I liked all of the neat side encounters and events that Eric threw into his adventure.
I Still haven't made up my mind on who to vote for yet since Neil's submission is solid (excepting the unicorn deus ex machina) and Matthew had some very nice images; but I greatly enjoyed the nice little touches Eric added throughout his submission to make it feel more like a world/book that the PCs were adventuring in, rather than just a scenario with static characters and encounters.
Eric crafted a living world.
I liked all of the neat side encounters and events that Eric threw into his adventure.
I Still haven't made up my mind on who to vote for yet since Neil's submission is solid (excepting the unicorn deus ex machina) and Matthew had some very nice images; but I greatly enjoyed the nice little touches Eric added throughout his submission to make it feel more like a world/book that the PCs were adventuring in, rather than just a scenario with static characters and encounters.
Eric crafted a living world.
But, that is the problem.
His mission in this was to create an adventure. If his submission does "feel more like a world/book that the PCs were adventuring in" then it is likely to be WAY to big for 32 pages.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
aka flash_cxxi
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I am truly torn.
* I love Magnimar and really want some more detail to it, but Matthew's Story just doesn't grab me unfortunately.
* Last Ride of the Mammoth Lords sounds like a fun adventure but has too many errors and minor inconsistencies for my liking.
I am really tossing up between Kevin and Neil.
*I think Kevin's adventure would be awesome, but it needs tweaking and a bit more of a hook to drag the players in to make it shine.
* Neil's proposal is also amazing, but I am worried that the scope will be too large for a 32 page Module and we will lose out because of space restrictions.
In the end it is going to be an extremely close choice between Kevin and Neil for me. As such I am going to leave my vote to the last minute in order to give me more time to consider.
Congratulations to everyone who made RPG Superstar 2009 a fun and interesting Race. Can't wait to see who crosses the line first!
>>His mission in this was to create an adventure. If his submission does "feel more like a world/book that the PCs were adventuring in" then it is likely to be WAY to big for 32 pages.
I don't see it that way.
Each adventure is part of a world. I see each adventure as a book. Adventuring in Castle Maure was like reading a book and participating in discovery. Adventuring in a Louge, or a Pett adventure is supposed to feel like being in a book as well- the worlds are living, the worlds are real, and the characters can actually change them and effect the worlds- the characters feel IMPORTANT; and the adventures are certainly not generic.
Eric's adventure reminds me of the Savage Tide AP where the pirates attacked Farshore; lots of things to do and opportunities for discovery and gameplaying/roleplaying "magic." The thing was quite intricate. My games run like Eric designed his adventure.
Eric's adventure is just filled with the nice "little things" (extra checks and fun things to do)
-Haëndir offers a saurian mount to each PC skilled in riding or handling animals, and teaches them how to “set” a horned mount to meet a charge.
- Trolls leap from their mounts onto the PCs’ beasts, forcing ride checks to keep the beasts controlled.
-Tests of Mettle (can probably be covered in half a page, or just one page)
-After excavating this boat, the PCs must choose a crew of 20 from among the tribesmen willing to venture further, then sail this enormous vessel through raging river tunnels, into the heart of the glacier. (Great opportunities for the DM)
- The ship periodically crashes into icy walls, taking damage and requiring regular repair. PCs and their allies can utilize huge oars to negate hits to the ship akin to how a mounted combatant can negate hits to his mount. (One paragraph for a good encounter)
- Perhaps I do not play enough video games, but I don't really understand the video-games/ziggurat correlation.
I thought the idea was quite intriguing.
-he PCs attempt diplomacy with the taiga giants, perhaps by making amends for the death of the giants’ kinsman when first arriving in the jungle (This is great!)
-Once the PCs begin moving the ziggurats, Izira attacks – first by sabotage (killing dinosaurs, severing ropes or chains, etc.) and then by brute force. Izira is a 9th level barbarian and rides an elite wyvern mount. She leads a strong team of five 5th level barbarians and rangers. (Lots of ways to solve problems; not just combat.
-The entire city rumbles as the Abomination’s main nerve center rips upward through flagstones to assault any living creature in its path. (Perhaps the running from a destroyed city theme is overdone, but It is often enjoyable!)
-and composing epic tales of their deeds. (Great.)
