Hm, I think this is one someone mentioned should be a rod.
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In 2008 or 2007 or whenever the first RPGSS was, I submitted an item. I forget what base item it was, but I remember it conferred Swallow Whole. I thought it was such an awesome idea. What player had ever used Swallow Whole? It could be a totally new thing! You'd be like Tarrasque! Aw yeah, I'm gonna win all the rounds!
My item and dozens (hundreds?) like it got brushed off as "MIAC". Monster In A Can. In my mind's eye I can recall seeing judge comments on items (mine?) where it was just four quick "MIAC" posts and then gone again. I'm not sure how much of that is recollection and how much is imagined.
Negativity can be discouraging. But being brushed off can be even more discouraging. I went seven or eight years without trying again.
A negative post which implies how to solve the problem at least offers a glimmer of hope to the optimists. If we must go negative, please don't stop at "Oh gross, you X'd a Y!". Tack on a "You should have A'd the B!" People will come back and A their Bs next year if they at least know it's a thing they can do.
Problem with the idea pool having a lot of duplication? Okay, how did it happen, and how do we prevent it from happening? If it's an easy thing to solve, it should get mentioned here at the same time the problem is identified.
Farmhouse pairing.
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Champion Voter Season 6, Champion Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Champion Voter Season 9
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So many lovely nets, I have always thought nets to be under appreciated. I even have one of my PFS characters use one. I would gladly use most of the nets this year.
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My item and dozens (hundreds?) like it got brushed off as "MIAC". Monster In A Can. In my mind's eye I can recall seeing judge comments on items (mine?) where it was just four quick "MIAC" posts and then gone again. I'm not sure how much of that is recollection and how much is imagined.
The cry of 'filigree' (or SIAC or SAK or...) as a dismissive shorthand, ironically, became an example of the very thing it was attempting to dismiss - a rather easy adjective to describe someone's work (without exercising much thought) that became unmoored from its original context and, ultimately, emptied of useful significance.
On the 'patterns' in items that show up every year, I wonder how much of that is pareidolia? The thought occurred to me this year when I was musing to a friend about the seeming abundance of a particular, comparatively rare, weapon. He pointed out that I wouldn't (indeed, didn't) notice the proliferation of more common weapons. It's tempting to say "lots of aspergillums this year" after seen, say, six - that's an unusual weapon, and will pique the brain's interest. Meanwhile, twenty longswords might pop up in the voting and go unnoticed... (NOTE: I haven't seen any aspergillums. Aspergillae? Aspergilli?)
If this is the case, snarking about it just serves to make the people who create rarer items more self-conscious (and, perhaps, less likely to bother developing their skills in the future). It doesn't take special design insight to rant about what turns out to be a case of cognitive bias creating the illusion of a lack of imagination on the part of entrants.
If it is not the case, it still seems likely that the so-called "lots" wind up being no more than a percent or two of the total entries. In a contest like this, where unusual is prized, it ought not be surprising that one percent of, say, the weapons wind up being aspergillums (aspergilloo?) You would expect that, and, given the comparatively small number of rare-yet-cinematic items in the game, you would also expect that one percent to cluster around a handful of items. So it isn't much of a comment to say "another aspergillum." If you made one of those, try to keep that in mind and keep good cheer about what that dismissal is really worth.
I'm seeing a lot of cool stuff, I'm seeing a lot of stuff that I might tweak here and there (but that's just me), and I'm seeing some stuff I probably wouldn't ever use but I can imagine somebody might. But everything I'm seeing, all of it took guts to submit, and it can be crushing to see a handful of people flippantly dismiss it with what amounts to thoughtless cliches every bit as hackneyed as they claim the item they are dismissing is.
That said, once the first round is over, I got fantastic feedback from a few people on the Critique thread last year. For anyone reading through this and feeling stung by a cheap dismissal, I'd recommend waiting for that - if you don't make the Top 32, which, stung or not, dismissed or not, you just might...
pareidolia
Is it just me or did your post teleport? Forum wizardry skills.
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pareidoliaIs it just me or did your post teleport? Forum wizardry skills.
Teleport would be overkill. It was dimension door. Never bring more spell than you need...
Seen mine once right after hitting marathon and not again since then :-/Marathon status = check
Item seen = nope
Come on, show me my item!
Once just before for me.
Teleport would be overkill. It was dimension door. Never bring more spell than you need...pareidoliaIs it just me or did your post teleport? Forum wizardry skills.
Okay, so it wasn't just me.
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It's tempting to say "lots of aspergillums this year" after seen, say, six - that's an unusual weapon, and will pique the brain's interest. Meanwhile, twenty longswords might pop up in the voting and go unnoticed... (NOTE: I haven't seen any aspergillums. Aspergillae? Aspergilli?)
