The Unofficial Top 32 Guildhall: End of the Mayan Calendar Edition

[Steve Miller]

Neil Spicer wrote:

I'm friends with many of the folks who put on MACE, MiniMace, MACE West, and Concarolinas. Sadly, the only one I've made with any kind of consistency has been ConCarolinas. It's more of a fandom con...but still with some solid gaming tracks and tables. I think Pathfinder has been gaining popularity alongside the RPGA. A strong Savage Worlds contingent there, too.

From what I've heard, MACE, MACE West, and MiniMace are heavier gaming cons, I believe. That seems to be their primary focus. I really ought to try getting up to MACE West this year.

Last year C. Smith, Joe Jungers, and I hosted 7 tables of Pathfinder Society at MACE West. No too bad for our first year. That's where I met Cat Clarkin, who is now running Pathfinder Society in Fort Mill, SC.

I helped with Pathfinder Society at MACE two and three years ago, but with the recent addition to our family I was unable to attend last fall. From what I hear, Del Collins did a great job of organizing in my stead.

[Charles Evans 25]

Computer time severely limited here at present, and several other commitments on that time, but I have now got (very advanced) succubus reviews up of the Round 2 entries of the top 32+ who didn't make the top 16. Sorry if some of them are a bit brief (time is restricted) and best of luck to those of you who didn't make the cut into Round 3 with your future endeavours...

[Mike Welham]

Charles Evans 25 wrote:

Computer time severely limited here at present, and several other commitments on that time, but I have now got reviews up of the Round 2 entries of the top 32+ who didn't make the top 16. Sorry if some of them are a bit brief (time is restricted) and best of luck to those of you who didn't make the cut into Round 3 with your future endeavours...

<Cue obligatory Mark Twain quote here regarding not making it into the top 16> :P

[Chris Shaeffer]

Two hours. Dos horas. Deux heures. Zwei Stunden. 二時間. два часа́. 2 ώρες.

[Andrew Marlowe]

One hour. So close.

[Mike Welham]

I'll post this before the whole "gag order" goes into effect:

Good luck, everybody!!!

[Chris Shaeffer]

There's no gag order. But still. :p

Equipping Greater Type-Defeating Mittens of Anti-Disqualification in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

GVBokxc ,ljuhc km vbgjuyhs!
(Good luck guys!)

[Mike Welham]

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

There's no gag order. But still. :p

Equipping Greater Type-Defeating Mittens of Anti-Disqualification in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

GVBokxc ,ljuhc km vbgjuyhs!
(Good luck guys!)

For me, it's a self-enforced gag order. :)

[Will Cooper]

Jacob! Sidhe fist-bump :)

Good luck everyone.

[Jacob W. Michaels]

You said it, Will. I think we latched onto whatever zeitgeist gives the jduges a series of Round 1 magic item submissions with similar themes.

Good luck everyone.

[Todd Stewart]

Daniel Rust wrote:

What's with all the North Carolinians in this contest anyway? Contestants and judges. A good friend of mine in NC likes to point out how well they're doing. As well as all us 'foreigners' put together!

We're just that awesome? :D

Or it's the universe making up for the fact that our state's pro basketball team just broke their own record for most consecutive losses and might be the worst in NBA history?

Or it's the combination of universities and tech industry in the state that makes for a perfect storm of nerds? Maybe.

It's odd though that we've had a number of people from NC every year for several years now. Kinda cool :)

[Jacob Trier]

Just did a quick skim of all the entries. I must agree with what the judges posted prior to the reveal - very interesting stuff all round.

Good job, guys - and good luck in the voting.

[James Olchak]

Agreed. Lotsa good stuff, here.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

After reading the entries, all I can say is wowsers! Lots of good monsters you guys created. Gonna be hard to whittle down to 8...

[Andrew Marlowe]

Agreed. Also given the rules from last year if they do something similar and ask us to build an encounter with someone else's monster. . . Well, I'm having a hard time deciding which cool one I'd use.

Good luck everyone.

[Adam Donald]

Many... cool... monsters...

I'll have a hell of a time building encounters to do them justice if I make it to the next round.

Good job everyone!

[Jacob Trier]

Sean K Reynolds wrote:

The following is the unanimous ruling of the judges and Paizo representatives following meeting and discussion:

Unfortunately, we have decided to disqualify competitor Bob Drouin from the 2012 RPG Superstar competition.

Truly sorry to see you go like this, Bob.

[Mike Welham]

Jacob Trier wrote:

Sean K Reynolds wrote:

The following is the unanimous ruling of the judges and Paizo representatives following meeting and discussion:

Unfortunately, we have decided to disqualify competitor Bob Drouin from the 2012 RPG Superstar competition.

Truly sorry to see you go like this, Bob.

Likewise. :(

[Chris Shaeffer]

:(

[Will Cooper]

Sorry to see you go out in this fashion, Bob. You should be proud of what you achieved here.

[James Raine]

...is it safe to post now? >_>

[Jacob W. Michaels]

James, I'm not sure it'll ever be safe to post again! 8-/

[Neil Spicer]

It is indeed. The polls are closed.

[Chris Shaeffer]

Ah, that was a tough round for me. I learned quite a bit though. :)

[Charles Evans 25]

Annnnd Round 2 reviews are now done. Good thing Round 3 only had 16 entries and the computer access is improving here...

[Ask A RPGSupersuccubus]

And I woud just like to add, I maintain a (very advanced) succubus' prerogative to randomly spell the word either 'organization' or 'organisation' as the moment takes me...

