Oh. Poor guy. . . I feel bad for the poor monstrous humanoid now. After I kill off a couple of lying, clumsy minions who don't know who their allies are, I'll gladly pay for a Raise Dead and have him sent off to whatever material plane he was from. . .
Good Luck, Triple-G. . . and good luck Ghost. I hope you're still intact.
GGG!
Awesome news on your special project..you and everyone involved! Congrats! I remember you telling me about it late late one evening at Origins! Kudos! Sounds like you got lots of others in the running too. Good hunting with those too.
I only had four props this time around (well four solo props)...and one Sharn adventure, but I hope it survived, cause it is one of the cooler props I have come up with I think...we shall see in a couple of days when I hear back.
Good Luck To Everyone!
GGG!
Awesome news on your special project..you and everyone involved! Congrats! I remember you telling me about it late late one evening at Origins! Kudos! Sounds like you got lots of others in the running too. Good hunting with those too.
I only had four props this time around (well four solo props)...and one Sharn adventure, but I hope it survived, cause it is one of the cooler props I have come up with I think...we shall see in a couple of days when I hear back.
Good Luck To Everyone!
Congrat's yourself Nick, I hear you scored section of the Big Time AP yourself.
Best O'luck to all,
GGG
Oh. Poor guy. . . I feel bad for the poor monstrous humanoid now. After I kill off a couple of lying, clumsy minions who don't know who their allies are, I'll gladly pay for a Raise Dead and have him sent off to whatever material plane he was from. . .
Good Luck, Triple-G. . . and good luck Ghost. I hope you're still intact.
Mistakes will happen!
:)
GGG
I just want to chime in and say good luck to everyone who has sent in a proposal ;-). From the sound of things my 9 or so proposals are going to face some stiff competition. Why, oh why did I have to send in both a druid adventure and a Sharn murder (kidnapping) mystery?! I feel like I'm being told off by James personally! Oh well, back to the drawing board...
I just want to chime in and say good luck to everyone who has sent in a proposal ;-). From the sound of things my 9 or so proposals are going to face some stiff competition. Why, oh why did I have to send in both a druid adventure and a Sharn murder (kidnapping) mystery?! I feel like I'm being told off by James personally! Oh well, back to the drawing board...
HA! I feel your pain Phil! No druid for me, but I dig on Sharn and had one in the running. Worse: I have three Sharn props I am working on right now...oh well back to the drawing board. :-)
Drunk Dude, I think we may have made such an impression with our unique submission (the circumstance surrounding it not the adventure itself) that the folks at Paizo decided to get back to us right away.
I figured as much. The stuff you all were throwing around in that thread was some really good stuff! I didn't actually read any of it while it was unfolding, because I was working on my own subs (I actually got three of them sent in in that last week!!!) and didn't want to be too influenced in my stuff...but, after the deadline was announced, I tore into that thread and just read in awe all of that super-rich backstory and imagery. The public execution in the snow was GREAT and all of the stuff about the Yakmen and using the iconics and the idea of the treasure all being parts of a puzzle that holds back the great rift in the plane or whatever was just mindblowing to read.
It was really fun to watch it unfold. I understand that it's changed now and everything...but, reading it was like watching "Waiting for Guffman" or "Best in Show", the way you were just riffing off of each other...allowing each person to have a chance to shine. You shouldn't have worried about it looking like a vanity press thing, everybody seemed to get a good solo in there.You all do deserve congratulations! Way to go.
Have you hard working contributors noticed the latest Design & Development article at WotC? Write a short adventure to qualify as a new freelancer. Cool! Maybe some of those submissions that Paizo's rejected will get a warmer welcome at Wizards? And those submission guidelines sure look awfully familiar....
Well, it's done;
Has anybody heard anything yet, one way or the other? Have e-mails even started to go out yet?
* chews some more on what's left of his fingernails *
at least the adventure proposals anyway.
