Creating a scheme
From Worms Knowledge Base
Creating a scheme is a process that is not necessarily as simple as editing the ammo, the power or the delay of some weapons of an existing scheme file. Some schemes may take years to be developed (they are not simply a file), requiring special maps, several testings including different players to avoid problems or to balance the scheme.
A scheme can be published or not. When published, sometimes only the upload will not necessarily make it get noticed by people and if it is not explained well enough, people may not understand it and lose interest or play it wrongly. That's why usually a good description (like a real life board game manual), with the rules (if needed), game setup, and details is part of the scheme making process.
If the intention is to make the scheme noticed, known and played by many players, some effort to "advertise" it or at least host it several times on WormNET, or organize competitive events like tournaments or cups may help. Creating videos, GIFs, icons and banners for a scheme is something that many scheme creators do.
There is etiquette regarding scheme creation. Check Etiquette for creativity: avoiding plagiarism and citing influences.
Few schemes become widely played on WormNET. This happens due to several reasons. Put in mind that it's common to players dislike or just don't feel interested on new schemes. Some might have negative behaviour regarding your effort creating and showing a new scheme. So, it can be frustating. Be prepared for these possibilities.
Contents
The idea
Everything starts with an idea. A scheme can start with inspiration on other sports, games, movies, etc. what is called adaptations. It can start as a small edit on a scheme file, to change something that could be different, changing the gameplay experience. Many original schemes are actually a mixture of two or more schemes. Many schemes are developed to explore one or more specific features of the game. There are schemes that were created to train for other schemes, or to train a specific weapon or trick. It's all about the players imagination!
The scheme file
The scheme file can be created using WA itself or an external scheme editor.
WA updates and features
The map
Creating a special map
Testing
Balancement
The rules
The description (manual)
Game setup
Rules explanation
History
The icon
Many schemes of the past still don't have an icon, and the icon may be considered unnecessary. However Worm Olympics medals were often designed with a small image representing the scheme being played. Possibly other websites had images to represent schemes before WO. The Ultimate Site probably was the first to systematize this. When submmiting a scheme, a player can upload a scheme icon to be displayed along with the scheme page.
So, creating an icon is optional, but it helps to attract the attention of other players to it. It shows that the scheme had some effort, some artistic feeling and that the idea really deserves to be noticed. Also, the cliché needs to be said: "One image worths more than 1000 words". With a simple look at the image, a player may understand the whole idea of the scheme, or a big portion of it.
The GIF
The GIF is something that few scheme makers put an effort to make. It can be the scheme icon (animated), a banner introducing the concept, like an advertisement, or just gameplay moments to show clearly how the scheme is played in practice.
Notable examples of GIFs made specifically for schemes are the ones from Drive for Weapons and Supermarket Shopper.
The icon of Drive for Weapons for example was handmade, being in total 20 frames, which weren't an ideal number, because with more frames the animation could be more fluid. Some elements were taken and edited from the internet, though.
A recommended program for beginners or even experienced gif makers is the website ezgif. Although, many advanced GIF makers recommend a program called FFmpeg.
The Video
Publishing
Reception
Updates to the scheme
See also
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