Although I read many of threads from last year's contest before submitting my item, I just came across something that makes me think my item will be rejected.
My potential downfall? I read in a thread from last year that it is a no-no to "bypass class restrictions or other restrictions built into the game (artifacts do that)." So I am paranoid my item will be immediately construed as an artifact.
Any of the rest of you in a similar situation?
Dedicated Voter Season 9
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Although I read many of threads from last year's contest before submitting my item, I just came across something that makes me think my item will be rejected.
My potential downfall? I read in a thread from last year that it is a no-no to "bypass class restrictions or other restrictions built into the game (artifacts do that)." So I am paranoid my item will be immediately construed as an artifact.
Any of the rest of you in a similar situation?
I am paranoid that my MS Word count was 199.....so if the judges use a differ version of Word or even a different program it might show my word count over the limit which would suck. :(
...That restriction was frustrating. Due to it, my "Holy Hand Grenade" item for repelling the undead sadly fell to the chopping block. (Why have a cleric when you can just toss undead-away grenades!)
Instead, I went with something a little less spectacular, but hopefully more solid and acceptable. ;)
Best wishes.
~LD.
I'm afraid mine, while being somewhat utilitarian, lacks a certain flair and isn't what I'd consider exciting. Useful? Yes. "Oh my gosh I gotta have it?" No.
I'm worried that my item might be too good for the price. I considered it carefully, but it's still really cheap. That was the idea, but...
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Hmm, I guess if I was paranoid I would get rejected, I would not have even submitted. In general, I am paranoid , but somehow if I was already rejected it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. The only annoying part is that I have to put in for the 20th, 21st and 22nd of Jan off without knowing it was worth it. I have to entertain the possibility, though by no means do I feel certain of anything.
If you are worried about not getting accepted, try worrying about getting accepted.
Cheers,
Zuxius
I know my magic item is good. Very good. Is it superstar quality is a different question. Certainly my entry this year blows away my entry from last year, but we'll see if it is that much improved. If nothing else, my item's name rocks.
I read in a thread from last year that it is a no-no to "bypass class restrictions or other restrictions built into the game (artifacts do that)." So I am paranoid my item will be immediately construed as an artifact.
My item's not in that situation. But I believe you're correct to be concerned if yours does. Bypassing class restrictions actually undoes part of what makes the classes balanced with one another. So, from a design standpoint, creating something that messes with those kinds of restrictions really is a no-no. I'm not saying that to up your paranoia level. It's just my opinion on design work.
--Neil
I am paranoid that my MS Word count was 199.....so if the judges use a differ version of Word or even a different program it might show my word count over the limit...
Last year, they allowed for some small margin or error (5 words or so) in the event that different word processors arrived at a different word count. This year, they've been pretty specific about the exact tool they're using to check word counts. If you used MS Word, you're probably okay. But I've also heard that even different versions of MS Word can come up with different counts. They posted Clark as the official exchequer of word counts as well as the version of MS Word he's using.
--Neil
Hmm, I guess if I was paranoid I would get rejected, I would not have even submitted.
A lot of people miss out because they get so paranoid they never actually submit. So, clearing that first hurdle (and clicking submit) already puts you in good company. From there, it's the little things that distinguish...
--Neil
I know my magic item is good. Very good. Is it superstar quality is a different question. Certainly my entry this year blows away my entry from last year, but we'll see if it is that much improved. If nothing else, my item's name rocks.
I feel the same way. To paraphrase Clark from last year: my item needed more spark, competently designed, fun item, a B+ effort but not Superstar.
So a more realistic goal for me this year would be getting an A- item.
I am paranoid that my MS Word count was 199.....so if the judges use a differ version of Word or even a different program it might show my word count over the limit which would suck. :(Although I read many of threads from last year's contest before submitting my item, I just came across something that makes me think my item will be rejected.
My potential downfall? I read in a thread from last year that it is a no-no to "bypass class restrictions or other restrictions built into the game (artifacts do that)." So I am paranoid my item will be immediately construed as an artifact.
Any of the rest of you in a similar situation?
Don't sweat that. Everyone is aware that there might be word processing differences of a few words here or there. I wouldn't be concerned unless you clocked in at or above 210. If you're already 5% over and you pick up 5-10 words in translation, then I would say you might be in trouble.
Contributor
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Star Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 9
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I'm in the "is it Superstar" camp. My item is a lot better than last year's submission, which was a textbook spell in a box. I think it's going to be a fun item, but a bit of a bookkeeping nightmare for DMs. That might keep it from advancing.
A lot of people miss out because they get so paranoid they never actually submit.
