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Reviews 236
RobertHartleyGM
Jan 17,2022I've been using World Anvil for years and barely scratched the surface of its functionality. Very good service for my notes as a DM.
Angantyr
Jan 15,2022Trustpilot - WA app I have been using World Anvil tools for over a year now, mainly to organise worldbuilding for writing. During that time, I dived into World Ember (one of the two larger annual challenges), which was a great opportunity to learn how useful it is for organising stuff. As a newbie, I climbed the learning curve, which was both scary and exciting. World Anvil gives many tools, even on the basic level, so it is easy to get overwhelmed at first. My first month was a marathon to write 10k words, so I started small and step-by-step. A couple of things are worth special attention. 1. Organising the world 1.1 Linking articles The biggest and the most specific feature of World Anvil is the easy article linking system. Whenever I wrote an article (e.g., a character) and had an idea on the fly (e.g., a city they come from, an object they carry, …), I would create a new stub article and use the linking system embed it in the original article. I could come back to it later and make a full-fledged article, add flair, etc.. whenever I find the time. There would be no need to cut the article into smaller pieces and reorganise them. The link would remain, tying everything together. 1.2 Article templates I started with Generic templates, which are just blank canvases, but 26 distinct templates with specialised prompts can guide me towards a better fleshed out article. Do I all of them? No. I mostly stick to 5-7. But I enjoy the fact that the other templates are there when I need them, at least once, e.g., a language, conflict. 2. Organising the writing With NaNoWriMo approaching in Nov 2021, I have decided to upgrade to Master and leverage the Manuscripts feature. In short, Manuscripts let me create a story, even a novel, with all the obvious perks of the BBCode, embedding images and linking worldbuilding related articles. The manuscripts kept the word count for each scene, chapter and book (again, I appreciate the catalogue-like structure), making it easy to keep track of the daily goal. The scenes and chapters can be moved around in the drag-and-drop style, but I have used it once or twice yet — it can become very handy during the revision and editing. 3. Multitude of features There is a massive ton of features (some available only to Guild Members, i.e., Journeyman and above), which made me feel stupid and uneasy at the beginning. It used to be a hindrance, especially whenever I felt down, but I got used to it after some time and now see it as a potential of unexplored land. Even being a Master and being able to manipulate CSS, add Secrets and use Manuscripts, I don’t think I am using its full potential. There is a learning curve to it, and I am getting there. I got a Journeyman account to access more storage space and a Master upgrade to gain the Manuscripts feature. I have not even scratched the surface of the: - Calendar, - Timeline, - Maps, - Family Trees and relations between characters… 4. Community 4.1 Kept me afloat during NaNoWriMo World Anvil is an incredible tool, but without the supporting Community (especially on the Discord) during challenges, write-ins and big events, I was more than once on the brink of burning out. The great spirit in the word-sprints channel during NaNoWriMo was what kept me afloat during the second half of the month when I was getting dead exhausted. Besides partnering with NaNo, World Anvil hosts two larger worldbuilding challenges (Summer Camp and World Ember) with additional Monthly Challenges and flash challenges. 4.2 Friendly and engaging atmosphere There is always a moment to engage in writing something new, find out what others have written, comment and post a link to the article for others to get an opinion. And again… opening to a group of strangers to read and comment on my work was scaringly intimidating at first. The friendly atmosphere and constructive critique helped me get past it, especially later on when I asked for it. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows — no place on the internet is. But it is undoubtedly one of the most heartwarming and encouraging places I’ve been. Interacting with fellow nerds is always fun and, more often than not, becomes an inspiration for a story or two.
