| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Paper-Folding Instructions of Master Mo: This small, square book has a cover made of layers of folded paper. The first person to read it gains a permanent +8 competence bonus to Sleight of Hand checks. The book can only grant this bonus once.
Using the instructions in the book, any character can fold one of the loose 25 sheets of paper found in the back into an origami figure (see list). This is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, and requires a successful DC 25 Sleight of Hand check. The character must declare which figure he is making before starting. If this check fails, the sheet of paper is wasted and cannot be used anymore. If successful, the origami figure vanishes, producing the corresponding effect (see below), which functions exactly as the spell of the same name. The character that made the figure controls the effect as if he were its caster.
FIGURE EFFECT
bird major image
dragon phantasmal killer
flower rainbow pattern
lion shadow evocation
unicorn dream
Once the sheets are used up, the book crumbles to dust.
Moderate illusion, CL 10th, Craft Wondrous Item, major image, phantasmal killer, rainbow pattern, dream, shadow evocation. Price: 25,000 gp
Wow. I cant believe it. I actually like this item. I thought I was going to hate it.
I dont mind the +8 competence bonus to SoH, since other manuals can give up to +5s to ability scores.
And the 25 pages and the folding and effects are cool.
Great theme, tight design, good mechanics, good design.
This is a keeper.
Kobold Press
|
I've looked at this one at least six times without commenting. It's a tough call for me: the name made me want to reject it out of hand (just kinda... cheesy). The first paragraph didn't improve my impression (a permanent +8 skill bonus!?).
The folding requiring a skill check is weird, mechanically speaking, because most items don't require you to make a skill check to use them. Instead, they give you a bonus to your check.
That said, if you are GOING to require a skill check, it should be higher for bigger effects. Major image is 3rd level, phantasmal killer is 4th, and dream is 5th: why do they all have the same DC of 25? It's a missed opportunity.
Despite my grumbling on mechanics, I think the item is original and better than most multiple-effect items.
Keep.
Origami Unicorn = Dream: nice!
I noticed that, wonder if it was an intentional nod to Bladerunner. Either way, nice.
Hm. This item was the first that caught my eye when going through the winners - I like the implied flavor. But I've never really liked items that just give you extra spells. It seems like a failure to live up to potential...
I'm going to keep eyeballing this. Shortlisted.
Hey Cappa - you do know there isn't public voting session on these items right? We will get to vote on these winners' countries.
As far as the item goes - pretty neat. I'm with Wolfgang on the permanent skill bonus though. This item is seriously underpriced (+8 permanent should be at least 16000 alone, IMHO).
I probably would have liked the origami critters to animate rather than unleash spell effects. I like the idea of this as a more elegant version of the bag you reach into and pull out furballs that turn into animals. It'd be nice to have the special animals created by the spell have some mechanical modifiers from being made from paper (I can't remember what was listed for the abilities of paper golems from Dragon--but that sort of thing).
|
Hey Cappa - you do know there isn't public voting session on these items right? We will get to vote on these winners' countries.
...
I did. And then I promptly forgot. And proceeded to make it publically obvious that I forgot. Kinda makes me wonder what the point of showing us the magic items is, though. Just name the winners and don't give us the chance to prejudge contestants by their awesome or crappy items that don't really have any bearing on the parts of contest we CAN vote on.
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
People are using these to pre-judge people? That is so ignorant...
Anyway, this item reminds me of the kid's stories of Chris van Allsburg--it's got novelty and seems out of place for D&D in a good way.
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
I'm certainly not discounting anyone, but I am equally certainly establishing some expected favorites. :-)
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
Not even read the country entries? Because reading fun rpg stuff is such work? I don't quite understand your POV.
El Skootro
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
I'm certainly not discounting anyone, but I am equally certainly establishing some expected favorites. :-)
And you are going to know who is who because? I mean, you know that Paizo strips the names off first, right?
Luckily, I can now pre-judge several Paizo posters above as being...
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
I'm not criticizing, and I acknowledge that it is your right to choose and vote how you want. But let me gently suggest that you give all the country entries a chance. Imagine if you miss something you would have loved just cause you decided not to read it.
One reason you guys are voting on the NEXT round (not this round), and a reason why we really stressed creativity in the selection, is because we wanted to find people who showed us some creatvie spark. We couldnt sift through 850+ 1000-word countries so we had people design 200-word items. We want people to truly show you what they can do before you decide.
So if you want to use these to help you find favorites to follow, that is cool. But I urge you not to omit people from future consideration just because of their items.
