Dan White's page

I've been reading and absorbing quietly in the background through this competition and forming opinions on all of the entrants and their sterling work.

I can't keep quiet any longer. Stop the contest now! Aping the words of Clark. RECOMMENDED WINNER!

I'd be very happy if Christine won this compo or got a job or two from interested parties viewing this competition if she failed to do so.

Just like writing fiction, don't sign anything that pays poorly as a way "into the industry". Your work will find a rate of pay naturally that reflects its worth...unless you aim to get into the industry by any means. I did crap in this competition (d20 not being my forte), but my first paying gigs were for decent money (for this industry anyhow). I didn't grasp at anything that came along, someone grasped at me. Good work shows and several of you will be contacted because of your work here, i'm sure. Have patience and see how much folks are willing to give you, don't give your talents away. Aim for the stars first, if you can't reach them, go for the moon, if you can't get there, go for the top of everest, don't get there, trudge up the hill. Too tired for that, stand on a chair. But don't start off standing on the chair if you can help it. Work your way down, not up.

Good luck!

OK. I'll bite...

Cameo of Calamitous Cacophony

These jewelled cameos depict a regal countenance marred by a scream of absolute terror. The diamond eyes are wide and the ruby studs of its teeth are spread in a grimace of horror. Once per day, as a standard action, the wearer of the cameo can activate the scream power of the cameo. Hideous cries of pain and horror fill the air around the wearer in a 20-foot radius. This acts in all respects as the Scare spell except that the diluted cacophony can be heard as far away as 180 feet, depending on impediments. Use the Audible Alarm section of the Alarm spell in order to determine how far the noise travels. In addition to this power, if the wearer of the cameo is ever within the bounds of a Detect Thoughts spell, the caster of the spell must make a DC 13 Will save or be dazed for 1 round and have the spell disrupted, as his head is filled with screams. The Scare power of the cameo does not function in areas of magical Silence.

Faint Necromancy & Enchantment, Caster Level: 5th, Craft Wondrous Item, Daze, Alarm, Scare; Price 10, 750 gps, Weight -

For me it's Deadstring Shears hands down. Cool idea, pretty well implemented IMO.

I think the joy of being in the top 71 would be overshadowed by the *not quite making it*, or the "devastation" of not even being in the top 71.

I for one would rather not know where I was, if not in the top.

I agree with this. Not only that but i suspect that these 71 are very close in quality to each other. Therefore it then becomes about the judges subjective opinions. I think it's best not to make those subjective opinions available via a 'nearly made it' list. Take 20 message board users who view that list and you'll likely have 20 subjective opinions that differ with the judges view of them. Especially if there are some that are designed in a similar manner. I for one wouldn't like to see my 'Headband of Really Cool Hairstyles' pipped by the 'Headband of Miraculous Hairstyles'. It could open up a can of worms. Not saying it will, but it's probably better not to find out.

There is another alternative. Sorry if it's been mentioned already, i haven't read all of the thread. You could make Pathfinder systemless. This has pros and cons, of course. Pros being that you aren't beholden to anyone or any rules changes and/or updates. You can really let your imagination go as far as the adventures and adversaries go (leaving the customer to decide what creature or class ect best fits the description in the adventure) and the community could grow as a result. Every single game group would have a different game using the same source material. Posting here about it could very well improve your internet traffic, with actual play reports further beniffiting your customers to give them ideas.

The cons are a) no longer being associated directly with the biggest name in the business. b) more work for your customers to convert the modules to their own system. This could be the killer in terms of sales.

However, you have a good name and a good customer base. One dedicated 'manual' could be published to explain how to use the books (eg; Sir Wastrel is a Novice. This tells people that he isn't very high level and that his skills are low. This can then be taken into consideration by the GM when he is filling in the blanks. Monster descriptions can be fit to the best fit in the system being used or a section giving advice on 'making' monsters from the descriptions in the adventure).

Just an idea.