Superstar 2014: Round 1 Voting is Closed!

Even though the voting hordes have slaved relentlessly to sort the items, our esteemed judges are still facing a very tough job. The quality of submitted items seems to increase steadily every year, and this year has been no exception.

While I still feel I have submitted a strong item, the multitude of creative and well designed items I have seen during my 1,000+ votes have left me far from certain that I will get anywhere near the Top 32. I do not envy the judges the task of picking the best of the bunch.

Good luck, everyone who are in - and if you have not already started on your round 2 submission, start NOW!

Wait, Kilrex is Thomas LeBlanc. Did you vote over 10,000 times?!

Wait, Kilrex is Thomas LeBlanc. Did you vote over 10,000 times?!

Obviously he's alt-accounting. [/sarcasm]

Post has been edited to only credit Kilrex/Thomas once. Even a voting machine like him only gets so many kudos.

Huh. I still see Vote Now button on Super Star. It does not get me anywhere but it is annoying...

Aw, I never got beyond star voter. I was too busy helping my players build a house using the Ultimate Campaign downtime rules.

Out of curiosity, is there a way that the entries being voted on by judges can be notified so that they can spend the little extra time on their monster entries?

I am a busy man and if I am in the top 32 I definitely want to put forth a good entry, but I am just slammed at work right now and could use the time designing and writing if I am not in the top 32 making money instead.

Anywho, just a thought.

Out of curiosity, is there a way that the entries being voted on by judges can be notified so that they can spend the little extra time on their monster entries?

I am a busy man and if I am in the top 32 I definitely want to put forth a good entry, but I am just slammed at work right now and could use the time designing and writing if I am not in the top 32 making money instead.

Anywho, just a thought.

That's why they post the schedule for the entire contest my friend. You need to commit to participating on the blind faith your item has the mojo to move you into the Top 32. An hour a day working on your monster shouldn't be too hard to set aside. Use downtime like driving to brainstorm ideas. You've got a weekend between now and next tuesday as well. Plenty of time!

--Vrock Superstar!

Another week.... *sigh*

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

Good luck to all & here's hoping that the 5th year's the charm.

@Thrashling:

What Vrock said. Moreover, even if you don't make it into the top 32, it's good practice if you have any desire to become a freelancer, or to enter subsequent years of RPG SS. There's also usually a thread for people who made an entry for round two - but didn't make the top 32 - to post their entries.

Indeed, yes, good practice. However, money.

I am working on something at work that will make me several thousand dollars. The faster it gets done, the more money I make. Thus, I ask if there is a possible "hey, give this a bit more time, there is a chance you are top 32" because it would increase the level of any entry I make and wouldn't make me regret the time spent on a hypothetical entry which would cause me to lose money.

Again, no real worries. Merely a request.

Yeah that's not going to happen... the judges don't even know who the entries are until the reveal on tuesday (or just before perhaps).

--Caught between a Vrock and a hard place

I don't know if this will help, but here's what I've been doing:

If possible, think about monster concepts when you have free time to think, no matter where you are. I wound up with three rough ideas and one semi-refined idea just brainstorming on the way from my house to work. If you have a good grasp of how monsters work mechanically, it shouldn't take much time to go from a concept to a stat block. Even if you can only spare a few hours per day during that three day period, you should be able to take that concept and turn it into a monster.

For me, at least, the most time consuming element is coming up with the concept and refining it. The mechanics of low-CR monsters aren't terribly time-consuming to research and write, and having a solid concept really helps expedite the process.

I have no clue if this helps anyone even a little bit. Either way, best of luck!

Good luck to all the contenders! I have seen some really cool stuff over the last two weeks, can't wait to see what the top 32 are!

Yeah that's not going to happen... the judges don't even know who the entries are until the reveal on tuesday (or just before perhaps).

--Caught between a Vrock and a hard place

It would be possible to post a list of the items that are being considered for the top 32. Last year, they showed us the "top 89", which included all items above a certain voting ratio threshold, but they did that only after the top 32 reveal. If the list was shown before the reveal, the people with a real chance of making the top 32 would know in advance without breaking anonymity.

Although it would greatly benefit each entrant to know sooner rather than later, I suspect the reason they keep us waiting until the reveal is that all entrants and their friends are also potential voters for future rounds. If people knew too early that the person/item they were rooting for was eliminated, people would walk away and might not remember to come back when the voting for R2 begins.

Aw, I never got beyond star voter. I was too busy helping my players build a house using the Ultimate Campaign downtime rules.

