In case you missed it, Round 2's twist is about the River Kingdoms, one of the "countries" in Golarion.
In previous years, we've given the Top 32 competitors a free copy of the campaign setting PDF (The Inner Sea World Guide for the previous competition). We're doing that this year, too.
Also, because of the River Kingdoms requirement, we're giving them a free PDF of Guide to the River Kingdoms.
Now, this means that if you make it into the Top 32, you'll automatically have the reference material you need.
But you may not want to wait until then, just so you have a bit of a head start on designing your archetype.
I'm not trying to pressure you to buy a PDF you may get for free. I am trying to prevent people from buying a PDF now, getting into the Top 32 in January, and being annoyed that they spent money on a PDF they'd be getting for free.
So... the decision is up to you, we just wanted everyone to be fully informed about the situation.
Very cool and thanks for the head's up. Trying to decide whether I want to buy it now or wait...
Contributor
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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There's nothing wrong with getting a free. pdf copy of a book you already own! Portability.....having multiple LEGAL copies for your table...supporting a company you love...there's no downside!
GAH. Absolutely NONE of the archetypes I've prepped so far fit the River Kingdoms. grrrrrrrrr. Curse you, twist of the fates!
On the other hand, I'm super excited about the double PDF feature for the top 32! Yay! I hope I make it!
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To win a contract to write a Pathfinder module.
Plus getting in the Top 32 is a path to women (or men, if that's your interest) and riches!
Cool beans.
RPG Superstar 2015
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka mamaursula
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Hmm, yes, I'll ask my wife which one we're aiming for, are these women (or men) handy around the house?
I'm not sure what Jacob is talking about, we have yet to see this manifest around our house and my husband was in the Top 16 last year too. Maybe Jacob snagged them all?
I don't understand how River Kingdoms affect the archetype design. Could someone enlighten me?
It has to be appropriate for the setting. So, for example, a Mwangi jungle fighter, whose style is based on the deadly Charua-ka inhabitants of that continent, wouldn't make sense for this competition (even if it were an awesome archetype).
It has to be appropriate for the setting. So, for example, a Mwangi jungle fighter, whose style is based on the deadly Charua-ka inhabitants of that continent, wouldn't make sense for this competition (even if it were an awesome archetype).
Thanks, that example was very illustrative, so an archetype generic for most settings will be OK, right?
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Thanks, that example was very illustrative, so an archetype generic for most settings will be OK, right?
generic probably wont cut it, They are looking for something that would be found more commonly in, or originate from the area
Yeah, I don't know anything specifically about the River Kingdom. I want to buy he PDf, but then again, I don't know if I'll advance and I won't be able to start a new adventure until my group finishes all 6 chapters of Curse of the Crimson Throne.
Wait...is Korvosa in the River Kingdom by any chance??
Nope. It's in Varisia. Think Kingmaker.
Thanks, that example was very illustrative, so an archetype generic for most settings will be OK, right?
My feeling is a generic would be risky. I don't think it would be disqualified, but I think it would be downgraded by the judges and probably the voters. That said, if it was cool enough to overcome that, you could still advance.
Personally, I would try for something much more intrinsically linked to the region.
Pendin, remember if you advance, you'll get a free pdf of the book. If you have the ISWG, that might be good enough to start giving you some ideas (I made a list of a dozen things to think about just from reading that River Kingdoms entry last night).
Dang thanks Sigz. I haven't run or played Kingmaker yet.
Jacob W. Michaels, the ISWG? Oh wait...Inner Sea World Guide...I understand now.
I don't have it yet. I'll check it out though. Thanks!
You can also look at the Pathfinder Wiki, though obviously that's not as good a source.
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There are many little kingdoms within the River Kingdoms. Your archetype might be for Timon or Daggermark or one of the tiny ones mention in the Guide... it doesn't have to be designed for the RK as a whole.
Being in the middle of Kingmaker right now, and closely following the Pathfinder Online project, this turns much of the fear I had about round 2 into excitement.
A twist that favors stuff I know fairly well? Sweet!
Out of the archetypes I've prepped so far, one fits very thematically - perhaps so thematically to come off as uninspired. The other fits in fairly well, but doesn't have as strong a connection.
