Collaborative Worldbuilding Threads

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

1) Why do people get involved in these kinds of threads.
Is it to altruistically put out some settings for random GMs to use in their games?
Is it an outlet for creative writing? Or something else?

For me, its an outlet for creative writing. I also want to be useful, but if I'm being honest even that is about the glory of doing it rather than pure altruism.

2) What method would be most productive and interesting?

I couldn't say, but I'd prefer a method that encourages lots of people to write lots of things. The methods closest to a professional project or an open source one are probably the most productive model.

3) Why do such threads peter out when they do?

I'd say its a combination of people feeling excluded from the project, and that the interesting problems get solved. Building a proper setting is work.

4) Has anyone used material from such a thread in their own game?
How and what and how much?
Was it used as-is or substantially adapted?

Yes, I've run games in VUASO. I think I used it pretty much as is, with one major tweak that drove the plot.

5) I've ended up making a wiki for any of the threads I've run- does anyone actually refer to them?

Your Wiki's? I've looked at them. I have trouble navigating though, and getting what the core concept is.