That's good, 'cause my submission is AWESOME!
Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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I've just posted an update on my progress in wading through all the submissions I received. You can read about it on my blog! The headlines, though, are:
*I have narrowed the submissions down to about 40.
*A surprising number of submissions failed to follow the guidelines and so got rejected. Following guidelines is really important!
Thanks for keeping us updated, Creighton! Since I am still in the race, I am getting really excited now! ;-)
Same =D
Thanks for the heads-up Creighton!
In what ways are people failing to follow guidelines, Creighton? Exceeding word count, failure to use the provided templates, submitting something else than an encounter etc?
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Word count wasn't a problem at all and everyone submitted an encounter. The main three things that came up (in no particularly order):
1. Not using the encounter template file. I *love* reformatting submissions.
2. Not using the stat block template. I *love* reformatting stat blocks and trying to work out the math behind it.
3. Including non-approved rules options. For example, the guidelines stated no gunslingers or alchemists. I got both!
Shockingly, quite a lot of people didn't even include their details on their submission! This made contacting them tricky.
Why did I just see this thread today?
Crap.
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Do the formatting guidelines change very frequently?
I didn't get in on this this time around, but if I were to grab the templates and start working on a few things for the next go-round, would the current ones still be a good starting point?
No, they very rarely change. I'm a big fan of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it!"
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Why did I just see this thread today?
Crap.
Nah, just think of it this way: You've got a head start on having your submission ready for the next time Creighton announces this.
So, no excuses! Get cracking right now, finish it (very important), and polish it til it's extra shiny.
1. Not using the encounter template file. I *love* reformatting submissions.
Just one note on that - I noted that a lot of the yellow blocked text would sometimes fight against being changed/edited, seeming to dislike additional text added (for extra HDs, extra AC types, new resistances/weaknesses/immunities/whatever, etc.); I didn't notice until I was giving my final read-over and going through spellcheck that there was some kind of hidden formula or calculator embedded in that text. Does messing with that hidden formula cause too much trouble? I didn't mess with it and may have overridden it in some cases, mostly because I didn't notice it was there until just before submitting, and couldn't make heads or tails of what it did.
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32
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I didn't even notice that there was hidden formula text until I tried to copy/paste my encounter.
Because it was said that posting the encounter and getting feedback was welcome, here is my encounter.
The reason it was rejected was because I used an alchemist. I somehow missed that line when I was reading the guidelines.
Shockingly, quite a lot of people didn't even include their details on their submission! This made contacting them tricky.
Gotta work on that ESP! If people go leaving contact details on things, people might start to... I dunno, contact them or something! ;)
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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I didn't even notice that there was hidden formula text until I tried to copy/paste my encounter.
Because it was said that posting the encounter and getting feedback was welcome, here is my encounter.
The reason it was rejected was because I used an alchemist. I somehow missed that line when I was reading the guidelines.
I was very disappointed to reject this encounter. I think it had an excellent mix of creatures and an interesting setup. It was well written as well. Just the presence of the alchemist nixed it.
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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1. Not using the encounter template file. I *love* reformatting submissions.Just one note on that - I noted that a lot of the yellow blocked text would sometimes fight against being changed/edited, seeming to dislike additional text added (for extra HDs, extra AC types, new resistances/weaknesses/immunities/whatever, etc.); I didn't notice until I was giving my final read-over and going through spellcheck that there was some kind of hidden formula or calculator embedded in that text. Does messing with that hidden formula cause too much trouble? I didn't mess with it and may have overridden it in some cases, mostly because I didn't notice it was there until just before submitting, and couldn't make heads or tails of what it did.
What was the name of your encounter? I'll take a look at it and let you know what happened. The yellow highlighting should have been easy to get rid of. Do you use a Mac? I created the template on a PC - perhaps there are cross platform issues I didn't know about.
Messing with the hidden text should have no affect on the rest of the document. It just exists so I can quickly and easily check the maths of the character.
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Mine was The Grey Grove.
I use a PC, but I use Open Office rather than MS Word, so that might have been part of the issue. It wasn't difficult to deal with, just required a bit of fiddling, but I was a bit worried I'd erased some vital calculating formula by the time I noticed it was even there.
Yay =D Glad you liked it.
And yeah, know the feeling.
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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I've just posted an update to my blog. The headlines are that everyone should know by next Wednesday whether they've been successful or not and that woodlands are a very popular location for encounters!
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2012
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I've just posted an update to my blog. The headlines are that everyone should know by next Wednesday whether they've been successful or not and that woodlands are a very popular location for encounters!
Admittedly, some of my best work for Raging Swan has been in the woods.
Hmmm, that sounds kinda weird.
Woo!
I've just posted an update to my blog. The headlines are that everyone should know by next Wednesday whether they've been successful or not and that woodlands are a very popular location for encounters!
I was under the impression that anyone "good enough" would pass, but from your blogpost I get the impression that there is a set, limited number of possible "winners"?
If that is so, can you tell us how many you plan to survive the final pick? :-)
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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I've just posted an update to my blog. The headlines are that everyone should know by next Wednesday whether they've been successful or not and that woodlands are a very popular location for encounters!I was under the impression that anyone "good enough" would pass, but from your blogpost I get the impression that there is a set, limited number of possible "winners"?
