Hi all
Quick question on Wondrous Item formatting... as I am updating my Template thread to bring it up to date, and include some pricing guidelines in it.
When referring spells in a description on a wondrous item, it's in italics, when referring a feat, it's capitalized normal font.
Now, I got to wondering, when referring to a witches hex - is that spell like in formatting, feat like or some other recommended format.
Expanding that question further - how are we recommended to format mercies, mysteries, revelations and hexes in our descriptions?
Many thanks in advance for anyone having the time to let me know the answer to this (or point me to a good example in the numerous products we now have available).
Thanks all
Anthony.
Hexes are Su like powers (mostly), I would use a spell-like italics for them.
That was my gut instinct too - I'm just fishing for something more "official" from a Judge or Paizo employee so that my template thread doesn't mislead people to do anything that may be wrong. :)
Any PRD examples of witch hexes being used? That is as official as you can get.
Anyway, Superstars know how to format without being told how to format.
Gotta love the Jacob's of Superstar. Just got this which answers everything nicely...
"It's a little tricky since a lot of them are simply must have hex feature as opposed to a specific one, but there are examples:
- Apple of Eternal Sleep: hexes are lowercase and not italicized
In UE, the Ring of Revelation indicates the same should hold true for oracle revelations: 'for example, a ring of revelation (combat healer)' has the ring itself italicized, but not the revelation; it also mentions the battle mystery, again lowercase and no special font."
Thanks Jacob.
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The rule of thumb is that class abilities, in general, whether they are witch hexes, oracle revelations, etc., are always lowercase and normal text (i.e., non-italicized). This is true in all references to class abilities in your writing, not just a wondrous item's construction requirements. In fact, you need think of it less as "how to format your magic item's requirements" and more like "how to correctly represent game terminology in all of your designs."
Spells = lowercase, italicized
Feats = uppercase, normal
Class Abilities = lowercase, normal
Skills = uppercase, normal
Saves = uppercase, normal
Magic Items = lowercase, italicized
Ability Scores = uppercase, normal
Class Names = lowercase, normal
And so on...
Thanks Neil - much appreciated - and yes, I should be looking beyond round 1 by now - I consider myself duly admonished.
Anyway, Superstars know how to format without being told how to format.
Superstars know to go and look for an example if they don't know the exact format to use. :-)
I personally try to use the proper formats all the time, that way my eye gets used to what they are meant to look like and this minimises these kinds of errors in my turnovers.
The main formatting issue that makes my eyes itch is spell names being capitalized. The only two exceptions are spells with a proper noun or person's name, like Melf's acid arrow, or if the spell starts the sentence.
Example:
Invisibility, deeper darkness, and flight are some of the more common tactics that monsters can use against PCs.
The other formatting that bugs me is using ' and " for feet and inches. This hasn't been done since the start of 3.0.
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Ohhh yeah - the old ' feet and " inches nut shell - like using -ft *shudder* as well, don't forget that one :)
I am actually in the process of trawling all 6 years of forum threads now...
a) to learn about rounds beyond rd 1,
b) to collate all my notes into one easy to read pdf
I may need some more reviewers later, as I intend to submit it to Paizo when complete as a Superstar Games Designer type freebie for everyone to share and save everyone all that forum trawl.
In answer to some questions that may pop up in forum minds...
Yes, it will include a chapter on the art of pricing,
Yes, and one on writing styles
Yes, and all my template thread stuff tidied up
Yes, and lots of similar chapters for the other rounds :)
Yes, an index of names for every post or answer I use, linking back to the originating post!
Yes, links to the Paizo store for the products I recommend
Yes, history of the competition, including results
Yes, and store links to the winners modules.
Yes, twelve days of Superstar will go in it too
Yes, and edited Superstar presentation transcripts, etc, that I attend or hear on line.
Heck, I have even added a fun appendix of quotes as I come across them - it's bit like the "Overheard in the Paizo Office" threads.
