A Most Unfortunate Delay

Monday, August 31, 2015

Are you eager to hear the Top 32 results for Season 9 of RPG Superstar? We certainly are! Unfortunately, we're all going to have to wait a little bit longer.

A series of unfortunate events means that our original plan to announce the Top 32 will be delayed until tomorrow. I know many of you were eager to see if you made it into the final round, and we certainly wanted to share in the excitement! In the meantime, we're going to have to ask you to delay your actions until Round 2, the dreaded Map Round! But it need not be that dreadful—we've already got a great discussion about maps in our RPG Superstar forum (not to mention last year's discussion, and if you want to be inspired, be sure to check out the amazing maps on the Cartographer's Guild. And if you're hankering for a bit of design, check out the Design Challenge and win a custom Paizo.com avatar for your winning effort!

Once again, we'd like to thank everybody for participating in RPG Superstar, both to the entrants and the voters. Just stay on target, and be back here tomorrow for the Top 32 announcement!

Liz Courts & Owen K.C. Stephens
Community Manager, Developer

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Scarab Sages Developer

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Hey folks,
Obviously we never want to have to delay things like this, but it's sadly unavoidable in this case. We'll be back on-track tomorrow. Because our schedule is tied into a lot of other things, none of the other dates of the contest (including the Round 2 due date) are changing, so if you think you might be in the Top 32, this is a great time to pick up your mapping pens... or software, or pencils, or whatever you map with!
We're working out how to try to ensure we don't ever have these issues again, though sometimes that falls into the problem of trying to foresee the unforeseeable.
Our apologies.

Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Thanks for the update :) {munches a couple more antacids}

Star Voter Season 9

Not a problem. Life happens!

Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Does "back on track tomorrow" mean winners aren't being announced until tomorrow? Do we know what time?

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka theheadkase

Thanks for the update you hard-working folks!

Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Clouds Without Water

Goblins.

I blame goblins.

Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 9

Hope it's merely something bureaucratic and nothing dramatic that caused the delay. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

Grand Lodge Marathon Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Ah, I see Paizo is experiencing temporal disturbances, that explains a lot. The ability to blog simultaneously in the present and the future is something I was considering entering for next year, but I see it has been designed already[/joking]


R D Ramsey wrote:

Goblins.

I blame goblins.

Yeah, "goblins". Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Tothric

Hey; things do happen. We understand Owen. Thanks for letting us know!

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

This blog is dated monday september 1, 2015. hmmm

Scarab Sages Developer

Erick Wilson wrote:
Does "back on track tomorrow" mean winners aren't being announced until tomorrow? Do we know what time?

Yes, winners will be announced tomorrow, at Noon PST unless we say otherwise before that.

Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Yes, definitely thanks for the update. I'm just wondering if you mean you'll post the winners whenever things are sorted, or if you're officially rescheduling the announcement to tomorrow. If it's the latter I'll save your server the effort of processing my obsessive checkups all day. :)

Edit: Ninja'd! thanks Owen

Scarab Sages Developer

8 people marked this as a favorite.
Grumpus wrote:
This blog is dated monday september 1, 2015. hmmm

We knew by tomorrow that we'd have a problem today, and took the time to send a blog post back from then to now to explain it. :)

Scarab Sages Developer

Erick Wilson wrote:
Yes, definitely thanks for the update. I'm just wondering if you mean you'll post the winners whenever things are sorted, or if you're officially rescheduling the announcement to tomorrow. If it's the latter I'll save your server the effort of processing my obsessive checkups all day. :)

It's the later.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan

Paizo Blog wrote:
Monday, September 1, 2015

and

Paizo Blog wrote:
plan to announce the Top 32 will be delayed until tomorrow

Add up to the Top 32 being released on what? Tuesday? Or September 2nd, which is a Wednesday?


2 people marked this as a favorite.

YoU tHoUgHt yOu WeRe FrEe oF mE, kekeke, ToO BaD fOr YoU aLL I hAvE cAsT EXTENDED MASS SLOW!


1 person marked this as a favorite.

=^0

Scarab Sages Developer

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Tripp Elliott wrote:
Paizo Blog wrote:
Monday, September 1, 2015

and

Paizo Blog wrote:
plan to announce the Top 32 will be delayed until tomorrow
Add up to the Top 32 being released on what? Tuesday? Or September 2nd, which is a Wednesday?

Tuesday. Real tomorrow, not blog-date tomorrow.

Dedicated Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.

damn youse Season 9, damn youse straight to heeellll!

Star Voter Season 9

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
Grumpus wrote:
This blog is dated monday september 1, 2015. hmmm
We knew by tomorrow that we'd have a problem today, and took the time to send a blog post back from then to now to explain it. :)

What are tonight's lottery numbers? PM me and I'll split the winnings with you.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Season 9 wrote:
YoU tHoUgHt yOu WeRe FrEe oF mE, kekeke, ToO BaD fOr YoU aLL I hAvE EXTENDED MASS SLOW!

"There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millenium Dieben. You are free to use any methods necessary but I want them alive - no disintegrations!"

