WotC Seeking Your Setting Proposals (was "Big Wizard announcement")

[Lady Dragon]

I think people need to realize that Joe smhoe's chances of winning are less that 1 in 20,000 while Monte Cook and other big name writers chances are more like 1 in 100. Do you really think that the Admin isn't going to put submissions by known professional writers in a special make sure you read these first pile or at least a make sure you read the whole submission pile and not just glance over it especially with the enormous amout of submissions they have recieved they'll want to make sure they don't miss somebody important.

 

[Maraxle]

Personally, I am quite thankful for this great opportunity. If it is a ploy to put together a nice mailing list, so be it. It is worth receiving a few mailings for the opportunity to share my creation with the world.

 

[reddist]

I think people need to realize that Joe smhoe's chances of winning are less that 1 in 20,000 while Monte Cook and other big name writers chances are more like 1 in 100.

AV has stressed that, while people like Monte Cook, Clark Peterson, in-house WotC designers, etc., are all sending submissions, that the selection process will be utterly and completely blind. I will take him at his word on that.

If a "BIG NAME" author or game designer DOES win, WotC runs the risk of being accused of having "rigged" the selection process. In the case of such an event, they will have to be able to show that the process was blind and equally fair to all entrants. They don't have a choice, really.

Hell, with Hasbro being such a large company, and with the likelihood that Christina (bless her!) was hired or selected specifically for the sorting process, she might have no idea who Monte Cook is

-Reddist

 

[Lady Dragon]

Reddist I hope you are right about that I guess I'm just a cynic and I wish Cristina all the luck in the world these are going to be two difficult weeks for her.

 

[shadoth]

Uh, maybe I'm pointing out the obvious. People like Monte Cook and other 'big name' submitters became big name cuz they're good at this stuff. Don't be surprised if the winner is someone you've heard of before, simply because people you've heard of are really good at designing games.

shad

 

[Ghostwind]

Re: Hosed...

Saw the bins of mail this morning. We are so doomed... ...I'm not kidding, we are really hosed over here.

Anthony, I know that everyone there will be doing the best they can with the resources they are given. I do think it would be hysterical to take a few snapshots of the sheer mass of mail and post them on the website so everyone has a picture of what you're going through. If there is anything that we can do to help, don't hesitate to name it.

 

[reddist]

Oh I'm not saying that Monte (for example) doesn't have a better shot at it than the rest of us, I'm just saying that all of our applications will be given the same consideration that Monte's is given, because the reviewers won't know which is Monte's or which is Joe Average's.

That's all.

The best 10 should move forward. I'm sure those with more experience, skill, and creativity will do better that those without, and yes, the Big Names have got the juice. That's why they are Big Names.

-Reddist

 

[Parcher]

Two things. Well, three, actually.

First, let me again stress that the review process for the submissions is blind. None of the committee reviewing them has any idea of any name associated with any particular submission. That's why we were so particular about where your name should be placed on the submission. We didn't want it someplace where Christina might miss it when she was doing the blinding process.

Second, we will, I stress, will, send out notes to everyone who submitted, notifying you of the status of your submission (that is, if you were or were not selected to move on to the second round of the process). We're fully aware this is a big job, but we feel we owe it to all of you who took the time to send in submissions.

Third and by no means least important, Christina has done a magnificent job in coping with the volume of submissions that have arrived. All of us owe her a big debt of gratitude for handling this unusual situation with calm and good humor.

 

[Rasyr]

Third and by no means least important, Christina has done a magnificent job in coping with the volume of submissions that have arrived. All of us owe her a big debt of gratitude for handling this unusual situation with calm and good humor.

hehe... When this is all over and done with, maybe you guys ought to give her a nice big bonus check....

 

[Ghostwind]

stop the legal bickering

Folks, let's nip a few things in the bud now so we can stop some of this endless prattle...

First, the Open Call by Wizards is in no way a monetary contest. It breaks no legal laws in any state. It is a request for an original idea that Wizards of the Coast will purchase the rights to, plain and simple. Your chances of being selected cannot be calculated into an accurate statistical probability because this is not a random draw like a lottery or contest. This is a selection based solely upon your ability to write in a clean and concise manner that conveys your world idea in a manner which impresses Wotc. The monetary aspect is a purchase agreement and nothing more.

Secondly, if your entry was postmarked by the proper date, I am certain that it will be read and considered even if it arrives after the July 3rd announcement date. If your proposal is so good that Wotc feels it warrants a 10 page expansion, you will be contacted.

Remember, Wotc stated that up to ten proposals may be selected. They don't have to select ten. This also means that they can select more if they so deem - after all, they are the ones making the decisions. Considering the sheer amount of mail coming in, you could indeed see that 10 page selection number increase depending on the quality of the submissions. I do not doubt that the selection of 3 entries and then a final "winner" will remain unchanged, however.

Finally, given the volumes of mail coming in, I doubt we will ever know the total number of submissions and I think to continually ask that Wotc keep track is unreasonable and will only serve to distract and delay them from the primary goal of going through all of the entries in a timely manner.

Let's just sit back, quit speculating, and wait for Wotc to get through everything. There is nothing anyone can do at this point other than worry yourselves senseless for no reason...