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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 5:57AM
#1
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
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Expert Dungeon Master Competition #5
Populate This Map! Welcome to the fifth Expert Dungeon Master Competition! The primary purpose of the Expert Dungeon Master Competitions is threefold: [list=1] To create a resource for new Dungeon Masters drawing on the vast talent pool of the experienced Dungeon Masters of this forum.
To create a fun and vibrant competition that is sportsmanlike and friendly.
To showcase the creativity and talent of Dungeon Masters like you.
As a new tradition for the competitions, every other fifth competition (i.e., any competition whose number ends in “5” shall be a “Populate This Map” competition. Delving into Wizards of the Coast’s Map Gallery, we will select a map from the gallery and ask contestants to populate a portion of the map with a series of encounters. The goal is to create a coherent and exciting series of encounters within a larger dungeon complex.
The map to be used in this competition can be seen in the spoiler block below:
Competition Map – caution – it may break screen
Show
In order to enter the competition, your entry must fulfill the following required elements:
[list=A]Name your entry
Establish a recommended party level for your encounter (assuming there are 5 PCs of that level).
Describe encounters for three, four or five contiguous encounter areas on the map, identified by the number used on the map.
In addition, the entry must meet at least three of the following ten optional elements:
[list=1]Negative consequences befall parties that do not complete the encounters or dungeon within an established deadline.
No encounter area contains humanoids.
One encounter occurs only if the PCs fail a combat or skill challenge in a prior encounter.
One or more encounters contain a NPC that can be convinced to aid the party.
One or more encounters contain a unique form of terrain that affects movement.
One or more magic items are included as treasure, and every one of them may be used by NPCs against the party prior to the party obtaining them as treasure.
One or more skill challenges grant successes for use of the Streetwise skill.
One or more skill challenges must be accomplished during combat.
The encounters get progressively more difficult no matter what order the PCs encounter them.
The entry describes adjustments to be made if the party takes an extended rest after completing at least one, but not all the encounters described in the entry.
For purpose of this competition, please consider the following:
- “Contiguous encounter areas” means numbered encounter areas on the map between which adventurers can travel without using magic and without passing through an intervening numbered area.
- You may add terrain, traps and/or creatures to any encounter areas.
- If you choose to include terrain, traps or creatures from one of Wizards of the Coast's Fourth Edition publications, you do not need to reproduce the entire stat block. Simply supply the name of the terrain, trap or creature as found in that publication and the name of the publication in which it can be found. If that terrain, trap or creature is to be modified in your entry, you may either produce a new stat block or simply describe the changes made to the published stat block.
- If you own the supplement in which this map was originally published – P1: King of the Trollhaunt Warrens – do not use the encounters described therein. (If you don’t own this supplement, it is extremely unlikely you would accidentally populate the map with the creatures used therein.)
- You are welcome, but not required, to give background information for the dungeon complex as you envision it for your entry.
- Code of Conduct. All entries must comply with the forum's Code of Conduct.
- Contest Duration. Contests usually run for two weeks, beginning with the post announcing the competition. The Coordinator may extend the duration of the contest at his discretion after consulting the other judges for that competition. However, such extensions should be done very rarely.
- Edits After 15 Minutes Prohibited. Applicants may not edit their entries more than 15 minutes after submission. This includes editing done by forum moderators, unless the moderator specifically states that the entry had not been edited prior to the moderator's action. If the entrant submits an entry before the contest closes and then edits the entry after the contest closes, but within fifteen minutes of submission, the edits will be considered valid. Entrants should use the forum’s “preview post” function or an off-line text editor to check the entry before posting. Once winners have been announced, entrants may edit their entries.
- Multiple Entries Prohibited. Each applicant may only submit one entry prior during the period in which entries may be submitted. Submitting multiple entries disqualifies all entries. Additional entries may be submitted after the competition closes, but they will not be judged.
- Multi-Post Entries Prohibited. Each entry must be contained within a single post. The judges must ignore any subsequent posts.
- Outside Links Prohibited. Entries may not include material hosted on a website other than the post on which the entry appears. Images hosted on, or links to, other websites will be ignored by the judges when scoring.
- Plagiarism and Previewing Prohibited. All entries must be the original, exclusive work of the applicant. Entries found to be copying the work of another, or that have been posted for review prior to the close of the competition, will be disqualified.
The contest will run from today through Friday November 21, 2008. All entries must be submitted no later than 12:00 midnight on that day (Eastern Standard Time). The judges of this contest are BraveBoudica, Decapitus, Whitman and wrecan and the coordinator of this contest is wrecan.
Good luck and have fun!!
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 5:58AM
#2
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
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Questions & Answers
(reserved for questions posed by potential entrants) Q. For purposes of required element C, can an encounter span multiple encounter areas?
A. Yes. The entry must use three, four or five encounter areas, which must contain more than one encounter among them.Q. For purposes of required element C, can multiple encounters occur in a single encounter area?
A. Yes.Q. For purposes of required element C, when is an encounter area part of an entry?
A. If the party might enter the enconter area during the detailed encounters, it is part of the entry. If encounters might enter from an encounter area, it is not necessarily a part of the entry.Q. For purposes of optional element 1, is the "dungeon" limited to what is seen on the map?
A. No. If you so choose (and explain in your entry), the dungeon may extend beyond, above or beneath the complex seen on the map.Q. For purposes of optional element 5, what makes a terrain "unique"?
