Template Fu's Annual Template Check Offer


RPG Superstar™ General Discussion


If you would like a quick template use check of your entry, please feel free to PM me your design and I will happily point out any miss-steps you have made.

By using the forum PM tool, this will allow us both to see your item as it would appear in public voting.

This is only an offer of template use checking, I will not be able to detail critique designs as I need to provided a quick turn around for those who want to take this offer up.

This offer is available for anyone sending me ONE design before midnight UK time of the 12th December. I will try to answer as many as I can before midnight UK time of 14th December.

This will allow everyone a chance to fix things up or have confidence in their template use around 2 days before submission close.

I will work on them in the order received.

If you haven't gotten a reply by midday 15th December your local time, then I probably didn't reach yours, sorry.

The design PDF I started to compile from the last seven years of this competition does still contain advice that is very applicable to armor, staves, wands, rings, etc, so feel free to check it out.

I have also started a games design blog which has advice snippets, links and tutorials already available that you might find of use.

NB: I am in no way an official of this competition, I only offer advice and help to my fellow contestants. It is your decision if you wish to take me up on this offer.

Either way, have fun and do enter.

Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

An extremely generous offer, and the PDF is an excellent and lovingly compiled resource.

Thanks AA/TF

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Your quite welcome.

Don't forget - use the Private Message tool of the forum to maintain anonymity!

DO NOT post your entry in this or any other forum or publicly visible place anywhere - that would DQ you instantly!

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

In the old days, when this competition was pre-school age (grin), the kind(?) judges would give snippets of things they were seeing.

So.

In the spirit of those old "oh c**p!" moments, let's bring a few back :P

With the designs I have checked so far (double figures already!), some patterns are already forming. These are most likely due to time pressure and being first draft designs.

Take the time to check against this brief list of common mis-steps I have already seen. You will save yourself much grief, I promise!

Slot - make sure you use the right slot type for your chosen item type! Yes, really! This is a silly mistake that is easy to catch, so catch it! ;)

Weight - If you have no Weight then use the proper dash and REMOVE the period!

Passivity - Simple quick check, look for words "appears" "like", "can", "may" - anything that gives/engenders a feeling on uncertainty in your text. If you are uncertain, so will your readers and voters be.

"may" and "can" are still appearing - try to avoid them, be definite in what you are describing.

If you "can" do something, just "do" it.
If you "may" do something, just "do" it.

Contrived example follows - you have been warned!

"You can use this item so that it may blow up in your face!"

- this is weakened a great deal by the word may,
- however, with a simple change...

"After use, this item blows up in your face!" - eeek!

Yeah, a bit contrived, but I think it shows how much more emphasis there is and less words too!


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

A bit of advice of my own, based on something that almost messed me up when creating my item this year:

In previous years, with wondrous items, cost has always been half of price.

This year, that is not always true. If you are making a weapon, armor, or shield, please remember that the price of the non-magical base item is not halved. For example, suppose you are making a magical dagger. All together, it ends up with a price of 10,302gp - 10,000gp worth of magical abilities, and 302gp for the masterwork dagger.

The item's cost is 5,302gp - not 5,151gp.

This may be nit-picky, but attention to this level of detail is certainly something I will be looking for when voting this round.

Lantern Lodge Dedicated Voter Season 8

MaxAstro wrote:

A bit of advice of my own, based on something that almost messed me up when creating my item this year:

In previous years, with wondrous items, cost has always been half of price.

This year, that is not always true. If you are making a weapon, armor, or shield, please remember that the price of the non-magical base item is not halved. For example, suppose you are making a magical dagger. All together, it ends up with a price of 10,302gp - 10,000gp worth of magical abilities, and 302gp for the masterwork dagger.

The item's cost is 5,302gp - not 5,151gp.

This may be nit-picky, but attention to this level of detail is certainly something I will be looking for when voting this round.

I certainly forgot to. :><: Ah well. My thingy is awesome anyways.


Judges haven't been picky about price and cost in previous years. You never know but at least there's a precedent.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

While I certainly don't think anyone will get DQed for that sort of thing, I do think getting those kinds of details right will reflect positively on you. ...Also, getting those kinds of details wrong will probably be more food for Template Fu. :)

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Template Fu wont knock people for halving prices - it's the order of the price that's important.

If you have a price that is too extreme (at the cheap end or the cost end), I will notice, BUT, if it "looks" and "feels" right, I won't worry too much - I think the judges tend to be like that too.

another common trip up this year now

If you create an item which needs just feats, or feats and spells with no "other requirements", do NOT lose the semi colon.

