It's the Most Superstar Time of the Year!

Good luck to all who enter!

For those about to Vrock we salute you! Let's see what you mojo you've got to bring this year!!!

-- Jingle Bell Vrock

Woot! Good luck everyone!

Looking forward to seeing what y'all come up with, especially for the monster round!

After seeing this post with your avatar, I really want to make a flumph swarm now. Is that weird?

...It's weird, isn't it.

Yes.

:)

And so it begins ...

To those new to the contest, read the rules - really read them - this will save you so much heartache as people start posting about things they are seeing. It is time well spent.

Then to save you some time delving into the mass of posts of previous years and maximize your design time if you have read the rules
... and only if you have read the rules ;) ...
... I offer you my on-going collation of notes and advise in pdf format drawn from the last 6 years of the competition.

Round 1 is very complete, including how to enter your item, analysis of what goes where in the template, some examples on pricing and even a sample of two of my previous entries and why they failed.

It should help get you started on avoiding the usual pitfalls and it also points to Sean's wonderful threads and advice too.

Then I have this little collection of gems for you - pod casts on all things Pathfinder, Paizo and Superstar related. These two together should save a great deal of searching through the forums for this first round.

All I ask is if you use it and found it useful, just PM me to say thanks.

Now go, read those rules, design your heart out and bring the shiny :)

I've been busy with playtest stuff today, so I didn't get a chance to post here until now, so:

WELCOME... TO... RPGSUPERSTAAAAAAAAAAAAR 2014!!!! I'M YOUR HOST, SEAN K REYNOLDS! BRING YOUR "A" GAME AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR COMPETITORRRRRRRRRRS!!!

I've been busy with playtest stuff today, so I didn't get a chance to post here until now, so:

WELCOME... TO... RPGSUPERSTAAAAAAAAAAAAR 2014!!!! I'M YOUR HOST, SEAN K REYNOLDS! BRING YOUR "A" GAME AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR COMPETITORRRRRRRRRRS!!!

Thankies :3 ... NOW GET BACK TO THE PLAYTEST!

I'm actually kind of jealous of people who are still eligible. Go! Submit things! Have fun!

Actually, I take that back. First, read Sean's threads on what not to do. Then submit things and have fun!

Link added.

Seriously, if you don't read those, you are doing yourself a disservice.

I'm thinking my strategy this year will be something like this:

1) Hit "Random Article" on Wikipedia, writing down things that intrigue me.
2) Get a list of 8 ideas.
3) Create a magic item each day for 8 days.
4) Develop the top four ideas for 4 days, one day each.
5) Develop the top two ideas for 2 days, one day each.
6) Pick the best idea and work on it until deadline.
7) Scrap all previous ideas and chase a spur-of-the-moment inspiration 2 hours before deadline, submitting 3 minutes before the submission window closes.

I'm thinking my strategy this year will be something like this:

1) Hit "Random Article" on Wikipedia, writing down things that intrigue me.
2) Get a list of 8 ideas.
3) Create a magic item each day for 8 days.
4) Develop the top four ideas for 4 days, one day each.
5) Develop the top two ideas for 2 days, one day each.
6) Pick the best idea and work on it until deadline.
7) Scrap all previous ideas and chase a spur-of-the-moment inspiration 2 hours before deadline, submitting 3 minutes before the submission window closes.

Ah, the traditional approach.

Looking forward to seeing all the creativity and design chops on display! Good luck, everyone!

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

I'm thinking my strategy this year will be something like this:

1) Hit "Random Article" on Wikipedia, writing down things that intrigue me.
2) Get a list of 8 ideas.
3) Create a magic item each day for 8 days.
4) Develop the top four ideas for 4 days, one day each.
5) Develop the top two ideas for 2 days, one day each.
6) Pick the best idea and work on it until deadline.
7) Scrap all previous ideas and chase a spur-of-the-moment inspiration 2 hours before deadline, submitting 3 minutes before the submission window closes.

Ah, the traditional approach.

There aren't enough shots of whiskey in that approach for it to truly be the traditional approach.

To quote a hero of mine:

Let it begin!, Let it begin!, Let it begin!!!!

I almost mistakenly read the entries close date as 1st of February 2014, rather than 2nd of January, 2014. Oops.

Feros wrote:

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

I'm thinking my strategy this year will be something like this:

1) Hit "Random Article" on Wikipedia, writing down things that intrigue me.
2) Get a list of 8 ideas.
3) Create a magic item each day for 8 days.
4) Develop the top four ideas for 4 days, one day each.
5) Develop the top two ideas for 2 days, one day each.
6) Pick the best idea and work on it until deadline.
7) Scrap all previous ideas and chase a spur-of-the-moment inspiration 2 hours before deadline, submitting 3 minutes before the submission window closes.

Ah, the traditional approach.

There aren't enough shots of whiskey in that approach for it to truly be the traditional approach.

Copious drinking goes without saying, but I'm more of a wino. :p

A-1: Do'h! Well, I'm sure you would have realized sooner rather than later!

—~:-:~—

So where's our guildhall? When does that become a thing?

Guildhall gets launched when the Top 32 are revealed.

Oh wow. Very exciting!
Best of luck to all contestants. Get those items in!

So where's our guildhall? When does that become a thing?

Give it time. I don't think they're done fumigating from last year...

