If you are a competitor in Round 2, you should start working on your Round 3 entry as soon as possible. We've posted the Round 3 rules and format early so you'll have an extra weekend to work on your villain. Otherwise, if you wait until the Round 2 results are announced on Tuesday and you make it into Round 3, you'll have wasted almost four days you could have spent working on your villain!
Good luck!
I was going to ask a question. Just finished reading though. Question answered.
Now to design.
Got one...now do the schools and bloodlines count as archetypes for this round.
I'd just like to go on record that I'm disappointed there's no otyugh among the available villain art. ;-P
Good luck, everyone!
I would not have wanted to see those rules show up on Tuesday.
It looks like you guys avoided picking any profile pictures the Top 32 are using currently. ;)
Ryan, given that schools and bloodlines have yet to count for archtypes in other circumstances I think that idea will be shot down.
Bloodlines and wizard schools are not archetypes in any sense that the game uses the word "archetype."
I would not have wanted to see those rules show up on Tuesday.
It looks like you guys avoided picking any profile pictures the Top 32 are using currently. ;)
Ryan, given that schools and bloodlines have yet to count for archtypes in other circumstances I think that idea will be shot down.
I ask because they are listed as archetypes. We just weren't allowed to make archetypes that relied on those things.
Got one...now do the schools and bloodlines count as archetypes for this round.
They didn't count as archetypes for the "create an archetype" round...so what makes you think schools and bloodlines count as one now? You already know the definition of an archetype. You just made one. But, if you want to mix an archetype with an existing bloodline or school or mystery or order, etc. I believe you're free to do that.
I love this twist. I hope that the picture gets displayed on the same page with each contestant's work. I find that looking at a picture as I read can really bring a villain to life.
Bloodlines and wizard schools are not archetypes in any sense that the game uses the word "archetype."
That answers that. *first decision made*
If I may ask is there a particular reason certain pictures were chosen? (since I recognise some as named characters from Ap's with full backstories and such)
Because they're handy? And available? And many could be re-envisioned/recast into villains?
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If I may ask is there a particular reason certain pictures were chosen? (since I recognise some as named characters from Ap's with full backstories and such)
Yeah... it's a wee bit distracting that I know who most of those characters actually are (or soon to be were, I guess).
If I may ask is there a particular reason certain pictures were chosen?
I think most of them are from the "face cards" set, which means we already had them in one handy place without a background.
If you're mentally confusing them with AP villains, just imagine them as evil brainwashed clones of the original. You've read Slavers, right? ;)
Got one...now do the schools and bloodlines count as archetypes for this round.They didn't count as archetypes for the "create an archetype" round...so what makes you think schools and bloodlines count as one now? You already know the definition of an archetype. You just made one. But, if you want to mix an archetype with an existing bloodline or school or mystery or order, etc. I believe you're free to do that.
No harm in asking. An idea flash past my eyes, and immediately those came to mind. Before I even asked I already had an alternate way to acheive the same goal.
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If I may ask is there a particular reason certain pictures were chosen? (since I recognise some as named characters from Ap's with full backstories and such)Because they're handy? And available? And many could be re-envisioned/recast into villains?
Perhaps I just feel that depending who a writer chooses may work against them because they will be judged against who the character is rather than what they have done for a stat block.
Oh, now that looks like fun. I can't wait to see what the sweet sixteen conjure up.
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m the "face cards" set, which means we already had them in one handy place without a background.
If you're mentally confusing them with AP villains, just imagine them as evil brainwashed clones of the original. You've read Slavers, right? ;)
At the risk of lowering my standing in peoples eyes uh no I havent
Also I thought there was a chance because the antipaladin had become a choice. Which didn't count in Round 2.
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If you're mentally confusing them with AP villains, just imagine them as evil brainwashed clones of the original. You've read Slavers, right? ;)
Oh, I'll get over it. I'm just sure that some of them are going to change race (or possibly gender, those Superstar contestants are an odd lot...)
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While it would have been nice, we weren't going to order new art for this challenge, and the selected images, while representative of established characters in past books, covered a wide array of races, genders, and apparent classes. If you're worried that a particular image may result in unfair comparisons to the canon character, choose a different head shot.
Question. Since Paizo was so kind as to provide us with a preview copy of the Inner Sea World Guide, is that off limits to use in crafting our villain since it is supposed to be Golarion specific? I know I signed a disclosure agreement so I don't want to DQ myself if I decide to use something from the book. Thank you.
Question. Since Paizo was so kind as to provide us with a preview copy of the Inner Sea World Guide, is that off limits to use in crafting our villain since it is supposed to be Golarion specific? I know I signed a disclosure agreement so I don't want to DQ myself if I decide to use something from the book. Thank you.
The Inner Sea World Guide IS Golarion-specific. One of the reasons you have that resource is so you can reference it for your villain.
Here's a question if you don't have the APG and using the prd to locate the archetypes, can you hyperlink it instead? Or is the pg number an unneccessary piece?
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Here's a question if you don't have the APG and using the prd to locate the archetypes, can you hyperlink it instead? Or is the pg number an unneccessary piece?
On a related note, what's the proper notation for an archetype from round 2?
Here's a question if you don't have the APG and using the prd to locate the archetypes, can you hyperlink it instead? Or is the pg number an unneccessary piece?On a related note, what's the proper notation for an archetype from round 2?
http://paizo.com/rpgsuperstar/round3Rules/villainFormat
In the template it shows the format.
