Announcing RPG Superstar Season 9!

For the first time in years, I'm not sure how involved I will be in this season of RPGSS. Sadly, one of the advantages of my regular job in regard to the contest is that the winter is off-season so I have plenty of time. Summer? 45 hour weeks like the one I just had are rare blessings.

So I hope this does well and you get the people you need to make this as great as it usually is. I hope the announcement brings in a mass of new blood and new entries!

Make it great!

:)

Oh man, I'll be participating as usual but the end of year break from classes and work was always a great opportunity to focus on the contest. This is going to be more challenging than I thought.

Interesting that they have widened the item categories this year.

I was sort of holding out hope that they would do magic weapon or armor properties, rather than specific weapons or armors, since I like those more, and they have never been allowed in RPGSS, but three categories of items is pretty broad. Maybe next year they'll do something else.

At any rate, I'm hoping for some more interesting shields in this year's item round.

I'm also hoping that the subsequent rounds will be less monotonous in theme than last year.

Ugh... So this is how they decided to cull the Champion Voters...

I liked winter because of the slow work schedule and easy to get time off. This time of year, not so much.

Good luck to all the entrants! Dazzle me!

EDIT: Beginning of the school year as well. Sorry kids/college students.

First of all: Yay! It's Superstar season again.

Not sure I like that voting is the sole determinant of the Top 32. I think that allows things that could be overpowered to get in, but I guess we'll hope voters do the right thing.

I like these changes a lot:
* The Open Call round has changed to: design a wondrous item, magic armor, or magic weapon
* We're allowing 50 words of description for the maps in Round 2
* We're going to have some pre-generated maps contestants must use for their encounter design in Round 4.

PRD only means no Occult Adventures, for those who wanted to risk the voters being excited about the newest additions to the rules (unless of course they get added in really quickly, but I'm not expecting that).

Love the Hall of Fame on the new main Superstar board.

And here I was just sighing that it was still some 5 months away!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!

I also like the Hall of Fame addition (although I think some prominent runners-up like Jason Nelson of Legendary Games should also be in there along with the winners).

The voter selection is of concern. I have always thought that one of the great advantages of the contest has been the selection by experienced designers from a large pool as a good way of ensuring that talented designers rather than popular ones get in the door. Some things that get a large number of votes aren't necessarily well designed or even very original ideas.

Not sure I like that voting is the sole determinant of the Top 32. I think that allows things that could be overpowered to get in, but I guess we'll hope voters do the right thing.

Agreed!

The voter selection is of concern. I have always thought that one of the great advantages of the contest has been the selection by experienced designers from a large pool a good way of ensuring that talented designers rather than popular ones get in the door. Some things that get a large number of votes aren't necessarily well designed or even very original ideas.

More agreeance!

Many bad ideas received a lot of votes on the last couple years of voting share threads. Some top vote receivers were rehashes of prior year items (Top 32 ones at that), didn't use rules properly, and some were over 9000.

The timing works really nicely for me. Submissions are due Aug. 16 with Top 32 announced Aug. 31. My wife's home from med school Aug. 21-28 or so. Now I don't need to ignore her. :)

(Of course, voting becomes more important now, when I was planning to try to do less of it since I so much enjoyed seeing new-to-me items in the Top 32 and wanted more of that experience.)

Whoa, this is unexpected.

The short notice for the schedule change means I regrettably can't participate by entering or tracking items, votes, stats, and critiques. I'm already overcommitted through October.

Either that, or I'll resubmit the beardforge now that the cruel judges can't blatantly ignore the overwhelming will of the people.

But seriously, good luck to everyone entering!

This is a twist I didn't see coming!

So nice to see twists affecting *other* people this time around!
Looking forward to watching and rooting for people from the sidelines. It'll be interesting to see how this change of timing affects the competition.

Wow. Unexpected. Where's my notebook of ideas that passed through my head since last winter? *blows dust off a tome*

Where'd the old Superstar stuff go? The forums are still here but the previous years' pages are gone. Like 2010's judges page, which was up a week ago.

Hmm. I was just looking for the Round 2 rules of the last contest, but they seemed to have disappeared (presumably so contestants for this one ('season 9') don't read the wrong set.)

