The, rather amusing, thought occurred to me today that a contestant could stand out by using the word filigree, as everyone else is going to avoid it like the plague.
I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Part of me wishes I'd saved my first item from the Blazing 9 thread last year... I didn't know it'd get such positive reactions (though obviously it needs some refining...).
It was a bit...overused? last year and became a running joke.
stuff like this is kinda why I am hesitant to get involved because inadvertently fulfilling a quasi-meme would give me that naked in math class feeling
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You shouldn't not enter for fear of someone else using the same semi-common descriptive word as you did!
Give it a shot! You've got good ideas, Lamontius.
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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stuff like this is kinda why I am hesitant to get involved because inadvertently fulfilling a quasi-meme would give me that naked in math class feeling
Don't be afraid. My recommendation is to try to pick a more precise adjective to paint the mental image of your item. Only about a handful of items used "filigree" last year, but since we saw them repeatedly (some of us more than was probably good for our mental health), they seemed less inspired or creative. It may have been an unfair bias, it may have been a valid concern. You get 300 words only. You need to be incredibly economical with the few precious words you can spare to go beyond mechanics. Ask yourself "is there a word which conveys meaning better?" This applies to all 300 words, except for the format necessary words, do not change those.
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It was a bit...overused? last year and became a running joke.It wasn't just overused, it was often used incorrectly.
Yeah, that was a bit of a problem. That would be a bit of advice to take to heart: If you're pulling out the twenty-five cent vocabulary words to up your game, make sure you know what they mean. As a writer, I'm constantly looking up words, even ones I'm fairly certain I know. Never know when you might be confused or incorrect. Also, I occasionally find other definitions or archaic uses of words that I was not aware of. Those are always worthy finds.
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Filigree is the "dark and stormy night" of 300-word magic item submissions: there's nothing inherently wrong with it, but it's not necessarily getting the effect you're going for.
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Yeah, that was a bit of a problem. That would be a bit of advice to take to heart: If you're pulling out the twenty-five cent vocabulary words to up your game, make sure you know what they mean. As a writer, I'm constantly looking up words, even ones I'm fairly certain I know. Never know when you might be confused or incorrect. Also, I occasionally find other definitions or archaic uses of words that I was not aware of. Those are always worthy finds.It was a bit...overused? last year and became a running joke.It wasn't just overused, it was often used incorrectly.
Another pitfall to avoid: Using those awesome sounding words with definitions that many might not be aware of. Sure it sounds good and it fits the item, but if the word invokes a more common definition the reader might just end up confused.
Great point Andrew! There were a couple items last year in the voting that I remember having one or some of these things wrong with them:
They used extremely uncommon definitions of words.
They used words for the sake of using "smart" sounding words.
They incorrectly used words.
These things were killer for me when I read them and usually ended in a down vote. There was one item I remember up voting despite having one of these issues because it was so cool to me, but that was definitely the exception.
RPG SS is my preferred method of enacting change upon the English language, with a specific focus on changing what different words mean.
I don't know what y'all are talking about with regards to "using words correctly". If it's understandable, it's perfectly cromulent!
RPG SS is my preferred method of enacting change upon the English language, with a specific focus on changing what different words mean.
I don't know what y'all are talking about with regards to "using words correctly". If it's understandable, it's perfectly cromulent!
** spoiler omitted **
Really? I thought that was the sound of him cracking his knuckles and gleefully asking you to re-work the whole thing with straight poker face - even though what he has is what he asked for ;)
Sort of related, but I ran into an issue where a word I wanted to use to describe my item was also in use in reference to a mechanic that directly connected to my item's usage. So I had to stumble around to figure out another way to say what I wanted to without excessive repetition.
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Champion Voter Season 6, Champion Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Champion Voter Season 9
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Sort of related, but I ran into an issue where a word I wanted to use to describe my item was also in use in reference to a mechanic that directly connected to my item's usage. So I had to stumble around to figure out another way to say what I wanted to without excessive repetition.
Sometimes using a mechanic related word in the description will ensure the item stays on track in the mind of the reader. Or show a link that the reader might not know off the top of their head.