RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 9
aka Dementrius
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With the next RPG Superstar competition now only ‘months away’, what round tasks would you like to see featured in RPG Superstar 2.0? E.g.
Round 1: Design a magic weapon or armour
Round 2: Design a religious organisation
Round 3: Design a prestige class / base class
Round 4: Write a ‘DM help’ article
Round 5: Design an encounter*
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal*
*As RPG Superstar ver1.0
Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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I think one comment seen a lot on the boards was that the readers preferred entries useful for lower level characters, so I might direct the different tasks with that in mind. E.g., rather than "design a wondrous item" I would like to see "design a magic item with a market price under 10,000 gp" or "design a monster CL 7 or lower".
With the next RPG Superstar competition now only ‘months away’, what round tasks would you like to see featured in RPG Superstar 2.0? E.g.
Round 1: Design a magic weapon or armour
Round 2: Design a religious organisation
Round 3: Design a prestige class / base class
Round 4: Write a ‘DM help’ article
Round 5: Design an encounter*
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal**As RPG Superstar ver1.0
I like the idea of expanding out from the wondrous item category for the first task most definitely. I liked the way that in this contest the individual rounds seemed to build upon each other. I also think that maybe a round where you have to design a player character race would showcase the kind of creativity and talent needed to win.
With the next RPG Superstar competition now only ‘months away’, what round tasks would you like to see featured in RPG Superstar 2.0? E.g.
Round 1: Design a magic weapon or armour
Round 2: Design a religious organisation
Round 3: Design a prestige class / base class
Round 4: Write a ‘DM help’ article
Round 5: Design an encounter*
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal**As RPG Superstar ver1.0
I think of the first four, only the second is likely to be a viable option.
Wonderous items have the advantage that they're much more open and flexible; there's only so far you can go with weapons and you're much more likely to get people thinking in similar lines.
A class - of either sort - is very hard to balance mechanically without play-testing (or at least a good going over on a forum with mechanical experts).
I don't think writing a DM help article would be especially relevant to the final module, either...it'd be using a slightly different set of skills (and DMing style is much more subjective than even adventures are). (I think it'd be less interesting for the voters, too.) You might get away with this is you constrained it somehow, maybe...
Paizo actually had a pretty good set up, since the rounds tested all the important bits relevant to module writing (testing whether the contestant could write a good villain, create interesting and mechanically correct monsters; good magical items, write and encounter) all of which are required in a module. Given that they'll be looking for pretty much the same thing, I think we can expect a fairly similar line-up next time.
I could see something like writing a religious order (or maybe a deity) as a good start for round 2 though.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
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I think that we'll first have to wait and see what Paizo's plans are for 4E. By the time the next RPG Superstar begins, 4E should be out, and Paizo will have decided or not to adopt. This will set the ruleset for the competition, and who even knows how that will affect the crunch portions. For example, if they go 4E, who knows if wondrous items even are part of the game as a category anymore?
Round 1: Design a magic weapon or armour
Round 2: Design a religious organisation
Round 3: Design a prestige class / base class
Round 4: Write a ‘DM help’ article
Round 5: Design an encounter*
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal**As RPG Superstar ver1.0
I'm not fond of the idea of a DM help article since that is highly subjective, even more than other topics. I do agree that a magic weapon or armor would be a good topic for a first round.
Moving along, stumbling points seemed to occur at the "monster" and "villain" rounds. Ergo, they should be kept.
I really liked the encounter round, but I would have preferred something more specific, even if it meant that the entries wouldn't be as fun to read. For example: an encounter for a party of four level 8 PCs that must include orcs.
The reason why I say that is it would help to force the contestants out of any comfort zone they might have. In the RPG publishing business, you don't get to pick what you want to work on. You are told stuff like "We need 5 magic staffs" or "your adventure will be taking place between the goblin and githyanki adventures". Very few people have total creative license to write about whatever they want and those people generally own their own d20 company.
I loved the entries in Round 2, but did they really tell us all that much about the authors that the villain and monster rounds didn't? And in the monster round, I noticed that pretty much everyone was able to come up with at least one cool monster, so its evident that the paizo folks were 100% right to ask for three. On the other hand, three monsters is a lot to read.
