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I was a long time viewer and voter of RPG Superstar before I entered. It was always hard to watch people become upset about the Top 32, and it is always amazing to watch entrants reach a moment of catharsis and growth. Some of you have been here for 9 seasons as well, and I've watched your progress. I'm happy for those who are this year's Top 32 +4 and my heart is a little heavy for those who are not. In 2012, one such cathartic moments was beautifully done. I present Hilter wants to be an RPG Superstar. Maybe next year, Adolf. Keep designing.

The podcasters at Know Direction interviewed several of the Top 8 over the weekend. Due to technical difficulties they had to close down the recording and resume, so there are two parts. I am not certain where the written interviews are posted for the remaining contestants, so if someone could please link them in, I would appreciate it!

Part 1
Part 2

Thank you Ryan and Perram!

Edited to add:

Written interviews!

The Hanging Gardens of Karexin
==========
Located on the edge of the Court of Ether, The Hanging Gardens of Karexin provide visitors with a quiet place to reflect and enjoy the ambiance of despair and suffering of the gardens’ living topiary and the novelty of the undead. Necromancer Zorih Totek chose this location to research the mysterious veins of glowing blue crystals that reanimate the dead. Zorih Totek seeks to understand and harness the crystals’ magic. The gardens are tended to by his dread glutton devotees, Darox, Kuza, and Selidar. The gardens are comprised of an interconnected ring of eight platforms suspended on stalactites 20 feet above a cultivated ledge. The lower ledge of the gardens are planted with a wide variety of colorful flora of Nar-Voth, and is accessible by stairwells found on some of the platforms. Rope bridges span the distance between the platforms. Metal cages and larger planters hang from a web of chains 20 feet overhead. The cages contain living creatures that have been implanted with dread glutton spores and other fungi to create beautiful glowing arrangements that fill the area with a sense of hopeless dread.

When the caged topiary subjects expire and Zorih Totek is ready inspect the remains, the hanging cages are lowered and emptied. Newly acquired fertilizer, in the form of living creatures, are kept in the hanging gardens in the spring cages, which must be reset before a creature is placed on the pressure plate to be drawn up into the cage.

The PCs arrive at the Endless Gulf in pursuit of Duergar slavers and their captives, who disappeared from Longacre. En route the PCs encountered injured svirfneblin scouts outside Court of Ether who reported that 4 of their own number were captured after a skirmish with the slavers and taken into the garden as well. The svirfneblin were unable to assist the PCs with the rescue, but they do verify the presence of new human slaves in the gardens and provide information that will allow the PCs to reach the gardens undetected.
Releasing the Captives (CR 10)
==========
Read or paraphrase the following upon the arrival of the PCs to The Hanging Gardens of Karexin.

Faint luminescence radiates from hanging topiary baskets, cages and planter boxes lining the edges of the open platforms. Several of the cages sway gently, and the sounds of crying and moaning can be heard across the open space of the garden. Glowing lights from the Court of Ether can be seen in the distance, as can the open darkness of the Endless Gulf below.

Svirfneblin and the human captives the PCs are searching for are in the hanging cages marked C on the map; empty hanging cages are traps, and all other occupied cages contain humans. There are free-hanging cages and planters on the outer edges of some platforms that do not connect to the chain web or stalactites. Freestanding box planters are 2 feet tall and 2 feet deep, and are filled with fungi and plants. Cages hanging in the open space over the lower level hang 15 feet below the suspension chains and are lower than cages hanging over the platforms. Climbing along the chains is a DC 10 Climb check, while climbing the stalactites is a DC 30. Hanging planters and cages may be used to swing between platforms at a character’s normal movement with a DC 17 Acrobatics check.

The cage-release mechanism is a series of levers used in combinations to open, close, lower and reset the hanging spring cages as well as open the walking cage on platform 1. A successful DC 10 Knowledge (engineering) check allows a character to activate the cage mechanisms as desired.

Captives are humans or svirfneblin with the shaken and sickened conditions when combat breaks out. They call out to the PCs for help and rescue. If they are released during combat, they are all considered frightened. There are more captives than those the PCs seek.