Sovereign Court Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

I don't think my heart or stomach can take another 24 hours to wait lol.

Either that or I'm just out of shape >.>

>.<!!

Scarab Sages Developer

6 people marked this as a favorite.
hewhocaves wrote:
What are tonight's lottery numbers? PM me and I'll split the winnings with you.

Yeaaaaah.... no. There are Inevitables who hunt people who use Bureaucratic Time Posting devices for what is clearly a Personal Time Disturbance-rated purpose.

Also, with the Pastamatic Postamatic Temporal Blog Program, I could only send the numbers to an entire blog post, which means so many people would use them no one of us would win enough to be worth the risks.

Liberty's Edge Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I see you shiver with anticp-

Sovereign Court Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

2 people marked this as a favorite.

-pation!

Liberty's Edge Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Brigg wrote:
-pation!

:D

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Tothric

Hey Owen! Question: Will the e-mail/pm announcement to the top 32 + alternates be delayed... I guess if they would NOT be, they would already know and NOT be us.

:-P I FIGURE the answer to this is "yes, those messages would be delayed". But I figured I would ask for potential hopefuls, just to make sure.

Scarab Sages Developer

Yes, those messages would be delayed.

Dedicated Voter Season 9

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

Hey folks,

Obviously we never want to have to delay things like this, but it's sadly unavoidable in this case. We'll be back on-track tomorrow. Because our schedule is tied into a lot of other things, none of the other dates of the contest (including the Round 2 due date) are changing, so if you think you might be in the Top 32, this is a great time to pick up your mapping pens... or software, or pencils, or whatever you map with!
We're working out how to try to ensure we don't ever have these issues again, though sometimes that falls into the problem of trying to foresee the unforeseeable.
Our apologies.

There is no way to know if you're not... so 223 are now working on maps.

Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

The antici... (aww Jester David was already on that, well played)

Sovereign Court Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

-Pation!

Anyways, I don't know 'bout y'all, but imma start workin' on mah map, yo! (Dis how am gon' write mah description!)

<.<

Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Brigg wrote:
-Pation!

Thanks Brigg!

Star Voter Season 9

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
hewhocaves wrote:
What are tonight's lottery numbers? PM me and I'll split the winnings with you.

Yeaaaaah.... no. There are Inevitables who hunt people who use Bureaucratic Time Posting devices for what is clearly a Personal Time Disturbance-rated purpose.

Also, with the Pastamatic Postamatic Temporal Blog Program, I could only send the numbers to an entire blog post, which means so many people would use them no one of us would win enough to be worth the risks.

Good to see you've still got your sense of humor about this!

RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Hodge Podge

9 people marked this as a favorite.

I accept your apology... IF you agree to have the judges post vague taunting jibes about the top 32 for the next 22 hours. :3

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka theheadkase

^ What he said.

Grand Lodge Marathon Voter Season 9

Chris Shaeffer wrote:
I accept your apology... IF you agree to have the judges post vague taunting jibes about the top 32 for the next 22 hours. :3

I both love you and hate you for that idea.


I am working feverishly to safely disassemble all of the Top 223 and inspect them for defects. There have only been between 189 and 300 injuries so far, most of which were the consequence of explosive runes and symbol spells. I wish I had more accurate numbers, but our secretary has been subject to a sepia snake sigil.

RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut, Contributor

7 people marked this as a favorite.
Chris Shaeffer wrote:
I accept your apology... IF you agree to have the judges post vague taunting jibes about the top 32 for the next 22 hours. :3

I see lots of items! ^_^

Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 9

Certainly appreciate the update. Can't say I'm feeling very good about the delay in finding out if we need to design a map though. I mean, expecting 360+ to assume they've got the task based on 'if you think' which is based on absolutely no input is pretty unfair though. We've received no notification whatsoever if we're even 'in the running.'

Even if we're going to assume an accuracy based entirely on player-run databases like the Item Seen thread, that's still over 250+ people that made it through all the culls. I certainly understand things happen, but expecting us to delay based on 'if we think' based on zero input is kinda... 'unprofessional' would seem to be the word.

Again, I understand things happen, but that don't get the pizza delivered. You don't call up after closing time and expect your product to be delivered 30 minutes ago, even if you had said that you were really planning on ordering weeks ago. Best of luck sorting out the gremlins and let's hope this doesn't otherwise give a disadvantage to someone in the contest.

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Ixxix

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I've discovered a new way to figure out who is the top 32. Everyone who wasn't culled start start posting your items publicly. The last 32 people to do so are the winners. :)

PS: don't do this.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan

Wrathgar_The_Warlord wrote:
Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

Hey folks,

Obviously we never want to have to delay things like this, but it's sadly unavoidable in this case. We'll be back on-track tomorrow. Because our schedule is tied into a lot of other things, none of the other dates of the contest (including the Round 2 due date) are changing, so if you think you might be in the Top 32, this is a great time to pick up your mapping pens... or software, or pencils, or whatever you map with!
We're working out how to try to ensure we don't ever have these issues again, though sometimes that falls into the problem of trying to foresee the unforeseeable.
Our apologies.
There is no way to know if you're not... so 223 are now working on maps.

