Is it bad form to ask how many possible entries will enter the general voting? Am I understanding the process correctly that the general vote will supply the judges with 64 and they will choose the top 32 from that select group?

Can we have a ballpark figure of total entries to be voted on? If that is a no-no I withdraw the request.

I have seen in other threads where Sean has stated some entries are already DQ'ed .... Is that just easily noticeable mistakes ..... Like word count infractions or plagiarism that get the pre-vote boot?

Your initial premise is a little incorrect. Our voting is the sort order the judges go in, and they'll go through as many entries as they need to until they get 32.

As far as DQs, that's basically it: over word count, not wondrous item, stuff like that.

We don't reveal the number of entries (and until the contest closes, we ourselves have no idea what the number will be).

The only entries that are getting DQd prior to the public vote are the ones that actually violate the rules—over word count, not a wondrous item, missing game stats, offensive, etc.

At this rate there will be enough entries to keep people busy reading wondrous items for the entire of the voting period, assuming you don't try to power through them in a caffeine-fueled frenzy.

I'm curious: If we DO power through them and vote on all of them, do we start getting repeats?

I'm curious: If we DO power through them and vote on all of them, do we start getting repeats?

Or maybe a cookie?

I'm curious: If we DO power through them and vote on all of them, do we start getting repeats?

As far as I understand, what you'll never see repeats of is the same precise pair of items. But if your first pair was boots of A vs. helm of B, you're quite likely to see each of those individual items repeated. As far as I understood the explanation, the voting system optimizes for items least seen by the total public, not by you personally. If I got that right, then for, say, 2,000 entries, "the public" will make a full cycle through the item pool every 1,000 votes made on the entire site. That's not very long, so boots of A or helm of B are quite likely to pop back up for your consideration vs. other items.

*snip*... assuming you don't try to power through them in a caffeine-fueled frenzy.

This. I need the rest of the month for my archetypes!

Sean K Reynolds wrote:

*snip*... assuming you don't try to power through them in a caffeine-fueled frenzy.

This. I need the rest of the month for my archetypes!

Don't know about the rest of you but I will be desperate to see all the competition as much as possible to try and get a gauge on how my item compares and whether I should continue with my archetype prep or surrender to the demands of Fu reviews :)

Correlon wrote:

Sean K Reynolds wrote:

*snip*... assuming you don't try to power through them in a caffeine-fueled frenzy.

This. I need the rest of the month for my archetypes!

Don't know about the rest of you but I will be desperate to see all the competition as much as possible to try and get a gauge on how my item compares and whether I should continue with my archetype prep or surrender to the demands of Fu reviews :)

I'm going to be pretty interested in gauging the competition too - and try to see if I can spot previous Top 32 entrants.

Personally, I am determined to finally finding out the number of round 1 submissions! I might give up at some point, though. :P

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

Don't know about the rest of you but I will be desperate to see all the competition as much as possible to try and get a gauge on how my item compares ...

This :)

(also known as "should I bother next year?")

Anthony Adam wrote:

Don't know about the rest of you but I will be desperate to see all the competition as much as possible to try and get a gauge on how my item compares ...

This :)

(also known as "should I bother next year?")

Keep practicing! My first submission was drivel. My second one was much better. I didn't really practice creating items in between contests. I diddled about with various areas of the game to get a better feel for how things worked and balanced. Additionally, I GMed more often to get a feel for what items players needed, used, or wanted. Besides Anthony's practice thread, I only made about 50 magic items and all of those were published in one form or another (insert obligatory shoutout for Wayfinder and Pathways).

Yeah, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a couple of pirating items I submitted to Wayfinder 8 - it's gone awful quiet on that front. Still, they say no news is good news :)

When does the next wayfinder come out? I have been wanting to submit for awhile now and just been too busy personally to keep up with it.

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

Hey, we can´t rule out extraterrestrial life. An RPG´s just the thing to take the edge off a long space voyage, and an electronically available game system´s bound to be more convenient...

