With 5 years of SS,there are a lot of winners and advice to read over as you prepare to enter every year. Did you reread the Top 32? I thought this might be interesting for all those people obsessed with numbers and lists wanting something to do for the next seven days. If you get it right, or if you have some other conversation starters from years past, post it here.
Question #1:
How many people have earned the title "Top 32?"
Remember some alternates got in, bringing the number to 167. Of course Alexander McLeod (2010), Casey Smith (2009), Dan Jones (2012), Eric Hindley (2011), Eric Morton (2012), James Martin (2011), James Olchack (2012), Joel Flank (2011), Matthew Morris (2010), Sean McGowan (2011), & Tom Phillips (2011, 2012) were repeat contestants and drop the number also well.
It will be interesting to see how many previous top 32 are repeats again this year.
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Good luck to you Andrew. :) In truth I only expect three repeats (based on previous years). Voting will make it a lot easier to get things 'right' though, and next year I expect a much, much higher percentage of repeats.
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Good luck to you Andrew. :) In truth I only expect three repeats (based on previous years). Voting will make it a lot easier to get things 'right' though, and next year I expect a much, much higher percentage of repeats.
Plus with an ever-increasing pool of ex-contestants, it becomes more likely every year for a greater number of repeat contestants. Down the line I could see a season where ten or more contestants are veterans.
That said, two repeaters is my guess for this year. But, just to complicate things, I will place all my chips on one number and go a step further and say one of them shall be a threepeater. (Just to hedge my bets and not rely exclusively on Joel, James & the Erics, I'll include people who competed one year & were alternates another, which I think bumps the number of potential threepeat candidates by two- Mikko Kallio & Andrew Black.)
Wow. Thanks for remembering a first year contestant who almost had a second shot. Though I do hope to make the top 32 again, it will not be this year. I haven't entered an item since that alternate year. Since then I started working on my Masters degree, a 3year program, and classes (and the work that goes with them) take up most of my time. I graduate in May, so next year...lookout! I have an awesome camping walkie-talkie item the judges will go crazy for. :-)
Plus with an ever-increasing pool of ex-contestants, it becomes more likely every year for a greater number of repeat contestants. Down the line I could see a season where ten or more contestants are veterans.
That said, two repeaters is my guess for this year. But, just to complicate things, I will place all my chips on one number and go a step further and say one of them shall be a threepeater. (Just to hedge my bets and not rely exclusively on Joel, James & the Erics, I'll include people who competed one year & were alternates another, which I think bumps the number of potential threepeat candidates by two- Mikko Kallio & Andrew Black.)
yeah I think you are right on the three-peats. Though the number of contestants gets higher every year, only half of them are eligible to continue entering. (I listed Dan as a repeat, even though the Kraken Crown was later found over count-so you can hedge your bets more if you include him :)
10 or more? Might be a year for RGPSuperStar SuperStar!
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Question #2
The slotless items (none formerly known as —)account for over half of the Top 32. What slot is the next most common? What is the least used?
1 eyes slot (Eric Morton's Veil of the Midnight Vigil) tied with 1 belt slot (Rob McCreary's Coin Belt of Beguiling)
disclaimer: some of the nine 'head' items might in fact be headbands, but I forgot to make the distinction when I was counting :(
I will fix that at a more reasonable hour :)
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Question #3
According to my data collected during voting, slotless items account for over 50% of the items submitted this year. Which slot is the 2nd most common and which is the least used?
Neck is by far the most common slot of the "non-slotless slots". The least common is headband, which is indeed a separate category (head, on the other hand, is the second most common slot). Belt is the second least common slot.
Conclusion: Slot doesn't seem to affect your chances of making the top 32 very much. The top 32 numbers are pretty much proportionate to those of items submitted this year.
EDIT: Also, dankeschön to DankeSean for remembering us, the almost-repeaters. :)
I got half that right :)
& yes, unless a slot becomes the next meme, where one is then compared to all the others, your slot should not affect the chances :}
Question #4
Forensic anthropologists use MNI, minimum number of individuals, when they come across bones (CSI probably does it too). That is they can assume the number of indivduals based on the number of bones found. Two femurs = one MNI. Two RIGHT femurs, MNI = 2.
