Chief Technical Officer
|
Humm, think I avoided most of the pitfalls. A little worried about the formatting, as I didn't know the code tags (show button wasn't working) off-hand not using message boards a whole lot.
Knowing how to use BBCode formatting for your entry is not a requirement for this contest. Nobody gets eliminated for bad messageboard format—though if you used it well, it couldn't do anything but help you, and if you used it badly (or tried to use HTML, which isn't supported), it probably made a worse impression on the judges than not using it at all.
However, not using *Pathfinder RPG item format* is a different issue—if you messed that up, your chances in this contest are not good.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
|
Humm, think I avoided most of the pitfalls. A little worried about the formatting, as I didn't know the code tags (show button wasn't working) off-hand not using message boards a whole lot.Knowing how to use BBCode formatting for your entry is not a requirement for this contest. Nobody gets eliminated for bad messageboard format—though if you used it well, it couldn't do anything but help you, and if you used it badly (or tried to use HTML, which isn't supported), it probably made a worse impression on the judges than not using it at all.
However, not using *Pathfinder RPG item format* is a different issue—if you messed that up, your chances in this contest are not good.
I will say about BBCode formatting that it becomes important once the voting part of the contest starts up, as in - pretty darn soon. Many readers won't care how your entry looks, but if it it looks sloppy or hard to read, there may well be an unconscious bias against it, and for some people it may be a deal-breaker.
You want your entry to look clean, clear, professional. Your ideas can be awesome enough to overcome formatting, but in the much more likely event that it's a close call between you and a half-dozen other people, you want to build up reasons for people to pick FOR you, not leave them reasons to pick AGAINST you.
Use white space to improve readability.
Use bold headings, all caps if you like.
Use italics for spell and magic item names in text.
Preview your entry each round to make sure you didn't mix up your tags (starting with a [b] and finishing with an [/i] - I've done that before), and see how it looks before you submit - the line wraps will be very different, and what looks like a lot of text in your composition window may not look like much on the wider lines and narrower font of the final post. I deleted some stuff in my villain entry last year that would have been very helpful because it looked like too much when I was composing but didn't add up to much on preview.
Anyway, make it look good and, of course, make it awesome!
I'm looking forward to getting a look at the 32+alts on the 16th and hope the Final Four can offer some good comments to folks for the 20th.
13. Poorly-thought-through Item (aka Excessively Abusable Item). We had alot of items that the designer didnt really think through to their normal result and, had they done so, they would have seen some serious abusability in their item's future, such as a way to use it that wasnt intended but that clearly it would be put to. That is why it is good to think not just does the item do what you are designing it to, but what would a normal group of PCs do with this item whether or not it is what you intended. One of my favorite items submitted had a great name and a great power, but it had an unintended abuse. All the judges agreed that PCs would just do X with the item and abuse the power. And it was too bad, too (see!) because I...
In the words of the immortal Han Solo, "I've got a bad feeling about this..."
Personally, I think revealing the Top 62 would be a mistake. It's human to beat yourself up when you missed the cut by just a little.
Think how the people who finish 4th at the Olympics feel, for instance.
I'm with Wolf. Unless Erik and Lisa and Vic and Gary decide otherwise, I am not going to be mentioning if a person made the top 62. Though you may be able to divine if you were real close by my comments :)
We're roleplayers...nuff said.I already am passing down my RPG lineage to my daughter who is five years old. We sit around and play my old TSR "Dungeon" boardgame and she loves it. My wife just shakes her head.
When did you start? I've got one that is almost 3. I know she's not ready yet (she still has trouble following the rules to "Memory" for example) but your response might give me a good idea of when to try with my daughter.
|
Marathon Voter Season 7
|
When did you start? I've got one that is almost 3. I know she's not ready yet (she still has trouble following the rules to "Memory" for example) but your response might give me a good idea of when to try with my daughter.
We're roleplayers...nuff said.I already am passing down my RPG lineage to my daughter who is five years old. We sit around and play my old TSR "Dungeon" boardgame and she loves it. My wife just shakes her head.
I started my four as soon as they could read (between the ages of 4-6). I figured that if they could read a character sheet they were good to go.
|
Marathon Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7
|
I agree :) The sting of missing would be worse if you knew you almost made it, but fell at the last moment. Knowing how to improve, what made the miss a miss is more important than the ranking.Yeah, I don't want to know if I just barely missed it. It needs to be atomic-- I either made it, or I missed it. Don't tell me where I fell in the eleventy-hojillion other entries. I'm very interested in knowing what the commentary is regarding my item, but no, I don't think we need to know where in the pack we fall.