This actually leads to a question I've been wondering about lately, actually. What sort of process do Campaign Workbooks go through? Do they have the same sort of review process? Do "acceptance" or "rejection" e-mails get sent for them at some vague and nebulous point in the future, or do they sit in a slush pile, waiting to be plucked from month to month?
Has anybody heard anything yet, one way or the other? Have e-mails even started to go out yet?
I have not heard anything yet.
Has anybody heard anything yet, one way or the other? Have e-mails even started to go out yet?
* chews some more on what's left of his fingernails *
I had three submissions in the pile, and I've heard nothing yet either. I'm sure when they do go out there will be a flurry of posts to this thread from all of us, for better or worse.
Hunter
-keeps his figners crossed
Has anyone been told they have had there quiry approved? Is it just the adventure quiries that 'need further work' or have been rejected that have not been responded to as yet?
I put my quiry in 2 and half months a go a not heard a word. What sort of timeline are we looking at here? Is this the usual turn around?
Delvesdeep
Delvesdeep, As far as I know right this second only one (or three or four - its complicated) adventures have been greenlit to the general public. I only know that because I am 1/5th co-owner in the adventure(s). I'm still waiting on my other proposals like I assume almost everyone else. As for how long, I think someone on this thread waited a month+ after the submissions meeting to hear a "yea" or "nay". The last official transmission said that they had picked everything on September 23, and that 18 out of about 130 got chosen.
Good luck,
GGG
As most of you know, submission replies were very sparse last week, due mainly to 129's deadline. Now that that is complete, however, expect them to start going out in earnest this week.
Delvesdeep, As far as I know right this second only one (or three or four - its complicated) adventures have been greenlit to the general public. I only know that because I am 1/5th co-owner in the adventure(s). I'm still waiting on my other proposals like I assume almost everyone else. As for how long, I think someone on this thread waited a month+ after the submissions meeting to hear a "yea" or "nay". The last official transmission said that they had picked everything on September 23, and that 18 out of about 130 got chosen.
Good luck,
GGG
I've actually waited over 2 months following a submissions meeting to hear on my proposals.... so this isn't a particularly long or unusual wait.
- Ashavan
I've actually waited over 2 months following a submissions meeting to hear on my proposals.... so this isn't a particularly long or unusual wait.
- Ashavan
So then this must be karma.
:)
GGG
Thanks for the update, Jeremy.
While we all wait, got any info on my second question? ;)
As most of you know, submission replies were very sparse last week, due mainly to 129's deadline. Now that that is complete, however, expect them to start going out in earnest this week.
Ooooooh! Must check email....wait ten minutes...repeat. LOL! Fine, I'm going over to eBay to check on some comics. And it turns out I lied about having a druid. I went back thru my submissions yesterday/today and found that I DO have one, but not as the BBEG, this one is the guy that asks the good guys to go into the deep dark hole with the unholy green fog curling out of the mouth and find the beastie that ate gramma betty.
And Delvesdeep, do not worry about the time that it takes to get a response...I also have waited a month or so after the cutoff date was announced for my rejections. Use that time to write in another submission....(and check your email a couple more times)
The Las Vegas Assassin is pleased. Yes. Very pleased. The word from on high on 2 of his five proposals so far has been most favorable. Strength in numbers. The Las Vegas Assassin got reinforcements this time to shove his ideas through the front door of the Temple of Paizo. The combined might of the Great Green Dragon, the Dire Badger, a Dryder, and a warrior who has bid Farewell 2 Kings used the aid another action to burst open the massive stone doors of the temple (Break DC 35). And the Las Vegas Assassin crept behind them with a Hooligan named PSmedger at his side.
Let the sacking of the temple commence!
One thing I would like to say here about NPC names.
Please adhere to the following guidelines when naming your NPCS:
1. Avoid using real-world names (eg. Bob, Sally, Pete) for your NPCs. This includes foreign language names as well, although we can be a little more forgiving with those.
2. Avoid using names from other popular literature, or popular culture in general (eg. Aragorn). Also avoid using anagrams of these names.
