+300

+300

This would actually allow me to particpate again. Ever since the prompts have been released in the staggered way, the time pressure of having to come up with fringe ideas just to fit a random prompt in a week has made SummerCamp more stress than fun and usually things I write for SummerCamp have proven useless in my overall worldbuilding.

+100

The title really doesn't do this feature request justice, it's really quite misleading!   You're not asking for another WorldEmber, you're asking us to be able to write 32 articles for diamond or whatnot, but you could answer 5 prompts and write 27 *other* articles 300+ words like a standard submission, but not have them enter any prompt, right?   I'm actually not a good case to make for this because I love Summer Camp's current rules, as it pushes me to expand my world using different templates I don't typically use. Buuut, in the last few years it has gotten a lot harder to complete Summer Camp, 2025 was my fifth year and this year was the most difficult for me. I'd love to not feel as stressed to answer the prompts, and if I could choose to write any old article, so long as it fit the typical Summer Camp guidelines, I'd probably enjoy the event a lot more.

+300

Oh. My. Ademal,...this is THE best suggestion I've heard in a long time, and "...writing freely with no worry about hitting any prompt except what I make up," is EXACTLY what I've wished for the last couple years.   ...it's also a reason why I didn't participate this year at Summer Camp. It's become too hard, when I'm focusing on my specific world and have to take an extraordinary amount of time to TRY and find ways to incorporate the prompts into my world...and often can't actually use it in the end.   Couldn't do it anymore, and yes, I want the badges BADLY...but don't have anything to prove, need to win...I just want to join my friend creators and grow at my own pace.   To have this as an option would bring me back 100%.   Now, THAT being said, I can also see why there are -300 positions, but I believe they're missing something. I'm FOR this being an "option", but NOT to change Summer Camp for everyone.   SUGGESTION: Allow this as an option, BUT have a penalty, that if you use this option you voluntarily give up any right to compete in any way. That would keep SC the same for all, but allow veterans or those with different motivations to still earn the badges.   Just a thought -- but I'm for an option to be considered and this to be accepted with a moderation. I'd like to find a way to encourage MORE participation, not less. That is the point I feel was missed by the negative votes.

-300

no, they are different challenges and are meant to be different

-300

I like Worldember, but Summer Camp does not need to be a Worldember clone.

-100

No, that would take the whole idea out of summer-camp for me. I do understand where you're coming from tho, As I also have this struggle. But prompts can be bend very very far. There's always a way to make it work.

+1

I love the idea of shaking up the way SummerCamp works, but I think it would need a different approach than shifting to a pure wordcount challenge. Variety, exploration, and breadth are sort of its main elements as an event.   I DO love the idea of stand-in submissions, maybe to combine prompts into one article, or use any template of your choosing for each? A cool idea to consider.

-300

+300

+300

I wouldn't want SC to be word-count-based - that's what WE is for - but the stand-in articles are interesting. WE lets us write anything for the word count and optionally submit to template-based categories. What if SC let us write anything for the article count and optionally submit to prompt-based categories? Still in the spirit of SC, but more open to more people.   I relate to Ademal's struggle with SC and I've only been around for three of them. Not every challenge will suit every person, and everyone should feel empowered to sit a challenge out. However, it feels alienating and isolating to sit out one of the biggest events of the year. There's so much hype and enthusiasm around SC, surely we can find ways to sweep more people up in it!   Event prep got similar feedback about being unhelpful for event vets, and it got a refresh with the prep bingo. There's no way to make SC suit everyone, and maybe stand-in articles aren't the way forward, but I still support investigating ways to make SC a tad more open.

-1

Yeah I agree with those who are saying that it isn't in spirit with Summer Camp. Each event is different and has a different focus. Summer Camp is about diversifying your worldbuilding with several different article types. WorldEmber is intentionally loose. You can literally write one 10,000 word long article in WorldEmber and win. You can win with generic articles or spells or other types that aren't commonly showcased because not every world has them. You can submit hundreds of species, like you said. No need for a standin. The only reason the article types are present for WorldEmber is the community judging factor, and no one is obligated to take part in that. But changing Summer Camp to essentially become a second WorldEmber would be disappointing to me. They are intentionally two different events with two different focus points. God bless and much love. Hope this makes sense. <3

-300

-300

As a veteran myself, I completely disagree with this approach - making it more loose like this completely defeats the original spirit of summer camp (which has already changed so much, but having the prompts/specific templates has always been the core thing). Not all challenges fit everyone's styles of worldbuilding. Which is why there are so many different ones. If you want to submit all species for example, you can do that during other prompt challenges (like spooktober) or join a community run one instead.

+300

This is a really great idea! I like the prompts, but sometimes it's hard to make them fit. Stand-in articles would be wonderful!

+300

Love the idea as Summer Camp articles, for me, generally have a few I keep but doing all the prompts leads to some serious world bloat. Also, an event based around just "improving wordcount without new articles" would be amazing.

+300