Announcing RPG Superstar Season 9!

Holy moly! Super early! Glad I checked in.

So uh...*sheepish grin*. Sorry about dropping off the face of the earth last time, everybody. Life got weird and busy for about half a year. But I'm back and will be active. :)

EDIT: I'm liking the changes! It seems progressive and in line with what the community was asking for. I hope the voting method will be good for the judges' sanity as well.

My mind and body are ready. Let's do this.

*starts sharpening some pencils and digging out research materials*

*shuts off loud music playing at the Top 32 Guildhall and Beach House*

"Okay, party's over. Everyone squatting in the Guildhall needs to go. The Superstars will be here on Friday... Yes, this Friday... No, you can't sleep in the back room while the contest is taking place... Everyone who isn't here for Superstar needs to clear out by Thursday afternoon at the latest. The Guildhall opens for business on Friday."

Rysky wrote:

Okay, stupid question time, does magic armor refer to only armor or to both armor and shields? Since they're usually grouped together like armor/shields.

Last time around it included all shields, so no reason to assume otherwise.

To be clear and official: shields are considered armor for purposes of this round of this contest.

So, yes. :)

So going forward, is RPGSS going to be every 6 months, or irregularly scheduled, or what? I'm curious how it will be timed after this.

It absolutely won't be every 6 months.

Everything else is dependent on enough factors that I can't give you a firm answer. It has technically been "irregularly scheduled" each year all along, but that schedule always hit roughly during the holiday season. We don't know yet if this is a move we are sticking with for a long time, or not.

Thanks for all the heads up Owen, looking forward to a great competition year, I shall do my best not to disappoint.

So just to confirm, this would be specific armors and weapons, not qualities?

So just to confirm, this would be specific armors and weapons, not qualities?

Magic armor and weapons should be presented as a specific armor or specific weapon, not stand-alone special abilities (such as keen or bashing).

EDIT: I would go so far as to say, since special qualities are their own section under magic armor and weapons, and no magic armor or weapon posted on the PRD details a specific quality within the item alone, you should not attempt to do so either.

Yeah, I just found that. Thanks, works for me.

I promise i'll add something to the reject pile this year!

I promise i'll add something to the reject pile this year!

Just shoot it by me first and I will do a quick pass if you want BNW. It would be a shame if I had to add your item to the list of items I have reported for DQ. I think I am almost to 70 items over the last 3 years...

BigNorseWolf wrote:

I promise i'll add something to the reject pile this year!

Just shoot it by me first and I will do a quick pass if you want BNW. It would be a shame if I had to add your item to the list of items I have reported for DQ. I think I am almost to 70 items over the last 3 years...

I usually see them after the cull so not THAT reject pile.

Are there workshop groups? And if so, how does one join them?

So to be clear are choices for magic items are wondrous, weapon, armor, and shield only correct?

I think I've got just the thing to enter. Just need to run it past a few other sets of eyes first.

It's okay, it's not going cost bonkers GP, or turn into a CR 3 creature again! >.>

Also, Dragon78, I think as long as you read over your construction requirements and your required feat is either "Craft Magic Arms and Armor" or "Craft Wondrous Item", you'll be in good shape. Shields fit in the category. But I would definitely go with to word of one of the people of staff for that.

I just want to say good luck, we're all counting on you.

I am excited about RPGSS per my normal exuberance, however I do have one small request.

Could we please get either the format example fixed, or confirmation that it is the same format-wise as last year?

Wow. Glad I checked in today. I'll enter for sure, but I think I liked the holiday schedule better. The other changes are ok with me to some extent.

I wondered why they did not dispense with the judges picking through the top 100 or so before, though this way might make the cabal theory more likely. I guess we will see how many top voters are also in the top 32. But it probably balances out and I support it. In any case the next few rounds will weed out the pretenders if there are any.

A number of small culls are definitely better than one large one.

I like the item types allowed. It gets rid of people gong for "hard mode" of staffs and rods. It is less restrictive than last year. There will be very few items that should have been a different item type this year.

I'm glad all five rounds are back.

Not sure how active I will be on the forums or in the post 32 critique, but we will see. Good luck, everyone!