Katherine
Jan 15,2022I migrated from Campfire Pro/Blaze recently in search of something that a) had a nicer UI, b) let me show certain parts publicly and c) let me create an interactive map. C was most important, and was probably where World Anvil won out, because the alternative was coding one myself and quite frankly I couldn't be bothered. World Anvil looks quite overwhelming to begin with, but that's because there's an awful lot of customisation wrapped up in a UI that's still very usable. So far I've only spent a week working my way around it, and there are some areas that I'd definitely like to see improvements in, but I like the experience overall. Interactive maps are great. I so far only use this for lore to accompany my book series, but I'll definitely use it for D&D the next time I DM anything. It's fairly easy to create markers and I like the fact you can make polygons and have groups/layers. The main improvements I'd like to see here are a) it not reloading the page when you create a new marker, b) be able to save some default marker styles that you can just select from a dropdown to save typing the same thing each time and c) making it easier to edit shaped markers once you put them down. I'd like to be able to see individual points on the path (or the centre of a circle) like you can in other programmes and drag to move them rather than editing the coordinates or starting from scratch. I really like the content trees, especially as you can just use text rather than linking to an article (Campfire didn't have this when I last tried, and it was very frustrating). I would like it if you could have elements with multiple parents as well as multiple children, but it's pretty neat as it is. The articles are straightforward as well, though it took a little fiddling until I worked out how to make them fully public (you click on the red light to publish them, but you have to switch them from private to public as well – if you're looking at your list of articles, it isn't click at a glance which are private, and showing the locked/unlocked symbol next to the red light could resolve this). That's all I've really explored so far, and I've only been looking for about a week! It looks to be one of those things where you can get as deep into the rabbit hole as you like. I'm sure I'll end up customising my CSS a lot more further down the line. And there's a pretty active community on the Discord server to help out when you get stuck.
Josh
Jan 10,2022Organization and motivation. As a free program World Anvil is one of the best. With continued discounts no memberships it offers tools I didn't know I needed. I have saved huge amounts of writing and brainstorming time by using this program. It's all a writer or daydreamer could ever want. Great for fun, DnD or serious writers alike.
Fanatical Customer
Jan 10,2022I had meant to start a world wiki for a long, long time, and I tried on another platform, but failed because of the less helpful format. I found WorldAnvil at the end of 2020 and logged 25k words in world articles in the first month. The platform is so much more useful than the others I'd tried for tracking and linking, and the article types and prompts are helpful for getting started. Feature overload is a danger, as it's possible to feel overwhelmed with the options, but you don't need to start with or even to ever use everything. The community is also an unexpected bonus. I thought I was signing up for a software platform, but I got weekly chats, community challenges, and a truckload of moral support and enthusiasm.
Donovan Malley
Jan 09,2022I've been using WorldAnvil for a few years now (late 2017/early 2018?). I'd been looking for some way to store and display my writing online, accessible from everywhere, that wouldn't cost me the proverbial appendages. What I found went far beyond my expectations. What WorldAnvil has developed into has gone beyond my wildest dreams. WorldAnvil has so many tools and platforms for writers, gamemasters, RPG players, and game mapmakers. It's more than just a document creator, a gallery, or online portfolio. No longer do I have to juggle a dozen different pieces of software or websites to create. It's powerful and easy to learn--any questions I have are covered in a number of codex articles, but the WYSIWYG editor makes it very easy. I can create and link templates, maps, timelines, calendars, manuscripts, random generators, and characters all in one place. It's organized my work like never before. The site gives me complete control over my content, access, and even monetization of my work if I so choose. It's more than a toolbox. WA is a content development system. Unlike other software and sites that I visited, the creators make many features of WorldAnvil accessible for free. Obtaining a subscription to gain more worlds, features, options and storage space costs less than a Spotify subscription. Much, much less than a MS Office 365 or Netflix subscription. And I don't have to worry about Google documents, which can be blocked, locked or insecure. But beyond functionality, WorldAnvil is more than the amazing software and tools it offers. WorldAnvil is what it is because of the people who created, develop, and operate it. The creators and developers of WorldAnvil are passionate about their own product. They aren't creating something most other websites and software companies would make only to sell off to some faceless corporation. They want to empower their users to utilize World Anvil, create useful content, and have fun doing it. They make and develop something they use themselves. The community is so positive and encouraging. If I have any questions at all, the community's Discord is supportive and knowledgeable. Events like WorldEmber, Twitch streams, YouTube tutorials, themed challenges, and writing prompts keep users engaged. And getting ideas or help is quick and easy. I'm in awe of the creativity that flows from the community's works; I've learned a lot from them. Any correspondence I've had with the creator/developers has been addressed in less than 24 hours to my complete satisfaction. They actively listen to the users' requests and suggestions. I am constantly astonished how they actively develop and improve the site. Unlike most other apps and sites, they don't stagnate into complacency. If it weren't for WorldAnvil, I don't know how I would have made it through these last couple of years. I'm using their manuscript functions and hope publish, thanks to this site.