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- I agree with the statements that Ericperhaps uses too many new creatures that require statblock reprints: the Radiant Wraith, the Moonflower. I figure he'll drop some of that. I don't expect him having to drop more than 1 or 2 encounters though; and in my opinion, it is far better to give too much than to do too little and the loss of one or two encounters is no big problem. Whether one or two things need to be excised does not affect Eric's submission's quality.
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8
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25 Neil Spicer- Realm of the Fellnight Queen
10 Eric Bailey- Last Ride of the Mammoth Lords
01 Kevin Carter- Dragonrest Isle
00 Matthew Stinson- Denying the Boiling Beast
I counted declared votes earlier in each entry's thread. While those will be a lot less consistent even than this poll, and a couple of days have elapsed so there's no point in quoting my earlier totals, the trend looked similar, with somewhat less distance between Neil and Eric.
But, that is the problem.
His mission in this was to create an adventure. If his submission does "feel more like a world/book that the PCs were adventuring in" then it is likely to be WAY to big for 32 pages.
While this isn't really the thread to debate this issue, please see my posts on the Mammoth Lords thread. There, you'll find statistics on encounters, maps, and tables for both Eric's proposal and a comparison to Neil's proposal. You'll also find the figures for four adventures that Paizo published of roughly the equivalent level adventurers. My stated opinion is that either they're both just right or they're both too big. If "too big" is a voting issue, please consult Kevin's thread, where his selection was lauded for its size by the judges.
Someone once told me there are three kind of lies. Lies big lies and statistics. Not that I mean anyone is an actual liar but statistics can often be very misleading.
You know, statistics show that most lies involve words. They can be very misleading, you know. Best not to use them.
If you have a problem with my methodology in one of the threads, then please post something in that thread and I'll clarify things for you. I don't like cluttering up this thread.
I bank on ideas.
I buy my books according to the covers.
and I am rarely disappointed.
How you package a product is just as important as to how it is put together.
I get that epic story arc feeling from Eric's entry, and this is definately a world which I would want to visit multiple times.
Eric has my vote.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I am in a serious dilemma. Eric's "Last Ride" is definately my favorite and I would normally simply vote for him. However, I can only judge his proposal on it's IDEAS, the imagery it creates, and the "coolness" of it. I am a poor judge when it comes to what would work well in a Pathfinder 32-page module or the (dry) "mechanics" of an adventure. I have to bow to the true judges experience for that. And they seem to agree that it should NOT be Eric. I do like Neil's "Realm" the next best (Eric's 9 out of 10 to Neil's 7). I am trying to decide if the Judges opinion should be worth enough to override Eric's lead in my mind. I have the tendency to think it should. Of the previous Lairs, I also far more enjoyed Eric's "Sanctum" than Neil's "Playhouse." Previous to that however, I did not like Eric's "Vashkar", but really enjoyed Neil's "Gulga."
I need some respectable's RPGers opinion on my ANGST.
Your vote is your vote. Vote for the ones YOU like not the one the judges like.
It sounds like you clearly want to vote for Eric, so do so. Don't let anyone argue into voting a certain way. It's not that you shouldn't listen to arguments or be open to persuasion, but it sounds like you're just giving over your own preferences because you think someone else knows better than you. But you know what? Even if they do, in an open vote you have a "democratic right to be wrong," as one of my old profs used to say.
So vote your heart and let the chips fall where they may.
Thanks for your suggestions and observations.
I will ruminate between Eric and Neil over the weekend and vote on Monday.
Neil. Not that I'm biased nor trying to buy off any favors from my personal DM.
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I am in a serious dilemma. Eric's "Last Ride" is definately my favorite and I would normally simply vote for him. However, I can only judge his proposal on it's IDEAS, the imagery it creates, and the "coolness" of it. I am a poor judge when it comes to what would work well in a Pathfinder 32-page module or the (dry) "mechanics" of an adventure. I have to bow to the true judges experience for that. And they seem to agree that it should NOT be Eric. I do like Neil's "Realm" the next best (Eric's 9 out of 10 to Neil's 7). I am trying to decide if the Judges opinion should be worth enough to override Eric's lead in my mind. I have the tendency to think it should. Of the previous Lairs, I also far more enjoyed Eric's "Sanctum" than Neil's "Playhouse." Previous to that however, I did not like Eric's "Vashkar", but really enjoyed Neil's "Gulga."
I need some respectable's RPGers opinion on my ANGST.