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

Well now you're just getting technical ;)

When does the next wayfinder come out? I have been wanting to submit for awhile now and just been too busy personally to keep up with it.

Last I heard, it was looking like January. The upcoming issue will be about the Seas and Coasts of Golarion. The one after that will be about the Darklands - I don't know if Tim is accepting submissions for that yet or not, though. As I recall the submissions for the next usually open up when an issue comes out.

...and try to see if I can spot previous Top 32 entrants.

Ooo. I didn't even think about doing that.

Now I've got five different things to do during voting:
1) Vote.
2) Size up the competition.
3) Create my own keep folder.
4) Count the number of entries.
5) Try to guess who submitted what.

Jacob Trier wrote:

...and try to see if I can spot previous Top 32 entrants.

Ooo. I didn't even think about doing that.

Now I've got five different things to do during voting:
1) Vote.
2) Size up the competition.
3) Create my own keep folder.
4) Count the number of entries.
5) Try to guess who submitted what.

That's a good list. The time is just going to fly by :-)

My first submission was pretty poor. I think my entry this year was better. I'd be happy if I land in the "almost" pile, especially if specific advice is handed out again this year...

I'm very much looking forward to the voting period, for sure.

I submitted an item of my own - is the system intelligent in that it will not show you your own item, or does that not matter?

Also, if my - or any user's, really - item is disqualified for whatever reason, will I be notified prior to voting?

It would suck to be excited for the contest, only to never see my own magical doodad roll out.

You get to vote on your own item :)

Jacob Trier wrote:

...and try to see if I can spot previous Top 32 entrants.

Ooo. I didn't even think about doing that.

Now I've got five different things to do during voting:
1) Vote.
2) Size up the competition.
3) Create my own keep folder.
4) Count the number of entries.
5) Try to guess who submitted what.

Now I'm all curious what kinds of identifying characteristics our previous entries would clue someone into our current submissions. It sounds like forensic game design...

I asked the judges last year if they ever saw an item that made them say to themselves "Now this item just reeks of Tom Phillips."

They said no. :p

Jacob Trier wrote:

...and try to see if I can spot previous Top 32 entrants.

Ooo. I didn't even think about doing that.

Now I've got five different things to do during voting:
1) Vote.
2) Size up the competition.
3) Create my own keep folder.
4) Count the number of entries.
5) Try to guess who submitted what.

And the Blazing 9 regulars. Though I am sure I would not be able to do that one.

I will also keep track of my first two items and my total vote. When I see them again I can take total numbers add some mathemagical formulas and estimate how many entries there are.

I don't know, those troll fingers seemed like they might smell bad after a while...

I feel like my item's pretty radically different from what I did last year. I'd be pretty impressed ... or possibly scared ... if someone could link it to me.

My item has a few similarities to last years, but then again I don't think I put my item on any of the 'critique me' threads... so that won't help anybody trying to ID me :P

I don't know, those troll fingers seemed like they might smell bad after a while...

I feel like my item's pretty radically different from what I did last year. I'd be pretty impressed ... or possibly scared ... if someone could link it to me.

My inactivity on the boards coupled with the fact that only only other entry was at the original RPG Superstar multiplied by the fact that nobody cares who I am means that none shall know! NONE!

this is totally off subject.... but my group just had an encounter with 4 wooden golems last session.

needless to say my group of power-gaming uber-naughts slew them with ease, a wood chipper would have been more kind, by comparison.

So I say to you Woodengolem, maintain thy secret identity, for wooden golems are no more than fodder.

Will there be any indication of how voting is going? Such as displaying total votes received or current ranking?

Will there be comments on individual entries?

This voting method is new for us, too. We haven't really decided what we want to reveal during the voting period.

All judge comments on entries (if there are any) won't be displayed during the voting period, and voters won't be able to post replies to them. Once the Top 32 are revealed, you'll see judge comments and voters can reply.

This voting method is new for us, too. We haven't really decided what we want to reveal during the voting period.

