Wow. A third year of RPG Superstar! What a great testament to the people at Paizo and the awesome community here on these boards. This is truly an amazing contest. I am honored to be a part of it.
And I wanted to say a few things:
1. Thanks to the Paizo folks for having me! I can't wait to work with Wes and Sean (again). The process of judging is such a great learning experience for me.
2. GIVE IT A TRY--THERE ARE NO LOSERS. Go ahead, submit an item. You can do it! The creativity of this community never ceases to amaze me. Believe me, you have it in you. Do your best, give it a shot. Submit an item. Even if you don't make the final cut, I guarantee you the process will be worth it. Take a shot.
3. Swing for the fences. That's not to say "go gonzo." But no one needs a cloak of shadows. Yawn. Remember, we aren't looking for items that would be great in a giant book of magic items. We are looking for the RPGSuperstar.
4. Do some homework. You really can find some great tips from some of our prior discussions from years past. Those can be a great aid for all of you as you prepare your item. Understand, of course, that judges change. Wes wasn't a part of this last year. And though Sean was, I'm sure that he--like I did in the first year--grew from his last experience and might have some different thoughts this year. But that said, you can still learn a lot about design from reading some of those old posts.
I'm psyched to be back and I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.
I've said it before and I'll say it again--the talent level here is great. I don't think I could have won RPGSuperstar. But I am sure YOU can!
I look forward to reading the submissions!
Clark
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Clark
Thanks for the warm welcome. Finally I know what the RPG Superstar is about.
I had a game yesterday - one of my players had a throw away remark about some skills she would like - followed by a sleepless night (my son wasn't feeling well and had to visit our bed) - and come the morning an idea was born.
Not sure how far it will go - but I should give it a try.
I'm now following the various advice and do some background research. At least I start already with an idea in my head.
Oh - and my wife said she wanted one of these for her character.
Thod
Thanks Clark. I'm really looking forward to giving this a shot and seeing everyone else's submissions.
followed by a sleepless night (my son wasn't feeling well and had to visit our bed) - and come the morning an idea was born.
I was up a lot last night with my kids as well, and then I couldn't get back to sleep so I was reading some of the threads here from previous year's competitions.
Charles-
I think you should reconsider and enter!!! Give it a go!
Clark
PS--I'm not ignoring your request, I just want to keep the discussions here about RPGSuperstar.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4
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Yes! There really is no reason not to enter something, and my advice is not to try to enter something that wins, but to enter something that "feels" like you. Everyone has a style and a tone to their writing, so be sure to show that through your entries. Remember that this contest is done through public voting, and everyone plays Role Playing Games differently. Not everyone is going to like your entries, most likely not even all the judges, so just make sure that you like it and you would want it in your game.
I recently entered RPG Superstar 2010.
Here are some wondrous reasons to enter:
1) The thrill of the hunt. Accepted or not, it's thrilling to think your creative idea can win recognition from other cool RPGers.
2) I learned more about Pathfinder in a shorter span of time than I did when reading through the book or even playing. As I crafted my entry, I realized I needed to learn a bunch of related rules. In particular, getting under the hood with my research, I realized how integral the spells system and magic item system are intertwined, and with them gold pieces and level. Maybe that's obvious to many; I think most figure out a sense that all these game elements tie together. But, I really enjoyed seeing the specific "strands" as specific spells connect to wondrous items, for example.
3) This is related to #2, but I learned how to use the Pathfinder book and PDF better. This happens while playing, too. But, just reading the book that first time doesn't really show you how to use the book as a reference. As I designed, I could tell I was "learning" the book's organization better. It's not flawless, but it's darn good as a reference. High marks for that index!
3) Designing a new item really challenges you to think about all the ways to approach it, and certainly the ways to dismantle it. You don't have to think like a GM or think like a player. You have to think like everyone! How would any plausible player approach this item? Can you enable them to have fun while balancing them from distracting all his/her other players' fun?
And, another way -- how can the item write-up save players some time? Should you include some rules about DCs or are those chewing up space for things players already should know? What about other specific rules, like, say, hardness or something similar?
5) It's fun. I really enjoyed creating my entry.
Here's to hoping!
(awesome stuff)
Awesome x5, Matt! :)
Thirded. Bragging rights and fabulous prizes aside, game design can be a blast in its own right.
Me too also +1.
Thanks Sean, Hydro and tejón!
I'm curious to hear what other entrants learned from doing their entry. Anyone? Feel like you graduated from Pathfinder U just yet? :)
Contributor
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Every time I write rules-related material, I rediscover the frequent conflict between art, conciseness and clarity.
You touch on it in your 4th point, Matt. The question to answer is: How does the designer allocate 300 words (actually less, because of formatting requirements) to convey the purpose and interesting aspects of an item while still giving players and GMs the tools they need to properly use and adjudicate the item in play?
In some respects it's kind of like writing "flash fiction," which I also enjoy. For a challenge sometime, you should try giving yourself only 100 words to tell a story. (If you're interested, you can see one of my attempts, here.)
Undertaking projects like this reminds me why writing is a "craft." It really does take work to produce something of quality.
Thanks Sean, Hydro and tejón!
I'm curious to hear what other entrants learned from doing their entry. Anyone? Feel like you graduated from Pathfinder U just yet? :)
Hey Matt, good to see you around here. (Fred says hi!)