So nice to see twists affecting *other* people this time around!

Looking forward to watching and rooting for people from the sidelines. It'll be interesting to see how this change of timing affects the competition.

Right? It was kind of fun watching the looks on the faces in the crowd from the panelist table when Owen made the announcement. I'm sure I'm going to hell for chuckling.

Hmm. I was just looking for the Round 2 rules of the last contest, but they seemed to have disappeared (presumably so contestants for this one ('season 9') don't read the wrong set.)

I was looking since I have a feeling that the Round 2 rules of the last one said one thing, then the judges proceeded to do something entirely different when marking the round, which rather put me off (well, that and the moderator deleting a post I made to try and cheer up someone to whom the judges had delivered a darned good kicking).
:(

Oh well...

It's possible to find them, but it's incredibly difficult. You have to find the original forum post that has the rounds enumerated on the upper right hand side. I did a little digging and didn't see it, but that is where you will find the rules and they are still in here somewhere, because I had to find them for previous years for various reasons. It may be because they are rolling out Season 9 a little early that Season 8/2015 isn't archived completely yet.

I'm not sure what you mean by the rest of your comment, but the rules are still here...just finding them could be a challenge.

I wonder how this announcement being so close to Gen-Con will affect participation. I expect a lot of would-be participants are still in Indy and unlikely to be checking the boards as often as they usually would. Although perhaps they're advertising it at Paizo's table? If not, perhaps they should.

The first people to know about the change were at the RPG Superstar panel, so they had a leg up on everyone briefly ;-)

I dig the Hall of Fame page. The winners and their work deserve to be shown off! It's also a great resource for future contestants.

I dig the Hall of Fame page. The winners and their work deserve to be shown off! It's also a great resource for future contestants.

Agreed. 'Tis very cool :)

Yay! I was wondering when Mamaursula would show up! Superstar's not the same without you around.

Yay! I was wondering when Mamaursula would show up! Superstar's not the same without you around.

Then you should know how she operates by now... she lurks in the muddy waters, pops up like a navy seal command and wastes your...

*urk*

I know there's not much time between the close of voting and the posting of the items the next day, but I hope last year's Final Four are brought back as guest judges/commenters for the Round 1 entries. I really used to enjoy that in previous contests.

The changes are all cool. Allowing 50 words of description on the map is a HUGE help, and I suspect it will lead to much more interesting maps.

The top 32 being all voting I'm a little mixed about, but it's worth experimenting to see what happens. It definitely shapes my thinking about what I'll enter.

Also have the subjects of the rounds been announced or is that still up in the air?

Is it Item, Map, Monster, Encounter, Proposal?

Well from Owen's blog post above, we know rounds 1, 2 & 4. Nothing has been confirmed for rounds 3 or 5. Although the last round has always been the adventure proposal.

The rounds on the contest page are the confirmed rounds, but more details will be available as each round draws closer :)

Just clarifying, no staves right?

EDIT: Never mind, just found confirmation. No staves, rings, rods, or wands. Got it. Back to the drawing board.

Just clarifiying, no staves right?

The Open Call round has changed to: design a wondrous item, magic armor, or magic weapon.

Is it Item, Map, Monster, Encounter, Proposal?

Details will be forthcoming in advance of each round, but yes.

I'm going to echo people from earlier posts, but I was surprised to see RPGSS starting so soon this year! I don't check my mail often, so I only coincidentally happened upon the roll call this year when I was talking to a friend about it and got to work to make sure I could enter this year (missed out SS2015).

Are people usually nervous doing this sort of contest? I think I'm gonna be an insomniac all week until the voting happens and either I get voted up or I bomb in the polls! Either way, look forward to being involved for the first time despite what could be a busy schedule in the near future.

Are people usually nervous doing this sort of contest? I think I'm gonna be an insomniac all week until the voting happens and either I get voted up or I bomb in the polls! Either way, look forward to being involved for the first time despite what could be a busy schedule in the near future.

In 2014 when I made it to the top 4, I suffered from insomnia, especially during the encounter round. Oddly enough, that also was my most successful round.

Either that, or I'll resubmit the beardforge now that the cruel judges can't blatantly ignore the overwhelming will of the people.

