I think this contest makes it clear that there's a lot of elements to becoming successful in what is, frankly, a very small pond with some very big fish in it:
1. Being able to run a good game does not necessarily translate well into being able to create something cool that people will find interesting.
I've run a weekly game for a long time, have helped run a living campaign (NOT to be confused with a LARP) for close to 5 years, and have been playing for a freakin' long time, yet I still feel (most) of the top 32 were head and shoulders above my item.
2. There's a hell of a lot of talented people out there. With that many, chances are there are quite a few with more spare time than you have.
(Besides, my weekly campaign is still my top priority :)
3. Nothing will appeal to everyone.
Frankly, I find some of the top 16 horrible, yet others clearly find those very countries irresistable. I don't see anything strange about that, since it would be a pretty boring place if tastes didn't vary.
4. Writing ability counts, but not really as much as people say it does.
Now, this is a contest, and thus is very different, but as much as Clark, Erik and Wolfgang say that writing ability is key, it's pretty clear that there were better written entries that have been knocked out, while others that are rather klunkly have made it. So clearly it's neither the only nor the largest key.
Anyways, back to putting a cerebral blot in the Beastlands, now that the con is over.
Joe,
DC Comics really are better than Marvel, at least since the 60s.
--Erik
Bah! Marvel was way better in the 80's. I'll admit that DC has been better hands-down since about 1990.
Joe,
DC Comics really are better than Marvel, at least since the 60s.
--Erik
PS: I'm only sort of kidding. I do think, incidentally, that kids my age (I'm 32 now) enjoyed an absolute wealth of creativity during their childhood. We grew up with D&D, and at the same time Gary Gygax was cranking out the likes of the Greyhawk boxed set, DC Comics was revisiting their entire creative history with two classic mini-series (Who's Who and Crisis on Infinite Earths) and Marvel had their own "Marvel Universe" character bio text series.
That meant, in a sense, that kids reading comics on the 80s were essentially exposed to 40 years of "fantastic" history over the course of a handful of years, while the same time getting monthly doses of absolutely fresh D&D content that exposed us to authors like Howard, Vance, Tolkien, Burroughs, Brackett, etc.
Not bad for little bastards who didn't even have the internet. :)
Hear, hear.
Though I will say the point about Marvel in the 80's is good one, but mostly in regards to the X-books. I'd say they were neck and neck.:)
GGG
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Star Voter Season 6
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Nto to further derail, but under Clairmont's X-men run in the 80's I learned Shakespear, Spartans, and countless other cultural references. I also learned patience and how plots can take years to develop.
Oh, and subtlity, like how Rogue's powers weren't 'always on' when Carol was in control of the body.
Batman. DC. 'Nuff said.
*grin*
Nto to further derail, but under Clairmont's X-men run in the 80's I learned Shakespear, Spartans, and countless other cultural references. I also learned patience and how plots can take years to develop.
Oh, and subtlity, like how Rogue's powers weren't 'always on' when Carol was in control of the body.
...and you were left with a million unanswered plot lines and boring characters like... DAZZLER...
My 2 cents worth (Dark Horse and the Indies baby)
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Bah! Marvel was way better in the 80's. I'll admit that DC has been better hands-down since about 1990.Joe,
DC Comics really are better than Marvel, at least since the 60s.
--Erik
I would disagree. I stopped finding Marvel palatable when they introduced the Mutant Massacre storyline in the mid- to late 80's. The stories stopped being about stories and about fights. And large breasts, although I am willing to conceed that that particular focus was much more prominent in the 90's.
But back on topic, I'd agree that humility is one of my big take-aways from this contest. I feel like I've been resting on my writing laurels and not pushing myself.
Time to step it up.
Thank you all for raising the bar, especially to the top 32.