| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
This year, given the short timeline of our contest and changing up the Open Call round, our judge announcements were a tad late. However, that doesn't mean the lineup isn't impressive! This year we welcome back Neil Spicer, who will be a judge for all contest rounds, Jason Engle, contributing artist and cartographer, Victoria Jaczko, winner of RPG Superstar 2014, and a number of Paizo staff.
Take a look at the full list of judges here!
I was unaware of Jason Engle's map work but I am a huge fan of his fantasy arts. Super excited to see his feedback, even if it may not be on my work.
Hey Judges,
Let me take the time to thank you for your work. :-) I appreciate your judgement and advice.
Its great that Neil is back. He taught me a lot about this competition when he was a judge before. Overall a really great cast. I can't wait to read their critiques. Thanks to all the judges for give us their time and effort.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Why are they not in any order? WHY???
Please! Alphabetical, by judge round, by height, anything!
Psst! Your OCD is showing...
*waves* Hello, judges!
Hello judges this is my first year running and I hope I impress and not make too many rookie mistakes but I am certain my item will rank top 32.
I thought the first round was picked by votes/rank only? Why is there a judge?
Not that I'm complaining! I'm kind of nervous about things being only left up to the voting...
I thought the first round was picked by votes/rank only? Why is there a judge?
Not that I'm complaining! I'm kind of nervous about things being only left up to the voting...
Actually I was curious about that as well
The judges are in every round, guys. But they make no decisions; they only have a vote like the rest of us.
But they are experienced freelancers and past winners of the contest. They will be commenting on each of the top 32 entries. That's it: commenting. This won't change the results any, but it's a golden opportunity to learn from professionals what to look for in game design. This is helpful for those still in the contest as they can adjust their presentation a bit, but it is really helpful for those who don't make it in to learn from other people's successes and mistakes.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
The judges aren't involved in picking the items this year, but will still offer commentary. Which can often be very useful for *any* designer, regardless of whether it's his/her item or not being commented on. (And are just fun/interesting to read for contestants and observers.)
Ok, cool. I was kinda hoping that they were picking the Top 32 as well though.
I guess they could also catch things that break the rules that we dont
Hello judges this is my first year running and I hope I impress and not make too many rookie mistakes but I am certain my item will rank top 32.
Being certain of anything is a rookie mistake =p
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Hey, folks! I somehow missed this thread, but I'm definitely looking forward to what the crowd upvotes into the Top 32.
And then...
...I'm going to tell all of you why you're WRONG!
Actually...
I'm just kidding. ;)
I'll see what I can do to add my two cents, as usual.
But the real test...
...is to see how well you can read through each item and discern the best of the best designers behind them.
For instance, how closely can you pick out the flaws in this design?
Explosive runes don't work on me anymore after I got the Jeorg Furman's lean mean Filigreeing Machine Apparatus.
I think someone needs to advise new RPGSS participants to cast spell immunity for Explosive Runes on themselves before reading anything. I've busted 2 wands of cure light wounds so far already.
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
|
I hope all the round 1 judges will be giving very detailed commentaries on the items, especially now that they don't have to assign Keeps/Rejects. When giving feedback, I think it's better to err on the side of verbosity. (If you've read my round 3 comments last year, you know I'll comment on everything.) I've often felt that the round 1 comments haven't been complete or detailed enough (though some judges are exceptions).
I agree with Mikko. I think beyond helping the designer, it gives others things to comment on, and giving non-contestants more ways to participate helps keep them involved.
So, people keep talking about a Map being next. Do we have any solid reason to believe this?
Its on the timeline for the contest when you click on "rpg superstar season 9"
Edit. JK. its here
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
With Neil in the mix, verbosity is covered. :)
Welcome back Neil, welcome back Victoria & new welcome to Amanda. I look forward to all your comments.
Thanks also to Owen for his repeat role, but my biggest thanks goes to Chris. She's not only present for every round, but also for the open call, culls, DQ, & outrageous thread counts.
Will the items still be anonymous when the judges make comments? They probably have a pretty good idea of the top 10 by now, assuming a small percentage of items rise to the top with each cull.
Why are they not in any order? WHY???
