(First of all, it was suggested that we post this here since people interested in a career in RPGs were bound to read this forum. However, if this is against some form of policy or rule, we apologize from the start and don't mind if you close this thread or move it)
Dreamscarred Press's 2011 Bestiary Contest!
Dreamscarred Press is proud to announce its first Bestiary Contest. The contest is designed to give new, unknown, and struggling game designers the opportunity to be published. Dreamscarred Press owners Jeremy Smith and Andreas Rönnqvist will judge the entries and oversee the competition.
As the name implies, the contest is for monsters to be released in a psionic bestiary to be published by Dreamscarred Press. The winner of the contest will receive a paid commission to work on that bestiary.
Complete rules are available at the Dreamscarred Press website.
AWESOME!
I have a trio of monster ideas that I hadn't used (worked them up in case monsters might be a challenge for RPG Superstar this year) so I think I'd be able to rework them into psionic monsters.
Although, one question, (hopefully) being a contestant in RPG Superstar 2011 doesn't preclude me from entering this contest as well... does it?
Thanks for posting this.
Regards,
Dean "The_Minstrel_Wyrm" Siemsen
I'm not sure this is the best section for an announcement about a different contest...
This doesn't seem right. Paizo/Pathfinder has revitalized the true awesomeness of Dungeons and Dragons...
Why would I support another company? That would be like shooting my RPG future in the foot!
AWESOME!
I have a trio of monster ideas that I hadn't used (worked them up in case monsters might be a challenge for RPG Superstar this year) so I think I'd be able to rework them into psionic monsters.
Although, one question, (hopefully) being a contestant in RPG Superstar 2011 doesn't preclude me from entering this contest as well... does it?
Thanks for posting this.
Regards,
Dean "The_Minstrel_Wyrm" Siemsen
No, taking part in RPG Superstar 2011 does not preclude you from entering this contest. Feel free to send your ideas in! :D
Outstanding!
I've found my old notebook, so now its simply a matter of time and effort to rewrite/rework these beasties into psionic terrors.
Thanks again.
On a side note, I'm extremely glad to learn this book even exists and will be buying the PDF almost immediately.
Also, I think it's awesome it was posted here so that starting developers have more than one chance at making it into the industries. HOWEVER, I do acknowledge the fact Paizo is doing there contest here. Perhaps we can have a thread devoted to posting other opportunities? Like for this contest, and also for the pathfinder module open-call, stuff like that? Because, that would be awesome to have a resource for other opportunities, not to sell this one short. This is probably everyone's dream chance, but if there are others out there, why not?
Psionics Unleashed, our Core Psionics book, is available both in Print and PDF, although the overwhelming demand for the book has left us scrambling for new print-runs from our printers, which is why it is on back-order.
However, one can still partake in this contest even without buying any books, simply by going to our website (details above) and downloading the Beta Playtest material, especially for monsters. Not everything will be 100% compliant with the finalized rules, which might lower your chances in the competition somewhat, but it's just a minor hurdle.
I agree that it would be awesome to have an entire forum dedicated to these kinds of competitions, and we do acknowledge that we might be in the wrong forum, but honestly no other place seemed to be as right as this one.
This doesn't seem right. Paizo/Pathfinder has revitalized the true awesomeness of Dungeons and Dragons...
Why would I support another company? That would be like shooting my RPG future in the foot!
If it seems wrong dependant on the forum, I'm awfully sorry about that. However, we are working in partnership with Paizo who promoted our book on their Store Blog, you can buy our book right here in the Paizo shop (last time I checked it was at #2 for Hot Sellers, which would suggest others like it too) in both Print and PDF (best way to support Paizo if you like our book is to buy it here).
Since we are developing new options for Pathfinder, I don't see us as competitors and we have even gotten word from the Paizo Design team that if they would (not sure about that) a Psionics ruleset, they would not follow a backwards compatible paradigm for that, but rather create it from scratch. This means that you can use both our system and Paizo's eventual system side by side without them trampling on eachother.
Hopefully this contest will give people a chance to get their foot through the RPG door, much like I did myself 5 years ago via Dreamscarred Press. I began with pitching an idea to Jeremy and ended up being one of two equal owners of the company. You never know where fate can take you :)
So, good luck to everyone!
[RPG Superstar] is the exceedingly wrong forum.