Large veins of glowing blue crystals run through several of the stalactites that cause the reanimation of any creature that dies within the garden within 1d6 rounds of death. Crystals removed from the veins are inert and have no reanimation properties.

Creatures: Darox (A) and Kuza (B) begin the encounter tending to the garden and loading captives into some of the empty cages. Selidar (E) begins on the chain web tending to raised planters.The zombies are located in the walking cage on the same platform as Darox.

Advanced Dread Glutton (3) CR 5
XP 2,400 each
AC 21
hp 68 each (R3)
Melee 2 claws +10 (1d6+4 plus spores)
Gear gardener’s tools
Darox’s Tactics Darox makes every effort to reach the mechanism (D) to open the walking cage and release the zombies. Once the zombies are released, Darox enters melee to defend his master’s garden from the invaders.

Kuza’s Tactics Kuza destroys the walkways between the platforms to isolate PCs before engaging in melee, using the chain webbing to move between platforms before descending to cut the rope bindings.

Selidar’s Tactics Selidar uses ranged attacks to slow the PCs’ advance and swings through the garden using the elevated planters he is tending. He engages in melee combat by swinging down to platform 2 in order to lure PCs into the trap; he lands in a square adjacent to the (T) that is most advantageous to trap a PC.

Dread Glutton Group Tactics Once a dread glutton reaches 20 hp, he or she climbs any of the stalactites to access the chain web between platforms and uses his or her ranged attacks.
Once one of the dread gluttons falls and the remaining two are both at less than 20 hp, they make every effort to reach the cage mechanism and release all of the captives in hopes of escaping in the confusion.

Captive Humans
hp 17 each, currently 6 (NPC Codex 257 Barmaid)

Captive Svirfneblin
hp15 each, currently 5 (Bestiary[/1] 261)
Captive Group Tactics Due to their infected status, all captives begin with the shaken and sickened conditions. If they are released during combat, they are all considered frightened. If set upon by dread gluttons or zombies, they become panicked. Escaping the garden is their only goal in the encounter, and they lend no aid to the PCs.

Infected Zombie (6) CR 1/2
XP 200 each
hp 12 each ([i]Bestiary 288)
Melee slam +4 (1d6+4 plus incubators)
Special Attack
Incubators (Ex) Infected with dread glutton spores, infected zombies release spores as a ranged touch attack and increase the chance of infecting targets by spreading spores (Will DC 16 negates). An affected creature takes 1d6 points of Charisma damage as the fungi burst and release drained emotions. This is a mind-affecting effect. If the affected creature is shaken, frightened or panicked, any creature within 10 feet of it also gains that condition for 1d4 rounds (Will DC 14 negates). This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Tactics Zombies are free to wander the cage that encircles the stalactite on platform 1. Once the cage is open, the zombies engage in melee with the closest living creature, including any freed captives.

Trap:
Spring Cage CR 1
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 25
----- Effects -----
Trigger proximity;
Reset manual;
Effect Any Small or larger creature walking or standing directly under a spring cage activates the pressure plate. A claw drops from the top of the cage and pulls the creature up into the bell-shaped metal cage. A Reflex 25 save negates capture by the claw. Latticed floor panels fall down to secure the bottom of the cage and the creature is released by the claw, which retracts to the top of the cage. The cage can be escaped with a DC 20 Disable Device check, a DC 22 Escape Artist check or a DC 24 Strength check.

Development:
PCs may release some or all of the 21 living captives, only 9 of the total are originally identified as possible rescue targets: 5 humans from Longacre and 4 svirfneblin. If the PCs did not agree to rescue the captured svirfneblin, they may avoid encountering the injured svirfneblin, who are in no condition to fight the PCs.

Spikes protrude in place of a neck on this long-limbed headless bipedal figure. Jagged teeth line the open mouth in its chest as its whip-like tongue flicks between its lips.