One thing I'd like to see is Paizo ask contestants to re-write an encounter from a previous Paizo adventure. A word limitation of 500, with the required supporting material made available to the contestants (which would essentially mean giving it out for free, so I'd suggest an older adventure). For example, contestants might be asked to re-write one room taken from the second Age of Worms adventure, which I'm picking because it was a little dungeon-crawly so it'd be easier to pick out a specific room without having to give away the entire module. They'd have the adventure background, map section, and of course the original text. Then they could do whatever they wanted, but part of the evaluation would be based on how well it integrated with the rest of the adventure.
So my suggestion would be:
Round 1: Design a magic weapon or armor
Round 2: Design a villain (as round 3 of 1.0)
Round 3: Re-write an older Paizo encounter, 500 words.
Round 4: Design three monsters that are thematically linked and have specific CRs (e.g. 3, 9, and 15).
Round 5: Design an encounter with specific requirements to be determined
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal* (as round 6 of 1.0)
I think that we'll first have to wait and see what Paizo's plans are for 4E. By the time the next RPG Superstar begins, 4E should be out, and Paizo will have decided or not to adopt. This will set the ruleset for the competition, and who even knows how that will affect the crunch portions. For example, if they go 4E, who knows if wondrous items even are part of the game as a category anymore?
Ugh. And I was having such a wonderful morning, too.
I'm really thinking that if they don't stick with the wondrous item thing they will go to either feats or spells as the first round. Since these can be easily restricted to a low word count which is absolutely essential to picking the first 32.
Then maybe design a city (as opposed to a country).
I like the idea of creating a humanoid race. I also like the class idea most likely prestige, but core is cool too. Someone mentioned something about play testing for balance but they would just be voted on on "perceived balance".
An house/optional rule round might be fun too.
But yes as far as sticking with things that prove you can write an adventure, the format they created is great.
I think a little tinkering with the requirements/ subject of each round would be fun and interesting, but I appreciate the knowledge gained having followed through the first Superstar contest re:what the judges are looking for in submissions more than anything else !
Armed with this knowledge, I know that I and many other aspirants will conspire to make the next round that much more challenging (by merit of the quality of submissions), and that much more rewarding for everyone !
aka Robert G. McCreary
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<snip>
I loved the entries in Round 2, but did they really tell us all that much about the authors that the villain and monster rounds didn't? And in the monster round, I noticed that pretty much everyone was able to come up with at least one cool monster, so its evident that the paizo folks were 100% right to ask for three. On the other hand, three monsters is a lot to read.
<snip>
I think the main reason for the country round was to test the authors' ability to write good prose without the crunch. And adventure needs to be well-written besides having cool monsters, villains, encounters, etc.
That said, I might prefer to see a heavy writing round (high fluff, low crunch) later in the contest. Narrow the field down to the most creative contestants, then see if their writing stacks up to professional levels.
I think that we'll first have to wait and see what Paizo's plans are for 4E. By the time the next RPG Superstar begins, 4E should be out, and Paizo will have decided or not to adopt. This will set the ruleset for the competition, and who even knows how that will affect the crunch portions. For example, if they go 4E, who knows if wondrous items even are part of the game as a category anymore?
There will always be magic items, I've seen an article that dealt with them a while back.
I sure hope that Paizo will do a superstar based upon 3.5 SRD, because the GSL might be more closed than the current OGL is. And the SRD also provides a more level playing field.
How about:
Round 1: Design a feat or spell
Round 2: Design a world-spanning organisation (religious/military/economic/philosophical/something cool I haven't even thought of)
Round 3: Design a base class, prestige class, or player race
Round 4: Design three thematically linked monsters
Round 5: Design an encounter
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal
Expanding round 1 to include a feat or a spell will bring in a little bit more flexibility, allowing the designers to either focus on spellcasters or non-spellcasters, as they choose.
Round 2 can draw inspiration from guilds, knighthoods, religious orders, monastic orders, old Planescape factions, etc.
Round 3 would allow the designers to show if they're good at balancing a generalized set of mechanics, a specialized set of mechanics, or a more fundamental set of mechanics.
Round 1: Design a feat or spell
Round 2: Design a world-spanning organization (religious/military/economic/philosophical/something cool I haven't even thought of)
Round 3: Design a base class, prestige class, or player race
Round 4: Design three thematically linked monsters
Round 5: Design an encounter
Round 6: Design a full adventure proposal
I think these are fantastic suggestions and agree with many of the points of why such tasks would show who should move on to the next round. After seeing the results of the first Superstar competition I am eager to get into this one.
