Scott Lynch
First Post
May 7, 2003– Match your puzzle-solving skills, your character-building creativity, and your team-building genius against all three phases of the *Deeds Not Words* Mega-Contest, featuring more than $400 in cash and goods prizes!
PHASE ONE: THE HUNT FOR BARON AZATHOTH
May 9, 2003 – August 1, 2003
Baron Azathoth may be the most dangerous man in the multiverse! Always working to fuse advanced technology and long-forgotten sorcery into a coherent weapon for world domination, Azathoth hatches his evil schemes from a nearly-impenetrable fortress called Castle Silence. The Baron's castle travels in space and across dimensional boundaries, allowing him to place it wherever his heart desires– overlooking an Antarctic wasteland, perhaps, or perched halfway up the slopes of the rugged Himalayas. Finding Azathoth is often as troublesome as confronting him, and yet he must be found!
Each Cryptosnark Games PDF release, starting with *Killers* on May 9, will contain a hidden clue (in the form of a puzzle or a riddle) to the current whereabouts of Baron Azathoth and his uncanny castle. The first customer to solve each riddle or puzzle and send the correct answer to Cryptosnark Games via e-mail will win $10 on the spot (yours via money order or via PayPal, as you see fit). This phase of the contest will cover ten PDF releases in total from May through July of 2003, giving you ten chances to pick up the Baron's trail and win $10 each time.
PHASE TWO: HEROES ARISE!
May 9, 2003 – July 1, 2003
Commencing simultaneously with Phase One of the Mega-Contest is Phase Two. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to create a team of three (no more, no less) original super-heroes using the *Deeds Not Words Revision 1.1* system. Each team submitted will be blind-judged on the following criteria:
--Accuracy of stat block (neatness counts!);
--Novelty or originality of individual team members;
--Novelty or originality of overall team concept and name;
--Team versatility and synergy (ie, how well each member's abilities complement, supplement, or enhance those of his fellows). The more things a team can do, the better it will score in this regard; and
--Sheer butt-kickin' power (not just how much raw damage a team can dish out fighting together, but for how long, and how well, and against how wide a range of threats)
This phase will close to submissions on July 1, 2003. Winners will be announced on or before August 1, 2003. And the prizes? Feast your eyes:
First Place:
--$50 (via PayPal or money order, as you wish);
--1 year (12 issue) subscription to the Marvel or DC comic book of your choice;
--All Cryptosnark PDFs published through July, 2003 on a limited-edition CD;
--An 8 1/2" by 11" drawing of your super-team by one of Cryptosnark's freelance illustrators; and...
--A $20 gift certificate for The Space-Crime Continuum book and game store!
Second Place:
--$25 (via PayPal or money order, as you wish);
--1 year (12 issue) subscription to the Marvel or DC comic book of your choice;
--All Cryptosnark PDFs published through July, 2003 on a limited-edition CD; and...
--A $20 gift certificate for The Space-Crime Continuum book and game store!
Third Place:
--$25 (via PayPal or money order, as you wish); and
--A $20 gift certificate for The Space-Crime Continuum book and game store!
PHASE THREE: ASSAULT ON CASTLE SILENCE
August 2, 2003 – September 1, 2003
During the third and final phase of the Mega-Contest, beginning on August 2, 2003, the three winning teams and a healthy selection of our favorite runners-up will be posted on the Cryptosnark Games website, complete with stats and descriptions.
From these candidates, contestants must select five characters (of specified power levels) to form their perfect team for a desperate assault on Castle Silence. Given hints about the castle's defenses and Azathoth's powers, your task will be to select and equip the team that you believe has the greatest chance of penetrating all of the Baron's defenses and taking him down on his home turf.
More specific instructions, as well as prize information, will be made available when Phase Three begins.
*****
Complete contest rules and more detailed descriptions can be found at:
http://www.allforart.com/cryptosnarkgames/d20/megacontest.html
Cheers and best!
