8. Campaign Variants & Alternative Cohort Formats
These formats reuse the same quests, roles, encounters, and progression, but compress or reshape the timeline.
Format A: The Hyper Sprint (1-Day Intensive)
Use when:
- Conference-adjacent events
- Retreats / offsites
- Partner DAOs
- Onboarding bursts
- “Taste of RaidGuild” experiences
- High-energy, limited-time windows
Think: one-day dungeon crawl, not a marathon.
Goal of the Hyper Sprint
- Rapid immersion into RaidGuild culture
- Hands-on collaboration
- One concrete artifact by end of day
- Strong signal on who “gets it”
This is not about polish — it’s about activation.
Sample Hyper Sprint Schedule (6–8 hours)
Act I — Arrival & Alignment (1–1.5 hrs)
Encounter: Welcome to the Tavern
- Intros (fast, structured)
- What RaidGuild is (and isn’t)
- “Not a hackathon” framing
- Theme reveal
- Show 1–2 prior demos (short)
Output: shared context + energy
Act II — Divergence (1.5 hrs)
Encounter: Meme Driven Development
- Fast ideation
- Meme → pain → idea loops
- Breakout groups
- Idea wall / board
Output: many ideas, social bonding
Act III — Convergence & Party Formation (1 hr)
Encounter: Choose Your Quest
- Cluster ideas
- Vote / signal
- Form teams (2–4 people)
- Pick one scoped goal
Output: teams + clear objective
Act IV — Build Sprint (2–3 hrs)
Encounter: The Buildlands (Compressed)
- Heads-down building
- Mentors float between teams
- Hard scope constraints
- “What can you demo in 2 hours?”
Output: something that exists
Act V — Demo & Reflection (1 hr)
Encounter: The Arena
- 3–5 min demos per team
- Group reflection
- Callouts for standout contributors
- Explain progression paths (cohort grad, RIPs, etc.)
Output: shared accomplishment + next steps
Hyper Sprint Rewards (Loot)
- Hyper Sprint Graduate status (lightweight)
- Eligibility to join future cohorts
- Strong signal for mentorship / RIP invites
- Raider of the Day recognition
Think of this as a gateway drug to the full cohort.
Format B: One-Week In-Person Mini-Cohort
(Daily 1–2hr Sessions + Mentor Time)
Use when:
- Local chapters
- Coworking spaces
- City-based Guild meetups
- University programs
- Residency-style programs
This is a condensed campaign, social-first, relationship-heavy.
Sample 5-Day In-Person Flow
Day 1 — Arrival & Theme Immersion
Encounters:
- Introductions
- Guild overview
- Theme reveal
- Expectation setting
- Social bonding
Homework: light ideation
Day 2 — Ideation & Exploration
Encounters:
- Meme Driven Development
- Theme deep dive
- Lightning talks
- Creative workshops
Homework: bring one idea
Day 3 — Convergence & Team Formation
Encounters:
- Pitch ideas
- Team formation
- Scope definition
- Repo / tools setup
Homework: initial build or spec
Day 4 — Build + Mentor Sessions
Encounters:
- Heads-down build
- Scheduled mentor rotations
- Mid-day check-in
- Scope correction
Homework: demo prep
Day 5 — Demo Day & Reflection
Encounters:
- Live demos
- Feedback
- Recognition
- Next-step pathways (RIPs, cohorts, RAIDs)
Outcome: tight social bonds + real artifacts
Mini-Cohort Rewards
- Full Cohort Graduate status (if expectations met)
- Demo Day eligibility
- Mentor visibility
- Strong path into RIPs / RAIDs
- Raider of the Month eligibility
Key Design Principles Across All Formats
These are invariant — regardless of length:
- Not a hackathon
- Relationships > submissions
- Agency > assignments
- Shipping > perfection
- Culture is taught by participation
- Progression is earned, not granted
The format changes. The values do not.