theheadkase RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |
Timitius PaizoCon Founder, Wayfinder Editor-in-Chief |
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Debating on what to write here. I don't quite know yet what the Weal or Woes are, but I have been interested in trying to write some.
Basically, two NPCs, one a possible ally, and the other....not so much. Both have brief backstories, which are usually connected somehow, along with stat blocks, and a boon or drawback.
Best advice is to download some Wayfinders and read several Weal or Woe articles to get a good feel for it.
Timitius PaizoCon Founder, Wayfinder Editor-in-Chief |
Hey, um, quick question. Would a new race count as a bestiary entry or a new rules entry? Because I've got some interesting ideas relating to such.
New races are typically two page efforts, and as such, are best as separate articles. If you could do it in 750 words, then it works as a one page article, as Paris shows with an example below, but keep in mind that that example is of an established monster being modified, and not a whole new one. Most people don't do the simplified version. They add ecology, society, etc. in, popping it up to the 1500 word limit. For example, the vegepygmy article in WF 8.
Paris Crenshaw Contributor |
Hey, um, quick question. Would a new race count as a bestiary entry or a new rules entry? Because I've got some interesting ideas relating to such.
If the race is being presented as a playable character race, then it would need to be a separate article, rather than a bestiary entry. For example, Thomas "Kilrex" LeBlanc introduced gnolls as a PC race in Wayfinder #10. Take a look at page 16 of that issue.
Thomas provided the Advanced Race Guide rules-based abilities for gnolls as a 10 RP race. He gave favored class options, for a couple of classes, some cool background options based on the rules from Ultimate Campaign, and created a few Gnoll race traits and some desert regional traits. Together with a short introductory paragraph, that made for a nice 750-word/1-page article.
EDIT: Tim's correct. Thomas could get away with a 1-page article because gnolls are already established in the setting. If you're introducing something new, you'll need to use more words describing who this new race is and what they're about.
Oceanshieldwolf |
Lindley Court wrote:Hey, um, quick question. Would a new race count as a bestiary entry or a new rules entry? Because I've got some interesting ideas relating to such.New races are typically two page efforts, and as such, are best as separate articles. If you could do it in 750 words, then it works as a one page article, as Paris shows with an example below, but keep in mind that that example is of an established monster being modified, and not a whole new one. Most people don't do the simplified version. They add ecology, society, etc. in, popping it up to the 1500 word limit. For example, the vegepygmy article in WF 8.
Hey, thanks for the props Timitius. I'm always happy to be made an example of….um… to provide an example. That article included a (fairly simple) Summoner racial archetype too...
Oceanshieldwolf |
I've got a couple Osirion Bestiary critters and a 750 word Ethnology article that just needs some scalpel work before submitting. The main roadblock I'm having is getting my brain to pause on my Numeria/Iron Gods submissions.
This (and one or two other concerns) are also keeping me from paying due attention to the one Egyptian-themed idea I have...
Timitius PaizoCon Founder, Wayfinder Editor-in-Chief |
Bardess wrote:Ambrosia Slaad wrote:I've got a couple Osirion Bestiary critters and a 750 word Ethnology article that just needs some scalpel work before submitting. The main roadblock I'm having is getting my brain to pause on my Numeria/Iron Gods submissions.Is this a suggestion on #13 theme?"Iron Gods" is coming. [/Ned Slaad]
I don't know what issue it'll be—I'm personally guessing #14, maybe #15—but it seems inevitable that Wayfinder will be visiting Numeria sometime in the future. The biggest hurdle will be keeping Tim, Paris, and Dain (& his bound extraplanar layout assistants) sane until then. :) Until then, if I get any idea for any regional article, I'm jotting it down and tinkering on it.
Sanity is over-rated IMHO, but Primes seem to depend on it more than us Chaotic outsiders.
Regarding the theme for #13, we will have a little discussion on that at our seminar....but in my mind, there is only one choice. ;-)
Numeria needs to run its course, first. Paizo needs to get all that goodness written and developed and done, the AP completed and out, and people then need some time to digest, mull things over, etc. I don't see a Numeria-themed Wayfinder for a while.
The fact that we are doing an Osirion theme so close on the heels of this latest AP has some people complaining that it's too soon as well. So, #12 is going to be an experiment...to see if we do, indeed, need to let a recent AP theme "cool" a bit before addressing it in Wayfinder. That will be a weighing factor in how soon to visit Numeria in Wayfinder.
