RPG Superstar 2012 Groundless Speculation Thread!

[Carl Flaherty]

Vic Wertz wrote:

We're just in the start of the planning process, but I'd look for it to begin in December(-ish) again.

So, given that Paizo is still in the planning process, Let me start the ball rolling on irresponsible rumors about this year's comepetition!

Do we think that they will start the competition with the traditional "Create a Wondrous Item"? Or will they throw a curve this year and ask for someting different for Round 1?

What do people think the various rounds are going to be? "Roles" from the revamped Player Companions seem to be the "new hotness." I wonder if that will show up as one of the rounds?

[Anthony Adam]

My guess

Round 1 - Wondrous Items

This won't change, it's a small, well defined work item that allows the judges to get through an awful lot of submissions in the small time they have - as the popularity of this competition has grown every year, I would imagine this is a big consideration now.

Round 2 - Villain/NPC

Maybe a return to Villain/NPC - everyone loves a memorable villain, and with all the options now available since the last time this was done, I think this would be a good possibility.

Round 3 - Adventure Path Proposal

This is pure guesswork, but how about using the contest to get an insight into reader desires for upcoming adventure paths, and would be an interesting insight into what may go into planning not one adventure module but a series of related modules.

Round 4 - Gotta be the map round with attached encounter(s)

This one is the big round to prove overall construction moxy. They need this to allow the readers to identify who is most likely to provide them with good solid product.

Round 5 - My First Module Proposal

Yeah, this is most likely to stay the same round again too - it gives the voters a chance to choose a product to be developed and is a great way of rewarding those who follow the whole competition to provide input into what they want to see.

Round 6 - Neil's round

At the pub. Say no more. :P

Seriously though, I would practice as much as you can, NPC's, Organisations, Roles, Templates, Monsters, etc - every facet of this marvelous game could be chosen for any round.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

Carl Flaherty wrote:

What do people think the various rounds are going to be? "Roles" from the revamped Player Companions seem to be the "new hotness." I wonder if that will show up as one of the rounds?

I immensely dislike the roles. Seems like character creation help for the uninspired to me. In discussions amongst my friends, we are pretty divided about them. While they can help a player fit into a role better, I worry about a fascist GM saying if you don't have the listed options, you could not become a Twilight Talon or whatever. On the flip side, we had a guy show up at PFS play expecting special treatment because he was a Hellnight due to taking the class and preferred options from the Knights of the Inner Sea.

Getting the train back on track: I like seeing categories that have not been done before. Feat chains, creature w/ alternate abilities like in the ARG, series of thematic traits, or some new hotness would be nifty to see.

[Carl Flaherty]

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

Carl Flaherty wrote:

What do people think the various rounds are going to be? "Roles" from the revamped Player Companions seem to be the "new hotness." I wonder if that will show up as one of the rounds?

I immensely dislike the roles. Seems like character creation help for the uninspired to me. In discussions amongst my friends, we are pretty divided about them. While they can help a player fit into a role better, I worry about a fascist GM saying if you don't have the listed options, you could not become a Twilight Talon or whatever. On the flip side, we had a guy show up at PFS play expecting special treatment because he was a Hellnight due to taking the class and preferred options from the Knights of the Inner Sea.

Getting the train back on track: I like seeing categories that have not been done before. Feat chains, creature w/ alternate abilities like in the ARG, series of thematic traits, or some new hotness would be nifty to see.

Actually, designing a new 10pt Player Character race (complete with description) for one of the rounds could be very cool too.

[Jacob W. Michaels]

I was definitely thinking making a new Golarion race would make sense. Lots of neat things you could do there.

[Chris Shaeffer]

The battered corpse of Chris, soundly defeated in last year's competition, rises from its slumped position on the forum's floor, snapping his rotting joints back into place.

*snap!*
*crackle!*
*ker-POP!*

What's up? Has it really been a year already?
Glad to see some familiar faces still around!

Well then, rounds, eh?

I think that the first, fourth, and fifth rounds will remain largely the same as they have in previous years. The second will involve some working with some sort of new design space (I haven't bought any new products for a while, so I don't know what those new things are yet). The third will involve designing a monster, villain, or other creature with a stat block.

What I'm interested in is the twists. :3

[Cheapy]

I think the ARG race builder could be a round 2 thing, but...I think they're trying to test how you do without such a well defined framework to work in. It's also more for GMs than designers, I feel. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else, but I do somewhat doubt it'll be that.

First Year: Country
Second Year: Villain
Third Year: Monster Concept
Fourth Year: Archetype
Sixth Year: New Organization

There may be a connection between the products that were released and what the 2nd entry was, but I'm not too up on the first and second year's release schedule, so I can't say.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

This year will be the creation of Mythic content in round 2!

[Curaigh]

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

This year will be the creation of Mythic content in round 2!