Staying with slots what is the MNI of characters needed to use the previous Top 16's items? Top 8?
4 characters MNI for Top 8.
Top 4 is also 4 MNI and SS? Just 1 :)
Wow. Thanks for remembering a first year contestant who almost had a second shot. Though I do hope to make the top 32 again, it will not be this year. I haven't entered an item since that alternate year. Since then I started working on my Masters degree, a 3year program, and classes (and the work that goes with them) take up most of my time. I graduate in May, so next year...lookout! I have an awesome camping walkie-talkie item the judges will go crazy for. :-)
Sweet we all love walkie talkie items!
Over.
Hmmmm.... Curaigh made me curious about some of the entries from previous years so I decided to go back and reread some of them. I didn't have to read too many to realize that I may have voted for items this year that had powers which were similar to items submitted in previous years. It certainly wasn't a large number of votes but idea/concepts that were cool in previous years are still cool today. If we get to vote again next year, I think I will print off all the past top 32 items from previous years and read them before I start voting.
It's worth doing that before submitting, or even before designing - with 6 years of 32 items (not including alternates), that's 192 items - which you need to be aware of so that you don't parrallel design one in error.
And it would act as a good refresher for when you do start on your item.
It's worth doing that before submitting, or even before designing - with 6 years of 32 items (not including alternates), that's 192 items - which you need to be aware of so that you don't parrallel design one in error.
And it would act as a good refresher for when you do start on your item.
Yup, I did that before I submitted my item but I didn't do it again before I started voting.
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I have an awesome camping walkie-talkie item the judges will go crazy for. :-)Sweet we all love walkie talkie items!
Over.
Roger That.
Its magic kindling that when added to the fire allows all who warm themselves by the fire to be cleared of all harmful conditions, heal all their hit points, and gain the effects of 8 hrs of sleep in just a short 4 hour nap. If a bard tells an inspiring story around the camp fire everyone within 20 feet gets +1 to attack and damage for any combat the are involved with over the next twenty four hours. A bundle of kindling has a dozen magic twigs, but only needs one twig to gain these magical effects, additionally any other fires burring simultaneously with twigs from the same bundle allow communication between the fires, everyone in the 20 feet radius can hear conversations passed between fires.
Over.
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I have an awesome camping walkie-talkie item the judges will go crazy for. :-)Sweet we all love walkie talkie items!
Over.
Roger That.
Its magic kindling that when added to the fire allows all who warm themselves by the fire to be cleared of all harmful conditions, heal all their hit points, and gain the effects of 8 hrs of sleep in just a short 4 hour nap. If a bard tells an inspiring story around the camp fire everyone within 20 feet gets +1 to attack and damage for any combat the are involved with over the next twenty four hours. A bundle of kindling has a dozen magic twigs, but only needs one twig to gain these magical effects, additionally any other fires burring simultaneously with twigs from the same bundle allow communication between the fires, everyone in the 20 feet radius can hear conversations passed between fires.
Over.
Obviously this was meant as a joke, but as far as walkie-talkie items go, I kind of like the mojo behind it. It's a plot item, intended to be used by multiple groups on a campaign, rather than a gimmicky item the players want so they don't have to feel bad when they meta game by talking strategies with each other as players when their characters couldn't possibly do the same.
And the image of lonely adventurers sitting by a fire having whispered wistful conversations with friends a league apart has a certain charm for me.
And the kindling definitely needs some filigree.
Question #5 what is the most expensive item?
FWIW: anything that expensive is frowned upon under the current climate (anyone who could afford it could build their own or probably accomplish whatever they want via magic, but Boomer... well... he's Boomer :)
The Temporal Bracers by Philip Snyder are the most expensive since the new rules went into effect at 165,240 gp.
*Fshhht* over
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"Prized by blueberry-loving barbarian kings, these azure fangs allow instantaneous communication between similarly attuned items."
Does this kindling have filigree?
Over.
That's a negative. But they are prized by campers and feared by trolls.
Over.
While I was waiting.... I bought some minis. The holiday13 code still works!
Does the kindling do anything with shadows or time?
Under
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Does the kindling do anything with shadows or time?
Under
That's a big 10-4.