222!

I'm waiting.

Grand Lodge Marathon Voter Season 9

221! Me too. (actually it's our local game night I wouldn't have been doing it tonight anyway)

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Arkos

In one of the two possible future realities, I will regret that I freed up tonight for work by moving my plans to tomorrow...

But at least in both realities, I'll be well-rested for Tuesday! Yay, right?

Scarab Sages Developer

15 people marked this as a favorite.
Pizza Lord wrote:
We've received no notification whatsoever if we're even 'in the running.'

And sadly, we can't provide any. Some people have determined their item was culled through community observations. Some people already know they've had something come up, and would have to decline a top-32 spot in favor of an alternate even if they got on. Some people are convinced they didn't make it, so there's no way for them to focus on another round.

For everyone else who entered, my sincere recommendation is that you put in some time thinking about maps between today and tomorrow, and I can't say I think that suggestion is unprofessional.

Sadly in this industry things sometimes happen that prevent a writer or artist from being able to get started on time, and often it's not their fault. In my career there have been dozens of times when a company gave me a start date, but failed to give me everything ended to actually start. It's unfortunate, no one wants it to happen, but sometimes it does. And when it does, that almost never means the deadline end date is changing, but at the end of the day street dates and print windows and foreign holidays and shipping schedules just aren't that flexible.

So right now there are a few hundred people who don't know if they're going on to the next round or not, and they are all in the same boat. My advise to them is the same as it was on Friday - look to the next round.

Everyone has the same amount of time, Not everyone will use it.

If you do use and don't end up in the Top 32, you've still practiced a crucial skill for being a successful freelance adventure writer.

If you don't use it and do end up one of the Top 32, you may be at a disadvantage compared to folks who did take the day to get to work.

A delay like this is disappointing and terrible and anxiety-inducing, and I totally get that. We wouldn't have done it if we'd seen any way to avoid it.

But now that this is the reality, it's easy for people to not consider that their disappointment and anxiety might distract them from doing the one thing that might actually increase their chances in the long run - get mapping.

So my advice, based on decades of freelance work, is don't let this throw you off balance. Use the time to get ahead. It's your choice of course, and some people are sure they are already culled. But if not, I suggest you start mapping, exactly because you don;t have any way of knowing if you've made it tot the next round or not.

There's nothing you can do about our failure to have the results. There is something you can do to use the time to advice your chance of winning.


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Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:


Everyone has the same amount of time, Not everyone will use it.

If you do use and don't end up in the Top 32, you've still practiced a crucial skill for being a successful freelance adventure writer.

I'd also like to suggest that if you use the time and don't end up in the top 32.... Hey, cool map! That may come in handy some Thursday evening, or you could always sell it to Diving Manatee games as part of the Tomb of Oh My God There Are No Verbs module.

Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
Sadly in this industry things sometimes happen that prevent a writer or artist from being able to get started on time, and often it's not their fault. In my career there have been dozens of times when a company gave me a start date, but failed to give me everything ended to actually start. It's unfortunate, no one wants it to happen, but sometimes it does. And when it does, that almost never means the deadline end date is changing, but at the end of the day street dates and print windows and foreign holidays and shipping schedules just aren't that flexible.

I work in an industry where this is, sadly, incredibly common. And as much as I desperately want it to be otherwise, we have to work with what we're given and I appreciate that Paizo is being forthright about the difficulties they've had rather than being silent.

Sovereign Court Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

Everyone has the same amount of time, Not everyone will use it.

If you do use and don't end up in the Top 32, you've still practiced a crucial skill for being a successful freelance adventure writer.

If you don't use it and do end up one of the Top 32, you may be at a disadvantage compared to folks who did take the day to get to work.

I was going to say something along these lines, but you said it much better than I probably would have ^.^

I, too, want to encourage the 223 people waiting (myself included) to get to mapping! Even if you don't make it this time around, you still will have a map ready for when you do get into top 32! To top it off, you would have had MUCH MORE time to polish it!

The Exchange

Hope Paizo hasn't been thrashed by the sudden Storm of Vegeance someone cast n Saturday.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

All you can do is hope and pray an make a map just in case.

Entrants like I are at +8 hours ahead of PST (i.e. UK time).

Those ahead of PST could be impacted more seriously than those who live in the PST zone... imagine this scenario

Whatever the problem is, it proves serious enough to delay the announcement to say 6pm PST, that's 2AM UK the next day...

All you lucky PST people get a couple of days of daylight hours, where us poor souls end up passed out asleep on our keyboards and wake up the NEXT day with just 1 to 1 and a half days to get things done, bleary sore eyes, keyboard imprints on one side of our face, stiff back and neck etc... sleeping like that is not easy you know :).

Me I am trying to draw with EVERYTHING crossed that the fix is a fixable fix with a small time-frame and that I can be ready whenever the fix is done should I progress.

That my fellow contestants is all we can do, the milk is spilled so let's lap it up and carry on like true freelancing soldiers at the eventful word and picture coal faces.

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