I don't understand this. At all. In any way. You're afraid of not being in the top 32 out of 1000. So what?!? Who cares. If you try and fail, you're exactly where you are now. You have nothing to lose and only to gain. So what does it matter if you're not the best of the best yet, that's what practice is for.
To paraphrase Clark from last year: my item needed more spark, competently designed, fun item, a B+ effort but not Superstar.
I didn't bother asking because after I read the winning entries I knew what I had done wrong (alot). If I don't win this year, I plan on asking.
I know I'm getting rejected, and I know that I'm gonna go on to win the contest. Be prepared for the positive and negative and all that... ;-D
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A lot of people miss out because they get so paranoid they never actually submit.I don't understand this. At all. In any way. You're afraid of not being in the top 32 out of 1000. So what?
Different people react differently to rejection. Or even the stress of a potential rejection.
I mean, some people might even print out pictures of the judges and throw darts at them while cackling madly as part of getting over their rejection.
I've heard.
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Contributor
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Star Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 9
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If you try and fail, you're exactly where you are now. You have nothing to lose and only to gain. So what does it matter if you're not the best of the best yet, that's what practice is for.
If you try and fail, you actually do gain something, IMO. At least in this contest, the judges give you a good idea of things to work on for the next submission, be it the next Superstar contest or even a Pathfinder Society scenario.
I'm afraid mine, while being somewhat utilitarian, lacks a certain flair and isn't what I'd consider exciting. Useful? Yes. "Oh my gosh I gotta have it?" No.
That was my downfall last year. Cool item? Yes. Not sexy enough? Unfortunately, yes.
Well...I had a dash of swiss-army-knife, too.
-Ben.
I know I'm getting rejected, and I know that I'm gonna go on to win the contest. Be prepared for the positive and negative and all that... ;-DMaybe your nick should be Schroedinger's Goblin?
ohh ohhh!!!! Can we put Schroedinger's Goblin in a box? Imagine a kobold boxing up a goblin. Don't forget to put the "airholes" in the box >:D
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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The reason I am being so careful before entering this year is that I though I had a really unique and superstar item last year...and I wasn't an alternate or anything. So I am trying to be sure of the items I might submit: are they missing a detail that will give the judges doubts?
Of course, some might say there's an advantage to submitting a good item early and getting tagged as a favorite of one of the judges, and some might believe that submitting late means the same thing.
So, yeah, I'm paranoid enough that I'm still pouring over my entries looking for the magic bullet. Knowing me, I'll can them all in favor of some item I dream about tonight.
I'm stupid that way.
ohh ohhh!!!! Can we put Schroedinger's Goblin in a box? Imagine a kobold boxing up a goblin. Don't forget to put the "airholes" in the box >:DI know I'm getting rejected, and I know that I'm gonna go on to win the contest. Be prepared for the positive and negative and all that... ;-DMaybe your nick should be Schroedinger's Goblin?
Heh, the scaled little bugger'd be able to do it if he had one of those kobold staring boxes... As for the air holes, yes please. Have you ever been in a room with a goblin after lunch? Nasty...
I'm sure I'm rejected already...and I haven't submited my item yet...go figure
I figure that I'm probably already rejected: The odds are not good I'd make top 32 twice in a row.
Also I think I undercosted my item.
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I am cautiously optimistic that I am NOT going to be rejected. Still, there is the nagging little bit of gray matter in my head that says "Good, but not Superstar quality." I definitely took Clark's comments about my item last year to heart, and thus worked harder on this one. While I know this year's item is better, and I hope for the best, in my self-deprecating fashion I feel its just still lacking that >oomph< to win. We'll see...
I'm pretty sure that I am already rejected (unless the judges are seriously behind in their judging). It's a fun item but it is not a superstar item.
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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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One hallmark of a great game is a game that is almost as fun to watch as it is to play.
I think RPG Superstar ranks right up there with football, mariokart, and nookie.
Of course, I hope I get to play instead of just watch.....
As far as worrying whether or not your going to get rejected...well all I can say is I am a pisces, my item is submitted, not going to worry about things I can't control. Just sit back and wait and see. Overall it has been a fun experience.
Yeah ... I think my costing may be off and that is going to do me in.
My entry is an item with multiple costs because there is a scaled bonus - that is, there's a +1 to X version and a +2 to X version, etc. - for which CL must increase. However, I realized just the other day that I failed to consider that only half of the benefits scale while the other half is a constant so I scaled the cost assuming increased Caster Level for all benefits. Thus I think my costing for the higher bonus versions results in too much buck for the bang, as it were.
