RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
,
Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7
aka Draconas
|
Somewhere Anne Murray just paused from gnawing upon a human femur to look up and sniff the sky. She hasn't been summoned yet, but she will. Soon, she will.
I'll start worrying once I see her colorful frill come up out of her hair. That means she's angry.
All in all, I recommended 13 of the 36 advance.
Yes, all 32 submitted and all 4 alts did too. I looked at them all the same, I didnt even check which was an alt and which wasn't as I did my reviews. After the fact, I determined that one of the 13 I recommended was an alt so you guys might not even see that one. Too bad, too, it was a good one. So that really means I recommended 12 of the top 32. Of course, in the end I dont get any more votes this round than you. :)
There were 2 that I thought were questionable submissions--that were either hazards or were more items than monsters.
But I did "full reviews" on all of them.
Remember, of course, that my input is just that--my input. The vote this round is up to all of you and you are free to take and use or utterly reject my comments. I tried to judge the items not just on "hey that's cool!" but on (1) whether or not it delivered a superstar monster in accordance with the requirements of the round, (2) what I as a developer think about the item, and finally (3) I tried to pretend I was sitting in a pitch meeting with the contestants pitching me to include their monster in a book of monsters I am producing and deciding whether or not I wanted the monster in the book. That was the approach I took.
I believe in transparency of judging so I thought I would share that with all of you.
While that is frequently the case, there are always those rare (and fairly funny) times when the voting public quite strenuously disagrees with an item that the judges pan. Blink Dog Nation from the first years contest being the archetypal example. There's always the argument that people swing in favor of things like this because a judge came down on it like a type of bricks and they're feeling sympathetic/contrary/trying to pull some kind of american idol esque 'vote for the worst' movement off, but I think that tends to be justification after the fact that's overcomplicating things. People like different things. Me, I came in to late as an observer in 2008 to have voted Blink, but I would have if I'd been here in time. Not because Clark hated the country and wanted to see blink dogs skewered on sticks and fading in and out of existence as they roasted over a fire, but because the country in question was pretty awesome and well-done.
Two things:
1. Gamers are contrarian by nature. If someone hates something strongly, you will get a big group that has to like it just to be "more right."
2. I like how I get singled out for hating on the blink dogs. While I did think it was not a proper submission, Erik also called it a "mistake." Wolf, the most receptive, was "lukewarm" at best.
The fact that the headline is "Clark hates blink dogs" supports my theory that bad press can galvanize a group of voters.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
|
All in all, I recommended 13 of the 36 advance.
Yes, all 32 submitted and all 4 alts did too. I looked at them all the same, I didnt even check which was an alt and which wasn't as I did my reviews. After the fact, I determined that one of the 13 I recommended was an alt so you guys might not even see that one. Too bad, too, it was a good one. So that really means I recommended 12 of the top 32. Of course, in the end I dont get any more votes this round than you. :)
Clark,
Will we get the chance to see the alternate monsters at some point? After voting is done on round 2, maybe? And will you also include the judge's comments?
I think they deserve to have their submissions shown, especially if some of them had better monster pitches than many of the top 32.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
,
Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
|
Clark, Wes or Sean: (or anyone who has the answer)
Is it safe to post a monster we didn't submit? I had two choices down to the last moment and went with the other one. I don't want to break any rules...
Thanks!
James
Will we get the chance to see the alternate monsters at some point? After voting is done on round 2, maybe? And will you also include the judge's comments?
I think they deserve to have their submissions shown, especially if some of them had better monster pitches than many of the top 32.
Probably not. I don't think we've ever done that in the past. But that's not my call, that's Vic and Erik and Co.'s call.
Clark, Wes or Sean: (or anyone who has the answer)
Is it safe to post a monster we didn't submit? I had two choices down to the last moment and went with the other one. I don't want to break any rules...
Thanks!
James
I'd refrain from doing that. People need to advance you based on teh monster you submitted, not any potential they see in an alternate monster you post but didnt submit. I know its not your intent, but that feels like double dipping--"hey vote for me if you like EITHER of my monsters!"
