The competition is run like
IronDM(tm), but contestants craft NPCs instead of plots.
We start with eight contestants and three alternates, do single-elimination for three rounds (4 matches, 2 matches, and then one match), and give a hearty "Hurrah!" up to who ever's left standing.
The Judge and his Judgements are nasty, brutish and short. The contest is brutal. Only the strongest, smartest and fastest posters will survive.
As to the contest itself: each match will require the crafting of an NPC within constraints (examples follow), with presentation of stat-blocks at four levels (ECLs), incorporating six ingredients selected by our highly-paid focus group.
Here's a sample from last year's
IronNPC(tm) competition:
Constraints:
NPC Levels: 2, 5, 7, 12
NPC Race: Elf
NPC Class: Spellcaster
Ingredients:
- Yellow Fever
- Zombie City
- Aboleth
- Brewer's Guild
- Crest of Curses
- Dereliction of Duty
Judgement consists quantitative analysis (up to 10 points for each ingredient's use, and up to 20 points each for the NPC's personality and utility -- how easy it would be to slip him, her or it into a campaign -- for a total of 100 points), but also qualitative mockery -- er, analysis.
Signup will begin at High Noon on Monday. Round 1 will probably begin later that same day, if at least two contestants are ready.
Similar to
IronDM(tm), each contestant will have exactly 48 hours from the time-stamp on my post to finish and post their completed entry. Any editing will result in immediate disqualification. For those who fear that the board may become slow, I have an email address attached to one of those little buttons below this post. Simply email me your entry at the same time that you post it here.
-- N
