What have you done to the teasing posts?

[Anthony Adam]

It may be just me and if it is, feel free to ignore me, but...

I noticed last year and occurring again this year that the boards, although active, aren't as active as they used to be during prior years of the competition.

It has occurred to me that one of the things that seem to be missing are those wonderful/painful teasing posts we used to get from the judges (usually Clark, but occasionally the others too).

You know the ones I mean. "Hmm, we seem to be getting a lot of wagging tails this year" and "Aw man, we got THAT item again." and "It seems that auto reject 16 is popular this year" and so on.

These always used to produce the agonized posts of entrants wondering if that was their item, and contributed so much to the Superstar experience. I find I actually miss them >.< - deary me, what am I saying!

Any chance there is a judge or two having sneak peeks at the entries so far, any teasing posts you might like to make?

All together now... ;)

Look what they've done to Superstar, Clark
Look what they've done to Superstar
Well it's the only thing I could do half right
And it's turning out all wrong, Clark
Look what they've done to Superstar

Look what they've tease posted now, Clark
Look what they've tease posted now
Well they picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I'm half insane, Clark
Look what they've tease posted now

I wish I could find a splat book to live in
Wish I could find a splat book
Well, if I write for a Paizo book
I'd never have to come out and look at
What they've tease posted now...

[R Pickard]

Well, first, they are not going through the items probably until Jan 1 (or after Jan 1 since that's a holiday).

And see, I'd rather them not do that anyway. It belittles the contestants and the judges should be spending time either doing their judging job, doing their other job, or taking a break from having to read entries. The only thing that's ever made me feel like superstar is not worth entering is the tone of some of the posts from the judges--I did not enter for several years solely because of these posts and how I felt they reflected an unprofessional attitude unsuiting for something they themselves have referred to as a "job interview."

[Anthony Adam]

Fair enough, I was just commenting an observation :)

[Thomas LeBlanc]

Maybe Lisa has all her minions with spare time working in the pits (CS and warehouse)? For every post they get banished for 2d3x5 minutes/level.

Back-ordered from the Great Golem Sale plus holiday shopping ya know.

[Joseph Kellogg]

I know they've been reading the entries, because they have to disqualify any that break the rules. And I saw SKR post somewhere that they've already disqualified some. I'd certainly rather keep on top of that as they come in than wait until right before the deadline and do them all at once.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

On a serious note, I never liked the teasing posts. They may scare off some of the more uncertain contestants or belittle the individuals who made the item in question. Plus, causing stress from others who may have made a similar mistake and they are worrying it is their item being discussed.

[Maurice de Mare]

Well, I did like the teasers. I often find it odd that aspiring writers cannot handle critique well or know when to take cues from the information provided.

When somebody lists a pitfall and you know that you avoided it (with your item), then that is positive feedback that a contestant should celebrate.....

[R Pickard]

Maurice de Mare wrote:

Well, I did like the teasers. I often find it odd that aspiring writers cannot handle critique well or know when to take cues from the information provided.

Why do you assume that people who don't like teasers are writers who are being butthurt about it?

I'm a freelance editor and a former journalist. If I didn't have a writer's thick skin I'd never survive. That's not the issue.

I think the teasers have an unprofessional tone that is more befitting a locker room or a bar, than something that is often described by the judges as a "job interview," and thus would be something where I expect the "interviewers" to show some degree of respect (just as if I were actually being interviewed at a job, and the interviewers were making veiled but nasty comments about the other applicants, I would probably assume the place was not a nice place to work). You can be humorous and lighthearted, but to me humorous and lighthearted does not have to cross the line of being at someone else's expense, in a public forum literally readable by the entire world.

Perhaps I simply lack a sense of humor about it, but I tend not to have a sense of humor when it involves people making fun of other people. I've never felt targeted by the judges personally (I've only entered one Superstar so far, and never noticed a complaint about something that might have been about my item), but I can feel compassionate toward others who were targeted.

[RonarsCorruption]

I had to admit, DQ, I feel pretty much the opposite. Having contributed to Paizo in the recent past, I can say that they're a very sociable and friendly bunch. This chatting and teasing is just part of that. They're taking part, chatting with the community, letting us know they're reading the boards. I'm sure it's possible for them to go overboard with it, but I haven't seen it.

