Leftover’s: East Shore's only Inn
Contributor
|
The Good
Very clearly marked. I could make a final map of this with very few questions.
It has a scale and a compass very clearly depicted.
The Bad
The location is lackluster. "An inn" is not superstar material, and nothing in the map itself hints at the inn being anything more special than that.
The layout itself is just a bunch of rectangles. There's nothing interesting about this map.
My Judgement
Uninspired location and dull layout don't make up for a clean presentation. I strongly do not recommend this map for advancement.
Decent looking map reference upon first glance.
There is a compass rose and scale present on the map.
Plenty of details on the map and room furnishings are easy to see.
I would have to agree with Crystal, it is a bit lackluster, if i had kept track of how many "Inn" maps I have drawn over the years….
sad really because the quality of the map is fine but just uninspired.
I do not recommend this map to progress to round 3
Modules Overlord
|
Drawing from my blog on maps, and the rules for the round, I’ll judge the maps on a number of questions.
Is It a Full Page Map?
Yes.
Does The Map Have A Compass Rose and Scale? Are They Used Well?
Yes, and yes.
Is The Map A Place I Want To Adventure?
It's fine as a place to go between adventures, or to have one encounter. It's tough for a tavern to feel like a place I'd want to adventure, and this doesn't particularly overcome that hurdle.
Is the Map Clear?
Mostly, but it does leave some questions. Is that really a 5-foot-wide bar? One of three five-foot-wide counters? Is the bartender a choker, because otherwise slinging drinks and collecting coins is going to be difficult. And if you are going to offer players chandeliers to play with, you need to let them know how they are raised and lowered to be lit – because some swashbuckler will want to drop them on a foe, or ride them into a fight.
Is the Map Detailed?
What the heck is the blue rectangle in L3? A rug? Water trough? Open pit to the basement? It could look like any of those, and none seems likely for "food storage."
Is the Map Imaginative?
Here's the big problem. This is a pretty good rendition of a pretty good fantasy tavern. If it was either a pretty good rendition of a great location, or an amazing map of a pretty good location, I'd like it a lot more. But core concept, development, and execution are all middling.
I'd LOVE to have some reason to recommend this more. If East Shore's only inn had signs of also being a shrine, haberdashery, and secretly a smuggler's den, for example (in keeping with the "only X in East Shore theme), this might have made it above the cut.
I do not recommend this map to advance to Round 3.
It's so tiny. The little cubbies are almost like a chart to help me determine which PC has been attacked in their sleep. What do I think I need this map for? Inn brawl?
Also, from an architectural standpoint, there's no common area to enjoy the hearth.
I do appreciate that I could probably replicate this map with my Dwarven Forge stuff, but unfortunately, what is there to distinguish this map from any other inn map? This map needs an interesting hook.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
,
Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8
aka Jrcmarine
|
Hmmm... somebody call Jon Taffer because East Shore's only Inn needs a bar rescue. Nice looking map but uninspired location and execution. If you are going to choose a location that is in almost every module, then you have to make it extremely interesting and different.
Unfortunately there is nothing special about this inn. I like the name but I think I would have chosen to keep the name and made this location a morgue or something else macabre. Make a play on the name and do a "Hotel California" kind of thing. You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave. Maybe an underground crypt turned inn... but not really.
Anyway, the map looks pretty, it just isn't creative.
I don't love the name of your location ("Leftover's" feels very anachronistic to me and I don't know where "East Shore" is meant to be), but I will admit being intrigued by the "only inn" part. WHY is it the only inn? I feel like there's a story there and part of me wants to know what it is.
I really like the top floor perspective little inset, but unfortunately, I think that (and the name) are my two favorite parts.
This is otherwise a pretty basic rectangular shaped inn. An inn's a pretty darn standard location, but without more details -- which you couldn't give in this challenge -- it's got to be outstanding to be Superstar. Think of the Lucky Monkey Inn from the Shackled City AP (back in Dungeon magazine).
I think you needed to be a little more ambitious in this case, unfortunately. I don't think I'm going to be voting for this entry. Good luck!
25th map I have seen, your current rank is 13th.
I don't love the name of your location ("Leftover's" feels very anachronistic to me and I don't know where "East Shore" is meant to be), but I will admit being intrigued by the "only inn" part. WHY is it the only inn? I feel like there's a story there and part of me wants to know what it is.
I really like the top floor perspective little inset, but unfortunately, I think that (and the name) are my two favorite parts.
This is otherwise a pretty basic rectangular shaped inn. An inn's a pretty darn standard location, but without more details -- which you couldn't give in this challenge -- it's got to be outstanding to be Superstar. Think of the Lucky Monkey Inn from the Shackled City AP (back in Dungeon magazine).
I think you needed to be a little more ambitious in this case, unfortunately. I don't think I'm going to be voting for this entry. Good luck!
About the name. I am happy no one says I made a spelling/language mistake, because it isn't. I hope this answers any questions you may have about the place. If not, check out Guide to Korvosa!
I won't type out what happens in those hidden storage areas and hiding places, because that would be giving additionnal detail that isn't on the map submission (and shouldn't be, either).
