All items have been sorted (for a day or so now) into Keep and Reject folders. We have a manageable final batch to now rank into our top 32 and a few alternates. No, I am not telling how many made the cut into the Keep folder, nor will I say how many were submitted or rejected. I can certainly say we have a bunch of items we are very happy about. This was also a very hard year to judge. There were more "good but not good enough" items this year, so the separation between many of the keeps and rejects was smaller, which makes it harder on us. But we rose to the occasion! (or Sean and Wes did, anyway. I rode their coattails).
Our goal is for us 3 judges to have them ranked by tomorrow night so the next wave of people who have responsibilities can take it from there (Vic/Gary for getting stuff ready for posting, other guests for comment, etc).
Like good Superstars the Judges are getting their work done well in advance of their deadlines. :)
Groovy!
Wait. Despite that, the reveal date is still the 19th.
Argh.
Darn my impatience.
;)
Yes but any news is good news. If on the 19th they told us, well we still have to do...
I think we should change Clark's avatar to permanently have "thank you" in it cause once again thanks for the update Clark!
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Groovy!
Wait. Despite that, the reveal date is still the 19th.
Argh.
Darn my impatience.
;)
Yes but any news is good news. If on the 19th they told us, well we still have to do...
I think we should change Clark's avatar to permanently have "thank you" in it cause once again thanks for the update Clark!
Oh, yes, I agree entirely. This is excellent news. It means the results will be released on time. Taking the optimistic route, I'd love to see an earlier release so I'll have more that 72 hours to design my McGuffin for next round, but "on time" is always the best time.
And thank you Clark for the update! :D
Like good Superstars the Judges are getting their work done well in advance of their deadlines. :)
OK, bad form to reply to my own quote, but I wanted to amplify my comments on this.
Remember, RPG Superstar is a contest that gets you a professional design gig on an adventure.
Every year during this contest at least one person gets mildly frustrated that we judges worry about things like being 1 word over wordcount or late on a submission or poorly edited. People sometimes want us to focus winning and losing just based on creative merit of the item itself. But we can't do that.
One reason we take into account things like format and editing and rules compliance and things like that, things other than coolness and creativity, is that this is a collaborative effort. And us judges getting our stuff done early is an example of that.
After the creation is done by you, the judging is done by us. But after that judging is done, there are still team members that have their own responsibilites to take care of. Things need to be cleaned up and reformatted for the web page that shows the winners. Links need to be made. Ad copy and text needs to be written. Stuff needs to be proofed. The forums need to be made to allow comment on individual items. The guest judges have to have a chance to comment. Etc. Tons of stuff.
As a freelancer you have to understand that getting us something late means that everyone who has something to do on a project after you is impacted negatively. And since freelance writers are often at the front of the team, delays from freelancers can really throw off production.
I just wanted to reiterate this point.
And I say that because of what a great example Sean and Wes are and how awesome they are to work with. Why? Because it simply went without saying that we as judges would be done well before the deadline because Wes and Sean are true professionals and understand how this all works. I wanted to point that out because it really is a great lesson. You can really learn from how great and professional Wes and Sean are. I lucked into game design. They did it by hard work. The two of them are really a model for all aspiring game designers to follow. So learn from them.
If you didnt already, please come to understand your role in the chain of the team. "Design" is, to some degree, a selfish process because you have to trust your thoughts and feelings and creative juices. Your creation is on you. But being a great "designer" means having the ability to design, but also being able to serve on a design team. Same thing last year. Wolf, Erik and I were way ahead of schedule. And that is NOT an accident. That is a trait of professional designers. And you can learn it. :)
Sorry, not trying to seem preachy. I just love working with awesome professionals like Sean and Wes (and Gary and Vic). Those of you who have team jobs with great team members know what I'm talking about--that silent understanding that we will all carry our weight, get it done and get it done on time and actually ahead of schedule. And that that is the standard.
By the way, I've said it before and I will say it again. I probably could not win this competition. We have some real talent on these boards. I'm impressed with the items we have seen this year. I think they all would beat anything I could make.
