Purpose
This discussion is mainly about: “Should a World-Building section be made?” Any discussions appearing in this thread whose topic is not involving or answering the proposed question is “off-topic” and should not be entertained. When it comes to making “suggestions” for Guild Features, I could have posted this exact same topic in the Suggestions section, but seeing as it is role play-related and will require tons of feedback from players whether positive or negative, the RP Discussion forum seemed like a better place. In the end, if this idea is well-received, then I will post a link to this thread in the Suggestions section so the Moderators will be able to have the positive results for reference. If this idea is not well-received, then it just fades into the black.
Update: The "unofficial" world-building section has been the "Test Forum." Current discussion is now having the Test Forum renamed and its description rewritten to include RP as well as categorizing it properly in a Roleplaying section so as not to mislead players. The section can also have the Character Sheets section moved with it into its proper category. Seeing as Character Sheets is not "Off-Topic." While, moving Character Sheets isn't the main discussion, the concern for having a simpler layout was brought up on numerous occasions. Merging it would simplify the sleek layout of the site even more while also making its organization more sensible. But again, the main discussion is the World-Building Section needing to become a thing. A legitimate and actual thing.
The Idea
So I asked about a World-Building section because for those of us who like building exactly that—worlds. It often requires time, patience, inspiration, and having a “canvas” ie. a blank thread or document where you can just design all of the pages, lore, maps, etc. that you would want to put in your game and basically, being able to design your game right there in the thread before you post it up. You could even design it with other players such as your co-GMs. Share the work.
I have mostly been using a Character Thread, which I would like to strictly use for my characters, but seeing how there isn’t a place for me to post up my world-building elements that has been the only place where I could post those ideas. So rather than clutter your character thread with world-building lore, maps, graphics, etc. Why not just have a World-Building section added to the Guild? They exist on other sites I role play on and they are constantly in use. People always have ideas and creative/artistic minds will always exist.
For one of the games I GM, I have a bestiary for all of the creatures that my players create. My players create very detailed descriptions for the different beasts found in the world. Rather than create a “Character Thread” for beasts, lore, maps, worlds, etc. This thread would go into the World-Building section and linked to my game for reference and I won’t have to worry about cluttering the Character Submission section with World-Building elements when it is specifically designed for character sheets. Instead, I can put the bestiary in the World-Building section because the bestiary is apart of my game’s lore.
Update: There was consideration for renaming the Test Forum to "World-Building" to encompass all overall ideas. If you have lore or multiple threads to post for your game spanning different sections, you should be able to do so without having to worry about clutter since that is the purpose of the section versus any other purpose.
Feedback
Feel free to offer your thoughts on this. If this thread turns into an all-out flame war because of the immature players we have on this site, then I will ask the Moderators to step in and handle the violators. Let’s keep this thread clean, full of open ideas, and intelligent discussion without anyone getting “offended,” argumentative, or upset. I know that we can do this. It’s not hard. Just offer your opinion.
Update: Example design was removed for the renaming of the Test Forum was an easier and much-better idea versus creating an entire new section.