Scott Lynch
Master of All He Surveys for 2.5 Feet in Any Direction
Cryptosnark Games
May 7, 2003
Cryptosnark Games
"Tomorrow's Inspired Lunacy at Yesterday's Prices."
http://www.allforart.com/cryptosnarkgames
PHASE ONE: THE HUNT FOR BARON AZATHOTH
May 9, 2003 – August 1, 2003
Baron Azathoth may be the most dangerous man in the multiverse! Always working to fuse advanced technology and long-forgotten sorcery into a coherent weapon for world domination, Azathoth hatches his evil schemes from a nearly-impenetrable fortress called Castle Silence. The Baron's castle travels in space and across dimensional boundaries, allowing him to place it wherever his heart desires– overlooking an Antarctic wasteland, perhaps, or perched halfway up the slopes of the rugged Himalayas. Finding Azathoth is often as troublesome as confronting him, and yet he must be found!
Each Cryptosnark Games PDF release, starting with *Killers* on May 9, will contain a hidden clue (in the form of a puzzle or a riddle) to the current whereabouts of Baron Azathoth and his uncanny castle. The first customer to solve each riddle or puzzle and send the correct answer to Cryptosnark Games via e-mail will win $10 on the spot (yours via money order or via PayPal, as you see fit). This phase of the contest will cover ten PDF releases in total from May through July of 2003, giving you ten chances to pick up the Baron's trail and win $10 each time.
PHASE TWO: HEROES ARISE!
May 9, 2003 – July 1, 2003
Commencing simultaneously with Phase One of the Mega-Contest is Phase Two. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to create a team of three (no more, no less) original super-heroes using the *Deeds Not Words Revision 1.1* system. Each team submitted will be blind-judged on the following criteria:
--Accuracy of stat block (neatness counts!);
--Novelty or originality of individual team members;
--Novelty or originality of overall team concept and name;
--Team versatility and synergy (ie, how well each member's abilities complement, supplement, or enhance those of his fellows). The more things a team can do, the better it will score in this regard; and
--Sheer butt-kickin' power (not just how much raw damage a team can dish out fighting together, but for how long, and how well, and against how wide a range of threats)
This phase will close to submissions on July 1, 2003. Winners will be announced on or before August 1, 2003. And the prizes? Feast your eyes:
First Place:
--$50 (via PayPal or money order, as you wish);
--1 year (12 issue) subscription to the Marvel or DC comic book of your choice;
--All Cryptosnark PDFs published through July, 2003 on a limited-edition CD;
--An 8 1/2" by 11" drawing of your super-team by one of Cryptosnark's freelance illustrators; and...
--A $20 gift certificate for The Space-Crime Continuum book and game store!
Second Place:
--$25 (via PayPal or money order, as you wish);
--1 year (12 issue) subscription to the Marvel or DC comic book of your choice;
--All Cryptosnark PDFs published through July, 2003 on a limited-edition CD; and...
--A $20 gift certificate for The Space-Crime Continuum book and game store!
Third Place:
--$25 (via PayPal or money order, as you wish); and
--A $20 gift certificate for The Space-Crime Continuum book and game store!
PHASE THREE: ASSAULT ON CASTLE SILENCE
August 2, 2003 – September 1, 2003
During the third and final phase of the Mega-Contest, beginning on August 2, 2003, the three winning teams and a healthy selection of our favorite runners-up will be posted on the Cryptosnark Games website, complete with stats and descriptions.
From these candidates, contestants must select five characters (of specified power levels) to form their perfect team for a desperate assault on Castle Silence. Given hints about the castle's defenses and Azathoth's powers, your task will be to select and equip the team that you believe has the greatest chance of penetrating all of the Baron's defenses and taking him down on his home turf.
More specific instructions, as well as prize information, will be made available when Phase Three begins.
*****
Complete contest rules and more detailed descriptions can be found at:
http://www.allforart.com/cryptosnarkgames/d20/megacontest.html
Cheers and best!
Scott Lynch
Master of All He Surveys for 2.5 Feet in Any Direction
Cryptosnark Games
May 7, 2003
Cryptosnark Games
"Tomorrow's Inspired Lunacy at Yesterday's Prices."
http://www.allforart.com/cryptosnarkgames
