Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dutchmason 06-22-06, 07:47 AM	Why don't we run a campaign world specific version of the Master DM competition? I personally would love to see various members of the board compete and submit their ideas for creatures, places, items, and other ebberon specific material. ~dutchmason~
Sereno 06-22-06, 08:41 AM	I'd compete! I just started joining in the MDMCs, and I've just won a Bronze Medal. :) My first entry, which didn't win, was an large inn for Sharn; which I posted here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=624558).... So, what would make a good Master Eberron DM Competition subject? 1) An Eberron Encounter? 2) An Eberron Location? 3) An Eberron Plot (complete with twist(s)? 4) Stat an airship and its crew? 5) Stat an elemental galleon and its crew? 6) A Mournland encounter (that I've already submitted many means nothing! :) )? After picking a subject, we'd need to come up with the Thematic Elements.... Anyone know how we set up one of those "poll" thingies?
Ellorin 06-22-06, 09:00 AM	So, what would make a good Master Eberron DM Competition subject? 1) An Eberron Encounter? 2) An Eberron Location? 3) An Eberron Plot (complete with twist(s)? 4) Stat an airship and its crew? 5) Stat an elemental galleon and its crew? 6) A Mournland encounter (that I've already submitted many means nothing! :) )? I vote for any of the first three.
Rathis Darkwielder 06-22-06, 09:15 AM	I'd definately try to find time to compete if this was set up. Some creative exercise for us Eberron DM's would never be bad (and of course we can steal each other's good ideas :D , always good for when your party wanders off to do 'other things')
dutchmason 06-22-06, 09:22 AM	It would be great to start out with any of the Six but I believe that an encounter would be the best way to begin. Some possible thematic elements are 1- An elemental vehicle out of control 2- An Inspired 3- An intelligent ooze 4- Sharn's Depth's 5-An arial encounter 6- An aquatic encounter 7- A rampaging construct 8- A moving city ala Construct or Argonth 9- A Collapsing tower an others... Also who are some potential judges?
Sereno 06-22-06, 09:44 AM	I'll post the question over on the current MDMC thread to see how one organizes MDMC judges and see if any of the "usuals" would be willing to participate....
Sereno 06-22-06, 09:55 AM	Here are the standard rules for a Master DM Competition: GENERAL RULES 1) Each contestant may only submit ONE entry for judgment in each contest. At the conclusion of the contest they may submit further entries to contribute to the wealth of material available for other DMs. However, these "post-contest" entries will not be judged. Submitting multiple entries will result in disqualification. 2) Each entry should be original work by the author. The author may not submit his original idea for discussion or help from others. 3) After submitting an entry, each contestant has a 15 minute grace period in which to perform edits. This will allow a contestant to modify formatting or catch obvious errors that become apparent after they've hit the submit button. Any entry that is edited more than 15 minutes after the initial post will be disqualified! Any attempt to circumvent this rule (for example, submitting an entry, then deleting it, only to post it again 1 hour later) will result in disqualification. 4) Once scores are submitted to the coordinating judge, all scores are final. 5) Judges may comment on entries, but are not required to do so. If comments are made, they will be provided to the contestant upon request. Under no circumstances will a judge reveal the individual scores an entry received. The coordinating judge may release all the scores for an entry without identifying which judge gave each score. Participation in this contest assumes you are interested in comments regarding your work. If you would prefer not to receive comments, please indicate this clearly in your entry. 6) Contest rules may vary from competition to competition. At the beginning of each competition, special rules for that contest will be detailed. Failure to abide by these rules will result in a score of 0 for Thematic Consistency, and may result in disqualification. 7) The message board Code of Conduct is in effect for all entries. SCORING Each entry will be scored on: Creativity (15 points), Adaptability (10 points), Thematic Consistency (10 points), Technical Information & Rules Use (10 points), & Clarity (5 points). Each judge may also award a single bonus point to any entry that they feel has some special element that makes it stand out. The scores in each category will be averaged together, and a final score will be calculated. Any bonus points awarded are added directly to the total. Thus, an entry that scores perfectly (50 points) may have a higher final score if at least one judge provides a bonus point. Each category is explained more fully below. Creativity (15 points) Creativity is a measure of the originality of a particular submission or how well it takes an existing idea and converts it into game terms. Thus high scores are reserved for entries that are completely unique, or provide a new twist on an old idea. Creativity can reflect entirely new ideas, thoughtful parodies of existing ideas, or unique derivatives of a classic archetype. Adaptability (10 points) Adaptability measures how much effort the contestant has invested in making sure that any DM can use the material as it is presented. While any source can be used, it should be clearly documented, and in the event that it is not a core book (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide or Monster Manual I), suggestions for modifying the entry to core rules only will net a higher score. In addition, points will be subtracted if a submission uses many non-core references, if references are poorly documented, or if a judge considers access to a source unreasonable in their personal opinion. While this may vary between individual judges, each judge will be consistent with themselves, resulting in no bias when scores are averaged together. When original creations (feats, spells, classes, etc) are included, they should be fully detailed, and must also fit with the pre-existing rules as written (thus a 1st level spell that deals 100,000 force damage [no save] would hurt adaptability). Entries will score higher in adaptability if they give consideration to how they can be used by a wide array of DMs. If an entrant uses optional material drawn from the core books ( i.e., a prestige class, an Oriental weapon, or a Renaissance or futuristic weapon) he or she can expect to score better in this category if guidelines are provided within the entry to allow DMs who do not use the aforementioned optional material to incorporate the entry into their games. Thematic Consistency (10 points) Thematic Consistency is a measure of how well the required number of thematic elements are incorporated into the entry and the submissions overall thematic completeness and logic. Elements that are touched upon but are not central to the submission will score fewer points than those that integrated fully. The more thoroughly the entry considers the elements, the higher the score. Technical Information and Rules Use (10 Points) This category is a comprehensive measure of how correctly the entry uses and represents the rules and mechanics of the game. The completeness and accuracy of all necessary mechanical information is a centerpoint of this category, but is not its entirety. The use of proper and logical formatting as well as the correctness and appropriateness of cited or implied game rules are also covered. If an entry presents a new mechanic or game component, it must be described well enough that readers understand how to use it with the existing ruleset. Lastly, all mechanics and rules should be consistent with the most current version of the game ( 3.5). Clarity (5 points) Clarity is a measure of how easily accessible the ideas presented are to the judges. A high score will follow a logical format, information will be easily found and the entry will flow from one section to another with narrative continuity. This is not simply a measure of grammatical aptitude, but if frequent grammar and spelling errors serve to confuse the ideas the submission attempts to convey, this category will suffer. I recommend replacing "Adaptability" with an "Eberron Consistency" since we're targeting this specific setting. It would involve using standard Eberron elements (Quori, Draconic Prophesy, airships, Lightning Rail, D'marked Houses) in a manner that's consistent with the ECS and Keith's Dragonshards. The more changes you make to "ECS-standard" Eberron, the more this score would suffer. Maybe we could get Keith involved, somehow?