3. Avoid using names that contain multiple apostrophes. Even one is pretty bad, but more than that is just awful.
Thank you, you may now return to your regularly scheduled fretting.
The Las Vegas Assassin is pleased. Yes. Very pleased. The word from on high on 2 of his five proposals so far has been most favorable. Strength in numbers. The Las Vegas Assassin got reinforcements this time to shove his ideas through the front door of the Temple of Paizo. The combined might of the Great Green Dragon, the Dire Badger, a Dryder, and a warrior who has bid Farewell 2 Kings used the aid another action to burst open the massive stone doors of the temple (Break DC 35). And the Las Vegas Assassin crept behind them with a Hooligan named PSmedger at his side.
Let the sacking of the temple commence!
Ah, so the responses have really started going out! Congrats Steve! Two out of five, that's great!
- Ashavan
Way to go Steve, I got word on all of mine and I'm looking at a another pair of deadlines myself. So between you, me, Dryder, Farwell2Kings and Koldoon we have 6 adventures and 2 backdrops accounted for - so far. Not bad at all.
Good luck on those other three and to everyone else still out there waiting.
GGG
Congratulations Steve and GGG!! Sending good karma vibes Ashavan's way that he gets positive news as well!!
"Ashavan's Way" hmmmm....that sounds like it might be a cool adventure title.
I'm so glad that Greyhawk stuff is continuing to get green-lit, considering some of the dire rumors floating around recently regarding the fate of the Flanaess in "official" circles. Maybe it's because it's so adaptable.
Congratulations All!
You guys sure are hoggin all the greenlights! ;-)
I haven't heard anything yet. I had a lot of good luck after the last meeting, so I am not expecting too much this time around, though you never, never know. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Good luck to everyone who hasn't heard back yet.
One thing I would like to say here about NPC names.
Please adhere to the following guidelines when naming your NPCS:
1. Avoid using real-world names (eg. Bob, Sally, Pete) for your NPCs. This includes foreign language names as well, although we can be a little more forgiving with those.
So, would the use of a foreign name be enough to kill a submission? The reason I ask is I recently bought a book of different names and used it in this batch of subs, finding it easier (and more efficient) to say once at the top of the sub something like;
"The 8th level wild elf wizard, Thekla, started the flood that stirred up all the dire apes..." and then only have to use the Greek name 'Thekla' when referring to her later in the sub instead of saying '8th level wild elf wizard' every time.
So, would the use of a foreign name be enough to kill a submission?
Can't say I've ever submitted anything for publication (yet!) but I do write, and I've found it's pretty difficult to imagine any combination of syllables that isn't a real name or word in some language. It's terrible to come up with a cool name only to learn later it means "nooky" or "vomit" or something in some Pacific Islander tongue.
I'm fond of world building, and when I come up with what I believe to be a clever character or place name I'll Google it. So far I've never even google-whacked. A while back I had a great name for an evil empire bent on world domination, and lo, it shared its name with a British center for holistic medicine. Just the other day I resolved that no more place names would end in the Latin "-ia" (totally overdone) and toyed with "-ol" suffixes. I named a continent Adrenol and then thought: Geez, that sounds like something I'd buy at the drugstore. Turns out it's a body-building supplement. Next!
Anyhow, to all you fretting contributors: good luck! I hope to read your stuff soon.
One thing I would like to say here about NPC names.
Please adhere to the following guidelines when naming your NPCS:
1. Avoid using real-world names (eg. Bob, Sally, Pete) for your NPCs. This includes foreign language names as well, although we can be a little more forgiving with those.
Just out of curiosity - why? I can understand why using names from literature is a no-no, and I can see why apostrophes can be annoying. But in my early morning, pre-caffeine haze, I'm not seeing why all real names are so bad. Thanks. :)
Just out of curiosity - why? I can understand why using names from literature is a no-no, and I can see why apostrophes can be annoying. But in my early morning, pre-caffeine haze, I'm not seeing why all real names are so bad. Thanks. :)
I'm in the same boat. To be honest, I think it's odd when people continually come up with contrived names for people, simply because they don't want to use a normal sounding name. I'd think that using names that are more realistic would be a good thing.
