A Glorious Opportunity

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Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Not too long ago while I was on vacation, I found something amazing in a Lexington game store. A full, complete copy (even The Bargain comic) of Hellbound: The Blood War in pristine condition except for a little minor crushing on the outer box. The price? $15.

I'll let your envy set in for a second.

That said, I already have a copy of Hellbound. I could resell it on eBay and make a few bucks, but I'd much rather it went to the community.
Therefore, I'm sponsoring the "Write the most interesting Planescape NPC" contest.

Rules
The entry should be no more than 1000 words (less is fine, a little over is ok, but let's not have any five page writeups) and should contain at least the following:

Standard PS NPC condensed statistics (Name, Race, Gender, Alignment, Class and level, Faction if any)
Description of appearance
Personality
Short history
Motivations
Where likely encountered
One adventure tie in or plot hook

Anything else you want to include is ok, but no formal game statistics beyond the bare minimum in the statistics line. Mentioning a particular magical item they heavily rely on or are known for is ok, but no inventory or spellbook lists.

After you have written your NPC, please post them in the thread below
[url]/forum]

Eligibility
Anyone who is a registered member of Planewalker is eligible to enter, as long as they don't already own a physical copy of Hellbound (If you have a PDF scan, that's ok). I know we can't check that, but please just be honest. One entry per person. The NPC has to be your own creation, and must be created specifically for this contest. Pre posted NPCs do not count.

Judging
At the end of the 2 week submission period I will narrow the list down to 5 that I think are particularly interesting, and these will be submitted to a group of around 5 judges. They will rate the 5 NPCs on a 1-10 scale on the areas mentioned below. The highest ranking NPC wins with any ties decided by coin flip.

The NPCs will be judged on four areas:
How interesting they are as a character (yes, I know its subjective)
How well they mesh with existing NPCs and plots
How easily a DM could adapt them to their own campaign
How thematically appropriate they are to the PS multiverse

Grammar and writing style will also count to a certain degree (Please proofread, but we do understand that there are some members to whom English is not a first language). Remember that an NPC doesn't necessarily have to be incredibly powerful to be interesting.

Contest Length
The contest ends at 5 pm EST on September 23rd. Don't wait till the last minute to get started

Delivery of Goods
I will ship the package to anywhere in the continental US for free. I will ship it anywhere in the world if the winner agrees to pay half the shipping

[Edit] I just realized that some people might not be exactly sure what is included in one of the old PS boxed sets (248 pages of Planescapey Goodness). Below are a few links with decent pictures, descriptions, and reviews.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AD-D-Planescape-Hellbound-The-Blood-War-2621_W0QQitemZ150160074947QQihZ005QQcategoryZ44112QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1315

Iavas's picture
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factotums
Joined: 2006-07-12
A Glorious Opportunity

Only that you rule, Hymneth. I already have Hellbound, but I'm sure somebody in the community could use it. $15... the owner didn't know what (s)he was sitting on.

Kay
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A Glorious Opportunity

I'd take it! If the shipping cost isn't rediculous, that is. What would it take to get it to germany?

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Heh heh. Yeah, I'm sure many members would take it if offered, but I don't really want this thread to just turn into a long line of people asking for it. What I'm looking for is some official answer from Planewalker, and suggestions from others about possible competitions or other ideas along those lines.

Don't get me wrong, the enthusiasm is appreciated. I just want everyone that doesn't have it to have a chance.

The Great Hippo's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

I suggest a race.

First person to make it to Old Man Benjamin's backyard wins.

READYSETGO

Iavas's picture
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factotums
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A Glorious Opportunity

And Hymneth wakes up to 100 people standing in his backyard...

But seriously, there are many possible contests: Your typical art/story contest is an obvious choice. Then you can have a kind of match, where each person designs a character of a certain CR and a tournament ensues. One neat idea is a Planescape costume/pumpkin contest for Halloween coming up in a couple of months. Or, best one yet, how about whoever gets Richard Baker to stop ****ing up the multiverse gets the prize and a hug?

Clueless's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

I'd be glad to help you coordinate a contest - (mind you I don't have nearly the time to *run* one by myself - but I can certainly back you up). What did you have in mind? Art - writing?

