RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7
aka primemover003
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Unfortunately my group started late last weekend and we only had time for two combat encounters and one RP encounter. Hopefully this week they'll finally track down the Red Mantis assassin they've chased to Kaer Maga for the murder of CotCT's Chief Thousand Bones! Of course they're going to have to audition for a Celebrity bard, face down the assassin's Half-orc Lion Tamer lover and his pets, and manage to escape a war band of Shoanti in the city seeking justice for their fallen chieftain.
Maybe they'll even figure out a name for themselves!
--Working on my Villain Stat Vrock!
Over halfway through my archetype reviews now. Based on what's happened with similar entries in previous years, it looks like there will be a knife fight to the death (haha) between some of the archetypes. I hope you're all having fun in here...
;)
Same here. GMing Smuggler's Shiv.
I'm GMing Serpents Skull as well. The PCs just made it to Kalabuto (we're mid-way through Racing to Ruin), after a harrowing trip across the M'neri Plains. We're having a blast!
I'm getting ready for my players to show up for my Friday game. It will be nice to get back into the swing of things now that the holidays are over.
I'm getting ready for my players to show up for my Friday game. It will be nice to get back into the swing of things now that the holidays are over.
Agreed. I'm trying to get the momentum back in my group that we lost during the holidays. Currently, we are playing about every three weeks but I'm trying to push it back to every other week. Still, it's difficult. I'm in grad school and everything is "group projects" which eat up a lot of time. Saturday is homework day all day on a group project on Aung Sun Soo Kyi and tweaking/practicing my self reflection speech about a failing of mine as a leader.
Last night we just hit our 2nd winter in Kingmaker. (I all-but-prohibit adventuring in winter, so next session will likey get us to spring and thus the 1st anniversay of Founding Day! Or they'll spend all winter doing RP-only urban quests...) It's been slow going, but we've had a lot of fun developing our characters and defining our setting. I swear that the Kingdom's Baron is putting himself on the fasttrack to be the next Runelord of Pride. It's great!
Last night we just hit our 2nd winter in Kingmaker. (I all-but-prohibit adventuring in winter, so next session will likey get us to spring and thus the 1st anniversay of Founding Day! Or they'll spend all winter doing RP-only urban quests...) It's been slow going, but we've had a lot of fun developing our characters and defining our setting. I swear that the Kingdom's Baron is putting himself on the fasttrack to be the next Runelord of Pride. It's great!
My kingmaker session this week was cancelled due to snow. We're on Rivers Run Red, in the kingdom's second summer. The game has gotten extremely political... but next session they're going to discover that the denizens of the wilderness have not been idle. Assuming they manage to hold onto control of their own kingdom, that is.
I've got to prepare for my turn in the GM chair this saturday. I decided to go for something fun. So I'm going to send them to the moon in classic style.
Have fun, gang. :) I'm sick, so Friday night game with the kids was cancelled. Sunday's adult game isn't looking too much better at this point. :(
That's also a big reason why I haven't commented on anything recently. The other is foot-in-mouth syndrome. I'm going to keep my big mouth shut until after voting is done. ;)
In any case, have a good weekend, everyone. See you on the flip side.
Have fun, gang. :) I'm sick, so Friday night game with the kids was cancelled. Sunday's adult game isn't looking too much better at this point. :(
That's also a big reason why I haven't commented on anything recently. The other is foot-in-mouth syndrome. I'm going to keep my big mouth shut until after voting is done. ;)
In any case, have a good weekend, everyone. See you on the flip side.
Hope you feel better.
Around here I've been dodging a nasty stomach flu that I have no interest in.
Of course as soon as I go to finish editting my item Round 3 rules are released! *devours them*
And done.
So started on my entry for round 3, and I went to chapter 14 in the Core rulebook. Boning up on NPC rules. ANd I have to say that the picture of the peasant to me says "I'm a retired adventurer. Don't you even think about messin' with me and Bessy."
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Ranger. Clint Eastwood. Unforgiven. That's what that picture reminds me of.
So started on my entry for round 3, and I went to chapter 14 in the Core rulebook. Boning up on NPC rules. ANd I have to say that the picture of the peasant to me says "I'm a retired adventurer. Don't you even think about messin' with me and Bessy."
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Ranger. Clint Eastwood. Unforgiven. That's what that picture reminds me of.
I know what you mean. I bet that pig of his is his animal companion. They're totally asking you to try and steal their corn. Plus a scythe's got what a x4 critical?