How comparable is your rule-set to 3.5? I have a lot of psionic based creatures Ive designed over the years for my games and wouldn't mind throwing my hand in. I would just need to know if I need to spend the cash on a new book to learn what I would need to change in my current list of big bad psionic beasts.
How comparable is your rule-set to 3.5? I have a lot of psionic based creatures Ive designed over the years for my games and wouldn't mind throwing my hand in. I would just need to know if I need to spend the cash on a new book to learn what I would need to change in my current list of big bad psionic beasts.
Very. Please come over to our website and check out all the downloadable, free, Beta Playtest material to get a general grip on things. We naturally changed things, but the most major changes were made to the Soulknife, which usually doesn't touch Monster Design a lot.
So, come on over to our forums, download the PDFs you are interested in (and if you like it, THEN buy our book ;) ) and take a good look at what we're working with.
I look forward to seeing your entry.
- Andreas Rönnqvist
Dreamscarred Press
For folks asking about our rules vs 3.5:
Our goal in Psionics Unleashed was to take the 3.5 rules presented in the Expanded Psionics Handbook and update them to fit the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, so by and large, they are very similar. Skills were consolidated, feats revised, powers streamlined and corrected, classes expanded.
In the case of monsters, the biggest changes that were made were as a result of the changes Paizo made to the rules - construct traits, HD / BAB progression, skill lists, CMB / CMD, etc.
Outside of those compatibility mechanics, we made very little changes in the realm of monsters, because not much really needed to change for psionic monsters...
Psi-like abilities still function as they did in 3.5, but the power names may have changed. Manifesting and augmenting still work the same they did in 3.5, except we use Pathfinder's concentration rules, rather than the 3.5 Concentration skills.
By and large, if you make a "Pathfinder Roleplaying Game" compatible monster, it will also be compatible with Psionics Unleashed.
BTW, Vic, if there's any way to merge this in with the other thread - http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderR PG/licensees/dreamscarredPress2011BestiaryContest - it might help reduce clutter and confusion. :)
It seems curious to me that one monster, two monsters, and three monsters are all equally admissible. The restrictions on word count are PER monster, right? Do they have to be connected? Is there any reason at all not to submit three, in order to better display your range and creativity?
Thanks for the heads up. My memory of 3e psionics is a little shaky, and I haven't been following Dreamscarred's work at all, but there's no harm in trying.
It seems curious to me that one monster, two monsters, and three monsters are all equally admissible. The restrictions on word count are PER monster, right? Do they have to be connected? Is there any reason at all not to submit three, in order to better display your range and creativity?
Thanks for the heads up. My memory of 3e psionics is a little shaky, and I haven't been following Dreamscarred's work at all, but there's no harm in trying.
Let me answer that point by point.
First, while we prefer multiple monsters per entry, we didn't want to exclude someone who only came up with one monster they thought worth entering.
Second, the word limit is per monster.
Multiple monsters do not have to be connected.
Finally, if you only had one or two monsters by the end of the contest that you felt were done and balanced and creative, and other concepts that just weren't ready, that would be a reason not to submit the full three.
Im so excited to learn about the psionics. So by psionic monster you just mean something incorporating the new rules, right?
Yup!
I have been waiting to get my back-ordered print copy, but this may just get me plunge into the PDF more fully.
Do we place our contact information in the entry we email to submissions@dreamscarredpress.com?
Edit:
Oh, and I have 2 linked creatures, they need to be submitted separately, correct?
Do we place our contact information in the entry we email to submissions@dreamscarredpress.com?
Edit:
Oh, and I have 2 linked creatures, they need to be submitted separately, correct?
Yes to the first question, and no to the second. You can submit up to three monsters in a single email.
can we use golarion refetences or plansr patjfinder references? Or is thst not part of the agreement? Sorry for typos using swype.
Dreamscarred Press does not have permission from Paizo to use anything that is not in the Pathfinder Resource Document.
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/
I would expect that anything that deals with Paizo's own campaign setting is not included in the PRD, nor declared as Open Content, so it can't be used by anyone other than Paizo.
As a matter of fact, a search for Golarion in the PRD turned up essentially no results, so I would recommend not tying your monster to Golarion or anything else not in the PRD.
Yes to the first question, and no to the second. You can submit up to three monsters in a single email.Do we place our contact information in the entry we email to submissions@dreamscarredpress.com?