I look forward to seeing the final list.
...and keeping my fingers crossed to see if I make the final cut....
Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 9
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I have to say I'm glad the cutdown has begun, still stressed but hey not expecting too much from my first attempt. I thank Clark for his kind words, and hope I'm included in them. Oh and on I side note, I do artwork too, any chance of any competition for artwork?
I have to say I'm glad the cutdown has begun, still stressed but hey not expecting too much from my first attempt. I thank Clark for his kind words, and hope I'm included in them.
i'm just happy I actually got off my rear end and got an entry submitted well before the deadline. Even if I don't make the first cut, i'll take whatever I can learn from this experience and use it in my next writing project.
While I havent voiced this I hope the winners are revealed one day early. That way the celebratory dance can be entertained with out the second rounds secret element, and short time limit impacting the creativity of the round.
So Clark would you say you needed type I bag of holding for the final batch or a type III? I assume the reject bag is a type IV ;)
Oh, yes, I agree entirely. This is excellent news. It means the results will be released on time. Taking the optimistic route, I'd love to see an earlier release so I'll have more that 72 hours to design my McGuffin for next round, but "on time" is always the best time.
I find it very unlikely that they would ever give us extra time (for what will probably be the shortest and easiest of the three secret challenges). You don't let the runners off the line early just because you're running ahead of schedule.
Personally, I think it WOULD be nice if the top 32 were announced a day or two before their challenge was announced, so that the lucky few would have time to get rip-roaringly drunk in celebration and/or participate in each others' item threads without having to scramble after the next deadline.
It would also take a load off the servers (the majority of us won't be refreshing QUITE as vigorously on 1:59 Tuesday evening if we know that we won't be competing).
That's just my thoughts, though. In reality they've set a schedule and they're probably going to stick to it.
In reality they've set a schedule and they're probably going to stick to it.
I'd bet on that, if I was a betting man.
Personally, I think it WOULD be nice if the top 32 were announced a day or two before their challenge was announced, so that the lucky few would have time to get rip-roaringly drunk in celebration and/or participate in each others' item threads without having to scramble after the next deadline.
I'll second this recommendation. Well, not the drunk part, but the announcing, then starting the next round a day or two later.
Part of the fun--and the challenge--is doing the round's assignment in the time alotted....
Taking a break from reviewing our Top ## submissions, I just wanted to say that I appreciate the craziness that is Clark. He's always pushing to get our work done early, just in case there's a problem, and to give the tech guys time to set things up for the next round, and to give the guest judges time to have their say. He's a maniac who's been reviewing items after midnight and on the weekends, and he's doing it for Paizo when he doesn't even work for Paizo, and he's doing it because he loves the game.
I'm not sure how much is crazy and how much is endurance, but it's admirable. He's like
So, mad props to Clark, the RPG Superstar Juggernaut Judge!
Having done some work with/for Clark and the guys at Necromancer, I can assure you all, that even though the way Clark says some of his criticism may be hard to take, if you don't know him, what he says about this game and community is incredibly sound. Getting advice and criticism from Clark, and Bill, and many of the other guys who have submitted here and over at Necro has made a WORLD of difference in my writting and editing style. Even if I never get to publish another thing, for anyone, ever, I have gained a much better understanding of how to make things better in my own game.
So, for that at least, I say thank you to all the judges, writers and advice givers who have the industry at heart.
Aw shucks, guys. Golly gee whiz...
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9
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I'm hoping my item is in that keep folder. Still it is good to be reminded of what's expected of an RPG Superstar. This competition is really an XXXTreme job interview.
The prize at the end is WORK, awesome fun work which everyone would kill to get a chance to do.
Kudos on the hard work judges. Now I'm going to go back to second guessing my entry.
Hey Clark,
Glad to here everything is going well in the judges den of contempation.
I was wondering, do you or the others, have a stand out faverate? Obviously, I expect no details on what it is, but it would be interesting to know.
Part of the fun--and the challenge--is doing the round's assignment in the time alotted....