This is pretty much a job interview, and you have to remember like any other job you have to be interviewing the company you're considering working for so you know you can stand working for them.

[Andrew Marlowe]

While for the entrants its a job interview it also is the rpg analog to reality TV shows like American Idol. Which means a bit of showmanship on the part of the hosts is required and I think that was the intent of the teasing posts. Whether it works or not seems to vary quite a bit depending on who you ask.

[Majuba]

The teasers were fun when the judges were the ones cutting things down to 32 entries.

Unless the item is meeting automatic disqualification (length, content, etc.), then everyone will see the items being 'teased', quite publicly. That's far less appropriate, and could even make the judge look foolish should the item prove popular.

[Maurice de Mare]

After voting more than 1000 times I can quite easily imagine that the judges felt that they needed to 'protect' themselves from more horrible entries by educating the public to not make the mistake.

Anyway, let's settle on the fact that we the public like to hear what the common themes are for a given year.

[Curaigh]

The boards look just about as active this year as last year at this time. With a shortened window I'd guess most folks are concentrating on writing their items. It will pick up when more submissions get done, and even more when judging opens.

That said, the boards seem very quiet without Clark and Neil, but I suppose that will change in a bit as well :)

[Monica Marlowe]

Anthony Adam wrote:

It may be just me and if it is, feel free to ignore me, but...

I noticed last year and occurring again this year that the boards, although active, aren't as active as they used to be during prior years of the competition.

It has occurred to me that one of the things that seem to be missing are those wonderful/painful teasing posts we used to get from the judges (usually Clark, but occasionally the others too).

You know the ones I mean. "Hmm, we seem to be getting a lot of wagging tails this year" and "Aw man, we got THAT item again." and "It seems that auto reject 16 is popular this year" and so on.

These always used to produce the agonized posts of entrants wondering if that was their item, and contributed so much to the Superstar experience. I find I actually miss them >.< - deary me, what am I saying!

Any chance there is a judge or two having sneak peeks at the entries so far, any teasing posts you might like to make?

All together now... ;)

Dear Anthony,

It is too early in RPG SuperStar to have already lost your mind. Please reconsider asking for further punishment.

Love,
Mamaursula

[Scott Fernandez]

I've got it on good authority that its been all hands on deck to hit some product deadlines. Once the storm passes I'm sure we'll see more activity.

--Vrock the Boat!

[Anthony Adam]

mamaursula wrote:

Anthony Adam wrote:

... stuff ...

Dear Anthony,

It is too early in RPG SuperStar to have already lost your mind. Please reconsider asking for further punishment.

Love,
Mamaursula

Gets up disappointedly from the assumed position!

Darn, you are kind of right, but entering 7 years consecutively must mean I no longer have one to lose ;)

[Anthony Adam]

Curaigh wrote:

The boards look just about as active this year as last year at this time. With a shortened window I'd guess most folks are concentrating on writing their items. It will pick up when more submissions get done, and even more when judging opens.

That said, the boards seem very quiet without Clark and Neil, but I suppose that will change in a bit as well :)

I am sure Clark is lurking when he can, ready to pounce and rah-rah... ;)

As for Neil, I suspect he is buried under a mountain of wrapping paper with all those presents for his little ones :D

[Neil Spicer]

Anthony Adam wrote:

As for Neil, I suspect he is buried under a mountain of wrapping paper with all those presents for his little ones :D

More like a mountain of freelance and double-duty at my day-job on top of holiday shopping and helping to wrangle four kids ages 9 and under so my wife doesn't go insane.

[Georgios Avate]

Isn't it exam period right now?, I know I have one tomorrow. That might be keeping people out of the boards

[Adam Daigle]

I don't think any of us can be Clark or Neil. Those two are madmen!

Many of us in-house judges are crazy-busy with tight deadlines right now (like many of the contestants), so I'm sure that might also contribute to fewer interactions. Once the items are live, the voters are going to be doing the bulk of the work, and that's when things really kick up. I've liked seeing all the helpful threads and posts to guide people into really knocking out a great entry. Keep that stuff up, folks!

Personally, I'm going to keep my commentary off of the wondrous items, and focus on the monster round that I'm judging. May your wondrous items be so awesome that I'm eagerly awaiting your monster entry! :)