Narrik CR 7
XP 3,200
CE Medium aberration
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent, taste fear; Perception +12
Aura frightful presence (30 ft., DC 18)

----- Defense -----
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)
hp 85 (10d8+40)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +9
Defensive Abilities alien anatomy

----- Offense -----
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +13 (1d6+6), 2 claws +13 (1d6+6)
Ranged ensnaring venom +11 (poison)
Special Attacks ensnaring venom, erratic demise

----- Statistics -----
Str 23, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 17
Base Atk +7; CMB +13; CMD 27
Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Spring Attack
Skills Climb +11, Intimidate +13, Perception +12, Stealth +9, Survival +12
Languages Undercommon
SQ compression

----- Ecology -----
Environment any underground (primarily Nar-Voth)
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3-10)
Treasure standard
----- Special Abilities -----
Alien Anatomy (Ex) Narrik internal organs and fluids are considerably more viscous than typical creatures, which makes them immune to precision damage (like sneak attacks) and bleed damage.

Ensnaring Venom (Ex) Narrik expel a globule of viscous, psychotropic saliva to entangle their prey (functions as a tanglefoot bag with a Reflex save DC 19.) Ensnaring venom increases the target creature’s accumulated fear effect.

Saliva - contact; save Will DC 19; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1 Wis and shaken for 1 minute; cure 2 consecutive saves. A target who is already shaken becomes frightened, and a target who is frightened becomes panicked.

Erratic Demise (Ex) Narrik decompose in unexpected ways; 1d3 rounds after death, the corpse erupts violently, spraying all adjacent squares with ensnaring venom.

Taste Fear (Ex) Narrik hunt their prey using specialized sensory organs in their mouths and tongues. Narrik taste the subtleties of their surroundings, including the fear of creatures in their area of effect, effectively giving them blindsight to detect creatures suffering the shaken, frightened, or panicked conditions within a 30 foot radius.

Narrik have broad torsos that open into wide, teeth-lined mouths below their ribcages. Their eyes are beneath their collarbones and small ear holes are closer to their shoulders. Slender tongues flick out of closed mouths frequently, testing the air for prey and intruders. Their long arms end in large, sharp claws and their digitigrade legs provide the power and speed necessary to capture prey. Adult narrik are typically 6 feet tall and weigh approximately 250 pounds.

Frequenting the trade tunnels leading to duergar settlements and surface entrances, narrik live and hunt as packs of both males and females, hunting their favored prey, terrified sentient beings. Without this tainted flesh, narrik poison loses its potency. Their origins lost to time, narrik lack a cohesive society. They live transiently within their territories; narrik care little for building and revel in causing fear and havoc.

Narrik are territorial and packs do not tolerate rivals. When packs grow to more than 10 members, battles of dominance erupt between members for possession of the current territory. Outcast members withdraw, seeking new hunting grounds. Young narrik are protected by the whole pack in a temporary, defendable nest within the territory, likely to require climbing or crawling through narrow cracks to reach. Females give birth to one or two young at a time, which grow quickly and reach maturity in a matter of weeks.

Firebrand's Redoubt: Stronghold of Lady Delbera Axebringer

No matter where your adventures take you, it's always best to not go in alone. Gaming provides us with the opportunity to experience whole worlds that will never exist anywhere than in our shared collective. May all your adventures come with some reward.

Every year RPGSS brings new people to the forum and it can be a little daunting to get up to speed on the lingo. I am not the person who knows all the answers, but I have never shied away from being willing to give something a go. Hopefully this thread will pick up some steam and people will add more to it.

Coding instructions for italics, bold and other fun things can be found under the "Show" button below the comment box. You can include spoiler buttons, make your text larger, smaller and put in links.

Here are some of the abbreviations you see and wonder about:

SAK - Swiss Army Knife; the item that has everything and the kitchen sink. Usually this item lacks a cohesive theme to tie everything together.

SIAC - Spell in a Can; just what it sounds like, spell on demand without a special something something to make it SuperStar.

Never be afraid to ask a question, this is one of the few troll free spaces in the internet and someone will be kind enough to help you out. Also, be kind to one another, we love this troll free space and Paizo doesn't allow nonsense around here.

If you think of something else that perplexed you the first time you saw it, add it in the comments. Good Luck everyone!

