Does the 300 word limit refer to the description only, or everything including the boilerplate formatting text?
The formatting text does not count. It's invisible anyway once the item's posted. I always made a point of typing my item without any formatting first so I could get an accurate word count. Then, when I had polished it as best I could, I applied the formatting, previewed it to make sure everything looked okay. Revised it, if necessary. And then hit submit.
What Neil said. Or hit Preview, and do a word count on THAT if that is easier for you.
Good luck one and all. Let the wonder-making begin!
Didn't mean formatting -- I was talking about the item name, aura, requirements, etc. That last one can get particularly long if there are any non-spell requirements.
Managed to keep all my idea drafts under 300 so far, tho. :)
Didn't mean formatting -- I was talking about the item name, aura, requirements, etc. That last one can get particularly long if there are any non-spell requirements.
Of course that stuff counts. Every printed word for a magic item as it appears in an actual published product counts. The item's name, the aura, pricing, and weight information, its descriptive text, and all of the construction requirements. Everything. Including the headings for those sections.
From the FAQ:
What is the word limit for my Open Call entry?
Entries for the Open Call round of RPG Superstar must be 300 words or less. This includes the text required for the Pathfinder RPG magic item format (Aura, Slot, Price, and so on) and any explanation or justification for the rules used, item price, and so on. Entries that exceed this maximum will automatically be removed from the competition.
I know, everybody's too busy working on their wondrous item to post right now... but welcome!
My first participation and my second post on the message boards of Paizo. That will be nice
XD
The judges will feedback only at the end of the round one? or before it?
thanks..
I am really, really excited that RPG Superstar 2010 has begun!
I've been thinking about a Wondrous Item since last year's contest.
I've gone through about three different items/ideas... and I really feel that the item I've been working on (which is in 2nd draft phase right now) is the one. Like Neil suggested on his thread, I've been having the players from my game group read/look it over and give me their input... and I'll have another "round" of that tomorrow... wait a few days, give it another look... a little more polish... and submit it when it's ready.
Good Luck Everyone! (If anyone is just thinking about entering, let me echo what so many before me have said... you have nothing to lose and so much to gain from entering and giving this a try... I tried out last year, didn't get in, but I learned a lot from the experience.)
Cheers!
TMW
I am really, really excited that RPG Superstar 2010 has begun!
I've been thinking about a Wondrous Item since last year's contest.
I've gone through about three different items/ideas...
Me too, except I am three different PAGES of items. O:)
I also have two ideas for Halloween costumes that I have been working on for over a month *grin*
Phew... decided to give it a go this time around as I'm not currently DMing a campaign, just playing... and now I've gone and gotten myself giddy in anticipation.
Best of luck everybody, oh, and Happy Christmas to all.
I have a question that needs an official answer.
Without getting too specific (i.e. becoming close to posting my item) would mentioning or referencing a Paizo/Pathfinder product be grounds for getting DQ'd? I'll provide an example sentence of how I might word such a reference...
For further details on "X" please see "Y". (Absent of course specifics that might tip my hat as to what I'm attempting to craft.)
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Dean; the Minstrel Wyrm
EDIT: Actually I read the FAQ and that seemed to indicate that referring to Paizo/Pathfinder products is okay... I'm still a little shaky on the matter though. As in the case of my sample sentence above. Would that be allowed, or would it get me DQ'd?
Thanks again.
EDIT: Redacted. :) The FAQ is clear enough.
EDIT: Redacted. :) The FAQ is clear enough.
Heh heh... yeah tejon... I guess it is at that. Maybe I'm worrying over nothing. (And that one little sentence would certainly help me stay within the 300 word count limit.)
TMW
What's funny is, I read that bit before starting on my drafts, and was all confident that I was OK until you posted. And then the only thing I remembered with certainty was that it was OK to reference Golarion setting content. Panic is contagious!
What's funny is, I read that bit before starting on my drafts, and was all confident that I was OK until you posted. And then the only thing I remembered with certainty was that it was OK to reference Golarion setting content. Panic is contagious!
Heh... sorry about that tejon... and you are right, panic is contagious.
I think all is well now however.
TMW
Without getting too specific (i.e. becoming close to posting my item) would mentioning or referencing a Paizo/Pathfinder product be grounds for getting DQ'd? I'll provide an example sentence of how I might word such a reference...
For further details on "X" please see "Y". (Absent of course specifics that might tip my hat as to what I'm attempting to craft.)
I don't recall any existing Wondrous Items referencing other products like that. I think references to Golarion, such as countries or deities, would be ok. Sign-posting to other products, on the other hand, seems to stray over the line to me.
Hah, <redacted> is catching on!
Oh, go <redacted> a <redacted>! In the <redacted>!
I wasn't around the last couple of years this was done- in previous years, were the later rounds revealed before they had even started? I thought the "secret challenge" rounds were standard! This just keeps getting more exciting.This year? You guys get nothing! It's all "secret" until they reveal the new rules for the next round. And, oh...you've got 3 days to turn around your next submission for the contest. We had 3-day turn-arounds last year (and it was 5 days or a week the first year), but at least we knew what was coming. You guys really have to roll with the punches this time.
Good luck, (::runs out to buy some popcorn::)
--Neil
Funny, but personally, I find the idea of having three days to submit an entry is not nearly as stressful as having 5 weeks (plus a week or so to find out who made the 1st cut)
I can't believe it's only been 1 week since the contest opened, and I have 5 more to wait (at least) until the winners are announced! Be still my writhing nerves.
I knew I picked a bad week to stop huffing miniature paint...
well, my entry is DONE!
that was harder to write than I expected. once I previewed, reviewed and edited my entry about a billion times though, it finally felt right enough to hit the 'enter' button.