General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
I'm going to keep this simple, so it can be easily managed and so that we (hopefully) produce a wide range of submissions.
The Big Theme
Magic. That's it. There has been a lot of discussion lately about where it went, what it is or isn't, and how to bring it back. Magic of some kind should be the central focus of your game submission.
Other Things to Incorporate
In the interest of shaking things up a bit, you should also incorporate a specific source (or sources) of magical energy, a ruined city, a prophecy, and a near-ominpresent threat into your game.
Gee, That's Awfully Slim Pickings!
Maybe — but that's what you have to work with Keep in mind, however, that there are not very many thematic limitations placed on you. You can define "magic" and those Other Things pretty much however you want.
Work/Submission Window
You can begin committing things to paper/photons on January 1, 2009. If I get a document with a creation date from 2008, it will be automatically disqualified in order to remain fair to those who choose to put off actually writing their game until the aforementioned start date. I will quit accepting submissions on February 28, 2009.
Size of Submissions
Please limit the size of your game to 50 pages or less. For the curious, I didn't pick this figure out of thin air — it's Holmes BD&D rules + 10 pages. That should be plenty of room to work with, for the purposes of this contest.
Where to Submit
Right here. Post a link to your submission in this thread during the submission window outlined above, or post the plain text as a forum post. Easy!
How I Will Judge Thy Deeds
Completeness. You will be scored for the ability of your game to stand alone as a complete work. Ideally, this means that it will contain rules and a setting. And not refer readers to other books for rules on X, etc.
Topicality. You will be scored on the prominance of The Big Theme in your submission. The inclusion of Other Things to Incorporate can help your Topicality score, as well. More topical means more points, basically. [Edit: See Wik's excellent elaboration below for more details.]
Originality. I've read hundreds (possibly thousands) of RPG books. If the ideas in your submission are relatively obscure or if I've never seen them before, you'll score pretty high here. Think outside the box! (This is the most subjective rating.)
Playability. I am absolutely convinced that Hybrid is a complete game (in fact, I am not sure I have ever seen a more complete game). I am also convinced that the Average Joe cannot play it. The other three scores count for little if you score low here.
Aughra: Now, ask what the Great Conjunction is, what's the Great Conjunction?
Jen: What's the Great Conjunction? You tell me!
Aughra: THE GREAT CONJUNCTION IS THE END OF THE WORLD! Or the beginning. Hm!
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My Games
Into the Land of Black Ice (retired) - An arctic PbP adventure in the mysterious frozen lands of Oerth
Penance of the Damned (retired) - A planar chat-based game, set in Hades, where the PCs began as larvae
Beneath the Pinnacles of Azor'alq (retired) - A mid-level PbP campaign set within the Dramidj Ocean Heirs of Turucambi - An entry-level chat-based game set within the waters of Turucambi Reef in the Oljatt Sea Nature of the Beast (in design) - A sylvan adventure where the adventurers are forest animals.
I have a question : you want a full RPG ruleset, or only a campaign setting which could be used with any system you want, or you have to write it for a specific system (ie : 4E) ?
__________________ There is no dark side of the moon really. Matters of fact, all is dark.
I have a question : you want a full RPG ruleset, or only a campaign setting which could be used with any system you want, or you have to write it for a specific system (ie : 4E) ?
Ideally, you should submit your own, full, RPG rule set with a setting (whether it is an explicit or implied setting is up to you). You can, of course, choose to submit one or the other — but doing so may count against you for Completeness (as previously discussed).
1) While we cannot start writing now, can we start up our math and brainstorming now? What I mean is, if I have an idea for a system (I have about five, right now!), can I start crunching numbers right now? Maybe even post to get some ideas on how exactly to get the numbers to work right? Or is it purely "Keep it in your head" until January 1st?
2) Re: Magic. Magic can mean a lot of things. Do super powers (ie "Comic Book Mutants") count as "magic"? what about "the Force"? What about psychic powers? I know I want to keep my setting somewhere in the modern/futuristic/post-apoc sphere, and sometimes those forms of "magic" fit in better than pure D&D "Magic".
3) This is one I was thinking about today at work. Let's say I want to put an index or a table of contents in my game. Or a cover page. Or something along that line. Would those count towards the page limit? Or could I submit a "Work Copy" that's text only (and 50 pages) and a "Public Copy" that has the Index/ToC/Cover Page at the same time? Since you're the only judge, that should be hunky-dorey, correct?
Really excited about this. Gonna have to brainstorm for the next couple of days!
__________________ Current Campaign:The Shattered Isles Homebrew - Hammer (Minotaur Fighter 8), Kirra (Drow Rogue 8), Shedin (Dragonborn Paladin 8), Zahar (Half-Eladrin/Half Drow Bard 8), and Seahorse (Halfling Rogue 8). Currently the group is in the Feywild, trying to discover who is poisoning the drow.
1) While we cannot start writing now, can we start up our math and brainstorming now? What I mean is, if I have an idea for a system (I have about five, right now!), can I start crunching numbers right now? Maybe even post to get some ideas on how exactly to get the numbers to work right? Or is it purely "Keep it in your head" until January 1st?
You can feel free to brain-storm, research, take notes, etc before January 1st, by all means. I just don't want to receive a document created over the past five year period as a submission, come January. That's not fair to other participants.