-Ben.
If I was 62...I would know I was close with my entry and would just need to do a little better next time...
Marathon Voter Season 6
|
I'm with Wolf. Unless Erik and Lisa and Vic and Gary decide otherwise, I am not going to be mentioning if a person made the top 62. Though you may be able to divine if you were real close by my comments :)Personally, I think revealing the Top 62 would be a mistake. It's human to beat yourself up when you missed the cut by just a little.
Think how the people who finish 4th at the Olympics feel, for instance.
You're already going to crush the hearts of those who make the alternates but don't get in because someone doesn't drop out, so why not crush the other 26? =p
Yeah if I found out I was in the 62, I would be like "Alright I'll just have to try a bit harder next year." It wouldn't be a slap in the face for me. That's like looking at being in second place and saying "Great I'm the 1st loser"
As for starting off kids into game, my son is 2 1/2 and he's playing around with dice. Figured to start off with the basics. *chuckles*
I'm with Wolf. Unless Erik and Lisa and Vic and Gary decide otherwise, I am not going to be mentioning if a person made the top 62. Though you may be able to divine if you were real close by my comments :)Personally, I think revealing the Top 62 would be a mistake. It's human to beat yourself up when you missed the cut by just a little.
Think how the people who finish 4th at the Olympics feel, for instance.
If we request to know on a case by case basis, would you reveal then?
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
,
Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
|
Personally, I think revealing the Top 62 would be a mistake. It's human to beat yourself up when you missed the cut by just a little.
Think how the people who finish 4th at the Olympics feel, for instance.
4th at the Olympics is still better than the other six billion people who didn't get in!
|
RPG Superstar 2013
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
|
Before one of the judges or Vic has a meltdown, I want to remind everyone about last year. Some people found out things they didn't agree with or got their feelings hurt. I know we each think we're tough enough to take it, but so did the people last year.
The judges have a hard enough time with all that is on their plate. CLark has already offered to critique items that don't make it. Another layer of work outside the contest seems unfair to ask of them, and might get you information you didn't want.
Last year there were items I thought were not more superstar than mine and I didn'tmake it into the contest. One of those authors went deep into the contest and proved the judges saw something in the item that I didn't. I already compared my entry to another's and wondered why I wasn't in. Imagine feeling that way, and then not getting notified that you were even in the keep file.
Some of us could take it. Some of us wouldn't handle it so well. Some of us might not submit again. Some of us would handle it better or worse than we think right now. The contest should focus on rewarding those who advance. If a judge wants to critique my item after I don't advance, that's gracious. But releasing the top 62 might hurt or confuse people who don't get notified. Someone will invariably ask "Was I in the top 100?" "I could live with top 10%." "Will you guys publish a list of the top half?"
We don't need that. We just need to celebrate the winners and learn from not winning if that's our lot.
|
Marathon Voter Season 6
|
We don't need that. We just need to celebrate the winners and learn from not winning if that's our lot.
Sorry, but that's a lot easier for you considering you've already got that contributor tag. For the rest of the lot this is one of our 'ins' into an industry we all love and dream of being a more active part of. Yeah criticism and rejection sucks, but we ask for it because we do need it. We need to know what we need to do to improve so we can get to your position.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
aka flash_cxxi
|
As for starting off kids into game, my son is 2 1/2 and he's playing around with dice. Figured to start off with the basics. *chuckles*
Yeah I bought the Purple Paizo Die for myself and my 11 month old son loves it. He grabs for it every time he sees it sitting on my desk, with a massive grin on his face. My 2yr11mth old daughter thinks it's cool too. So in my last order I got them one each for themselves. It's a start...
|
|
...
We don't need that. We just need to celebrate the winners and learn from not winning if that's our lot.
Well said! Let's not get all whiny and demandy, eh?
And, Coridan, (correct me if I'm wrong here, Steven): I believe the "contributor" tag is quite recent. But if you want to learn from his experience, I would suggest following the freelancing motto expressed on his blog: "hard work and humility". Always a good place to start!
|
|
Yeah I bought the Purple Paizo Die for myself and my 11 month old son loves it. He grabs for it every time he sees it sitting on my desk, with a massive grin on his face. My 2yr11mth old daughter thinks it's cool too. So in my last order I got them one each for themselves. It's a start...
