The Unofficial Top 32 Guildhall and Armory

[frank gori]

Jeff Hazuka wrote:

So, to clear up a bit of terminology for the new guy, I gather a "pit crew" is a focus group of sorts? Editors? Is that something everyone else has?

Think of it as a friendly pair of eyes to look things over and give you feedback before you send something in. Most folk use their gaming table some have more elaborate contacts.

If you don't have someone I'll volunteer to help you just PM me and I'll give honest feedback for you should you survive the later rounds. I believe in this contest and don't mind helping anyone that needs feedback even DeathQuaker ;P

(ducks head)

[Chris Shaeffer]

Pretty sure "pit crew" was only just coined for this conversation. Yeah, it's common to have just a few people that can give you feedback, or that you can bounce ideas off of while brainstorming your entries.

I pretty much go it solo most of the time, but every once in a while I'll show my non-nerd friends what I made to see if they understand it. A lot of gamers are casual, so if a layperson can understand it then most players can too.

EDIT: In other news, I've just noticed how much it bothers me that superstar tags next to your name are listed in reverse chronological order, but voter tags go the other way around. :/

#firstworldproblems?

[R Pickard]

That's a good idea, Chris (showing pieces to non-gamers to check understandability).

[Scott LaBarge]

I've got to admit, this wait is driving me bats. I'm usually a pretty steady character, but I'm all keyed up like I haven't been since I don't know when. Just can't wait to know what I'm up against!

So are there minions around to give back-rubs in this guildhall joint or what? (Filigree not required.)

[Jensen Toperzer]

*sits, quiet and sad, in the Alternate corner :( *

[Monica Marlowe]

Jacob W. Michaels wrote:

If someone's really making a mistake in rules that are common knowledge, rely on the kindness of strangers to correct the mistake. I think Monica Marlowe and Nick Wasko's examples in previous years is the better one to follow. Both IMO wisely said they would not make any comments on any entries because of their relationships with contestants. They did that in part, I suspect, so their contestant wouldn't be viewed as effectively speaking through them. Having a contestant speak through someone who can't be obviously linked to them simply isn't fair to someone who's not been part of the community and developed the relationships that those of us who've been around longer have.

You are correct, Jacob, that is why last year I had to back pedal on my original plan to do more coverage of RPG SS than ended up happening and why after starting the "New Viewers Guide" I had to bail this year. I spent many days biting my nails praying someone smart and empowered would step in and correct a misconception on one of Andrew's entries. It probably even bothered me more than it bothered him because I was not under any kind of "NDA" as it were. Being a close relative of an entrant and being active on the forums is super hard.

That's actually one of the reasons I cheered for all of you so much in the past and tried to befriend contestants. Most contestants did not have the benefit of a close loved one pulling for them at close range and I knew what kind of time and energy went into getting the entries done, you guys deserved every bit of respect and support I could muster for you. I told Andrew turn about's fair play :-)

[Eric Morton]

Scott LaBarge wrote:

So are there minions around to give back-rubs in this guildhall joint or what? (Filigree not required.)

The Guildhall is fully staffed by the Staff of the Top 32 Guildhall, which can tend to all your chiropractic needs. Observe!

*pokes Scott LaBarge with a stick*

[Monica Marlowe]

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

Pretty sure "pit crew" was only just coined for this conversation. Yeah, it's common to have just a few people that can give you feedback, or that you can bounce ideas off of while brainstorming your entries.

I pretty much go it solo most of the time, but every once in a while I'll show my non-nerd friends what I made to see if they understand it. A lot of gamers are casual, so if a layperson can understand it then most players can too.

EDIT: In other news, I've just noticed how much it bothers me that superstar tags next to your name are listed in reverse chronological order, but voter tags go the other way around. :/

#firstworldproblems?

Anthony Adams coined it this year and it did stick. In the past we just called them our "proofreaders," "trusted friend," or in my case "wife."

[Scott LaBarge]

Eric Morton wrote:

Scott LaBarge wrote:

So are there minions around to give back-rubs in this guildhall joint or what? (Filigree not required.)

The Guildhall is fully staffed by the Staff of the Top 32 Guildhall, which can tend to all your chiropractic needs. Observe!

*pokes Scott LaBarge with a stick*

Lower.

[Eric Morton]

*pokes Scott LaBarge with a stick*

[Scott LaBarge]

Ah, that's it!

[Chris Shaeffer]

Now I wish that a Staff of Chiropracty was a thing this competition. :)

[Taylor Hubler]

I have one. I should remember to bring it sometime. It is very nice.

[Anthony Adam]

Monica Marlowe wrote:

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

Pretty sure "pit crew" was only just coined for this conversation. Yeah, it's common to have just a few people that can give you feedback, or that you can bounce ideas off of while brainstorming your entries.