If you'd have outsourced them to the Amish, you'd have had more time to vote. :(

Garrick Williams wrote:

Aw, I never got beyond star voter. I was too busy helping my players build a house using the Ultimate Campaign downtime rules.

If you'd have outsourced them to the Amish, you'd have had more time to vote. :(

Quality humor can go so easily under-appreciated on these threads... Well done sir!

Cthulhudrew wrote:

Garrick Williams wrote:

Aw, I never got beyond star voter. I was too busy helping my players build a house using the Ultimate Campaign downtime rules.

If you'd have outsourced them to the Amish, you'd have had more time to vote. :(

Quality humor can go so easily under-appreciated on these threads... Well done sir!

Ohhh! Humor! There was I, thinking it was a reference to an item or two I hadn't seen during voting... ;)

It would be possible to post a list of the items that are being considered for the top 32. Last year, they showed us the "top 89", which included all items above a certain voting ratio threshold, but they did that only after the top 32 reveal. If the list was shown before the reveal, the people with a real chance of making the top 32 would know in advance without breaking anonymity.

I thought about suggesting this same idea, but I think even though they're likely going to come from the Top 89 (or whatever it is this year), there's no guarantee. We know at least one of the Top 32 last year was from fairly fair down in that list -- what would happen if they release the Top XX one year and then come the big reveal and one of the Top 32 (or an alternate) isn't on that?

I think especially in just the second year, they're not going to risk that. Maybe down the road, after they know from a few years that the Top 89 (or whatever) will always produce the Top 32 (and alternates), I could see that being a nice way to whet the appetite, but I think probably not yet.

Well. I had a lot going on this year and didn't make it to Marathon Voter, but that's ok. I had a great time voting and participating and look forward to seeing the results.

Less votes cast this year in total. Most likely due to the shortened window, but I think the numbers would be close to the same comparatively.

Less Marathon voters. Again shorter time crunch, but it seems people were getting Marathon tags faster. An extra week of voting would have definitely seen more Marathons than last year.

No number of total voters were given for last years end of voting blog. And this blog doesn't contain the actual number of voters earning each tag. I would be interested to see that (/me prods Gary and Anthony).

I know I voted (a lot) less this year.

(Tinfoil hat time)
The mystery this year revolves around the 3rd Champion voter. Last year we had CHEERS, who seemed like an account created specifically for the contest and disappeared soon after. This year the 3rd Champion is Azouth. An account with a first post right around the time the contest was announced last year, but was obviously around for a Goblinworks Kickstarter. Who is this person? An employee account in disguise? The real CHEERS? We may never know! (Unless they submitted an item and make the Top 32)
:paranoid:

I wonder if we'll have a new third next year? :)

It would be possible to post a list of the items that are being considered for the top 32.

They would have to email the list to everyone who entered the contest in order to not break anonymity and to alert those contestants that don't constantly refresh the RPGSS forums. Just because we are diehards, we should not have a forewarning that those who are not obsessed won't get.

Just on the subject of publishing a list of the top items being considered, the contest FAQ does actually state the following:

What are the judges' duties?

"During the first round, the public votes on the submitted wondrous items. The judges take the 64 Open Call entries with the most votes and select 32 from that list. In subsequent rounds, the judges will critique each entry before the public vote begins."

So in theory, they could put up a short list of the final 64 if that is the limit of entries the judges will be considering.

Just on the subject of publishing a list of the top items being considered, the contest FAQ does actually state the following:

What are the judges' duties?

"During the first round, the public votes on the submitted wondrous items. The judges take the 64 Open Call entries with the most votes and select 32 from that list. In subsequent rounds, the judges will critique each entry before the public vote begins."

So in theory, they could put up a short list of the final 64 if that is the limit of entries the judges will be considering.

True, but with each item then having a 50/50 chance a lot of the suspense is crushed.

EDIT: Further, if people not on the list began talking about their items, identification of those still in will begin to occur. They want to avoid anything approaching that so the judges can safely say they were completely unbiased.

Last year they posted a list of the top 89 (iirc) items, but I believe that was done only after the top 32 were announced.

Just assume you didn't make it to the top 64. Or if you prefer, believe you did, but assume you won't make the top 32. If you don't expect to make it, it makes not actually making it that much easier and the wait is not as stressful. And if you do make it, it's that much bigger of a surprize.

50% of my brain will be devoted to the assumption that I have not made the top 32, 64, or 89. The other 50% of my brain will be devoted to plans and ideas for monsters, encounters, and modules until such time as an external force tells me to stop.