How fun! Start 'em young!
I took my daughter to PaizoCon last year when she was 5 months old. Does that count as an introduction to the game?
(I'm thinking that since she doesn't speak English yet, maybe not...)
Oh, and I introduced my 10-year old niece to DnD over Christmas, along with my 59-year old dad and (*age omitted for personal safety*) mom. Did I break a record for oldest person introduced to the game? lol
Well really wasn't a choice on me giving him the dice after a certain point he was just tall enough to reach them...even when I place them on the 3rd shelf of the bookshelves (No room on the fourth and top already covered in farmore breakable gear ^^;)
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
|
I, for one, am BESIDE myself with anticipation over getting to check out the 32+ on the 16th.
This is really exciting stuff, and I'm serious when I say that I'm pulling for each and every single person who entered.
You and me both, bruddah. Let the games begin!
I take it back, there are actually 4 or 5 items in the top 62 that are in SRD format.
As we have said over and over, while that was a big strike it is not an autoreject. But clearly if an item in SRD format advances the author just cant make that mistake twice.
It may be that one or two of those SRD format items gets a golden ticket. Hard to say. That is the prerogative of the judges. Basically, what we do is form a consensus on as many items as we can. In this case, 20. Then we golden ticket the balance. They can be any item. And sometimes they are items that have some serious flaws but that we want to see what the author will do in the next round (of course, the item cant be one that has auto-reject issues).
Why do we do this?
I ran a very informative evaluation of our judging last year. Though you guys dont know it and we wont publicize it, we judges actually ranked the items and categorized them as well. You just got them as the top 32. But we actually had them losely grouped. And we discovered that of our top 18 or so consensus items last year, while 3 of them were in the final 8, most of our top 18 washed out after the second round. We found that most of the high advancers in the contest came from our golden ticket items--items we picked for spark and creativity, where we wanted to see what the person could do in the next rounds. I'm not sure what that says about how good we are as judges :) But it shure says that we should be inclusive and that contestants grow and learn and that we shouldnt overly nitpick editorial issues that are easily fixed. Christine is a perfect example. She barely made it into the contest and she won the darn thing!
So dont be surprised if one or two of the SRD format items actually makes it into the top 32 or makes it as an alt. It is certainly possible.
I'm with Wolf. Unless Erik and Lisa and Vic and Gary decide otherwise, I am not going to be mentioning if a person made the top 62. Though you may be able to divine if you were real close by my comments :)Personally, I think revealing the Top 62 would be a mistake. It's human to beat yourself up when you missed the cut by just a little.
Think how the people who finish 4th at the Olympics feel, for instance.
I am not too keen on hearing the Top 62 listed or if I am in it or not, but it would be nice to hear if my entry generated one-word dismissal or some actual conversation or commentary. But hopefully a future thread covers that.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
|
I, for one, am BESIDE myself with anticipation over getting to check out the 32+ on the 16th.
This is really exciting stuff, and I'm serious when I say that I'm pulling for each and every single person who entered.
That's odd. I heard that you were evil. That doesn't sound evil.
We found that most of the high advancers in the contest came from our golden ticket items--items we picked for spark and creativity, where we wanted to see what the person could do in the next rounds. I'm not sure what that says about how good we are as judges :) But it shure says that we should be inclusive and that contestants grow and learn and that we shouldnt overly nitpick editorial issues that are easily fixed. Christine is a perfect example. She barely made it into the contest and she won the darn thing!
Reminds me of a baseball analogy that has been buzzing in my head any time the spark vs. formatting thing has been alluded to in this thread...
You are a baseball coach. Two players run to first. They both have the same time, but one has perfect form, the other, lousy form. Which one do you pick?
The one with the lousy form. Because when you teach him good form, he will always beat the other player.
Ironically I learned that from watching The West Wing.
Knowing how to use BBCode formatting for your entry is not a requirement for this contest. Nobody gets eliminated for bad messageboard format—though if you used it well, it couldn't do anything but help you, and if you used it badly (or tried to use HTML, which isn't supported), it probably made a worse impression on the judges than not using it at all.
I was under the impression that BBCode was disabled for some reason. As the usual "Show" button at the bottom was gone, and I seemed to then recall a post from Vic somewhere saying don't worry about how to use them, it wasn't part of the contest...
