So, you want to do this because...

[Jason Nelson]

Neil Spicer wrote:

FallofCamelot wrote:

See this is why I'm not entering. I'm not sure I want to win because that will turn my hobby into my job. I'm pretty sure that will suck the fun out of it.

Trust me. It's still a whole lot of fun. And, quite honestly, writing for Paizo (or any company as a freelancer) helps you get better...as a writer, as a GM, and as a player of the game.

+1 to that

Also, as for the objective evidence that RPG Superstar is a lot more effective than just "working your tail off," let's use me as an example. The first thing I successfully published in gaming was a series of webcolumns on the WotC website, basically GMing advice columns. From 2002 until February 2008, when I finished in the Top 4 of the initial RPG Superstar, here's what my hard work netted me in terms of paid gaming publications (spoilered for those who don't care for the specifics, as the final point is below):

Spoiler:

Web Content
“Behind the Screen” #1-39 (2002-2005, Wizards of the Coast, https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/bs)
“Save My Game” #1-77 (2005-2007, Wizards of the Coast,
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/sg)
“Gaming in Schools” #1-3 (2005), Wizards of the Coast (3 promotional/instructional documents; 1 for teachers, 1 for parents, 1 for media)
“Basics of the Game” #1-8 (2005), Wizards of the Coast (8 promotional/instructional documents for attracting and teaching new players)

Game Design, Adventures
“Practical Magic,” Dungeon 113 (2004, Paizo Publishing, author)
“Man Forever,” Dungeon 137 (2006, Paizo Publishing, author)

Game Design, Rulebooks
Spell Compendium (2005, Wizards of the Coast, contributing author)

Game Design, Setting and Support Material
“Class Acts: Clerics: Variant Turning,” Dragon 334 (2005, Paizo Publishing, author)
“Patterns of Shadow and Light,” Dragon 322 (2004, Paizo Publishing, author)

Here's what my continued hard work netted me AFTER finishing in the Top 4 of RPG Superstar:

Game Design, Adventures
“The End of Eternity,” Legacy of Fire Adventure Path 22 (2009, Paizo Publishing, author)
“War of the River Kings,” Kingmaker Adventure Path 35 (2010, Paizo Publishing, author)
“The Hungry Storm,” Jade Regent Adventure Path 51 (2011, Paizo Publishing, author)
“The Murmuring Fountain” (2011, Legendary Games, author)*
“From Hell’s Heart,” Skull & Shackles Adventure Path 60 (2012, Paizo Publishing, author)*

Game Design, Rulebooks
Advanced Player’s Guide (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Advanced Race Guide (2012, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)*
Bestiary 2 (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Gamemastery Guide (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 (2009, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Ultimate Combat (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Ultimate Equipment (2012, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Ultimate Magic (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)

(The Pathfinder Chronicler included in the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook, shaitan genie in the Bestiary, and the adherer, popobala, and sabosan in Bestiary 3 were all things I had written (the adherer was from the 1st Ed Fiend Folio) for Paizo in previous works, though I was not technically a contributing author for any of those three products).

Game Design, Setting and Support Material
Andoran, Spirit of Liberty (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
“Bestiary,” Second Darkness Adventure Path 18
“Bestiary,” Legacy of Fire Adventure Path 22
“Bestiary,” Serpent’s Skull Adventure Path 40
“Bestiary,” Jade Regent Adventure Path 51
Cities of Golarion (2009, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
“The Crown of the World,” Jade Regent Adventure Path 51 (2011, Paizo Publishing, author)
Dungeon Denizens Revisited (2009, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Faction Guide (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
The Great Beyond (2009, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Guide to the River Kingdoms (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Heart of the Jungle (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Inner Sea Magic (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Inner Sea World Guide (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Lost Cities of Golarion (2010, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Misfit Monsters Redeemed (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Mythic Monsters Revisited (2012, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Osirion, Land of the Pharaohs (2008, Paizo Publishing, co-author)
Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting (2008, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
Rival Guide (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)
“Tomes of Ancient Knowledge” (2011, Legendary Games, co-author)*
“Treasury of the Macabre” (2011, Legendary Games, author)
Undead Revisited (2011, Paizo Publishing, contributing author)

Before Superstar? A fairly consistent web presence but just 5 modest print publications.

After Superstar? I think I lost count, but it's a been a BUNCH! :)

Coincidence? Hmmmmm... I think not.

Hard work can take you places, but hard work plus winning or showing well in RPG Superstar can take you a WHOLE LOT FARTHER!

[Jason Nelson]

Matt Goodall wrote:

Dennis Baker wrote:

So yeah, it IS a job, but it's easily the most awesome jobs I've ever had.

More reasons if you need them:

Getting your NPCs pictures drawn by amazing artists.

Getting your maps drawn professionally. (I still get happily geeked when I remind myself that Chris West did my Sothis map.) :-)

+1 to this as well. I always like seeing what the art order comes back as for things I've written. Sometimes it's neat. Sometimes it's Awesome. Sometimes it's COMPLETELY MIND-BLOWING!!! :)

And also +1 to what Dennis said about seeing or hearing about people playing with a thing you've created and having fun with it.

It *IS* work. It requires discipline and attention to detail and sometimes you just gotta grind even when you're tired and wanna go back to sleep or go watch "Highlander" for the 42nd time or have to put off raking the leaves or whatever.

But it's still an awful lot of fun at the end of the day.

[Paul Brown]

I love my day job. Absolutely love heading in and making a difference. However, I would enjoy doing the occasional freelance job.

That's why I am entering. (I also want to redeem myself from last year, where I snuck into the Top 32 and then screwed up hugely in Round 2.)