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
,
Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8
|
I'd refrain from doing that. People need to advance you based on teh monster you submitted, not any potential they see in an alternate monster you post but didnt submit. I know its not your intent, but that feels like double dipping--"hey vote for me if you like EITHER of my monsters!"
Gotcha. No problem.
2. I like how I get singled out for hating on the blink dogs. While I did think it was not a proper submission, Erik also called it a "mistake." Wolf, the most receptive, was "lukewarm" at best.
Well, er... Wolf and Erik aren't judges anymore so they don't stick out in my mind as much?
Okay, yeah, I did forget that you weren't the only one of an anti-blink nature. Though in my defense, I seem to recall that was a lot of the public perception on the board as well after the fact. Maybe you were just more succinct.
Though if your theory is correct, I kind of find myself hoping that you hated my monster with a hate that is grey and hatey. I'll take any publicity I can get. :-)
The fact that the headline is "Clark hates blink dogs" supports my theory that bad press can galvanize a group of voters.
Hey, I had blink dogs (evil ones at that!) in my adventure proposal last year and you signed on for those. So, clearly you're redeemable in that regard. ;-)
Also, I take great satisfaction in knowing that gnomes and unicorns weren't high on your list of favorite things to include in an adventure, too. And I still got your recommendation! Woot! :-D
--Neil
Though in my defense, I seem to recall that was a lot of the public perception on the board as well after the fact. Maybe you were just more succinct.
No, you are right. Erik and Wolf totally avoided being labeled as not liking the blink dogs. I caught all the flack! It was so unfair! ;)
Though if your theory is correct, I kind of find myself hoping that you hated my monster with a hate that is grey and hatey. I'll take any publicity I can get. :-)
Yeah, I said that in later rounds. The best thing I can do is hate your submission :)
Nope :)
Hey, I had blink dogs (evil ones at that!) in my adventure proposal last year and you signed on for those. So, clearly you're redeemable in that regard. ;-)"Come out to the shed, Blink Dog Yeller. C'mon, boy."
--Sean "the K stands for Traves" Reynolds
"Come out to the shed, Blink Dog Yeller. C'mon, boy."
--Sean "the K stands for Traves" Reynolds
Hey, hey...what're you doing with that gun, Sean?!
This will be an interesting round for sure...whatever happens, this contest has been lots of fun already and we haven't even gotten into the second round yet.
Good luck everyone!
[snarky rumor]What? Didn't any of you hear that Clark is leaving after this season and he's starting his own version in the fall and drafting in Wolf to sit in the judges chair with him?[/snarky rumor]
:P
[snarky rumor]What? Didn't any of you hear that Clark is leaving after this season and he's starting his own version in the fall and drafting in Wolf to sit in the judges chair with him?[/snarky rumor]
:P
[dont tell anyone, but like all other celebrities I'm just playing the "I'm leaving the show" card to get them to offer me more money. I figure I can trick Erik and Lisa into, I dont know, paying me ten times more than they are paying me now at the very least. 'Cause right now I do tons and tons of work for no money, so ten times that has got to be better, right?]
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
[dont tell anyone, but like all other celebrities I'm just playing the "I'm leaving the show" card to get them to offer me more money. I figure I can trick Erik and Lisa into, I dont know, paying me ten times more than they are paying me now at the very least. 'Cause right now I do tons and tons of work for no money, so ten times that has got to be better, right?][snarky rumor]What? Didn't any of you hear that Clark is leaving after this season and he's starting his own version in the fall and drafting in Wolf to sit in the judges chair with him?[/snarky rumor]
:P
Clark I would suggest next year you release some Paizo compatible goodies right before RPG SS to monopolize on the goodwill you generate here...
Chief Technical Officer
|
Probably not. I don't think we've ever done that in the past. But that's not my call, that's Vic and Erik and Co.'s call.Will we get the chance to see the alternate monsters at some point? After voting is done on round 2, maybe? And will you also include the judge's comments?
I think they deserve to have their submissions shown, especially if some of them had better monster pitches than many of the top 32.
As far as posting them goes, we don't want to distract from the entries that are open for the public vote.
We do send an e-mail to the alternates including the judges' commentary on their items, so they'll at least get some professional feedback for their efforts.
