D&D General Win The Title of D&D's Best DM

WotC is running a competition called the Dungeon Master Challenge. Similar to Paizo's old RPG Superstar contest, it features various design rounds which whittle down the contenders until only one remains.

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The winner gets a trophy and some D&D products worth just over $2K.

Note: your entry becomes the property of WotC, which can use it in any way it wishes, even if you don't win. They don't even have to credit you for it. Be sure to consider this when deciding whether to enter.

• The first design challenge for a 1,000-word entry is Thursday June 17th, and contestants have three days to submit their entries. This round is open to everybody who qualifies (18+, in one of a list of countries).
• 10 contestants will then proceed to the next round in July, which is an elimination stage with various weekly 1,000-word design challenges.
• Three of those will go on to the final challenge in September, which involved being a DM on a livestream, judged by a panel.

What's a Freelance RPG Writer Worth?

Freelance writers (as opposed to those on salary) tend to be paid per word. The rate varies from publisher to publisher, and on how experienced the writer is. Ed Greenwood, for example, can command a much higher rate than a new writer can. Obviously only you, the freelancer, can decide...

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[Disgruntled Hobbit]

The final round is running a game.

Missed that

Oh cheezus, running a live stream game for an audience WHILE being judged by a panel
That would give Mark Hulmes and Mathew Colville anxiety and imposter syndrom

 

[CleverNickName]

So they're pushing in on our Iron DM territory, eh?

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

This is not surprising, but it does make me want to avoid this contest... the best material I've got I want to sell myself!

It's to protect them more than get your ideas
They don't need one of the 15,000 people who submitted screaming that they stole their idea in six months

 

[TheBanjoNerd]

I'm calling shenanigans on this competition. Everyone knows DMs don't write a damn thing down!

The cynic in me is looking at this competition as an ignoble way for WotC to farm the community for content that it won't need to license/pay for.

 

[Morrus]

It's to protect them more than get your ideas
They don't need one of the 15,000 people who submitted screaming that they stole their idea in six months

There’s plenty of ways to protect themselves, and plenty of ways to promise to pay people for any work that they end up using. If I use somebody’s work, I pay for it. Period.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

It's to protect them more than get your ideas
They don't need one of the 15,000 people who submitted screaming that they stole their idea in six months

Yeah, I know. I generally dislike such contests though... for example, I saw Raid Shadow Legends did one for submitting art of heroes, which they then all own. Getting hundreds of pieces of essentially concept art, that you now own and get essentially free, is kind of scummy (pay artists!)

I don't really think WotC would use much (if any) of the material submitted, and hopefully plan to use this to broaden their freelancer pool... but I am wary nonetheless.

 

[Shiroiken]

It's about time. The setting contest that resulted in Eberron was a huge deal. I am very glad they are giving the community a chance to shine.

I suppose that depends on your opinion of Eberron

 

[el-remmen]

Entry design must adhere to methodology found in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Chapter 2: Dungeon Master’s Tools

Heh. This is the only part that gives me pause. This is the kind of stuff I usually skip over on purpose.

 

[Marc_C]

I'll pass. I submitted a setting idea for 3e. The "Points of Light" setting in the 4e is somewhat similar to what I submitted for the contest. It feels weird because I'll never know. Don't want to be in that position again.

No money no candy!

 

[Steampunkette]

There’s plenty of ways to protect themselves, and plenty of ways to promise to pay people for any work that they end up using. If I use somebody’s work, I pay for it. Period.

So are you hiring any time soon orrrr...?