Congrats to all the Top 32, and good luck Top 16!


RPG Superstar™ 2012 General Discussion

Legendary Games, Necromancer Games

Hi everyone!

Its strange to be a judge in this contest. It puts you in a strange position. While everyone else is throwing around love and support, we are doing criticism.

I just want to let everyone know--particularly those in the top 32 that didn't advance--that I was incredibly impressed with your first round items and your organizations.

You all have a ton to be proud of.

Well, geez, Clark, then why did you give ME a bad grade?

Because the bar for superstar is so high, I have to really have a high standard. But please keep in mind the sorting I am doing is between the A+ students in the class. And just because I may give one a recommend and another a no recommend, doesnt mean I dont like you or dont think you are capable. All I am doing is judging a single entry. Monday night the Lakers played the 6ers (and lost, bummer). In that game, Kobe Bryant moved into 5th place all time in NBA scoring history. An amazing player, no doubt. But down the stretch of the game he missed some shots. Does the fact he missed a few in a row mean he is not the 5th best scorer every to play the game? No. Same with all of you. If you missed with your organization, it doesnt mean you are not superstar. It just means you didnt make the shot today. But I know each and every one of you is capable of doing it.

So please keep in mind that all of you, whether you made the cut to 16 or not, are A+ in my book.

I've said this before, and I say it again now: I probably couldn't win RPG Superstar. I dont know if I have the chops. So you've all beaten me :)

Great work everyone! You have a ton to be proud of and it has been a pleasure to judge your submission so far!!!

Clark

Contributor

Hear hear!

Liberty's Edge Star Voter Season 6

Those 16 voted off the island have my deepest respect.

Those 16 moving on to the next round will get my vote if your monster gives me a good visual. A poor stat block can be fixed in play. However, a monster which doesn’t inspire me (as a GM) will not make it into my game. No OIAC (Orc in a can). ;)

Good luck!

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7

Hi Clark, thanks for the support and encouragement. I can imagine that it feels strange to give critical feedback to contestants that you really want to do well (that is, all of us). I know that I find it hard to give critical development feedback, in other areas of my life.

But I'm pretty sure we appreciate it in the spirit that it's given. And now I know what to do to 'make the shot' next time: Just Be Awesome.

Cheers!


Congratulations to the top 16 and commiserations to those who didn't make it. 3 of my top 4 from the first round have made it through, so I'll be looking out for their entries in the next round with particular interest.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32, 2012 Top 4

marv wrote:
No OIAC (Orc in a can). ;)

If that phrase hasn't been coined into the RPG designer lexicon yet, it sure should be.

Good luck, fellow 16-ers!

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut

I'll add my well-wishes here, too. And, a bit of advice, as well...

To those advancing to the Top 16, take note of how close some of you came to falling out of the competition. Apply those lessons you learned in Round 2 to your future work for Round 3 and beyond. You can't play it safe here, fellas. Competent execution only gets you so far with the voters. If they don't find something inspiring about your work, they're not going to vote for you. And it can't just be something you find inspiring. You have to read and know your audience. You've got to develop a "feel" for the game so you can sense what's going to be received well...and what's not...or, at least, not well enough to advance you in the contest, or appeal to a Paizo consumer.

So, like we always say, be awesome. You do that and you can go pretty far.

And, to the remainder of the Top 32, keep your chin up! You've had a taste of what it's like to compete in this contest now. And your shot at the brass ring doesn't end here. It's just put on pause until next year's competition. Many who made Top 32 have come back to do pretty well in the following years. So, stick around. You're a voter now. But you've also got an opportunity to follow along and take notes on the remainder of the contest. Learn what you can from the design challenges presented in each round. And, watch closely how the other competitors try to approach them. Take from that experience what you can. And come back that much more prepared for next time.

That was my strategy in 2008. And it paid off in 2009. The same thing can happen for you...if you stay involved, pay attention, and work hard enough at it.

Best wishes,
--Neil

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8

Thank you Clark, and the rest of the judges. I can't speak for the rest of the contestants, but the comments and critique from you all makes me feel both privileged and proud.

I am thrilled to have advanced to the Top 16. But if I had not, comments like

Clark wrote:
Oh, Jacob I wanted more from you this round! I really liked your shawl. I know you’ve got it in you. Maybe the voters will see it differently. Sorry I can’t recommend you this round, but I wish you the best of luck!

and

Clark wrote:
I REALLY like this item. Strong Keep from me.

would have been more than enough to make me feel like a winner, regardless of the votes. There is certainly no doubt in my mind that behind every critical word you write about our entries is an underlying message of "Please let me help you get BETTER! I know you can do it."

So we hear you, Clark - and are grateful for it.

So, fellow Top 16 - Bring you very best! And may the meanest monster eat the rest!

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Clark, Sean, Neil, thanks! This thread means a lot.

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