Erik,
I feel for the acid-churning frustration you must suffer for being in charge of decisions that affect people's livelihood and not being given the basic facts you need to even have a *chance* to make that difficult choice.
I know I've been pretty anti-4e in the past. I'm not as knee-jerk opposed as I used to be. At this point know, I'll follow Paizo no matter what decisions you make. In fact, right now you look to be my primary rpg supplier, whatever edition you support.
I want to run a game system with support, but I have decided your company's support is more important than any others. two of my three favorite rpg writers do stuff for you. thinks like your item cards and in-character seer cards are too cool not to use. Your adventures are interesting and well-written, and your game world is shaping up to be the first one Ive really been interested in running as a DM, ever. The Supestar contest is the coolest thing to hit gaming since 3e. I even like your fiction line. :)
So, know that a lot of us are with you, GSL or no GSL, 4e or 3e.
what round tasks would you like to see featured in RPG Superstar 2.0? E.g.
The design a monster, encounter and adventure proposal seem mandatory to me. The villain and magic items round look a little more flexible. So something like this perhaps
Round 1: Write a plot hook, 150 words.
Round 2: Here is a map (insert generic island map), describe the locations on the map. 1500 words.
Followed by round 3 monster, round 4 encounter, round 5 proposal.
Not that we would know. We still haven't seen the GSL yet.
Hey if the GSL allows for something like d20srd.org, I am all for holding the next superstar (if any) in 4e. Even though I prefer 3.0.
what round tasks would you like to see featured in RPG Superstar 2.0? E.g.The design a monster, encounter and adventure proposal seem mandatory to me. The villain and magic items round look a little more flexible. So something like this perhaps
Round 1: Write a plot hook, 150 words.
Round 2: Here is a map (insert generic island map), describe the locations on the map. 1500 words.Followed by round 3 monster, round 4 encounter, round 5 proposal.
Back on topic,
That plot hook idea is pretty good.
I wanted to counter that mechanics should count for something, but that would leave me back on the rejected pile.
Magic armor and weapons howver, an idea raised earlier, is not something I believe would work as a first hurdle.
Erik and Company,
I'd like to offer my comments and suggestions for the next contest, specifically the first round.
1.) First Round Objectives
The first round has proved to be all about getting past 800 other applicants. Criteria is given on what is required, and ALL of that criteria is supposed to be met (and still should be)- but in hard practical terms, a contestant needs to stand out from 800 other people. I'd like to see that stated explicitly. I grant you, in my personal hindsight, that should be obvious, but what the hell- I say spell it out anyway. Make it plain to the amatuers. In 500 words, if something has to give a little, better to fail on technical correctness rather than come across as dry or boring.
2.) First Round Variety
In an online board conversation with Clark Peterson, I asked something to the effect of, "Out of 50 pairs of magic boots, do all 48 of them actually suck, or is it that you just have 50 pairs of boots to read?" And for the record, Clark was decent enough to give me some props for that observation.
I won't belabor the point, here's a few possible solutions:
Wondrous Items might not offer enough variety, frickin' amazing as that might be. So let's break it up a little in order to keep the Judge's from getting burnout too quickly.
Everyone has to use their real name to go forward in the next round (or at least a formal writing psuedonym with Paizo knowing their real name). I suggest breaking up the distribution of the assignments by the first letter of the last name. Examples given are for illustration only, I'm sure this could be better refined by the judging committee:
Letters: A through F = write up a ring
Letters: G through M = write up a weapon
Letters: N through S = write up a Wondrous Item
Letters: T through Z = write up some armor
You can mix and match and vary that distribution better than that, for example to get the most people writing up Wondrous Items. If the thought of 500 words for a ring scares the judges, they can vary the word count per catagory (250 words for a ring, 300 words for weapons and armor, something like that). The point is to ensure that the judges don't despise 48 boots only because there are 48 of them... and the contestants can't do that for themselves without some help.
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Don't think that's fair, because of lack of uniformity?
