In the past year, I was an author for a pdf product that won an ENnie. (Hence I intend to compete.) On a plain reading of the contest rules, it isn't quite clear if I am eligible to enter. It says that contestants cannot have "cover credit on a hardcover product". The product became available for sale through Lulu.com in both softcover and hardcover format. It was originally created though as a pdf product through Open Design.
Am I still eligible to compete?
Thanks in advance for clarification! My apologies if these questions are supposed to be directed elsewhere or if I'm being overly cautious.
Hey, Varianor! This question came up for me in the first two years of RPG Superstar as well. I had a PDF credit that eventually got turned into a softcover book. I was one of four authors to be named on the cover credit and thought it might disqualify me. After checking with Paizo (and I believe Erik Mona actually answered the question), I was given the green light.
I think they mean an actual hardcover book moreso than PDF or softcover publication. And the real essence of what they're looking for is "undiscovered" writers. A number of freelancers still qualify, even if they've written for PDFs, etc. In fact, even those who have written scenarios for the Pathfinder Society are presumably still eligible.
Hope that helps,
--Neil
The boss says that your situation does not disqualify you from the RPG Superstar competition. Huzzah! :)
Chief Technical Officer
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In the past year, I was an author for a pdf product that won an ENnie. (Hence I intend to compete.) On a plain reading of the contest rules, it isn't quite clear if I am eligible to enter. It says that contestants cannot have "cover credit on a hardcover product". The product became available for sale through Lulu.com in both softcover and hardcover format. It was originally created though as a pdf product through Open Design.
Am I still eligible to compete?
Thanks in advance for clarification! My apologies if these questions are supposed to be directed elsewhere or if I'm being overly cautious.
This is a perfect place for that question. (For those who don't know, Lulu is a print-on-demand operation. If it were a standard hardcover, the author would clearly be ineligible.)
Thank you! Looking forward to this year!
(I should also clarify - don't want to come across as arrogant - that I was one author of numerous on an award-winning product. Sorry for not editing that a little more.)
@Matthew Morris - Hmm, probably not this exact situation, though there were one or two other products that went through similar production and publication scenarios. Wolfgang was a judge though. :)
(I should also clarify - don't want to come across as arrogant - that I was one author of numerous on an award-winning product. Sorry for not editing that a little more.)
No worries, I recognize "Varianor." :)
I was considering the same question myself Varianor, and had actually spoken to Wolfgang about it.
He told me that book was only availabe in softcover and hardcover for the original patrons. Since it won an Ennie as a PDF product, he only made available to the general public as a PDF.
All of this is not to belabor the point however, if Sean and Vic say it's okay, then the question is answered. I'm just remarking because I had the very same thought and for the same reason.
(And I don't consider myself worthy of being particularly arrogant about it either. I'm proud the book won an Ennie, and proud that I had a part of it.. but I had a professional co-author. Now I'd like to enter and see if I can do well flying solo)
Since you are eligible I expect a submission. Both of you. Get to work! ;)
Hey I suppose that technically I'm eligible in that I haven't had my name on the cover of a hardcover release. Credit inside of a hardcover, but not on the cover itself.
But before the chorus of 'oh hell no's' I have people who would murder me if I tried, because they're planning on entering, and they're in my gaming group. ;)
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CEO
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Hey I suppose that technically I'm eligible in that I haven't had my name on the cover of a hardcover release. Credit inside of a hardcover, but not on the cover itself.
But before the chorus of 'oh hell no's' I have people who would murder me if I tried, because they're planning on entering, and they're in my gaming group. ;)
Hey Todd:
If you have been published by Paizo in the past, you are also not eligible. Sorry. :)
-Lisa
Hey I suppose that technically I'm eligible in that I haven't had my name on the cover of a hardcover release. Credit inside of a hardcover, but not on the cover itself.
But before the chorus of 'oh hell no's' I have people who would murder me if I tried, because they're planning on entering, and they're in my gaming group. ;)
Hey Todd:
If you have been published by Paizo in the past, you are also not eligible. Sorry. :)
-Lisa
:P Pbbbbpppptttthhhhh.
;)
You guys should totally have a round where the competitors have to come up with three themed outsiders just to drive Todd nuts for not being able to participate. :-)
Even if - Todd would never fit into the 300-word limit... heck, if the item name was shorter than 150 words it would be something extraordinary :)
You beat me to it!
Even if - Todd would never fit into the 300-word limit... heck, if the item name was shorter than 150 words it would be something extraordinary :)You beat me to it!
Note to self: Send astraloths after Sean and Gorbacz.
I'll have you know I've been within my word count every time since that book. But if you'd like my submission due on Monday can be way over, including a 5,000 word description of a tiefling nation. ;)
Bah! No respect!
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Even if - Todd would never fit into the 300-word limit... heck, if the item name was shorter than 150 words it would be something extraordinary :)You beat me to it!Note to self: Send astraloths after Sean and Gorbacz.
I'll have you know I've been within my word count every time since that book. But if you'd like my submission due on Monday can be way over, including a 5,000 word description of a tiefling nation. ;)
Bah! No respect!
Todd, you know we love you. The moment I heard that you are writing The Great Beyond there was coffee all over my monitor. It's a crying shame you couldn't get more than 64 pages for your deliciously twisted creations !
I've written for the fanzine. I would assume that I am eligible, right?
That does not disqualify you. :)
I was planning on submitting my entry today until I ran across this post so I thought I would get a quick all clear so as not to waste the highly valuable time of our judges.
PDF and softcover book, not a full time designer (maybe not even a designer ;) but always having fun. I am on the cover of the softcover book though.... comments? Bueller....Bueller?? ;)
Dredan, you should submit an item.
Dredan, you should submit an item.