I was looking since I have a feeling that the Round 2 rules of the last one said one thing, then the judges proceeded to do something entirely different when marking the round, which rather put me off (well, that and the moderator deleting a post I made to try and cheer up someone to whom the judges had delivered a darned good kicking).
:(

Oh well...

This may be poorly timed for me. My second to last semester of school is starting just a couple weeks after this starts, I have some deadlines to meet, and there is faint possibility that I am going to be starting a new job.

But I will submit and see what happens. Who knows, maybe I won't be as busy as I think I will be.

I believe all the previous Superstar material will return, in good time. We're doing some internal things, that really have to happen now, and I believe that's why the material isn't currently visible.

Obviously a schedule change is going to prevent some people from entering, and I am genuinely sorry for everyone who is excluded by this. I also believe there will be some people who could not participate on the classic schedule who should now have an opportunity for the first time. Obviously, we'll analyze what participation is like before we schedule Season 10.

If anyone has concerns about judging or moderation, feel free to contact me, as host.

If you are concerned about the public vote, keep in mind that every round after the first has been all public vote for years. Having one (and only one) round be a hybrid of fan feedback and judge fiat unquestionably has caused both confusion and consternation. I think the voting public can be trusted, when they know their vote is the determination factor, but like any change this is an experiment.

I appreciate everyone's feedback and involvement!

If you are concerned about the public vote, keep in mind that every round after the first has been all public vote for years. Having one (and only one) round be a hybrid of fan feedback and judge fiat unquestionably has caused both confusion and consternation. I think the voting public can be trusted, when they know their vote is the determination factor, but like any change this is an experiment.

That's a good point and it will certainly diminish some of the griping about the Top 32 that we see every year...

I do just worry that it might put a little more premium on mass appeal. Obviously that's important, but at the same time I think there have been good items/designers that would never have won a popular vote (I don't think my haunting glass from 2012, for example, would fare well).

Sweet. It's like Christmas in July -- er, August rather.

Exciting! I appreciate the gradual changes and improvements to the contest each year, and I look forward to seeing some new (and maybe some repeat) talent!

Oh snap, glad I saw this. Time to get cracking again....

Excellent. To the word mines once again!

Thank you for the heads up Owen. I welcome the changes. What else is there to do? ;)

Ah! I am not prepared!

I feel like a first level fighter surrounded by heavyweights. I'm mighty excited for my first season!

I love the smaller frequent culling. Thanks a lot, guys.

All other changes seem great too.

For the Top32, I would have liked some possibility to have golden tickets (like 2 or even 4 of them) for items that were really appreciated by several judges.

I guess I will be a slave to designing and voting again, even though at the end of the previous RPGSS I thought never again.

And here I go looking at my RPGSS posts (and the relevant threads) to remember what made items awesome ;-)

I feel like a first level fighter surrounded by heavyweights. I'm mighty excited for my first season!

Welcome to the madhouse, Gypsy, and don't feel too intimidated. :) Last year was my first year even attempting anything, and I got lucky to get as far as I did. It's anybody's game!

Ah! I am not prepared!

Strangely—upon further consideration—I seem to be prepared.

Huh. Go figure.

Wow, a new Superstar season already. Will be interesting to see what folks come up with. Good luck everyone! I'll wave my pom poms for you!

And still be sad that Template Fu still never reviewed my map...

Question for Official Rules Clarification: I have 4 author credits but 0 design credits with Paizo. The rules say those with 3 or more design credits are ineligible. Do author credits count as design credits for ineligibility?

This is not great news, there is so much going on right now it's not funny.

I think you will see an awful lot of new blood, but us old hands have committed to work schedules that will now prevent us not only from entering, but assessing, feed-backing and voting as well.

That might be a good thing as we old hands do often vote 1000's of times each so our affect on the outcome will be eliminated/reduced - but on the other hand, the pool of votes cast for sorting purposes might also fall short too.

I guess we shall all see what the winners are like very soon, so that's exciting to look forward to.

It's a shame we didn't get a month's heads up because some of us might not have taken on those extra commitments had we known. Cest la vie!