I will prepare for this peaceful coexistence of happiness and sadness with a Wes Anderson marathon.

(Tinfoil hat time)

The mystery this year revolves around the 3rd Champion voter. Last year we had CHEERS, who seemed like an account created specifically for the contest and disappeared soon after. This year the 3rd Champion is Azouth. An account with a first post right around the time the contest was announced last year, but was obviously around for a Goblinworks Kickstarter. Who is this person? An employee account in disguise? The real CHEERS? We may never know! (Unless they submitted an item and make the Top 32)
:paranoid:

"An account with a first post right around the time the contest was announced last year, but was obviously around for a Goblinworks Kickstarter."

Don't remember when I made my account but, I played my first Pathfinder Society game on Aug 13, 2011. So, it would have to be before then.

I did do some voting last year but not much. I didn't think I was helping as I couldn't tell what item was better much of the time. Also as I didn't submit an item last year I was more interested in the Goblinworks Kickstarter.

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

(Tinfoil hat time)

The mystery this year revolves around the 3rd Champion voter. Last year we had CHEERS, who seemed like an account created specifically for the contest and disappeared soon after. This year the 3rd Champion is Azouth. An account with a first post right around the time the contest was announced last year, but was obviously around for a Goblinworks Kickstarter. Who is this person? An employee account in disguise? The real CHEERS? We may never know! (Unless they submitted an item and make the Top 32)
:paranoid:

"An account with a first post right around the time the contest was announced last year, but was obviously around for a Goblinworks Kickstarter."

Don't remember when I made my account but, I played my first Pathfinder Society game on Aug 13, 2011. So, it would have to be before then.

I did do some voting last year but not much. I didn't think I was helping as I couldn't tell what item was better much of the time. Also as I didn't submit an item last year I was more interested in the Goblinworks Kickstarter.

You sound like a very sophisticated computer program to me...

Azouth, if that really is your name, if you had the choice between vanilla ice cream and M&Ms how far would you have to walk to kiss your baby?

The answer to this question shall reveal all we need to know about you...

The real CHEERS? We may never know!

I just looked up CHEERS and it is a real person and not an employee sock puppet. He just seemed to be intensely interested in RPG Superstar last year, but then nothing.

-Lisa

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

The real CHEERS? We may never know!

I just looked up CHEERS and it is a real person and not an employee sock puppet. He just seemed to be intensely interested in RPG Superstar last year, but then nothing.

-Lisa

(/me looks for an Illuminati marking)

Are you going to grace us with storytime about 2013?

Lisa Stevens wrote:

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

The real CHEERS? We may never know!

I just looked up CHEERS and it is a real person and not an employee sock puppet. He just seemed to be intensely interested in RPG Superstar last year, but then nothing.

-Lisa

(/me looks for an Illuminati marking)

Are you going to grace us with storytime about 2013?

Not until 2022 or thereabouts. :)

-Lisa

I have to assume I didn't make it. I can't spend a week stressing about this.

At least I know I made it past the cull. I only saw my item once, I hope you all voted for it.

I cast every vote I could for the Cheese Wheel of Fortune. You're welcome.

I cast every vote I could for the Cheese Wheel of Fortune. You're welcome.

Sadly, there is no Zagyg in Golarion, or he would be proud. I assure you.

-Amy
AKA The Creampuff of Zagyg.

Rabbitball wrote:

I cast every vote I could for the Cheese Wheel of Fortune. You're welcome.

Sadly, there is no Zagyg in Golarion,...

Actually there is, he just goes under a different name.

Amy Gillespie wrote:

Rabbitball wrote:

I cast every vote I could for the Cheese Wheel of Fortune. You're welcome.

Sadly, there is no Zagyg in Golarion,...

Actually there is, he just goes under a different name.

Adam Daigle? :P

Amy Gillespie wrote:

Rabbitball wrote:

I cast every vote I could for the Cheese Wheel of Fortune. You're welcome.

Sadly, there is no Zagyg in Golarion,...

Actually there is, he just goes under a different name.

What?

What?!

What!?

I see I need to peruse all the Golarion deities again.

He rules Absalom under a Psuedonym.

He rules Absalom under a Psuedonym.

I believe he is referred to as "Stay-Puft"

Well I was glad to see my item "post-cull" ... so I'm hopeful for this year ... and I do have my round 2 entry nearly ready ... just a little polishing and it should be good to go.

Man oh man ... I'd even be stoked if I was an alternate.

Heh heh ... time will tell.

~Dean