Wanted: Grogs
It's time for another Ars Magica Open Call. If you are interested in writing for the game, this is your chance to start. Most of the current authors were recruited through past Open Calls.
If you are interested in participating, please read these instructions carefully. If the first thing you demonstrate to me is that you can't follow instructions, I am unlikely to want to work with you in the future. We will pay for accepted submissions, based on 2.75 cents/word.
Good luck!
David Chart, Ars Magica Line Editor
Submission Contents
I am interested in seeing developed backgrounds for types of grog, taken broadly to mean any covenant staff who are not companions or magi. I am not looking for stats and background for particular grog characters. This isn't a book of characters, rather, it's of backgrounds for the sorts of people who might become grogs: outlaws, heretical scholars, academically or martially inclined women, and so on. Your submission should consist of the following sections, with the indicated titles:
•	General Background. Who are these people, what did they do before joining the covenant, and why would they want to join? (Do not neglect that last question; joining a covenant means leaving normal society, so they need a good reason.) Are they likely to join as individuals, or do they come as a set? This should be the longest section, providing information on how to play the characters.
•	Character Creation. Suggested Virtues, Flaws, and Abilities. This section must include at least one new Minor General or Supernatural Flaw; something that characters can take without loading themselves with Personality Flaws. Two or three new Flaws would be ideal, if you can think of them. Make sure that it really is a General Flaw, not a Story Flaw or Personality Flaw; something with a game-mechanical effect, not simply role-playing impact. You should also include representative sets of Abilities for grogs of two or three appropriate ages, so that players can generate grogs quickly. arStory Potential. Story hooks, around the length of the ones in most Ars Magica books, arising from grogs with this sort of background. Include at least one arising from recruiting them, and one arising after they are recruited. These stories should be for the magi and companions, rather than centering on the grogs themselves. Beyond the minimum, you may include a hook for an all-grog story.
•	For Companions. This is optional, but if there are obvious Major or Story Virtues or Flaws for characters from this background, you may detail them here. New General or Supernatural Major Flaws are particularly welcome. This should be a short section, no more than a couple of Virtues or Flaws, of normal sort of length.
Your submission should be at least 1,000 words, and up to 2,500 words.
The background may be entirely mundane, have some supernatural elements, or be completely supernatural. Completely supernatural grog backgrounds may rely on the rules in Realms of Power: Magic or Realms of Power: Faerie, but I am unlikely to include more than a couple of sections that require each book. You may include new Supernatural Virtues to make your section stand alone. I will want a mix of all the background types in the final book.
Notes on Strategy
The first thing to be aware of is that I am not normally flooded with submissions for Open Calls. This has two implications. First, you might as well submit if you have an idea; you won't be lost in the masses.
The second is that you can do obvious ideas. I do want the book to include the obvious ideas, because readers would expect them to be handled. You should do some research, to make sure you have the background right, but outlaws, heretics, and pirates are all types of grog that should appear. Thus, they are worth submitting.
Of course, I also want to see less-standard ideas, things that will lead players in directions they wouldn't have thought of by themselves. This means that a good strategy might be to make two or more submissions, including an obvious option and a less obvious one. You may submit as many different backgrounds as you like, and I am willing to take more than one from one person.
Procedure
The first thing to do is to send a Product Release Form to Atlas. (The form is the last page of this file.) This is essential; you must not send your submission before you send the form. However, one form will cover all of your submissions.
You may send the form by physical mail, fax, or as a scanned image attached to an email. We must, however, be able to see your signature, so you can't do it entirely electronically.
Postal Address: Atlas Games, 885 Pierce Butler Rt. St. Paul, MN 55104
Fax: ﻿651-638-0084
Email: info@atlas-games.com (Cc to arsmagica@davidchart.com)
Once we have acknowledged your Product Release Form, you can send me your submission whenever you want. For the initial submission, there is no particular format required; I can read most file types (in particular, I can read docx). However, it's best not to try to be fancy. I want to be impressed by the words, not the obscure font you found that renders as nothing but square boxes. Make sure that your submission file includes your name and email address.
Send the file by email, to arsmagica@davidchart.com, and call the email Grog Submission: [Type], replacing [Type] with a one or two word summary of your grogs. Call the file Grogs [Type] [Your Name], replacing [Your Name] with your name. You can use hyphens or underscores instead of spaces; the precise format of the filename doesn't matter.
You should submit something that you think is ready for publication. It will, of course, be playtested and edited, but it must be completely finished.
Deadline
The deadline for submissions arriving in my inbox is 28th September 2009. This instruction is really important.

Atlas Games Product Release Form 
I (we), the undersigned, wish to submit to Trident, Inc., d/b/a Atlas Games (hereinafter referred to as "Atlas Games") for review for possible publication the game or game product, entitled: 
Grog Book Submission
* I (we) submit my (our) material voluntarily for consideration and review by Atlas Games, subject to all the conditions below. I (we) further understand that accepting this idea or material does not establish or create any relationship between Atlas Games and myself (ourselves) not expressed herein. 
* I (we) understand that acceptance of this submission for review by Atlas Games does not create or imply any financial or other obligation on the part of Atlas Games. I (we) further understand that your agreement to review my (our) submission in no way restricts Atlas Games from publishing projects of its own on similar or the same topics in whole or part. 
* I (we) agree that Atlas Games may have a reasonable amount of time in which to examine my (our) submission. Atlas Games agrees that it will return my (our) submission to me (us) provided it has been sent to Atlas Games with a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage (or International Reply Coupons) included. However, Atlas Games shall not be held responsible for submissions which are accidentally lost or damaged. (Always keep a good copy of your submission for your records.) 
* I (we) warrant that I (we) am (are) the sole and exclusive owner(s) of this submission or the author's duly authorized agent. I warrant that said submission (check one) o has not been previously published/ o has been previously published (provide details on attached sheet(s)). I (we) further warrant that said submission does not violate the rights of any third party, and that I (we) have complete right and authority to offer this submission for sale to Atlas Games. I (we) assume all responsibility should the acceptance or publication of this submission result in charges of copyright or trademark violation, and will bear all costs of any necessary legal defense. 
* I (we) understand that the terms of this agreement cannot be modified except by a duly authorized employee or representative of Atlas Games, and then only in writing. 
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Designer or duly authorized agent/Date 
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Designer or duly authorized agent/Date 
If author is under the age of 18, author's guardian must sign as authorized agent. Please include a signed copy with each submission, and retain a copy for your reference. 

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