[dont tell anyone, but like all other celebrities I'm just playing the "I'm leaving the show" card to get them to offer me more money. I figure I can trick Erik and Lisa into, I dont know, paying me ten times more than they are paying me now at the very least. 'Cause right now I do tons and tons of work for no money, so ten times that has got to be better, right?][snarky rumor]What? Didn't any of you hear that Clark is leaving after this season and he's starting his own version in the fall and drafting in Wolf to sit in the judges chair with him?[/snarky rumor]
:P
[Or you'll snatch up those contestants who were not able to advance and use them to cobble up your nefarious and ever hyped but never unveiled triumphant release of Tome of Horrors: Pathfinder. You will give these discarded contestants a contract that eventually chains them to a desk with parchment and blood tipped quill and whip them to work for pittance's fee and crusty day old bread. And they will do it happily with a smile on their face because they're getting the attention from you that they never received properly as a child. Your first coup - the Stone Baby. Then, you negotiate with Paizo to pick up the publishing costs in trade for your tireless work as the Cowellian Judgernaut for this competition so its pages and artwork are as extravagant, if not more, than their recently published Bestiary. And you, you sir, reap all the incoming profits. I see through your diabolical ruse, Orcus. That is why you're most feared and respected by the undulating mindless masses.]
I have to say--I don't always agree with Clark on his actual judgments, but I love his point-by-point breakdowns of why he's made them.
I've been looking forward to this round for a while. Of course, I was looking forward to participating... but offering constructive criticism and judging is almost as good.
Demiurge 1138, I really appreciate the care that you've taken, reviewing all the entries and offering careful analysis.
Likewise, I like that Demiurge 1138 will also tell you what you did right as well as what you did wrong.
Agreed, Demiurge has been putting in a hell of an effort. Charles Evans didn't let my speed bump slow him down, and I'm glad to see that. They haven't gotten to me yet, but I see that Azmahel and Starglim are both doing the rounds as well (and I particularly like Starglim's rubric). You're all doing a great service to the contest, to the other voters, and to we contestants with your reviews and feedback.
Furthermore, I'd like to thank Paizo in their great wisdom for allowing people to change their votes as many times as they please! I voted pretty early just because of that, but before the polls close I'll be re-evaluating with all of those second opinions in mind.
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
I like the feedback from the 'regular' judges best, Jason Nelson, Demiurge, Azmahel, and Charles, it's great to get feedback that is consistent across all entries. Then I can see a little better how I fared. Clark's feedback is probably read the most of the official judges because he has his scored review with simple to interpret "Do not recommend" and grades.
Man... I have to say, the exit polls and low activity on my thread are starting to make me genuinely nervous for the first time in this competition. The inability to comment only compounds that! I generally loathe "plz vote kthx" so I don't feel right bumping myself, but... well, normally my method of currying interest for my creations is engaging in conversation over the contents, and explaining design decisions. Bah!
Equally maddening is that there's one other monster that I'd love to comment on, but anything I say could indirectly disqualify me!
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
Man... I have to say, the exit polls and low activity on my thread are starting to make me genuinely nervous for the first time in this competition. The inability to comment only compounds that! I generally loathe "plz vote kthx" so I don't feel right bumping myself, but... well, normally my method of currying interest for my creations is engaging in conversation over the contents, and explaining design decisions. Bah!
Equally maddening is that there's one other monster that I'd love to comment on, but anything I say could indirectly disqualify me!
Yeah, this is the toughest part, sweating it out.
I am staying well clear of the exit poll, I don't think they are accurate beyond perhaps the top few entries.
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
Man... I have to say, the exit polls and low activity on my thread are starting to make me genuinely nervous for the first time in this competition.
Oh, my little otters in heaven! I am just flatly refusing to look at the exit poll. There's really nothing that could be going on there that I would want to see.
If I remember correctly the last two years the exit polls were only 20-25% accurate to the actual running. Avoid them for the simple sense of time to be saved, and acid to be gut.
A few people at the top will gain momentum to keep them at the top and a few not at the top might get an underdog vote. that is not likely to change the scores in any serious manner however.
