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Last year was my first entry. I was very happy with what I submitted, but during the voting process I had to admit that I had really made a mess of things. It was pretty much a SIAC, albeit with some extra (new) abilities. It was very expensive, and not exciting enough to merit the cost. I was pretty upset about this, realizing that what I thought was my best was, in fact, pretty poor for a "superstar" magic item. In April, however, I replied to a post on the Paizo forums seeking freelancers. I was accepted, and wrote my first book. I learned a lot on that project, and went on to write a total of three books--from beginning to finish--last year. That painful experience that was my first RPG Superstar submission was exactly what I needed to kick me in gear. I feel my submission this year is a thousand times better, even with some (regrettably painful) errors I made in my writing. I know I'll be extremely lucky to make it into the top 32, but at this point, I'm okay if I don't. It's been yet another amazing learning experience, and I've come a long way in a year. If you feel discouraged at all in this process, take it from me: don't sweat it. No even the biggest mistakes will cut you off from something you want to do. As Adam said, be gracious about this experience, and you'll have a grand number of opportunities in your future.
Thanks for linking this--I can't stress how wonderful this forum is for teaching yourself how to make incredible maps. Even complete beginners can find a vast collection of tutorials and tricks to make something amazing in short time.
I made mine higher than the bare minimum because i wanted to make sure the price wasn't *too* low. It's a fine balancing act.
So I agree with what you are saying, but if you're going to have a +1 weapon or armor cost 30k or more, why not make it 35k or 40k and make it a +3? I feel it shows more understanding of the game and pricing. I definitely feel you should up the armor/weapon enhancement beyond a +1 at certain price breakpoints. Finding a +1 greatsword--albeit with an awesome special ability--at 15th level just feels *off*. Now, even a +2 feels much more believable, especially if it has a unique and useful power. On the other hand, a +4 shield with a low-level spell (shield other or kings castle, for example) 1/day is equally off-putting. Tl;dr -- balance is importance, not only in terms of in-game power, but also for asthetics and believability.
Yet another example where a 200K+ price tag on one of the items makes voting easy. Especially when said item has a massive drawback. Yes, I planned on becoming one of the wealthiest people in the world simply so I could cripple myself with magical items. And now I've finally managed to do so!
Finishing a cup of earl grey and hibiscus tea while reading this. And now I has a sad. Not really, but I sympathize. I can't stand earl grey on its own, but I love to blend it with other types. Then I love the stuff. Which brings me to... 67. Stare at the dregs in the bottom of your teacup as you swirl them 'round and 'round.
I know what you mean. I found a mistake on my own a couple of hours after the submission deadline, and my fiance just informed me of a second (albeit minor) error this evening. She thought it was the only I had been referring to all along. =\ Still, though, I like it well enough.
They're not functioning off of the charges system. If you have daily uses the price is reduced up until 5/day, well, actually 4/day, 5/day is full price. I was referring to items like the Risen Blade and the Wyrmsbreath shield ability, which build up and expend charges in order to fuel powers. Doesn't have a set number of daily uses, and isn't the same as a staff or an ultimately expendable ring, but rather a variation upon a theme.
I believe it's 50 if disposable, 10 if rechargable.So this item uses charges, but how many charges does it have? Most armor and weapons I've seen (and their respective special properties) typically use a system of 5 (either starting each day with 5, and using up, or building up to that maximum).
If I remember correctly, we had a cull roughly halfway through the voting process last year, but it's a bit difficult to guess how the cull will happen this year, given the changes in the open call round. In previous years, contestants have been given 3 weeks to enter a submission, and the voting process lasted for 2 weeks. This time 'round, we only had a week to submit, and just around 4 weeks to vote. Will the cull happen after the first week, or with just one week remaining? Or 2 weeks in, at the midpoint? We could actually have multiple culls--I feel we have the time. Sorry I just gave you more questions to ask, but that's were we are: uncharted territory.
Crafted ages ago in the nameless mountains by a magical murderhobo, this rod functions as a +1 light mace, but in the hands of [insert class], this glowing filigree, upon closer inspection, appears to be covered in runes that activate upon the death of the wielders spouse.
Still up, still going. Traveled 400 miles for a funeral, got there, threw my back out. No sleep for me, I suppose, so it's all Superstar for now. 342 unique items seen, my own among them (at least twice). A lot of junk, but a lot of good ideas as well. Looking forward to new items popping up all the time.
I lovingly crafted an item that was beautiful in every way...until about three hours before the deadline for submission, when I realized an embarrassingly simple reason it wouldn't work. Whoops. So, with the clock ticking ever quick and quicker, I threw something together. And to my surprise, I loved it even more. I ended up submitting it with four whole minutes to spare. And then, two hours later, I noticed a mistake in my writing--one that both of my proofreaders missed. It doesn't ruin the item or mess with its mechanics, but it's something that I know will cause at least a *little* confusion and cost some votes. But even with all that, I know it's a solid item. And I love it.
That said, I'm happy with the item I did enter, and I doubt three extra days would have improved it. Although maybe then I would have caught the minor(?) error I found five minutes after I hit submit. I know how you feel. Worked on a single item (well, with two variations) for four days, then realized why it definitely wasn't Superstar-worthy and had to start over from scratch. Today. Got it iron out, proofread, and submitted with 8 minutes to spare... ...and then noticed I had made a pretty egregious typing error about two hours later. Whoops. At least I'm still very happy with how it turned out.
Very cool! I enjoyed following your work through last year's competition, and this short series is just the sort of reminder I needed this week, that even the worst of SiaC ideas can be the basis for something amazing. Looking forward to tomorrow's installment!
Exactly! It's not that someone failed at doing a thing (which happens often), but that someone failed doing something risky and/or cinematic. I had a player provoke from 4 enemies in order to save his ward, only to be critically hit by each of them. Easiest way to drop a fighter form full to null in 1 round. It'll always be one of my favorite moments. More importantly, it's one of that *player's* favorite moments as well. Sure, that character didn't end well, but cinematically, it's beautiful.
Thank you both so much. It's just going to be a long night. But that's part of the deal. And I maybe get to see my item again. :) I keep over-analyzing my item, more and more with each passing day. I don't know if it's Top 32 worthy, but it's still good to see it.
That's exactly the reason why I left for a while. It's even more nerve-wracking post-cull. The only reason I'm back is that I have a very, very sick cat right now. "The Sopranos" and the 1-minute timer are the only things keeping me awake enough to take care of her. The first time I've been happy with that 1-minute interval.
The best uses of a "no save" ability are in fact "X" save (partial). You save to avoid the worst effects, but even on a successful save you suffer some kind of effect. Suffocation is a great example. It's a "Fort save or die" spell, but even someone who succeeds is staggered for 1 round. I absolutely love partial abilities; at the very least, they give you something.
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