Steve Clarkson's page

Based on the Critique My Item thread...

"Text wall warning"

This is a fun event that we all look forward to every year. It is an event to be supported and applauded for the invigorating gaming mojo effect it has on all contestants win or lose. Generally speaking, I defy you to find a similarly supportive and inclusive online community presence. Go the top 32!

I think the major problem with how people are perceiving RPGSS (and I am sad to see this) is that people...the contestants (see I did it myself!... I should say contributors)... forget that it is promoted as a casting call for talent. All that is happening is that Paizo is happy to let part of a process occur with our participation. Most casting calls are resolved behind closed doors. This is where I go a bit further than Raynulf - it suits Paizo to let everyone be involved, view and comment on the process... sort of like looking at a cut away section of an ant farm ...you know what I mean (roll a d20 to disbelieve in the idea of a contest!).

As long as everyone remembers all of this it is all fine and dandy but a lot of consternation seems to arise out of the process. Ultimately the process has little to do with what individuals want because, in the end, the judges will want to be seen to be selecting some talent, the system allows for preferential voting to a point to involve us in the process, the masses are engaged and happy and not rioting in the Forum and all is good. For goodness sakes what contest has the Judges voting in it! It is not a contest in the sense that most people suppose it to be.

There is nothing inherently wrong in all of this because its all pretty clearly set out but in the thrill of it all people sometimes forget. If, at the end, some worthy gets selected to have a chance to realise a dream then that is fine by me.

I am a firm believer in the RPGSS but I am not however, convinced about the "improvements" to the process. Having been intrigued by the idea of a cull I am now not a believer. As I have said (and noting the above and that I also like the whole idea of an observable event with a good community vibe) it alienates too many people and otherwise worthy items from the mind too early. I agree in not releasing a top 100.

Go back to the good old days...no cull, no top 100, only alts and top 32. Keep the mystery alive! The changes to the process are causing more comment than is desirable, keep the focus on the task that each round throws up and any yearly "tweak" to keep everyone honest. The convention is not to refer to items directly in the first round. The rule is not to refer to your own item. I'm inclined to the view that the punters should be able to comment as they will from the start. Let them defend their item. Let them express a view on other items by name rather than by doing so in all but name. Set some rules around how it should be done and have at it. It is currently set up as an election process after all so why not let the campaigners campaign. Let the contestants vote on what they consider their top 100 and top 32 to be and let the Judges go about their own assessment in their own way.

Hi James

I did not have an alternative entry.

I am always suspicious of membership prerequisites for an item as it seems like a GM's forced plot device for a character but I do like the Desert Caller.

What's wrong with using a template? It's part of the game - it might make the entry a bit bulkier but I'd much rather it was there than having to go away and read a book to find out what the effect was supposed to be or what the writer was getting at.

I like the idea that a fallen/disgraced worshipper can still use and possess such an item. Was that intended? If so it sets up a fight with another who wields such a weapon which I think would be pretty nifty.

But...what does "drawn" mean...flat on or stuck in the sand, in hand, out of a scabbard (would drawing it from a sash rather than a scabbard be enough?), strapped to the back of a camel, left on the table at home?... Also at any level this is makes summoned creatures very powerful and for that reason I'd probably prefer x/uses a day and maybe a higher purchase cost.

That said I certainly consider that the Desert Caller has RPGSS potential and, if it's ok with you, I have some ideas of how to make use of something like this in my current game (oddly enough involving watery types!).

Congratulations to the top 36.

My RPGSS mojo must be low because my list of preferred items is completely different to that eventually selected. I had a list of 23 items but did not see some of the other items referred to on other lists.

Of those I "kept" I single out the following for special mention:

Movable Rod (probably my overall favourite)
Courtiers Solitaire
Kestrel Dagger
Blade of the Nightingale
Butterfly's Jaunt
Singularity Sling
Varisian Dancing Chain

I also liked Leaf Mail, Enkindled Quarterstaff, Staff of the Beast Within, Staff of the Lions Heart, Calistria's Needle, Ring of Dimensional Reach and the Ring of Sending and Summoning.

(As an aside, not having seen it in action before I thought a cull might be a good idea but, all things considered, I think (amongst other concerns) it distances too many contributors and entries from the action too early. I am not convinced).

I do not profess to understand the mechanics of the voting algorithm but I just had to again vote for one of two items that I had both previously and regularly voted against. I am unsure of the purpose of the "equally good/bad button" if all it does is delay a decision and force me to (potentially) compromise later in the voting process just to make the algorithm progress more expeditiously.

Yikes! Having just vented on the issue of voting process I'm surprised to see I've hit "Dedicated" - oh the glory! oh the irony!

This is a stand out bit of armor! Nice job - good theme, smooth mechanic and useful too!

Waiting for the cull... waiting, waiting...

