I think r1-3 showed Kimmel & Kallio are better _designers_ than the rest. Some probably disagree I'm sure but I mean general opinion based on exit polls and judges votes.
I think r4 showed Brookes & Jaczko are better _storytellers_ than the others. Again some people disagree but they are front runners and praised for their stories.
So (making a HUGE exaggeration here) we get either a good story with weaker content or a less good story with better content.
Some people like one some the other. Its good to remember this when you cast votes. I dont say one is better than other because players are different.
While voting & waiting for results, heres a little distraction for voters. If this was oscars R4 pitch would be Best Picture, so let's choose favorites in other categories too. You dont have to vote in all categories if you cannot decide. I propose following categories:
Best new R4 item
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* Silverlight Oil
Spoiler:
When used as fuel in a lantern, silverlight oil produces a bright light which repels creatures that are vulnerable to silver. Such creatures become sickened within the illuminated area and must succeed at a Will save to remain there. Possession of silverlight oil is a crime in Cheliax due to its effectiveness against devils.
* Eye of Vigil
Spoiler:
Sirana is wearing an eye of vigil (new item), an eye-shaped crystal set on a chain. If she is affected by a sleep effect, blindness or paralysis, the crystal absorbs the effect and the eye closes. If the amulet absorbs a second effect, the eye bulges out from its socket and breaks.
* Litany of Bravery
Spoiler:
Litanies are one-use wondrous items, similar to scrolls, activated by a Perform check that emulate bardic performances. A litany of bravery acts as the inspire courage bardic performance.
* Angelfall Bow
Spoiler:
This ebony long bow is lined with obsidian touches and black feathers. Constructed to fight outsiders, it also grounds flying creatures and dispels [light] effects.
Best new R4 monster
===
* Hollow
Spoiler:
A hollow is the risen body of a person who died after being blinded by some horrific accident or torture. Unable to see, they rely on sound to locate their victims. When they hear a creature nearby, they grapple it and drain its vision, temporarily regaining their sight and leaving the creature blind. A humanoid slain while blinded in this way soon rises as a hollow.
* Centianima
Spoiler:
This centipede assembled from the bones of numerous animals skitters forth sideways in an undulating motion, heads on both ends racing to catch prey.
This Large undead creature gains a second bite attack whenever it is being flanked. It can also shake bone fragments off its body to fill a number of adjacent squares with bone caltrops.
* Pellicior kyton
Spoiler:
The pellicior is a new, seductive kyton that tempts with gifts of power at the cost of self-mutilation. Pelliciors possess an ability called Flensing Boon that, when used on a willing target, allows them to take ability damage to one of their physical ability scores (represented by horrific mutilation) in exchange for an increase in one other physical ability score and one mental ability score. Pelliciors entice mortals down a path of self-mutilation and discovery.
* Phiam
Spoiler:
Known as a curse devil, the phiam is small and vaguely female with tattered wings and wrinkled jet-black skin. Its eyes are pinpricks of green light within vacant sockets, visible even when the rest of it isn't. The phiam is a construct of Hell, outside the normal hierarchy. They exist as carriers of generational curses and artificers of willing sacrifices, attached to individual mortals and families to bend them toward specific purposes. Skilled at remaining undetected, it uses illusions, curses, and subtle telepathic communication to accomplish its purpose.
Best combat encounter
===
[Here any encounter is ok. If it has no name in proposal, copy text or write short description]
Best non-combat encounter
===
[Here any encounter is ok. If it has no name in proposal, copy text or write short description]
Best villain motivation
===
[Read proposals for complete stories!]
* [Vilario] means to bend [captive slaves] to his will, to serve as spies amongst the slaves of Corentyn and root out those who oppose the iron law of Cheliax.
* Dismayed at the treasonous cowardice of Vigil's leaders, Sirana designed a plot to prove that the orcs of Belkzen remain a threat that demands immediate action. Any sacrifice would be acceptable if crusaders were to flock to the city once again.
* Plotting to turn all of Pezzack into her own private laboratory, [Savradamas] and her kyton allies plotted to bring the whole of Pezzack to the deepest depths of mental and physical torment, using the hope of revolution to fuel the desire for change, only to make the path a twisting one that leads not to freedom, but transformation.
* With little choice, Kelseph bargained with her soul for time to retrieve Vegazi and keep her power, including the limited aid of Hell in the form of lesser devils.
I finished reading them, and I'll try to find time to write a review for last one too. After very much debating between my top 2, heres my verdict:
1. Knight's Gambit - While a bit too ambitious and has canon issues (like two of the other proposals), this has by far the most fun and memorable action. Encounters are varied and allow imaginative use of skills. With judges suggestions will be improved into excellent module.
