All works must operate within the parameters of the pre-canon AFTG timeline. Our Timeline and Binder Details Doc can be found here as a reminder of the window of content you can work with!

The role of our Lore/Continuity Checkers is to vet contributor pitches for lore accuracy, but also what is feasible in terms of characterization (i.e. what content Neil would actually be collecting during this period) in addition to continuity (i.e. Neil cannot simultaneously be in Germany and Canada, Kevin and Riko can’t be interviewed for a magazine on the same date they’re playing a game, etc.). As a result, pitch approvals will be based not just on the pitch concept itself, but also on the construction of the binder as a cohesive canon-compliant singular work.

The mod team has created a resource of possible pitch ideas, which is available here. There are also examples of potential canon-compliant but not canon-mentioned ideas to help you brainstorm, as well.

The #classifieds channel is open for collaboration opportunities. If you’d like to work with another creator to craft your page(s), it’s a great place to discuss possibilities and find someone who can help bring your vision to life!

As a reminder, there is also a Google Drive folder full of inspo images and ideas!

Half-page word counts must be around the ballpark of 250-450 words, depending on text size. There are both minimum and maximum sizes for design purposes, so graphic designers may ask you to trim down or alter some portions of your text to make it fit within the printable page-size parameters.

Similar guidelines also apply to full-page pieces. A general estimate for an entire page of text is around 450-750 words, though this too will vary depending on font, text size, any additional visual details included on the page, etc.

Bear in mind that these are maximums, not requirements! You could create less and it would be welcomed with open arms.

All codes, secrets, and ciphers must be two files: one for the decipherable code, and one for the encrypted data.

You must include a key to solve your code. Your role as a codemaker is to craft a finished product that would feasibly be an encoded resource within Neil’s binder, but not everyone will have the roadmap to solving them in their head the way Neil does.

Mods must be able to test your code and crack it by Check-In #2.

As there is a vast array of possibilities for ephemera creation, there is no singular guideline or expectation for this type of piece. However, contributors should base their ephemera content around their desired page fulfillment (i.e. a full page of ephemera could be various novelty items, like fake bloodstains, margin doodles, a fake name disguised as a game of hangman, all compiled together). The ultimate goal should be to meet this requirement.

This category is an inherently broad and unique one, so any contributor’s given scraps of memorabilia, etc. can take many shapes and forms and sizes. Our general forecast for ephemera creators will still involve pitch submission and approval of all ideas, though it may be slightly different than other types of creation given the volume of ideas for smaller pieces.

Full pages must be set up at A4 size (210 mm by 297 mm / 8.268" x 11.693”), with 0.75" / 19.05 mm margins.

Half pages must be set up at half of a vertical A4 page (210 mm x 148.5 mm / 8.268" x 5.846"), with 0.75" / 19.05 mm margins on 3 sides, and 4.8 mm / 0.189" margins on the 4th side.

All text and important imagery must be kept inside these margins to account for anyone who may be 3-hole punching their papers (we do not want Kevin’s beautiful eyes or Riko’s terrible words to be lost to the void!)

Please ensure you have your documents set up at 300dpi with CMYK color mode. (As you create, you may want to periodically do a test print to make sure your colors/contrast will turn out alright in the final product.)

We have templates set up at these specifications in this folder.

Some fans may have black and white printers, while some may have color printers. It is up to your discretion if you would like to create your pieces/pages in color or B&W or both.

Text must be no smaller than ~8pt in height, as this is the absolute smallest for general readability when this size document is printed on both A4 and Letter-sized papers.

Stock images are permitted; however, they should not have any people/faces in clear focus. (We can go case by case on crowd shots and other images if contributors are not sure about specific photos.) This goes for any photos of your own that you use as well.