These examples show a few permutations (they are wrong for lots of reasons, just concentrate on the semi-colon).

Requirements Craft Superstar Item Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item; Cost 1 billion gp - RIGHT

Requirements Craft Superstar Item, vote this Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item; vote this; Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item, vote this; Cost 1 billion gp - RIGHT


Since I had to start over on mine (I didn't like what I was getting in the theme department), I'm not likely to be able to make use of your very generous offer. Your *ADVICE* however will be well-used.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

That's fine, I have caught up so if you want me to look, PM me.

I entered my submission a while ago now (so avoiding identifying when I actually entered :P), so I am now happy to look and help right up to 24 hours before deadline.

Whilst I am here...

The last few template reviews I have done have been exceptionally well executed. There is a marked improvement again this year on template use. You should all be very pleased with yourselves :)

Sovereign Court Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

If you have a non craft x item feat in the construction requirements is it written out as?:

Requirements Craft X Item, Feat, spell; Cost xyz gp


One check-up request, delivered!

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka motteditor

Kigvan, that's correct. All the feats should be in alphabetical order, followed by the spells in alphabetical order.


Oh. Crap. I assumed spells were listed in descending order of power, then alphabetically.

scribbles furiously on screen

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka JoelF847

Anthony Adam wrote:

Template Fu wont knock people for halving prices - it's the order of the price that's important.

If you have a price that is too extreme (at the cheap end or the cost end), I will notice, BUT, if it "looks" and "feels" right, I won't worry too much - I think the judges tend to be like that too.

another common trip up this year now

If you create an item which needs just feats, or feats and spells with no "other requirements", do NOT lose the semi colon.

These examples show a few permutations (they are wrong for lots of reasons, just concentrate on the semi-colon).

Requirements Craft Superstar Item Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item; Cost 1 billion gp - RIGHT

Requirements Craft Superstar Item, vote this Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item; vote this; Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item, vote this; Cost 1 billion gp - RIGHT

Aren't all of these wrong? Costs should be numeric, not using words like billion, but instead be 1,000,000,000? :)

Sovereign Court Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Jacob W. Michaels wrote:
Kigvan, that's correct. All the feats should be in alphabetical order, followed by the spells in alphabetical order.

Thanks

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Hodge Podge

Heh, I'm thinking my item isn't compelling enough this year. I sort of stayed up until 7:00 AM working on the first thing that came to mind then submitted it in a state of delirium.

But darn it, if my template use isn't PERFECT. :P

Star Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8

...Ah, I just sent mine, didn't realize I was hours too late.

Though honestly I'm more worried about wordcount than most of the other mechanical things... and of course quality of entry over that...

Marathon Voter Season 8

This PDF is amazing! Thank you for all the work and care you put into it, it's a wonderful resource.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Joel Flank wrote:
Anthony Adam wrote:

Template Fu wont knock people for halving prices - it's the order of the price that's important.

If you have a price that is too extreme (at the cheap end or the cost end), I will notice, BUT, if it "looks" and "feels" right, I won't worry too much - I think the judges tend to be like that too.

another common trip up this year now

If you create an item which needs just feats, or feats and spells with no "other requirements", do NOT lose the semi colon.

These examples show a few permutations (they are wrong for lots of reasons, just concentrate on the semi-colon).

Requirements Craft Superstar Item Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item; Cost 1 billion gp - RIGHT

Requirements Craft Superstar Item, vote this Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item; vote this; Cost 1 billion gp - WRONG
Requirements Craft Superstar Item, vote this; Cost 1 billion gp - RIGHT

Aren't all of these wrong? Costs should be numeric, not using words like billion, but instead be 1,000,000,000? :)

Indeed, including using a non existent feat :P, which is why the text included...

(they are wrong for lots of reasons, just concentrate on the semi-colon)

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I have answered everyone who posted up to the time of this post.

I can do a few more, so the offer remains open for 24 hours.

LISTS

Ack, lists.

Right, everyone know what an asterisk is? its this *


  • Replace those god awful dashes, dots, double dashed, periods, whatever you are using to mark the start of your list item.
  • replace them with that asterisk encased in square bracers
  • at the start of the list place the word list encased in square bracers
  • at the end of the list place the word /list encased in square bracers, inlcuding the /
  • Now go to your messages and PM someone you trust (in case of accidental send)
  • Paste your item in the message and hit PREVIEW
  • You will see your list looks A LOT nicer ;)

Don't hit send unless you are PM'ing your review circle ;)

This is a MUCH safer preview than the submission tool, it just doesn't give you a word count - so do use the submission preview tool before submitting.


Preview.

Preview.

Preview.