Having seen the inside of monsters turned into dungeons, a multi-level evil overlord's volcanic hideout and an axe-shaped dungeon map, I can see why my map is pretty bland and regular by comparison. I fully accept that the fact that it's very standard hurts it (I based it in Korvosa as you can see from the link above according to the fluff from Guide to Korvosa). Making a "dungeon" for a city without basing it in the sewers or off a far-from-shore sunken tower creates such "bland results".
About the name. I am happy no one says I made a spelling/language mistake, because it isn't. I hope this answers any questions you may have about the place. If not, check out Guide to Korvosa!I won't type out what happens in those hidden storage areas and hiding places, because that would be giving additionnal detail that isn't on the map submission (and shouldn't be, either).
Having seen the inside of monsters turned into dungeons, a multi-level evil overlord's volcanic hideout and an axe-shaped dungeon map, I can see why my map is pretty bland and regular by comparison. I fully accept that the fact that it's very standard hurts it (I based it in Korvosa as you can see from the link above according to the fluff from Guide to Korvosa). Making a "dungeon" for a city without basing it in the sewers or off a far-from-shore sunken tower creates such "bland results".
During public voting rounds, contestants are prohibited from any public discussion that could be considered as adding to, expanding upon, or clarifying the content of their current submissions. This applies to (but is not limited to) interviews, personal blogs, and messageboard posts on paizo.com or elsewhere, including the paizo.com discussion thread for the entry itself. Any such discussion may result in disqualification, in the sole discretion of the judges and/or Paizo.
You may have just disqualified yourself.
While this is a very nice looking and solid map of an Inn, it is quite boring and uninspired. I thought your item was decent but lacked 'mojo' and this map also lacks it, in my opinion.
Good Luck!
Challenge: Is this map difficult to execute? Does it in my opinion demonstrate the characteristics of a Superstar designer?
Technique: Did the designer show some skill and consideration in the choices made on the map. Are the words used in the key wise choices that add to the overall utility of the map?
Utility: Can a GM/cartographer make sense of the map and make immediate use of it?
Overall: I'll rate the Map as an A for strong recommends B for weak recommends C on the bubble D for weak rejects F for Do not recommends
Challenge: An Inn is not a superstar challenge
Technique: It's a really well executed Inn though
Utility: I can and may well use it
Overall: D as in weak reject which sucks because I see the utility.
My favorite thing: It is certainly an interesting name
Other things I like: Neat isometric view
My least favorite thing(s): Why do I need this map? Are there encounters in this inn? Even if there are, why can't I just draw a square, with a few smaller squares in it and be done with it?
Will I vote for it: I will not be voting for this map.
This would probably make a decent map as part of a map pack, but a map in a map pack isn't superstar. Nothing about this inn strikes me as more interesting than any other inn. The thing that really disappoints me is that it isn't a badly drawn map of a good idea, it is a well drawn map of a bad idea for superstar.
Clear map, easy to read. I like the isometric view of the balcony and chandeliers in relation to the main floor.
But this is just an Inn. This map was simply designed for use at a game table. While that has value, there are many inn maps designed for the exact same use. No story or interesting visual image accompanies this map.
I will not be voting for this entry.
|
Modules Overlord
|
About the name. I am happy no one says I made a spelling/language mistake, because it isn't. I hope this answers any questions you may have about the place. If not, check out Guide to Korvosa!
[snip]
(I based it in Korvosa as you can see from the link above according to the fluff from Guide to Korvosa). Making a "dungeon" for a city without basing it in the sewers or off a far-from-shore sunken tower creates such "bland results".
I am very sorry to say that linking to material about East Shore, and explaining that you based this in Korvosa, is itself giving new information. It counts as a "clarifying" in the rules section below.
During public voting rounds, contestants are prohibited from any public discussion that could be considered as adding to, expanding upon, or clarifying the content of their current submissions. This applies to (but is not limited to) interviews, personal blogs, and messageboard posts on paizo.com or elsewhere, including the paizo.com discussion thread for the entry itself. Any such discussion may result in disqualification, in the sole discretion of the judges and/or Paizo.
As a result, I am going to have to disqualify your entry, and advance an alternate.
:-(
You still made the Top 32, Olivier, and congrats on that accomplishment!
I'm sorry about the DQ, Olivier. But as RD said, you made Top 32 and should be proud of that.
Olivier, I'm sorry to see you go like this. Remember it's vital you carefully read guidelines and rules handed to you. That's especially important in professional work. I always praised the people running this contest for keeping the rules clear and concise.
Like others say, be proud you made it to the Top 32. I did really love the perspective view you provided in this map.
I'm sorry about the DQ as well. But, you already made Top 32 once, meaning that you're in good position to repeat that feat next year. Hope to see you then!
As for the map itself, yeah, it's a bit clichéd and offers nothing really new to the game. The hidden storage rooms and the chandeliers are nice touches and I do like that there are two levels to have combat in, but this would have needed something more to make it interesting. A shrine in the basement, a kitchen connected directly to the slaughterhouse for some reason - or better yet, the morgue. A dog vs. goblin fighting arena, underwater rooms ready for renting, anything really.
Still, it's nicely drawn, is very functional and I'd definitely use this if I needed a good inn map. Next year remember to include a hook.
For what it's worth, while I don't think this map is quite exciting enough to be Superstar, I do like it a lot. It's an elegant and functional tavern/inn with an interesting multiple-level central space. I will likely borrow this for game use. Thank you!