I made... a formatting choice we shall call it for now... based on thinking the entry form wouldn't let me boldify something. I am now hoping that didn't bite me on the ass.
As for starting off kids into game, my son is 2 1/2 and he's playing around with dice. Figured to start off with the basics. *chuckles*
Kind of funny this got mentioned. I had some dice out yesterday and my 10-year old freaked out. "How do I use these?", "Hey we can use these to play Yatzee!", "I wanna play Dungeons & Dragons!", "Let's play now". I let him roll up some stats and then it was time for bed.
Afterwards I couldn't stop grinning...
|
RPG Superstar 2013
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
|
If I recall correctly, the text of the entry is cut and pasted into word for the word count. Mine was some 170 words. I hope changuing spell names into italics didn't up the word count.
Man - something else to fret about!
A quick note to Coridan: Trust me when I tell you I have the least accomplished contributor tag on these boards. I have a PFS scenario that was completely rewritten because of an awkward set of instructions the first go-round, and on the thread for questions about the adventure, I keep having to respond to stuff I didn't design because the other authors are waay busier than I am. And I wrote the final 3.5 round of the DnD Open, which means it was pre-Origins so no one played it. Which reminds me - the DnD Open has nothing to do with Paizo, and if Paizo ever needs someone to organize a competitive tourney like the open using the Pathfinder system, you folks just holler.
So, all that is to say I am barely a contributor, and I understand you're hungry and you feel like you have chops and all you want is a chance to shine. So I get you. But at the same time, whether or not I can handle the fact that my entry didn't make the top 62 (and I'm competitive, so who knows how I'd handle it), that is not the only consideration. Maybe you won't have any sour grapes and will just take your lumps and move on. But Paizo can't predict that for 600 entrants. The worst thing that could happen is they could lose customers because they published a list where some temperamental guy in Oregon, rooted for by thirty players from his Meetup group, didn't make the cut at all.
I (hopefully don't have to) accept Clark's gracious offer to critique my item if I don't make it. I wouldn't ask more of his time, and I support there not being a published list that might elevate a few of us, but might hurt the feelings of just as many. Best of luck to all of us.
Just please pick mine so I can write an adventure and move on to novels! : }
Oh yeah, since we heard from the ONE person who reads my poor blog, here it is. Check out the Musings of the Chatty DM for more talk about the Kobold Love Project!
You're already going to crush the hearts of those who make the alternates but don't get in because someone doesn't drop out, so why not crush the other 26? =p
Didn't they use all the alternates last year?
|
Marathon Voter Season 6
|
A quick note to Coridan:
I know, and I'm pretty certain we met at GenCon, no hard feelings towards you but I just don't want to see people discouraging Clark from letting people know how well/poorly they did when they ask for it.
We saw from the PFS open calls quite a few people with sour grapes when Josh was doing the criticism. I wasn't able to do that open call (no inspiration) and was very disappointed to find out there wouldn't be any critique for the second one (which I did submit to). There's more frustration from some of us to get no feedback then there is to get bad feedback. It's far easier (and you're far stronger from it) to improve with bad feedback then with none. And hearing that you get into the top 60 should be (although undoubtedly a few will take it the wrong way) a message saying "You did pretty damn good and you've definitely got the stuff to keep trying with". So if someone asks for their place they should obviously be careful for what they wish for, but they still asked for a reason, and need that answer.
|
I skipped using BBCode in my entry because when I added the code, my word processor software had me at 250+ words. I didn't want to take the risk that the same thing might happen with a judge, so I didn't do pretty formatting this year.
That's another little thing that haunts my me about my entry.
Wow, I'll admit I really didn't think about that and my word count was pretty close to the 200 word limit. I guess on mine it'll depend on whether the word count gets generated from it being copy/pasted from the actual response or the Reply To box.
The way I see it, there is no such thing as "bad feedback" (with the exception of things that pretend to be feedback but really aren't such as a one line throw away... "this sucks"). If you view criticism of your work as "bad" then you probably shouldn't be trying to be a writer of any sort... we do not get better at something by doing it right, we get better by doing it wrong, being told what is wrong with it, and then learning from that mistake. Sure criticism can sting, sometimes it can feel like you're being picked on or what not, although that is not the real intention of any sort of real feedback, and a writer has to learn to endure it.