Edit:
Oh, and I have 2 linked creatures, they need to be submitted separately, correct?
OK the first one is over 700 words by itself and the second just falls short 700. The rules state between 300 and 750 words, wouldn't submitting both in the one email violate that rule or is it 300-750 words per monster regardless if I submit 1 or 3?
OK the first one is over 700 words by itself and the second just falls short 700. The rules state between 300 and 750 words, wouldn't submitting both in the one email violate that rule or is it 300-750 words per monster regardless if I submit 1 or 3?
The word limit is per monster, not per entry. :)
Cool, sending in both then. Wish me Luck....:)
Edit:
What do I place in the Subject/Title of the email so I know it go's to the right place?
Do I send it as an attached word Doc. or in the Body Block of the email?
Cool, sending in both then. Wish me Luck....:)
Edit:
What do I place in the Subject/Title of the email so I know it go's to the right place?Do I send it as an attached word Doc. or in the Body Block of the email?
2011 Bestiary Contest Entry should be sufficient for the title to make sure it gets routed properly.
Word doc or body of email are both fine.
I will be as well.
Nice!
WTG Dreamscarred Press
It will give me something to do while I wait for the results of Round 1.
Entered...:)
I hope the creatures I submitted are up to par as they where originally written using WotC 3.5 rule set and format. I tried my best to convert them to Pazio format but it didnt have the same feel to them.
This is a great idea.
This is a great idea.
Yeah, I'm really excited about this. (I'm a little more excited about RPG Superstar 2011 of course) but DSP's Psionic Bestiary contest gives me (us) something else to think about as well, during this "in-between time."
Good Luck Everyone!
This is a great idea.Yeah, I'm really excited about this. (I'm a little more excited about RPG Superstar 2011 of course) but DSP's Psionic Bestiary contest gives me (us) something else to think about as well, during this "in-between time."
Good Luck Everyone!
What excites me about it, is that for many people (like myself) there isn't much of an opportunity to break into a career like this. There are thousands if not millions of wanna-be (I mean that in the nicest way, honest, I'm a wanna-be) designers out there who have been writing material for years for their own games. The number of open opportunities is far outweighed by the number of people trying to break into the industry, thus contests like Paizo's gives people some hope. But then companies like Dreamscarred (who I am sad I didn't learn about sooner as I LOVED 3.5 psionics) come across and give us similar opportunities. To me, this isn't a "If you don't make RPGSS then try us" but it's a second chance or a different opportunity to try to make what you want true.
There may not be a ton of money in writing for gaming products, but there is a certain pride and sense of accomplishment involved in it. Even if it's just fulfilling a far-off dream and not a pursuit of a career, it's still something worth doing.
Good luck, everyone.
First of all, I want to say thankyou for all the great responses and cheers we are getting from people here. :)
Second of all, I can only agree with the above sentiment of the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with having something you've written be published. It's even better when it ends up in print, because then it's something you can put in your shelf and even display.
It should be said though, that much of the credit, even for this contest, should go to Paizo. If it wasn't for them, with opening up the Pathfinder RPG, supporting us third party publishers, or just inspiring us to do Open Playtests or even a contest like this - none of this would be happening.
Finally, looking forward to reading all your material! Good Luck to everyone and feel free to shoot us any questions you have.
- Andreas Rönnqvist
Dreamscarred Press
Quick question:
Will an entry or an entrant be selected as winner?
So, if say, I had an idea for a "tag-team" of monsters, so 2 individual entries, that might be more or less bland taken for themselves, but really "bring the mojo" if they are combined, will it hurt my submission, because my entries have to be judged by their-selves, or is it a good idea, because I will be judged based on the Sum of all my entries?
The funny part Azmahel is what I submitted can be seen as very close to what you just described.....lol
Separately, my entries are ok but together, they make an even better advisory for PC's to go up against.
The funny part Azmahel is what I submitted can be seen as very close to what you just described.....lol
Separately, my entries are ok but together, they make an even better advisory for PC's to go up against.
I think "tag-teams" or symbiotic relationships are an interesting aspect for monster design, that isn't yet overly explored, and psionics are well suited for experimentation on this angle.
