Are we allowed to "borrow" from existing Pathfinder material, or does the entire entry need to be original?
Could we for instance use:
Cited from Mountain Druid, but used for Monkey Girl archetype entry... :)
Spire Walker (Ex): At 4th level, a monkey girl does not lose her Dexterity bonus when climbing. A monkey girl is immune to altitude sickness and ignores the effects of a cold climate as if under the effects of endure elements. This ability replaces resist nature’s lure.
These types of questions are really going to need to be addressed by each contestant once they start working on their Round Two archetype. But, for starters, if the goal of the competition is to be innovative and awesome...and you "borrowed" material from an existing Pathfinder product...how would you expect the voting public to receive that design? Would they view that as innovative because you found something reusable? Or would they view that as a crutch, which winds up hiding your inability to create all-new material of your own?
Only you can navigate those waters...and, honestly, that's what this competition is about. It's not just each individual design, but the choices you make to energize the voters. And that's an indication of what you might be like as an actual freelance author penning something for Paizo's published products...where the "voters" are their customers.
Perfect, thanks!
These types of questions are really going to need to be addressed by each contestant once they start working on their Round Two archetype. But, for starters, if the goal of the competition is to be innovative and awesome...and you "borrowed" material from an existing Pathfinder product...how would you expect the voting public to receive that design? Would they view that as innovative because you found something reusable? Or would they view that as a crutch, which winds up hiding your inability to create all-new material of your own?
Only you can navigate those waters...and, honestly, that's what this competition is about. It's not just each individual design, but the choices you make to energize the voters. And that's an indication of what you might be like as an actual freelance author penning something for Paizo's published products...where the "voters" are their customers.
In working on my own Archetypes I've noticed just how difficult it is to stay under 450 words in developing an Archetype for certain classes. Not because of "fluff" but because of basic requirements in rules language. It will be even more difficult if you can't refer to an existing ability (IE: This archetype is granted the X ability for class Y, except that Z). I'm not saying this to be argumentative, but just pointing it out.
My concern is that the 450 word limit may also limit the creativity for these 32 contestants. They may be forced to not create a satisfactory concept simply because of the word limit, or may even forgo certain classes just because of that issue. I'd hate to see a bunch of "barbarian" archetypes just because of that limit.
I've counted the words in many of the existing archetypes and a lot are well over 450; about 600 or so.
Since the official rules four Round 2 haven't been posted yet....maybe it's not too late to increase that to 600? :)
After all, that's only like reading 2 or 3 magical item submissions. The judges have had hundreds or even thousands of those to review. There will only be 32 archetypes submitted.
Just my thoughts.
Ken
Can't be any harder than making a magical item in 200 words.
I just finished the rough draft of what I think will be my submission and it clocks in pretty close to the limit. With what I think is a fair amount of meat to it including a rather large class change.
I am with Scipion del Ferro, I have what I believe will be my archetype if I am honored enough to make it to round 2. It still is a rough draft but I placed a limit of 400 words or less on myself, which gives me some room for editing and such.
I will admit it isn't the easiest thing to do but if it was easy we all would be writing for Piazo now wouldn't we.
LOL, Elora it used to be 200 words for wondrous items back in the days. They upped the word count last year if I recall so you are safe.
You will have the appropriate amount of information when we post the R2 rules.
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LOL, Elora it used to be 200 words for wondrous items back in the days. They upped the word count last year if I recall so you are safe.
Oh, that's right! I forgot how difficult it was to squeeze in the details of my three-part item two years ago. I thought it was easier to design an item this year because I have more experience...maybe it's just because I had more space! Ha!
Oh, that's right! I forgot how difficult it was to squeeze in the details of my three-part item two years ago. I thought it was easier to design an item this year because I have more experience...maybe it's just because I had more space! Ha!
I am guessing it is due a little to the fact that you have more experience as well as more space. Either way I wish you much luck this year.
Can't be any harder than making a magical item in 200 words.
Depends how much you change and how much the changes you make do.
LOL, Elora it used to be 200 words for wondrous items back in the days. They upped the word count last year if I recall so you are safe.
Well since they pointed out that you don't have to use all the words, and it might be better if you didn't going with a lower word count isn't a bad thing either.
You will have the appropriate amount of information when we post the R2 rules.
Vague and mysterious...as always Mr. Reynolds :P
You will have the appropriate amount of information when we post the R2 rules.
Sean, could you satisfy a point of curiousity for me? When you tap a freelancer for a contribution to a product, do they receive about the same amount of information in a similar format as what we are seeing in the rules for these rounds? Word count, topic, deadline, etc. Are the rules for each round effectively a preview for what a freelancer could expect to see if they are pulled in on a project?
A freelancer normally gets a little more direction than this, as most books have several authors and we want to make sure there isn't design overlap. For example, the outline for Ultimate Magic says (paraphrasing):
Bard (Colin McComb): 2000 words of bard archetypes, including X, Y, and Z. Create 2000 words of bard-specific spells. Coordinate with Tim so there is no overlap.
Emotion spells (Tim Hitchcock): Create 2000 words of new emotion-based spells (pride, wrath, shame, and so on). Coordinate with Colin so there is no overlap.
And so on.
I feel as though I have just peaked behind the curtain, and it was great.
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Champion Voter Season 6, Champion Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Champion Voter Season 9
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Emotion spells (Tim Hitchcock): Create 2000 words of new emotion-based spells (pride, wrath, shame,aroused, and so on). Coordinate with Colin so there is no overlap.
And so on.
You forgot one.
You forgot one.Emotion spells (Tim Hitchcock): Create 2000 words of new emotion-based spells (pride, wrath, shame,aroused, and so on). Coordinate with Colin so there is no overlap.
And so on.
I was paraphrasing the outline from memory. There is a lust spell in UM.
A freelancer normally gets...
Thank you kindly for the insight and satisfying my curiousity.
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I was paraphrasing the outline from memory. There is a lust spell in UM.You forgot one.Emotion spells (Tim Hitchcock): Create 2000 words of new emotion-based spells (pride, wrath, shame,aroused, and so on). Coordinate with Colin so there is no overlap.
And so on.
Sounds like some perfect spells for Runelords ;)
Or, they were inspired by Runelords. But, agreed.
I was paraphrasing the outline from memory. There is a lust spell in UM.You forgot one.Emotion spells (Tim Hitchcock): Create 2000 words of new emotion-based spells (pride, wrath, shame,aroused, and so on). Coordinate with Colin so there is no overlap.
And so on.
Wow, I never thought I'd have the opportunity to mention this on the Paizo boards, but you've opened a door for it.
A "Lust" spell? Does it give you a bonus when using the Perform (S.xually) skill?
Read the Perform skill description, but add the word "S.xually" in after every time the word Perform appears. It's a trip. :)
go to Perform
Ken
End of raunchy comments.
End of raunchy comments.
Ok, I was up WAY too late last night. In the bright glare of daylight I see that I probably shouldn't have posted that.
I can't speak for everyone's tastes but this seems fairly tame to me.
Although the "-ly" doesn't work for skills that are nouns. =p I've heard this joke before but I can't remember what it was about. I don't think it was D&D skills.
Back on topic, I've actually done some homebrew on this subject, though my approach is to stick to things which can be parsed as 'manipulating lust', but could also just be written off as 'enchantment'. For instance; the varisian sorceress in my game has an 'enchanting touch' which gives her +2 to charisma-based skill checks and spell DCs (verses the one target) for 24 hours.
This isn't just about taste, it's about plausible deniability. My players don't know much about Varisia's background and I don't necessarily want them to know that their sorcery is rooted in sin magic. >:)