Villainous Competition XX​I: Yarr!

[danielxcutter]

You mean in terms of mechanics? Well, that's not a bad idea, I guess, though some of the more creative entries I've seen wouldn't have made it if we'd gone with that.

[Tiri]

You mean in terms of mechanics? Well, that's not a bad idea, I guess, though some of the more creative entries I've seen wouldn't have made it if we'd gone with that.

That can't be right, since restrictions vary from round to round.

[zergling.exe]

No this is bullying. Don't let them abuse you like this!

It's not bullying yet. Most people around here just suspect foul play if you are constantly deleting posts rather than editing them to say what's new.

[Jormengand]

I'm just confused and waiting for one, unified post with a real judging.

Also, no restrictions, thanks. They tend to, well, RESTRICT the kinds of inventive characters you can make.

[Tiri]

I'm just confused and waiting for one, unified post with a real judging.

Also, no restrictions, thanks. They tend to, well, RESTRICT the kinds of inventive characters you can make.

Well, if you want all the builds judged at once you'll have to wait for GrayDeath, but there have been some judgments already in small pockets.

I think restrictions can actually help inventiveness sometimes, though, as people might need to think of new ways to build the villain concepts they have.

[Buufreak]

Well, if you want all the builds judged at once you'll have to wait for GrayDeath, but there have been some judgments already in small pockets.

I think restrictions can actually help inventiveness sometimes, though, as people might need to think of new ways to build the villain concepts they have.

I'm on board. Can't have ups without downs, can't have candy without greens, so too can we not have wide open contests without the counterbalance of restrictive ones.

[Aka-chan]

I like the idea of doing some rounds that are more restrictive, though I think we should have some wide-open rounds like this one as well. Having restrictions in some rounds could provide an interesting challenge, but having them in every round could feel too constraining.

[Jormengand]

The only kind of creativity that restrictions build is the kind of creativity you need to get around the choking restrictiveness of "You're not allowed to be a pyromaniac without the fire subtype because reasons" and so forth. It's not some yin and yang thing; restrictions are restrictive.

---

Can we actually have the post, with the judging, here, on this page, as a new post rather than back-edited into a post without announcing that it's been done?

[The Viscount]

I had an idea that never made it into reality using the infamous "threat the coast as a shirt" line and was wondering how to make a pirate character to literally do just that. All that I could find was some alter selfing to become a Raiment or a Ragamoffyn. Any other thoughts on how to pull this off?

[Venger]

I had an idea that never made it into reality using the infamous "threat the coast as a shirt" line and was wondering how to make a pirate character to literally do just that. All that I could find was some alter selfing to become a Raiment or a Ragamoffyn. Any other thoughts on how to pull this off?

You could always use a mithral chain shirt as a vehicle for your consciousness and inhabit it via steelsteal to terrorize water-adjacent communities.

[ben-zayb]

Restrictions don't need to force you to be/have something. Take the Fallen Heroes round, for example, where one of the restrictions is to not be a Paladin

[Thurbane]

I've already got the next round idea firmly in mind. It will have at least one restriction, and I may or may not more restrictions to it.

IN general, yes, I've been going with more open-ended reqs, but I'm definitely not against restrictions. I do believe they add to competitions.

[Jormengand]

Restrictions don't need to force you to be/have something. Take the Fallen Heroes round, for example, where one of the restrictions is to not be a Paladin

Right, so what does this add?

- If a build concept doesn't involve paladin, nothing happens.
- If a build concept does involve paladin, the build doesn't get submitted.

Sure, we can imagine the magical case where the frustration of someone's paladin build not working inspires them to build something better, but really all it does is stop people submitting builds which don't meet the criteria.

[Technetium43]

Honestly part of the reason I haven't been submitting as much is the lack of restrictions. Fire round had a lot of restrictions, and that helped a lot, while the Ooze round had very little actual restrictions but they were difficult to attain, so I had a better time. I don't do well with open-ended stuff.