You can break up catagories of Wondrous Items instead-
Clothing (Boots, Headgear, Robes, Cloaks)
Jewelry (Amulets, Masks)
Musical Instruments
Light Sources with effects
Divination Items
Elemental items
Summoning Items
Catagories based upon the school of magic most dominant in the item
Total estimated Gold piece cost
The same premise as above could apply, assign some catagories to contestants by the first letter of their last name (or offical psuedonym). Break up the assignments to reduce Judge burnout.
***********************
Still don't think that's fair? Does it limit personal creativity? Here's another idea:
Create catagories of Wondrous Items, and allow people to enter whatever they like within the limits of the rules.. except, when they submit their entry, they designate what general catagory into which their item falls. The total number of entries for that catagory could then be seen by everyone. (It could be done like a poll when you first submit your entry.)
For example: I go to submit a helm. Prior to hitting the submit button, I can see that 18 helms have already been submitted by other contestants. Now I have a choice.. I can go ahead and submit yet another helm, or I can re-think my idea. The choice is up to me. Entries would still be "one chance, no take backs", but contestants would have the opportunity to give the judges an entry that is more distinctive, and less potentially redundant. It also benefits those who get their entry done on time and in quickly.
My .02 cents.
Erik,
I feel for the acid-churning frustration you must suffer for being in charge of decisions that affect people's livelihood and not being given the basic facts you need to even have a *chance* to make that difficult choice.
I know I've been pretty anti-4e in the past. I'm not as knee-jerk opposed as I used to be. At this point know, I'll follow Paizo no matter what decisions you make. In fact, right now you look to be my primary rpg supplier, whatever edition you support.
I want to run a game system with support, but I have decided your company's support is more important than any others. two of my three favorite rpg writers do stuff for you. thinks like your item cards and in-character seer cards are too cool not to use. Your adventures are interesting and well-written, and your game world is shaping up to be the first one Ive really been interested in running as a DM, ever. The Supestar contest is the coolest thing to hit gaming since 3e. I even like your fiction line. :)
So, know that a lot of us are with you, GSL or no GSL, 4e or 3e.
Erik, I'm one of those people Gungeon Grrl is referring to in her last sentence.
I don't kid myself that I'm anybody's favorite around here, and I've pretty sure I've irritated some folks a couple times.
But I'm your customer, to the end. And in fact, I just added GameMastery Modules to my subscription tags....
Make it plain to the amatuers. In 500 words, if something has to give a little, better to fail on technical correctness rather than come across as dry or boring.
Well, this year you and I have learned that gonzo sells ;>
Regarding your variety remarks: not everyone likes an assignment, so broad categories would get Paizo more entries I think. But your idea has merit, if for every category a winner would get selected.
Regarding your variety remarks: not everyone likes an assignment, so broad categories would get Paizo more entries I think. But your idea has merit, if for every category a winner would get selected.
Thanks..
And I don't propose that any one of those ideas is the 'right' idea. I just wanted to plant the seed of the idea for consideration. If someone comes up with an even better variant, I'd love to hear it.
But here's some basics facts as I see it..
1.) The first round has to be what Erik and Wolfgang called the 'Cattle Call.' They need to bust 850 entries down to 50.
2.) Magic items are a good first round entry. Something like a plot hook, or anything that requires a lot of potentially subjective artistic analysis is only going to bog the judging down. Magic items are nice small packages to evaluate.
3.) This might be purely my subjective perception, but I think burn out over item redundancy was a problem. It seemed like that was admitted in the debrief. I don't know what the exact solution might be, but let's tackle it head on, and minimize it. Let's consider an entry system that has trying to distinguish and evaluate between two similar items as one of the last situations a judge faces before tossing an entry.
I'm realistic too. It'll still happen, most certainly. If you got a couple magic mirrors to choose from, you're going to like one more than the others. I'm just saying maybe that impact can be reduced. So that other factors can be used to reject the entries.
It would be nice to have at least first two tasks different to get some variety but I must say I can't think of anything as broad a subject as wondrous magic items...a spell, maybe.
Generally I would predict that perhaps the amount of entries might decrease slightly but the quality of the entries will be rising a lot, now when people who have been following this first contest will have much better ideas how to format things and what parts to pay more attention.
And we will see more blink dog -level gonzo, much of which will fail.
Right, I think a spell or a feat would be fine for the opening round.
And as far as being better prepared I already have my 3 page poem written for the beginning of my adventure submission. 8^D
Just to add my 2gp...