Just a suggestion. But it is your choice in the end.
|
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
this is only avalable if they give us names when we vote for the countries - they might tell us the names after the poll is done
Wow. I was dancing and jumping up and down at the Starbucks today. I am so excited I made it. Thanks for the opportunity, really.
to Erik: Yes, there is an inside joke about the name, which I promise I'll tell you about if we ever have the opportunity to meet in person.
to Hyper- and Kisko: yes, Bladerunner was in my thoughts.
I appreciate the feedback on the DC for the paper-folding check from Wolfgang. The Sleight of Hand check was my tip of the hat to how real-world origami works, but your observation makes a good point from a mechanics point of view.
I intended this item to be used mostly by non-primary spellcasters (such as bards) or by rogues and other types who would benefit from a bit of illusion magic.
Thanks again. I am really amazed by how much talent shows through in all the entries, and am honored to be amongst the likes of the top 32.
Now I have to play travel agent...
Being able to read the items allows us to pre-judge the creators, and follow the ones we liked the most in future rounds.
As wrong as it may be, I have already discounted a few contestants, and will not even read their country entries.
this is only avalable if they give us names when we vote for the countries - they might tell us the names after the poll is done
Excerpt from the rules Q&A :
I'm in the Top 32. I want some sweet bragging rights! What do you have for me?We will add a "(RPG Superstar Top 32)" tag to the finalists' avatar names, which will be visible to the judges and the voting public with future submissions and board postings. It's our version of "Pimp My Avatar."
-By the way, I hereby retract my previous statement and will be reading all of the country submissions, although I retain the right to remain biased.-
A full round action to fold an origami dragon??? Please tell me that the paper is assisting in creating the folds, or there is some haste affect going on around the hands.
I just got images of being in a fight, trying to fold paper. Wait. Don't swing. Can't get this...mountain fold...squash this side....hey paladin, let me use your back real quick to get this crease....got it!
ROFL!
Yes, I thought of that precisely when I was designing it... How long does it actually take to fold an origami figure? (Believe me, I tried to do it in six seconds, several times, to no avail)... However, the decision to make it a full-round action was one of playability. Who'd wait around for ten rounds while you fold your paper dragon?
Of course, you can imagine that Master Mo's instructions are that good, you only need a round to pull it off... (heheheh)
RPG Superstar 2013
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
|
Very orignal, and the Eastern flavor is not something you see a lot. And therefore I forgive the cheesy name.
I think the skill bonus should be +3 if permanent, or +5 if only while you hold the book or fold pages from it. I think either the skill DC should change with the higher level spells, or the spell should take up more pages.
Ranked somewhere between the ear necklace and tea (top) and the quiver (bottom of the good ones).
...you know that Paizo strips the names off first, right?The anonymous portion of the contest has ended. Names will be visible with submissions from here on out. We want you to have favorites (and we realize that you'll also have least-favorites).
Oops. Sniff sniff, okay Mike. I think that's cool and I can now think of some good reasons why. I was just so mortified that someone would say they won't read all the submissions...
I like it as a paper folding wondrous item but what has been submitted clearly isn't a wondrous item IMO and should be disqualified like the other two entrants who were disqualified for being over word.
Look what it does mechanically:
A permanent +8 Epic skill bonus which basically elevates it from a Wondrous Item to an Epic Item or a Cheap one shot Artifact for the price without any penalties like most artifcats which is outside the contest parameters.
The Item is basically granting 3 stacking Skill Focus bonus feats or at least a single Epic Feat mechanically on top of a 25 spell box item for 25,000 GP. What else does that in game for a comparable cost?
Basically getting to buy 3 so so non epic stacking Skill Focus in game at 6,000 GP a piece based on the Deck of Illusions at 8,100 gp.
IMO it is ignoring cost mechanics, to cheap for what it is doing in game and does not meet the contest specifications for crafting a wondrous item. IMO that isn't being creative it is breaking the game mechanics.
I like it as a paper folding wondrous item but what has been submitted clearly isn't a wondrous item IMO and should be disqualified like the other two entrants who were disqualified for being over word.
"Clearly" we judges dont agree that this is not a wondrous item. In fact, I would say all three judges "clearly" felt it was absolutley a wondrous item. You are, however, entitled to your opinion.
I'm not sure it is helpful or useful for a discussion of an item to suggest that it should have been disqualified. It hasnt been. And wont be.
I'm not trying to suppress criticism of an entry. That is usually helpful and interesting for purposes of debate and analysis. And I dont think there is an item here that isnt subject to some criticism. So please dont get me wrong.
Feel free to blast away with percieved design issues. Please, lets leave the "it should be disqualified" stuff out, if you dont mind. Just a friendly request. Everyone worked real hard in this process.
Clark I'm entitled to my own opinion and to disagree with the judges based on my understanding of the SRD rules and the Paizo contest creativity constraints.