+1
The time pressure of each round in RPG Superstar is one of the most fantastic elements of the whole competition. You can't afford to get caught up in celebrating your Top 32 status. Instead, you need to smoothly transition into focused design of your next assignment.
In fact, because we had advanced notice of what the next round entailed (no "secret" stuff for us in 2009!), I made a point of already brainstorming what I'd probably do for the next round. Now, the curveball of adding a new "rules element" in the stat-block round last year...and the juiced knuckleball of having to design a lair for someone else's villain...took me off my game a bit, but it really tested who could roll with the punches and keep plugging away.
This year, that's going to be magnified. With the same 3-day turnarounds right after you make the next round of the competition...and with each assignment remaining secret until the rules become available...you'll have to roll with the punches that much more. So, if I were competing this year, I'd probably brainstorm a whole lot of "extra" ideas and put them on stand-by until I could absorb the "secret" assignment. Then, I'd assess those ideas to determine which one would work best for me. That way, I'd have as much of a headstart as I could possibly make for myself...tweaking and adjusting it as necessary.
In reality, a lot of freelancers do exactly that. They constantly churn up all kinds of ideas even when they don't actually have an assignment from a publisher yet. That way, when such an assignment does come, they've got a bank of ideas to help them hit the ground running. And, once the assignment is done...and there's nothing new on the immediate horizon...you can party a little. But, even then, the ideas keep churning in the back of your mind. In fact, sometimes a little partying or celebration helps those ideas take on more definition.
But that's just my two-cents,
--Neil
Part of the fun--and the challenge--is doing the round's assignment in the time alotted....+1
...
So, if I were competing this year, I'd probably brainstorm a whole lot of "extra" ideas and ...
+1 and
I do this as I DM, walk the dogs, read books, go hiking, driving, etc. I wait to write them down until later in the day, because the good ones stick around a little longer. O:)
I remember a sideboard article in Dragon that gave real world inspirations. The maps from National Geographic, new discoveries in space or the bottom of the ocean, a CNN commercial, movies, spoonerisms, muppets etc. It was short, but enjoyable.
hmmm... I should go buy a NatGeo before the next round is announced...
So, mad props to Clark, the RPG Superstar Juggernaut Judge!
So hes a Judgernaught ;)
I know they aren't likely to change it but I'd be grateful for knowing if I made the cut a little before the next stage was revealed. There isn't much one can do until you know the challenge.
Personally 2PM Pacific is 5PM Eastern which means evening commute, swing by the daycare, get dinner ready, sort out the kiddo for bath and bed and then...then...I will be able to get started.
Knowing ahead of time that I am a contestant would at least let me clear my mind a little bit; making space for some wonderful ideas.
OH WELL... :)
There isn't much one can do until you know the challenge.
Oh, yes, there is. I've personally got a text file full of ideas for all of the past years' stages and a few other likely candidates I've thought of besides.
I was wondering, do you or the others, have a stand out faverate? Obviously, I expect no details on what it is, but it would be interesting to know.
Hey ZN-
Good question. Short answer, no. Let me explain. No, there is too much, let me sum up.
This is a funny year. This contest has really progressed. First year I would say we did clearly have a favorite. We all loved the Migrus. Second year we each had a handfull that we loved. This year we have more overall strong entries but no 2 or 3 that we just are freaking out about.
I think there is a reason for that. The easy answer is to say the submissions were better the first year, but I dont agree with that. Yes, we got some amazing stuff that first year. But I think a few things explain the lack of a clear frontrunner.
First, we have grown as judges. I've shared my experience from prior years with Sean (who also did it last year) and Wes and I think we have grown as judges. So we were probably a bit more geeked our first year because it was new for us, too. I think we have a calmer, steadier hand as the competition has progressed. I think we learned as judges not to look for a favorite. After all, the Migrus didnt wind up winning it all. What that means is its important to like the submissions, but you dont want to really find favorites. You really want to let the competition play itself out. So I guess we arent really looking for favorites and have learned that it is better not to. That first year we had no idea how the contest would go. We had no idea what we would get. So we were pretty giddy when we got items that excited us. It really validated the contest.
