Contest Ideas

[Hydro]

Write your material however you like Premier. Everyone's creative process is different, and I have found that some of the most creative minds out there tend to also be some of the most quirky. If you feel that writing with a specific game engine in mind cramps your style, then don't.

But, please, do not assume that the rest of us are bound by the same constraints. Just as any of an infinite number of points can be said to fall into one of the four quadrants of the cartesian plane, so any of an infinite number of complex moral codes all fall into one of the nine alignments: more complex individuals (and gods) are simply more difficult to judge. It is possible for a wimsical god to have a dozen or more holy symbols (all of which are listed), or for a god who isn't much concerned with what weapons her followers are using to choose a symbolic weapon such as Ilmatyr's "an open hand (unarmed strike)" for purposes of spells that manifest that god's favored weapon.

You view of the game system is apparently obscured by the vast number of cliche's and uncreative content that you have see associated with it over the years, and if you can't break free of those steriotypes without chucking the whole thing out the window then by all means chuck away. But rest assured that, for the rest of us, there is no such thing as a pantheon that is "too good for d&d".

[Premier]

Just to avoid misunderstandings, all I said about creativity was my personal opinion, without wanting to forcefully impress it anyone else.

But rest assured that, for the rest of us, there is no such thing as a pantheon that is "too good for d&d".

And that's exactly the point I too have made, even if I have been a wee bit more roundabout with it.


... with gusto!


I like that word. I'll try to use it more often from now on.

[ArlEammon]

Why don't we start having a deity creating contest?

[Perrin]

Why don't we start having a deity creating contest?

Now THERE'S an idea. The question is... Characters that are Deity-level, and may take a few of the respinsibilities of Deities, or Characters that simply are Deities, having considered themselves Gods for a long time, and having the power to back it up?

[Hydro]

*indicates his "homebrew panthion" idea, above*

Gods are cool, but I realy don't have the means to write up their statistics (or those of any epic character, for that matter), and stats are probably the least important aspect of a diety anyway.

Of corse, a pantion is simply a group of dieties who interact with each other, and the deffinition of "diety" is left wide open. ;)

[ArlEammon]

Perhaps a mixture of both, unless you already mentioned that when you said "homebrew pantheon".

[Grey Watcher]

I'll resurrect this thread so I can suggest perhaps a party design contest? Create a set of characters that are adventuring together. You can declare winners based on characterization, group dynamics, stats, tactical possibilities, playability, etc. etc. Unlike the pantheon and the festival contest where I'm drawing complete blanks, I have a few ideas bubbling along these lines.

[White Blade]

Dang that would be fun, as well as practical we would have to work on things that would help us to help role playing, which is something always worth learning more about no matter how much you have mastered the craft, Both as Players to help us understand how their Pcs would inter act with one another and for Dms to help estimate their pcs actions.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

I really like Grey Watcher's party concept as well. To make things more interesting, perhaps the members of the party should all fit into some sort of theme (like the spell chain contest earlier, where the contestant chooses their own theme)?

A few questionis - how much detail do we want for each party member? Is there a particular level every party should be at, or can the contestant pcik whatever level she or he desires? What material, game rule wise, is allowed?

I submit that, if statblocks are to be created, each character for these parties should be created with a reasonable point buy amount (32 sounds good to me) prior to potential level adjustments, and follow the standard wealth amounts for characters of their level according to the DMG. This is purely to provide a nice baseline for everyone, so we can focus more on the cool "fluffy" bits of the contest while also getting a shorthand idea of the relative power of the party and characters.

[Grey Watcher]

Well, the parties don't NECESSARILY have to get along like a dream. I once created a party for a video game and I thought it would be a good idea to include some intra-party conflict (which, naturally, the game wouldn't support, but whatever). I like the idea that there's friction within a group. Nothing to break the group apart, but I think it'd be cool to have some awards for, say, Most Dysfunctional Group. ;D

[White Blade]

what level/range would they be in average party level 6 or what? something in that range I hope. I think it would be better if there where no martial (and by martial I mean books) limits, or if we did restrict it to the "everything you ever wanted books" that is to say Book of vile darkness, Book of exalted Deeds, The Complete Series, The Expanded Psionic's Handbook, And the Core books (The PhB The DMg and the MM). And this doesn't even include one of my favorite books either. (unearthed arcana)

[Ramos]

Does an Eladrin Wizard, an Astral Deva Cleric, a Drow Druid, a male Erinyes fighter and a Succubus Sorceress earn the title most disfunctional party ever? :P

[White Blade]

How about and I know this one would have more work then anything but the spell chain contest. Build A town/city complete with well known personalities, adventure hooks, and major buildings.