+1

Though monster/villain is still a good possibility. :)
Races not so much unless the spin is such to make it really outside the box from the APG race creation guide.

[Jacob W. Michaels]

Monster/villain tends more to be Round 3.

[RonarsCorruption]

Well, round 3 could also be an NPC, or even a playable character - the way I see it the real challenge of that round is "prove you can build a proper statblock, while also being interesting".

Round 2, perhaps, could be to create a new race, with *new racial features*. So you could be told to create a new 1, 2 and 3 point ability for your race to have. That way you get design chops and rules chops going at once.

[Mike Welham]

Round 2 almost always seems to be a "rules-light" round where the challenge is to demonstrate the ability to write evocatively about some new aspect of Golarion. The past two years definitely tied into a recent Paizo release (APG for 2011 and ISWG for 2012), so there might be a tie-in this year as well.

[Sean K Reynolds]

Heh heh.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

/me looks to the playtest and product schedule for upcoming releases...

[Mike Welham]

Sean K Reynolds wrote:

Heh heh.

Hmmmmm

[RonarsCorruption]

When the response to your speculation is Sean laughing about it, you know you're on the right track.

... And that he has something particularly fiendish planned. ;)

[FallofCamelot]

Round 1: In no more than 500 words explain what really happened to Aroden.

[Cpt. Caboodle]

FallofCamelot wrote:

Round 1: In no more than 500 words explain what really happened to Aroden.

Rocks fell. He died.

Hmmm... 496 words left.

[Carl Flaherty]

RonarsCorruption wrote:

When the response to your speculation is Sean laughing about it, you know you're on the right track.

... And that he has something particularly fiendish planned. ;)

Let's see.

NPC Codex

Advanced Race Guide

Ultimate Equipment

Of course, then there are a half-dozen or so Pathfinder Campaign Setting soft covers.

Hmmm ...

[Anthony Adam]

RonarsCorruption wrote:

When the response to your speculation is Sean laughing about it, you know you're on the right track.

... And that he has something particularly fiendish planned. ;)

Ahhh... in THAT case, we must perhaps speculate on....

Seak K Reynolds new true-to-life RPG - "Paizo The Office RPG"

Round 1 - Design a wondrous item that makes auto rejection truly automatic
Round 2 - Stat out and describe your NPC Villain - the Paizo CEO
Round 3 - Detail the round 1 judging tournament and how the judges really settle their arguments (e.g. wet towels at 10 paces...)
Round 4 - Design the main Paizo complex producing to-scale blueprints for construction.
Round 5 - Create the office induction process for new meat... ummmm interns.

[Anthony Adam]

Here's an interesting speculation... the encounter round becomes a "Quest" round in the format of the new mini Quests used in Pathfinder Society.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

Anthony Adam wrote:

Seak K Reynolds new true-to-life RPG - "Paizo The Office RPG"

Round 1 - Design a wondrous item that makes auto rejection truly automatic
Round 2 - Stat out and describe your NPC Villain - the Paizo CEO
Round 3 - Detail the round 1 judging tournament and how the judges really settle their arguments (e.g. wet towels at 10 paces...)
Round 4 - Design the main Paizo complex producing to-scale blueprints for construction.
Round 5 - Create the office induction process for new meat... ummmm interns.

Round 1 - figurine of wondrous power – Neil Spicer

Round 2 - evil PFS scenario editors
Round 3 - pugil sticks à la American Gladiators
Round 4 - Do we have to include Jason B's raptor den in the basement?
Round 5 – I think the current one of having them spend the day with Cosmo is bad enough...

[RonarsCorruption]

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Let's see.

NPC Codex

Advanced Race Guide

Ultimate Equipment

Wait, Ultimate Equipment? I just had a terrible thought... What if round 2 was *also* designing a wondrous item?

[R D Ramsey]

Round 2: Design a tribe within the Blink Dog Nation.

[Anthony Adam]

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Let's see.

NPC Codex

Advanced Race Guide

Ultimate Equipment

Wait, Ultimate Equipment? I just had a terrible thought... What if round 2 was *also* designing a wondrous item?

That's really quite funny - I can imagine it now

"And now, for Round 2, have a real treat, an extra 50 words!"

[Carl Flaherty]

Anthony Adam wrote:

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Let's see.

NPC Codex

Advanced Race Guide

Ultimate Equipment

Wait, Ultimate Equipment? I just had a terrible thought... What if round 2 was *also* designing a wondrous item?

That's really quite funny - I can imagine it now

"And now, for Round 2, have a real treat, an extra 50 words!"

That would be evil.

Fortunately, Richard Pett is not one of the judges.

[Richard Pett]

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Anthony Adam wrote:

RonarsCorruption wrote:

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Let's see.