For a long time I used to create a new magic item and monster every week and post them to the WotC message boards (this was back at the tail end of 3.0 through the first year of 3.5 or so),and although I always got plenty of responses about how this monster was "so cool" or that magic item was "perfect for what I am doing, and I plan on using it in my game" the responses I really looked for were "this item was pretty good, but perhaps it would be better if you did something more along the lines of... for this mechanic" and "I am not sure that this creature is justified with a CR of x, it has no way of reaching flying characters, and no ranged attacks, so although it has plenty of HP and a decent AC, a party above level x could simply stay in the air and destroy it with missile weapons" type responses. The former type responses might have messaged my ego, but the latter helped me to get better at designing items and creatures, and I always valued the feedback far more then the simple praise (which is not to say I always blindly accepted what the feedback said, but I would always at least consider it).
Of course with all that said I do not think that posting a list of the "almost made its" is constructive. With Clark offering to give feedback to those who request it if you are not in the top group, by all means take advantage of it (I know I certainly plan to should I not make the top 32/alternates) but simply finding out if you were an "almost made it" or a "never had a chance" isn;t going to help you one way or another.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
,
Star Voter Season 6
|
Steven,
I think it was Heinlein who said "Only a fool writes for money" :-)
more seriously, I'd like the critiques from Clark, Wolfgang, Sean, but I'd like the critiques from everyone (well, except for the 'this sucks' crowd).
When I don't make it in the top 32, I'll post my item somewhere so people can tell me it's cliche' derivitive, and horrible, and hopefully learn from it.
More importantly, to me, I'll post it because I want to share what creative talents I have. I write for fun, just like I sing for fun. I just hope my writing is better than my singing. :-)
If I recall correctly, the text of the entry is cut and pasted into word for the word count. Mine was some 170 words. I hope changuing spell names into italics didn't up the word count.
Man - something else to fret about!
A quick note to Coridan: Trust me when I tell you I have the least accomplished contributor tag on these boards. I have a PFS scenario that was completely rewritten because of an awkward set of instructions the first go-round, and on the thread for questions about the adventure, I keep having to respond to stuff I didn't design because the other authors are waay busier than I am. And I wrote the final 3.5 round of the DnD Open, which means it was pre-Origins so no one played it. Which reminds me - the DnD Open has nothing to do with Paizo, and if Paizo ever needs someone to organize a competitive tourney like the open using the Pathfinder system, you folks just holler.
So, all that is to say I am barely a contributor, and I understand you're hungry and you feel like you have chops and all you want is a chance to shine. So I get you. But at the same time, whether or not I can handle the fact that my entry didn't make the top 62 (and I'm competitive, so who knows how I'd handle it), that is not the only consideration. Maybe you won't have any sour grapes and will just take your lumps and move on. But Paizo can't predict that for 600 entrants. The worst thing that could happen is they could lose customers because they published a list where some temperamental guy in Oregon, rooted for by thirty players from his Meetup group, didn't make the cut at all.
I (hopefully don't have to) accept Clark's gracious offer to critique my item if I don't make it. I wouldn't ask more of his time, and I support there not being a published list that might elevate a few of us, but might hurt the feelings of just as many. Best of luck to all of us.
Just please pick mine so I can write an adventure and move on to novels! : }
Oh yeah, since we heard from the ONE person who reads my poor blog,...
I am confused how a person would be perfectly fine with finding out if they are in the top 32...but would be bothered to find out they are in the top 62. I respect it...I just don't get it.
Didn't they use all the alternates last year?
All but one. Poor guy.
If I recall correctly, the text of the entry is cut and pasted into word for the word count. Mine was some 170 words. I hope changuing spell names into italics didn't up the word count.
When you copy-and-paste from the displayed text in an HTML browser, you don't pick up the tags. You only see those when you're in edit mode. The judges wouldn't be in edit-mode while reading your entries, because obviously they wouldn't get to see the presentation correctly (i.e., all the tags would be mucking everything up). So a simple copy-and-paste as performed by Clark wouldn't be putting tags into MS Word before he does his word count.
Bottom line: I think everyone is safe on this one...
...says the man who came in at 199 words and used BBC code to make his entry look nice. :-D
There's more frustration from some of us to get no feedback then there is to get bad feedback. It's far easier (and you're far stronger from it) to improve with bad feedback then with none.