Ah Beardforge. Seriously one of my favorite items ever. You were robbed, Garrett!

RPGSS is one of my favorite times of the year, even if I'm not competing. Weapons, armor, or wondrous items will be an interesting round 1 this season. Can't wait to see the goodies claw their way to the top.

--So you wanna be a Vrock superstar?

Arrow quiver full of pencils, check.
17 spiral note books made into breast plate, check.
700 lbs. of coffee, check
9 gum erasers made into a buckler, check.
tinfoil helm, check.
longbow made from 204 paper clips and 23 rubber bands, check.

Now ADVENTURE!

Final verdict of shop-keep who sold the stuff, it must be SuperStar RPG season!

That reminds me. We'll have to make some new traditions, since we can't do a holiday theme... No more 12 days of Superstar. :'(

Beach party?

Back to Superstar?

Halloween will slip in there. Back to school too, alas.

I'm sure I can think of something to amuse you all... I'll do my best.

I think I'll skip this one. The lack of feedback available on the last one was a bit too irksome. They should at least let ya know what the votes were on your item, and roughly how that compares. Not even getting that data just made it too uninteresting to me.

I think I'll skip this one. The lack of feedback available on the last one was a bit too irksome. They should at least let ya know what the votes were on your item, and roughly how that compares. Not even getting that data just made it too uninteresting to me.

There's plenty of feedback of the useful constructive criticism kind in the "critique my item" thread (which should also give you a sense of the general reception).

At the risk of sounding preachy--which is not my intent, but I recognize this could be read in that tone--what's "interesting" about this contest is the tremendous design practice and experience you get and the opportunity at exposure. If that's not "interesting" enough alone, then it's probably not the contest for you. Indeed part of freelancing is learning to deal with the fact that you don't always get the response or communication you'd like.

Whoa! I just saw this in my e-mail. I almost missed it since this is such a crazy-busy time of year for us Florida teachers who have just started up our classes again and are trying to get everything going well. With the RPGSS schedule shift and the short notice, I doubt I'll be able to enter this year. I don't have much extra head space right now. However, I love the contest, I love seeing all the familiar friendly avatars posting here, I like most of the contest rule changes, and I'm looking forward to cheering everyone on when I have the time. I encourage anyone who's uncertain to give it a try. Go, RPGSS! :)

Welcome back Lady Firedove. Unless you mean you won't be able to finish future rounds, an item you complete in one day's time has a better chance than no item at all. Indeed, such pressure often brings out the ingenuity :)

Seriously, enter an item. I wish to learn from all the peoples. The more people that enter: the more I can observe and learn.

R D Ramsey wrote:

Is it Item, Map, Monster, Encounter, Proposal?

Details will be forthcoming in advance of each round, but yes.

I understand we will get more details soon, but does anyone know how to find the details for the map round from last year's Superstar? I'm new to RPGSS and I've been looking around at past submissions. I found the actual maps that people submitted, but I couldn't find the rules for that round.

I'm not presuming that I'll advance to the top 32, but if I do I'd like to have planned a little beforehand, if possible.

Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:

R D Ramsey wrote:

Is it Item, Map, Monster, Encounter, Proposal?

Details will be forthcoming in advance of each round, but yes.

I understand we will get more details soon, but does anyone know how to find the details for the map round from last year's Superstar? I'm new to RPGSS and I've been looking around at past submissions. I found the actual maps that people submitted, but I couldn't find the rules for that round.

I'm not presuming that I'll advance to the top 32, but if I do I'd like to have planned a little beforehand, if possible.

I wouldn't get too caught up in last year's map rules, as they look to be changing a bit for this year. From what Owen said, it's going to be a map that fits on a Flip Mat and you will have 50 words to describe it.

I couldn't find them either, I think they are in a space between limbo & archives at the moment. As Matthew Pointed out, they have mostly changed. One thing I would like to play with is the dpi, memory size, and the technical side of things. Those are likely going to match previous round 4 rules however, which should be available through the archives.

FWIW mbauers, I would look at the entries themselves, the rules might change but good maps are good maps, and bad maps have commentary. :)