The Kindlings true power is revealed when the starter of the fire utters the command word. The shadows of any creatures sleeping within 20 ft of the fire disengage from thier living counter part and slink into the darkness around the fire to stand guard. These shadows are the same as the undead creature listed in the Beastiary and attack any creature with an INT of three or more and/or any evil creatures that approach within 60 feet of the campfire with the intent to harm any of the sleepers. The shadows remain on guard until destroyed or until sunrise.
Over.
Rodger that.
Is there a Perform check required to activate the Kindlings?
Over.
Negative.
However, the Creation Requirements will include 5 ranks of Craft (fire building).
Over.
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Rodger that.
Is there a Perform check required to activate the Kindlings?
Over.
Negative.
However, the Creation Requirements will include 5 ranks of Craft (fire building).
Over.
Alpha Bravo, this is Tango Lima. I copy 5 ranks in Craft (fire building). Break
Echo Mike, this is Tango Lima. Message, you must add blood to the kindling when speaking the command word to activate. I say again, you must add blood to the kindling when speaking the command word to activate. How copy? Over.
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Alpha Bravo, this is Tango Lima. I copy 5 ranks in Craft (fire building). BreakEcho Mike, this is Tango Lima. Message, you must add blood to the kindling when speaking the command word to activate. I say again, you must add blood to the kindling when speaking the command word to activate. How copy? Over.
Tango Lima.
To activate the command word the campfire builder must prick their thumb with a master work needle made of mythril and allow three drops of blood to fall into the fire circle. Additionally, depending on the alignment of the fire builder a special power effects all creatures whose shadows have disengaged to guard the camp. If the blood is from a good aligned creature each effected character gains 1d8 temporary hit points for the next 24 hours. If the blood is from a neutral aligned creature there is no effect. If the blood is from a chaotic creature roll 1d6 to see what affect effects the sleepers.
- 1= gain 1d8 temporary hit points[ for 24 hours
- 2= gain the benefits of a bless spell for 24 hours
- 3= each sleeper gains the Favored Enemy special ability for 24 hours, the fire builder selects the subtype from the Rangers list.
- 4= all sleepers gain DR 5/fire for 24 hours
- 5= no effect
- 6= all sleepers take 1d4 damage, these lost hit points can not be healed by any means for 24 hours.
Copy? Over.
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Rodger that.
Is there a Perform check required to activate the Kindlings?
Over.
Surely it requires a Perform (Kumbaya) check of DC 20 to activate the kindling.
And it should automatically make s'mores.
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Surely it requires a Perform (Kumbaya) check of DC 20 to activate the kindling.
And it should automatically make s'mores.
I'm pretty sure you don't need to be anywhere near that skilled in singing kumbaya to get it to make s'mores. If you feel compelled to make it a roll I think your looking at a DC 2...or maybe you just typo-ed that "0" and meant 2.
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Copy that.
Does the Kindling grant a +5 circumstance bonus? And what happens when you attach a ioun stone?
Over.
Echo Mike
Throw more wood on that fire you're breaking upOver
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Rodger that.
Is there a Perform check required to activate the Kindlings?
Over.
Surely it requires a Perform (Kumbaya) check of DC 20 to activate the kindling.
And it should automatically make s'mores.
Negative, no skill checks are necessary to activate the kindling so that there is not a lot of extra work placed on the DM when moderating encounters that include the use of the campfire.
S'morse of Tastie Goodness and Summoning are a separate Wonderous Item. When S'mores of Tastie Goodness are used in conjunction with a campfire fueled by Magic Kindling they can be used once each night to summon an ant swarm that will, under the direction of the S'more toaster, lift and carry all packed stowed equipment contained in chests and crates. The S'more toaster does not have to be the same person as the campfire starter. These delicacies are made with the finest gnomish baked grahams and sweet chocolate collected by virgin halflings, combined with the puffed air mellow creams originally found in goblin lairs.
Over.
EDIT: spelling, curse auto correct
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Copy that.
Does the Kindling grant a +5 circumstance bonus? And what happens when you attach a ioun stone?
Over.
There is a +5 circumstance bonus to Survival checks made to put out the fire before it burns itself out. Ioun Stones used with a campfire made with Magic Kindling get hot.
Over.
Old film reference alert...
A recently discovered power is, when built sufficiently large, step into the fames when all the planets are in alignment, the flames turn blue and instead of burning you to death, they give you eternal life without ageing.