I'm no Judge. I leave the final selection process to them. I vote on the basis that the Judges are looking to me to up vote stuff that will make the game better. I can't down vote the better idea even if it is a mess! I just can't mercy kill creativity.

Woooo what's going on here...had to scroll down the whole page to read the item that was under 300 words! - all those who are anti a block of text need to see this one!

...

Nice post. Agree - tho I'm more inclined to forgive the formatting if the idea is solid.

Yup just happened to me too - voted and then it immediately came up with the same pairing with another 20 seconds on the clock. One item got two quick votes. Not long after that the Paizo server appeared to go down.

Oh, that is so tragic, my item came up and because I was bored I read it. I wish I had edited it differently, it's rather clunky in hindsight.

Don't think you are alone. I suspect you, me and probably about 798 others feel the same. It would be interesting to see how many would submit the same item now verbatim if given a 30 second opportunity to tweak it or make some small alteration.

One item tidy but meh...the other inaccurately describes the fundamental purpose of the type of item it purports to be - gotta go with meh.

Now seeing lots of items paired with another of the same type - apples with apples.

That's not actually how the algorithm works, if I understand it correctly. It simply matches every item with every other item until all possible combinations are achieved and we unlock the "Get a Life!" badge.

(quietly rolls d20 to disbelieve the algorithm)

There is so much mithril it's become as common as muck!

Yay ... two new items! Ooops no they are not! Seen both before and not that fussed by either of you - trying to trick me with your fancy names...oh well... I'll vote for the one that does not spit stuff.

European (French) here. That might explain it (mid-morning in France) ;-)

Vive la France! - it would be great if it was mid morning here still - more time to vote tho I'm slowing down now and waiting for the promised cull.

Pssh, it's only just past 1 am in this time zone. :P Plenty of voting time remains.

You are right....must be tougher....must get through more votes....its 10.43pm here (21 or so hours ahead of you - man I've been up for hours!)- (gives a middle aged zzzzzzzz!) - tag team! - tag! - go dien!

Do y'all think it would be kosher to post and share practice maps, ...

Hi TealDeer. If you were to personally ask me (but you have not)... the answer is no.

Share what you have with those you trust. Protect your IP (until you decide how and when to let it go). What you have others might not have. What you think is common and trite may be uncommon and worthy.

As collegial as this process is, part of becoming an independent business person is identifying your competitive edge and utilising it (with all good grace of course!).

The fact that you are working through the process ahead of time is sensible - why disperse the benefit of that at this time?

Keep plugging away and the rewards will come.

Item I barely looked at versus one that doesn't let you go to the toilet! No real sanitary option here. Move along.

...I hate the idea that death is a revolving door in Pathfinder, so, I also don't vote for items that bring people back from the dead, instantly kill them, trigger only when the user dies or when they're close to it, etc. Death need to be a serious, permanent danger, but not an arbitrary one where a single bad roll on a save does you in (or a series of bad rolls against permanent negative effects).

I agree...although I have in weaker moments been prone to threatening PC's with the old 10 ton block falling from the ceiling trick to ensure cooperation!

"The black raven" is either in my time zone (first to see the sun) or is still up and making sense waaaaaayyyyy past bed time for all you others!!!!

...

That said, here are some of the things I consider when voting:...

Does the item warrant consideration over items commonly accepted as "best in slot" items without being obviously better than those items? I want my players to be eager to keep an item even though there's probably mathematically superior items they could use gold to buy.

I agree with all you say.

Don't you think "rules accountants" are just as bad as "rules lawyers"?

Of course one has to make choices that improve the character but I've never seen the fun in continually hyper auditing/maximising stats/feats/skills/spells/combat options etc..seen far too many players roll out the same old same old for encounter after encounter because it gives a better possible average damage outcome by 1 ...dull, dull, dull and boring!

An item that tempts players to try something different has to be a good thing...maybe even a Superstar thing!

Appreciating items that:

1 keep the PC/s (players) involved in the game and making decisions,
2 are not scene enders,
3 have good visuals,
4 give the GM the chance to spark off #1-3.

Have seen most of this happening in weapons, rings and sticks up to now but some rods and armours have made my keep list too and their numbers are increasing.

Looking for something that has old school WOW without it feeling forced. Big fan of tight concept and simple execution.

Yahoo just finished work for the year! What have I missed...? Did an initial burst of voting and I've been patchy since then - gotta say was a little concerned about what I was seeing...someone tell me its all ok and the quality stuff is starting to show through!

My games are usually for one (sometimes two players) with one character each. Sometimes there are helpful NPCs sometimes there are not. I therefore tend to lean towards an item design that provides some cinematic POP! Getting the player engaging is what it is all about and not everyone can adventure with a band that covers all/most of the bases in terms of PC abilities. So....I am not quite as quick to poo poo items that in a bigger group might appear to tread on the toes of another class. There has to be room for good items that cater for differing styles and level of game play. The item has to feel right. I'm considering the items based on the WOW factor first (and then biffing them if they reach the irk factor threshold).