If this is the case, snarking about it just serves to make the people who create rarer items more self-conscious (and, perhaps, less likely to bother developing their skills in the future). It doesn't take special design insight to rant about what turns out to be a case of cognitive bias creating the illusion of a lack of imagination on the part of entrants.
If it is not the case, it still seems likely that the so-called "lots" wind up being no more than a percent or two of the total entries. In a contest like this, where unusual is prized, it ought not be surprising that one percent of, say, the weapons wind up being aspergillums (aspergilloo?) You would expect that, and, given the comparatively small number of rare-yet-cinematic items in the game, you would also...
I'd just like to point out that "lots of aspergillums this year" isn't snark. It's a statement. There's no negative or positive in it anywhere. It's simply a statement of (perceived) fact.
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I'd just like to point out that "lots of aspergillums this year" isn't snark. It's a statement. There's no negative or positive in it anywhere. It's simply a statement of (perceived) fact.
Good point. I suppose I meant the "Aaaannnddd another aspergillum, downvote" type posts, or posts that contextually imply a collective lack of imagination among aspergilliophiles. Sometimes the observations are just observations - which, as you point out, is different. And sometimes (see a few posts up) they are downright positive. I guess I could have been clearer. Thank you.
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Aspergilliophiles is my new favorite word.
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The actual numbers on the 800 items I have seen, with the armors, shields, and weapons listed in order of frequency. Undefined means that some info was left out when the item was described:
Armors: 125
Shields: 61
Weapons: 327
Rings: 139
Rods: 65
Staves: 79
Wondrous items (DQ): 4
Total: 800
Armors:
Breastplate: 23
Full Plate: 23
Chain Shirt: 18
Leather: 12
Hide: 11
Scale mail: 9
Studded Leather: 8
Chainmail: 4
Padded: 3
Parade: 3
Half-plate: 2
Undefined: 2
Armored Coat: 1
Ceremonial: 1
Lamellar: 1
Leaf armor: 1
Mountain Pattern: 1
O-yoroi: 1
Splint Mail: 1
Total: 125
Shields:
Heavy, steel/metal: 32
Heavy, wooden/hide: 7
Light, steel/metal: 7
Tower: 7
Buckler: 6
Undefined: 2
Total: 61
Weapons:
Dagger: 36
Longsword: 25
Rapier: 16
Short Sword: 14
Greatsword: 11
Earthbreaker: 10
Bastard sword: 9
Gauntlet: 9
Scimitar: 9
Quartersatff: 8
Club: 7
Whip: 7
Battleaxe: 6
Mace, Heavy: 6
Net: 6
Warhammer: 6
Arrow: 5
Chakram: 5
Greataxe: 5
Katana: 5
Crossbow, Light: 4
Dart: 4
Flail, undefined: 4
Javelin: 4
Longbow: 4
Longbow, Composite: 4
Short bow, Composite: 4
Sickle: 4
Spear: 4
Starknife: 4
Crossbow, Heavy: 3
Cutlass: 3
Firearm, Revolver: 3
Gnome hooked hammer: 3
Greatclub: 3
Hammer, Light: 3
Longspear: 3
Mace, Light: 3
Bolas: 2
Falchion: 2
Firearm, Blunderbuss: 2
Glaive: 2
Nine-ring Broadsword: 2
Short bow: 2
Shuriken: 2
Sling: 2
Sword, undefined: 2
Throwing Axe: 2
Whip, scorpion: 2
Bardiche: 1
Blade Boot: 1
Blade, undefined: 1
Blowgun: 1
Bolt: 1
Bow, undefined: 1
Butterfly Sword: 1
Cannonball: 1
Cestus: 1
Chainsaw: 1
Crossbow, Hand: 1
Crossbow, undefined: 1
Double-Sword: 1
Falcata: 1
Fighting Fan: 1
Firearm, Pistol: 1
Firearm, Rifle: 1
Flail, heavy: 1
Flying blade: 1
Halberd: 1
Hurlbat: 1
Kukri: 1
Kyoketsu Shoge: 1
Lance: 1
"Beam Blade": 1
Lucerne Hammer: 1
Naginata: 1
Nunchaku: 1
Ogre hook: 1
Pick, Heavy: 1
Piston Maul: 1
Scythe: 1
Short spear: 1
Sling-staff: 1
Sword Cane: 1
Whip, cat-o'nine-tails: 1
Total: 327
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Aspergilliophiles is my new favorite word.
My work here is done.
As you can see from my list, the exotics weren't the most frequent. People stuck to the common a lot more than they did the different.
