I entered the contest, third time is the charm, eh?
In case your wondering, no I did not enter a charm bracelet ;>
I was playing around with an idea for the last couple of weeks, this morning I had the perfect implementation for the concept. What Neil wrote may have helped somewhat, I settled upon something unique I think (hope).
And well, I've improved somewhat since RPG Superstar I......and II.
So basicly, I was prepared for this year?
i've been a big fan of RPG Superstar I and II, but this is my 1st time actually entering.
good luck to all entrants this year.
Still trying to get my wordcount down...
My entry was tendered within the first 30 minutes. I merely hope that I did not give it proper time.
I just wanted to submit before I overthought it, as I am wont to do at times.
Oh, and good luck DarkJoy!
You too, and everyone else that entered, will enter and should enter.
Damn, you guys are quick. I'm going to enter, but I'm just starting to kick around concepts. (And I refuse to be intimidated by Set who's been showcasing his stuff in various excellent threads this year.) Best of Luck to you all.
Submitted. I ended up using ~150 words and a spur of the moment idea.
I won't submit until about a week to go in the deadline at the earliest. It makes no sense to me to enter so soon, when who knows if I'll have an epiphany and be struck with a thunderbolt of inspiration tomorrow? In the meantime, I'm refining the items I've got and bouncing them off people to see what sticks.
Not intending that as criticism, mind, just explaining my thought process. I'm a very intuitive thinker, so bolts of inspiration are my bread and butter.
Haven't entered yet, but I've fleshed out two ideas (dropped the third) and written them up. Now I'm just obsessing over every single word and phrase, and then picking the best of the two.
I'm done, proofread, showed it to a few other people.. Feelin' good.
However, like others, I'm making myself wait at least a few days. In order to sleep on it, or see if another good idea comes.
I won't submit until about a week to go in the deadline at the earliest. It makes no sense to me to enter so soon, when who knows if I'll have an epiphany and be struck with a thunderbolt of inspiration tomorrow? In the meantime, I'm refining the items I've got and bouncing them off people to see what sticks.
Ditto here... definitely in, but I can't guarantee with what yet. Deadlines are for running up against! :D
I'm all ready to submit but I'm going to take some time and really make sure that my idea has not been done before. I can just see it - a day after I submit, I will stumble across something similar in some obscure first edition book and the judges will rip it apart.
I won't submit until about a week to go in the deadline at the earliest. It makes no sense to me to enter so soon, when who knows if I'll have an epiphany and be struck with a thunderbolt of inspiration tomorrow? In the meantime, I'm refining the items I've got and bouncing them off people to see what sticks.
Not intending that as criticism, mind, just explaining my thought process. I'm a very intuitive thinker, so bolts of inspiration are my bread and butter.
Mmmm...
::Beraldo submits the "Thunderbold of Epiphany" Woundrous Item. The target takes 10d6 damage. If he survives, he gets a +20 on Knowledge check for his next round only.::
But seriously, I agree with you. I actually had the idea since the last competition. This weekend I rewrote it for the new size and new rules, but I won't submit it right away. You never know what may happen in a month!
Congratulations to those of you who have already submitted. I'd say you can rest easy now, but that would be an outrageous lie. No sleep til judgement day.
For the rest of us, there are a few reasons not to smack that submit button straight away:
1) You might have an even more awesome idea
2) You might suddenly realise that the item you submitted wasn't as awesome as you thought
3) You might suddenly realise that you made a devastating mistake
4) You might want to play-test your item(s), something mine could definitely have done with last year
Of course, if you've been sitting on a hunk of gold since last year, you might not want to wait (that's going to be uncomfortable)! Equally, you might have other things to be getting on with. But I think I'll wait before I bellow the magic words...
...by the power of mojo, I HAVE SUBMITTED!
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As soon as I got the email about the contest I started to get to work on it, after 11 straight hours and 20 or so edits, I gave it to a few friends to look over, they said it was good, so I waited a day went back to it, and did another 20 or so edits, gave it out, got the "awesome" remark, and waited for it start, hit submit, and haven't looked back.
sometimes you just got to go with the initial vibe, spending too much time going over it a hundred times you just end up with nothing. There were a few revisions that completely changed what I did, but I'm happy with mine. early, late, do it whenever you're ready I say.
I'd say good-luck, but I wouldn't mean it, hehe, I aim to win.
I'm waiting until I have my last term paper finished, then I can work on it during winter break.
I've got a few ideas kicking around on the front burner, but I've not submitted as of yet.
Word count sorted, so I'm sending it around friends for critiques. It's all been incredibly helpful stuff so far, but they like it!
*is excited*
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9
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Ideas came to me last night, so I've spent today writing it up. My word count at 299, but I'm going to let it sit, give it to a couple of my players to look at.
Then another couple of editing passes and I should submit by tomorrow.
Excitement!
First time here.
Now that mine is in, is there a way to look at the others?