Needless to say, with six years of 1000's upon 1000's of posts and threads, it's probably going to take me most of the year to pull it all together (I get through about 50 threads a week on an average day).
If anyone wants to monitor it's progress and/or feedback on it, create a gmail account for google and PM me that email account - I will then allocate "read and comment" privileges to the pdf for those lucky enough to get selected - a thousand reviewers might be too much :P, so I will probably stop at around 10-20 (I currently have 5).
Wait...we no longer single or double quotes for ft and inches?
Anthony that is a sweet idea. Hope the undertaking doesn't burn you out. Good luck!
Anyway, Superstars know how to format without being told how to format.Superstars know to go and look for an example if they don't know the exact format to use. :-)
I personally try to use the proper formats all the time, that way my eye gets used to what they are meant to look like and this minimises these kinds of errors in my turnovers.
Ssssh, don't spoil the magic!
But it is what I do too. Check how Paizo does it, copy and you are one step closer to RPG superstardom.
Anthony that is a sweet idea. Hope the undertaking doesn't burn you out. Good luck!
It shouldn't be too bad, after the first couple of years, a lot of feedback and design information started getting repeated, reposted, relinked or refined.
Wait...we no longer single or double quotes for ft and inches?
As of 3E, yes.
Thanks for answering!
Now to take a hammer to my head to try and beat that piece of info into it.
And spell names weren't capitalized even in 1E. :-)
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Of course, in the seldom seen 1.5 edition, they tried using reverse caps, which was very odd: gREASE. I think it's clear why that didn't work out. : )
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But does it have filigree, Garrett?
Ok, getting the thread back on track and away from the dreaded DC 40+ filigree pit...
I am opening access to a preview for anyone clicking the link until the end of March, after which it will go private again.
This is to allow anyone who wants to ...
a) check out the index breakdown of intended content,
b) check out the forum cross referencing,
c) suggest any other articles they would like to see written up included
... to be able to do so.
Please post feedback/requests for content in this thread.
Open Preview To End March 2013
Please bear in mind this is a structure document preview only to show intent of coverage, it is not fully populated and many sections are empty placeholders. With that in mind, I think early feedback will be useful to make this document at useful as possible to as many as possible.
Many thanks in advance for any requests/feedback.
<snip>
Please post feedback/requests for content in this thread.
Open Preview To End March 2013
<snip>
My brain just kicked in, that snippet is confusing - the first line refers to the thread in which this post you are currently reading resides.
The link that follows is not a feedback thread, it is a link to the preview pdf held on google docs.
Hope that's clarified before you decide to click and view or not :)
<snip>
Please post feedback/requests for content in this thread.
Open Preview To End March 2013
<snip>
My brain just kicked in, that snippet is confusing - the first line refers to the thread in which this post you are currently reading resides.
The link that follows is not a feedback thread, it is a link to the preview pdf held on google docs.
Hope that's clarified before you decide to click and view or not :)
Hi all,
Touching base as it has gone very quiet... so I thought I'd sneak in a quick ask before the last round entries are revealed. Grin.
Has any kind soul taken a look at what I am aiming for? Do you want me to continue or is the general feeling one of 'meh, I can search easy enough on the forums'?
I had scheduled this Sunday to get some more updates pasted in, but would quite like some feedback, if possible, on whether to continue or not - and suggestions/changes to contents/structure.
It is a lot of work and will take some months to collate everything, so I would kind of like someone to say it would be of use, or even to say not to waste my time - either is better than nothing :)
I have double checked that link, so it should still be working.
Thanks in advance.
Keep updating!
Looks good so far, keep going please!
I will do, I'm kind of stuck in the "waiting for PC to arrive" limbo land at the moment.
So I'm working through on my work PC at lunchtimes into notepad for pasting into the doc when I get back fully operational.
No home PC really sucks, but the good lady authorized the expenditure this last week - hurrah!
Not looking forward to all that installing though >.<
I feel your pain...I had to do that over February :(