Drake Ragon
Jan 09,2022If you are anything like me, you might not need a lot of information to like something. So let me give you a short summary. Worldanvil might very well have saved a future writing career. And what is left of my sanity. Since using Worldanvil (as of early 2019) I have: - met tons of awesome people - been part of a highly creative and positive, constructive community - have seen a multitude of good or even great content, ideas and worlds to explore and get lost in. (Even though I have not much time for actually reading others works, I do so whenever something just catches me) - met two of the most genuine good hearted people, the founders of world anvil But what does this mean for me? What could it mean for you? - After I tried to build something like Worldanvil myself, I decided, that it was easier to pay people who know, what they are doing. This way, I have more time to actually be creative. - I build my main world with roughly 150 000 words in about 2 years. - My first draft of a novel is as of now 450 pages strong - Multiple other short stories and even other worlds got out of my mind and onto “paper”, thus creating new room for creative ideas to form - I was part of multiple challenges, NaNoWriMo’s as well as writing sprints - I learned basic CSS to give my world a little more depth - Furthermore I started to study creative writing But how is this possible you might ask, and what has all this to do with Worldanvil? - The core concept of Worldanvil is, that you can use it however you like - It’s a toolbox designed to save time, stay focused, stay organized and be engaged in creativity and your world. - Learning a new tool can be hard, and let me tell you, yes you have to put in a little effort. But with all the tutorials, discord channels, QA streams and other Worldbuilder there to help, it is not that hard. - I now have enough time to be creative, even if I have to work 8h shifts and make time for my studies. - The challenges are a fun way to expand your world - If you feel overwhelmed, uncreative or just unsure about a thing, ask for ideas and help on stream or discord, read the work of others or enjoy some of the Worldanvil users streaming their creative work. Okay and how do they do this? - By interacting and listening to their community as closely as possible - As author / GM and player themselves they do know what you need and why - They have an outstanding team behind them that lives the philosophy of WA just as the founders do. - Being open to suggestions, being as transparent as possible and trying to give each member as much as they can and exactly what they need.
Kristy P
Jan 08,2022World Anvil is a fantastic worldbuilding platform geared for writers and rpg-ers alike. It's a fantastic toolkit that's continually expanding. Any issues I've had were dealt with fairly quickly. The developers clearly take a lot of pride in putting out an excellent product. On top of this, the community they encourage around World Anvil is absolutely lovely, full of supportive and creative people. There are so many ways to get involved. And if that's not your thing, then you still have a great platform with good privacy settings to keep your worlds your own.
Isabelle G
Jan 07,2022One of my favorite parts about WorldAnvil, by far, is the community. Not only do the proprietors of the website provide a discord, but they provide one which is moderated heavily. I feel safe to express my opinions as well as comfortable sharing my work because I know everyone is nothing but positive. The feedback feels one on one; I never feel too far from the devs even if I don’t get a direct response. The community votes for future systems are amazing as it takes into account the majority wants. Overall, the website caters to those seeking to gain a personal and fulfilling fantasy or general writing experience!
R Lubert
Jan 06,2022I think it is great that there is a site like this out there to keep one's worldbuilding organized, and stored as well, so that if by chance one has a computer crash (and I have had several in my life) one doesn't lose anything that one fails to back up on their own device (I mean I do back things up but not as often as I should). I like the idea that there are articles and guides to help one not leave big gaps in one's development of their world, which I have done in the past only to realize later there were things that were unexplained or illogical that weakened the overall integrity of the world in question. I have just started with World Anvil but I have very high hopes, especially as I get older and have trouble remembering minor details that might have a major effect if I can't find them (up until now by rifling through notes and sometimes my writing was stopped for days while I tried to figure out "the last time this character was used, what happened.") All in all, I wish I had this years ago when I first began writing and worldbuilding.
