Is there a guideline/requirement for scale? How large an area are we taking about, here?
Post count... really?
Nah, just anxious and I know I will not be able to complete the task in 3 days from scratch.
It would be cosmic "suckage" to on the off chance... progress to the round and flop because I waited.
I'd like to at least think on it in vague terms. Guess I'm blessed with a 2-hour commute.
Sorry to upset.
Dedicated Voter Season 6
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Post count... really?
Nah, just anxious and I know I will not be able to complete the task in 3 days from scratch.
It would be cosmic "suckage" to on the off chance... progress to the round and flop because I waited.
I'd like to at least think on it in vague terms. Guess I'm blessed with a 2-hour commute.
Sorry to upset.
You could review all the past locations and see what kind of scale they are on.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7
aka Draconas
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Going on previous years, by location it is generally a specific locale area, building, or ruins. You generally don't get the space to go into vast details on everything about the place but basic information, some history, and the rest of the space is taken up by an encounter in the location.
So while it might be possible, I wouldn't try to create a whole lost city as your location cause you'll be spreading yourself alittle thin with word count. Examples in previous years of the general scale: an observatory, a bridge, a old winery, an ancient pyramid, mansions, etc.
But as others have said, it is alittle premature to try and pry out details on this round yet as the judges rarely leak info until shortly before the round begins at earliest. Just be glad you know the overall theme of each round this year. Last year, we went into each round blind as to what we would be doing other than the last round which is always an Adventure Proposal.
For now, review what has come before, last year's Round 4 Golarion Locations and 2009's Round 4 Villian Lairs.
Post count... really?
Nah, just anxious and I know I will not be able to complete the task in 3 days from scratch.
It would be cosmic "suckage" to on the off chance... progress to the round and flop because I waited.
I'd like to at least think on it in vague terms. Guess I'm blessed with a 2-hour commute.
Sorry to upset.
Overall, the problem you are going to run into with precise preparation is that they might not give exact rules for the rounds until they start. There have been many rounds where the contestants were given an goal to use another of the contestants submission's in their entry. In my experience, the three days is a good chuck of time as long as you don't waste too much time.
I still recommend you get ready for each of the rounds. For the Golarion Location with a map, I would recommend poking around various setting books for Golarion or the Pathfinder Wiki to get a feel for the world and maybe come up with few places you would like to put down on the map. Also, I would suggest that you create a map and get it onto computer (some scan hand drawn maps, others use computer programs to create theirs), that way you know what to expect when you have to do it when the round finally comes.
For other rounds, my advice would be similar. Create an archetype. Look at the Advanced Player's Guide to see how Archetype's work and what Archetype's already exist. Think of any that you feel are missing. Maybe even figure out what you would replace and add with the archetype. Type out one of the replacement abilities, extrapolate from that how long you think it would take to write up that archetype to possibly get a better idea of how much space you really have to work with.
Villains? Imagine you a few if you have time. Check out how NPC statblocks work so you know sort of what format they will be expecting.
And for each of them, check the entries for previous years. The only round that is new to me is the "Create An Archetype" round. If you go into previous years you should be able to see some pitfalls to avoid and what the judges (and voting public) are expecting.
For now, review what has come before, last year's Round 4 Golarion Locations and 2009's Round 4 Villian Lairs.
Yeah, these are your guides, in more way than one.
That's the approximate length to expect. Also expect a twist, most likely pertaining to content from the previous round - which basically means that no matter what you do, you can't possibly come up with a full location until Round 3 is over.
You can start coming up with general location concepts ("Wineries are cool!", "I should do something in the air!", etc.), and interesting twists to combat encounters that lend your location its own uniqueness (unusual enemy tactics and original ideas for making the terrain dynamic have both been popular). These are ideas that will serve you well whether you use them here or later... and might be possible to use for the round... as long as it doesn't require too much shoehorning to work, and gives room to make good use of the spotlighted content.
Meanwhile, we can discuss the rules for round 13 of the RPGSS 2023 ...
Uhh, I bet it's "create a simulspace adventuring environment" , But I would like to ask, should it Be Full immersion or Avatar-bound/filtered-experience, and is an Augment-Sense environment viable too?
RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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Is there a guideline/requirement for scale? How large an area are we taking about, here?
There's nothing wrong with asking ahead to be prepared. An experienced free lancer has good ideas in the kitty constantly. As the studtastic Greg Vaughan once told me, "I give them what I have, and if they don't use something, I send it off to the next guy."
So, not only should freelancers hoping to work be constantly producing and upgrading material, but it's also wise to stay ahead of the schedule. One snow storm and you're out of the contest - so being as closed to polished as you can before seeing the official rules is smart. I am working on every round of this contest right now.
For premature advice on the locations, check out the locations and encounters for the previous years. You get an idea of what they want in maps, what was over the top, what ratio of fluffy prose to wicked tactical stuff is enclosed. Not the full story, but helpful.
Meanwhile, we can discuss the rules for round 13 of the RPGSS 2023 ...
I support this.
I'm wearing a white dress shirt today that has a mini-check pattern (light blue/grey lines).
All I can think of is graph paper and Round 4!
Oy!