So, good luck to everyone who enters and another reason not to be scared on entering is no Template Fu chewing on your formatting etc. this season! ;)

A week's notice. This still feels short...

Question for Official Rules Clarification: I have 4 author credits but 0 design credits with Paizo. The rules say those with 3 or more design credits are ineligible. Do author credits count as design credits for ineligibility?

Assuming those author credits were for game products, they do count as design credits and thus you are too successful to enter this contest.

A week's notice. This still feels short...

It is. I wish we could have managed longer notice. Due to dozens of other constraints, it simply wasn't possible.

Obviously a schedule change is going to prevent some people from entering, and I am genuinely sorry for everyone who is excluded by this. I also believe there will be some people who could not participate on the classic schedule who should now have an opportunity for the first time. Obviously, we'll analyze what participation is like before we schedule Season 10.

I want to make it clear that I love, love, LOVE the schedule change. I just wish it had been announced at the end of RPGSS 2015, or at PaizoCon, or a month ago—not a week before the contest opens and two months before it finishes.

Okay, stupid question time, does magic armor refer to only armor or to both armor and shields? Since they're usually grouped together like armor/shields.

Okay, stupid question time, does magic armor refer to only armor or to both armor and shields? Since they're usually grouped together like armor/shields.

Last time around it included all shields, so no reason to assume otherwise.

Rysky wrote:

Okay, stupid question time, does magic armor refer to only armor or to both armor and shields? Since they're usually grouped together like armor/shields.

Last time around it included all shields, so no reason to assume otherwise.

Thankies.

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

Obviously a schedule change is going to prevent some people from entering, and I am genuinely sorry for everyone who is excluded by this. I also believe there will be some people who could not participate on the classic schedule who should now have an opportunity for the first time. Obviously, we'll analyze what participation is like before we schedule Season 10.

I want to make it clear that I love, love, LOVE the schedule change. I just wish it had been announced at the end of RPGSS 2015, or at PaizoCon, or a month ago—not a week before the contest opens and two months before it finishes.

I wonder how this announcement being so close to Gen-Con will affect participation. I expect a lot of would-be participants are still in Indy and unlikely to be checking the boards as often as they usually would. Although perhaps they're advertising it at Paizo's table? If not, perhaps they should.

So, good luck to everyone who enters and another reason not to be scared on entering is no Template Fu chewing on your formatting etc. this season! ;)

TF, your reviews of formatting will be sorely missed. Do not belittle the real value you provide to the community ;-)

Wow. Unexpected. Where's my notebook of ideas that passed through my head since last winter? *blows dust off a tome*

Speaking of, I'd be interested to see a round where the task is to construct a book of spells. Might not showcase enough skills though...

Blog says:

The Open Call round has changed to: design a wondrous item, magic armor, or magic weapon

Open Call rules say:

The item must be a weapon, suit of armor, or wondrous item.

But the Official Rules say:

To enter, submit an original magic item (which must be a magic weapon, suit of magic armor, ring, rod, or staff)

Might want to clear that up.

Blog says:

Quote:

The Open Call round has changed to: design a wondrous item, magic armor, or magic weapon

Open Call rules say:

Quote:

The item must be a weapon, suit of armor, or wondrous item.

But the Official Rules say:

Quote:

To enter, submit an original magic item (which must be a magic weapon, suit of magic armor, ring, rod, or staff)

Might want to clear that up.

This has been cleared up in the other areas of the site. Thanks for the heads up!

Have people already formed Voting Cabals and if so, why was I not invited?!

He knows too much. Quickly, for the Casual Cabal!

*A dart flies partway towards Petty Alchemy's neck, then loses interest and decides there's always next year, and besides, its poison probably wasn't that great anyways*

So going forward, is RPGSS going to be every 6 months, or irregularly scheduled, or what? I'm curious how it will be timed after this.

Wow. Ok. Fortunately I already know *exactly* what I want to write up for my entry.

As a corporate accountant, this schedule will be much better for me if I actually advance to further rounds.

The short notice is disconcerting, but realistically it's no worse than last year, when the short notice of the category change meant that everything that had been prepared ahead of time had to be thrown out.

So...good luck everyone!