I know round 5 is quite a ways away, but I also know that most of us are working on something, even if only in the background. I was wondering how the rest of you are tackling this task, and also about the design process of previous entrants.
I have what I think is a pretty solid idea. I like my hook, my location, my villains and their motivation, but I have conflicting ideas about how to proceed from here. Part of my wants to start stating stuff up, tweeking their capabilities to what I need them to do. Part of my wants to start making maps and designing locations. Part of me wants to spend hours researching background for half conceived ideas, read related material and draw concept art. My home campaign is planned session by session, it's simple, "this is what we're going to do today kids". Anyone else out there running into the same wall? Or am I just a chump?
If it makes you feel better, I think you are a step or two ahead of me at the moment :)
Also:
Part of my wants to start stating stuff up, tweeking their capabilities to what I need them to do. Part of my wants to start making maps and designing locations. Part of me wants to spend hours researching background for half conceived ideas, read related material and draw concept art.
I don't see how any of those activities can hurt. Even if what you work on dead ends for the adventure proposal it could always inspire you for the rounds between now and then. Or at the worst(or maybe best?) give you something fun to throw at your players in the future.
I know Superstar has already inspired me to throw a couple of my fellow Superstars' items into my home game *evil grin*
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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The question really is what level of play are you going to aim for? That's a toughie! Superstar caliber designers gotta pull all the stops out both creatively and mechanically. I remember last years final battle was fierce (at least in my mind).
--Vrock, paper, scissors
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 8
aka Sect
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I seem to recall, looking at past submissions, one of the things that judges gigged entries on very frequently were the hooks: one of the things you need at the beginning is a good reason for the party to bother with the adventure anyways. So, I'm planning on coming up with at least three different hooks (generally, one for a more good aligned party, one for a more evil aligned party, and one for a more somethingoranother aligned party).
Also, if you try to fit some Golarion lore in your submission, be extremely careful, else you either don't pull it off or you step on someone's toes in doing so.
Don't forget that the round may have a twist... so keep your ideas flexible.
I really hope it doesn't: I'm going to be out-of-town with no internet access during the window for that round (on my honeymoon, incidentally). I have to write mine up ahead of time, because I simply won't be able to do so during the timeframe. I'll likely be giving my best man my password and having him submit for me. (I hope that's not DQ worthy?)
Why doesn't RPGSS line up with my life?! *argh*
EDIT: rechecking the schedule, I'll have three days to submit before I get married. Still *argh*, but at least I don't have to have my friend submit it for me.
Chief Technical Officer
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Don't forget that the round may have a twist... so keep your ideas flexible.I really hope it doesn't: I'm going to be out-of-town with no internet access during the window for that round (on my honeymoon, incidentally). I have to write mine up ahead of time, because I simply won't be able to do so during the timeframe. I'll likely be giving my best man my password and having him submit for me. (I hope that's not DQ worthy?)
Why doesn't RPGSS line up with my life?! *argh*
EDIT: rechecking the schedule, I'll have three days to submit before I get married. Still *argh*, but at least I don't have to have my friend submit it for me.
If there is a twist, it will be revealed on February 28. And congrats on your wedding!
Super-Congrats, Erik!
FYI- If your idea is solid (which I'm sure it is), three days should be plenty. ;-)
Don't forget that the round may have a twist... so keep your ideas flexible.
A twist? It better not be that the top 4 have to write an adventure for "The Hannah Montana RPG", Paizo's newest game line. I mean, I totally will of course, but I will probably just die a little bit inside.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Don't forget that the round may have a twist... so keep your ideas flexible.A twist? It better not be that the top 4 have to write an adventure for "The Hannah Montana RPG", Paizo's newest game line. I mean, I totally will of course, but I will probably just die a little bit inside.
Hannah is yesterday's newspaper. Miley is today's internets.
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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Currently, I'm still mulling over villain ideas, running the gamut from revamped cliches to all-new monsters, just in case. I have an idea (pretty vague), that might serve as both a location or an adventure. I'm waiting to see what twists await this year, but it never hurts to start poring over Golorian stuff and rereading adventures to get ideas.