I pretty much go it solo most of the time, but every once in a while I'll show my non-nerd friends what I made to see if they understand it. A lot of gamers are casual, so if a layperson can understand it then most players can too.

EDIT: In other news, I've just noticed how much it bothers me that superstar tags next to your name are listed in reverse chronological order, but voter tags go the other way around. :/

#firstworldproblems?

Anthony Adams coined it this year and it did stick. In the past we just called them our "proofreaders," "trusted friend," or in my case "wife."

Ack! I think I also got tagged for "cull" as well! >.<

I must stop naming things or I will lose my title as the king of bad naming! >.<

[Mikko Kallio]

I think Ben McFarland aka Terraleon coined the term for RPGSS usage back in 2011: link

Personally, I think I've been using it since last year's RPG Superstar, but yeah, Ben is the one to blame. ;-D

[Kalervo Oikarinen]

A bit over 12 hours to the reveal. Gah, so close but so far. :)

[Kalervo Oikarinen]

10!

[Christopher Wasko]

Something that accurately describes my ongoing contest process.

[Ben Parkin]

Just one hour to go...

[Chris Shaeffer]

Whatever happens, I want you all to know I love you. :'|

[Christopher Wasko]

Good luck everybody! See you after the radio silence!

[Kalervo Oikarinen]

Good luck everyone, round 2 is upon us.

[Jensen Toperzer]

Are us Alternates allowed to share our maps, now that we've been eliminated?

[Mikko Kallio]

Good luck in the voting, Top 32!

[Mikko Kallio]

Jensen Toperzer wrote:

Are us Alternates allowed to share our maps, now that we've been eliminated?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's still technically possible for an alternate to advance if a Top 32 contestant happens to say something DQ-worthy.

So, I wouldn't advise you to talk about your entry just yet.

[R D Ramsey]

Yes, curious if us Alternates are allowed to comment on the maps at this point.

Once voting is open, it would be hard to replace anyone since a replacement entry would have less time to earn votes.

[Jeff Hazuka]

I'm just going to wait it out and savor the Top 36 status.

The "kid's table" jokes inspired me to get some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and tater tots for dinner tonight.

So, winning!

[Jensen Toperzer]

Mikko Kallio wrote:

Jensen Toperzer wrote:

Are us Alternates allowed to share our maps, now that we've been eliminated?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's still technically possible for an alternate to advance if a Top 32 contestant happens to say something DQ-worthy.

So, I wouldn't advise you to talk about your entry just yet.

Gotcha. Alternate friends, let us hold off until voting is over. Then I say we make a thread with our maps for people to critique :) It'll be good practice for next year.

[Jeff Hazuka]

Jensen Toperzer wrote:

Mikko Kallio wrote:

Jensen Toperzer wrote:

Are us Alternates allowed to share our maps, now that we've been eliminated?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's still technically possible for an alternate to advance if a Top 32 contestant happens to say something DQ-worthy.

So, I wouldn't advise you to talk about your entry just yet.

Gotcha. Alternate friends, let us hold off until voting is over. Then I say we make a thread with our maps for people to critique :) It'll be good practice for next year.

Sounds good. I'm in.

[Wren Brown]

Gah. I've been stuck in a meeting at work for the last 2 hours. The suspense at seeing everyone's entries has been killing me!

[David H]

I told myself that I wasn't going to look at anything in these threads for the week of Round 2 action.

I think you all can tell how well that went <_<

[R D Ramsey]

Voting complete. I have to say of all the years of this contest, this was the easiest 2nd round voting has ever been.

With the maps, it's pretty clear which ones stand out for me. With 32 monsters there's a ton to digest, and with something like 32 nations or organizations, the qualities to judge can be widely variable.

And I think this is just a really tough round, which allows for design chops to make themselves apparent.

[Chris Shaeffer]

Way to crash the site again everybody! :p

The maps are fantastic! I can't wait to get home and look at them in detail.

[frank gori]

Chris Shaeffer wrote:

Way to crash the site again everybody! :p

The maps are fantastic! I can't wait to get home and look at then in detail.

There's some really good ones, some not so good ones and some "on the bubble."

I'll start with Chris Shaeffer: Nice freakin' job man that is one hell of a map and it tells multiple stories.

[Jacob Kellogg]

GM_Solspiral wrote:

I'll start with Chris Shaeffer: Nice freakin' job man that is one hell of a map and it tells multiple stories.

Uh, you know each map has its own thread, right?