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The actual numbers on the 800 items I have seen, with the armors, shields, and weapons listed in order of frequency.
You rock.
Now, someone cross-reference the frequency of item occurrence with the frequency of item forum mention... maybe some adjustment for sentiment analysis...
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Daaaang Feros! Five star post! Thanks! As they say, Data is Beautiful.
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A ramble about pluralizing aspergillum:
Though we have no recorded usage of the word until 1649*, making it a late-coined "Latinate" word rather than a 'real' Latin word, it does presumably fall under the pattern of second declension nouns for Latin, which is the only declension to have neuter nouns in the nominative ending in -um. Ergo, the nominative plural of 'aspergillums', if you're trying to go with the Latinized form, would be aspergilla.
However, this only applies if you're talking about the nominative form (if it's being used as the subject of a sentence, essentially). If you wanted to say "People submitted a lot of aspergilliwiddies this year', then you would be using the accusative, which is actually... also aspergilla. At least in the plural.
[/I took a year of Latin in college and I regret nothing]
*that's what the Internet told me, anyway
(Edited to correct my incorrect Latining)
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As you can see from my list, the exotics weren't the most frequent. People stuck to the common a lot more than they did the different.
Are you counting the rods and staves that are also weapons in the weapons list?
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A ramble about pluralizing aspergillum:
Move that we call warriors who wield exclusively aspergillis, "aspergilloons." Seconded?
Maybe a prestige class...
Mjölnir is a warhammer. Make it a warhammer.
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A ramble about pluralizing aspergillum:
Move that we call warriors who wield exclusively aspergillis, "aspergilloons." Seconded?
Maybe a prestige class...
Perhaps if they are mounted. I think I prefer aspergillites for light armor aspergillium wielders, aspergillista for monk or brawler derived PrCs, and aspergillic for constantly drunk wielders of aspergilliums. Aspergerillium for theses who have aspergers and wield an aspergillium, and then there is the great As-per-gilliam for a very funny wielder of an aspergillium.
As you can see from my list, the exotics weren't the most frequent. People stuck to the common a lot more than they did the different.Are you counting the rods and staves that are also weapons in the weapons list?
No, as rods and staves that have weapon aspects are still listed with rods and staves in the magic items list in the CRB. Sadly, I didn't keep track of which rods and staves had a weapons component.
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Some data mining from the Feros Array:
Armors: The top 3 armor types account for over half of submissions. Each armor tier is represented in the top 3. Heavy only occurs once in the top 10. Almost all the Mediums are in the Top 10. Probably Heavy armors were less appealing dur to their restricted nature.
Shields: A single type accounts for over half of submissions. However, the remainder of types are evenly spread. I find those two points VERY interesting and don't know what to make of them.
Weapons: 13 weapon types account for over half of submissions. 7 are Martial, 4 are Simple, 2 are Exotic. It has the same kind of 'sweet spot' spread as the Armors which favours midrange. Speaking of pareidolia, Starknives were called out earlier in the thread as unusually common, but are tied for 21st with only 4 entries of 327 weapons.
Some data mining from the Feros Array:
Fascinating stuff.
I was surprised to see that daggers were most frequently seen in that data set, accounting for 11% of all weapons. Not sure what to make of it, but it struck me as unexpected. I'd've guessed longsword, which was second.
Well, looking at the other groups...
Each of the top 3 armors is the highest end for their tier. "Best In Slot" in a way. The top Shield is also a meaty "Best In Slot" type. If I extrapolate... Dagger must be considered "Best In Slot" among Simple Weapons which are relevant to everyone. Any adventurer can use, and often needs, a Simple Light weapon for the literally face-to-face fights. That global necessity must have been what edged it out over Best In Slot Martial Longsword.
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Perhaps if they are mounted. I think I prefer aspergillites for light armor aspergillium wielders, aspergillista for monk or brawler derived PrCs, and aspergillic for constantly drunk wielders of aspergilliums. Aspergerillium for theses who have aspergers and wield an aspergillium, and then there is the great As-per-gilliam for a very funny wielder of an aspergillium.A ramble about pluralizing aspergillum:
Move that we call warriors who wield exclusively aspergillis, "aspergilloons." Seconded?
Maybe a prestige class...
Asper Gillian should be Karen Gillan's sister.
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Well, looking at the other groups...
Each of the top 3 armors is the highest end for their tier. "Best In Slot" in a way. The top Shield is also a meaty "Best In Slot" type. If I extrapolate... Dagger must be considered "Best In Slot" among Simple Weapons which are relevant to everyone. Any adventurer can use, and often needs, a Simple Light weapon for the literally face-to-face fights. That global necessity must have been what edged it out over Best In Slot Martial Longsword.