If you do this more than once, all the years granted are taken back, turning you to dust in the process.
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Rodger that, Andrew.
What is the backstory of the Kindling's original creator?
Over.
Echo Mike
The origin story of this particular item starts when the party's wizard Andrew Blackminster and his wife. Rising Sun, required further study at a far off university. In order to remain in contact with their friends and family they left behind, Wizard Blackminster developed the Kindling of Many Things to keep his family safe during their journey and help them stay close to their loved ones far away.
Over.
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Fantastic Wonderous Item! Will definitely be using some Magic Kindling in my campaign. Now if the bundle just refreshed itself to a full number of sticks at dawn every day, and filled all quivers with 20 arrows, and backpacks with rations, and canteens with Elven water....
Of course, the price for the Magic Kindling is either 5 silver or 500,000 gold, not sure which works better yet.
Rodger that, Andrew.
What is the backstory of the Kindling's original creator?
Over.
Echo Mike
The origin story of this particular item starts when the party's wizard Andrew Blackminster and his wife. Rising Sun, required further study at a far off university. In order to remain in contact with their friends and family they left behind, Wizard Blackminster developed the Kindling of Many Things to keep his family safe during their journey and help them stay close to their loved ones far away.
Over.
Copy.
Does the Kindling have any powers that can't be summarized in 300-word communications, and function solely per the Golf Mike's judgement?
Over.
Copy.Does the Kindling have any powers that can't be summarized in 300-word communications, and function solely per the Golf Mike's judgement?
Over.
Copy that....Looking back I think all the powers exceeded the campfires 300 world limit. The Golf Mike will have to, solely on their judgment, determine the campfires temperature, brightness levels, and cooking speed.
Over.
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Fantastic Wonderous Item! Will definitely be using some Magic Kindling in my campaign. Now if the bundle just refreshed itself to a full number of sticks at dawn every day, and filled all quivers with 20 arrows, and backpacks with rations, and canteens with Elven water....
Of course, the price for the Magic Kindling is either 5 silver or 500,000 gold, not sure which works better yet.
Roger Roger.
The extra features you list are available with the item Magic Kindling, greater.
Cost for both is free, but they have to be collected from the forest floor in a woodland area where 10,000 witches were burned at the stake.
Over.
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Rodger that, Andrew.
What is the backstory of the Kindling's original creator?
Over.
Echo Mike
The origin story of this particular item starts when the party's wizard Andrew Blackminster and his wife. Rising Sun, required further study at a far off university. In order to remain in contact with their friends and family they left behind, Wizard Blackminster developed the Kindling of Many Things to keep his family safe during their journey and help them stay close to their loved ones far away.
Over.
Now you are just getting silly. :-} And I think you mean cleric. :-P
Over and OUT.
If you would like something to do while waiting. Somebody count the number of Core Rulebook wondrous items that have something other than Craft Wondrous Item and spells listed in the Requirements section.
Somebody else check the winning 32 items from 2012 for the same thing.
Somebody for 2011, etc.
I am curious about the statistics, and you may be too.
Yeah, I was definitely surprised about the number of items that had non-standard requirements (not necessarily specific materials, which are frowned on, just non-spell ones).
If you would like something to do while waiting. Somebody count the number of Core Rulebook wondrous items that have something other than Craft Wondrous Item and spells listed in the Requirements section.
Somebody else check the winning 32 items from 2012 for the same thing.
Somebody for 2011, etc.
I am curious about the statistics, and you may be too.
I may have missed something, but from my count:
Six last year (out of 33), including your own, Steve.
And in 2011 there were seven.
In 2010 there were eleven.
And eleven in 2009 as well.
In the first year of RPG Superstar there were only five.
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Question #3
According to my data collected during voting, slotless items account for over 50% of the items submitted this year. Which slot is the 2nd most common and which is the least used?** spoiler omitted **
EDIT: Also, dankeschön to DankeSean for remembering us, the almost-repeaters. :)
To tell you the truth. I sometimes forget there is even a headband slot. I need to stop playing melee characters :D
And the image of lonely adventurers sitting by a fire having whispered wistful conversations with friends a league apart has a certain charm for me.
That imagery I can get behind, Nazard.