I've only gone through ten pairs of items, and I already need a break. How do you guys keep up the pace?
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I have to ask:
You know those people that have to talk to characters on the screen when watching television or movies? Do any of you do that while reading these items? I do.
"If you don't know the word, then don't use the word! Spellcheck had to have put a squiggly red line under that. Why did you ignore it?"
"How does that even make sense?"
"You want me to spend how much gold for this thing? I don't think so."
"Wow. This is really, really good. Why didn't I think of this? You suck for making me look bad, whoever wrote this."
Yeah, similar thoughts here. I saw a really neat item that almost perfectly fit my 4th-level character... but was priced for a 18th level one. I mean, I get pricing is inexact, but really?
I'm also enjoying the ones with Strong auras, but a CL of 3.
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Spell-in-a-can! Spell-in-a-can!
Developer
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I have to ask:
You know those people that have to talk to characters on the screen when watching television or movies? Do any of you do that while reading these items? I do.
"If you don't know the word, then don't use the word! Spellcheck had to have put a squiggly red line under that. Why did you ignore it?"
"How does that even make sense?"
"You want me to spend how much gold for this thing? I don't think so."
"Wow. This is really, really good. Why didn't I think of this? You suck for making me look bad, whoever wrote this."
Turns out, this is every day in the life of a developer or editor.
This one don't even try to hide the fact it is a weapon...
EDIT: Hand slot? Hand slot is for glove, not a cane...
Do I pick spell-in-a-can or spell-in-a-can? I think that I'll vote spell-in-a-can...
"Swiss army knife..."
"Monster-in-a-can..."
"You used nearly all three hundred words, and spent two thirds of them on the item's description?"
Bear in mind several spell-in-a-cans and swiss-army-knives have made the final.
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Backstory... like two thirds of the ones I've seen so far have a huge chuck of backstory.
Why...?
:sigh:
I know, I even already voted for some who showed promise or just fitted my personal ideas of spell-in-a-can item.
Bear in mind several spell-in-a-cans and swiss-army-knives have made the final.
Yes, but I'm pretty sure the ones I've seen so far never will, excepting perhaps one that was presented in a very appealing way.
I think 90% of the submissions I dq'd right off for formatting errors. Wow. It was hard not to dq for spelling mistakes, and by and large the command of language was pretty bad, too.
:( I voted for two so far...
Customer Carebear
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Please remember that each item was submitted by an individual out there that is very likely reading these forums. I like to assume good-faith on the part of each competitor and imagine that most of them were very excited to be submitting their item after working long and hard on it. I don't like thinking of someone reading this thread and being crushed when they see such glib remarks about the quality of their efforts.
I've removed a couple comments that were directed at specific items.
We've asked that forum posts not get made about individual items until after the voting has ended. Its really easy to cross the line between generic snark and exposing someone's item.
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Customer Carebear
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was just anonymously sent this: http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3sa2bo/ :D
I think 90% of the submissions I dq'd right off for formatting errors. Wow. It was hard not to dq for spelling mistakes, and by and large the command of language was pretty bad, too.
:( I voted for two so far...
If you don't vote, then those items will simply recycle and you'll see them over and over again. Remember you're not voting for the item that is Superstar over one that is not. You're taking the two items weighed against each other, and voting for the one that is the better of the two.
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Don't DQ items for spelling mistakes; DQ is for items that break the actual R1 contest rules.
so, if I note that they are violating contest guidelines by having the wrong format, they still recycle?
==Aelryinth
Shadowborn is correct.
so, if I note that they are violating contest guidelines by having the wrong format, they still recycle?
==Aelryinth
If you think an item breaks the contest rules, then you can flag it as such. If it is just not very good (which includes most formatting problems), then you can just vote for the other guy.
And sometimes the poorly formatted item is still better than the better formatted but less promising other item.
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Here's a bit of advice to not only contest participants, but to anyone writing anything that will be read by anyone: Before you let it leave your possession, read it aloud. A lot of awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and other problems can be caught with this simple trick. If you stumble over something attempting to read it aloud, then chances are it should be rewritten.
