The Final 4 Are Revealed!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Being a contestant in RPG Superstar isn't easy. In fact, it isn't supposed to be easy. Being a freelance rpg writer isn't easy, and the contest intentionally uses short deadlines, detail-oriented rules, and a variety of different types of writing challenges to emulate some of the difficulties freelance writers face. On top of all that, being a contestant means having your work constantly judged and analyzed by professionals and fans alike without the benefit of passing through outside developers and editors first.

By the time contestants reach the last round, they've truly gotten a taste of how difficult the creative process can be. All of our contestants have done wonderful jobs not only producing interesting entries, but dealing with the pressures of forum critiques and the frustrations that come with not being able to jump in and correct inaccurate or unfair interpretations of their work. Every contestant has had to worry about how voters are reacting to a previous entry while trying to prepare to produce a new bit of game material for the next round. Over the course of the contest this process covers magic items, maps, monsters, and encounter design—some of the lynchpins in the toolbox of designing a good rpg adventure. I appreciate the hard work and dedication every contestant put into their entries, and hope those for whom the contest is over can sit back, relax, and enjoy the last round.

Of course for 4 contestants, things aren't over just yet. Major congratulations go to Charlie Brooks, Jason Evans, Crystal Malarsky, and Nick Wasko, who have one more round to face. While they might wish to bask in the accomplishment of knowing that each of them is going to get to write an adventure of us—a Pathfinder Module for the winner, and a Pathfinder Society scenario for our runners-up, there's really no time to for them to relax.

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 4

Charlie Brooks
Round 4 The Faceweaver's Workshop
Round 3 Swarmwyrm
Round 2 The Grimple Playhouse
Open Call Horseshoes of the Storm Rider

Jason Evans
Round 4 Gnome's Throw Crossing
Round 3 Scrapshell Oyster
Round 2 Brokeferry Bridge
Open Call Starsling Buckler

Crystal Malarsky
Round 4 Bracken Moor Bridge
Round 3 Sorrow Stitcher
Round 2 The Weeping Garden of Naderi
Open Call Figurine of Wondrous Power, Ruby Butterfly

Nick Wasko
Round 4 Dead Man's End
Round 3 Matianak
Round 2 Ice Dam
Open Call Banshee's Wrath

The last challenge is the biggest one—a 2,000 word adventure proposal to be used to form the outline of the winner's final published book. Our Top 4 have until 11:59 PM on October 22, to turn in their proposals. Each must be for a 32-40 page adventure for 5th level characters, set in the Sodden Lands, and focusing on a location-based adventure. Voting will begin on October 26, and our winner will be announced October 30.

It's been a great contest so far, and I hope everyone will join me in congratulating the final four on their success making it to the final round, thank all our contestants for the fabulous work and ideas they've provided us throughout the previous challenges, and offer sincere appreciation for the voters and judges who have helped us sort through the entries to get us this far.

Owen K.C. Stephens
Developer, RPG Superstar Host

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Tags: RPG Superstar
Paizo Employee Developer , Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Congrats to Charlie, Crystal, Jason, and Nick for making it to the final four! I look forward to reading your adventure proposals!

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Arkos

Congratulations folks! I'm looking forward to seeing what you bring to the final challenge!

Champion Voter Season 6, Champion Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Champion Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Congratulations all! Good luck!

RPG Superstar 2015 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Star Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 8

GO FORTH, BROTHER!! AVENGE MEEEEEEEE!!!!

\o/\o/\o/ Congratulations!!! \o/\o/\o/

Scarab Sages Developer

My sincere congratulations to Charlie, Crystal, Jason, and Nick!

I've seen your elevator pitches, so I have an advantage in knowing what awesome ideas you're already working on!

Liberty's Edge Star Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Heartfelt congratulations to you all. I am eager to see what you will create this time.

And also most heartfelt respect to those who did not advance, including many whose work I really appreciated. It will be very hard for next season's contestants to reach the level of design quality all of you have demonstrated.

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 4 , Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka King Tius

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Thanks everyone for advancing me to the finals! I feel a little out of place sitting next to three published authors, but I think I've got something really good cooking, and I'm excited for you all to see it!

The Exchange Contributor; Publisher, Kobold Press; RPG Superstar Judge

Congrats to the Final Four, and well done!

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Congratulations Top 4!!! Looking forward to reading some awesome adventure pitches!

Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4; Contributor; Publisher, Legendary Games

Congratulations to the Final Four!

Grand Lodge Star Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Congrats everyone who made it to the top 4. It was a really solid showing from everyone.

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8 , Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Helena Handbasket

Congratulations, Top Four!

Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Best of luck to every single one of you, and congratulations. RPGs need writers as talented as you.

Dark Archive

Congratulations everyone!!!

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Tothric

Congratulations Top 4! Good job! :D

Silver Crusade Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Congratulations to the top 4. Seems the module pitches will have a much tighter focus than precious years, being specific to the Sodden Lands.

Paizo Employee Developer , Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

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DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:
Congratulations to the top 4. Seems the module pitches will have a much tighter focus than precious years, being specific to the Sodden Lands.

Last year's focus was in fact Darklands, and even many of the early rounds that season were Darklands-focused as well.

To prevent times in earlier seasons where the completely open pitches ran aside something in our production schedule or someplace we had special plans to develop, we've tried in subsequent competitions to nudge the final pitches into a place that won't conflict with something we currently have on the burner.


Congratulations final four!

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka Curtisin

Congrats to the final four. Let's see some amazing pitches.

Scarab Sages

Congrats to the 4!

RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut, Contributor

Congrats to all of you!

Best wishes to the Top 8 who'll hopefully find further opportunities outside of RPG Superstar. Wear that bling proudly and go pursue whatever freelance you can pick up.

And condolences/congratulations to the Top 4 who are about to be put through the paces of the most grueling, stressful round of the competition. If this were a marathon, this is the point where you'd be cresting the hill with the finish line in view. Time to summon all the energy you have left and push yourself to finish strong!

Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Congrats and a fine job to Charlie, Crystal, Jason, and Nick. Best of luck to you all from all of us at Flying Pincushion Games!

Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Congratulations Nick!
Congratulations Charlie!
Congratulations Jason!
Congratulations Crystal!

Congratulations Sodden Lands, you get to experience some real talent playing in your puddles!

Shadow Lodge RPG Superstar 2015 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka mamaursula

Congratulations Top 4!

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