I would say, officially, GM Rednal's answer is correct. Sorry, Nykidemus!
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I've seen in another forum that some people have a little trepidation about the prize. I just wanted to reassure any potential contestants that I'll be there to offer as much guidance as you need/want (as will Kim Frandsen, who will be editing the project for d20pfsrd) while you're working on the adventure.
We have no intention of abandoning anyone and disappearing once the contest is over.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I just wanted to reassure any potential contestants that I'll be there to offer as much guidance as you need/want (as will Kim Frandsen, who will be editing the project for d20pfsrd) while you're working on the adventure.
This sounds like a great opportunity for somebody relatively new to the industry to get some personal feedback and coaching from folks who have been around a while. Nice!
I'm not seeing any file format guidelines in the submission rules. Is PDF okay?
We would prefer them to simply be in the body of the email.
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Very good. Bones rolled, as it were.
I believe I know the answer to this, but I figured I would clarify. The entire submission, as I would interpret it, means every part, from the name to the construction requirements, yes? As opposed to the definition of the item?
I may have missed it.
Otherwise, incredibly eager to participate. No idea how it'll go, but I suspect it will be fun regardless!
Yes, the submission is EVERYTHING in the statblock, from the name on down. The example format is located in the open call rules.
If you're asking about this regarding word count, yes it means that everything in the statblock, including costs, headers, etc. counts toward the word count limit.
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Kevin, the map doesn't have to be hand-drawn; it could be done via computer program.
Trust me, mapping is *not* my forte, but it's a critical skill for several aspects of game design.
I figured. I just don’t have full use of my hands so drawing is practically impossible for me.
If you have any recommendations for map programs, I’m open to suggestions. The ones I have are pre-designed for individual homes, caverns, or the inner walls of castles, including magma pits.
If you're willing to pay for it, I very much enjoy using Campaign Cartographer (CC3+). It has a bit of a learning curve to get used to (and there are many tutorials out there to help) because it does not work like typical drawing programs, but once you get used to it, it's a great program. Accessibility wise, if you can click, right click, and occasionally hold down shift or control while clicking you can use the UI. It's a powerful CAD based program preloaded with pretty much anything you'll need to get a good game map created of any size. The add ons Dungeon Designer and City Designer are also incredibly helpful--but not necessary--to draw dungeons and cities respectively. I used CC3 (the predecessor to CC3+) for my map in the "top 8" round of the contest of designing an encounter (mind that's the round I got eliminated on, but I don't think it was because of the map... my encounter design had numerous flaws).
On the other end of things, if you feel comfortable using them, you can also just use any old raster drawing program to draw a map in -- most professional map designers use Photoshop or similar programs to create their maps, not special mapping software. Import a grid of the right size and draw on top of it in the program. My OTHER map submission in 2015 was handdrawn to start with, but then finished up in the GIMP, a free Photoshop-like graphics program.
An important thing to note about maps is they do not need to be zippywow marvels of visual effects. The idea of the map entry is that it is something you provide to the publishers who are working with you to see your thinking, and to give to a professional cartographer (who is not you) to create the final artwork for publication. It's on the professional cartographer (who is not you) to do the zippywow marvels of visual effects. You just need to create something crisp, clean, and clear enough that the developers working with you can see your intention and the cartographer can take it to use to create the final product without having to ask you a lot of clarifying questions. Many map entries in RPGSS (which Designfinder is modeled after) have looked incredible but ultimately it is about usability and clarity, not aesthetics.
There's a little under a week to get your submissions in for DesignFinder. We've had a good number come in so far, but there's still plenty of time to come up with an idea and see what happens!
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I'm going through my Ultimate Equipment to see if my idea doesn't exist yet... but I'll send something soon!
There will be a forum going live on the site soon, so people can discuss the following rounds. And good luck - and since I know you were part of the Blazing 9, if you have any contact with any of them, tell them to join up too. :-)
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Raven -- No, that item isn't eligible, as the items have to be anonymous. Especially since I was usually very involved in those threads, I'm likely to recognize your item, which would disqualify it,
(In addition, items should also be solely your work, while Blazing 9 items likely benefit from feedback from anyone who chimed in on them.)