A. The terrain must be invented by you, or must be an original modification to a published terrain.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 5:58AM
#3
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 6:00AM
#4
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
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Medalists The Bronze Medal Goes To... Exultation with "Realm of Rust"! The Silver Medal Goes To... dulsi with "Seal of Kingu"!! The Gold Medal Goes To... TelinArtho with "Stone Giant Tears"!!! Congratulations to all of you! The gold medalist, TelinArtho, is eligible for the custom title of "Heroic Dungeon Master" (if so desired). Also, dulsi, having won a second medal, is also entitled to the custom title of "Heroic Dungeon Master". Both of them are also now eligible to judge future competitions! If they win subsequent competitions, their custom titles can be changed to "Paragon Dungeon Master" and then "Epic Dungeon Master". Thanks also to my fellow judges, BraveBoudica and Whitman, who did a great job of judging the competitions. I am so very grateful to them for volunteering. Again, congratulations to everyone for such wonderful entries and thanks for making the XDMC a continuing success! I must note, however, that two of the entries received a Themes score of zero because they neglected to specify the recommended party level, which was a required element to the competition. One of those entries even received two bonus points form the judges, so it was certainly well-regarded, and may even have medaled or won, had all the required elements been met. Please don't let that discourage either of you from entering future competitions. Just a word of caution that people should be careful to dot the 'i's and cross the 't's. I should also note that, not including the entries penalized for missing required elements, the difference between the highest and lowest scores was less than five points, which means it was an incredibly tight competition. Everyone should be very proud of their entries. Stay tuned for XDMC #6 to begin (hopefully) in a few weeks. In the meantime, enjoy the carefully tabulated scores below. [b]CONSOLIDATED SCORES BY RANK[/b] [b]Entry Creat'y Adpt'y Themes Rules Clar'y Bonus Total Author's Entry[/b] 3 11 7 3/5 8 1/3 5 5/6 3 5/6 0 36 2/3 TelinArtho's Stone Giant Tears 2 11 1/6 7 1/6 8 1/3 5 5/6 3 2/3 0 36 1/6 dulsi's Seal of Kingu 1 10 1/3 6 1/2 7 1/2 5 1/2 4 0 34 Exultation's Realm of Rust 5 9 5/6 7 1/6 7 5/6 5 1/2 3 0 33 1/3 Eini's Forsaken 4 12 3/5 8 0 6 1/2 3 1/2 2 32 3/5 SteelMirror's Faerie Enclave 7 8 5/6 7 1/2 6 1/6 5 1/3 3 2/3 0 31 1/2 LordVentnor's The Brotherhood of Thanatos 6 10 1/4 7 0 5 5/6 3 0 26 Barmp's The Old Blind Green [b]CONSOLIDATED SCORES BY ENTRY[/b] [b]Entry Creat'y Adpt'y Themes Rules Clar'y Bonus Total Author's Entry[/b] 1 10 1/3 6 1/2 7 1/2 5 1/2 4 0 34 Exultation's Realm of Rust 2 11 1/6 7 1/6 8 1/3 5 5/6 3 2/3 0 36 1/6 dulsi's Seal of Kingu 3 11 7 3/5 8 1/3 5 5/6 3 5/6 0 36 2/3 TelinArtho's Stone Giant Tears 4 12 3/5 8 0 6 1/2 3 1/2 2 32 3/5 SteelMirror's Faerie Enclave 5 9 5/6 7 1/6 7 5/6 5 1/2 3 0 33 1/3 Eini's Forsaken 6 10 1/4 7 0 5 5/6 3 0 26 Barmp's The Old Blind Green 7 8 5/6 7 1/2 6 1/6 5 1/3 3 2/3 0 31 1/2 LordVentnor's The Brotherhood of Thanatos
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 6:22AM
#5
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- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
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Now this looks interesting. I guess I better take a hack at it.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 7:04AM
#6
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Great, i really liked this seed for a Competition. I do not own the original adventure, so I'll have a free mind. I'm just curious if it would be a good idea to have a look which creatures where here originally to avoid them..
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 7:10AM
#7
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
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Mostly they were creatures designed for the module, so if you're using the Compendium to find appropriate creatures, just avoid creatures found only in P1: King of the Trollhaunt Warrens.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 7:26AM
#8
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questions:
1) can i change the map (via description) for unused or redundant parts in my entry?
(example: room 6-13 is considered to be only one room since i use more areas before that?, or room 6,7,8 contain a combined assault which would not make sense for each to be handled alone as a single encounter?)
reasoning: if i make an encounter use 2 or 3 areas at once, because it would make sense from the setup, i won't be able to use more than one or two additional encounters. (and i'd like to do all 14 rooms for that matter :D)
2) optional #5 does not have to be a reinvented terrain, does it? something from the dmg would be sufficient?
This new forum is terrible. Try again Wizards.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 7:34AM
#9
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Oh no, I'll never finish my comments on #4 now . Interesting. And 4 Judges! I thought it was starting to get cold outside.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 04, 2008 - 7:38AM
#10
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And 4 Judges! I thought it was starting to get cold outside.
that's probably the reason, no more lying in the sun instead of judging or entering...
hmmm judging and entering... sounds like a criminal charge to me *lol*
This new forum is terrible. Try again Wizards.
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