The previous year's Beastiary entry rounds specify that you must create a Golarion monster. Does this mean the monster must be from the planet Golarion, or the campaign world Golarion? There are many other planets that we now know exist in the campaign world, could I legally make a monster from one of those?
In 2012 and '13, the rules were "the entry must be a new Golarion monster (not world-neutral or set in a world other than Golarion)."
I believe you could create a monster from another world that can be found on Golarion, though (a la flumphs or something else that might come to Golarion for whatever reason, for example).
World could mean planet, but it could also mean campaign world. This would then encompass all the planets we know exist in the campaign world like Eox or Akiton.
Alright, so Golarion means specifically the planet. That helps, thanks!
Sean, and anyone else really, for the monster round will the Top 32 be given access to Bestiary 4 if they don't own it? I remember in the archetype round last year Inner Sea guide was given to Top 32 contestants...or maybe it was just one person?
We have been giving the ISWG (or its pre-PF equivalent) to the Top 32 so they can be informed about the campaign setting when they write a setting-specific archetype. I don't believe we have any plans to send out PDFs of Bestiary 4 to anyone in this competition.
Here are the monster-round rules from last year's competition.
And here is a post by my giving an example of a generic monster and a Golarion version of that same monster.
I am very interested in what might be the effective difference (if any) between "Create a Bestiary entry" (short prompt for this year's Round 2) and "Create a monster and stat block" (short prompt for 2013's Round 3).
Is this simply an innocuous, non-substantive change in terminology, or something more?
Monster entries in the actual Bestiary books are typically shorter than what you'd see in a monster write-up from the back matter of an Adventure Path chapter. Including the stat-block, the former equates to about 600-700 words (due to needing room for an adequate piece of art), while the latter gives you up to 1400 words with a deeper dive into a creature's habitat and ecology.
So, compare/contrast that with prior rounds from RPG Superstar. In 2012, they were given 600 words or less to do their write-up, including the stat-block. So, it should be right on the same order, I'd imagine.
Not sure if good spot but oh well,
When it comes to environment, does a monsters enironment need to include those environments, or does it need exclude other environments?
For monsters, the environment spot in the stat block will list the environment(s) in which it is normally found. (e.g. Environment warm forests). That's all that goes there.
The Golarion element would usually be found in the descriptive text after the stat block. (e.g. This monster can be found roaming the jungles of the Mawangi Expanse.)
Monster entries in the actual Bestiary books are typically shorter than what you'd see in a monster write-up from the back matter of an Adventure Path chapter...
Thanks Neil! Helpful as always.
It'll be very interesting to see the wordcount limit for Round 2, then, to see how this plays out.
For monsters, the environment spot in the stat block will list the environment(s) in which it is normally found. (e.g. Environment warm forests). That's all that goes there.
The Golarion element would usually be found in the descriptive text after the stat block. (e.g. This monster can be found roaming the jungles of the Mawangi Expanse.)
Kind of missed my question, though I have a better understanding why anyway.
The question came up because I am unlikely to develop a monster that is found primarily in one environment. I usually make "generalist" creatures rather then specialist creatures, and generalists usually appear in multiple environments.
It took me a while before I realized the expectation was that the creature would have only one environment, which is just odd to me.
GMD, I think we're a little confused. Where are you seeing restrictions on environment?
Last year, one of the twists was the "monster's environment must be forest, river, or swamp (or more than one of these)," but generally you've been able to do what you want in that regard. As of now, we don't know if there will be any restrictions on environment for 2014.
And how exactly does that eliminate my questions validity?
There are plenty of generalists in the natural order, and also, if the race is intelligent,, (like the drow entry for example only with natural hit dice) then it might not have a favored enviironment at all.
Edit, my point being, how does this relate to creating order?
Lol, a misread on my part. No wonder it didnt make sense. Sorry.
Though, I would expect orders to be in a very different format, namely, there will be a situation, the monster simply needs to be reasonably found in that situation which means it is unlikely to require exclusivity to that situation (except perhaps constructs or frankenstiens)
Edit, it also means we can ask for or create details about the situation and draw inspiration from that situation rather then a blank sheet with restrictions.
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GMD, I think we're a little confused. Where are you seeing restrictions on environment?
Last year, one of the twists was the "monster's environment must be forest, river, or swamp (or more than one of these)," but generally you've been able to do what you want in that regard. As of now, we don't know if there will be any restrictions on environment for 2014.
The only thing I'd assume it's not one of these. I'd also keep in the back of my mind things that haven't been done before, like templates.
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Not every monster assigned to be designed with environmental restriction is created to appear in a specific encounter. At the back of every AP issue are a number of new monsters that are typically tied to the region the issue covers.
Certainly there is a use for generalist monsters who can survive in a number of regions however there is also call for creatures the thrive in arctic or dessert regions. Assigning an environment in the contest simulates the sort of context free design orders a freelancer may receive and tests the freelancer's ability to follow the instructions given and still create something new and exciting.
My point is that in general, there will be something to design for, rather then a few things to not design for. The difference is significant.
GM DarkLightHitomi, although Sean doesn't really like the use of it... "Any" is a valid thing to place in the environment line of a bestiary entry (assuming that the contest doesn't stipulate an environment for you like they did last year).
"Any land" and "Any land and underground" are also examples of listed environment types.
Hope that answers your question.
My point is that in general, there will be something to design for, rather then a few things to not design for. The difference is significant.
How is it designing "not for" something to be asked for a critter that typifies a particular environs? A mountain goat could survive in prairie, conceivably, but it would dilute the character of the mountains to do so.
Besides, do you generally respond to job offers by telling them they ran the interview incorrectly? :)
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How is it designing "not for" something to be asked for a critter that typifies a particular environs?
I'm unclear what you are asking here.
The way I understood it, GM DLH was noting that there is a difference between designing a monster that is typically found in the mountains, vs. designing a monster that is not typically found in the mountains. Moreover, he was wondering if you could make, say, a fey that can be found in multiple environments.
That was what I got from it, anyway.
When I originally asked the question, I hadnt realized that I would be expected to select only one environment option (with any, or any plus underground as single options), thus I expected it to be possible to create a creature that might live in mountain forests in general and thus be found in mountains and in forests.
Additionally, considering the "any" option, it would be important to know if they are asking for a monster that can reasonably and often be found there (wherever that may be) or a monster that can only be found there.
They never said the creaature had to typify the environment, only that it must be found in the specified environments.
I don't know where you're seeing you would be expected to select only one environment option, GMD. Last year's "twist" was a restriction on the monster's environment, but even then you had three areas you can pick from. Paizo could do a similar twist this year, but it would surprise me based on previous year-to-year rule changes.
As with any bestiary creature, if a GM wanted to put it somewhere else for whatever reason (a blue dragon in an urban setting, for example), he/she can of course do that on his/her own.
First, by picking only one environment, I was refering to the fact that bestiary entries only list one terrain or any or any plus underground. So far that Ive looked at anyway, also suported by them using icons for terrain and climate with not a lot of space for multiple beyond that.
Additionally, the GM can do whatever they want, but some feel constrained by the rules and some players get rather unhappy when you tell them that in your game the books are wrong. Far too many players see the books as black and white, either allowed as is or not allowed at all, except for very specific changes stated before the game even starts.
So yeah, a GM could take and use whatever monster they want, but some players may get unreasonable about it.
Ah, got it. I think it can be more mixed than that even if most aren't.
Cliff giants' environment, for example, is temperate or warm deserts or plains. Gathlains are found in temperate forests or jungles.