Wizards Design Test: Who's going to submit?

[mearls]

I wouldn't worry about the maps. As long as they are clear and it's obvious what symbol means what, they're fine. I am a terrible artist, but I can produce map sketches that will end up in various and sundry DDM and D&D products. The key is that if you know you suck at maps, take the time to draw things clearly, or use shorthand symbols to mark different terrain types.

For instance, if I have to put a pool of water on a map, I use a simple symbol for water, like a wavy line. I then draw a box on the graph paper grid that marks where the pool should go, then I draw wavy lines in the box. I might use slanted lines to mark an area that's supposed to be filled with rubble. I also make notes about different areas. I might mark one area of difficult terrain with a letter, and then put an explanatory bit of text in the map's description (like this = "the difficult terrain marked with an A is rubbled from a collapsed wall.") Drawing a border around the difficult terrain also makes it even clearer.

I don't even try to draw things out, since I know I can't do that.

The map is likely there to make sure that you can take the time to express yourself clearly and give us useful diagrams. Maps are an important part of a turnover, and it's really annoying if the map we're given doesn't match the text. It's one of the nuts and bolts things of D&D design.

With all that said, I encourage anyone with an interest in RPG design to try out the test. We're always looking for new talent!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

re: Maps.

I'm sure if you come up with a good idea for an adventure and you only need a map, the mighty good folks in the Arts forum will be able to help you if you can at least produce a bar-napkin quality prototype

A doppleganger hired by a deranged kobold sorcerer has kidnapped and murdered a local lord's daughter and then replaced her in imprisonment among the kobolds. The PCs must repel a simple kobold infestation to rescue the lord's "daughter" , but when she is returned, she steals an ancient family artifact that can be used to raise an army of undead, returning it to the kobold sorcerer. Now the PCs must race against time and battle the deranged kobold sorcerer and his growing undead army to retrieve the ancient artifact before it is too late!

Hell, if you write THAT adventure, I'll draw you a map myself!

AR

 

[Rystil Arden]

I'm sure if you come up with a good idea for an adventure and you only need a map, the mighty good folks in the Arts forum will be able to help you if you can at least produce a bar-napkin quality prototype

Hmm...would it be fair to have them do it for me though? I guess it still is an 'original map' as the specifications state. I do have several ideas if I get the time

Hell, if you write THAT adventure, I'll draw you a map myself!

Well, considering that I made that adventure idea in order to include every single one of the things they don't want in an adventure, I probably won't write that one But thanks for the offer! I'll have to think about that.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Hmm...would it be fair to have them do it for me though? I guess it still is an 'original map' as the specifications state.

IMO, If you come up with your own map and "commission" someone else to make it, and the person you commission agrees to give it to you, I don't see where there could be a problem.

AR

 

[mearls]

IMO, If you come up with your own map and "commission" someone else to make it, and the person you commission agrees to give it to you, I don't see where there could be a problem.

AR

I wouldn't recommend doing this. Remember, this is a test of your ability to put together material. The map doesn't need to be pretty, just readable.

 

[Darkness]

I think I’ll have to pass.

Eliminate these and I’ve got nothing left.

Eh, just work a little on them:

• Rescue someone’s kidnapped son, niece, or parent.
• Solve a robbery perpetrated by a doppelganger.
• Retrieve a brand-new artifact.
• Battle a deranged cleric or bard.
• Repel a simple outsider infestation.
• Infiltrate an undead army.

 

[Kisanji Arael]

Eh, just work a little on them:

• Rescue someone’s kidnapped son, niece, or parent.
• Solve a robbery perpetrated by a doppelganger.
• Retrieve a brand-new artifact.
• Battle a deranged cleric or bard.
• Repel a simple outsider infestation.
• Infiltrate an undead army.

Except for the rescue and the outsider invasion, those sound really cool.

 

[RedShirtNo5]

Yeah, there are plenty of ideas left.

Recuse someone’s kidnapped daughter
Absolve a murder perpetrated by a doppelganger.
Retrofit an ancient artifact.
Bagattel a deranged wizard or sorcerer.
Rappel a simple humanoid infestation.
Defenestrate an undead army.

-RedShirt

 

[caudor]

This is going to be fun; count me in!

While I plan on making only one submission, I wonder if they will accept more than one submission per person? Since this is a contest, I suspect they would like to see only one entry per person.

I also wonder how much 'choice of level' will impact your chance of winning. With all else being equal, I think that higher level adventures might have an edge. That's just speculation; however, a poorly written high level adventure will certainly not beat a well written low level adventure.

 

[Gnome]

Well, I wouldn't have minded giving this a shot.....except for the qualifier that says that they're only looking for people who haven't worked with Wizards before.

Quote....
"If you haven’t worked with us before and would like to be considered for freelance design work, please complete this design test and submit your finished work...etc.."

So I say, well then, "Chuck you, Farley!"

Hmm, I didn't think about this aspect. I assume it only refers to work on actual products, but not something like having had an article or adventure published in Dragon or Dungeon?