Please! Alphabetical, by judge round, by height, anything!
They are in order. You just don't know the criteria for the order.
Thanks Clay Clouser. I'd been looking for something like in previous years (like the grid schedule). I was puzzled.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Why are they not in any order? WHY???
Please! Alphabetical, by judge round, by height, anything!
There is an order! Owen and Neil are towards the top since they are present throughout the contest, then the judges are alphabetical, and I'm at the bottom since I'm 100% logistics, not gaming content :)
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
,
Champion Voter Season 6, Champion Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Champion Voter Season 9
|
There is an order! Owen and Neil are towards the top since they are present throughout the contest, then the judges are alphabetical, and I'm at the bottom since I'm 100% logistics, not gaming content :)Why are they not in any order? WHY???
Please! Alphabetical, by judge round, by height, anything!
Ah, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?
Also, how will the other judges compete with his word vomit (Ex) ability?
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
You know when you see an item & you think "how would I tweak it?" I do this in movies too. I'm not saying I am any good at it, but it still happens. :)
...I'm at thebottomfoundation since I'm 100% ... :)
|
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
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
With Neil in the mix, verbosity is covered. :)
Welcome back Neil, welcome back Victoria & new welcome to Amanda. I look forward to all your comments.
I know Neil's comments are likely to be detailed, but here's hoping that other judges will be equally articulate and detailed in their comments. Looking forward to the judges' comments!
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I hope all the round 1 judges will be giving very detailed commentaries on the items, especially now that they don't have to assign Keeps/Rejects. When giving feedback, I think it's better to err on the side of verbosity. (If you've read my round 3 comments last year, you know I'll comment on everything.) I've often felt that the round 1 comments haven't been complete or detailed enough (though some judges are exceptions).
I'll see what I can do. However, keep in mind that turning around commentary on 32 items (plus 4 more alternates) with lots of detail is a pretty herculean task given the short timeframe which we'll be given. In fact, I suspect we may not even be able to comment on everything in the Top 32 before the list goes live for everyone to see. Of course, we'll put in time providing comments alongside everyone else, but you may have to scroll down a ways to find the individual judge commentary.
Also, with regards to the less detailed commentary of prior round 1's, I can speak to the experience prior to engaging the public voting mechanism we use today. Back then, the judges slogged their way through hundreds and hundreds of items, haggled over the Top 32, chose our golden tickets (if necessary), and then ran out of steam to go back and provide detailed commentary. We did our best to circle through and give at least some level of feedback and encouragement, but the turnaround rarely gave us the time to do it full justice. Instead, I always strove to spread out the advice over all the rounds, usually with more of an eye towards the current assignment than to go back and give post-commentary on something that had already helped someone advance to the next round.
In other words, sometimes the best advice is for what lies ahead. And, helping the contestants advance is the main role I think the judges fulfill. For round 1, that always meant giving people as much insight into how to standout and bring the mojo prior to them submitting their items. And for future rounds, it means helping them understand what a good map, monster design, villain design, encounter design, or adventure pitch should include...again, prior to the submitting.
Now, that said, circling back to provide higher quality analysis/feedback on submissions which have already been posted is more of an educational process for those following along (in addition to the actual designer). And, we've got room and time to do that at whatever pace we can manage. Sometimes, that takes the form of the "Critique My Item" thread, or similar venues. I've also done deeper dives on occasion for a select few items I felt provided good examples to teach particular lessons. So, we all try to give back however we can. And some of us have more time we can devote to that than others.
But that's just my two cents,
--Neil
I know Neil's comments are likely to be detailed, but here's hoping that other judges will be equally articulate and detailed in their comments. Looking forward to the judges' comments!With Neil in the mix, verbosity is covered. :)
Welcome back Neil, welcome back Victoria & new welcome to Amanda. I look forward to all your comments.
This. In or not, win or lose, I think everyone is very much looking forward to
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ah, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?
Actually, I was listed as "Open Call-Round 5"...which means I'm a judge from the Open Call thru Round 5. There was no bribery involved. They just asked nicely and I can never refuse the folks who gave me my biggest break.