I only disagree with the judges on a handful or so of the Top 32 mainly because I do not believe the contest rules are Not being applied with an even hand when you drop Two round 2 contestents for being a few words over limit after promoting them to the second round, while many seemed to receive fluff passes on SRD cost and mechanics for being creative without having to adhere to the same constraints as the other contestents.
The contest was a lot of fun entering. I wanted a great contest with great magic items. I made a few posts at other web sites regarding the contest because I wanted lots of competition I wanted to see a great contest with great designers.
You posted a contestent would be taking a risk being over the 200 word limit but then all 3 judges passed them on to round 2.
You also posted that these 32 items would be items I would want on my character sheet that raised my expectations of what to expect from the contest. Cost to utility and suggested wealth by level.
I have to admit I am pretty disappointed mainly because all three judges are industry icons but many of the items appear to go for Wow effects that ignore SRD costing rules and mechanics instead of creativity under the contest constraints like a RPG Superstar. IMO it is a lot easier to be creative when you ignore the SRD limitations the other contestents are constrained by. Many of the item are excellent and most of my favorites have real campaign cost utility but many seem to have very little cost to utility value for campaigns using suggested wealth by level even at very high level campaigns. I was hoping for more.
I'm familair with the game and IMO itisn't being creative duplicating Epic or Artifact game effect mechanics giving them to a magic item and then saying it's a Wondrous Item, but it's Piazo's contest and Paizo can do what ever it wants.
It was wrong to disqualify those other two contestents and not hold up all 32 second round contestents to the same contest standards which is what got me relaly upset and fired up. Paizo gave them a Golden ticket and then took it away. and reviewing them with a more critical eye. I'll respect your wishes and take a break and go away for awhile.
I am always amazed when people complain about how a contest like this was handled. People, even industry judges, are people. And anything that seems amazing enough can break the rules. This contest is for Paizo to find someone they can publish and thus make money off of. If they find an amazing talent, they are not going to disqualify it because it might be an epic item. Just never assume your stuff is that amazing.
Oddly, I don't like this item. I like the idea behind it (and have wanted something that works with this stuff since reading the Wild card books), but like all my own efforts I am left cold and dissatisfied. I wanted something more interesting. In the authors defense, that may not be possible in 200 words.
If you ever write a longer version, I'd love to see it to see if it meets my desires, even thouigh this doesn't (and none of my own tries ever have)
I'm not saying go away. Not at all.
I want you here. I think you have some really valid points. And I appreciate your thoughtful commentary regardless of whether I agree or disagree. I will give you this, you usually have something to back up your claim. And that is useful and producting.
I just want to encourage you to leave the issue of whether or not it was wrong to DQ those two entries in another forum and not have the DQ issue spill over into item evaluation. I get that you didnt like the decision. In fact, I encourage you to create a new thread (not in the item form) to discuss whether or not we were right or wrong in doing so. But I can sense that that issue is creeping into your reviews. Not saying it cant, but I would sure prefer that it not.
I hope you see what I am saying.
(by the way, my "clearly" in quotes was not to mock you but was just to highlight how unclear that stuff is and how subjective it is--since you feel one thing is clear and we felt the opposite was clear).
So lets all join DungeonGrrl in discussing the item.
Looking at the item quickly, I think it has potential for greatness, but it seems a little odd in some way I can not explain. Basically you get 25 free spells, with take 1 full round to cast.
Personally I would like to see this as a Artifact power level item. I would add some more spell effects to it and make it into a book that lets you make any of the recipes a couple times per day or week.
Beyond that it does not really shine for me. I doubt that it would ever see a use in my game.
Paizo have had a pretty nice contest despite some bumps. I had fun and it's not that I want any of the Top 32 DQ Clark it is just some examples of interpreting SRD game rules and mechanics could be interpreted or applied because the rules don't seem to be getting applied fairly and evenly consistently. It was mostly a non issue till I learned why those 2 contestents had been dropped I believe that was very poorly handled.
I would like the two Top 32 round 2 contestents that were DQ, Requalified or receiving something nice like getting their wondrous item Published with a credit one day here at Paizo or Necromancer Games because it is the right thing to do in this situation since Paizo caused the problem.
I'll bet today was one of the High lights of those two contestents lives advancing on merit doing something they love or enjoy against great odds before Paizo snatched it away and really ruined it for them. Better to have never had that moment and get chosen to have it stolen away like it was.
massive permanent bonus to a skill (already commented on by others).
Then it is 25 spells which take a full round and a skill check to activate- and the spell choice seems a bit odd.
Certainly qualifies as intersting IMO, has a cool name and well done using an unusual art like origami. I would be intersted to know how much these two elements influenced the judges.