[ben-zayb]

Right, so what does this add?

- If a build concept doesn't involve paladin, nothing happens.
- If a build concept does involve paladin, the build doesn't get submitted.

Sure, we can imagine the magical case where the frustration of someone's paladin build not working inspires them to build something better, but really all it does is stop people submitting builds which don't meet the criteria.

It adds limits, like most restrictions do, but not to the point where it requires you to insert a specific race/class/feat/etc to your character concept.

The question is, "Do restrictions have to add something else other than what they are supposed to?"

And yes, there is merit to the claim that imposing limits encourages creativity

[Baby Gary]

I think Jormengand is just bitching because restrictions have penalized his build before.

Novolin, oh Novolin when will you learn. When will you learn that insulting people is not a way to live life, that being nice and fair and following the rules is what really makes who you are at the end of the day, Oh when will you learn.

also no offense, that would be quite ironic, being mean while I was saying NOT to be mean.

[Hackulator]

Im not insulting, it is true. I havent said anything bad about him.

Well, using the term "bitching" is certainly somewhat derogatory.

Also, I'd like to say I'm impressed with how much you seem to have managed to make everyone dislike you with such a low post count. That's efficiency!

[Baby Gary]

Im not insulting, it is true. I havent said anything bad about him.

it sort of was insulting. Your last comment about him b***hing is what I would call insulting. Some others may have different opinions but that is what I think.

[Baby Gary]

also why did you delete your last comment? (well the one about B***hing) also I agree with Hackulator.

[Baby Gary]

I saw well-known forum member use it before in this comp and no one said they are insulting

Who was that?

[Hackulator]

I saw well-known forum member use it before in this comp and no one said they are insulting

Well the threshold is lower when you're reviled, I guess? I dunno, I don't really know you nor do I know what person or post you are talking about.

[Baby Gary]

I just said you liar

is it just me or are some of Novolin's post disappearing?

[Deadline]

Put me in the camp that enjoys the restrictions. I find it gets my creativity flowing. Generally the more the better.

[danielxcutter]

is it just me or are some of Novolin's post disappearing?

Troll tactic. Now where have we seen this before?

[Baby Gary]

This is not fair.cwhy others use bitching, it okay, when I use, suddenly insult.

If anyone used B***hing in anything I would call them out on it, it is not just you.

[ben-zayb]

^ seconded

I suggest ignoring the type of posts that eventually gets deleted anyway

[Buufreak]

^ seconded

I suggest ignoring the type of posts that eventually gets deleted anyway

Amen to that. Its been my standing on Draco since the beginning (though to be fair I too fed the troll a few times), it should certainly stand here. If you see something borderline rules breaking (such as language, insulting behavior, or suspect a certain anyone of having a cloned account), report it and carry on.

[Florian]

Put me in the camp that enjoys the restrictions. I find it gets my creativity flowing. Generally the more the better.

Same for me. That actually can make a challenge.. more challenging, especially when you know your rules and material well enough to instantly have a concept in mind even while reading the challenge description.

My thought process for this challenge was like this:
- Boah, pirates. Ok, there´s the Buccaneer archetype for Rangers that helps a captain boost the crew. There´s the Daring Captain PrC that gives a parrot familiar.
- Ok, what now. A crew of ghouls interested in the sailors instead of the cargo? Boring. Make the parrot the captain? Could be better. Let´s see if there´s a Ghost Ship monster? Oh, actually there is, but too obvious. Ahh! A mimic with levels of buccaneer posing as the ship? Ok....

[Thurbane]

Guys, don't feed the troll(s), please.

The feed on the drama. Best thing is to just ignore them. I've currently got the user in question on my ignore list, so I don't even see their posts.

I still strongly suspect this user of having multiple account. The timing of some of the posts was incredibly suspicious.

[Tiri]

I'm actually so impatient for judging that I've been reading through all the old judgments from previous competitions.

I probably should find something more productive to do.