In my campaign, I usually assign a real world naming model to each group / country / region. If you're from Nod, you have an Arabic name. You're name is Stoyanka Gintchin (Slavic name)? You must be from the highland tribes north of Al Qut.
Creative Director
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This topic probably needs a little clarification.
Basically... what we're saying is to put some work into your NPC names. We see hundreds of submissions a month, and each of those submisisons has a half dozen or so names. You'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) how many submissions have names that just don't sit right. A lame name isn't enoguh in and of itself to get a proposal rejected, since they're easy to change, but they certainly won't help.
1: Ease back on the apostrophies. They're for punctuation, not for new babies.
2: No names of famous literary characters (like Frodo or Merlin). These names carry too much baggage and can overwhelm everything else about the NPC. And in some cases, using one of these names can get us in legal trouble.
3: Now for the trickier one: Real world names. I admit that I'm a bit less intolerant about using real-world names than certain other editors here at Paizo, but I certainly don't appreciate giants named Bob or pit fiends named Andrew or lamias named Dolly. That extends down to small-town NPCs. I'm not interested in publishing adventures that feature coopers named Bob or tax collectors named Andrew or innkeepers named Dolly. Come up with better names. Look at names in fantasy novels, names in other RPGs, and certainly names in Dungeon for inspiration. Naming NPCs is an art, one of about a dozen or two forms of art that you'll need to master to get into the magazine.
That's kinda interesting, actually. In the group I DM, there's currently 5 players, with one of those having the Leadership feat and therefore two characters. There's also an NPC that travels with them. The group has the following names:
William - a human 9th level Marshal
Samuel - a human 7th level swashbuckler, William's cohort
Rosa - a halfling 8th rogue/cleric of Olidammara
Duncan - a dwarven 9th level ranger
Charisse - a human 7th level bard NPC
Tuvlar - an elven 8th level ranger
Imag - a halfling 9th level rogue/wizard
So out of that party of 7, 5 have "real" names. Now, granted, names such as Rosa and Duncan and Charisse (while real) are a bit more creative than William or Samuel.
Anyway - it was just a point of curiosity; I generally don't have problems coming up with names for my characters or my NPCs.
So, would the use of a foreign name be enough to kill a submission?
Generally not. Unless all the names are really bad, we won't reject a submission just because of the names. But, on the other hand, reaching a decision about a submission is a cumulative process that includes many different factors, and one of them is the NPC names.
As I said, we tend to be more forgiving with foreign names, and we basically just want you to avoid the most popular ones. If we haven't heard of it, it's probably fine.
As for the reasoning behind it, well, one of the editors with a lot of say in the submissions process really dislikes real world names, and that should be enough for everyone here. :)
As for the reasoning behind it, well, one of the editors with a lot of say in the submissions process really dislikes real world names, and that should be enough for everyone here. :)
Indeed. That's a plenty good enough reason. :D
That's why from now on I'm setting all my games in the fifth dimension - no vowels.
The Great Green God
or...
Tht's why frm nw n 'm sttng ll my gms n th ffth dmnsn - n vwls.
Th Grt Grn Gd
But you used an apostrophe. :P
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Just curious:
In terms of submissions, are you guys coming close to actually looking at the shorter submissions (like things submitted for the Campaign Workbook section of Dungeon)? I submitted something back in April/May and still have yet to here if it was cast aside, workable, or if it needs re-writing.
Thanks for any info.
Sincerely,
Jason Sonia
But you used an apostrophe. :P
Crss! Fld gn!
GGG
Just curious:
In terms of submissions, are you guys coming close to actually looking at the shorter submissions (like things submitted for the Campaign Workbook section of Dungeon)? I submitted something back in April/May and still have yet to here if it was cast aside, workable, or if it needs re-writing.
Thanks for any info.