I'm also not quite sure it reached Superstar quality. I think it's better than my "B+ effort" from last year, but is it an "A+ effort"? I don't know.
:-j(enni)
One hallmark of a great game is a game that is almost as fun to watch as it is to play.
I think RPG Superstar ranks right up there with football, mariokart, and nookie.
Of course, I hope I get to play instead of just watch.....
For various reasons I wasn't able to follow along last year, but I plan on doing so this time around. This should fun. :)
Yeah, I have two major problems. First, I think my item is OP'd. Second, I rushed. I thought I'd be gone more then I was so I rushed the item, and I feel now that I submitted a less then great item. If I had started earlier and taken a little more time I think I would have produced a much better balanced item. Oh well, such is the way things go. If I don't make it, I'm still happy I tried, and I know what to do if Paizo does this next year.
I am paranoid that my MS Word count was 199.....so if the judges use a differ version of Word or even a different program it might show my word count over the limit which would suck. :(
When my first write up came in at about 180 words I took that as a sign I was being too verbose. I managed to simplify the description and cut it down by 10% and that was after I added a couple of words as headings, etc.
Anyway, maybe your item is complex enough to need 199 words and its description can't be simplified, but I took that as a challenge to make the description simpler while not cutting out any features/abilities.
Just a constructive (hopefully) opinion.
For some dumb reason, I misread the word limit as 250!
Well, maybe next year...
I see no reason to worry about my submissions (to anything) once sent... what will be will be, and I am comforted by knowing that I did the best job I was capable of at the time... whether or not that best is good enough is of little consequence.
What i am really worried about is this first section. I feel pretty confident that if i am in the top 32 because of my more then eccentric and very interesting villains i have made in the past that i have a shot at getting to top 4. The magic item is the big problem though i couldn't think of anything good to make.
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Dedicated Voter Season 9
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I am paranoid that my MS Word count was 199.....so if the judges use a differ version of Word or even a different program it might show my word count over the limit which would suck. :(When my first write up came in at about 180 words I took that as a sign I was being too verbose. I managed to simplify the description and cut it down by 10% and that was after I added a couple of words as headings, etc.
Anyway, maybe your item is complex enough to need 199 words and its description can't be simplified, but I took that as a challenge to make the description simpler while not cutting out any features/abilities.
Just a constructive (hopefully) opinion.
My description needed it as it was much more than the item..... It could have easily been 250-300, so what I done was spot on. If you needed to trim 10% more power to you...
EDIT: Trying to be nice...but hate when people offer opinions/advice to things when they dont have the facts.
I was totally worried about my lack of a craft skill listed to make it. But then I review the rules and it said to use the formatting provided in the Beta RPG rules. Such as actually having craft: clothing, for the headband or leather belt.
So looking at the Beta, I think I am good, as most Wondrous Item don't have a required craft skill.
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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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I was totally worried about my lack of a craft skill listed to make it. But then I review the rules and it said to use the formatting provided in the Beta RPG rules. Such as actually having craft: clothing, for the headband or leather belt.
So looking at the Beta, I think I am good, as most Wondrous Item don't have a required craft skill.
Well, that addition came after the beta was printed, so the web enhancement gives you what you need to design magic items since it came out. However, most just seem to require Spellcraft checks, which [Vic?] posted as unnecessary to even list.
Mine required a craft check, just cause I really like that requirement. But I think it should require one of the skills asociated with its function if not build. So maybe a cloak of elven kind could require a Stealth check (a mental exertion during creation, by someone skilled in sneaking; not an attempt to hide from the cloak).
It looks to me like last year the overwhelming factor in choosing items to advance was uniqueness and coolness...and doing something you couldn't do with just a spell or a feat. Some top 32 entries I thought were pretty mediocre in writing, but then were 'WOW' ideas tha, with some editing got a lot more tolerable. Then the contestants were warned to clean up their writing in future rounds if they wanted to advance.
So...be optimistic if your idea was original and you followed the directions. I bet those are the two most important things.
When my first write up came in at about 180 words I took that as a sign I was being too verbose. I managed to simplify the description and cut it down by 10% and that was after I added a couple of words as headings, etc.
Anyway, maybe your item is complex enough to need 199 words and its description can't be simplified, but I took that as a challenge to make the description simpler while not cutting out any features/abilities.
Just a constructive (hopefully) opinion.
That being said, sometimes being under a specified word count can be just as bad as, if not worse than, being over that count.
Usually one wants to get as close to such limits without going over as possible. Think of it as a version of The Price is Right, but with the addition that if you go over in this version a goblin lights your hair on fire.