NPC Codex

Advanced Race Guide

Ultimate Equipment

Wait, Ultimate Equipment? I just had a terrible thought... What if round 2 was *also* designing a wondrous item?

That's really quite funny - I can imagine it now

"And now, for Round 2, have a real treat, an extra 50 words!"

That would be evil.

Fortunately, Richard Pett is not one of the judges.

You'd love it if I set the rounds, my first would be:

Design an adventure that includes, as its arch villains, a trio of purple xorns, a blind roper, flail snails, puppies and a mimic monk.

You have 24 hours to come up with a synopsis in 500 words or less.

Huzzah!

I should so do this...

Pett

[Garrett Guillotte]

Richard Pett wrote:

Design an adventure that includes, as its arch villains, a trio of purple xorns, a blind roper, flail snails, puppies and a mimic monk.

You have 24 hours to come up with a synopsis in 500 words or less.

Seven Psychomorphs

Marty (a CN mimic monk 5) dreams of multiclassing as a sorcerer. All he needs is a little focus and inspiration.

Billy (a LE blind roper sorcerer 4) is Marty's best friend and part-time dog thief who wants to help Marty by any means necessary.

Three purple xorns with fused consciousnesses (CE cleric 2/barbarian 2/antipaladin 2) and a violent past, collectively known as Hans, are Billy's partners in crime.

Charlie (a CE rogue 4/wizard 3 flail snail) is the psychomorphic gangster whose beloved puppies Billy and Hans have just stolen.

Charlie is unpredictable, extremely violent and wouldn't think twice about killing anyone or anything associated with the theft, including the adventuring party, who have just stumbled into the middle of this dispute after mysteriously waking up in Marty and Billy's shack in the First World.

Marty is going to get all the focus and inspiration he needs, just as long as the party lives to tell the tale.

[Jacob Trier]

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Fortunately, Richard Pett is not one of the judges.

Actually, since it seems Neil Spicer won't be judging this year, Richard Pett might be one of the judges. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Anthony Adam]

Jacob Trier wrote:

Carl Flaherty wrote:

Fortunately, Richard Pett is not one of the judges.

Actually, since it seems Neil Spicer won't be judging this year, Richard Pett might be one of the judges. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Whoever it is, they is some pretty big judges shoes to fill... Neil will surely be missed as a judge but I wouldn't bet against him appearing in the commentary of the top 32.

[Clark Peterson]

I don't think he could stop himself :) He is a machine. In fact, he is a cyborg from the future.

[Wolfgang Baur]

I wonder who they got to replace Neil. That poor sap is in for a world of eye-bleeding.

[Clark Peterson]

I heard it was some sucker back from the early days of the contest.

[Wolfgang Baur]

Huh. Well, good luck to that guy! ;)

[Will Cooper]

He really likes judging competitions, is what I hear. Can't get enough of them.

[Curaigh]

hehe two in the same week :)

[Neil Spicer]

Go get'em, Wolf. I'll be cheering (and voting) from the sidelines. Got a bit much on my plate these next few months, not the least of which is a new baby arriving in January. Plus, I'm on deadline. Even so, you guys know I'll chime in here or there just to stir things up. ;-)

[Thomas LeBlanc]

Round 2: Prestige Class archetypes!

[Anthony Adam]

Neil Spicer wrote:

... not the least of which is a new baby arriving in January...

Congratulations to you both in advance...

Hey Paizo community -

How about petitioning for the Neil Spicer Baby Fund Kickstarter by way of thanks for all his efforts these last years?

Or maybe something less formal like a "donate to Neils baby fund button in the Paizo store"?

I think it would be a nice way to show our appreciation - Paizo, if the idea is liked, could you help?

[Severed Ronin]

I'm up for a Neil Spicer Baby Kickstarter. What are the pledge awards? Oh, one of the higher tier awards should be naming the baby!

[Jacob W. Michaels]

How does "Asmodeus Spicer" sound to everyone? Pharasma Spicer? Aroden Spicer! Poor Neil's wife...

(And mazel tov, Neil.)

[Garrett Guillotte]

Severed Ronin wrote:

I'm up for a Neil Spicer Baby Kickstarter. What are the pledge awards? Oh, one of the higher tier awards should be naming the baby!

That's the Open Call round for Neil's Baby Superstar 2013.

[Curaigh]

Congrats Neil & Neil's mate! :)

[Neil Spicer]

::hat tip::

[Will Cooper]

Congratulations, Neil.

[Wolfgang Baur]

Congrats, Neil, on the SuperBaby!

[thunderspirit]

I'm willing to bet Neil's lovely bride is NOT going to go for a crowdsourced name. :-)

Congratulations, Neil!

[Neil Spicer]

I'm betting Thunderspirit is right.

Thanks everyone.

[Mike Welham]

Congratulations, Neil!