[Owen K. C. Stephens]

Neil Spicer wrote:

Andrew Marlowe wrote:

And to be honest this is harder than it sounds. The voters are not required to maintain silence...only the contestants. Unless you are extraordinarily lucky people will make bogus assumptions and will say all sorts of things that will try your patience and tempt you to speak up...DON'T DO IT!!

As an aside, this element of RPG Superstar teaches a very valuable lesson. Or, two or three actually...

** spoiler omitted **...

Go, click on that spoiler. Wise Neil is Wise.

[frank gori]

Jacob Kellogg wrote:

GM_Solspiral wrote:

I'll start with Chris Shaeffer: Nice freakin' job man that is one hell of a map and it tells multiple stories.

Uh, you know each map has its own thread, right?

That was just a preview... Come on you think my review is going to be that lazy?

[Owen K. C. Stephens]

While I hope it does not happen, a contestant COULD still disqualify himself, so alternates should hold off doing anything.
If an alternate has to step in, they will be at a disadvantage. If any alternate would prefer not to run as a result of that disadvantage, we'd allow that, but I would't recommend it.

[Thomas LeBlanc]

I am amazed by quite a few of the maps! :)

[Chris Shaeffer]

Thanks Owen. I'll restrain my enthusiasm. (Going silent now. Good luck everyone!)

[Taylor Hubler]

Awesome job everyone!

Goes to put his excited energy into practicing monster design and encounters.

[R D Ramsey]

I considered 4 ideas for location-level maps. Three of those ideas were similar to what others submitted, though the submitted ones are better than what I was thinking. The 4th is the one I used. Funny how that works.

I also had a couple of overland scale concepts, but couldn't come up with anything I thought could work as *just* a map with no descriptions.

[Monica Marlowe]

Good Round everyone! Good round! Shake it off. You've seen your reviews, now back to the drawing/writing/drafting table and start making monsters!

You guys are awesome! And stop posting, please, you're giving me anxiety attacks.

[Feros]

Monica Marlowe wrote:

Good Round everyone! Good round! Shake it off. You've seen your reviews, now back to the drawing/writing/drafting table and start making monsters!

You guys are awesome! And stop posting, please, you're giving me anxiety attacks.

...and I haven't even done my reviews yet! >:D

[Monica Marlowe]

Feros wrote:

Monica Marlowe wrote:

Good Round everyone! Good round! Shake it off. You've seen your reviews, now back to the drawing/writing/drafting table and start making monsters!

You guys are awesome! And stop posting, please, you're giving me anxiety attacks.

...and I haven't even done my reviews yet! >:D

I didn't mean *you* :-P You do what you want, like always :-D

[Christopher Donnangelo]

Ok, so after scrambling to get my entry done, and clear out of my Syracuse apartment last weekend, I can finally get an introduction done!

I'm a 33 year old new father who's been gaming for 20 years; started with 2nd Edition in a 3 PC game set in the Birthright Campaign Setting. We only played a few sessions before the GM went off to college, but I was hooked. 3rd Edition came out while I was in high school, and I played/ran that off and on until I ended up in Bennington, VT, where I discovered Pathfinder.
I attempted to start PFS there, unsuccessfully at first, but was invigorated a few years later playing "Race for the Runecarved Key" at Council of Five Nations in Schenectady. Soon after, I was asked to be a Venture Lieutenant for the forming Green Mountain Lodge.
I moved to Syracuse for a job, transferred to the Upstate NY lodge, and was able to get 3 monthly gamedays going, before handing leadership off to a great group of motivated Pathfinders who took over after I lost that job and moved to west of the Philadelphia area. (I think there's like three of us in the Top 32, we should meet up!)
So this winter has been incredibly eventful for me, and RPG Superstar is an amazing opportunity that I don't plan on squandering!
Good luck, and may the best entries win!

EDIT: Looking at the quality of these submissions, I don't stand a chance! That's what a lack of time and sleep will do for yah! Congratulations everyone!

[Matt Morris]

Christopher Donnangelo wrote:

<snip> moved to west of the Philadelphia area. (I think there's like three of us in the Top 32, we should meet up!)

<snip>

There's a great PFS scene in Philly. Message me if you want details!

[Scott LaBarge]

Thanks, I assume, to hordes of eager voters, I couldn't even get the Paizo page to download till 3:00, and have had to spend almost all my time on work and family stuff since. And probably for most of the rest of the night. Killing me!

[Jason Keeley]

Everyone's maps look FAN-tastic! Good luck!

[Chris Shaeffer]

Matthew Morris wrote:

Christopher Donnangelo wrote:

<snip> moved to west of the Philadelphia area. (I think there's like three of us in the Top 32, we should meet up!)

<snip>

There's a great PFS scene in Philly. Message me if you want details!

Didn't know that. Makes me miss home! :D

(Fades back into the shadows...)