Modules Overlord
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After a cursory glance at the rules for round 4 I've identified several errors...
The word limit of 1400 words is exceeded in your example: "(for example, you may spend 300 words describing an old castle Location, and 1,200 words describing a specific Encounter in the castle)".
It's true that is an error. I commented on it at the guildhall, as well. Good catch!
There is mention of referencing an archetype from Round 2, probably copied and pasted from a previous year's document.
Also an error, although one that can't cause incorrect entries, since we don't have round 2 archetypes.
The encounter is supposed to be CR 6-10 but the rules suggest that entrants might "create an encounter with a CR 10 young umbral dragon and a lower-CR Round 3 monster". This would exceed the 9600 xp cap for a CR 10 encounter.
Not actually an error, since it is possible to create encounters that use higher-CR monsters without being the same CR, through mitigating factors.
My catch won't affect the contestants any as it relates to playtesting.
The voting period is not extended as it states in that section, but is the exact same length as the other voting rounds. I'm sure the staff want us to playtest and post results, but we don't get extra time for it.
Sorry Owen.
Given two Monday holidays occur through the Superstar season, perhaps a good idea to consider a different announce day than Tuesday in future contests.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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Regarding the maps, the rules say:
•Your map should be one half-page (8.5" x 5.5").
•Your encounter must fit on a Pathfinder Flip-Mat (24 by 30 5-ft. squares, or 120 ft. by 150 ft.). You can download a blank grid with these proportions here (the download is supplied at 150 dpi for printing).
The orientation in half-page maps is landscape, while in full-page maps it's portrait. But if you're allowed to use the whole flipmat (not just half) it should be a full-page map, correct? I've understood that at least in PFS modules that's how it works (exceptions exist but are quite rare, I think).
So, which is the preferred orientation for the map?
Regarding the maps, the rules say:
•Your map should be one half-page (8.5" x 5.5").
•Your encounter must fit on a Pathfinder Flip-Mat (24 by 30 5-ft. squares, or 120 ft. by 150 ft.). You can download a blank grid with these proportions here (the download is supplied at 150 dpi for printing).
Mikko - was there supposed to be a link for a download of the blank map grid?
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
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In the actual round 4 rules, there is a link. I was lazy and just copy-pasted the text without the code tags. I just opened the blank grid and it seems to oriented like a full-page map. I'm guessing the part about "half-page" is an error, but I can't be sure.
I hope there'll be an official clarification soon.
Regarding the maps, the rules say:
•Your map should be one half-page (8.5" x 5.5").
•Your encounter must fit on a Pathfinder Flip-Mat (24 by 30 5-ft. squares, or 120 ft. by 150 ft.). You can download a blank grid with these proportions here (the download is supplied at 150 dpi for printing).The orientation in half-page maps is landscape, while in full-page maps it's portrait. But if you're allowed to use the whole flipmat (not just half) it should be a full-page map, correct? I've understood that at least in PFS modules that's how it works (exceptions exist but are quite rare, I think).
So, which is the preferred orientation for the map?
As the rules are clear as to what they want for this round--and half page/landscape size may be better for screens so voters can look at it easily--I'm doing what the rules say until I hear otherwise.
I've also definitely seen smaller than full-page flip mat references in PF books. I've seen full page maps too.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
,
Dedicated Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
|
Yeah, I'm probably reading too much into it. At least last year 24x30 landscape maps were ok.
When I was writing the Golden Guardian, I discussed map sizes with my developer, and he mentioned that a 24x30 map would typically be a full-page map. However, if the layout is more important than the actual map details, it might be possible to commission a 24x30 map at half-page resolution. The typical half-page map at full resolution is 24x15 squares.
In other words, a 24x30 half-page map is an exception, at least in PFS.
Just some nice-to-know information for those who get to write a PFS scenario later this year. ;-)
I'd like to ask a rules question too, just to make sure: If one makes appropriate changes to the Pathfinder ruleset, it's okay to reference crunch material from Pathfinder Chronicles: Into the Darklands as well as fluff material, right?
Regarding the maps, the rules say:
•Your map should be one half-page (8.5" x 5.5").
•Your encounter must fit on a Pathfinder Flip-Mat (24 by 30 5-ft. squares, or 120 ft. by 150 ft.). You can download a blank grid with these proportions here (the download is supplied at 150 dpi for printing).The orientation in half-page maps is landscape, while in full-page maps it's portrait. But if you're allowed to use the whole flipmat (not just half) it should be a full-page map, correct? I've understood that at least in PFS modules that's how it works (exceptions exist but are quite rare, I think).
So, which is the preferred orientation for the map?
As the rules are clear as to what they want for this round--and half page/landscape size may be better for screens so voters can look at it easily--I'm doing what the rules say until I hear otherwise.
I've also definitely seen smaller than full-page flip mat references in PF books. I've seen full page maps too.
Well, we may need to revisit this, given the grid download we were provided is 8"x10" portrait. Which also provides no real room for a key (I am presuming you don't want to obscure what would be part of the flipmat).
Some official guidance about the map that answers these questions would be really welcome, and sooner rather than later....
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Modules Overlord
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I'd like to ask a rules question too, just to make sure: If one makes appropriate changes to the Pathfinder ruleset, it's okay to reference crunch material from Pathfinder Chronicles: Into the Darklands as well as fluff material, right?
Yes. That's one of the products you can find at the link of allowed Pathfinder Campaign Setting products, so the material is allowed. We require you write for the Pathfinder RPG, so any crunch you used would have to be updated.
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Modules Overlord
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The map encounter rules uses the same language we have used before, such as in the 2013 Superstar. Your encounter must fit on a flip-map, but your map can be of a larger area than just your encounter.
So, your map should be a half page. It can be just your encounter, but can be a bigger area if you wish.
The encounter you write up must use an area small enough it would fit on a flip mat.
Okay, since the half page is confirmed -- just note the sample grid map is 8x10.
I just checked the preview function on the forum submission page for my entry, and it doesn't seem to be giving a word count. I don't trust myself to count words correctly for the forum system, so it would be great if we could get that fixed! Thanks in advance!
I just checked the preview function on the forum submission page for my entry, and it doesn't seem to be giving a word count. I don't trust myself to count words correctly for the forum system, so it would be great if we could get that fixed! Thanks in advance!
The preview function on the submission tool only displays a word count if you enter something in the title field. If you leave the title blank, you don't get a word count.
Of course, I don't have access to the tool right now to verify that this is currently the case. That's just how it worked in the past.
Ahhhh, that would explain it! Thanks!