2. On Fertile Ground: A very close second. Has lots of flair and imagination. Would love to play this one too.
3. City of Blood and Chains: Excellent read, but too little to do. Only handful of combat, and RP encounters consist of making one skill check or offering bribe. Would love to see this trimmed down to PFS scenario!
4. Daughters of Fury: Confusing to read, too repetitive in its structure: Fight a tiefling, then listen to NPCs talking to each other. And repeat.
I heard about RPG superstar from a colleague a little while ago and wanted have a look. Since only four are left, I try to comment each. I'm not a designer and so commenting just from player's perspective. I'll focus on three things: fun (memorable combat and so on), variety (use of different monsters, places and so on) and villain(s).
Ok, so the action start with rival gang then halflings themselves. Description gives a nice idea about the combat, probably most detailed and interesting combat terrain so far compared to the first two proposals I read. Why the key? Then some investigation. Quite many skill checks and different skills, something for everyone not just skill monkey. Very CSI. Then combat, and to next place. Dead critters and (probably) interesting terrain. Weird monster but ok now we know what halflings were going to do with the key.
Second part. Second mission isn't exciting sounding but the orc tower and bar brawl, dwarf karaoke(?) and chase (also in reverse) sound really really fun and varied. ORcs attack is big, you went through loopholes to make it work, but have to admit it sounds epic that swarm of orcs spreads into city then are easily killed by forces of good but not before PCs swoop in to kill steal the boss.
War meeting is a nice recap, again different skills can be used. Rescuing an orc from paladins? Huh how many times do you get to do that? Fun idea. But good players will have trouble fighting paladins, expect a more difficult combat because they have to use non-lethal force and free actions to apologize, lol. Then facing villain; checkerboard floor sounds fitting for intelligent "chessmaster" villain.
In short, you used loopholes to make this fit in Vigil, but the action is hands down absolutely the best, most FUN, most imaginative of these three proposals I read so far. An non-combat encounter aren't just "listen to this dialog" or "make one skill check" like the other two proposals I read.
As a player, fun is what I want. Good luck in voting!
I heard about RPG superstar from a colleague a little while ago and wanted have a look. Since only four are left, I try to comment each. I'm not a designer and so commenting just from player's perspective. I'll focus on three things: fun (memorable combat and so on), variety (use of different monsters, places and so on) and villain(s).
So, to summarize the action in this proposal,...
Spoiler:
You have a warehouse fight, a safehouse location, end of part I.
Then a RP skill challenge, which disappointingly only requires one skill check and boom your done... if you happen to have the right skill. Ok another RP encounter, this time you only need bribes, so pretty straightforward and quick to play. And then another RP encounter that consists of a trap and a single skill check... Well I like it there are several RP encounters, but you can talk your way through them with a single check. The last one is definitely the most interesting one of the four, I like the atmosphere,... But I guess a trio of thugs is pretty pedestrian. End of part 2.
Then you have two fairly ok combats and an investigation scene which is really just a search scene. End of part 3.
Then you have three admitteldly more interesting encounters (intersting terrain, etc.) leading up to final encounter.
If I counted right, that's only 7 combats and a number of RP encounters that mostly require one skill check to solve. If you cut the number of combats to half and kept the rest of it intact, you'd have a very nice PFS scenario. But a full size adventure let alone 64 pages?? I just can't see this being a full adventure.
Which is sad because you write well, the text really flows nicely. I didn't get confused like when reading daughters of fury. Of these two that I've read first, I'd still say this one is better, more interesting plot and nice use of terrain and atmosphere. But let's see what the remaining two have...
I heard about RPG superstar from a colleague a little while ago and wanted have a look. Since only four are left, I try to comment each. I'm not a designer and so commenting just from player's perspective. I'll focus on three things: fun (memorable combat and so on), variety (use of different monsters, places and so on) and villain(s).
Improvised weapon combat is a nice pick but against devil with DR and flight, not sure if its fun to try to throw a chair or bucket at it. It gets confusing after that part, so many NPCs and long sentences. RP encounter sounds ok but I don't know how much PCs are involved or just listening. Ok, more gaavs. Flying barbarian sounds fun.
Part 2 has more NPCs, I'm increasingly confused trying to remember who's who. A few skill checks, Know religion and Perception, and some RP. The mob scene is interesting and tiefling druid an interesting opponent, but overall it seems there's very little to do in part 2. It's like the PCs are lead by nose and things happen.
Catching the phiam looks like a lot of guesswork. I fear players get frustrated if they don't know what to do. It's good to have some freedom of choice after the railroading, but it's not good when you don't know what to do.
Overall, there could be more for the PCs to do. More combat, more active role for PCs not just following the rails. The place with magical weaponry sounded more interesting than most of the other places, which were quite mundane. Good maps can make a difference, but judging by this proposal they don't sound so memorable. But judges liked it, if it wasn't confusing to read I probably would have liked more too. Good luck in voting!