All judge comments on entries (if there are any) won't be displayed during the voting period, and voters won't be able to post replies to them. Once the Top 32 are revealed, you'll see judge comments and voters can reply.

Thanks for the quick response.

I could see viewing comments, rankings, or votes after having made one's choice between two entries, but not beforehand.

I'm excited to see how this new voting system turns out!

this is totally off subject.... but my group just had an encounter with 4 wooden golems last session.

needless to say my group of power-gaming uber-naughts slew them with ease, a wood chipper would have been more kind, by comparison.

So I say to you Woodengolem, maintain thy secret identity, for wooden golems are no more than fodder.

Am I the only one who wants to see a magical woodchipper now?

I asked the judges last year if they ever saw an item that made them say to themselves "Now this item just reeks of Tom Phillips."

:-)

I don't know, those troll fingers seemed like they might smell bad after a while...

Incidentally, I'm pretty sure those troll fingers wouldn't have made the cut in 2011, 2012, ... or this year. ;-)

Best of luck to everyone who submitted an item!

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

So extra-terrestrials are DQ'd? Hmmm...

Am I the only one who wants to see a magical woodchipper now?

Not bad. But can we have it in chainsaw form, possibly modified to be a one handed weapon, so my Gunslinger can wield it with his Boomstick?

....

Just sayin'.

I feel like my item's pretty radically different from what I did last year. I'd be pretty impressed ... or possibly scared ... if someone could link it to me.

+1

Just noticed we'll have almost a month to get through all of those submissions. Oh, look, is that a holiday break coming up? Yes, I believe it is.

=D

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

Hey, we can´t rule out extraterrestrial life. An RPG´s just the thing to take the edge off a long space voyage, and an electronically available game system´s bound to be more convenient...

This is true. Also, this is the internet. If there aren't at twice-thirty times as many people that "totally exist" out here, then I will be especially disappointed.

Warren Crowhurst wrote:

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

Hey, we can´t rule out extraterrestrial life. An RPG´s just the thing to take the edge off a long space voyage, and an electronically available game system´s bound to be more convenient...

This is true. Also, this is the internet. If there aren't at twice-thirty times as many people that "totally exist" out here, then I will be especially disappointed.

WOW, Dan. Stellar english.

My inactivity on the boards coupled with the fact that only only other entry was at the original RPG Superstar multiplied by the fact that nobody cares who I am means that none shall know! NONE!

A FINE strategy. I applaud your below-the-radar-ness. That is the sign of only the truest of geniuses.

Woodengolem wrote:

My inactivity on the boards coupled with the fact that only only other entry was at the original RPG Superstar multiplied by the fact that nobody cares who I am means that none shall know! NONE!

A FINE strategy. I applaud your below-the-radar-ness. That is the sign of only the truest of geniuses.

Eh, genius is overrated anyways.

Daniel Brakefield wrote:

Woodengolem wrote:

My inactivity on the boards coupled with the fact that only only other entry was at the original RPG Superstar multiplied by the fact that nobody cares who I am means that none shall know! NONE!

A FINE strategy. I applaud your below-the-radar-ness. That is the sign of only the truest of geniuses.

Eh, genius is overrated anyways.

And so i keep saying that to myself... :P

Warren Crowhurst wrote:

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

Hey, we can´t rule out extraterrestrial life. An RPG´s just the thing to take the edge off a long space voyage, and an electronically available game system´s bound to be more convenient...

This is true. Also, this is the internet. If there aren't at twice-thirty times as many people that "totally exist" out here, then I will be especially disappointed.

I support your premise, Dan! Go secret team Mac-town!

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

So extra-terrestrials are DQ'd? Hmmm...

Pretty sure I am an extra-terrestrial, yes.

(I will continue to make this joke until it ceases amusing me.)

Anthony Adam wrote:

At least 32 and less than 100 billion I think :P

I'd put a maximum around 7 billion. I can't assume we'd get more entries than there are people currently living on the planet.

What about alternate dimensions?