Iron DM & Ceramic DM ?

[Bloodstone Mage]

Okay. Call me an idiot. What is this Iron DM and Ceramic DM I've seen so much of? From what I'm guessing, they are a form of contest, and in which, Iron DM is much more tougher and/or strict than Ceramic DM. I'm not too sure, though. I'm really vague about this. Could someone explain it all to me?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

 

[Speaker]

Well, I've never participated in the Iron DM, but I have in the third ceramic DM and to a limited extent in the fourth (the fact that I had to withdraw midway is not something I'm proud of).

The Ceramic DM competition has the contestants create adventures and/or fiction based on a series of pictures selected for their hair-tearing, mind-numbing general oddity. Good fun. The Iron DM focuses on a series of ingredients given, from which the contestant writes up an adventure. Generally, there is a very limited amount of time in which to produce said works.

In some respects, I would agree with the observation you make; that the Iron DM is feels stricter then the Ceramic DM. However, I would say that the Ceramic DM is much tougher. Never having competed in the Iron DM, you can take what I say with a grain of salt. Yum, salt.

Anyway, both are much, much fun, and open to any and all contestants that sign up on time. Feel free to try your hand at the next round.

 

[Rune]

Iron DM is, at heart, a spin-off of Iron Chef. The first tournament (and others, after) was run by Nemmerle on one of the old ENworld boards (or, even Eric Noah's, maybe. I don't really remember) and was, regrettably, lost to the sands of time.

There's really no better way to get a feel for what the tournament is than to look at some of the entries, so...

Here's the latest Iron DM tournament.

I've never competed in the Ceramic DM, but I have competed in several Iron DM touraments, performing well enough to get to the really challenging rounds.

I have a hard time imagining how Ceramic DM could be tougher, but that's really because I have a hard time imagining how much of anything could be tougher. The Iron DM tournaments are gruelling, especially to those who do well in them.

Constructing several adventures within 24 hour time periods consecutively will wear down anyone's endurance, but having to compete with the type of contestants that the Iron DM frequently pulls in makes it that much tougher.

 

[Mirth]

Hey Speaker!

If you want to check out how a Ceramic DM is run, check the links in my sig (or Speaker's, I think).

Having competed in both, I would say that Iron DM is tougher. That 24 hour deadline is a bear. Iron DM came first, has more prestige associated with it and has much stricter guidelines, criticism and deadlines than Ceramic DM (although I am trying to be nemmerlesque in my judgments for CDM - nemmerle is the guy who started the Iron DM and is known for his razor-sharp decisions).

Although Ceramic DM is a more laid back and freeform affair, alsih2o/Clay is absolutely demonic in his photo selection for the contest, so I'm not sure how much of a balancing factor that becomes

All in all, both competitions are a blast and you should definitely give one or both of them a try if you feel up to it.

Jay

 

[alsih2o]

iron dm is the original. iron dm is about writers who take their craft and competition seriously, focusing on quickly creating stories judged by a single judge.

ceramic dm is a later copy. we aim for maybe a little more fun, and i think trash talking is a bit more prevalent. we have 3 judges.

for all their similarities i think it is very much aples and oranges.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

And then of course there's Iron NPC... of which there's only been one. It was kind of like Iron DM, but with a few more restrictions and a slightly longer time frame (as we had to come up with stat blocks as well as character background). See sig for full details.

 

[Nifft]

And then of course there's Iron NPC... of which there's only been one.

There will be another. It's too hard-core to run very often.

-- Nifft

 

[Gregor]

alsih2o/Clay is absolutely demonic in his photo selection for the contest

I hear that. I still remember the nail biting, hair pulling stress of trying to figure out how to connect them all into a coherent story.

BM, you should come out for the next one, its loads of fun!

Cheers,

 

[NoOneofConsequence]

ceramic dm is a later copy. we aim for maybe a little more fun, and i think trash talking is a bit more prevalent. we have 3 judges.

for all their similarities i think it is very much apples and oranges.

Having never competed in Iron DM I make no comparative claims. That being said, this man of clay lies. Ceramic DM is far from laid back. It is a ruthless, cut-throat competition which culls out the weak and sickly.

Putting together clay's pictures into something coherent. Oy-vey!
Of course, as someone who has finally won one of these literary death marches I can only say - it's sure a lot of fun.

 

[2d6]

Those are great competitions! Very creative and competative. And that 24 hour time limit is a bear.

I'd like to see something like Iron GM, like Iron DM, but using other games, like maybe a MnM or Cthulhu instead of DnD.