? What sort of architecture can one expect in your nation? Detail the architectural styles for the following: Major palaces/castles, major religious centres, major learning centres, major transit centres and major museums. What is the best food to eat in each region of your country? Can you give me an overview of your country’s most popular beverages? Breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses… What are the eating times in your country? What will be served for a typical breakfast? What will be served for a typical lunch or dinner? It's late at night, and I'm hungry. What food venues are still open? When families get together, which food do they share? List and describe the most impressive buildings in your country. Holidays! What secular and religious holidays are observed in your nation? What are the rituals that accompany them? And what specific traditions does your nation have around worldwide holidays, like those celebrated by major religions? Is there anything your peoples eat and drink exclusively on days of celebration? What is your country's equivalent to holidays such as Christmas and Halloween? What's the biggest, most beloved celebration of the year? I’m invited to this grandest event of the year. What should I wear? And what would I wear if I were a woman? When do the people celebrate the new year in your country? What does it involve? What is your young people's favourite places to hang out? What customs and rituals show up in your country? Does your government fund the arts? And, if so, is arts funding given with 'no strings attached'? Which film was the latest box office success in your country, what was it about, and why was it so popular? How is time measured on terms of days, weeks, months, years? What symbolism do various colours have in your country's cultures? What is the most distinctive symbol of your country that would be most likely to be recognised elsewhere? All done!
      Really? Did you answer all of these‽ In that case, you can continue down the rabbit hole and explore another, even longer list of world building resources.
    • Current tasks
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      Getting started with Invision Community, optionally try the free demo Technical tasks Respond to private messages for assistance Support reports by moderators in the Moderator CP Run software updates & re-test systems Monitor Technical Helpdesk Quality control Keep stories sorted in the right sub-forum Clean-up over-use of topic tags Edit obvious typos to maintain quality Clean-up markup / layout problems Academy Respond to new member introductions Follow-up on academy candidate's status Graduate academy candidate to member in Admin CP Role-Play Department Collect map applications and tag as "todo" Collect map expansions and tag as "awaiting rp" Discord server
      Monitor doormat Monitor helpdesk Monitor staff discussion Monitor @admin mentions Organise recurring staff meetings NationStates region
      Greet new members on RMB Regular story poll or other community activity Post weekly/monthly summary to Eurth News Network Reject silly embassy requests, WA lobbying, R/D invitations IIWiki pages
      Monitor #Eurth category changes Continue Project Wiki Cleanup Transfer relevant lore from forum to IIWiki
    • “Great literature is one of two stories,” we often quote Leo Tolstoy as saying: “a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town.” That’s all good and well for the author of War and Peace, but what about the thousands of writers struggling to come up with the next story?
      The many aspirants looking to write their way can turn to a 1919 manual called Ten Million Photoplay Plots by Wycliff Aber Hill. In this book he provides a “taxonomy of possible types of dramatic ‘situations,’ first running them down in outline form, then describing each more completely and offering possible variations.”
      Hill’s 37 basic dramatic situations can be broken down into more specific story plots.
      HAPPY SITUATIONS
      (1) Rescue.
      (2) Lost loved ones recovered.
      (3) A miracle of God.
      PATHETIC SITUATIONS
      (4) Entreaty.
      (5) Love’s obstacles.
      (6) Rivalry between unequals.
      (7) Rivalry between kinsmen.
      (8) A mystery.
      INSPIRING SITUATIONS
      (9) Loving an enemy.
      (10) Sacrifice of one’s self for an ideal.
      (11) Sacrifice of one’s self for kindred (or friend).
      DISASTROUS SITUATIONS PRECIPITATED WITHOUT CRIMINAL INTENT
      (12) Possessed of an ambition.
      (13) Fatal indiscretion.
      (14) Pursuit.
      (15) Rebellion.
      (16) Enmity between kinsmen.
      (17) Effort to obtain.
      (18) Daring effort.
      (19) Vengeance.
      (20) Kindred avenged against kindred.
      (21) Mistaken jealousy.
      (22) Involuntary criminal love.

      DISASTROUS SITUATIONS PRECIPITATED WITH CRIMINAL INTENT
      (23) Struggle against God.
      (24) Abduction.
      (25) To sacrifice all for a passion.
      (26) Adultery.
      (27) Adultery with murder.
      (28) Criminal love.
      TRAGIC SITUATIONS OVER WHICH THE VICTIM HAS NO CONTROL
      (29) Loved ones lost.
      (30) Falling a prey.
      (31) Disaster.
      (32) An innocent suspected.
      (33) Obligation to sacrifice loved ones.
      (34) To learn of the dishonour of a loved one.
      (35) Mental derangement.
      (36) To kill a kinsman or friend before recognition.
      (37) Remorse.

      Sources:
      There Are Only 37 Possible Stories, According to This 1919 Manual for Screenwriters (Open Culture) The 37 Basic Plots, According to a Screenwriter of the Silent-Film Era  (Slate) Ten Million Photoplay Plots (uploaded to Scribd by Rebecca Onion) Photoplay plot encyclopedia (1922 by Palmer, Frederick)

    • Cultural Iceberg Model

      By Orioni, in Wiki,

      In 1976, Edward T. Hall developed the cultural iceberg model. The ‘iceberg’ model of culture uses the metaphor of the iceberg to make the complex concept of culture easier to understand.
      Like an iceberg, only the ‘tip’ of culture is visible (observable) to the eye while the bulk of what makes up cultural identity is submerged (unobservable). This framework can be used to explain the concept of your culture to readers. For example: which factors influence a person's observable behaviours and practices?
      If you'd like to know more, the Worldbuilding Magazine did a podcast on The Iceberg Principle (S22 E03) in May 2020.