If that is so, can you tell us how many you plan to survive the final pick? :-)
Good enough was indeed my criteria. Good enough for four and a half or five stars! Because I had no clue how many submissions I'd get I didn't make any detailed plans when I set up the open call. Now, it looks like I'll end up with about 10 (or roughly 20% of entries).
Ha! Standing out from the crowd with my mountain pass!
I see your mountain pass, sir, and I raise you one smelly, damp swamp ;-)
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Must be that Danish weather that inspired both of us to make swamp encounters.
Creighton, can we expect the same terrain choises for the next open call?
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Must be that Danish weather that inspired both of us to make swamp encounters.
Creighton, can we expect the same terrain choises for the next open call?
Probably not. I fancy mixing it up a bit. Perhaps urban encounters or cave/cavern encounters. Those could be fun!
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I make zero apologies for my forest encounter.
Team Forest, represent! Looks like the Jacobs did not clone each other in this area, at least. We'll have to try better for our urban and/or cave/cavern encounters.
Creighton, it's very good of you to offer feedback to everyone. That's invaluable advice/help that I know not everyone has time to give.
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Team Forest, represent! Looks like the Jacobs did not clone each other in this area, at least. We'll have to try better for our urban and/or cave/cavern encounters.
Creighton, it's very good of you to offer feedback to everyone. That's invaluable advice/help that I know not everyone has time to give.
String enough forest encounters together and that's one dangerous woods...and one weird adventure.
As a writer with a single credit to my name, I'll echo the thanks for feedback.
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Creighton, it's very good of you to offer feedback to everyone. That's invaluable advice/help that I know not everyone has time to give.
+1
Especially if you are only able to use 20%. That is a lot of feedback to give!
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Dang, didn't make the cut. :(
Apparently I had a solid encounter without enough background. The ironic part is that my wife was saying I should add more depth, but I told her I thought it needed to maintain a certain "generic-ness" so it could be easily and modularly plugged into people's games. I guess I aimed for the wrong target and, unfortunately, aimed perfectly! D'oh!
String enough forest encounters together and that's one dangerous woods...and one weird adventure.Team Forest, represent! Looks like the Jacobs did not clone each other in this area, at least. We'll have to try better for our urban and/or cave/cavern encounters.
Creighton, it's very good of you to offer feedback to everyone. That's invaluable advice/help that I know not everyone has time to give.
I'd give it a shot =)
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Team Forest, represent! Looks like the Jacobs did not clone each other in this area, at least. We'll have to try better for our urban and/or cave/cavern encounters.
Creighton, it's very good of you to offer feedback to everyone. That's invaluable advice/help that I know not everyone has time to give.
String enough forest encounters together and that's one dangerous woods...and one weird adventure.
As a writer with a single credit to my name, I'll echo the thanks for feedback.
That's no problem. I think if you are good enough to send in an encounter I should make the time to give you some feedback. Seems only fair! Thanks for participating!
Man I am so excited to see what other people submitted.
Man I am so excited to see what other people submitted.
You're in luck! I have it on very good authority that at least 20% of the submitted encounters will be available in one handy pdf bundle right here on paizo.com and other reputable dealers of such literature in the near future.
:-)
Yeah but we have to wait until February!
=P
Dang, didn't make the cut. :(
Apparently I had a solid encounter without enough background. The ironic part is that my wife was saying I should add more depth, but I told her I thought it needed to maintain a certain "generic-ness" so it could be easily and modularly plugged into people's games. I guess I aimed for the wrong target and, unfortunately, aimed perfectly! D'oh!
Darn it - Team Jacob takes a hit. One down, two to go.
And here I was really hoping this would be a 3 Jacob book. If only we Jacobs would realize that our wives/girlfriends are always right, it might have been so.
All the gaming stuff goes right over the head of my girlfriend (much like when she tries to explain medical stuff to me and I assume she's just making it up if the word sounds French instead of Latin). I tried explaining the concept of 3PP to her and she just said as long as I was happy, she's happy.
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... she just said as long as I was happy, she's happy.
You marry this woman! You marry her right now! If you jump in the car, how long before you hit Vegas?
Oh wait - once you marry them, it usually becomes the other way around, don't it?
I'm working on it.
Was actually just thinking I could write up a final 9 Blazin' Months item: Ring o' Doom. I figure it's got a fear effect wrapped up in it... Hmm. It might be a cursed item, though, rather than a wondrous item.
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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I've just revealed the successful submissions for the Broken Freelancer Open Call over on my blog. Congratulations to the successful designers! As soon as Christmas is out of the way, I'l begin layout and development of the encounters with a view to releasing the supplement in late February.
Congratulations again to the successful designers. I'll be running another such open call next year as I've enjoyed this whole process immensely - and I've learned a thing or two along the way as well!
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Thanks so much, Creighton! :-)
It was a lot of fun to participate and a great learning experience as well. I really encourage others to jump in and participate the next time 'round.
Btw, from looking at the chosen encounters I can see that I really need to put some more imagination into the encounter title the next time, jeez ;-)
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Thanks so much, Creighton! :-)
It was a lot of fun to participate and a great learning experience as well. I really encourage others to jump in and participate the next time 'round.
Btw, from looking at the chosen encounters I can see that I really need to put some more imagination into the encounter title the next time, jeez ;-)
Feel free to suggest one!
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Congrats everyone! I hope you had fun with the contest, working with Creighton is an absolute pleasure!