I suppose. Tho my table philosophy is "Feet before dagger." If I'm down to using my dagger, things have gone very, very wrong... :)
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When you're inside a monster belly you really need a dagger.
I'd have liked to have seen a better variety in the weapons department. They should attuned to what the item does, not just to the slot.
But I totally understand the dagger. It's a light simple weapon that literally anyone can use.
I'd just like to point out that "lots of aspergillums this year" isn't snark. It's a statement. There's no negative or positive in it anywhere. It's simply a statement of (perceived) fact.
It just occurred to me that I may have stumbled into another bias here. That is, if a neutral comment like "lots of aspergillums" is preceded by (even if entirely independent of) a negative comment about aspergillofrequency, I am more likely to shade the second, neutral comment with a negative emotive connotation. (NOTE: order of precession is determined by order of reading, not order of posting, tho those often coincide).
Fascinating.
]
I'd just like to point out that "lots of aspergillums this year" isn't snark. It's a statement. There's no negative or positive in it anywhere. It's simply a statement of (perceived) fact.
It just occurred to me that I may have stumbled into another bias here. That is, if a neutral comment like "lots of aspergillums" is preceded by (even if entirely independent of) a negative comment about aspergillofrequency, I am more likely to shade the second, neutral comment with a negative emotive connotation. (NOTE: order of precession is determined by order of reading, not order of posting, tho those often coincide).
Fascinating.
The Medium is the Message, people. The Medium is the Message.
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The Medium is the Message, people. The Medium is the Message.
I thought Occult Adventures stuff wasn't legal for RPGSS 2015...
I'll show myself out.
The Medium is the Message.
A ramble about pluralizing aspergillum:
Move that we call warriors who wield exclusively aspergillis, "aspergilloons." Seconded?
Maybe a prestige class...
Next year I shall make a aspergillum that when wielded by a aspergilloon causes the disease aspergillosis when filled with aspergillus spores. It could be cursed and cause the user to have aspergers while being used. I shall name it "Aspergilliophile".
RPG Superstar 2015
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka mamaursula
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I suppose. Tho my table philosophy is "Feet before dagger." If I'm down to using my dagger, things have gone very, very wrong... :)Well, looking at the other groups...
Each of the top 3 armors is the highest end for their tier. "Best In Slot" in a way. The top Shield is also a meaty "Best In Slot" type. If I extrapolate... Dagger must be considered "Best In Slot" among Simple Weapons which are relevant to everyone. Any adventurer can use, and often needs, a Simple Light weapon for the literally face-to-face fights. That global necessity must have been what edged it out over Best In Slot Martial Longsword.
That's when you really need dimension door.
That's when you really need dimension door.
Believe me, if there was a way to always, for all classes, at all levels, in all circumstances have at least one dimension door, I would.
It'd be nice in-game too.
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What happens when a shield the creates dimension doors blocks a blow from a sword that creates dimensional doors! I wish I ate the blue pill
What happens when a shield the creates dimension doors blocks a blow from a sword that creates dimensional doors! I wish I ate the blue pill
The blue pill would produce items as exciting as sandals that always feel comfy on one's feet no matter how far one may roam.
That way lie madness.
OK, I'm over 3,200 votes and saw the Hobbit today. Time for sleep.
Wow, that item sure is corny.
I really like this item, but I think it's insanely too cheap. It needs to be, maybe 3-5 times more expensive, at least. If it was, it'd be on my keeper list, but undercosting something so severely just...well, it's sadly not superstar to me.
What happens when a shield the creates dimension doors blocks a blow from a sword that creates dimensional doors! I wish I ate the blue pill
An explosion like when a laser hits a personal shield in Dune? (can't remember actual names of said laser or shield)
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What happens when a shield the creates dimension doors blocks a blow from a sword that creates dimensional doors! I wish I ate the blue pillAn explosion like when a laser hits a personal shield in Dune? (can't remember actual names of said laser or shield)
Holtzman shields and Lasguns. Interaction causes a nuclear explosion.
I like it.
Randomly, something I wish I'd thought of is a staff that is some other kind of weapon than a quarterstaff, like a monk's spade or a sansetsukon.
or a two bladed sword or dire flail… Unless those aren't weapons in PF, or are, but are actually not staves but weapons. Or...
or a two bladed sword or dire flail… Unless those aren't weapons in PF, or are, but are actually not staves but weapons. Or...
Oh, they're legal, though I cannot understand how someone would be able to use a dire flail without dying a terrible bloody death while their enemy laughs.
Helicopter style?