RPG Superstar™ 2011

Woot! I like that the second round is to design a class archetype this time around. Nice change of pace from the villains and monsters of previous years. Also, yay for everyone in the Top 4 winning in some form this year be it the big prize or not.

Woot! I like that the second round is to design a class archetype this time around.

Wait, did I miss something? They didn't announce the second round.

In any case WooHoo! Good luck everybody!

It's on the main RPG Superstar page. The complete list of round-by-round assignments is there...but not the actual rules for each round.

Diedre -- If you click on the big "RPG Superstar! 2011" badge in the upper left corner of the website, you'll be taken to the schedule for the contest, which lists "create an archetype" as round 2's challenge. :)

EDIT: Ninja'd by Spicer. Curse my compulsion to check word flow and spelling repeatedly even on messageboards...lol. Of course, Neil had to go and make a pretty hyperlink and everything too...

Joshua Kitchens wrote:

Woot! I like that the second round is to design a class archetype this time around.

Wait, did I miss something? They didn't announce the second round.

"Specifics for each challenge will be announced as each round begins."

In any case WooHoo! Good luck everybody!

Head over to the RPG Superstar portion of the website and it shows each round this year instead of hiding it like last year.

2nd Round: Design an archetype.
3rd Round: Create a villain's stat block.
4th Round: Create a Golarion Location with map.
5th Round: Submit a full adventure proposal.

Edit: And beat to the punch!

So, that's why Ryan Dancey quit White Wolf/CCP ! ;-)

EDIT: Ninja'd by Spicer. Curse my compulsion to check word flow and spelling repeatedly even on messageboards...lol. Of course, Neil had to go and make a pretty hyperlink and everything too...

I've always been pretty quick on the draw. Now...DANCE, Pilgrim! ;-)

Just call him Neil "The Duke" Spicer.

And an addendum to my previous post: As Neil said while they have listed the general assignment this year, they have not disclosed the particular rules for each round which could include things like you have to use an archetype from someone's Round 2 entry in your Round 3 villain, etc.

Just call him Neil "The Duke" Spicer.

And an addendum to my previous post: As Neil said while they have listed the general assignment this year, they have not disclosed the particular rules for each round which could include things like you have to use an archetype from someone's Round 2 entry in your Round 3 villain, etc.

This year, we're actually going to require you use someone else's Round 4 location in your Round 3 villain entry. Should be a sufficient curveball for all those people looking at past contests for clues about upcoming twists.

This year, we're actually going to require you use someone else's Round 4 location in your Round 3 villain entry. Should be a sufficient curveball for all those people looking at past contests for clues about upcoming twists.

And, yes...that means you'll be tested on your powers of clairvoyance...which is a pretty important skill for freelancers to have when it comes to anticipating what their developers expect. ;-)

This year, we're actually going to require you use someone else's Round 4 location in your Round 3 villain entry. Should be a sufficient curveball for all those people looking at past contests for clues about upcoming twists.

If you guys are able to do that, you could make a killing in the dinosaur safari hunt business!

*starts preping up on divinations spells*

Take a chance. Enter.

Remember, you don't need to place in the top four to win a chance to write for Paizo :)

I think I'll give this a whirl this time. I think I have a couple of completely original never-before-seen wondrous items laying about my computer that can be dusted off. Which one to choose though...

Just checking that the word limit is 300 words as above (and not 200 words as printed in the official rules).

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

Do eeet!

Throw on your design hat and your grammar jacket and enter!

I think I'll give this a whirl this time. I think I have a couple of completely original never-before-seen wondrous items laying about my computer that can be dusted off. Which one to choose though...

Just checking that the word limit is 300 words as above (and not 200 words as printed in the official rules).

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

It's 300, I've notified Ross. :)

Woot! It's that time again!

Congrats on your 'promotion' Neil! ;)

I'll enter again. Just because I can! :D
(Now if I can actually come up with an item that is 'wondrous' and not just weird,...) ;P

I am in this year!

Rules Query of a Sorts.

I've been thinking that I'm not qualified to enter this year but then read the rules...

Anyone with a cover credit on a hardcover RPG book is ineligible.

So Coliseum Morpheuon does not disqualify me as its a softcover. A goodish size softcover but still a softcover. And freelancers don't count as full time designers, so I'm shiny. Correct?

Which I guess means I should start thinking of another wondrous item. ^_^

Woot ana half! And my health is cooperating *knocks on wood* Definitely entering! *makes a note* 'Never try to edit an entry whilst on sinus medication' :)

A Pathfinder Society Scenario as a prize for the Top 4, that is very cool!

This competition just keeps getting better!

If you are on the fence about entering, here are more reasons to enter:

Cool reason 1
Cool reason 2
Cool reason 3

Ohh, that's what I get for commenting on the blog post and not the main page.

...so I'm shiny. Correct?

Which I guess means I should start thinking of another wondrous item. ^_^

The way I'm reading it, you're solid. Rock that item, Wicht!

I'm very happy that each round's challenge is being revealed again. I think that will improve the quality of the submissions.

It'll be interesting to see how the new judging line-up affects which items are chosen. Also, not surprising that Clark won't be a judge this time around. He'll be missed.

If you're remotely thinking about it, do it. :)

It's an awesome opportunity, and it's something that I wish had been around before I got into this all by entirely different means. And yeah, Wesley, speaking of which, those pictures are still safe and not released to the public for the moment... ;)

Oh Boy... I am really excited by this announcement. I have a really good feeling about the item I've been working on.

I'm also glad that the various round challenges (albeit w/o rules) are announced as well. (A new archetype? Cool!)

@ Neil Spicer - congratulations on your promotion. :)

and @ Matt Goodall - those are some AWESOME reasons all right. :D

Let It Begin!