      Update (16 June 2020): a cleaner designed iceberg was published on Reddit, with some changes to the framework.

    • The Great Eurthican FAQ

      By Variota, in Wiki,

      Welcome!
      Located within this article are a variety of questions that have been asked before or that are seen as important enough to list off. These questions range from certain restrictions to basic questions about real life equivalents. In case you feel that there is a question missing, feel free to put it in #helpdesk on discord or send a message through the forum's messaging system.
       
      GAMEPLAY
      I want to join! How do I do this?
      Wow! That's great! In this case, follow the instruction presented at the Front Desk of our Academy.
      How many nations can I have?
      You can have one nation and one nation only. That's not to say that you can't have, as an example, various groups or autonomous states within your nation as a way to switch things up.
      I have elves, dwarves and orks. Is that okay?
      No. Eurth is a human-only non-fantasy region. Realism is the key word. Could you have an elite that gets their ears cut through plastic surgery as a way to adapt to some weird body ideal and look elf-like? Sure, so long as you keep in mind that this has disadvantages. Surgeries can go wrong, ears can get infected, not everyone will want to do it, other nations and cultures will find yours weird, etc. Similarly, dwarves... Could you have a nation with a higher than normal rate of dwarfism or a shorter population? Sure. But keep in mind that you're not going to have a nation only made up of these people. Keep in mind that dwarfism leads to a whole variety of health issues, among other issues.
      How about human-only meme nations?
      No. We're aiming for realism. That excludes meme-nations based on a joke. This stems from a strange interaction with Kendrickianna, a meme-nation based entirely on animated GIF's of the RL entertainer Anna Kendrick.
       
      MAP & CARTOGRAPHY
      How can I get on your map?
      Candidates will have to go through the Academy first. Once you graduate, the path to map-hood is open. To help things along we've also included some nice and easy to understand instructions on applying for the map. If you feel unsure about any of these, please look around at some earlier applications to see how they were handled and answered.
      Can I be on the Europa continent?
      No. This is a legacy area and is locked to new players. Other continents were added to increase the possibilities. To paraphrase Arthur C. Clarke: "All these continents are yours except Europa. Attempt no claim there. Use them together. Use them in peace."
       
      HISTORY & CULTURE
      Is there a [add name of messiah] equivalent on Eurth?
      Eh, yes and no. Here's the thing: We try to get everyone to be as creative as possible, to move away from real life. In some ways, this has succeeded, in some ways, it hasn't. In reality, a discussion on the history of Christianity and Judaism ended in limbo and the main nations having Judaism and involving Judaism turned out to be one of the many personalities of the person that made the first question of this FAQ extremely important. Similarly, none of the Muslim nations are active and their lore hasn't really been fleshed out. It's all a bit scattered and in limbo as people claim to have their own, non-affiliated churches and religions; although the discussion on the history of Christianity and Judaism did help in that regard to get people to consolidate and associate a bit more.
      Is there a Roman or Byzantine Empire?
      There was a Byzantium-like area in Europa called the Aroman Empire. Similar to the RL Roman Empire, it crumbled into various nations, the most important of which are Adaptus and Tagmatium. Tagmatium is a great and active staff member  and would love to explain more to you if you need specifics. Another great place to start in regards to the Aroman Empire is the iiwiki page on it.
      Can I claim a global religious leader ?
      Maybe, depending on the religion you wish to lead. Have a look at our IIWiki article on existing religions on Eurth first before starting this OOC discussion.
      Can I claim my nation is populated by neanderthals or other variants of humans?
      Listen, you can claim almost anything. You can claim the people in your nation are some special type of homo whateveris. Hell, I made a news post where phrenologists were mentioned. You're more than allowed to have pseudo-science reign your nation if you wish to do so. Realism, obviously, dictates that these claims hold no factual proof and aren't true but that could be the whole fun of it, roleplaying a nation where scientists, politicians and whomever else do their best to fudge results and more. Just think of North Korea and some of the great claims they released at times.
       
      TECHNOLOGY
      Can I have nukes?
      Short answer? No. Long answer? Theoretically, it's possible for a nation to develop nukes. It'd require a lot of roleplaying, a lot of time, etc. And there are specific guidelines/rules in the works which may end up changing this answer to include more/specific instructions. But what you really want to ask yourself is: Why do I want nukes? Do you want them for historic reasons? Do you want to have them in modern times? Having nukes as a historical plot point while not having them in modern times is far more acceptable, for example, albeit still something you should discuss with the mod team; your nation getting close to developing nukes could be the last reason needed for a hostile power to start a war, invade you or otherwise seek to disrupt that progress. That, of course, also goes the other way around. However, what we often see is that people seek nukes for two reasons, either they want nukes to be the cool kid on the block that has all the nifty gadgets (the Rule of Cool comes to mind in that regard) or they seek nukes to become impregnable, a power right from the start. Please don't try to be either one of those two because you're going to have a bad time here in/on Eurth in that case.
      Can I have Thorium?
      Eurth has the rule that only proven technologies can be used on Eurth. This means that, while you can have thorium research centers, as that's been done, you can't have thorium energy plants, as they haven't been done. That's the general rule of thumb for everything, what's been done can be done. In doubt? Discuss it with a member of the mod team.
      Can I have a space program?
      Yes, provided you complete the necessary steps for developing one. Going to space is expensive. Some steps on the ladder require that you cooperate with other players. This will increase your enjoyment.
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