As for the precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen, I had someone private-message me the other day asking for more information on it. Maybe that'll get published someday. A special anniversary module to craft a 64-page version of Realm of the Fellnight Queen could certainly have room to explore a lead-in prequel...and maybe even a sequel. ;)
Also, how will the other judges compete with his word vomit (Ex) ability?
It's a wall of text (Su) ability, actually... ;)
Do the judges get to see current rankings before the voting is over? It seems unlikely that an item in the number one slot on August 28th would get bumped to 37 by the 30th, so if judges wanted to start crafting feedback to the (likely top 32) early, it should be safe enough.
|
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
,
Champion Voter Season 6, Champion Voter Season 7, Champion Voter Season 8, Champion Voter Season 9
|
As for the precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen, I had someone private-message me the other day asking for more information on it. Maybe that'll get published someday. A special anniversary module to craft a 64-page version of Realm of the Fellnight Queen could certainly have room to explore a lead-in prequel...and maybe even a sequel. ;)
Maybe sequel will be better, after all, that one guy slept through most of the prequel adventure. Not sure if it was due to the early morning slot or pacing... :)
Developer
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ah, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?
There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
Ah, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
Oh? Tell us about his Judgernaut forum tag :P
Ah, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
Ohhhh, a new list to aim for! ;)
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Oh? Tell us about his Judgernaut forum tag :PAh, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
A gninja did it.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A gninja did it.Oh? Tell us about his Judgernaut forum tag :PAh, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
Ah, the Crimson Pen of Cyttorak.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ah, the Crimson Pen of Cyttorak.A gninja did it.Oh? Tell us about his Judgernaut forum tag :PAh, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
No, no, the Purple Pen of Punning Purple Prose.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
No, no, the Purple Pen of Punning Purple Prose.Ah, the Crimson Pen of Cyttorak.A gninja did it.Oh? Tell us about his Judgernaut forum tag :PAh, that clarifies things, Neil was listed as a Round 5 Judge only. Did y'all bribe him with letting him publish his precursor adventure to Realm of the Fellnight Queen?There aren't a *lot* of people who don't work in the Paizo offices I'd ask to be a judge for every round, but Neil is absolutely on that very short list. He's been a huge part of this contest and community every year, and I was thrilled when he agreed to the massive time commitment being a judge for the entire contest.
No bribery needed. :)
...from The Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak?
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
A gninja did it.
Hah! Did that just happen today? I didn't even notice it until Thomas pointed it out. That's cool. Thanks, Liz (and Chris). There's a humorous story behind that title. Gary's the guy who coined it, I believe. Mostly, it just highlights how crazy I am. ;)
A gninja did it.Hah! Did that just happen today? I didn't even notice it until Thomas pointed it out. That's cool. Thanks, Liz (and Chris). There's a humorous story behind that title. Gary's the guy who coined it, I believe. Mostly, it just highlights how crazy I am. ;)
That is a verrry cool discovery :)
Well played gninja! Well earned gNeil!
A gninja did it.Hah! Did that just happen today? I didn't even notice it until Thomas pointed it out. That's cool. Thanks, Liz (and Chris). There's a humorous story behind that title. Gary's the guy who coined it, I believe. Mostly, it just highlights how crazy I am. ;)That is a verrry cool discovery :)
Well played gninja! Well earned Neil!
Time to crack the whip now... Fix our voter tags please! ;)
|
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Time to crack the whip now... Fix our voter tags please! ;)A gninja did it.Hah! Did that just happen today? I didn't even notice it until Thomas pointed it out. That's cool. Thanks, Liz (and Chris). There's a humorous story behind that title. Gary's the guy who coined it, I believe. Mostly, it just highlights how crazy I am. ;)That is a verrry cool discovery :)
Well played gninja! Well earned Neil!
Oh great Gninja, please,
make "Template Fu Style Monk"Adam's Voter Tag.
RPG Superstar 2015
,
Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka mamaursula
|
A gninja did it.Hah! Did that just happen today? I didn't even notice it until Thomas pointed it out. That's cool. Thanks, Liz (and Chris). There's a humorous story behind that title. Gary's the guy who coined it, I believe. Mostly, it just highlights how crazy I am. ;)
Nice tag.