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I've only gone through ten pairs of items, and I already need a break. How do you guys keep up the pace?
I expect everyone to review ALL the items!
I've only gone through ten pairs of items, and I already need a break. How do you guys keep up the pace?I expect everyone to review ALL the items!
** spoiler omitted **
Sure thing Neil, just not today. ;-)
I'll decide between more items when I'll be on the other computer. This screen is killing my eyes.
I've only gone through ten pairs of items, and I already need a break. How do you guys keep up the pace?I expect everyone to review ALL the items!
** spoiler omitted **
I'm keeping track of notes and votes for every item I go through, so at the end I can just roll it all out and say 'ta daaaah' - and give all sorts of people feedback all at once. ;)
That, and I can start to track which errors come up the most. So far: no name in body, and slot should be none.
Another trend, fey items. Maybe it's just the luck of the draw, but the first world is popular this year!
I don't know if we should just roll out a critique -- previously items were only publicly critiqued if the creator asked for it. That said, the items are still anonymous, so maybe it's a moot point.
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Random observations:
The word "mercurial" is a popular adjective this year.
Skinned animals and monsters appear to be trending.
Why does everything an adventurer consumes have to taste disgusting? Why can't magical things taste like ale or cookies?
Lots of items I have viewed had ordinary appearance.
Huh. I found a joke item.
Which is too bad, because it was still more mechanically sound than the item it was paired against. Oh well. RPG Superstar is no joke.
Why does everything an adventurer consumes have to taste disgusting? Why can't magical things taste like ale or cookies?
I've noticed this too. Unless it's heroes feast, it's hero beware! ;)
And I just found my first cursed item masquerading as a wondrous item...
...actually make that two. In a row.
At least one item which is a blatant ripoff of a popular computer game. Like, meme-tastically popular.
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Goodness gracious some of these items. My word.
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I have had to take a break, As soon as I started to get grumpy with the entries I thought it was time to stop.
My number 1 rule.
1. I have never entered Superstar so these people are braver than me and deserve my respect.
Things I have noticed...
1. The title is the eye catcher
2. Formatting, If its not up to scratch I am more critical - on the other-hand it may not look pretty but if the concept and text wow me then it still gets a vote.
3. Walls of descriptive text zone me out.... Short and punchy is good.
There must be a limit to how many you can do per session.
I've done a bunch, and twice been booted back to the login screen...which takes me back into Paizo, not the judging area. To start judging again, I actually need to close my browser and relog in.
And yes, I scratch my head...how long has this contest been going on? And people still can't follow the default format? Or just violate it entirely?
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3. Walls of descriptive text zone me out.... Short and punchy is good.
This. These things can't be longer than 300 words. If you've got me grumping "Get on with it!" in a Python-esque manner within that amount of writing, you're doing it wrong.
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I do have to say, there have been a few that I've been really intrigued by, formatting problems aside. Some people have come at this with fresh and interesting ideas. Makes it worth wading through less-than-stellar offerings, to be sure.
Had to go to dictionary.com to look up a word. That doesn't happen to me very often.
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I didn't expect myself to be such a harsh judge.
"Lame."
"Lamer..."
"SIAC...vs...another SIAC..."
"Yaaaawn..."
"Formatting fail."
"Your item would be interesting if your grammar wasn't so terrible."
"...You were almost perfect. ...BUT YOU FORGOT A COMMA!"
Again with the skinned monsters...seems that if the item isn't deliberately ugly/disgusting, it's plain and unassuming. There are exceptions of course, but seems to be a trend so far. Not that a monster-skin item isn't going to get a vote from me. A good item is a good item...or at least, an item good enough to be better than the item to its right or left will get the vote.
Please do not point out errors that are specific enough to identify one particular item, even if you're otherwise saying it was a great item.
Sorry! My apologies. I wasn't considering how specific I was being.
I would, however, like to repeat the gist of the post, which was "I'd much rather have an interesting item with errors than a badly written or conceived item with flawless spelling and format."