Hannah is yesterday's newspaper. Miley is today's internets.Don't forget that the round may have a twist... so keep your ideas flexible.A twist? It better not be that the top 4 have to write an adventure for "The Hannah Montana RPG", Paizo's newest game line. I mean, I totally will of course, but I will probably just die a little bit inside.
Is Hannah OGL then? I'm not ready to upgrade to "The Miley Cyrus RGP."
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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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Currently, I'm still mulling over villain ideas, running the gamut from revamped cliches to all-new monsters, just in case. I have an idea (pretty vague), that might serve as both a location or an adventure. I'm waiting to see what twists await this year, but it never hurts to start poring over Golorian stuff and rereading adventures to get ideas.
:-( Don't remind me. I get to piece through my now destroyed signed copy of the Campaign Setting. My half piranha beagle pup snatched it off my bookshelf and played the part of a little Treerazer with the back cover and spine.
--Vrocka, when the walls fell...
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
aka Bats Kabber
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I can't find the rules for previous years' game design. I'm assuming there are stipulations of some kind. Level & campaign setting maybe?
I'm just not even sure where to start on that one. At this point I'm focusing most of brain power into cooking up a villain. Anytime I start thinking about the other rounds, I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself. (is that just me?)
I can't find the rules for previous years' game design. I'm assuming there are stipulations of some kind. Level & campaign setting maybe?
Previous contests are at the bottom of the current RPG Superstar hub.
2010 R5: Http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/rpgsuperstar/previous/ rpgSuperstar2010/round5Rules
2009 R5: http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/rpgsuperstar/previous/ rpgSuperstar2009/round5Rules
I can't find the rules for previous years' game design. I'm assuming there are stipulations of some kind. Level & campaign setting maybe?
Previous years had no twist for the final round - just a straight-up module pitch.
Frankly, I'm surprised the possibility of an R5 twist is even raised, since I thought a no-restrictions pitch was a lot of the point. The rules for previous final rounds seemed to say so... OTOH, Vic would be one of the ones to know :)
Previous years had no twist for the final round - just a straight-up module pitch.Frankly, I'm surprised the possibility of an R5 twist is even raised, since I thought a no-restrictions pitch was a lot of the point. The rules for previous final rounds seemed to say so... OTOH, Vic would be one of the ones to know :)
Vic is also in a position to say what he pleases and then give a maniacal chortle as we all scramble.
I can't find the rules for previous years' game design. I'm assuming there are stipulations of some kind. Level & campaign setting maybe?Previous years had no twist for the final round - just a straight-up module pitch.
Frankly, I'm surprised the possibility of an R5 twist is even raised, since I thought a no-restrictions pitch was a lot of the point. The rules for previous final rounds seemed to say so... OTOH, Vic would be one of the ones to know :)
It would make sense that Paizo wants a pitch to fit in their schedule. They have the modules lined up a year in advance and the winner will fit into that. They know the percentage of levels they need for example or how close to the half-dragon quota they schedule is :P. Also this is the first year the PFS contract will be given to the Top 4.* That could easily be a twist.
This is just a guess.
*OK the first year the top 4 OFFICIALLY get a contract. I think most of them have become contributors without being 'the one' :)
Those links don't go anywhere for me...
Edit; Oh...there is a space in them for some reason. Here have some links.
Weird. It happens sometimes... I don't know if it's the URLs or the boards that do it. :p
You get an Inner Sea World Guide PDF, you know? That'll be all the Golarion sourcebook you'll need.
stuffDammit Magic: the Gathering >_< Am I the only one who read his name as a "Nicol Bolas" variant and had to double-take?
I came to this thread for ideas and then I read that. XD
Isn't it cool? My very own elder dragon! I play him every chance I get, I think I even have one framed somewhere.
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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Star Voter Season 6
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Don't forget that the round may have a twist... so keep your ideas flexible.
Interesting. Very Lovecraft: get us with the fear of the unknown.
I'm going to use this week to consider options for the upcoming rounds. I expect things should become very interesting very soon.