Please unabashedly bump your own critter. You obviously felt it good enough to submit, it is good enough to tout! :)
You obviously felt it good enough to submit, it is good enough to tout! :)
Oh, that's not my problem. I love my little guy, and because I know more than 300 words about him, the only thing the critics have made me doubt is whether I used those 300 words as well as I could have; on my side of the curtain, I know rotling's a superstar and deserves to advance. There's no angst in my frustration.
It's a matter of personal standards of behavior, based on my preferences in the behavior of others. If I could argue on the merits of the creature, I'd be all over it. But I can't: even pointing to specific lines in the submission text is probably a form of clarification because those lines should have stood out on their own. The only thing left is mind-numbing repetition of "thanks for comments, please vote!" and to me that's as enticing as a mosquito at bedtime. I said it once, and I said it sincerely and graciously, but saying it again will just make me feel like a nag.
As the week runs out, perhaps I'll find myself worried enough about my placement to run the risk of annoying people in the pursuit of a few more votes. Not this early, though. I don't want to leave a bad taste in peoples' mouths for next round.
Oh, that's not my problem. I love my little guy, and because I know more than 300 words about him, the only thing the critics have made me doubt is whether I used those 300 words as well as I could have
Yea, I hear that.
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
There's no angst in my frustration.
Lief, you have no idea how delighted this former composition teacher is to wake up in the morning to someone using the word angst correctly.
As the week runs out, perhaps I'll find myself worried enough about my placement to run the risk of annoying people in the pursuit of a few more votes. Not this early, though. I don't want to leave a bad taste in peoples' mouths for next round.
If you think it's a bad idea now, it'll be a bad idea over the weekend, too.
Good luck. I think the rotling is an adorable little ball of pus and bile, and I'm confident you'll get through to the next round.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
,
Star Voter Season 6
|
I understand, there's one comment I'm dying to make after last year, it warms the hackles of this twice divorced Hermit's heart.
That being said, I'm staying away from the exit poll from now on. Just hoping I can change my middle name to Truman ;-)
If I remember correctly the last two years the exit polls were only 20-25% accurate to the actual running.
That's completely untrue. The exit polls were spot-on accurate through almost every round, especially last year. The only rounds last year that the exit polls didn't get right was Boemundo advancing to Top 16 from the back of the pack...which means he bumped one guy off the Top 16 vote-getters in the exit poll (i.e., the guy in last place). And then, in Round Four (the villain's lair round), both Randy Dorman and Trevor Gulliver were in fourth and fifth place in the exit poll, but Matthew Stinson came from behind to leap-frog both of them. Those were the only instances last year where the exit polls weren't 100% correct. And, on everything else (even within those same rounds), they were dead accurate.
So, I can tell you I certainly watched the exit polls like a hawk last year. Why? Because I recall them being pretty darn accurate in 2008's competition, too. So I knew it would give me a feel for what caught the public's eye...and why...because many of the voters would justify or clarify their voting with small hints that I knew might serve me well in the next round if I made it through. Their commentary would either tell me what they didn't like about my stuff (and that I might need to change) or what they liked about someone else's stuff (that I might want to look into incorporating into my own designs).
Regardless, don't sweat it too much. It's still very early in the voting. To have a decent exit poll, you need lots of people to come in and indicate how they voted. I think there's value in that. It's part of the public drama that plays out during the competition. And, it's also a good test that serves as a crucible, of sorts, to put a future designer through to see how they handle being way at the top in a poll...or hovering close to the cut-off line.
But that's just my two-cents,
--Neil
If I could argue on the merits of the creature, I'd be all over it. But I can't: even pointing to specific lines in the submission text is probably a form of clarification because those lines should have stood out on their own.
There's no "probably" on pointing out specific lines to help clarify something. It's a violation of the rules. And this gets back to one's writing needing to be strong enough to stand on its own. If your monster idea appeared in a published product, you wouldn't get the chance to point out specific lines to clarify anything to someone who bought it. So, that's what these rounds of the competition are intended to test. Who's Superstar enough to be as clear as possible in their designs?
The only thing left is mind-numbing repetition of "thanks for comments, please vote!" and to me that's as enticing as a mosquito at bedtime. I said it once, and I said it sincerely and graciously, but saying it again will just make me feel like a nag.
