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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[ninjayeti]

My players already gave me a coffee cup that says "World's Best DM" - will I have to give it back if someone else wins?

 

[grimslade]

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.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Interesting. I wonder what the theme/topic will be, and why they're keeping it a secret. I think I might enter, depending on the theme. The "Open Submission" part of the guidelines for submissions gives some idea as to what the theme could be, as it says that submissions "must adhere to the methodology found in Xanathar's Guide to Everything's Chapter 2: Dungeon Master's Tools", and that it must include "design and narrative element" and that both current lore and how interesting/challenging for both players and dungeon masters will be parts of judging the quality of the content that is submitted.

Maybe they want an adventure/one-shot/dungeon with unique trap/monster ideas?

 

[Cadence]

Reading elsewhere, it appears a lot of folks would find anything that helped make halfling's interesting would be a winner...

 

[cmad1977]

I’ve already won the award for ambivalence so I think I’m gonna sit this one out.

It’s around here somewhere I guess.

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

Neat idea but the pedant in me thinks the title should be "best designer" as the best DM would be about running a game not writing

Expect they're trying to broaden their freelancer pool
It should be designing a simple encounter or monster. Something simple and easy to judge

 

[Morrus]

Neat idea but the pedant in me thinks the title should be "best designer" as the best DM would be about running a game not writing

Expect they're trying to broaden their freelancer pool
It should be designing a simple encounter or monster. Something simple and easy to judge

The final round is running a game.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

There's always this one as a replacement:

My players already gave me a coffee cup that says "World's Best DM" - will I have to give it back if someone else wins?

 

[Urriak Uruk]

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

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!