The Great Hippo's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

'Clueless' wrote:
I'd be glad to help you coordinate a contest - (mind you I don't have nearly the time to *run* one by myself - but I can certainly back you up). What did you have in mind? Art - writing?

pleasepickwritingpleasepickwritingpleasepickwriting

...

What?

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Post removed due to redundancy. Full rules have been moved to the first post in this thread.

Ornum's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Since I already have a copy of Hellbound (mostly, one of the books is missing, but I have a PDF, too), I would be more than willing to help judge the final five, if you need me.

Clueless's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Advertisement posted up - I would suggest updating the first post in this thread with information and rules for those who take a quick look over the contest. That way they know exactly what they need to do and exactly how you'll be judging this without having to read deeper into the thread to pick out the important parts.

It may help to qualify 'interesting' at least a little bit, just to make it easier for folks to aim for a target when the requirement is otherwise so subjective. Detail level, # of plot hooks, depth of connection to existing canon plots, and immediate usefulness in a game (aka- minimal tweaking) all come to mind as possible things to grade. Again - entirely up to you, tis your contest. Eye-wink

I'll route questions and volunteer judges in your direction if they have anything more than basic questions.

Da'Hak's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Nghn... Physical copy of the Hellbound box... :shock:

So uhm, ahem. I was wondering whether or not we could post our addresses? That'll be particularly helpful for congratulating (yes, they'll buy that) the winner!

Silliness aside, are we supposed to submit this character as a Planewalker entry? Or should we post it here first?

- Kris

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Good idea Clueless. Updating the first post of the thread with the contest rules, and I'm gonna start the thread for posting NPCs. Let the games begin!

Archibald's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

When is the deadline?

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

'Hymneth' wrote:
Contest Length The contest ends at 5 pm EST on September 23rd. Don't wait till the last minute to get started

Center of All's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

This reminds me very, very strongly of the old Planewalker Idol contest we ran a couple years ago. As a judge-emeritus of that contest, if you want any help running the show, feel free to let me know! Smiling

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Zeniel's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

An actual Planescape Novel of my very own? Ohhh Its my birthday, but this time I guess I'll have to earn my present won't I? You think this is how the fated give out their birthday gifts?

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Added a few links to the first post that explain Hellbound: the Blood War for anyone not familiar with it

Iavas's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Are the submissions to be veiled from other contestants until the due date so that they will not be subconsciously inspired? Laughing out loud

Kay
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A Glorious Opportunity

A contest then. Best NPC. That's gonna be interesting!

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

One week left now for NPC submissions. If you're finished, don't hold out to the last minute to post. Give us time to look them over Laughing out loud

OneOfOne's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Is this competition open to people outside of north america???

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Sure, go for it. I'll send it wherever. It's in the rules somewhere, I think.

OneOfOne's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Finally got round to posting one...the competition is pretty stiff though I think, hehe, I liked the ooze genasi. Sticking out tongue

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

There's some good ones so far, I'll admit. I'm looking forward to seeing what all will show up before Sunday

Arytiss's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

I've finished writing up my entry for this contest, but I've run into a small problem.

It's 1677 words. Would this be a massive problem? Once I started writing I couldn't stop. I like this guy.

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Nah. Go ahead. Its not like I'm counting or anything Sticking out tongue . It's just a guideline

Tarion'sCousin's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

Sweet! This is extremely generous of you. I'm putting up my most appropriate/useful NPC right now.

Mephit James's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

'Center of All' wrote:
This reminds me very, very strongly of the old Planewalker Idol contest we ran a couple years ago. As a judge-emeritus of that contest, if you want any help running the show, feel free to let me know! Smiling
This does seem like a great contest, but Center raises an interesting question. Whatever happened to that contest? A winner was declared but then nothing came of it... I know this might seem like an egotistical post since I authored Degrozel, but I was looking forward to what the little scamp would get into after I left him in the site's collective, digital hands.

Oh yeah, and I'd like to write something up, though I know I'm cutting it close...

Hymneth's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

You have till 5pm tomorrow. Go for it. There have been a lot of really good responses so far and I'd love to see more

Bazimem, the half-djinni's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

What genre again?

Clueless's picture
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A Glorious Opportunity

This particular contest was over and done with a week or so ago... keep an eye out - we may have more in the future though.

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