Nope :) No one except the judges will get to look at them until the top 32 are posted. All the rest then may be posted by the folks that submitted them for possible feedback of peers and Clark the Unsleeping as well as other judges that want to weigh in. But those won't have a lot of time, because the contest will be continuing with the 32, then 16, then 8 ... :)
Still trying to get my wordcount down...
the same here...
But I think it's done... Already submited.. he he...
XD
my first time participating...
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9
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After I finished building my first idea, another idea struck me and I couldn't help but build that too. This one is easily under the word count, far simpler to design and just feels flavourful and cool.
Now I don't know which to go with... Oy vey...
I've worked on my item, but haven't submitted it yet. Some concerns (regarding my item) came up recently, and I want to get additional input from my players, and see what they think. I'm really happy they increased the word count to 300... I'm at 254 words right now... and depending on certain things I can trim another 25 words off if I need to (giving me 71 words to "play" with if I need them) to finish off my item.
Best Regards everyone.
Dean; The_Minstrel_Wyrm
January is a long way away.
By the way, as a judge I am waiting a day or so to get into the judges chambers to judge submissions so that there is no chance I can link the submitted items to any of the people who have posted that they have already submitted. Fairness at all times :)
By the way, as a judge I am waiting a day or so to get into the judges chambers to judge submissions so that there is no chance I can link the submitted items to any of the people who have posted that they have already submitted. Fairness at all times :)
Don't worry, I posted after a waiting period. I was somewhat worried about the linkage as well...
I submitted mine right away. I thought about waiting for many of the reasons already posted here, but went ahead for 2 reasons: (1) I thought perhaps early entries might possibly recieve a bit more consideration and be more memorable simply because they WERE early (though I have no doubt the judges will make every effort to be as fair and unbiased as possible), and (2) As much as I've already fretted over the #@@&! thing (and I did run my submission past several of my gaming friends, first, and made a few changes based on their input), I figured it was time to let go, and leave it in the hands of the fates, deities, whatever. If I've made a big boo-boo, or come up with a better idea -- well, there's always next year...
Though of course I hope my entry does well, I want to wish all entrants the best of luck, and thanks in advance for entering! As a DM, I'm always looking for wonderfully creative and new ways to mess wi... (umm, I mean, of course add to the playing experience of the players in my campaign, ahem...), and the entires from the last two years have provided a wealth of "goodies" to co-opt for my games.
Submitted. I ended up using ~150 words and a spur of the moment idea.
Sam, glad to see it! I was wondering how many top 17-32 from previous years would reenter.
I won't submit until about a week to go in the deadline at the earliest. It makes no sense to me to enter so soon, when who knows if I'll have an epiphany and be struck with a thunderbolt of inspiration tomorrow? In the meantime, I'm refining the items I've got and bouncing them off people to see what sticks.
I held off on submitting until there were just a few days left before the deadline...and for three primary reasons:
1) Let the Idea Sit For Awhile - I don't know about everyone else, but I think it's a really good idea to write out your submission, polish as much as you can, and then let it sit for a few days...or even a week or more. Come back to it after that with fresh eyes and you'll be surprised at the weak spots you discover in how it reads. Hence, it gives you a chance to refine your work again.
2) Inspiration Could Strike Anew - There's just no guarantee that your first idea will be the best...or even the idea that you select from among several you initially dreamed up. I know I had about three different ideas when I started out last year. I worked for quite sometime on the first one, but it was very complicated to word it just right in 200 words or less. Plus, my idea for the last leaves just kept calling to me. So, somewhere in the early going, I abandoned the other idea to focus on it. And, obviously, I'm very glad I did.
3) More Advice Might Come Up - In the early going of the first RPG Superstar contest, I noticed a lot of discussion, encourangement, and advice-giving that took place. Nothing that tipped anyone's hand about their wondrous item, of course. But, just little tidbits of information and reminders about what not to do...or what not to forget...and so on. I suspected similar information like that might come up at the beginning of the second contest...and I was right. So, by waiting a bit longer...and following all the discussion threads, I was able to glean additional insight to help me improve my item concept and execution.
But that's just my three-cents,
--Neil
I was ready to submit immediately when the possibility opened, but I held back and haven't done so yet. My idea hasn't changed since and I have just been sitting on it.
One of the reasons I haven't submitted, though, is that I am still thinking about how much detail to include.
For example, the rope of entanglement includes hardness, AC and hit points in its description. This is appropriate, because a rope that tries to entangle you is surely something people will try to destroy. On the other hand, though, the rope of climbing does not have AC, hardness and hit points included in the description. Of course, logically, the idea of destroying the rope of entanglement will come up almost every time it is used be it by the PCs or NPCs, which is simply not true for the rope of climbing. Yet, cutting the rope of climbing seems like something enemies might well try to do when people are hanging on it if they are present when it is in use.
In terms of likelihood that somebody will try to destroy it, my magic item is probably closer to the rope of climbing than the rope of entanglement. Nevertheless, I can see the potential for somebody wanting to 'attack' my woundrous item, while it is in use.
