What is the IF Advent Calendar?
The IF Advent Calendar is a collaboratively written collection of works of Interactive Fiction based on a theme. Each day in December another piece of the calendar will unlock. These pieces will generally be short rooms or puzzles that can be completed in a single sitting, much like the bite-sized piece of chocolate that came in the advent calendars of my youth.
What is the theme?
As 2019 is the 20-year anniversary of the release of Planescape: Torment, and as Planescape: Torment is set in the City of Doors, it just made sense that this calendar of doors would pay tribute to this classic of narrative-driven gaming.
Do I need to know anything about the Planescape setting to participate?
Knowing about Planescape and having played the game is helpful, but this is a thematic tribute to the game, and so you can feel both free and encouraged to break with the traditions and conventions of the Planescape setting. Feel inspired by the patchwork of cultural influences that inspired Sigil, and feel encouraged to send your players to the elemental planes. Alien astrology and alchemy would be most welcome, as would strange clockwork planets, deserts of shattered time, or endless labyrinths.
Can you point me to some existing IF games as examples?
As already mentioned, Planescape: Torment is a great place to start, but if you are looking for more indirect inspiration, consider Andrew Plotkin’s The Dreamhold, Inkle’s 80 Days, Failbetter’s Fallen London or Joey Jones and Melvin Rangasamy’s Sub Rosa
What format will the rooms be in?
Any format of interactive fiction is allowed, so long as it is playable online. Rooms might be written in Inform or Twine or a custom, homebrew system—anything works, so long as it can be played in a modern browser.
I’m interested in creating a room for this—how can I participate?
Please fill out this form, and then get started building your work. We will check in with you every two weeks to see how things are going. The rooms must be finished by November 12th in order to be included in this year’s calendar.
I’m not interested in building a room, but I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else builds.
Then check back in on December 1st. The calendar will be hosted on this site, and will update daily. After the calendar is completed, it will be archived, but will still be readily accessible—no need to interrupt the holiday celebrations to finish off the calendar.