Feros wrote:

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

I'm thinking my strategy this year will be something like this:

1) Hit "Random Article" on Wikipedia, writing down things that intrigue me.
2) Get a list of 8 ideas.
3) Create a magic item each day for 8 days.
4) Develop the top four ideas for 4 days, one day each.
5) Develop the top two ideas for 2 days, one day each.
6) Pick the best idea and work on it until deadline.
7) Scrap all previous ideas and chase a spur-of-the-moment inspiration 2 hours before deadline, submitting 3 minutes before the submission window closes.

Ah, the traditional approach.

There aren't enough shots of whiskey in that approach for it to truly be the traditional approach.

I just got a new bottle of Hibiki. Let's do this.

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

So where's our guildhall? When does that become a thing?

Give it time. I don't think they're done fumigating from last year...

All the filigree is hard to remove...

-- Jingle Bell Vrock

Well here we go again! Yippee!

I'm glad to see that voting for round 1 has returned. I had a blast reading everyone's entries last year.

Anyway, good luck guys!

Feros wrote:

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

So where's our guildhall? When does that become a thing?

Give it time. I don't think they're done fumigating from last year...

All the filigree is hard to remove...

-- Jingle Bell Vrock

There's also that patch of quicksand in the corner after someone left their cloak lying around.

oh man this completely snuck up on me completely *time to panic*

This is exciting news. Good luck everyone!

I submitted my entry almost directly after reading the news. Since I totally missed the deadline last year, I still had notes in my desktop, and I just sent it away without blinking twice. Of course, NOW I'm all kinds of nervous about the 34.801 cool ideas I have AFTER clicking the submit button... ;)

This is exciting news. Good luck everyone!

I submitted my entry almost directly after reading the news. Since I totally missed the deadline last year, I still had notes in my desktop, and I just sent it away without blinking twice. Of course, NOW I'm all kinds of nervous about the 34.801 cool ideas I have AFTER clicking the submit button... ;)

Yeah, that early submission remorse. At least this year you'll only have 20 days to worry about it instead of 25~30. :p

This is exciting news. Good luck everyone!

I submitted my entry almost directly after reading the news. Since I totally missed the deadline last year, I still had notes in my desktop, and I just sent it away without blinking twice. Of course, NOW I'm all kinds of nervous about the 34.801 cool ideas I have AFTER clicking the submit button... ;)

As always, you should be very careful about revealing too much info about your actual entry, including posting the exact time you submitted. If you break anonymity for any reason, your item is disqualified.

Now don't panic, I don't think we have ever had an actual example of someone being disqualified in this particular way, but better safe than sorry, right.

Oh boy. I've been practicing this last year. I wrote 13 monsters, 8 items, 3 archetypes and 2 adventures; just enough practice to get creamed one more time. Lets do this!

Also is it just me or is there a round missing?

Scott Fernandez wrote:

Feros wrote:

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

So where's our guildhall? When does that become a thing?

Give it time. I don't think they're done fumigating from last year...

All the filigree is hard to remove...

-- Jingle Bell Vrock

There's also that patch of quicksand in the corner after someone left their cloak lying around.

Guildhall? I'm new here.. What is this? Should I sit over here? Whats this pile of leaves? [begins brushing leaves into the garbage]

A thread is opened every year called the "guild hall" somewhere in the title, it's where the finalists hang out and discuss stuff. Once you make Top 32, you get a full pass into this thread every year. (I think).

They also let Champion voters in due to extreme effort on their part.

Thank you for the answer, that is half of what I was hoping for as a response.

The other half... well... maybe I am only funny in my own head. :)

Guildhall gets launched when the Top 32 are revealed.

It was earlier last year. I remember reading the thread but refraining from posting because I wasn't a Top 32'er (yet).

Maybe. Looks like Eric opened it Jan. 21, the day before the Top 32 were announced because Eric wanted to give it 24 hours to attune. : )

I finally have an answer for all the North Carolinians asking about when RPG Superstar 2014 starts! Look out rest of the world, NC has a nice crop of undiscovered talent ready to get recognized.

I'm sad to see the lack of archetype round. It is above and beyond my favorite of the rounds. :(

I finally have an answer for all the North Carolinians asking about when RPG Superstar 2014 starts! Look out rest of the world, NC has a nice crop of undiscovered talent ready to get recognized.

Sorry Steve, this year belongs to the Blazing Niners - our Fu is stronger this year than ever - so bring your best, we are bringing it in spades and we aim to win!

No way, it's due back in Europe. We won it first ;>

No way, it's due back in Europe. We won it first ;>

I can accept that, being from the UK and being European ;D

Go us then ;>

Come on, there's plenty of room in the first round for everyone ...

Seriously though, good luck everyone and I'm looking forward to see what folks come up with (and to see what this year's memes are ... man, I hope I avoid the memes).

Yeah! Bring your A game! I was too busy to really follow the contest last year, but this year I hope I can be in the cheering section and maybe get a Voter badge!

Good luck to all who can compete! :D I'm looking forward to voting like a madman this year, with a side order of commentary. Should be a good time.

-Ben.

Come on, there's plenty of room in the first round for everyone

Just wait until you get buried under all this talent from Northern Michigan.

Never mind... that's actually snow.

Oh boy. I've been practicing this last year. I wrote 13 monsters, 8 items, 3 archetypes and 2 adventures; just enough practice to get creamed one more time. Lets do this!

Also is it just me or is there a round missing?

Wow I hope you are well rewarded Saint Caleth! (Aye four rounds)

Looks like the playtest for the encounter round was also eliminated.

So how do the top 4 get chosen from the top 8 then?

I vote gladiatorial combat. With splatbooks.

Well I have the concept for my wondrous item, after rejecting several notions. Will begin work on it and should be entering it soon.