[White Blade]

Double Post Forgiveness
Please comment anyone?

[DrSpoon]

meh my actual D&D party is more dysfunctional: CG elven Bladesinger, LG Dwarven Cleric/Defender, CG Drow Sorcoress, CG Kobold/Silverwraith Druid

[Gamebird]

I'd be interested in this contest if someone could get one of the board staff to underwrite it. Say, like Wampax did last time? I'll go send that person a private note and see what they say...

[White Blade]

Which one do you mean the city one or the party one?

[WampaX]

I'd be interested in this contest if someone could get one of the board staff to underwrite it. Say, like Wampax did last time? I'll go send that person a private note and see what they say...

Just so you know, I volunteered for contest duty while Rich was busy with the Book stuff, et. al. When we will be given leave to run another, I do not know.

[Gamebird]

Which one do you mean the city one or the party one?

I meant the party suggestion.

[White Blade]

Kay just wondering

[Premier]

Here's another idea: design a set of magical items or artifacts. Maybe created by the same person, maybe forming a famous collection, maybe pieces that combine for a greater effect... anything that could count as a "set". And also write down the history of the pieces.

[White Blade]

That could be fun too...

[Blue_C.]

I agree with White Blade, the magic item set idea of Premier's sounds awesome.

[White Blade]

I can imagine mine already, built by five people (I think its, Shungjen but I don't have the complete divine book with me yet...)
One for fire, one for water, one for earth, one for air, and one of course for void. All of which would be katans built for five samurai.

[Blue_C.]

Funny White Blade, but that reminds me of a set of Minor Artifacts I designed for a campaign. They were the (evil) Chalice of Water, the (good) Athame of Fire, the (lawful) Anvil of Earth, and the (Chaotic) Baton of Air.
Not sure what my entry would be. Perhaps a suit of armor (chainmail, guantlets, helm, greaves, bracers, etc.)

[Aran]

I'm up for the magic item contest - It sounds like fun. Plus, I already have some ideas of my own. :D

I'm not willing to divulge too much information at this point, but the artifacts may not be items in the traditional sense.

[Hydro]

You made fire good and water evil?

You suck.

Baron Von Mod: And you're arbitrarily insulting someone. >:(
Discuss if you want, but don't hurl insults.

[Meagen]

You made fire good and water evil?

You suck.

Baron Von Mod: And you're arbitrarily insulting someone. >:(

Mr. Mod sir, I believe the intent was to make a joke based on the poster's name.

[Baron]

OK... :-/ Not sure of the connection... You'll have to help me out here. I'm not getting the joke. ???

[Hydro]

My appologies; I thought it was too arbitrary to be taken seriously. Humor is difficult to explain, and is a moving target from one person to another anyway, but I'll give it a shot:

Perhaps my sense of humor has been warped by hanging out with my d&d group too much, but having someone tell me that I "suck" for calling their favorite element evil isn't something I would ever take offense at. Perhaps it's because I haven't heard the word "suck" used as a real insult since... well, any time in memory actually. Maby back in early gradeschool, but I have a hard time remembering early gradeschool.

So, here I am, hurling a steril insult at Blue C for the absurd 'offense' of calling my "favorite element" (an object of pure fantasy) "evil". I think that the fact that I was insulting him over such a silly thing was what was supposed to be funny, disarmed (unsuccessfully it seems) by the fact that I wasn't using a "real" insult. And yes, part of the persona I've built up around this handle is that water is His Thing (much like Premier's "With gusto!", which I doubt he says in real life :p).

Anyway, humor is something I have difficulty comprehending much less explaining, so I think I'll stop tripping over myself in the attempt. Sorry again for the mix-up.