Yeah. It can come off as desperate if you go too far with it and you don't want to project that image to the voters.
As the week runs out, perhaps I'll find myself worried enough about my placement to run the risk of annoying people in the pursuit of a few more votes. Not this early, though. I don't want to leave a bad taste in peoples' mouths for next round.
That's a good way to look at it. Make a last appeal to the voters somewhere closer to the cut-off. Right now, you're within the Top 16 of the exit poll vote-getters, though. So take some consolation in that. If you make it through to the next round, you'll really want to come out swinging again, though.
Just my two-cents,
--Neil
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
|
Man... I have to say, the exit polls and low activity on my thread are starting to make me genuinely nervous for the first time in this competition.Oh, my little otters in heaven! I am just flatly refusing to look at the exit poll. There's really nothing that could be going on there that I would want to see.
Yeah. I made the mistake of looking at the exit poll thread. :)
We'll see how accurate it ends up being.
My entry is completed and submitted. It's out of my hands now.
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
I'm looking more at post count. Which tells me I'm not going to make it. *sigh*
Not necessarily. A lot of post count in some threads is people explaining why they don't like the critter and why they're not going to vote for it. (And then, in my case, other people telling them their arguments are full of beans.)
It's perfectly reasonable to have a terrific entry that is so cool that nobody needs to chime in and elaborate.
In any case, I listed the threads in order of length.
Skintaker 70 posts
Ossuary Golem 53 posts
Haga 52 posts
Chymick 50 posts
Carapace Devil 48 posts
Brown Urus 44 posts
Lantern Thrall 43 posts
Ardorwesp 40 posts
Chaitrakhan 40 posts
Spitfire Revenant 35 posts
Liesinger 35 posts
Splorudra 34 posts
Slithering Horror 33 posts
Caltrop Golem 32 posts
Marrow worm 29 posts
Rictus 29 posts
Rotling 29 posts
Sensory Stalker 27 posts
Sin-Fallen Angel of Gluttony 26 posts
Astrumal 25 posts
Churjiir 25 posts
Corpse Stitcher 25 posts
Necrotic Tempest 25 posts
Prismwing, Larvae 25 posts
Tremagguan 25 posts
Wyrmhiri 25 posts
Lahamu 24 posts
Deathleech Puppeteer 23 posts
Crysalis 21 posts
Fearmonger 19 posts
Mind Reaper 18 posts
Echo Drinkers 15 posts
________________________________________
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
|
I'm looking more at post count. Which tells me I'm not going to make it. *sigh*Not necessarily. A lot of post count in some threads is people explaining why they don't like the critter and why they're not going to vote for it. (And then, in my case, other people telling them their arguments are full of beans.)
It's perfectly reasonable to have a terrific entry that is so cool that nobody needs to chime in and elaborate.
In any case, I listed the threads in order of length.
** spoiler omitted **
I think it's a mix of factors: If you have few thread posts, poor exit ratings, a NOT REC review from Clark, and few advocates within your threads, well then it looks like you're in trouble. :(
But then, there's always 2011.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
,
Star Voter Season 6
|
I'm looking more at post count. Which tells me I'm not going to make it. *sigh*Not necessarily. A lot of post count in some threads is people explaining why they don't like the critter and why they're not going to vote for it. (And then, in my case, other people telling them their arguments are full of beans.)
It's perfectly reasonable to have a terrific entry that is so cool that nobody needs to chime in and elaborate.
In any case, I listed the threads in order of length.
** spoiler omitted **I think it's a mix of factors: If you have few thread posts, poor exit ratings, a NOT REC review from Clark, and few advocates within your threads, well then it looks like you're in trouble. :(
But then, there's always 2011.
Stop trying to cheer me up. :P I assume the worst always, and am rarely disappointed.
Chris has a great point. I actually thank people a lot which inflates my post count. There's been some discussion that doing it may give a bad impression, but I'm not sure I can compromise on not thanking people.
I also have plenty of critics and 'near misses'. From an emotional standpoint I can not think of myself as definitely making it to Round Three. I don't think that's a foregone conclusion at all, and it would be pretty heartbreaking for me to assume that and then find I was wrong.