In my case that relation would go even so far that an encounter featuring only one of the creatures would be an extreme oddball, unlikely, yet not impossible ;)
Quick question:
Will an entry or an entrant be selected as winner?So, if say, I had an idea for a "tag-team" of monsters, so 2 individual entries, that might be more or less bland taken for themselves, but really "bring the mojo" if they are combined, will it hurt my submission, because my entries have to be judged by their-selves, or is it a good idea, because I will be judged based on the Sum of all my entries?
The entrant is selected as the grand prize winner. Creativity such as what you're describing is very much recommended and one of the things we're looking for. A single great monster, three distinct, unrelated great monsters, or three monsters that all tie together - any of those could conceivably win. :) We'll look at all those factors - we're not trying to exclude entries, we're trying to foster creativity.
Silver Crescent Publishing
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But this is simply a third party company that is attempting to help Paizo with it. They aren't competing WITH them, but adding options FOR them. I see it as a good thing. And honestly, I loved psionics and have wanted them for pathfinder for a long, long time.This doesn't seem right. Paizo/Pathfinder has revitalized the true awesomeness of Dungeons and Dragons...
Why would I support another company? That would be like shooting my RPG future in the foot!
I agree with Viztarius (and not just because I'm a 3PP too...). Paizo has said that IF they did psionic rules it wouldn't be AT LEAST until the 2012 year and it wasn't currently on the schedule for then either. Dreamscarred Press just got ahead of Paizo on this one. They are using the Pathfinder Compatibility License which means you still need the Core Rulebook to play the game. Thus they are adding to the potential fanbase of Pathfinder. For those who might not have moved from 3.5E to Pathfinder because it lacked psionic rules, now they have a reason to switch. With as many fans as 3.5E has/had I am certain there are those who would stick with 3.5E simply because of psionics. Dreamscarred Press is thus potentially increasing Paizo's fanbase as much as they are increasing their own.
Will only the winner's monster be featured ... or if there are several good ones, will there be a chance that others are to be selected for inclusion as well? I realize they may not be the ones getting paid for it, but I reckon there might be several that would at least enjoy the name recognition nonetheless.
Will only the winner's monster be featured ... or if there are several good ones, will there be a chance that others are to be selected for inclusion as well? I realize they may not be the ones getting paid for it, but I reckon there might be several that would at least enjoy the name recognition nonetheless.
There's the very likely chance that others will be selected for inclusion - if not in this project, in other projects with monsters (Third Dawn bestiaries, for example, or as monsters in upcoming adventures...). That's why we have second place prizes of PDFs and printed books. :)
Will only the winner's monster be featured ... or if there are several good ones, will there be a chance that others are to be selected for inclusion as well? I realize they may not be the ones getting paid for it, but I reckon there might be several that would at least enjoy the name recognition nonetheless.There's the very likely chance that others will be selected for inclusion - if not in this project, in other projects with monsters (Third Dawn bestiaries, for example, or as monsters in upcoming adventures...). That's why we have second place prizes of PDFs and printed books. :)
Good to know! I'd like to see a lot more of original beasties included with the usual OGL suspects re-statblocked for Pathfinder. =)
Good to know! I'd like to see a lot more of original beasties included with the usual OGL suspects re-statblocked for Pathfinder. =)Will only the winner's monster be featured ... or if there are several good ones, will there be a chance that others are to be selected for inclusion as well? I realize they may not be the ones getting paid for it, but I reckon there might be several that would at least enjoy the name recognition nonetheless.There's the very likely chance that others will be selected for inclusion - if not in this project, in other projects with monsters (Third Dawn bestiaries, for example, or as monsters in upcoming adventures...). That's why we have second place prizes of PDFs and printed books. :)
Like Jeremy says above - there is a "fluid" number of "second prizes" available too, which could mean that the beasties get included in either the final Bestiary, or one of our other projects. We intentionally created this for the simple reason that if we come across multiple, good ideas, we still have room to include them if we want to.
Cheers
- Andreas Rönnqvist
Dreamscarred Press
Soooo..... for this psionics bestiary - how many creatures are you roughly looking at being included in this volume?
Soooo..... for this psionics bestiary - how many creatures are you roughly looking at being included in this volume?
We're intending this to be a 24-32 page bestiary, so anywhere from 20-30 monsters, all things told. Ideally, the winner will write the whole thing, but there's the option of collaborating with me and / or Andreas on it, as well.