That said, I'm glad you'r excited about it, and hope you have something you enter! :)
Can't wait to start seeing items!
I can't find where it says so, but I think I've read about a rule saying we can reference only content from the core rule book, is that right?
So an item requesting a spell from Ultimate Intrigue to create would not be allowed, right?
Or was it that OGL Paizo content was accepted, including UI, but no 3PP?
Thanks! I'll have to find a better prerequisite, then!
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Raven -- No, that item isn't eligible, as the items have to be anonymous. Especially since I was usually very involved in those threads, I'm likely to recognize your item, which would disqualify it,
(In addition, items should also be solely your work, while Blazing 9 items likely benefit from feedback from anyone who chimed in on them.)
That said, I'm glad you'r excited about it, and hope you have something you enter! :)
Just need to take my graverobber kit out of the attic, brush away the cobwebs and start desecrating the crypt where I stowed away my RPGSS dreams
It does feel a bit like that Terminator 3 graveyard scene :-D
Anyone who has been employed full-time as a designer for a game company is ineligible.
I have to ask - does this limitation refer only to RPG Game companies, or does it extend to tabletop, computer games, toys, whatever-else...?
Longshot, it refers to RPG companies.
Hi Toni,
We don't answer the emails unless people proceed to the next round.
If you PM me the name of your item though, I can confirm if it was received for you. :-)
(Note that Kim is serving as our gatekeeper, so is in fact the only person who knows who's written what item [i.e. they're not anonymous to him].)
I've gotten to look at most of the items that have come in before today. Some very interesting ideas out there. Looking forward to seeing more!
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Sadly, I have found that my time is extremely limited during the period in which this contest will be held. As such, I can't participate. :(
However I love the whole idea of this contest and will be cheering from the sidelines! :D
There is now less than 24 hours left of the Open Call! If you're still on the fence, it's time to get your item submitted!
Good luck! :D
* pokes his clearly visible ribs beneath his emaciated form *
HUNGRY!
* spots new competition *
Ooooh, Food!
* pulls out knife and fork *
* sits up at the computer, anticipating the reveal *
* licks lips while drooling excessively *
(Owner: Oh dear lord, you poor souls!)
Hey there!
So, I myself am completely out of the running (submitted an item that blatantly violated a rule before realizing it haha!) but I thought I would let you know that there seems to be an error on the rules section of your website. The guidelines state that submissions must have a person's name and home town, but another section states that submissions can be disqualified if they are "not anonymous".
Just wanted to give you heads up before any contestants get confused or make any mistakes.
Thanks, Palidian. Sorry to hear you were DQ'd.
The seeming conflict is probably (by which I mean it's 100 percent absolutely) a legacy of taking many of the rules from the RPG Superstar competition and not quite knowing how the website was going to be set up as I was writing them (i.e. whether items would be submitted via email or a submission form or something else).
(The only person they're not anonymous for is Kim, who's putting them in Google Docs for the judges to look at. If Arthur were to come online and announce he had just submitted a stone that prevents anyone except its legal owner from pulling a sword out of it, that item would be disqualified because he's then broken anonymity.)
Having this year under our belt, we should be able to get those all areas of rules confusion cleaned up for next year, assuming we can do it again next year (I'm absolutely thrilled with the number of submissions so far, which I hope bodes well, though also obviously don't want to plan too far ahead, especially as next year will also be dealing even more with the transition to 2e).
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And with that, we've reached the end of the Open Call of the Designfinder Contest 2018. For those interested, we received more than 150 submissions, which, given the short amount of time allowed by the contest (and the fact that we didn't announce it ahead of time), is really impressive!