"Gender race class (archetype, book pageNumber) level {{for example, Female elf rogue (acrobat, APG 132) 5}}"
Got one...now do the schools and bloodlines count as archetypes for this round.They didn't count as archetypes for the "create an archetype" round...so what makes you think schools and bloodlines count as one now? You already know the definition of an archetype. You just made one. But, if you want to mix an archetype with an existing bloodline or school or mystery or order, etc. I believe you're free to do that.
Sorry if I'm being a little thick, but I want to make sure I understand the rules correctly. Are we allowed to multiclass as long as one of the classes is an archetype? Thank you.
Darn, no aboleth picture! There goes Plan A...
There are some very, very interesting permutations to this. Anyone wanting to do a wizard or cleric is limited to the ATs from this round. Same for anyone wanting to do an APG base class. Sorcerors are right out altogether. Plus the word count really puts some guys off the table too; I can't imagine doing a summoner stat block, eidolon stat block, and descriptive text in under 600 words, for instance. Not complaining, mind you; just musing out loud on the boundaries.
Thanks for putting this up and giving everyone a few days extra to sweat. :-)
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Darn, no aboleth picture! There goes Plan A...
There are some very, very interesting permutations to this. Anyone wanting to do a wizard or cleric is limited to the ATs from this round. Same for anyone wanting to do an APG base class. Sorcerors are right out altogether. Plus the word count really puts some guys off the table too; I can't imagine doing a summoner stat block, eidolon stat block, and descriptive text in under 600 words, for instance. Not complaining, mind you; just musing out loud on the boundaries.
Thanks for putting this up and giving everyone a few days extra to sweat. :-)
I'll confess, this threw a substantial chunk of my brainstorming out the window. That's probably a good thing, though.;)
I'll confess, this threw a substantial chunk of my brainstorming out the window. That's probably a good thing, though.;)
That's what brainstorming is for!
In previous years entries could include Round 1 items. Is that the case this year as well? I didn't see anything call it out specifically in the rules, maybe it was overlooked with the new twist and what not? Or maybe we just can't use them?
I also notice you aren't calling for us to show our math this year. I assume it's because of the word count, but I just wanted to verify that is correct too?
Sorry if I'm being a little thick, but I want to make sure I understand the rules correctly. Are we allowed to multiclass as long as one of the classes is an archetype? Thank you.
If you can squeeze a multiclass villain into 600 words, I'd imagine that's fine.
In previous years entries could include Round 1 items. Is that the case this year as well? I didn't see anything call it out specifically in the rules, maybe it was overlooked with the new twist and what not? Or maybe we just can't use them?
There's nothing that precludes it if you want to include such a magic item in your villain's gear and tactics.
I also notice you aren't calling for us to show our math this year. I assume it's because of the word count, but I just wanted to verify that is correct too?
I believe that's true. Sean or Vic can clarify, if otherwise. Regardless, you should be checking your math yourself. You know the judges will call it out if we find something mathematically wrong in a villain's stat-block.
I did not anticipate the portraits, archetypes were a given variable, but the portraits are a nice touch.
And now i think I remember someone talking about the possibility of modeling villains after portraits earlier. but that could just be a trick of the mind.
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Although my chances of advancing are close to nil at this point, I suppose I'll design a villain, if for no better reason than to see how favorably it compares to the actual Top 16 entries.
Including the portraits is a fun twist. :)
FYI, the template seems to be missing the CMD entry...
I'm assuming we should add it in on the BAB/CMB line as usual? I can't imagine why it would be left out... (Although, woo, 2 extra word count to play with :P)
FYI, the template seems to be missing the CMD entry...I'm assuming we should add it in on the BAB/CMB line as usual? I can't imagine why it would be left out... (Although, woo, 2 extra word count to play with :P)
Add it. No extra word count. Still has to be 600 words or less. And the CMD will likely be added to the template when Ross gets in on Monday.
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Do we have to repeat monster abilities if they do not change? For example, if my villain were a phoenix, would it be acceptable to condense self-ressurection and shroud of flame to simply:
Self-Ressurection (Su) Bestiary pg. 227
Shroud of Flame (Su) Bestiary pg. 227
How much detail will be required for aspects of our villain which are not strictly part of this stat block? For example, if I select leadership as a feat, must I then provide full stats for a cohort or will some details in the description suffice?
Does the same apply for animal companions or familiars?
If a monster race or template is used must all of the monster abilities be presented in full or will a page reference with adjusted DCs do the trick?
Sorry for all the questions, and I'm sure I'll come up with more, I'm just trying to eliminate any fringe cases before I really fall in love with them and then discover I can't use.
Ninja'd! Damn!
Well partly ninja'd I guess. At least everyone is in a similar mindset.
I ran a wordcount on the villain submission format template offered (http://paizo.com/rpgsuperstar/round3Rules/villainFormat). It's 676 words.
Obviously some of the sections are a little longer than necessary to list all the things they could contain, but that's surely outweighed by the fact that there's no wordspace devoted to descriptive text/motivation/hooks in the submission template.
This should be interesting...
You also counted all of the BBCode tags, which practically triples the word count. I did the same thing out of curiosity.
I do have another question. Looking at villains in the Adventure Paths they do not list the Ecology section. Is this another one of those sections we can just strike out for a unique villain?