I have enough words left to include hardness, AC and hit points for the item, but I am wondering to myself whether it would not be considered just clutter, considering that the designers didn't feel the need to include it for items like the rope of climbing, where the potential for item-destruction is considerable if used in situations when enemies are present. Sometimes, less is more and hence I am left pondering this question. In the end, I am leaning towards including the hardness/AC/hit points anyway, but I am still undecided.
In the end, I am leaning towards including the hardness/AC/hit points anyway, but I am still undecided.
I'd say do it. This is entirely a hunch, but I think that if you lay it out with a flow that allows a developer or editor to cleanly snip that one sentence without having to edit anything else, they probably won't mind it. You're already under word count, so it shouldn't mess anything up with the content plan; and if they wind up pinched elsewhere, you've given them an easy way to make a little room if necessary.
(Haven't submitted yet. Maybe.)
As a total aside, I think that item Hardness and hp should be mandatory stats. I hate calculating that on the fly the few times it has come up.
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I am leaning towards including [stuff] anyway, but I am still undecided.Unless you get a webmaster to delete your last post before any of the judges read it, I'd think you just made it so you can't include [stuff] in your item description at all.
Submissions are supposed to be anonymous. You just posted your intention to include [stuff] in your submission. If your submission is the only one that includes [stuff], your submission is no longer anonymous.
One important thing I learned from last year's competition: don't post any discussion that could be construed as an announcement of things you'll be putting in your submission.
I agree - and this is why I stopped asking questions and rather read between the lines. I admit in earlier posts I might have been close to do the same mistake.
This is probably a typical question where it is best to use your own judgement and not ask here. There are no fixed rules as you seem to have found out yourself.
You already figured out the advantages and disadvantages to include it. So either play it save and leave it out or take a risk and include it and leave it to the judges to decide if it enhances your entry or not.
You need to believe in your wondrous item the way it is written - you need to decide what you feel is best to include or leave out. Don't ask the judges to make this decision for you ahead of your submission. There is no such thing as to take a safe risk.
Worst case you did stand out for the wrong reason and learned for next year.
Thod
Just entered. and now we wait. Thanks Mr. Spicer and Mr. Nelson, you guys were my motivations for entering after talking to you at Paizocon 09.
Fantastic! (though I'm not sure I can put a face with your screen name right now)
R.F.B.U.#107 row like you believe.
What?! Wait a minute! You're one of those Razmiran barge-rowers?!
As a fellow Best-Master who came this close to beating you guys in the PaizoCon trivia contest, I must protest your inclusion in the RPG Superstar 2010 contest!
Jason? Back me up here! Your Brazen Strumpets took them into "overtime" as well.
Just kidding. Hope you do well. ;-)
...don't post any discussion that could be construed as an announcement of things you'll be putting in your submission.
I'll echo Eric's comment. I've tried to provide advice where I can to point out some of the potential pitfalls and obstacles one might face. And, if someone asks a question that was already answered in the FAQ or the advice thread, I'll either point folks back to those...or, if I'm in a helpful mood, patiently answer it again, while also reminding everyone of those resources.
But the bottom line is that you need to do your homework. Look at what's been done before...both in published products as well as the previous two years of the competition. There's a goldmine of extremely helpful information there. Emulate what's been successful before and that will put you lightyears ahead of those who don't.
My two-cents,
--Neil
So i spent ages working on one idea, then ditched when reviewing last years items. Then came up with something else but that ended up "swiss army knife". So idea number three was thought of, developed and computed today and now I have submitted.
Good luck to everyone. I look forward to discussing the items January after the 32 have been annouced.
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Well, I started kicking around the idea the moment the contest was announced. I knew it had always been a wondrous item in previous years, so I just assumed.
I had my first draft ready well in advance of launch. Refine, refine, refine and trim and then tendered it.
I have a tendency to overthink things, so I just hit submit before I could nip/tuck it to death. Besides, I've already received one of the highest compliments possible. My Beloved Spouse (Kobold chorus: "We love you!") asked me to print it and asked my permission to use it in her game. That made me redonkulously happy. Everything else is just icing.
I finished mine earlier today. I was going to let it marinate in my noggin a while longer, but I almost immediately started getting cold feet... so I submitted it before I could chicken out completely.
It's funny; I've got an easy dozen of homebrew items I could have used, but I went with the new idea I got a couple days before the kickoff was announced.
Thanks to the previous winners for their advice and encouragement, and good luck to everyone. :)
I had my idea sorted, my wordcount down, and ran it past my friends.
They ripped it to shreds, politely. It was a cool item, I was told, but not really one PCs would use. It was too plot or campaign specific, too situational. It was something PCs would commission in a special case, but not carry around.
Despite my best efforts to fix it, they were right. Absolutely right.
So, just got my NEW idea (yes, there is a moral there - if you get knocked down, get right back up!) sorted and wordcounted, and am running it past the same folks. :D They like it. More importantly, so do I - I can see where it ticks boxes the other item didn't, and just has more of a "wow" factor.
I'll hang on to it a few days just in case, but this one looks like it's going all the way to submission!
It's away!...Now we'll see if it's a hit, or if it just impacted the surface.
Is it a...
...Deathstar?!
"That's no moon."