Thank you to everyone who entered, and hopefully, you'll all follow along to see the winners. :)
I know that some of the veterans from the RPGSuperstar will be asking this question though: "Critique my Item, will it be back?" - and the answer is - that's up to the competitors. I hope that people will take the opportunity to share their creations and get feedback on their items where possible, but we do ask that people wait a few days after the reveal of the winners, so that they can get their time in the bright lights. :)
See you soon. :)
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I am strangely excited about this. While it may lack some of the splash Paizo could bring to the prize, the community that grew up around RPGSS is what I miss the most.
Thanks Jacob, Mike & everyone else!
Hey there!
So, I myself am completely out of the running (submitted an item that blatantly violated a rule before realizing it haha!) but I thought I would let you know that there seems to be an error on the rules section of your website. The guidelines state that submissions must have a person's name and home town, but another section states that submissions can be disqualified if they are "not anonymous".
Just wanted to give you heads up before any contestants get confused or make any mistakes.
Aw, crap, I missed that part, and just assumed they'd get details from Open Round winners by email post facto. Ah, well. I'll just try to allot more free time for this contest next go-round, to better QC my entry.
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Don't worry.
No one was disqualified for forgetting their name and location. IF people put it into the item itself, then it would be DQed.
You will however, need to identify yourself, should you go on to Round 2, but then I will be in touch. :-)
At this moment in time, all submissions are anonymous to the judges, and I am the only one that can tie each item back to the original submitter.
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I want to really thank everyone for entering; reading these items -- and I'm not quite done with that yet -- has been really fun. When I was pitching the idea of DesignFinder, I had in my head that 100 entries would be the top limit we could expect, and the amount of entries we got exceeded my best hopes for this contest.
I've been thinking about doing some form of this contest pretty much since they announced the end of Superstar, and it's taken about a year and a half to make it some sort of reality., so I'm thrilled that everyone seems to be so into it.
The next step is making sure everyone stays involved, please. If we want this to be a success, we need to make sure we have a good community behind it. Please, even if your item doesn't advance to the Top 16 (or if you didn't get a chance/weren't eligible to enter), please stay involved. I hope there'll be lots of comments on the items, including encouragement AND constructive criticism. That latter is actually more valuable for designers (and speaking personally, the year I critiqued every item in the Critique My Item thread of Superstar taught me a ton, so it's something you learn from too). Talk about which items you like best, vote (when you get a chance) and be involved!
-- Jacob
I see a forums button on DesignFinders now.
Will we be getting geeky statistics soon?
Will we be getting geeky statistics anytime soon?
How about now?
Now?
June 11 to June 18 is a much smaller window than previous contests. Why does it seem so looOOoong!
What sort of geeky statistics would you like to see? :-)
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Thank you all for reviving a contest I really loved back in the days!
Can't wait to see the top 16 (and if I happen to be among them)!
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Good luck, Hushahli. I was very surprised when I got in my first year entering Superstar, but it's led to a lot of fun years of freelance design-work.
My biggest suggestion (which goes for everyone) would be while you don't want to get your hopes up, also plan to get in. There's not a lot of turnaround time between rounds, so it's easier to have some ideas. Worst comes to worst and you don't get in, you can always save any work you've done for another project. I ended up using the idea I had for an adventure that first year of Superstar for a module that was later published with AdventureaWeek.com.
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I believe we've finalized all our choices. Looking forward to the reveal tomorrow!
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Indeed. Congratulations to those 16
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It was a huge surprise for me to wake up this morning to this mail! Glad I'm in the top 16, but I really didn't expect that! I guss I overestimated my item's flaws... (which is natural, maybe?)
I'll take time to read all the winning items, some names are really interesting on their own!
...but I'll have to focus on the next round, as several ideas are competing for my attention, and selecting the best will be crucial.
Congratulations to everyone, even if you have not been selected, I'm sure your items were cool! (Could we have a "almost in" list? I guess it's much work for the judges, but if, in the final debates, you have eliminated some items for some reasons, could we learn about those? I'm sure it would be very interesting.