I'll bet today was one of the High lights of those two contestents lives advancing on merit doing something they love or enjoy against great odds before Paizo snatched it away and really ruined it for them. Better to have never had that moment and get chosen to have it stolen away like it was.
I've known that moment, my CW article was accepted and on the pile! Then mr. Sutter took it off the pile again.
Those few hours were like a dream.
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
|
I'll bet today was one of the High lights of those two contestents lives advancing on merit doing something they love or enjoy against great odds before Paizo snatched it away and really ruined it for them. Better to have never had that moment and get chosen to have it stolen away like it was.
And yet those poor beat upon two people are handling the up and down better than you. Why don't you leave it to the people actually affected to b@@%* about their treatment. Or, better yet, take note of their maturity and professionalism, and see if you can emulate that.
The name makes me think that these instructions teach you how to do something and then you don't need them anymore. So it's got this kind of false advertising. Then you become the epic pick pocket which has nothing to do with origami.
I would drop the bonus and check altogether, let the paper fold itself (for the most part, I still like the visual of the person folding). I'd like to see creatures instead of spells too. Maybe they are just specially prepared sheets of paper and not a book.
Or following the name, the instructions could allow you to learn to fold any paper into a spell or creature (maybe just one effect). But then you would need some kind of test (Dex check?) and limiting factor. Maybe the paper would have to be "masterwork" or something prohibitive.
I see why they put this one through but I wouldn't use it as written.
I love it!
I'm not good at origami, not at all, that's maybe why I would love to play this item. It's not only powerful but beautiful, sort of poetic. The figures selected and its relationship with the spells they cast make this item a new full-rounded concept. Good for Master Mo!
I hadn't thought of it as poetic. Maybe it is... I'll need to reconsider the item in that light.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
,
Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
|
It's always cool to see a whole new type of item that's been made magic. As for the +8 slight of hand bonus, I'd use the item as is, but have the bonus only apply to slight of hand checks to make oragami (including those from the included magic paper.) I'd also use the suggestion of increasing the DCs for the different magic effects.
Before I read it, I just wanna say I like the name the best.
im glad i wasnt the only one. it seemed like judges were taking points off for the name, but the name is the main reason i read it. i was a little disapointed when i saw it wasnt a summoning effect though
Mauricio, do you have relatives in Brazil?
I´m asking this 'cause your last name "Quintana", very famous because a poet called Mário Quintana...
No relatives in Brazil that I am aware of, unfortunately... Actually, there are only two Quintana families in Mexico, both hailing originally from the Yucatán Peninsula (and we speculate they are all descended from the same guy).
Not that I want to derail this thread or anything...
I want to thank again all the people who took the time to offer criticism a/o praise for Master Mo's little origami book. I am a big fan of origami since I was a kid, and I wanted to evoke some of the wonder that folded-paper animals had for me back then, hence my choice of spells from the school of illusion for the effects.
About the increased DC for different effects, I slapped my head so hard when I read that, it made the room spin. However, realistically, any origami figure takes about the same time to fold once you know how. I intended for the whole effect of the item to reflect that, while at the same time being playable from a D&D perspective (+8 skill bonus, I am talking about you).
This has been a wonderful learning experience for me. Cheers to everyone, and good luck to everyone in the Top 32 for the next round.
M
This one is tough to place in my personal ranking. On the one hand I love the name (LOVE it!) and I am really inspired by the idea of magical origami (after all, origami is quite magical in its own right) but on the other hand, the mechanics as laid out just don't sit well with me.
I buy the idea of creating illusion magic, though I'd definitely increase the DC with the level of the illusion crafted. However, I also agree with several others who have said they sort of expected the different forms to turn into the same or a related creature. I might modify this to let the folder choose between creating an illusion or creating/summoning a creature but with an higher DC for the summoned version.
I don't have an issue with the +8 bonus to SoH, although I'd probably restrict it to only those tasks that depend on "frisky fingers" - origami (obviously) and minor feats of legerdemain such as palming a small object and the like. Thus it wouldn't apply when trying to hide a small object or weapon on your person but it would apply if you were using SoH like the perform skill (a SoH performance is essentially a "magic show" and primarily depends on palming, misdirection and the like).
I'm pretty sure this will make my top 10 - it's really a very original idea.
:-j(enni)
This item is one of my favorites. I can really see this being used by a bard. I only wish they didn't disappear after use. Leaving behind a paper figure as a calling card has nice role-play flavor. I agree with some of the posters that I probably would have kept the bonus in line with other books, say a +5 and made each spell a different DC. But it still works as written and I'm glad it is a keeper. Good luck on your country Mauricio!
Darth Frodo