I was pretty much the same way, including the part about liking Sanctum and Gulga better than the counterpart.
And ended up voting for Eric, though part of that was because nobody in exit poll had yet at that point voted for him, and generally Neil seemed to be doing fine...now it seems to be a bit more balanced.
But I definitely won't be unhappy if Neil wins this.
Ruminate and cast your votes when you are ready.
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Well even though it looks like my vote won't count for much, i voted for the 'Last ride'. It was to epic, and the dinos are in the wrong spot, but changing them to Mammoths, like the title hinted to, and ditching a few pointless encounters, you end up with the one, that i would most want to walk through as a player (which i think is a point that gets lost when you concider most of us are DMs). You get to do some cool games with Barbarians, win some prizes, become a mideaval bobsled team, and discover an anchient civilization... all cool.
'Dragon Isles' was a little to dragon lance. 'Boiling sea' was, well i don't know, uncompelling? Lastly, traveling through the first world was intersting, but i don't think i have read a adventure that grabs you by the nose and drags you kicking and screaming to the conclusion. all fog all the time. pick a direction pick your fate.... or just move onto the next scheduled encounter....
I had to sleep on this round of voting.
Twice.
In the end, I wound up voting for Neil, since anything Paizo puts out with his name on it will probably prompt me to buy it.
But it's testament to the quality of these contestants that I had a very, very tough time deciding...and might still be subject to change.
Another vote for Neil.
I've got to say that Neil's last submission was the one of the four that I didn't think should have advanced. (The theatre just didn't work for me.) However, I am repaid for this in The Realm of the Fellnight Queen. Among some neat ideas and settings, his clearly stood out for me as the adventure that pulled me in and made me want to play. Another vote for Spicer.
Folks, sign me up for a ride on a mammoth.
One more vote for Eric.
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It was a difficult decision, but I've decided to vote for Eric. He may not be the most skilled and polished of the contestants, but he's brought the mad cool ideas every round. After the suggested editorial changes Last Ride of the Mammoth Lords will probably be the best adventure and I'm confident that Eric call pull it off.
Sam
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What fun this all has been. Thanks for those of you assisting me with my "angst."
After extensive ruminations and even a little re-chewing of cud, I am deciding to vote for Eric's "Mammoths."
All of them certainly have talent and I would take a close look at any of their modules.
However, I do indeed have a special place in my heart for Eric and Neil.
Thanks to Paizo and the judges for a great contest!
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I can see how, judging based on quality of ideas and the potential of a proposal, this can be a difficult contest. There are some great ideas, striking imagery, and exciting adventures. All the participants have shown great creativity and have certainly given it their all.
Several people have talked about how they would edit their favorite submissions for length, clarity, and consistency and how, with editing or even a change of format, they would be make great adventures. And they would.
But based on body of work, well-roundedness, and readiness for publication (i.e., without need for extensive editing), Neil Spicer is the clear winner, hands down.
Good luck to all, and good work throughout a high-caliber competition.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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The voting was ridiculously tough this time around. I went with Matt, for a chain of evocative encounters and fun role-playing that seem to be backed with a solid feel for mechanics. I concede to James' concerns about the specifics of the location; if there's a better place to set it in Golarion, then I expect it'll be moved. (I'm enough old-school to remember Greyhawk adventures where several potential locations for a given dungeon were mentioned.)
I voted for Neil's, but a STRONG #2 was Matthew Stinson's "Denying the Boiling Beast". Great use of Magnimar, love the sea monster, adore the underwater fire creatures. I even like the "Denying the.." part of the name. I hope we see much more from him.
Overall though, I had to credit Neil with a dynamite adventure. I *JUST* ran Logue's Carnival of Tears, and I thought I would have had my fill of evil fey creatures and subtypes out for vengeance. He proved me wrong. Bleachlings and drunken treants, and yes, Unicorns. Masterful.
Thank you to everyone who competed, I've learned a lot.
I personally love fey and all that fairy tale-esque goodness, and Neil captured it well.
I am a huge fan of fey, believe them underused in D&D, and rarely if ever portrayed as the dark malicious beings many of them are.
That said, the module I most want to play, or GM, is Dragonrest and so goes my vote.Color me surprised.
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Of course, what they didn't smurfing tell us is that the scoring for this round will be like Golf, so the lower the score - the better.
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