Thanks for your interest in writing for Super Samurai Magazine! As a startup magazine based around a niche market (superhero gamers) within a niche market (d20)… within a niche market (Superlink)… it’s very exciting to look for a close group of writers interested in contributing their creativity to the masses of fans of the “greatest superhero RPG of all time” that is Mutants & Masterminds and their M&M Superlink OGL rule ssytem.

Query Submission

Feel free to submit as many queries as you wish. Keep in mind though that Super Samurai Magazine will likely be printed up to 6 times a year and takes author versatility as a high priority. I will respond to every query I recieve within 30 days. If I do not get back to you in this time please contact me again as there is a chance your query may have been misplaced.

The following list details the query submission guidelines:

1. Writers with knowledge or high interest in any, or all, of the following are preferred: Mutants & Masterminds, M&M Superlink, OGL, all superhero genres, roleplaying games, comics, action roleplaying, geek culture, superhero lore, etc.
2. Submit a “Query” email summarizing your idea. The Subject Line of your email needs to say “Query for Super Samurai Magazine” so that it can be properly filed and responded to.
3. The Query shouldn’t be longer than 100 words. A max of 250 words is alright but be thorough, NOT SUGGESTIVE. This is the pitch that gets you moving on to the next stage, so be concise and be obvious about the goals of your tale.
4. You need to include the following information in you Query email:
   • Full Name
   • Type of Project Proposed (article, supers, rules, mooks, etc)
   • Projected Word Count
   • Pay Rate ($/word)
   • Curriculum Vitae (link to website or let me know through the contact form that you’ll send one once I reply)
   • Send a Query Now!
5. If you include material from a M&M Superlink, d20 or any OGL source, please include a reference to the product in your query letter.
6. Once your Query is approved, a contract is drafted which is presented and agreed upon by both parties. There will be an agreed on date for the delivery schedule of the First Draft, Second Draft, and Final Draft.

What Super Samurai is Looking For

• Article Alley: Articles about the superhero genre, be it gaming helpers, inspirational essays, historical studies, setting wrappers, etc
• Iconic Interview: If you can interview someone in the superhero RPG field or the comics industry, pitch the name and why they are important to comics and superhero RPGs.
• Supers Spotlight: Suggest a handful of thematically tied heroes or villains. This needs to be more than just a mechanics writeup, add sections on Personality, Background, Current Sketch, Adventure Ideas, etc.
• Mooks Menagerie: Groups and organizations with multiple mook options offered for use in any Superlink game; these need to be fleshed out significantly, not just stat blocks.
• Potential Powers: New power constructions, devices and equipment, headquarter examples, etc. These need to be well described and have significant details to stand apart from a “crunch build”.
• Epic Events: This topic will require company co-ordination and contractual agreements. If you can not arrange for these possibilities, don’t waste your time with awesome creative ideas neither of us can legally print–you will make baby Jesus cry.
• Masterminding Mayhem: Game rules alternatives, builds, additions, modifications, etc. There should be descriptions that detail the benefits of these additional rules. Also, make sure that the set of rules hasn’t already seen print in well known Superlink products.
• Adventures Abound: Short adventure or adventure seeds tied to a theme. These should follow the standards of current Superlink adventure guidelines.
• Comics Corner: If you are a comic strip creator and have a supers-inspired theme, pitch it for inclusion in the comics section.
• Upcoming Products: If you are a publisher releasing a Superlink product, send me details for your product so that it is added to the release list. This is not the advertising area, this is a FREE opportunity for publishers.
• Fanbase Feedback: If you are a fan, and can take a second to review the magaine and it’s content, then please send me feedback to include in a fan letters page similar to those in old comic books.

What Super Samurai Isn’t Looking For

Super Samurai Magazine is not licensed to release material that is considered Product Identity by other Superlink companies (or any OGL companies for that matter). Material that breeches the PI of other companies will be discarded. If there are any concerns, make yourself clear in the query submission!

Technical Specifications

The following list below details the format requirements of the submission:

1. Authors will be given credit for any published works, make sure you provide the FULL NAME you wish to be credited as.
2. Submissions can come from anywhere in the world but should conform to US-English standards.
3. Manuscripts should be in Times New Roman font, size 12, double spaced.
4. All submissions should be sent electronically in a Word Doc format (other formats are possible but please contact the editor for approval).
5. Submissions should fall between 1,000 and 2,500 words; more or less needs to be approved by the editor.
6. Game Mechanics writeups can be sent in as the M&M standard BUT Super Samurai will be experimenting with the presentation of this information which will be evident after the first issue.

Payments and Rights

Once independent work is paid for, it is owned solely by XEI Publishing. This gives XEI Publishing and Super Samurai full publishing rights to your work.

If conditions are set at the contract stage between XEI Publishing and other OGL Publishers submitting Product Identity (PI) material for Super Samurai Magazine, all rights to the PI property is owned by the parent company. Rights to print this PI property is on a “per issue” basis as agreed upon by both parties and proper designation will be printed within Super Samurai’s OGL Credits.

Contact me!