:D


(especially if you are working from your day-job office and got interrupted)

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka GM_Solspiral

thanks Anthony you're a class act sir

Liberty's Edge

Jacob W. Michaels wrote:
Kigvan, that's correct. All the feats should be in alphabetical order, followed by the spells in alphabetical order.

Does this mean that the crafting feat does not necessarily appear in first position ?

For example : "Requirements Alertness, Craft Item" would be correct, while "Requirements Craft Item, Alertness" would be wrong ?

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16 , Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 aka Cyrad

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Would Master Template Fu approve of my formatting style guide?

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka motteditor

Black Raven, as far as I'm aware. However, it's pretty rare. The formula alembic, a wondrous item, starts with Brew Potion in its requirements, then goes to Craft Wondrous Item.

Paizo Employee RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8

Correct. The feats are in alphabetical order no matter what.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Indeed, that is correct on the feats.

That post you link looks pretty comprehensive Garrick... but as it's now approaching 2 am and I have caught up with all the template check requests, I think I will go sleepy and have a proper look in the morning.

Goodnight all and good luck with your submissions.

Don't forget, on the submission forms are TWO boxes, a thin one and a fat one. The thin one should include your item name only with no B /B markup coding. It is the first of the two boxes.

The second box is the entry box, it should contain the whole of your item, INCLUDING the item name again, this time with the template mark up.

The first box is not part of the word count - it forms the title of your item page during public voting - more importantly it allows the preview button to show the word count for you!

The second box is your entry box, all the words in here get counted and the bb code from the template will ensure it looks nice for the voters.

Don't be a banana and leave out the first box, and dont be a banana peel and leave your item name out of the full entry box --- you will kick yourself if you do.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

And I have caught up and have an empty queue, so this offer is now closed. I need to start researching maps a bit more.

Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Thanks Anthony for all the help you give people.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I enjoy it, its something I look forward to every year. And its a real buzz when I see people I have reviewed items for appear in the top 32.

Grand Lodge Star Voter Season 8

Question, what on earth do we do with that slot space? Since round 1 isn't for a wondrous item this time around, the only thing that would technically take up a slot is armors and shields. In the core rulebook the slot entry was omitted for weapons.

Do we simply put "weapon", "staff", "ammunition", etc?


Strife2002 wrote:

Question, what on earth do we do with that slot space? Since round 1 isn't for a wondrous item this time around, the only thing that would technically take up a slot is armors and shields. In the core rulebook the slot entry was omitted for weapons.

Do we simply put "weapon", "staff", "ammunition", etc?

Probably "none" for most things. Armor, ring, and shield are slots, I believe.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 aka Ezekiel Shanoax, the Stormchild

Anthony Adam wrote:
I enjoy it, its something I look forward to every year. And its a real buzz when I see people I have reviewed items for appear in the top 32.

Indeed! Thank you for this valuable community service!

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8 aka Jiggy

Strife2002 wrote:

Question, what on earth do we do with that slot space? Since round 1 isn't for a wondrous item this time around, the only thing that would technically take up a slot is armors and shields. In the core rulebook the slot entry was omitted for weapons.

Do we simply put "weapon", "staff", "ammunition", etc?

Looking at an example of your item type in the Core Rulebook would probably answer your question.

Grand Lodge Star Voter Season 8

I did, it's omitted for a weapon or armor. I'd love to maintain appearances and leave out "slot" all together, but I'm worried that'd be an immediate DQ because I'm breaking template

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Ixxix

It doesnt break template if thats how it is in core.

Grand Lodge Star Voter Season 8

bah, nevermind, I was looking at UE not Core Rulebook. "None" it is.

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka motteditor

Strife, make sure you're looking at the Core Rulebook, not Ultimate Equipment. The format is different in the latter, and not what we've been asked to follow.

ETA: Never mind. You beat me by 30 seconds. :)

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan

Strife2002 wrote:
I did, it's omitted for a weapon or armor.

Maybe my CRB is broken then, because I definitely see something in the template for both weapons and armor.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan

Strife2002 wrote:
bah, nevermind, I was looking at UE not Core Rulebook. "None" it is.

Be careful, that may be true for one of the classes of items you mentioned, but not for both.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Indeed, the rules point you to the CRB - but that has had a few printings now, so do check the errata for your copy.

E.g before 5th printing, some slots showed as a dash "-", and from 5th printing it shows as none with a semi-colon "none;"

The PRD is pretty quickly updated when errata get released, so you can always double check that too - it will have some extra formatting for hyperlinks, but the general layout will be correct for your item type.

Always use the most up to date layouts for the book you are pointed to in the round rules.

Good luck all.

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