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First timer as well.
True reason: been off and on unemployed for two years, playing various tabletop RPG games, hacks, reinventions, etc. Oddly, haven't played Pathfinder in years, though it's a lovely system. Decided I wanted to try to break into the tabletop business, figured I'd give it a shot.
Also I follow Wes Schneider on Tumblr and he's very enthusiastic and convincing.
Just browsing through the various discussions, I'm noticing there are a lot of first time entrants this time around.
I'm curious just how many of us there are.
And why...
Was it the shift from wondrous items to weapons, armor, etc?
For me, personally, this was the first year that I had both time and opportunity. The first round twist was icing. :D
Mostly having the time, and some friends prodded me to submit after I showed them.
Another first timer here.
Was mostly following the contest for the last few years as i had no good idea for an item. This year i had one prepared, which turned out to be not usable due to the twist, but fortunately i had a nice idea for another one. So i submitted it and lets see what happens.
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Also the first time for me.
I missed the contest last year as I was not that active on the forum. I only saw it when it was almost done.
I have picked up PFS and frequent the forum more often now. When I saw the announcement, I was pretty exited and decided to join.
I cant wait for voting to begin!
Also a first timer. I had been on the message boards before, but never read anything about RPGSS until March 2014. I decided then I'd try to enter the next contest. So nervous submitting, I think my pulse rate was at 200+
RPG Superstar 2015
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka mamaursula
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Oh, I know just how creatively evil you can be, MU. I remember what you did with Percy's ashes...
I've watched the proceedings of RPGSS since the first contest, because my husband and a friend of ours each placed twice (although once was as an alternate) and I wanted to support them. I never entered before because I don't consider myself a game designer, I never had an idea for a wondrous item, and most importantly I do not actually want to win the contest, I have no desire to write an adventure module.
Unfortunately they changed the round one rules from wondrous items to arms & armor, rods, staves and rings, which I did have an idea for, so I entered without really thinking about the fact that I still have no desire to win the contest or write an adventure. If I place in the Top 32, I'm not even sure what I will do. I may just lose my mind and go for it.
HA! Being a good storyteller isn't the same as being a good designer. There is very little room in this industry for a one trick pony. I'm going to have to hone my design skills if I want to get anywhere. I have never been one to read rule books for things I don't personally use because I don't want to know how the "magic" works, I want to experience it as a player as it happens. Gaming with players/characters who had White Wolf Lore x5 was probably the most discouraging part of my larp experience.
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Here's a weird thought for the day all (and welcome to the competition)
We are all, in effect, first timers this time because round 1 is all new and shiny. ;)
I'm a first-timer who totally blew the submission in a flurry of Haste to upload, without consideration of the posted limitations, so I presume I'm out of the race before it even started, just because I couldn't retract (or edit) my entry after it was sent, in favour of a more suitable item before the deadline closed... Of course the guidelines say that it "may" be disqualified for an infraction, I suspect that that caution is a rather diplomatic way of saying "will". I'm pretty sure that the guideline forbidding multiple entries is even more iron-clad, so I elected just to sit back and watch the rest of the competition, after I finished cursing, ironing my hands, and beating my head against the wardrobe. :-/ There'll always be next year, I suppose.
Another first entry. I heard about it in 2013, but I'm one of the folks that missed the RPGSS 2014. I looked in January, cause 2014, to see when it would be. So I started checking the page daily at the end of November!
I'm a first-timer who totally blew the submission in a flurry of Haste to upload, without consideration of the posted limitations, so I presume I'm out of the race before it even started, just because I couldn't retract (or edit) my entry after it was sent, in favour of a more suitable item before the deadline closed... Of course the guidelines say that it "may" be disqualified for an infraction, I suspect that that caution is a rather diplomatic way of saying "will". I'm pretty sure that the guideline forbidding multiple entries is even more iron-clad, so I elected just to sit back and watch the rest of the competition, after I finished cursing, ironing my hands, and beating my head against the wardrobe. :-/ There'll always be next year, I suppose.
The way Paizo has set the contest up, helps train you and prepare you for the ultimate prize of getting a paid gig, which can and often does lead to more paid gigs. So if you hit submit to early with out reading all the rules for clarity..learn from this. There is always next year and you will be more prepared when that contest opens up.