I will say that our choice for #11 WAS Osirion before Paizo announced the Mummy's Mask AP, so this has been a theme we've wanted to revisit since Wayfinder #1, which was heavy in Osirion content.
Thomas LeBlanc RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Mikaze |
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Thomas LeBlanc wrote:Do your ideas also involve mummified mi-go and neh-thalggu?The Friendly Lich wrote:Not to mention Aucturn, countdown clocks, and the dominion of the black.My ideas, you stole them!
He'sDeadJim |
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My first article was already sent off yesterday... and I have 2 more working. One is basically complete and the other still need some work. We'll see. I don't want to rush anything yet.
I have no idea what you guys are working up to doing as the theme in the next Wayfinder...but a hint would be nice sooner than later for those of us who like to keep ideas worming around in our heads for the future!
*Head Explodes into a Pile of Writhing Worms*
Sorry about that...I'll clean it up later.
Todd Stewart Contributor |
zylphryx |
zylphryx wrote:Senet-styled tile/board game in the works. Kinda like quad-dominoes meets a senet board and chaos reigns supreme ... at least until I get the rules worked out. ;)Cool. I told Tim and Paris you totally needed to do a hieroglypics-based board game or something for the Osirion issue.
Oh, there will be hieroglyphics ... figuring they will appear on both the tiles as well as the board. Still working out the details; hope to have the rough done this week.
The nice thing about basing off of Senet is the actual rules are unknown. There are rules that have been extrapolated based off of archeological evidence (illustrations of game play as well as text describing exchanges in game play, but there are no known definitive rules from when it was originally played. Mehen and Hounds and Jackals (which could have been the original Shoots and Ladders) are pretty much unknown for the how the games are played; the archeological record does not provide anywhere near as much detail on these games as it does for Senet.
Timitius PaizoCon Founder, Wayfinder Editor-in-Chief |
Thomas LeBlanc RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Paris Crenshaw Contributor |
Thomas LeBlanc RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Anthony Adam |
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Quick question as I'm not 100% sure, one of my submissions is going to be an article on "typical Osirion life" that will exhibit the tools, life and foods of Ancient Egypt re-themed for Osirion.
So, it's not really magical items (but I might make some items from the article as magical items as another submission), and I'm not really sure what category of submission it does fall under. So, can I assume that the 1500 word limit applies to this type of article?
Thanks in advance for your kind attention.
Paris Crenshaw Contributor |
Quick question as I'm not 100% sure, one of my submissions is going to be an article on "typical Osirion life" that will exhibit the tools, life and foods of Ancient Egypt re-themed for Osirion.
So, it's not really magical items (but I might make some items from the article as magical items as another submission), and I'm not really sure what category of submission it does fall under. So, can I assume that the 1500 word limit applies to this type of article?
Thanks in advance for your kind attention.
Dain is correct, Anthony. This would fall under the category of the flavor articles (no pun intended, there). It doesn't have to have one of the specific titles like "Golarion Gazetteer" or "Heroes' Hoarde." Try to come up with a title that will grab your readers while also telling them what's in the article. (Something like "Common Household Items of Osirion" would be accurate, but isn't very exciting. ;) )
Anthony Adam |
Yeah, title is a challenge on this one, but I have done so much research on Ancient Egypt in prep for my holiday at Luxor, I thought it would be a shame to waste the opportunity ;)
Paris Crenshaw Contributor |
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Paris/Tim, I know it might be too early to answer this, but in general is there a type of submission you get more than you could ever need and some that don't get the love they should?
Hi, Jeffrey.
I think the only thing we didn't get very many of for #11 was Side Trek Seeds. We got some very good ones for Qadira & Katapesh (#10), but only got a few submissions for Cheliax.
Tim may have some other ideas, when he gets a chance to respond, but in general, I'd say, just focus on what you want to make and don't worry too much about what you think people are submitting more or less of. I'd rather get something that you really enjoyed making, instead of something you did just to fill a niche. :)
Paris
Jeffrey 'Zerzix' Swank |
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Just finished a fiction piece that is waaaaaaay outside my norm. lol With all the talk over on the romance of the Inner Sea thread, I gave a shot at a little romance (very clean, respectful, PG rated) on the Rive Phoenix. The wife cried as she read it, so I think I hit the nail on the head with it--is this something that might be considered for content?
Anthony Adam |
I think you may find that...
a) if it is submitted
b) and follows the word counts
c) AND is on topic
then it definitely will get considered :)
Romance can be found anywhere in the most unlikely of places, but if it's back-dropped with the correct setting and flavor, it can't hurt by being submitted now can it ;)
Short version
Submit!