Hmm... interesting. I might end up making a new one.
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 9
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Ok some ideas comes to mind... some that come pretty detailed but are pretty obvious (to the point that several other people will do the same exact archetype) and some not obvious at all but ... I still don't know how to develop it.
Just to know... how do you deal with two contestant with the same concept? you consider the best one for advancement or they both suffer in the decision for being too obvious?
Two people came up with nearly the same concept in last year's monster round (Sidhe Lord vs Sidhe Noble)
The later rounds are done by public vote, so the only penalty is that the matching concepts are inevitably compared to each other.
Two people came up with nearly the same concept in last year's monster round (Sidhe Lord vs Sidhe Noble)
What Heros doesn't mention is that neither advanced. Now in at least my case (the sidhe noble), it's because it wasn't good enough and I don't think it'd have advanced even if there weren't also a sidhe lord entered.
If you look at the last Archetype round a couple years ago, you'll also see a few very similar designs (I believe there were a few con men and a couple knife fighters). The parallel designs are likely going to be compared to each other, though if both are very good they could certainly advance; they could also easily split the vote.
If it were me, I'd try for something unique -- go for a home run every swing, not something safe/obvious enough that someone else may submit something similar. (Of course, I never thought someone else would submit a sidhe monster when I did it last year, so it's hard to tell with these parallel design problems.)
How about an archetype that fits into the River Kingdom...but purposefully takes part(s) of the ethos/freedoms/generalities and flies in the face of those...and hence why they are adventurers.
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If you look at the last Archetype round a couple years ago, you'll also see a few very similar designs (I believe there were a few con men and a couple knife fighters). The parallel designs are likely going to be compared to each other, though if both are very good they could certainly advance; they could also easily split the vote.
If it were me, I'd try for something unique -- go for a home run every swing, not something safe/obvious enough that someone else may submit something similar. (Of course, I never thought someone else would submit a sidhe monster when I did it last year, so it's hard to tell with these parallel design problems.)
I anticipate one of two things happening:
1) No one submits any assassin, bandit, deposed noble, escaped slave, First World, forbidden god, gladiator, mercenary, and/or pirate archetypes because folks are trying to avoid doing the obvious archetypes, or...
2) Lots of people submit assassin, bandit, deposed noble, escaped slave, First World, forbidden god, gladiator, mercenary, and/or pirate archetypes because folks are trying to prove themselves by doing the obvious archetypes in new and interesting ways.
Wow, you made a long list but missed the most obvious archetype of all (in my mind)--Oak Steward. I expect three of them, unless this post makes people not do it.
Marathon Voter Season 6
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For those who might not know the Pathfinder Chronicles setting that well, I would point out the River Kingdoms page on PathfinderWiki as a good place to start. Some of the information there is frustratingly vague or incomplete, but it's got more than enough to provide inspiration for any number of archetypes, I think.
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There are many little kingdoms within the River Kingdoms. Your archetype might be for Timon or Daggermark or one of the tiny ones mention in the Guide... it doesn't have to be designed for the RK as a whole.
What about the Kingmaker AP? Since that essentially is in the River Kingdoms, could we create an archetype based off information from the Stolen Lands via Kingmaker AP?
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The Stolen Lands are part of the River Kingdoms, so yes.
Yes.
If we win and we already have these PDFs, do we get the option to gift them to others to spread the cheer?
No. It's just easier on our end to add the PDFs to the Top 32 accounts and be done with it.
By the way, make sure your account has your current email address! If you make it into the Top 32, we send out a notification email to the address associated with your account. Sure, you can check the announcement on Tuesday, but it doesn't hurt to have your email address there, just in case hundreds of people refreshing the site to see the announcement slows... everything... down...
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I want to say thank you to Paizo for the two .pdf files. I was given the 3.5 Golarion guide for helping out with Ascension of the Drow back in the day, and having this sweet updated version is great. I'm already a winner!
Shouldn't the alternates get the free PDFs too?
Shouldn't the alternates get the free PDFs too?
Got mine today. (Thank you Paizo!) However, it was couple hours after I submitted my archetype. Fortunately, I had access to a friend's copy of the Guide to the River Kingdoms so it's all good.