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2) Re: Magic. Magic can mean a lot of things. Do super powers (ie "Comic Book Mutants") count as "magic"? what about "the Force"? What about psychic powers? I know I want to keep my setting somewhere in the modern/futuristic/post-apoc sphere, and sometimes those forms of "magic" fit in better than pure D&D "Magic".
All of the things that you list are arguably magic when presented in the right context. That's one of the reasons that I didn't elaborate on the concept of "magic" as a theme. I didn't want to cut off avenues of exploration.
That said, genetic mutation would be kind of a hard push as "magic". I think the rule of thumb is that magic should be not be easily explainable by modern science.
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3) This is one I was thinking about today at work. Let's say I want to put an index or a table of contents in my game. Or a cover page. Or something along that line. Would those count towards the page limit? Or could I submit a "Work Copy" that's text only (and 50 pages) and a "Public Copy" that has the Index/ToC/Cover Page at the same time? Since you're the only judge, that should be hunky-dorey, correct?
A TOC or index do not count toward the 50 pages. A Glossary would, however, as it technically encompasses setting and/or rules.
Awesome, thanks. That was pretty much what I was thinking, but I wanted to make it clear before I got off on a false start.
Re: Mutations, I meant mutations in the way of the X-men, not in the way of most post-apoc games. For the record, if I go post-apoc, there will be no mutations. There *may* be randomized psychic powers... if I go that route.
__________________ Current Campaign:The Shattered Isles Homebrew - Hammer (Minotaur Fighter 8), Kirra (Drow Rogue 8), Shedin (Dragonborn Paladin 8), Zahar (Half-Eladrin/Half Drow Bard 8), and Seahorse (Halfling Rogue 8). Currently the group is in the Feywild, trying to discover who is poisoning the drow.
Re: Mutations, I meant mutations in the way of the X-men, not in the way of most post-apoc games.
I know, but that's still ostensibly genetic mutation as explained in the Marvel Universe. Granted, it's scientifically implausible in our world, but still defined as genetic mutation (and, thus, science) per Marvel Physics
Topicality. You will be scored on the prominance of The Big Theme in your submission. The inclusion of Other Things to Incorporate can help your Topicality score, as well. More topical means more points, basically.
Now, I'm not the smartest cookie out there, but I have no idea what you mean by topicality. I looked it up in an online dictionary:
top⋅i⋅cal –adjective 1.pertaining to or dealing with matters of current or local interest: a topical reference. 2.pertaining to the subject of a discourse, composition, or the like.3.of a place; local.4.Medicine/Medical. of, pertaining to, or applied externally to a particular part of the body; local: a topical anesthetic. –noun 5.Philately. any of a collection of different stamps treating the same subject.
Now, this didn't help me one little bit. I'm thinking you mean point #2 on the meaning of Topical, but could you clarify for me?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott_Rouse
"You called Master?"
Amateur Writer trying to break into the RPG buisness.
Works in progress:
Level 1-30 D&D 4E campaign
D&D 4E Campaign setting
Other minor works
Basically, he's saying that if your game features magic in the forefront, you're going to get more points than if you were to release a fantasy game with 10 classes, and only one of which could use magic (and your magic rules only took up 3 pages). The more your main themes show in the final product, the higher you score.
__________________ Current Campaign:The Shattered Isles Homebrew - Hammer (Minotaur Fighter 8), Kirra (Drow Rogue 8), Shedin (Dragonborn Paladin 8), Zahar (Half-Eladrin/Half Drow Bard 8), and Seahorse (Halfling Rogue 8). Currently the group is in the Feywild, trying to discover who is poisoning the drow.
Basically, he's saying that if your game features magic in the forefront, you're going to get more points than if you were to release a fantasy game with 10 classes, and only one of which could use magic (and your magic rules only took up 3 pages). The more your main themes show in the final product, the higher you score.
You can begin committing things to paper/photons on January 1, 2009. If I get a document with a creation date from 2008, it will be automatically disqualified in order to remain fair to those who choose to put off actually writing their game until the aforementioned start date. I will quit accepting submissions on February 28, 2009.
Wouldn't it better to reveal the theme at the beginning of the submission window? The creation date thing is trivial to circumvent.
Basically, he's saying that if your game features magic in the forefront, you're going to get more points than if you were to release a fantasy game with 10 classes, and only one of which could use magic (and your magic rules only took up 3 pages). The more your main themes show in the final product, the higher you score.
Oh... Thank you!
*Feels embarrased for not figuring that out on my own*
Truthfully, this is the first time I've ever seen that word used... so it surprised and confused me.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott_Rouse
"You called Master?"
Amateur Writer trying to break into the RPG buisness.
Works in progress:
Level 1-30 D&D 4E campaign
D&D 4E Campaign setting
Other minor works
Wouldn't it better to reveal the theme at the beginning of the submission window? The creation date thing is trivial to circumvent.
Well, maybe, but the theme has already been revealed. Barring time-travel, that bell can't be un-rung. That said, the rules are more a nod to fairness than some play at a giant, byzantine, labyrinth of law that participants need to navigate in order to enter (or that I need to monitor 24/7). If I get a 200-page entry with full-color artwork on day 12, somebody obviously cheated.
Keep in mind, however, that there are not very many thematic limitations placed on you. You can define "magic" and those Other Things pretty much however you want. 
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