I'd like to see the information about where 'Superstars' are from removed from their names. If I'm honest, I think it effected my voting, being from europe and all. I think this information should be kept private to prevent any such tendancies as I'm certain I couldn't be the only one.
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Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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Generally I would predict that perhaps the amount of entries might decrease slightly
I tend to think that there will be more entrants next time around. We've seen a lot of people post on these boards saying they didn't know about RPG Superstar before it started, and I've spoken with people ignorant of it who expressed an interest.
3.) This might be purely my subjective perception, but I think burn out over item redundancy was a problem. It seemed like that was admitted in the debrief. I don't know what the exact solution might be, but let's tackle it head on, and minimize it. Let's consider an entry system that has trying to distinguish and evaluate between two similar items as one of the last situations a judge faces before tossing an entry.
Interesting. How could one do this? The judging is a good deal subjective (and the judges have admitted this). Writing mattered more and more as the competition got down to the ultimate level, but ideas won over execution in early rounds, especially the first.
My personal thoughts are that the first round should vary, but the remaining rounds are fine as they are. (Perhaps with a little tweaking to cover various issues. Though I think the variety would suffer it the encounter round became too specific in its guidelines.) So having everyone design a spell or feat for Round One would work well.
I tend to think that there will be more entrants next time around. We've seen a lot of people post on these boards saying they didn't know about RPG Superstar before it started, and I've spoken with people ignorant of it who expressed an interest.
Agreed. This will raise the profile of Paizo and draw people that won't get a similar opportunity elsewhere.
If the final prize was different, then all the rounds could be different. What if the prize was to write an "accessory" instead of a module? It could be completely open ended or the last round could be to create something like a book that introduces an alternate magic system or a new type of magic or whatever.
Just an idea, not sure it's one I like but maybe food for thought.
Interesting. How could one do this? The judging is a good deal subjective (and the judges have admitted this). Writing mattered more and more as the competition got down to the ultimate level, but ideas won over execution in early rounds, especially the first.
Agreed. I firmly believe that if you struggled to make your entry absolutely perfect on every level of the criteria, you actually put yourself at a disadvantage. Which is almost, but not quite, paradoxial to stating that "all criteria must be met."
It was more accurate to say, "All criteria must be met, but if it's not met, by god it better not be boring."
See? The first statement doesn't allow any leeway. The second statements suggests there isn't anyway leeway, but then contradicts itself by stating an overriding priority.
I don't mean to make it sound all that complicated, because it's not. You put it rather succiently yourself... But ideas did in fact win out over everything else in the opening rounds. I don't refute that shouldn't be the case.. but burnout over redundancy was a factor in the first round.
My personal thoughts are that the first round should vary, but the remaining rounds are fine as they are. (Perhaps with a little tweaking to cover various issues. Though I think the variety would suffer it the encounter round became too specific in its guidelines.)
I don't disagree. I think the later rounds were fine the way they were, just as you say, with the vary minor tweaks you mentioned, along with creative freedom. I was primarily concerned about the first round.
So having everyone design a spell or feat for Round One would work well.
The thought of a spell or a feat didn't jump out at me at first. Yeah that would work. Or, you could also offer a simple choice of one of those three (spell, feat, Wondrous Item) for the first round. That alone could ensure variety and avoid the "48 Divination Item Syndrome."
Contributor
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Boxhead
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I don't think the first round can be much better. Making it broader, such as:
Pick one of the following (feat, spell or item)
would make the entries really hard to compare. I mean, quick, which is better, fly or whirlwind attack? Ice storm or Robilar's gambit?
On the other hand, making the categories too narrow (as I feel weapons or armour would) is no better. How many implements of hurtyness or articles of protectyness can you really make? Especially without straying too far into the world of fluff, which was one of the key components of round 1 the last time.
The hooks might be a neat concept, and I wouldn't mind seeing some restrictions on the later rounds (or even the opening round- maybe design an adventure hook using SRD monsters with a CR no higher than 5?).
Just my 2 cents.
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Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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I don't think the first round can be much better.
I tend to agree.
I like sticking with wondrous items. "Wondrous Item" is broad, but not so broad that different entries can't be compared and judged against each other. "Magic Weapon" or "Magic Armor" is pretty narrow, and places too much focus on combat. "Plot hook" is cool; I could totally get behind that.
