Scp Foundation Guide: Lore, Classes, And Writing

The SCP Foundation is a collaborative online writing project centered on a secret global organization tasked with capturing, studying, and containing anomalous entities, objects, and phenomena that defy natural law. Operating behind a veil of absolute secrecy, this fictional agency exists to protect humanity from cosmic horrors and extradimensional anomalies that threaten ordinary life. Far from being a single novel or movie, the project functions as an open-source fictional universe built by thousands of contributors over more than a decade.

Understanding this expansive universe requires looking past simple ghost stories. The project relies on a distinct clinical reporting style, rigid containment classifications, and complex internal politics between rival factions. Readers often stumble onto the project through viral horror shorts or video games, but they stay for the sheer depth of user-generated lore found on the SCP Wiki. This guide breaks down how the database works, how objects are categorized, and how anyone can start writing within the canon.

The Core Structure of the Database

Every article on the main wiki mimics a sterile government or corporate technical file. Instead of traditional narrative storytelling, creators use incident logs, audio transcripts, security memos, and dry scientific descriptions to build tension. This clinical detachment creates a jarring contrast against the terrifying nature of the anomalies being described.

The Motto: Secure, Contain, Protect

The operational philosophy of the organization rests on three pillars:

• Secure: Agents track, capture, and seize control of anomalies before civilian populations notice them.
• Contain: Objects, entities, and locations move to heavily fortified subterranean facilities to prevent public exposure or catastrophic breach.
• Protect: Researchers study anomalies to understand physical laws, shielding humanity from existential threats while safeguarding the anomalies themselves when necessary.

Object Classifications

Not all anomalies pose the same level of risk or require the same security protocols. The system uses primary object classes to indicate how difficult an anomaly is to keep locked down:

• Safe: Anomalies that are fully understood and easy to contain reliably. A safe designation doesn't mean harmless; it means the containment box won't break unless someone interferes.
• Euclid: Anomalies that require more resources because their behavior isn't entirely predictable, or because containment isn't foolproof. Most sentient entities fall into this category.
• Keter: Highly dangerous anomalies that actively try to escape, cause mass destruction, or defy reliable containment methods. Keeping them secure demands constant effort and massive resources.
• Thaumiel: Rare, highly classified assets that the organization uses to contain other anomalies.

Inside the Organization: Personnel and Facilities

The agency operates an expansive global network of subterranean containment sites, research laboratories, and administrative outposts. Because secrecy is paramount, personnel clearance levels dictate who accesses what information.

Clearance Levels and Classes

Staff members carry security clearances ranging from Level 1 for basic administrative work to Level 4 and 5 for senior directors. Alongside clearances, human resources fall into specific personnel classes:

• Class A: Essential administrative and strategic leadership personnel who cannot be risked during containment breaches.
• Class B: Local site staff who have access to moderate-level classified data pertinent to their specific facility.
• Class C: Researchers, security officers, and medical personnel who work directly with active anomalies. They undergo regular psychological screening and memory-winking amnestic treatments when necessary.
• Class D: Expendable personnel recruited from prisons worldwide. They handle direct, high-risk physical interactions with dangerous anomalies to preserve valuable scientific and security staff.

Common Misconceptions About the Universe

Newcomers often misunderstand how the project operates, leading to common points of confusion.

• There is no single canon: The wiki operates on a "there is no canon" policy. If two articles contradict each other, both are valid within their respective story arcs. Readers pick and choose which tales or author hubs fit their preferred version of the universe.
• It isn't a single book or franchise: No single corporation owns the intellectual property. Content is released under a Creative Commons license, which allows derivative works, independent video games, and short films to flourish.
• It's not just monsters: While classic creature features exist, many entries involve abstract concepts, strange geometry, temporal anomalies, cursed everyday items, or hostile digital code.

How to Start Contributing Your Own Articles

Writing for the community requires matching the precise, objective tone of a technical manual. Emotional language or dramatic prose inside an official file draft will cause negative ratings from the community critique forums.

1. Read extensively: Review dozens of top-rated articles from both the early eras and recent series to absorb the required formatting, pacing, and tone.
2. Draft on the sandbox: Use the community sandbox wiki to build your rough draft and gather feedback from veteran site critics before posting publicly to the main site.
3. Focus on originality: Avoid relying on generic horror tropes like standard zombies or simple slasher villains. The best entries introduce a unique conceptual hook that forces the reader to rethink everyday reality.
4. Engage the community: Participate in site forums, critique other authors' drafts, and learn how to handle constructive criticism without taking downvotes personally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does SCP stand for?

The acronym officially stands for the agency's core motto: Secure, Contain, Protect. In-universe, it also refers to the Special Containment Procedures applied to every cataloged anomaly.

Are there official movies or video games?

While major Hollywood studios haven't produced an official blockbuster, the community has inspired massive indie hits like SCP: Containment Breach and numerous independent short films. Because of the Creative Commons license, creators are free to build games and media under open sharing guidelines.

How do new article numbers get assigned?

Articles are grouped into "Series" blocks of one thousand. When a series fills up, the community opens a new block, allowing writers to claim numbers like SCP-7000 or higher for their latest creations.

Can anyone edit existing articles?

Main database entries are locked to their original authors and established site editors to preserve creative integrity. However, anyone can create an account, write original pieces, and submit them to the community voting module.