I know what you mean. I bet that pig of his is his animal companion. They're totally asking you to try and steal their corn. Plus a scythe's got what a x4 critical?So started on my entry for round 3, and I went to chapter 14 in the Core rulebook. Boning up on NPC rules. ANd I have to say that the picture of the peasant to me says "I'm a retired adventurer. Don't you even think about messin' with me and Bessy."
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Ranger. Clint Eastwood. Unforgiven. That's what that picture reminds me of.
Exactly!
Stone giant's wielding picks with Improved Critical still make me cringe...
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Boxhead
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Yeah, that's pretty gross. The scythe was the basis of my first broken 3.0 charatcer, one level of sorcerer for the true strike as often as he needed, and then swung the scythe for a x4 crit. Hilarious as a concept...
Yeah, that's pretty gross. The scythe was the basis of my first broken 3.0 charatcer, one level of sorcerer for the true strike as often as he needed, and then swung the scythe for a x4 crit. Hilarious as a concept...
...but true strike doesn't make you critical.
Exactly!I know what you mean. I bet that pig of his is his animal companion. They're totally asking you to try and steal their corn. Plus a scythe's got what a x4 critical?So started on my entry for round 3, and I went to chapter 14 in the Core rulebook. Boning up on NPC rules. ANd I have to say that the picture of the peasant to me says "I'm a retired adventurer. Don't you even think about messin' with me and Bessy."
...
Ranger. Clint Eastwood. Unforgiven. That's what that picture reminds me of.
I think he's the GM grudge NPC. PC gets copy of APG and wants to make an antipaladin in a good aligned party. GM reluctantly agrees as he/she is short on players. PC thinks being evil is all about killing people randomly and doing whatever he/she wants. PC comes across a farmer with a pig and decides he'll take the farmer's pig. GM smiles and opens Core Rulebook and quickly stats up the farmer as a 20th lvl Commoner. Our peasant then proceeds to crit hit PC with his magic keen edge scythe and Improved Critical feat. Meanwhile, pig with the Advanced and Giant templates proceeds to gore the PC. PC learns not to make an antipaladin in a good aligned party.
We had a lot of bad luck with Evil PCs and occassionally CN PCs. Our resolution was simple.
"If your character can work within the party and becomes antagonistic, then that is exactly what they become."
Essentially if a player can't find motivation for their character work within the existing group, and is becoming an enemy. They become NPC to be used at the GMs discretion and the PC has to make a new character.
This didn't stop people from playing these characters, but they did become more creative in their motives and reasoning for being in the group.
We had a lot of bad luck with Evil PCs and occassionally CN PCs. Our resolution was simple.
"If your character can work within the party and becomes antagonistic, then that is exactly what they become."
Essentially if a player can't find motivation for their character work within the existing group, and is becoming an enemy. They become NPC to be used at the GMs discretion and the PC has to make a new character.
This didn't stop people from playing these characters, but they did become more creative in their motives and reasoning for being in the group.
I was in elementary school when I first started playing and I played with a group of kids 5 years older than me. I remember this one kid that was a close friend of the DM back at the time. He always played a wizard, and he always turned evil and betrayed the party. The kids I played with got a little tired of it so they along with the DM set up the player up after he promised not to try to kill us this time. Well, the DM made an offer to good to refuse so he tried to betray us but this time we were ready and one dead wizard later, the player left in a fit of anger and didn't come back.
Essentially if a player can't find motivation for their character work within the existing group, and is becoming an enemy. They become NPC to be used at the GMs discretion and the PC has to make a new character.
I always have the "Alignment Conversation" whenever I begin GMing a new campaign. I have no problem allowing players to run evil characters, as long as they go out of their way to work together with their fellow party members and don't use their alignment as an excuse to disrupt the game.
They must cooperate. After all, the party is going to have a hard enough time facing off against the [Slithering] Horrors I have in store for them! ;-)
I wish we had a word count tool somewhere on the site besides the submission window. Not because I'm worried about accidentally clicking submit, but for when we don't actually have a submission window.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7
aka primemover003
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I wish we had a word count tool somewhere on the site besides the submission window. Not because I'm worried about accidentally clicking submit, but for when we don't actually have a submission window.
Ms office word's words count tool is dead even with the submission windows. A long as you don't leave a spaces between the bb tags and what they're surrounding they'll count as one word. Get it close and you should be fine.
--Vrocket Science
Well, I'm almost done. Just one final beating with the grammar hammer. Then to stare at it for a week.
The open office word count line up too. I'm so psyched about this round. I'm starting to worry about personal bias though. Some of my ideas are villains I've used at home with a does of golarion added, and others are completely new. It's not that i fear getting one of my old characters ripped up, I just worry that I think they are much cooler than they actually are. I'm down to five concepts, two and a half of whom are old material for me. It's tough to decide.