Paris Crenshaw Contributor |
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I think you may find that...
a) if it is submitted
b) and follows the word counts
c) AND is on topicthen it definitely will get considered :)
Romance can be found anywhere in the most unlikely of places, but if it's back-dropped with the correct setting and flavor, it can't hurt by being submitted now can it ;)
Short version
Submit!
Anthony has the right of it. We will consider any submission that meets the guidelines. Consideration doesn't necessarily equate to selection for publication, but we definitely won't turn away a story just because it isn't an action/adventure tale. (As a matter of fact, my own fiction, "Precious Cargo", was accepted for Wayfinder #8 and it most certainly was not action-oriented.)
Anthony Adam |
Ok, I have taken my idea of describing ancient egyptian artifacts / tools and rather than doing a boring list of items I have attempted to wrap them as the center piece to a scene of life, kind of story like with a twist in the tale at the end.
I don't think I have seen items written in this manner before and it is very experimental submission so I hope you enjoy looking at it even if you decide it's not suitable. It is winging through the internet wiring as I type.
zylphryx |
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So while I am figuring out what to write still, I do want to say thanks for being clearer about article word count. It really helps for those of us who are word count conscious (like me) and want to stay on target.
*sets a course for 1,500 words for her gazetteers*
Glad to hear you are word count conscious, Lady Ophelia. It is definitely a good way to be.
In fact, EVERYONE who submits an article should be word count conscious. I hear that aside from being completely off theme, it is one of the quickest ways to get your submission bumped ... or at least put into the maybe bin ... which with the number of submissions we have been getting is not where you want your submission to be.
This PSA brought to you by the Keep Tim and Paris Sane a Little Longer Foundation, with assistance from Lady Ophelia by supplying a great point for a segue.
Paris Crenshaw Contributor |
To those that have made new races for Wayfinder, how does one go about adding a race that isn't really in the setting? Seems like a greater effect to canon than simply adding a monster.
Hi, Odraude.
Creating an entirely new race is risky. While we love to see new and inventive things, the main goal of Wayfinder is really to allow fans to take the seeds that Paizo plants in their various sourcebooks and grow them into original creations.
For example, if a supplement made an offhand reference to a strange race of creatures and didn't flesh out the reference or provide stats for them elsewhere, then it would be a fantastic opportunity to build on that and create information about a new race.
If you're just going to create a new race for submission, you'll need to figure out another way to tie it into the setting. I would suggest looking at Ultimate Campaign and create some background traits and other material that show us how this race fits on Golarion.
You'll also need to provide some kind of explanation for why no one has ever heard of this race until now. Paizo has the leeway with their setting to say, "[This thing] has always been part of Golarion, but we haven't mentioned it until now", because it's their setting. But even they don't do that very often (especially not with races), and I do not encourage Wayfinder contributors to use that method.
Is the race a new, magical creation? Did they suddenly appear from somewhere else? Did they travel to Golarion on purpose? Were they running from some other force or entity on their old world? All of these questions can provide fun answers that help explain the race's origins, while simultaneously giving seeds and hooks for further adventures that use the race. However, giving readers even a hint at the story behind the race can take up a lot of space. This would definitely need to be a 1,500 word article, rather than a single Bestiary submission.
EDIT: I forgot to mention. For ideas on how to structure your article, look at the bestiary entries in the Pathfinder Adventure Path issues, as well as the gnoll article from Wayfinder #10.
Anthony Adam |
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Hey all,
Don't forget to go to The Ennies 2014 and log your votes by the 30th - and make sure your favorite publishers include Paizo and Paizo Fans United ! ;D
Anthony Adam |
Ok, this one isn't really Paizo related (Sorry about that) - but if you are looking for some Osirion style miniatures - undead mummies, skeletal egyptian guards, ruddy big evil scorpion dudes and the like to populate your tombs of Wati, well, Games Workshop have these beauties... and the detailing on some of them is freakin' amazing, and there are 3 pages of them to drool over!
Time to get those paints out...
Timitius PaizoCon Founder, Wayfinder Editor-in-Chief |
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I'm working on an article that includes a custom rod. I see that a couple of different formats are used. For example, the format in the CRB that I'm familiar with vs UE's modified format.
For Wayfinder, should I use the CRB's format?
Yes. Core Rulebook. Ultimate Equipment sure is pretty, but I seriously do not want to throw that much formatting at our layout designers. Clean and simple, that's the ticket.