Linda McClellan
Jan 05,2022TL;DR Needed a great tool and found one with an excellent Discord server. Tutorials and the creators answer emails personally. Extended Review I've been writing for the past few months and looking for a database to keep track of the cast of characters, places, and historical dates I've created for my manuscript. Last week, I came upon a podcast featuring Janet and Dimitrius discussing World Anvil and how it can be used not just by the RPG community but writers as well. I went to check it out and was impressed with the amount of information available for using this system. I'm not one for patience when it comes to the "computer stuff," All I've used for keeping my stories organized are old-fashioned notebooks. However, this gives me the option of quick access to information I need without digging. At first, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options at my disposal. Thankfully, there are video tutorials, the codex, and their excellent Discord server. After popping over to the server and having a few lively conversations with the folks there, I realized I had found my home. I've been looking for a great place to bounce my ideas, and I found it.
Customer
Jan 04,2022World Anvil helps me world build and is easy to navigate. This site is a gift!
Town
Jan 04,2022World Anvil is an up and coming service that is a great tool for worldbuilders. It is constantly being updated by a great team of passionate developers who have a great customer service on top of that.
Robert von Garrett
Jan 02,2022World Anvil is an invulnerable tool for writers and GMs. There is no better way to organise all your world building notes.
Athena Thompson
Dec 30,2021Honestly, the best site I have found for writing my stories. The WA team is super helpful (even around the holidays), and all the features I use work fantastically. Although it is more geared toward RPG's like Dungeons & Dragons, authors can also use it and have plenty of features to choose from, including the creation of manuscripts, articles to organize all the things in your world, and the ability to search your world articles while working in your manuscript! The only compliant that I have would be that some of the features can be confusing (exporting your world, for example), but those features are ones that I haven't used before so it may be more of user errors on that!
Mat Vaudry
Dec 26,2021World Anvil is a tool that exceeds its own possibilities. It's able to organize my thoughts and creations in a way I didn't know I needed. When I started writing content a word document wasn't enough, it didn't matter how I organized it. With the tools they give you through their online service the things you could do are literally endless. I cannot even conceive of a way to continue creating without using this tool, it makes life that easy and even helps give way to new ideas and possibilities. Ps. Customer service and support is some of the best I've ever seen.
Κοσμάς Ιωαννίδης
Dec 26,2021I started using WA to host notes for my RPG setting. Needless to say that this by far the most well established and potent tool to assist anyone in detailing their world setting. But I soon realised that there was more to this than that. If you are a writer you will find notekeeping, indexing and organising your work a piece of cake. Not only that, but you can also have quick access, reference and edit on anything you want. The customisation offered is unparalleled. You can tailor the page and your notes to your needs. You can do anything from placing maps, to sharing things with people so you can get feedback and improve your style, page and information included. I know that the people at World Anvil have created something amazing and are offering all of us out there an amazing place to harbour and expand on all our creativity and ideas. I can only hope anyone reading this will give it a try yourselves.
Caroline Christiansen
Dec 23,2021World anvil is a huge help for me as a writer, and I’ve been using the tool since I found it back in 2018 and since then I’ve been so grateful that I found the site in the first place. It was already a good tool back in the day, but since then the creators have added a bunch of new useful features. World anvil also actively encourages their community to interact with each other, which makes everything even better as you can get feedback on your things and gain friendships through mutually shared hobbies
Toby W
Dec 22,2021Excellent site, I've used the platform for years with constant feature updates and a extremely welcoming community.
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http://worldanvil.com
Josh Leong
Jan 17,2022When it comes to world building and story telling the devil is in the details and by golly world anvil helps when trying to remember the information you wrote up at 2 am. Gone are the days of trying to find the one thing you wrote on Fire Giant lore and how it applies to the current day of the game you are running (or the novel you are writing). It is clear that World Anvil care about creative folks with the tool they are building to help us create. It is probably because they ARE creative folks who wanted these tools for there own awesome creativity. I can’t recommend World Anvil enough.