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Boxhead
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I've got 2 main ideas I'm kicking around, at the moment. I just have this feeling that I'm going to grow to hate them both and scramble to find another concept before Friday rolls around. Stupid mixed blessings of an early rules release.
I doubt that I will advance, but I enjoyed making the villain. I will definitely use him eventually.
I'm designing three at current.
I have also narrowed down to three, we'll see how word count goes and that'll probably make my decision for me.
I have also narrowed down to three, we'll see how word count goes and that'll probably make my decision for me.
Beyond word count I think the quality of hooks and schemes I come up with will really decide my choice.
I love my villain. I'm just not sure if I'll get the chance to share it!
Best of luck everyone!
5 more hours til voting closes.
I'm really excited to discuss my thought on all the headshots I didn't end up using, as well as the thoughts of others. I know this will need to wait until round three voting closes, but there is some much potential in there it's a shame any of us can only enter one idea.
Congratulations to the Top 16! It was great being in this contest with you all!! Don't let us down! :D
First and foremost, for all the Top 32 of 2011 -- It has been an honor and a privilege to compete with all of you. To the Top 16...I look forward to seeing what you've done with your villains.
To the judges (official and community) of Rounds 1 and 2, thank you for all the feedback; I'm learning by leaps and bounds. It is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to those who voted for me. It is a very humbling experience to advance in light of the stiff competition of this year's Superstar.
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Contributor
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Boxhead
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Congrats everybody! For anyone who didn't make it, I know how that feels, but get back at it and you can always try again next year! Make sure you stick around and learn as much as you can from the remaining rounds of the contest, it really pays off.
Well, I'm sad to not advance but not surprised. My entry was flawed and I have no one to blame for that but myself.
Well, I'm sad to not advance but not surprised. My entry was flawed and I have no one to blame for that but myself.
I enjoyed your archetype. I'm a Bernard Cornwell fan and it just made me think of the Saxon series I've been reading with vikings in shield walls.
Congrats to everyone! And thanks to everyone who voted.
My condolences to the unlucky bottom 16, and to the top I offer a single piece of advice:
Beware that damned submit button!
*
*And ones from bona fide mortal voters at that, not just from a succubus who's coy about announcing favourites...
Congrats to everyone! And thanks to everyone who voted.
My condolences to the unlucky bottom 16, and to the top I offer a single piece of advice:
Beware that damned submit button!
I disagree, sir.
Luck had little to do with our failure to advance, nor with your ability to. This is a skill-based contest and some of us came up short. Fortunately, skills can be built on and we might get another chance next year.
I, for one, hope that they do archetypes again next year. I also hope that I get a chance to redeem myself by making an archetype that isn't ridiculously overpowered while maintaining the spark of a cool idea.
Congrats to everyone! And thanks to everyone who voted.
My condolences to the unlucky bottom 16, and to the top I offer a single piece of advice:
Beware that damned submit button!
I disagree, sir.
Luck had little to do with our failure to advance, nor with your ability to. This is a skill-based contest and some of us came up short. Fortunately, skills can be built on and we might get another chance next year.
I, for one, hope that they do archetypes again next year. I also hope that I get a chance to redeem myself by making an archetype that isn't ridiculously overpowered while maintaining the spark of a cool idea.
I hope they do archetypes again. The villain and encounter rounds have been done before. But I wouldn't beat yourself up on it, archetypes are hard and no one really knew what to expect. I hope the top 32 stick around on this thread. Even the top 16 are only about a week away from elimination and I've enjoyed the camaraderie and support on this thread.
Well done everyone, congratulations to the Top 16 and the Top 32.
Everyone makes mistakes errors and mistakes (myself included), it's definitely harder to avoid the hidden pitfalls on a round that hasn't been done before.
To the Top 16, learn from your and others mistakes. My feelings are that the voting public are reasonably forgiving of past mistakes, provided you don't repeat them. :-) I know it is obvious but look at the previous years to learn about what works or doesn't work to make a great villain.
To the Top 32, remember that apart from RPG Superstar next year, there are other ways to get into RPG writing. One is to submit a proposal for Pathfinder Society, and I'm sure there are others. The only really important thing is to keep writing. :-)
The first step to improve your work is to identify your weaknesses. For the second year in a row I have been undone by submitting something with woefully unbalanced mechanics. Last year, it was my version of the ossuary golem, which turned out to be a negative energy-spewing TPK machine. This year, my Varisian carver had some high-level abilities that were much too powerful. I vow to correct these mistakes.
Good luck Top 16! Go forth and conquer!