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I know this list might look long and scary, but if you follow the rules found in it your races will improve and they will have a better chance of actually making it into the game. I am going to lock this thread. If you want to post new rule suggestions, make comments, or post new race designing tools please do so in another thread.
*** *** BEFORE YOU POST *** ***
(Theme Issues)
a) Remember that this is a fantasy based game. This means that the themes that you use should be fantasy based. It might be okay to bend the rules a bit, but no modern nor sci-fi themes please (including robots, guns, lazers, etc).
b) Please don't suggest different types of historical humans as races. I suggest that you think Species = Race. Yes there are some races in the game that people claim are humans, but at this point all of them have been defined as different from being humans. Besides, even if they where, it still wouldn't justify putting another group of humans in the game.
c) Be sure that the average player is able to know who/what your race is with as little work on their part as possible and that your race doesn’t counter common held beliefs about your race. Making up your own race is fine, but if the average player still isn’t able to imagine one of them fighting a human knight then your racial them might be too unique for it’s own good.
d) Make sure your race has "pull". Another mistake made made when some initially started posting races, if people don't think you have a cool theme, your race will never get off the ground, no matter how good of a concept it has. The fungalings and halflings are perfect examples of races that, while they had cool concepts, had either a boring (or no) storyline, and were a pain to play. Make sure your race doesn't have either of these faults.
(Common Courtesy)
a) Respect other race creators by not reposting their race without their permission. On a related note, don’t top a race without their permission either. If a race creator is willing to let a race die, then you should respect that person’s wishes and let it die.
b) If a race creator isn’t willing to change his/her race based on your opinion, then at some point you should stop posting in that thread. Races on the board aren’t in the game so if a race has a really bad idea attached to it that the creator isn’t willing to change, then that race most likely won’t make it into game so it won’t matter.
c) Don’t try to create too many races too quickly. Also don’t be too quick to abandon a race just to start another race. Both of these annoy fellow posters and get them to not take your efforts seriously. In addition, don't start a new thread to post a new revision of a race. Instead repost it in the same thread. You might want to have the first post have the original version and edit it so that it has the latest version as well. That way the admins can quickly look at the race and see it's development.
d) Don’t just post a race idea and then nothing else. If you want to suggest a concept without making an actual race, please at least post some gameplay ideas that the race could have. Saying I want a Snow Elf race for example is all well and good, but unless you actually give some ideas on how it could be made, you're pretty much wasting your time. You'll get much more helpful and friendlier suggestions if you at least try to hammer out some basic ideas.
e) Minimize the number of non-whole numbers you have in unit attack power and defend power. It's okay to have one unit that has a .5 in it, but unless you are doing so for balance purposes, having alot of units with decimalized attack and defend power becomse annoying to others. Also remember that the unit prices can be adjusted between rounds for balance reasons so don't make those any fancier than need be. Traditionally all unit cost are divisable by 5.
(Posting the race)
a) Make sure everything is clear. Poor wording was a mistake many new race designers do when they first post races. If your wording is concise and specific, people will be much more likely to respect you and your race. You will get better feedback if people have a clearer understanding of your race.
b) Every race needs to have 6 units and a worker. Return times can't be above 18 hours and training times can't be above 12 hours. Buildings can only cost gold and lumber, gold only, or lumber only (no other resources are possible). Every race must have some way of getting spy power (and most likely mage power unless you are going to have that be a feature of the race).
c) Don't includes the race name or same word in every (or alot) of the troop names. While there are exceptions to this rule in the game, it still doesn't justify it happening again.
d) Try to do some preliminary balancing on your race before posting it. The best way to do this is to compare your race to existing races. Are your prices reasonable? If your unit is comparable to an existing unit, then use that unit's cost as a guide but realize that you might still need to adjust it.
e) Try and use a clear format when posting your race. Currently we don't have a race formatter so you will be required to format your race yourself. Be sure to put all section titles in bold to make them stand out. Put the troops in code. If you want you can always quote someone else's race, then copy and paste their coding into your new thread. That way you just need to edit your race and the coding is done for you. No mater how you format your race, remember to use the preview button liberally before you post.
f) Don't have your race do anything that specifically depends on another race. This includes attack bonuses. Because the races rotate, you can't be certain that the race that you want your race to hate will be there next round (or the round after). Besides, the admins have expressed negative opinions about such race specific bonuses.
g) You are able to rename and move any of the default buildings. Feel free to do so if you feel it will add to the flavor of the race, but don't overdo it. Also never rename Taverns. That's the only building that people have to look for in a hurry because it is the only one that directly effects defense. Yes, there have been exceptions to this rule as well, but future races shouldn't do this.
(After You Post)
a) Respond to feedback and listen to others. Most people respond to your race because either they see some potential for the race or because it is so bad that they want to mock it. If your race is the second, then listen to others so that you improve your race creation skills. If your race is the first, then listen so that you can improve your race and increase the chances it will actually get into the game.
b) Be willing to change parts of your race. Of course you shouldn’t change it willy-nilly, but a certain amount of flexibility is a must if you want to be successful.
c) Be sure to thank any people who create tools that help you create your races
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