Sincerely,
Jason Sonia
Jason -
I have Critical Threats from January that are still in the pile... I think Jeremy holds on to just about anything he may be able to use. I've had some luck with the short articles, so I'm still hoping he'll find a good issue to put them in.
- Ashavan
Unless all the names are really bad, we won't reject a submission just because of the names. But, on the other hand, reaching a decision about a submission is a cumulative process that includes many different factors, and one of them is the NPC names. :)
I figured, but you know how it is when you are in the full-on fret mode. Any thing written by the ed's on these forums seems to be written about your proposal DIRECTLY. It was just a new thing that I had tried on this batch (using 'real' foreign names) and I thought it was getting all my subs thrown out.
PS: Thank you guys for actually giving all of the pointers that have come out on these forums.
That's why from now on I'm setting all my games in the fifth dimension - no vowels.
LOL! You needn't leave our space-time for that. Keep doing what you've done, but reverse the direction so it reads right to left and you've got a Semetic language like Arabic, Hebrew, or Ancient Egyptian. To read those languages you need to recognize a word in its context and supply the proper vowel sounds ("ths" could be "this", "these", or "those"). That's why, unfortunately, no will ever be able to speak Ancient Egyptian again. I believe the Egyptologists' rule of thumb is: "when in doubt, insert an 'e'."
If any of you need help with your submissions, let me know. I've edited several rpg rulebooks, adventures and even short stories. I can help you with grammar, usage and especially following d20 rules. (And I can also offer suggestions if you've named all your heroes Bob and your villains the Dread Pirate Roberts.)
The Phantom Genius
-no one knows who he is, but I hear he's pretty smart
That's why from now on I'm setting all my games in the fifth dimension - no vowels.LOL! You needn't leave our space-time for that. Keep doing what you've done, but reverse the direction so it reads right to left and you've got a Semetic language like Arabic, Hebrew, or Ancient Egyptian. To read those languages you need to recognize a word in its context and supply the proper vowel sounds ("ths" could be "this", "these", or "those"). That's why, unfortunately, no will ever be able to speak Ancient Egyptian again. I believe the Egyptologists' rule of thumb is: "when in doubt, insert an 'e'."
At least arabic only has three vowels to choose from.
- Ashavan
EDIT - actually there are six... but three are extended vowels represented by characters rather than diacritical marks.
Phantom - thanks for the kind offer. :)
Ashavan - I saw you have another Campaign Workbook in the current issue. Congrats! :)
Phantom - thanks for the kind offer. :)
Ashavan - I saw you have another Campaign Workbook in the current issue. Congrats! :)
I do??? That's great!
I haven't received a contract for that one yet though. I think I need to email Jeremy!
- Ashavan
The responses to rest of us must be starting to trickle out :) Out of my nine proposals two made it through the threshing machine of the jaded editorial eye :)
BTW, they aren't kidding about being down on shapechangers...
Beware and take heed for next time!!
The responses to rest of us must be starting to trickle out :) Out of my nine proposals two made it through the threshing machine of the jaded editorial eye :)
BTW, they aren't kidding about being down on shapechangers...
Beware and take heed for next time!!
2 more down, that leaves about 10-11 acceptances to account for. Congrats Hal!
Hunter
*runs to the inbox yet again*
Phantom - thanks for the kind offer. :)
Ashavan - I saw you have another Campaign Workbook in the current issue. Congrats! :)
I do??? That's great!
I haven't received a contract for that one yet though. I think I need to email Jeremy!
- Ashavan
Well, unless there's somebody else named Ashavan who has Campaign Workbooks being published. ;)
Well, unless there's somebody else named Ashavan who has Campaign Workbooks being published. ;)
I tend to doubt that, it's a rather uncommon name. I haven't received 128 yet, and when I didn't receive a contract, I expected it had just been bumped. I'm looking forward to seeing it though!
- Ashavan
400 posts! And from the looks of things this thread isn't going away anytime soon. Here's to the next 400 posts and what they may bring.
Hunter