What everyone needs to remember, while this is supposed to be FUN (and it is) it is also a JOB INTERVIEW. The ultimate prize is not a take home item, it is the opportunity to get paid to write an Adventure Module.
Part of the contest is being able to follow directions and produce work in the same situations that freelancers often face. If Paizo is going to pay the winner to produce a quality product at their high standard, they want to ensure the winner is capable of meeting deadlines, following directions, learning from critique and adjusting to suit the developer's needs, and handling themselves as a professional.
Good Luck TerminalOrbit, you might not be out of the running...many of us second guess everything the moment we hit submit.
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First timer here as well. I vaguely remember hearing about this last year, but I was unavoidably detained by my personal life mixed with some school crazy. I completely forgot that it existed until I saw a post on Tumblr a few weeks ago.
I ran it by my group, and they said that I definitely had to enter. Facing that kind of enthusiasm and belief in my abilities, I was really left with no choice. I got some feedback and then just pulled the trigger.
By the way, how freaking terrifying was it for the rest of all y'all? It is maybe one of the scariest things I've ever done in my life.
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Wait until you are about to upload your first product onto d20pfsrd.com or rpgnow.com or Paizo ... paranoia levels skyrocket...
...and I hear it doesn't necessarily get better after the 400th...
:D
Wait until you are about to upload your first product onto d20pfsrd.com or rpgnow.com or Paizo ... paranoia levels skyrocket...
...and I hear it doesn't necessarily get better after the 400th...
:D
Good to know that I'm not the only one. My friends say that my personality is about sixty percent dark humor and sarcasm, and forty percent paranoia. So if my paranoia skyrockets expect me to be locked in a basement pouring over old rulebooks... Wait, that's what I do now... ;D
First timer here as well. I vaguely remember hearing about this last year, but I was unavoidably detained by my personal life mixed with some school crazy. I completely forgot that it existed until I saw a post on Tumblr a few weeks ago.
I ran it by my group, and they said that I definitely had to enter. Facing that kind of enthusiasm and belief in my abilities, I was really left with no choice. I got some feedback and then just pulled the trigger.
By the way, how freaking terrifying was it for the rest of all y'all? It is maybe one of the scariest things I've ever done in my life.
All the nerves. ;) The butterflies were using my stomach as a mosh pit.
Reading over my submission constantly, I am very optimistic.
Possible delusional optimism....I think I may end up being one of those humorous freak out contestants, ranting and trying to defend my laughable submission.
There should be an award for the "Lanterne Rouge" like the tour de france.
I think it would be held in high esteem, but there would probably be an equal amount of submissions just for that "honor".
Perhaps it should be its own contest on April fools day.
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I submitted a thing this year, though it's probably not Superstar material. It's definitely tough to come up with items that are interesting and strong enough to be a good alternative to flat bonuses, but not overpowered.
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I know I'm jumping on the bandwagon of brand-new, shiny first timers, but here it goes. I've been following RPGSS for about 3 years, and have always been too busy doing one thing or another during the first round, except this year. Because of the changes in time, I happened to be on the Piazo website on my birthday, and saw the posting for the contest, and figured I don't really have anything to lose. So, here goes everything and nothing, all at the same time. Good luck to all of you, and I hope that one of us does make it to the next round.
Do we get any feedback on our Items to help us next time?
Do we get any feedback on our Items to help us next time?
The last few years there have been "Critique my Item" threads that have popped up a few days after the Top 32 have been announced. And if you get into the Top 32, then the judges will leave their feedback on your submission.
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I submitted a thing this year, though it's probably not Superstar material. It's definitely tough to come up with items that are interesting and strong enough to be a good alternative to flat bonuses, but not overpowered.
Definitely, although in some ways I think I would have had a harder time of things if this were still the wondrous items round. Maybe it's just me, but trying to make an item that shines despite some pretty clear design boundaries seems easier to me than "Design basically anything that can pretty much interact with the rules and the game in a limitless number of ways".
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Anybody's entry also the first thing they've designed for an RPG? I've got some high-fives just for y'all extra-gutsy newbs.