[Jacob Trier]

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

Ah, that was a tough round for me. I learned quite a bit though. :)

Same here. Now all there is to do is wait and see if we get to apply what we have learned next round - or next year.

[Mike Welham]

I think everyone has a shot to make it this round. There are a couple of clear favorites among the voters, but opinion was pretty much split beyond those.

Good luck!

[Jacob W. Michaels]

If we can assume the exit poll is fairly representative, it sure looks like Adam, Sam, Tom, Daniel, James and Steve are safe. They've all got a clear majority.

The last two spots are much more up in the air.

I'll make this offer now, I guess, since if I don't advance, I think I'll be too depressed to do it tonight: I'm going to try to do some quick PBPs of the Round 4 encounters. If you particularly want me to run your scenario, just ask (a la Eric and his look at the monsters), though honestly, I think I'm going to do the ones that catch my interest most, either because I think they're cool or I want to see how/if they work.

[Steve Miller]

Jacob W. Michaels wrote:

If we can assume the exit poll is fairly representative, it sure looks like Adam, Sam, Tom, Daniel, James and Steve are safe. They've all got a clear majority.

The last two spots are much more up in the air.

I counted the votes again and changed some numbers on the round 3 exit poll sheet. Feel free to check my data entry using the second tab (Each voter).

[Jacob Trier]

Well, last round taught me not to put too much stock in exit polls. But yeah, we definitly have a few strong frontrunners.

[Andrew Marlowe]

It seems to me that even in previous years the exit polls were only so-so reliable (outside of the clear front runners) and yet I keep watching with great interest...and increasing nervousness. ;)

Best of luck to everyone.

[Tom Phillips]

Jacob W. Michaels wrote:

If we can assume the exit poll is fairly representative ...

Trust me. Do not assume the exit polls are a representative sample. I'm sure hundreds of people are casting votes not just the 20 or so indicated by the exit polls. Everyone has a legitimate shot at the Top 8.

Best of luck everyone. Your creativity is inspiring.

[Eric Morton]

Jacob W. Michaels wrote:

If we can assume the exit poll is fairly representative...

If only we could...

*gives Round 2 exit poll the Evil Eye*

[Chris Shaeffer]

Honestly Eric, I don't see why they don't hire you on the spot and make you a guest judge next year. :p

[Jacob Trier]

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

Honestly Eric, I don't see why they don't hire you on the spot and make you a guest judge next year. :p

Yeah, you are certainly skilled at givng feedback. Even if it was just as brutal as advertised, it was highly educational, and you touched on some points that no-one else had pointed out. And lets face it, my entry deserved the brutal treatment after all those sloppy mistakes I made. I guess the best way to ensure I won't make them again is to follow your advice and get busy with monster practice.

[Will Cooper]

Whew - back from a short holiday with 10 minutes to spare before the round 4 reveal. It was probably good to be away from the internet for a couple of days right now.

Good luck everybody.

[Andrew Marlowe]

Well congrats to the top eight I hope I'll see some of you again next year. Looking forward to some sweet encounters!

[James Raine]

Peace out, y'all. Too bad, too: I had this great encounter all drawn up and everything. Ah well, there's always next year!

[Will Cooper]

Well done guys - that's a worthy top eight.

[Jacob W. Michaels]

Congrats, top 8. Looking forward to seeing what you've got.

[Jacob Trier]

Well deserved. Now us lowly Top 16 get to kick back and relax wih the Top 32 while the eight of you grind away at your encounters. Can't wait to playtest.

[Mike Welham]

Thanks, everyone!

I'm beginning to suspect a North Carolina conspiracy. :)

[Chris Shaeffer]

That's a deserving top 8, good job everybody!
For the rest of us, top 16 is nothing to sneeze at, and this is the place to peace out if we'd like to compete next year. :)

[Andrew Marlowe]

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

That's a deserving top 8, good job everybody!

For the rest of us, top 16 is nothing to sneeze at, and this is the place to peace out if we'd like to compete next year. :)

Indeed. Hoping to return in 2013 barring a Mayan predicted apocalypse. Again hats off to the Top 8.

[Eric Morton]

Mike Welham wrote:

I'm beginning to suspect a North Carolina conspiracy. :)

When the guy from North Carolina says he suspects a North Carolina conspiracy, you know somethings up. :P

I'm picturing Neil Spicer as a coach giving a half-time speech in a locker room somewhere in North Carolina: "Okay, here's the play we use to open the second half. Mike's going to phase over to the Guildhall to crack jokes about the North Carolina conspiracy theory to make it sound preposterous. While he's doing that, Steve's going to use his necrotic reef to block, giving Sam's ravenous gorgewort ample time to disgorge the ball in a Hail Mary pass. And James's hushfoot bocan is going to appear out of nowhere to make the catch, carrying Team NC all the way to the Top 4. Now get out there and win this thing!"

[Daniel Rust]

Sorry to see the last of the Jacobs gone so soon. You'll all be missed.

[Jacob Trier]

Daniel Rust wrote:

Sorry to see the last of the Jacobs gone so soon. You'll all be missed.

LOL! Oh, that's just awesome, Daniel - we may be out, but the Jacob avatar lives on. Do it proud! We are all cheering for you from the side.

[Tom Phillips]

Encounter submitted and map emailed. Whew. ;-)

[Andrew Marlowe]

Tom Phillips wrote:

Encounter submitted and map emailed. Whew. ;-)

Looking forward to seeing it on Tuesday.