Spectre Blight
Aura moderate evocation; CL 9th
Slot no; Price 42,512 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
Description
The head of this +2 ghost touch mithral heavy mace sits atop its haft as the flame of a lit torch.

A wielder of this +2 ghost touch heavy mace that possesses the channel energy class ability may channel positive energy into it as a swift action, causing the mace to shine with a soft white light. The mace then does an additional +2d6 damage to undead creatures on all attacks for one round. By spending an additional daily use of channeled energy, on impact a brilliant light radiates from the glowing mace dealing 1d6 points of positive energy damage to all undead in a 30 foot radius. All incorporeal undead in the area become semi-corporeal for 1d4 rounds. While affected, these creatures take damage from magical weapons as if they had the ghost touch ability and non-magical weapons as if they were magical.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, searing light, plane shift, channel energy 2d6; Cost 21,512 gp

After the lengthy discussions about whether some threads are too negative or not, I wanted to make sure that we had somewhere that we could discuss things with our younger friends.

Over the years I have found the Paizo forums to be some of the most inclusive and best places to discuss things for individuals of all ages. Sometimes we forget how young we were when we started playing D&D, I know I do. I remember being outcast because I was a girl who liked to read fantasy/sci-fi and 30 years later I still don't know how to put eyeliner on properly.

Please share your experiences and ask your questions. I will definitely follow this thread and I'm sure we can get some discussion going.

Please do not share a lot of personal information, like your age or where you live. I am a mom and I tell my own children the same thing. Do invite your parents, they're probably the reason you were introduced to Pathfinder and I'm sure they would love to see the things that make you tick.

Since my Blog came up in a thread around here and I directly credit many of you for your support for it's inception, I will now shamelessly plug my blog and I think I might have mentioned you in it.

Dear Powers That Be at Paizo,

I respectfully request that you consider making Anthony Adam a unique tag "Most Valuable Player". He has given his time and energy year after year and has overall made this community a more helpful place to learn, ask questions and generally fun. Anthony is a truly magical item and a treasure to be sure. He's even gilded filigree in my book.

Thank you,
Mamaursula

I wanted to take a moment to invite all of you to a fledgling idea that took root in my heart and mind on this very website during last year's RPG Superstar. There was a long and wonderful discussion about women in the gaming industry, it was supportive, informative and most importantly, largely drama-free. I realized that it was possible for gamers of all walks of life to come together and be together with purpose, to promote one another and our shared hobbies, passions and interests.

I have started a Facebook page, GenderRolePlaying, and a sister blog, Gender-Role-Playing. I want you to come and visit, to grow and learn, to support and be supported, regardless of who you are, how you identify yourself, what you are passionate about or which game/nerdiness best scratches your itch.

Thank you all for the support you have provided to me, none of this would have happened without the kindness of Paizo and their own inclusive community. You are truly the best.

As we near the end of the open voting portion of the magic items, a lot of us are going to have some free time on our hands. What are you planning to do with your reclaimed life?

I've really grown to like many of you, I hope someone will invite me to their PBP or something.

While I still have to occasionally look up spells and costs to make sure that a item really does need to be 500gp or 100k gp, I start to go stir crazy and sometimes all of you aren't up posting on the message boards to entertain me. So I have been inspired to knit some scarves so I can give them out to my party at the table with magnificent recommendations from the RPGSS entries.

Now that we are waist deep in the seemingly endless voting cycle, my curiosity has gotten the best of me. What other activities do you do while you're waiting for your 60 seconds of contemplation time to tick down?

Now that we've been voting for days and days *and days*, I have found some thing positive that I wish to share with you, my fellow voting monkeys. I have spent more time on the forums and gotten to know many of you, enjoyed the conversations. Most importantly, I have spent a lot of time sharing, laughing and contemplating items with my partner in crime here at home. This has been the best form of free entertainment we've had in a long time.

I'd like to thank Paizo for allowing us this look inside the contest and always keeping us, their player base, as the focus of the company's designing process. You guys rock. Oops, 60 seconds is up.

This accessory will definitely go with any shoes you'll be wearing to the Cons.