Yep, that'd be me. I've been playing playing since ADnD but never designed anything. Had a blast and excited to get feedback on the item after voting when I can post it publicly. I posted a second item I made in a different thread and hoping to get feedback on that as well. It's all so exciting.
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Anybody's entry also the first thing they've designed for an RPG? I've got some high-fives just for y'all extra-gutsy newbs.
That's me. I adore Pathfinder and have been a GM for a long time, and I love writing. It seemed natural to put those things together and enter. I wanted to last year, but I was feeling a bit directionless. Now, I'm ready not just to enter this contest, but try to get my writing out there in general.
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Whoa, I'm super excited about how many new people there are! I'm glad it's getting a lot of people to write! Great job, guys!
It's my first time entering, too. In immediate hindsight, I probably should have read more guides :). I'm also glad that there are so many guides, though.
My first time and thrilled with the prospect of the next days and weeks...
Less than 11 hours now for the voting to start. It's exciting!
Star Voter Season 8
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Here's a weird thought for the day all (and welcome to the competition)
We are all, in effect, first timers this time because round 1 is all new and shiny. ;)
Guess that makes us a double newb!!!
I, myself once played, and still retain some of, the old DnD and ADnD systems. Totally missed 3rd, but have many spells, races, stories, and a D12 system I have wrote to keep my brain entertained. This contest will be very difficult with my work schedule, but my family is very obliging in my need to extract the thoughts that consume my mind and place them upon paper.
I'm an all-around lurker who happened to have the time and motivation to enter this year.
It's my first time, too. I wasn't going to, but I decided that I had nothing to lose by entering.
I'm in my late 40s, have been playing RPGs since the oft-noted "good old days" (whatever those were), and have been more interested in Pathfinder than D&D since the whole Gleemax / 4e thing.
I've worked in the industry for about 10 years, though I just so happen to meet the criteria to participate. In the past, I haven't paid close attention to the boards (see the "I'm in my late 40s" comment above, add to that my work schedule, family duties, etc.), and so I didn't really monitor things like this contest (though I was aware of it).
In the past couple of years, I've worked more closely with people like Boomer, and have far more Facebook connections to people in the industry than is probably good for me.
Anyway, long story longer... This year, there was a lot more chatter on my various social media windows and so there was this steady stream of others talking about the contest (this might be the sort of thing Owen was interested in, when he implied in his post above that he was interested in why first timers have decided to participate).
That increase in chatter is what drew me in. And, this year, it just so happens that I have more free time, right now, to vote. Once we get to the next round, it will be much harder for me to find time to vote (most of the year I work 12-14 hour days...).
Voted last year as I found out about it once voting started.
Followed it avidly and decided to enter this year, seems like a good course in design and I hope to one day make a really wonderful adventure to share.
I have really enjoyed some of the pathfinder ap designs and hope to do as well but with my own twist on it.
Star Voter Season 8
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I'm in a similar boat to Vrecknidj. I've been playing various systems for a long time, and done a little work in the industry (mostly a handful of scenarios/modules, including a few I actually got paid for - nothing major that would keep me from qualifying for this). My life and career have kept me busy, but this year I thought I'd seriously look at this competition. I decided to throw my hat in the ring.
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This is my first time hearing about the competition. I just learned about Pathfinder earlier this year and bought the core rulebook. I got an email a few days before the competition ended, and have always wanted to try and get my foot in the door, so I entered an item. I definitely plan on entering in future years, too.
Did your item make it past the culling a few days ago?
Mine did make it as well. Now lets see how far it can go :)
Mine did. I'm feeling pretty energized...and nervous about the prospect of advancing.
Mine made it through. I'm with IndustrialMacabre--it's both exciting and terrifying that it could theoretically wind up in the top 32.
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Mine did not :-(
Kudos to all those who made it. That is an achievement for first timers IMO, doubly so with a cull so wide.
Congrats too to those who did not make it, because even if you have not been chosen, you had the guts to try your luck at it.
See you on the Critique my item thread : many of my Keep items did not make the cull either and I would like to thank their designers anyway.
I made it! I'll be chuffed if I even make it to the top 100.
I likewise made the cull, but don't expect Top 32.