This has been a real learning experience for me. My overall exposure to D&D/Pathfinder started pretty late in life for me so I do NOT have an encyclopedic knowledge of the rules, previous versions, WI from other sources, etc..
I do know that from taking an idea from initial concept through development has been a real challenge but it is definitely making me a better GM as I learn about more obscure spells, research existing Wondrous Items to compare pricing, dumping ideas when I discover an idea I had is already sitting there in the book with a slightly different name/flavor.
My biggest challenge is reducing word count. I have always been a verbose writer and it really shows in this limited format. I am always crossing the line between describing information the GM and player might want (hardness, hp, etc.) versus keeping the wonder of the item even in the crunchy bits of the prose. Its a constant argument I find having with myself as to how much of that kind of information to provide.
At the end of the day I feel like I have three pretty strong contenders that at least meet the cool magic item level. Now whether they rise to the level of Superstar status is for others to decide but I look forward to whatever critique Clark, et al are able to provide.
PS - Oh! And pricing these danged things. I'm not sure what dark altar I need to make sacrifice upon to ever feel comfortable with the costing I put on these things. Dark art indeed.
Pierce
All I can say about Superstar is, how many publishers do you know where everyone from the CEO to the developers, the editors and even the techies....not a bust on you Vic :) I'm a techie myself, get involved. Everyone here is involved, helpful, and friendly. In Superstar your entry WILL get looked at, what's to lose? Its a win win. The best part is you just might get feedback or even a chance to be published. It's a good thing.
So if your considering if you should or should not enter, it is nothing but good, so to quote [quote=
Clark Peterson
] GIVE IT A TRY--THERE ARE NO LOSERS
I don't think Vic is just a techie.. I think he has so many hats and roles in the company that it's just the most ambiguous job title he could find.
I don't think Vic is just a techie.. I think he has so many hats and roles in the company that it's just the most ambiguous job title he could find.
Checks around in his backpack...I know I have a reveal identity item in here somewhere!
I have learned that there's a lot of cool folks writing for D&D and Pathfinder out there. :D
I also learned that reading your submission out loud works. You find things that sound good in your head and not so good spoken. Which is a good way to find out where your writing needs work.
Third year entering here. This year took an in game joke into a viable item. Here's hoping. :D
I learned more about Pathfinder in a shorter span of time than I did when reading through the book or even playing.
Absolutely! I'd read the Pathfinder book before, but really hadn't gotten to grips with the rules differences from a certain other roleplaying system until I started statting my items.
Also, entering this competition has refired my desire to make it in the RPG industry ... so thanks Paizo! :)
I do a lot of amateur game design for fun, but something like this (with a lot of competition and not a lot of words) really puts the pressure on in a way that casual homebrewing doesn't, forcing me to write a lot tighter and edit a lot harder.
At one point I thought my first writeup didn't look that bad, yet my latest revision somehow conveys more flavor and more information AND is about 40 words shorter. Even if it doesn't make the cut, it's a little piece of writing that I'm proud of.
Things like this take something I already like doing and just push me to do it better and more professionally. And I love that.
CEO
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I don't think Vic is just a techie.. I think he has so many hats and roles in the company that it's just the most ambiguous job title he could find.
Yep, Vic does lots of stuff. He is my partner in the company. He does handle all of the tech aspects of the company, but he is also my sounding board on lots of ideas, he does a great job of representing our customers whenever I have a crazy idea, and he is a darn good editor to boot! I can say that Paizo wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Vic. So, yeah, he is much more than just a techie, though he is very, very good at that aspect of his job!
-Lisa
Absolutely! I'd read the Pathfinder book before, but really hadn't gotten to grips with the rules differences from a certain other roleplaying system until I started statting my items.
Also, entering this competition has refired my desire to make it in the RPG industry ... so thanks Paizo! :)
Cool. Good luck!
For some reason, while scanning the page just now, my brain superimposed Matt's avatar's skull-bra on Lisa's South Park kid.
Thank you, brain. So very much. I certainly couldn't have survived the day without that image.
I agree that everyone should give this contest a shot. I entered last year, and though I was auto-disqualified (used WOTC material >_<'), I had a lot of fun coming up with my item. This year I've already been through three items and it is just more fun with each one!
I am going to do some more research (just read about backgrounds) before submitting my entry, but I think I'm getting closer.
I do, however, have a question and I may as well ask it here: Clark, is it alright if we include a small table of information with our item, or is that considered bad editing?
Is there a precedent for such a table in a wondrous item that appears in the Core Rulebook?
Is there a precedent for such a table in a wondrous item that appears in the Core Rulebook?
See the Robe of Useful Items, for one. Strand of Prayer Beads for another.
I could just as easily list everything in a sentence, but I think it is not as visually appealing that way.
You have answered your own question, grasshopper.
something to consider though, if you want to include such a table, is that your submitted item uses standard message board formatting, which leads me to believe that it looks something like a message board post to the judges... and it can be really, really hard to make tables look good or even readable in message board posts.
something to consider though, if you want to include such a table, is that your submitted item uses standard message board formatting, which leads me to believe that it looks something like a message board post to the judges... and it can be really, really hard to make tables look good or even readable in message board posts.
I would use bullets instead of tables if you can get away with it. Bullets are much easier to put into HTML format as compared to tables just like cwslyclgh said.