Given that Clark has gone on record stating he'll comment on entries that people want to specifically ask about...that should give you what you seek, Coridan. Just post your entry and then wait for Clark to give you an idea of how it was perceived. He may not share all of the comments from the other judges. But, his follow-up commentary ought to give you some idea of how far you made it. An exact ranking? No. But you don't need that to get feedback.
...whether or not I can handle the fact that my entry didn't make the top 62 ...that is not the only consideration. Maybe you won't have any sour grapes and will just take your lumps and move on. But Paizo can't predict that for 600 entrants.
I agree with Stephen. If you specifically want feedback, just wait until you know you didn't make the cut...look for the relevant thread where Clark is willing to respond to those who post their non-winning entries for feedback...and then wait to take your "lumps" as it were. Clark's willingness to give that kind of feedback is...while amazing...also going to be contingent on how people conduct themselves once they get it. After all, as Charles pointed our earlier, his experience upon getting feedback from Josh on his PFS scenario proposal really set him back for awhile. No one can predict how people will respond to criticism...no matter how constructive it's meant to be. So, publishing a list of the Top 62 should be out of the question, in my opinion. Let people ask for the feedback. And let them do it in the forum Clark is willing to champion. That way, they get it if they want it.
I am confused how a person would be perfectly fine with finding out if they are in the top 32...but would be bothered to find out they are in the top 62. I respect it...I just don't get it.
Because it doesn't end there. Pretty soon you'll have people wanting to know how close they came to making the Top 62. And so on.
Just my two-cents,
--Neil
Wow, what a thread!
I don't think anyone has said this very clearly but I may have missed it, so please don't be offended if I'm wrong...
I just want to say a massive thank you for all of the time everyone - judges, observers and contestants - have taken in making this thread so enjoyable, informative and educational.
This is the first time I have entered something like this and I will, hand on heart, say I have made one or two of the gaffs mentioned.
Yeah, backstory - I did that - but it was a generic one liner and didn't force names or places on the GM so I didn't do quite so bad there.
Word count? Yeah, I probably blew that - but I put that down to my inexperience - in truth, I didn't know if that was just body text or if it included the other section headers, the slot, spell etc lines or not. I assumed not, but now I'm not so sure.
Artefact not wonderous item - yeah, this probably got me too as my item sort of fell into that grey dividing line between them.
So in short, I really think that next year, I'm going to own you all - Nuff' said! :P
Thanks everyone - this has been great fun reading this thread this week and I certainly have learnt a great deal.
And if I do happen to spawn through, everything I learnt here is really going to help me get the next bit right and if I don't get through, I'll certainly be voting for my favourites of those that do.
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
|
You're already going to crush the hearts of those who make the alternates but don't get in because someone doesn't drop out, so why not crush the other 26? =pDidn't they use all the alternates last year?
All but one.
THAT is the guy who might have felt like he was the one who lost by a hundredth of a second at the Olympic Trials and had to watch it on TV when he was THISCLOSE to being there, especially when the 5th Alternate (Russ Taylor) got all the way to the final 6.
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6
|
All but one.
THAT is the guy who might have felt like he was the one who lost by a hundredth of a second at the Olympic Trials and had to watch it on TV when he was THISCLOSE to being there, especially when the 5th Alternate (Russ Taylor) got all the way to the final 6.
Technically, they used four alternates. One of the other six failed to turn in a country, which is how I got in. And that's cutting it pretty close! That was a pretty antsy day for me...
I was under the impression that BBCode was disabled for some reason. As the usual "Show" button at the bottom was gone, and I seemed to then recall a post from Vic somewhere saying don't worry about how to use them, it wasn't part of the contest...
I made... a formatting choice we shall call it for now... based on thinking the entry form wouldn't let me boldify something. I am now hoping that didn't bite me on the ass.
Dont worry about bolding. That had zero impact on our judging, so long as you used the Pathfinder format. Sure, the ones that were bolded might have created a slightly more favorable initial split second impression, in the end its the content.
Didn't they use all the alternates last year?
I dont believe so.
All but one. Poor guy.
Yeah, and I happend to really like the item that never got to sneak in. :)
By the way, anyone who wants me to give feedback on items that dont advance, please each of you dont start your own thread asking for feedback. Please WAIT for me. On the 20th, after the announcement, I will start a thread entitled "Clark, Give Me Feedback On My Item!" or something like that. THEN post your item and your request in that thread. :) In fact, I will create a placeholder thread now...
OK I just created the placeholder thread.
Good plan :)