Dean; The_Minstrel_Wyrm

...so I'm shiny. Correct?

It's great that Firefly slang is common parlance around here.

Count me in!

Having missed the deadline last year, and sat on the sidelines moping... this year is gonna be, well, completely different! I already have five items created just for the contest. The only hard part is choosing which to submit... Can not wait! Best of luck to all the contestants!

Woot! I like that the second round is to design a class archetype this time around. Nice change of pace from the villains and monsters of previous years. Also, yay for everyone in the Top 4 winning in some form this year be it the big prize or not.

Do we know it's a class archetype? "Archetype" could mean pretty much anything (it left me scratching my head, personally).

It is nice to have the basic jist, so you have a vague idea of what material to think about if you want to bring your A-game. I trust the specifics will still throw the finalists a few curveballs. :)

Joshua Kitchens wrote:

Woot! I like that the second round is to design a class archetype this time around. Nice change of pace from the villains and monsters of previous years. Also, yay for everyone in the Top 4 winning in some form this year be it the big prize or not.

Do we know it's a class archetype? "Archetype" could mean pretty much anything (it left me scratching my head, personally).

It is nice to have the basic jist, so you have a vague idea of what material to think about if you want to bring your A-game. I trust the specifics will still throw the finalists a few curveballs. :)

Archetypes are the core class variants from the Advanced Players Guide. They provide alternate class features that will bring a character more in line with its inspiration.

Do we know it's a class archetype? "Archetype" could mean pretty much anything (it left me scratching my head, personally).

I'd be pretty sure of it being a class archetype. When I'm told to write an archetype as a freelancer, that's what Paizo means. Plus Paizo tries not to use the same word to refer to different mechanics.

Ah!! Okay, thanks guys!

Huzzah! This is my Superbowl! :)

So Coliseum Morpheuon does not disqualify me as its a softcover. A goodish size softcover but still a softcover. And freelancers don't count as full time designers, so I'm shiny. Correct?

You are correct, sir! I had a softcover credit on The Future Player's Companion back when I entered the contest. I specifically checked with Paizo on it (not once, but twice!) and they gave me the thumbs-up. Hardcover means hardcover. And full-time designer means, it's your full-time job...i.e., you work full-time for a game company. So, get to work! You're still eligible. ;-)

Hah, I'm going to go for a threepea-

Damnit!

Good luck folks (but not too much luck, I'd like to at least keep my repeat status unique or rare) :P

I believe Alexander MacLeod (a fellow North Carolinian!) has a repeat pedigree, as well...though not back-to-back. He was Top 16 in 2008 and Top 4 in 2010.

I believe Alexander MacLeod (a fellow North Carolinian!) has a repeat pedigree, as well...though not back-to-back. He was Top 16 in 2008 and Top 4 in 2010.

yEAH, I should have said 'back to back' :P

details details...

We're being tested on our precognitive skills?

I predicted that RPG Superstars would/should write PFS modules!
This must be a sign!

Now, to start writing...

Hello all. I'm brand new to Pazio and Pathfinder, but not to roleplaying or D&D. I watched last years competition and made it a point to enter this years competition. I don't know how far I'll get, but I'm already having fun thinking about the first round.

I usually haunt the rptools.net message boards as aliasmask, but I often come to the pazio site for game references.

Nice to meet you all.

Good luck to everyone, new people and repeat offenders alike! I look forward to this year's submissions. :)

*Looks at Blog. Looks at blank word document titled "Practice Ideas for RPG superstar 2011"*
Crap!

*Looks at Blog. Looks at blank word document titled "Practice Ideas for RPG superstar 2011"*

Crap!

Heh, that's about where I am, right now.

I can only hope my practice here helps me, because at the moment my list of full-fledged ideas is rather short too.

;)

Enter! Enter! Enter!

Even if you do not win, you will learn a lot from the experience!

Hello all. I'm brand new to Pazio and Pathfinder, but not to roleplaying or D&D. I watched last years competition and made it a point to enter this years competition. I don't know how far I'll get, but I'm already having fun thinking about the first round.

I usually haunt the rptools.net message boards as aliasmask, but I often come to the pazio site for game references.

Nice to meet you all.

Welcome Saker, and good luck!

I can only hope my practice here helps me, because at the moment my list of full-fledged ideas is rather short too.

;)

you and me both Az! :)

Welcome aboard Ryan, Neil, and Matt.

Good luck everyone hold on tight and have fun!

I still need to read all the rules, but I think my ideas are supposed to be like Fight Club? But I think I came up with a pretty good wondrous item. Now to keep it under 300 words (1500 characters?). I'll also see if I feel the same way next week about it. I may make a few to see if I can come up with something truly unique and appropriate.

Now to keep it under 300 words (1500 characters?)

Words means words, not some character equivalent. Your word processor has a word counter that almost certainly works just like ours.

Also, not surprising that Clark won't be a judge this time around. He'll be missed.

I'm pretty confident that Clark would be still judging if professional commitments weren't keeping him from it. He was truly a superstar judge.

Saker wrote:

Now to keep it under 300 words (1500 characters?)

Words means words, not some character equivalent. Your word processor has a word counter that almost certainly works just like ours.

Thanks for the clarification. That actually works to my advantage.

OK, so can some one explain the "Archetype" to me completely, I'm still scratching my head on that one even with whats posted above.

Are we to create our own variant class is that what it means, like variant fighter the gladiator or variant wizard the warmage?

Or does it mean a new race type....i.e. Monster "A" mates with "B" and creates "C"?

If the later is the case, I have that in spades as Ive created all kinds of new races and I'm in the middle of wrapping up another one now.