Then again, I'm not one of the people who is going to have to read 850+ entries. I say leave it to the judges to pick whatever they feel like reading.
I tend to think that there will be more entrants next time around. We've seen a lot of people post on these boards saying they didn't know about RPG Superstar before it started, and I've spoken with people ignorant of it who expressed an interest.
...several of which no doubt will also miss the next deadline of first round :)
And I would guess that at least some of the casual "let's throw something together" submitters might rethink entering after seeing the level of competition this time...
Well, I might be wrong too in my estimations (in infinite universe everything is possible, even me being wrong).
WAIT! WAIT! I'VE GOT IT!
Round 1 - Submit an augury item.
Round 2 - Submit 1 word plot hook.
Round 3 - Submit name of villain (5 word max).
Round 4 - Submit 2000 words of italicized flavor text.
Round 5 - Submit World's Largest Dungeon Crawl (no word limit).
So what do you think guys?
RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I think I'd like to see 'create a religion' as a fluff round. The country was great, and the good submissions were really good. But if you want to change one round without changing the goals of that round, I like that the best.
I don't think 'create a weapon or armor' is a good idea. Not enough variety. If you think augury items were inexplicably common, wait until you ask 750 people to submit a magic weapon and see what you get.
My guess, heirloom weapons with a subtle special purpose. Like, fifty of them.
Top entry of that round would end up being an augury coin of returning. Ha!
Let's hear it for some Apostrophe-love in V2.0!
Joking aside Create a religion would be an interesting fluff piece.
I don't think 'create a weapon or armor' is a good idea. Not enough variety. If you think augury items were inexplicably common, wait until you ask 750 people to submit a magic weapon and see what you get.My guess, heirloom weapons with a subtle special purpose. Like, fifty of them.
Top entry of that round would end up being an augury coin of returning. Ha!
:)
I don't disagree.. and please notice that I haven't vigorously defended the idea to the previous posters. However what I would like to point out that whay you've written above is not what I suggested.
Actually I threw out multiple ideas, but when it came to weapons and armor, the actual suggestion was a mix of different items, including Wondrous Items. Multiple options for the First Round in one form or another.
From here, I'm not addressing this directly to you Sensei, but the whole audience:
I'll be first to admit there are problems:
People don't like assignments
There are concerns that a variety of choices OR assignments don't compare to each other equally.
I concede BOTH those points, and sincerely invited anyone to come up with a better idea. I don't say this nastily, but the only feedback seems to be pointing out what is wrong any proposed change; or the perception that there was never a problem in the first place.
Yet, the frustration with redundant items is a complaint and an observation made by the Judges regarding issues that made it more difficult for them in the First Round. (And if I'm wrong, they're welcome to show up and shut me down and I'll go away)
What we've seen is that the very thing that AncientSensei fears happening with just weapons in armor in the First Round, already happens with just Wondrous Items. Hard as that is to believe, and I base that, again, upon the reaction of the Judges.
ANd we might well have more than 850 first rounders the next time, we could have 1K.
Stated much more simply: Why not broaden the range of options in the First Round to allow more variety?
It's already been stated that uniformity of judging criteria is an issue. I challenge respondents to not merely throw up their hands and stop there, but to think of a way around it.
This is easy-
Round 1- Design a magic lamp
Round 2- Describe a nation's taxation system
Round 3- Combine 7 templates of your choice onto a Bullette
Round 4- Invent 3 new metallic types of dragon
Round 5- Design an adventure hook set in a tavern.
Round 6- Propose an adventure set in a kingdom without weapons or magic
This is easy-Round 1- Design a magic lamp
Round 2- Describe a nation's taxation system
Round 3- Combine 7 templates of your choice onto a Bullette
Round 4- Invent 3 new metallic types of dragon
Round 5- Design an adventure hook set in a tavern.
Round 6- Propose an adventure set in a kingdom without weapons or magic
Now that's just ridiculous. Jeez CWW there's a time and a place for jokes.
(in case you think I'm serious make sure to see my post above.)
Round 1- Design a magic lamp
Nice try, but that's a very subjective and nuanced objective, and frankly it's counter to the notion that the contest is supposed to be accessible to amateurs and semi-professionals alike.
God forbid it be a magic augury lamp. Why not ask them to paint the next Mona Lisa? Or Mona Erik for that matter?
