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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nail" data-source="post: 121209" data-attributes="member: 224">Acckk!Th' heats keep gettin' harder!  Outta 9, I'd have ta say a least 5 coulda had my vote.  FWIW, here's how I see 'em:<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/bloodfist.doc" target="_blank">The Fort of the Bloodfist Orcs</a>     Well look: I've seen a number o' orcish forts, so seein' another one doesn't rank very "original" in my book.   That, an' it's got a half-fiend barbarian.  'Fraid I need more in my half-fiends ta make 'em interesting.  Motivations, weaknesses, themes.....<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/SneedsAmbush.doc" target="_blank">Surprise, you've just been double-crossed!</a>Three major problems with this one.  First, the double-cross itself: Ya gotta do these carefully, or the players will be frustrated.  No fun = no game.  This one smacks of railroading.  Second, the set-up: It's not clear why the uber-wizard doesn't just hire a few more henchmen, an' get the ring himself.  He's clearly powerful enough, and sending a poorly protected (but very expensive) simulacrum to trick some adventurers to do it seems too contrived.  Third, the confrontation doesn't seem to take into account that the PCs could stop the door open.  Or heck, they could do any number of paranoid things.....it'd likely foil th' DMs plan.Confronting BloodhornSorry kid, but th' work computer has no unzip utility.  No read=no vote.  I'm sure I'm the one missin' out.<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/lunatic.doc" target="_blank">Sharick, the Exiled Lunatic</a> After readin' it, I kept thinkin': "...yeah, but why is he crazy?"  I need ta have a good reason fer that before I kin vote fer it.  That, an' the location is...umm...boring.*************************Now we get ta th' good 'uns.  It was very hard to pick, mostly cause they all combined interesting ideas with decent writing.  An' (ta steal from Mistwell), they followed th' rules.  Mostly.<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/Studium.doc" target="_blank">Studium Musica</a>Interestin' idea, tho' I'd guess that th' recording spell might require the expenditure of exp.  It does create a magic item, after all.  An' doesn't the PH say specifically that other magic doesn't work with scrying?  The NPC was okay, and th' building interesting.  The PC hooks were too fuzzy....<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/Molbran.doc" target="_blank">Secrets Best Left Unheard</a>Very well written, if a wee bit long 'n wordy.  The Inn is nice an' comfortable...useful, even, tho' not otherwise noteworthy.  The place ya lost me was this bit in the set-up: "Having discovered that they are resting in an inn,......."  Now look, I kin understand plot hooks an' all o' that dreck, but how do they know?  I'll tell you: th' DM wants it that way.  What if the PC are careful?  <insert other grumbling here><a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/Barking.doc" target="_blank">The Barking Frog Inn</a>This one almost had me....ahh, nothin' like the smell o' broken teeth, bloodied noses, and smashed furniture ta wet th' appetite.  An' th' map is superb.  All you other entrants should be ashamed, compared ta this work.  But....well, first, most PCs are not gonna part wit' th' equipment jus' ta get into a bar.  And two, th' real interestin' story in this encounter will rarely be used: Derek BattleMug's history.  That's the part that needs the development....an' yet the PCs will be too busy flingin' mugs an' dodgin' table legs ta find it out.....***************These last two...well, it coulda gone either way fer me....<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/Illusions.doc" target="_blank">Illusions & Delusions</a>I like the bard.  He's crazy, an' th' DM would need ta have a silver tongue ta pull it off, but.....I like 'im.  Good motivations, good curse, appropriate power level.  The location....well, let's not talk 'bout that.  Let's get back to th' bard..how many DMs know stage directions?  An' the villian, the kobold sorcerer using non-core rules "Alter Self" spell.....well, let's get back ta that bard character.....<a href="http://www.d20reviews.com/contest/Landsend.rtf" target="_blank">The Encounter at Landsend</a>Well written, cool concept, an' another dwarven druid!  (What is it with druids in this contest?)  The NPC is done well, and he and the encounter are interestin', and separable.  My only complaints are the length an' the number o' pets he has.  Oh, an' th' fact that the tree is not fossilized; it's magicked.  Fossilized means buried, then turned to stone.  This is somethin' different.  Very cool, tho'!  (I've got Skill Focus: Geology; hey, what kin I say?)On merit an' coolness factor, Encounter at Landsend got my vote.-Nail</blockquote>

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