Second, I think the overall quality of submissions has improved. There is no doubt about that. That makes it harder for items to "standout" so to speak as clear favorites. When you have tons of A- items, the A+ doesnt stand out as much as when you have a ton of B- items and A+ items. Plus, I think we have come to understand that the more critical we become (and we have, we let more go the first year because we didnt know how much technical perfection to require from all of you) and how much we expect, the closer things get.
So, short answer, no I personally dont have a clear favorite. Now, of the top 32 I think there are about 10-12 that I think are better than the rest of the top 32. But no clear favorites. But dont interpret that as meaning the best ones arent as good as prior years. I think they are. I think what has changed is (1) us as judges, and (2) the rest of the submissions have caught up and the average submission has improved, thus narrowing the perceived gap between the ones that make the cut and the ones that dont.
Certainly I have a million and one ideas stuffed about here and there...I just meant I won't let myself get too focused on any one idea just yet.
anthrorob
Let me explain. No, there is too much, let me sum up.
Buttercup is marrying Humperdink in a little less than half an hour. All we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape. After I kill Count Rugen.
Buttercup is marrying Humperdink in a little less than half an hour. All we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape. After I kill Count Rugen.
You crazy kids know all my tricks :)
Oops! I just realised in the last couple of days that I left an all-important piece out of my submission. Construction Requirements,Skill craft, Cost, and the like. Clumsy cut-and-paste it seems.
Oops! I just realised in the last couple of days that I left an all-important piece out of my submission. Construction Requirements,Skill craft, Cost, and the like. Clumsy cut-and-paste it seems.
Oops. Yeah. That's gonna hurt. That is likely an auto-reject. Sorry about that. In any event, I can say there are no items in our Keep folder missing that kind of information, let alone the top 32.
Sorry about that.
Oops! I just realised in the last couple of days that I left an all-important piece out of my submission. Construction Requirements,Skill craft, Cost, and the like. Clumsy cut-and-paste it seems.
My condolences. I'm probably there on the cutting room floor with you.
Cheers for that. No-one to blame but myself.
Dear Clark,
I know that submissions are anonymous, but please keep mine in the top 32.
Thanks, Yoda
I guarantee you that I will absolutely and without question keep 32 anonymous items in the top 32. You can count on it. You have my word.
Dear Clark,
I know that submissions are anonymous, but please keep mine in the top 32.
Thanks, Yoda
Now that you mention it, that author named "anonymous" was really prolific this year. I think he submitted hundreds and hundreds of entries. It almost wasnt fair. I dont think any other author but him/her made the top 32. Scary, huh? That is one awesome author, that anonymous.
Now that you mention it, that author named "anonymous" was really prolific this year. I think he submitted hundreds and hundreds of entries. It almost wasnt fair. I dont think any other author but him/her made the top 32. Scary, huh? That is one awesome author, that anonymous.
Clearly, he/she should be disqualified. It's supposed to be one submission per contestant...right?!
Well, then that'll make the contest easier to whittle through this year. Anyone wants to get a beer? ;)
Director of Brand Strategy
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Now that you mention it, that author named "anonymous" was really prolific this year. I think he submitted hundreds and hundreds of entries. It almost wasnt fair. I dont think any other author but him/her made the top 32. Scary, huh? That is one awesome author, that anonymous.Clearly, he/she should be disqualified. It's supposed to be one submission per contestant...right?!
Sounds like a surefire winner to me.
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So hes a Judgernaught ;)
So, mad props to Clark, the RPG Superstar Juggernaut Judge!
Heh..that's good..
A Brass Judgernaught even...
A Brass Judgernaught even...
Oh man that is sweet. :)
By the way, I actually have my own mini.
The good people at Reaper made this for me and actually sent me the original pewter first casting of the mini. Which sits prominently by my monitor on my computer desk, unpainted in its silvery glory!
Oops! I just realised in the last couple of days that I left an all-important piece out of my submission. Construction Requirements,Skill craft, Cost, and the like. Clumsy cut-and-paste it seems.