;)
(Everyone says it's about the eyes following the viewer from every vantage point, but it's actually the smile)
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4
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This is easy-Round 1- Design a magic lamp
Man, I hope that I don't have anything hardcover with my name on it published by the next Superstar!
Round One is Lamp of the Many Monkeys: once per day, this ornate lamp will produce, on command ("Monkeys!"), a swarm of 3d12 wacky, French-speaking monkeys. These monkeys have a taste for shenanigans, and cannot be controlled or commanded in any way.
They will poop in your bed-rolls.
This is easy-Round 1- Design a magic lamp
When wielded by an aluminium bullette this +3 vorpal Luxo Jr removes all magic within 60 feet (plus or minus the amount from line 7A on Form of 1061C) as per the spell Tasha's Hideous Commune of Flowers and Peace. Wielded by any other creature it remains a volcanic sled.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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This is easy-Round 1- Design a magic lamp
Round 2- Describe a nation's taxation system
Round 3- Combine 7 templates of your choice onto a Bullette
Round 4- Invent 3 new metallic types of dragon
Round 5- Design an adventure hook set in a tavern.
Round 6- Propose an adventure set in a kingdom without weapons or magic
Hmm. why not? It's my day off!
6: a perverted wish sends the PCs to Grenpoli, the City of Diplomacy. Their spells evaporated from memory by the magic of the wish, and their weapons confiscated by the fiends who guarantee no violence in the city, the characters must learn to swim in the deep waters of diabolical legality, and fool the devil-politicians who live there at their own game, in order to escape and bring justice to the offending efreet with predictable violence.
5: flashback hook: the PCs were individually hired to burn down this tavern and everyone in it, but are all doublecrossed when they get there. But they do all meet at the tavern).
4: we clearly need a mercury dragon (shapeshifter subtype), a carbon dragon (very hard scales), and a barium dragon (best breath weapon ever: radioactive, poisonous lightning!)
3: Easy. Celestial, Half-dragon (white), Tauric, Two-headed, Vampiric, Awakened, Redeemed. In that order. Mushugrabastor was the love-child of an ancient white dragon and an advanced bulette. Conceived near a fallen lump of star-metal, he is the most sought-after hunt except for possibly the Umbral Tarrasque. Mutated and monstrous, this beast was worshipped by a cult of devoted goths who managed to turn the object of their affection into a marauding vampire through dark rituals. Only the intervention of the great, fallen, planetar druid Ann of Green Fables could saved the countryside from this ravenous beast, who now is planeshifted from world to world as a holy mercenary, capable of devouring entire kingdoms of evil.
2: In Iskandria - cause who wouldn't want to live there! - taxes are collected by scantilly clad sorcereresses (freaking love that word) from those who acheive higher social station by giving up their belongings. This leads to a sense of elitism, as those who don't have the money to attain the status they want must give up personal property, become disfigured, etc. Only the truly wealthy, handsome and blessed are fully protected by Iskandrian society. Too bad they won't be protected from my
1: hirasthe "for love of darkness" This lamp is capable of storing either light (to be released and shed in darkness), or darkness (to be shed in light). These functions are easily detectable, but there are more sinister things at work here. The lamp in an inteliigent magic item, the manifestation of a curse brought on any land who hosts it, after it was wrested from an emir's tomb. The lamp serves the purpose to bring corruption and darkness on the land. To create a preference in its owners for darkness over light, it acts as a ninth level spell for the purpose of dispelling magical light when it is commanded to shed darkness. Sweet jesus. I might have something here. Copyright, and stuff. Don't any of you publish it. I have to go do some more writing. HA!
Hmm. why not? It's my day off!
Hurry up and publish that in hardcover please so I don't have to compete against you next round. Nice work.
Hehe. that whole thing was supposed to be retarded, but i kind of like the lamp!
Thanks, though!
Yea some of it was usability-challenged but very creative. The magic lamp I created for that rounds summons a genie, which is really cool, but I can't help but feel like it's done before...
In case anybody missed the irony, I did, in fact, submit a magic augury lamp in the first round.
Oy vay, mea culpa.
At first I Clouds Without Water was giving me a poke in the eye, so I was laughing it off...
In case anybody missed the irony, I did, in fact, submit a magic augury lamp in the first round.
I didn't know that. That's pretty funny. I'm still waiting for Ancient Sensei to complete my list of challenges.