Thank you sir...now the difficult choice which of the three to submit :)
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Chief Technical Officer
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Hmmm... With all these Professionals submitting stuff, maybe I should wait until next year : ) Though the little Yoda in my head seems to disagree. And one thing I've learned from Star Wars... Don't annoy the little green muppet :)
I can tell you that you have *zero* chance of winning this year's contest if you wait until next year's contest to submit.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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Hmmm... With all these Professionals submitting stuff, maybe I should wait until next year : ) Though the little Yoda in my head seems to disagree. And one thing I've learned from Star Wars... Don't annoy the little green muppet :)
The little Yoda on the messageboards also disagrees.
Seriously, Charles, stop being such a downer on the contest. It is in poor taste.
Seriously, Charles, stop being such a downer on the contest. It is in poor taste.
Smurf!
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Anyone thinking about submitting should just submit.
This is a game that has a hell of a lot more winners than losers.
If you take an idea, get it down on paper, sweat over every word, submit it, and become a better writer through the process you've won.
If you make it to the top 32 and gain a nifty little tag to go beside your name and get (FREE!) feedback from professionals you respect in an industry you've always wanted to be a part of, you've won.
If you advance to further rounds and learn from the feedback of hundreds of often very critical voters -- even if all you learn is how to politely accept advice from very critical voters -- you've won.
If you manage to get a gig writing an adventure module from Paizo, you've won.
Lots of winners.
Not submitting doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Submitting and whining about not making it to the top 32, 16, 8, 4 or what have you ... that would make you a loser. There really weren't many losers last year.
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Director of Narrative
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Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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Anyone thinking about submitting should just submit.
This is a game that has a hell of a lot more winners than losers.
If you take an idea, get it down on paper, sweat over every word, submit it, and become a better writer through the process you've won.
If you make it to the top 32 and gain a nifty little tag to go beside your name and get (FREE!) feedback from professionals you respect in an industry you've always wanted to be a part of, you've won.
If you advance to further rounds and learn from the feedback of hundreds of often very critical voters -- even if all you learn is how to politely accept advice from very critical voters -- you've won.
If you manage to get a gig writing an adventure module from Paizo, you've won.
Lots of winners.
Not submitting doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Submitting and whining about not making it to the top 32, 16, 8, 4 or what have you ... that would make you a loser. There really weren't many losers last year.
Awesome post!
Say you don't want to chance it
You've been hurt so before
Watch it now The eagle in the sky
How he dancin' one and only
You, lose yourself
No not for pity's sake
There's no real reason to be lonely
Be yourself Give your free will a chance
-Yes, Owner of a Lonely Heart
My two bits for this evening.
-Yes, Owner of a Lonely Heart
My two bits for this evening.
What? No Beatles quote? ;>
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Hmmm... With all these Professionals submitting stuff, maybe I should wait until next year : ) Though the little Yoda in my head seems to disagree. And one thing I've learned from Star Wars... Don't annoy the little green muppet :)
Sorry about that guys. I wasn't trying to be a downer, I was going for slightly silly and a tad sarcastic. Of course if you don't enter you can't win, and just because other people who have been published are entering doesn't lessen your ability to win if you have a good idea. Sorry about that. I guess the subject is a little to sensitive right now to try for a bit of levity.
What? No Beatles quote? ;>
Lol.. I tried to find tht old post, but the boards search engine wasn't up to it.
Since were quoting, one of my all time favorites....
Friar Tuck: Let us open a bottle and do our best to save each other's souls.
Azeem: Alas, I am not permitted.
Friar Tuck: Fine then, you talk, I'll drink.
Back to case and point: The thing is if your a professional writer (gaming anyway) per the rules you aren't allowed to submit, so saying were all professionals is a compliment but not necessarily true. Were all just avid fans of the game we love. Paizo just made it much easier for you to become involved with your favorite pasttime. With all the wonderful advice from the past contest winners, the judges who pretty much spell it out if you read the posts of how to do it, its a very easy place to show your creative side. So have fun and submit...even if the "details" don't true up 100%, we know from the boards on the first round sometimes the Mojo is all you need. Basically you submit an item it gets looked at. Nothing to lose, and the real winner is, Paizo has already stated that every item submitted will be judged. You just got a guarantee from a publisher that what you submit will be looked at. How cool is that. /long rambling done..
Back to case and point: The thing is if your a professional writer (gaming anyway) per the rules you aren't allowed to submit, so saying were all professionals is a compliment but not necessarily true.
Not true, if you have a paizo credit or a hardcover credit then you are not eligible. So freelancers will and can enter.
Not true, if you have a paizo credit or a hardcover credit then you are not eligible. So freelancers will and can enter.
Back to case and point: The thing is if your a professional writer (gaming anyway) per the rules you aren't allowed to submit, so saying were all professionals is a compliment but not necessarily true.
Good point, but just because your a freelancer doesn't constitute expert subject matter, all I was saying that pretty much everyone has an equal chance because it doesn't matter who entered the contest, it's the submission that is judged :)
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Star Voter Season 6
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Somewhat off topic,
If you watch SYTYCD* the krumper won over all the semi-trained/trained professionals (Including the really cute 18 year old **)
So don't count yourself out just because people you think would do a better job try out.
*
**
all I was saying that pretty much everyone has an equal chance because it doesn't matter who entered the contest, it's the submission that is judged :)
That is true. It is all about the 'mojo' here, not about entering the perfectly balanced item, it's about the big idea and catching the imagination of a judge (or two) that will get you to the top 32. Once you've done that (no small feat) will the real design tests come.
Not to mention which, you have to start somewhere. I think I'm a better game designer and writer now than when I started submitting items to a fansite six years ago. The more you write and practice (and take opportunities like RPG Superstar), the more you learn. If you place this year, that's awesome! If you don't, you get some experience, and come back and try again next year.