NZ close to Mt Doom

...Practice. Study. Writing is work, even when it's easy. I've been doing this for more than ten years and sometimes it's still hard--not to get the words out, but to get them out...

This is why this is not simply a hard nosed, cut throat professional open call but, thanks to the Judges involvement and genuine support and interest, rather a thing that has the air of a fan based, inclusive try out - a very rare thing nowadays indeed!

Chiron held up his hand to calm his eager charges.
“Now who will cast the spear further?”
The eyes of the boys gathered before him glinted with eager anticipation. All started to speak to claim their superiority.
“Enough!” he said.
“Go each of you and cast an ash spear. We will see who shall be the winner”.
The boys ran to the spears set against an ancient olive tree and began their competition.
The old centaur sat in the cooling shade of the boughs and smiled. While one would surely win the day, the competition would hone the skills of all. One day all would be formidable warriors. The gods will be pleased.

Well, I've done all of my villain reviews for the top 32 and alts. Some of them are very, very good. But obviously all of them can't advance.

I liked this part of the contest last year and I really like it again this year, because this is the time where it doesnt matter so much what *I* think, it matters what all of *YOU* think. Hopefully my (and collectively, "our") thoughts and comments help you in your analysis, discussion and decision, but I think it is so cool that you guys really decide who advances. Not us.

So, having done my reviews, I can't wait to see how this all plays out and I am excited to cast my votes for this round just like everyone else!

Bring on the dancing gir.... er... villains!

Thanks Clark. I was intending to ask if the alternates could have some comment on their creations too - even if that comment was only given to the alternates themselves and was not for general consumption that would be great.

With all the hard work getting them prepped up, no one wants to see a pack of darstardly villains simply disappear without even a whimper or a comment.

Question for the other alternates. One of my pbp folks wants to see my item. I did not want to post it yet. Though not the 32, I'm not out until Tuesday either. Have you are did you plan to post your item somewhere?

I would like to BTW to see them, just for curiosity's sake *grin*

Might well do tho I understand we can't anyway til the next round proper starts.

Having said that, with the benefit of all the advice I have already received I've (in the matter of a few minutes) revamped the original into a MK2 version which is much tighter rules wise and more condensed. Just goes to show that a little constructive "overview" can help your game and often it doesn't take much to make something nearly good into something quite a bit better.

Ditto.

Its being looked into.

Well I'm an alt too.

Sorta feels like being on the squad that wins the finals but not getting a winners medal like the rest of the team!

That said it's great getting close but I agree this limbo thing is peculiar. I'll certainly be handing in a villain but I don't envy the top 32 and those noose like deadlines.

I think Clark is right.

In the rush to get comment on items that didn't make the finals we shouldn't loose sight of the fact that it is the final 32 who deserve all the plaudits.

In the end most of us (and I include the alternates here too) simply didn't cut the mustard this year.

I expect many experienced the bowel loosening moments of hope and doubt during the first round. Deep down though I suspect most of us knew where our submission had problems. I have a feeling that getting a generous Judge to pass comment, while interesting, will probably not throw up much new for most.

I guess what I'm saying is while its good to have feedback the show does go on.

I for one offer my congratulations to the final 32.

Just got my authorization email for the September subscription. Still have a pending order (3257810, pair of the class decks) that I put in on Friday and still haven't been billed for - probably because I *think* I set it to ship with my next subscription shipment...which would be this one.

Want to make sure this is still going to happen, especially if your warehouse is gearing up to ship as much as possible as soon as possible. The two orders have different shipping methods currently, which does worry me.

Anything you all can do?

I'm currently running a group through S&S, and I really enjoy the ship-to-ship combat. But taking the time to work on ship stats over and over takes too long.

I just finished a Google Sheet equivalent of the Ship Sheet (Link here) at the back of the Player's Guide, with a number of extras to help make changes and additions a breeze.

I set the link up so anyone can view (I'd rather not have just anyone edit the master sheet), but making a duplicate should give you full access.

I tied in the rules from the Naval Combat for the Whole Party thread, which really helps keep the naval combat from getting bogged down. It's easy to remove those parts (Crew Upgrades, Morale, etc.) without ruining anything else on the sheet.

Please let me know what you all think, how it can be improved, etc.

I just picked up GM duties for a group running CC, and our Maneuver Master Monk player just asked me a question I can't quite puzzle through with my limited knowledge of grappling rules.
For starters, she's playing as an Oakling and now (at level 11) is treated as a huge character after being permanently enlarged.

The question is this: would she be able to use the Alchemist's Tentacle discovery in conjunction with her grappling? As in, would she be able to use her tentacle to maintain a grapple on someone while using her regular limbs to maintain/progress a grapple on another character?

Any thoughts?