In reviewing the rules and auto-reject advice, I note contestants are supposed to use formatting as used in the core rulebook--e.g., spells and magic items are italicized but not capitalized, etc.
Is there a style manual easily available that summarizes basic formatting requirements--what gets capitalized and what doesn't, etc.?
I realize if you read through the rules, much of this becomes easily apparent--at least to people used to noticing style and formatting. But formatting "typos" even exist in the core rulebook (if rarely) and it'd be helpful--though of course not necessary--to be able review a brief document that summarizes the most important formatting rules specific to the Pathfinder system. Thanks.
Marathon Voter Season 7
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What I know
...auras are lowercase
...no superscript
...spell names are lowercase and italicized
...Description is 2nd person
...Reflex, Fortitude and Will are all capitalized
...DC comes before the descriptor of what the DC refers to (ie. it is DC 11 Will not Will DC 11)
...Feat requirements are Capitalized
...gold pieces is written gp, not gp. (no period denoting abbreviation)
Here is the template we have been provided:
ItemName
Aura ZZstrength ZZschool; CL ZZth
Slot ZZslot; Price ZZ gp; Weight ZZ lbs.
Description
ItemDescriptionParagraph
Construction
Requirements ZZfeats, ZZspells, ZZother; Cost ZZ gp
As for specifics on the style of submissions, nothing has been offically released that I can find.
In addition, feats and spell names in the construction requirements of an item are supposed to be listed in alphabetical order.
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Marathon Voter Season 7
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In addition, feats and spell names in the construction requirements of an item are supposed to be listed in alphabetical order.
I did know that but didn't think of it to mention.
Though as a point of clarification I believe it is more proper to say feats are listed first, in alphabetic order (if there are more than one); spells are listed next, in alphabetical order; and then finally other requirements are listed, also in alphabetical order.
That is, if the spell is bless and the feat is Craft Wondrous Item, Craft comes before bless regardless of alphabetical order.
Correct. That's why the template lists "ZZfeats, ZZspells, and ZZother" in that order. Individually, within each grouping, they're supposed to be in alphabetical order.
Thanks all!
Especially for the construction requirements bit--I didn't notice that either!
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Marathon Voter Season 7
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Practically speaking, it is easiest just to remember to make sure your spells are in alphabetical order as you'll seldom have more than one feat or more than one additional requirement. If you are piling on a ton of feats and a ton of additional requirements you are likely making it too complicated. :)
I'll share what I know, but this isn't complete.
Feats are always capitalized (e.g. Craft Wondrous Item, Empower Spell, Power Attack, etc.)
Skill names and saving throws are always capitalized (e.g. Acrobatics check, Fortitude save), and should be spelled out unless inside a short-hand parenthetical, so 'a DC 15 Fortitude save negates' or' (DC 15, Fort negates).
Spells are italicized, but are only capitalized if the normal rules of english would capitalize them, like being at the beginning of a sentence, a roman numeral, or containing a proper name (e.g. augury, fireball, summon monster IV, etc.)
Magic items are treated the same as spells (e.g. bag of holding (type I), chime of opening, immovable rod, etc.)
Dedicated Voter Season 6
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I'll share what I know, but this isn't complete.
Feats are always capitalized (e.g. Craft Wondrous Item, Empower Spell, Power Attack, etc.)
Skill names and saving throws are always capitalized (e.g. Acrobatics check, Fortitude save), and should be spelled out unless inside a short-hand parenthetical, so 'a DC 15 Fortitude save negates' or' (DC 15, Fort negates).
Spells are italicized, but are only capitalized if the normal rules of english would capitalize them, like being at the beginning of a sentence, a roman numeral, or containing a proper name (e.g. augury, fireball, summon monster IV, etc.)
Magic items are treated the same as spells (e.g. bag of holding (type I), chime of opening, immovable rod, etc.)
Question on this.
The template formats things so that the headings of each category is bolded. But if spells are to be italicized, shouldn’t the template include italics code in the requirements area?
Question on this.
The template formats things so that the headings of each category is bolded. But if spells are to be italicized, shouldn’t the template include italics code in the requirements area?
The template formats the template correctly. You are responsible for formatting the fill-in text correctly, which includes the actual names of spells.
If the template wrapped italics tags around the whole spells list, it would be incorrect anyway, since the punctuation breaking up a list of spells shouldn't be italicized itself. (That sounds nitpicky, and it is, and the judges are unlikely to notice that the comma between fireball and flame strike is italicized, but it is still incorrect.)
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Marathon Voter Season 7
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The template formats things so that the headings of each category is bolded. But if spells are to be italicized, shouldn’t the template include italics code in the requirements area?
Spells (and magic items) should be italicized. I don't think the judges are going to be super-picky on this sort of thing but its still useful to know if you want to write up very many monster-stat blocks or magical items as part of a freelance career. To italicize in the template add {i} and {/i} replacing of course the {} with [].
Thanks, very useful information.
At the bottom of the text entry boxes there is the "BBCode tags you can use" button. Click on that and it will show you the formatting options available.
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Are attributes supposed to be capitalized as well? Looking at the CRB entry for the belt of giant strength, in the name of the item it is lower case and italicized, but in the description of what the item does the attribute Strength is capitalized. Not wanting to assume anything, and not seeing this confirmed or denied in this thread, I would rather ask now then do something silly later.
Also, in entries with multiple ability scores in the descriptive text, they aren't in alphabetical order, they're in the order that the attribute is in on the character sheet.
I know, I'm not planning on making anything like a belt or headband like the ones in the CRB, but I just want to make certain I don't choke on a technicality.
I mean, I don't know why my assumption would be incorrect based on the formatting in the actual CRB, but you never know...
Ability scores are capitalized.
If all else fails, alphabetize something within its category.
This isn't something we'd really ding you on, though. Make an awesome, creative item, and we'll overlook imperfect formatting.
Following format can be taught. Being awesomely creative can't.