dutchmason 06-22-06, 10:06 AM	II've posted in the ask keith baker thread informing him of this and asking for his opinion and support.
Sereno 06-22-06, 10:08 AM	I know ... I added my own and provided a link to the thread you started, too! :) More possible subjects: 7) a Chamber dragon and his/her agents 8) a Cult of the Dragon below 9) a Xen'drik "archaeology" site being investigated by Morgrave U. 10) a Lightnight Rail journey/hijacking 11) a town or city 12) an Eberron-specific monster 13) a political intrigue plot 14) an NPC patron for adventurers
dutchmason 06-22-06, 10:19 AM	More thematic ideas... 14) involves an eldritch machine 15) involves a manifest zone 16) involves a specific conjuction of the planes 17) involves a dragonstone with exceptional properties such as the madstone 18) involves a creature who appears to be on the players side but is actually an imposter. 19) the characters must protect a member of the royal family or a dragonmarkes house Also we could have the criteria include that the encounter provides creative ways for the players to take advantage of the location in a cinematic fashion.
Sereno 06-22-06, 01:48 PM	Well, thanks to a thread I posted on the "What's a DM to Do?" board (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=9452379#post9452379), soliciting information about MDMCs, it was brought to my attention that we've already done one here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=7622280#post7622280)! It was called a "Terrifying Turf" ... so, I don't think we should do another location! :) Sooo ... we aren't starting anything new, here ... we're just continuing the tradition!! The last one started in October of 2005 ... I think it's about time we had another one! The original judges were Edymnion, MysticTheurge, Saves-vs-DM, Rake, and Vharuck. Edy and SvDM are still around, and I think MT is, too, but I don't remember any posts by the other folks, lately ... I wonder if they would be willing to do so again! And, we should probably get MarkB, because he was the winner of the last (first? only?) one. When we start the next one, I would like to follow the format that the latest MDMCs follow with a links post to keep everything straight and neat. I volunteer to handle the book-keeping, but I'd like to enter so I don't want to be a judge (though I'll be happy to post non-judge comments)....
Kreistor1 06-22-06, 02:07 PM	Its usually best to not enter if you are going to be involved in the running of the competition, Sereno. It's not impropriety that's the problem, it's the appearance of impropriety.
Edymnion 06-22-06, 07:39 PM	We already tried having a Master DM Competition over here on the Eberron boards, and it didn't work out well. Couldn't keep enough judges to actually get anything done. We spent a month trying to make it work, and it just wouldn't fly.
Flame_Drake 06-23-06, 12:47 AM	I'm in. We already tried having a Master DM Competition over here on the Eberron boards, and it didn't work out well. Couldn't keep enough judges to actually get anything done. We spent a month trying to make it work, and it just wouldn't fly. Actually it was more like Vharuck fell off the face of the earth, and everything fell apart after that because no one quite knew what to do for a bit, and then new judges had to arranged. I think if we were to give it another go it would work. Drake
Sereno 06-23-06, 08:14 AM	Its usually best to not enter if you are going to be involved in the running of the competition, Sereno. It's not impropriety that's the problem, it's the appearance of impropriety. Like I said ... I don't want to be involved in the judging. I'll just maintain the links page. Judges have enough to do, so I thought I'd take a little of the work off them. So long as I'm not entering and judging, I don't see a problem....
dutchmason 06-23-06, 02:34 PM	I've gotten some information from the links page in the What's a DM to Do forum (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=6269805) The past competition themes are all there along with eligible judges. Master DM Competitions Here are the past MDMCs MDMC #1 - Plotline Competition MDMC #2 - Second Plotline Competition MDMC #3 - Third Plotline Competition MDMC #4 - NPC Competition MDMC #5 - Vicious Venue MDMC #6 - Magic Item Creation MDMC #7 - Creature Competition MDMC #8 - Location & a Secret MDMC #9 - Little Bad Evil Guy MDMC #10 - Plot Hook Design MDMC #11 - Encounter MDMC #12 - Ranger/Paladin Spell MDMC #13 - Magic Item History MDMC #14 - Design a Lair MDMC #15 - Create a Cult MDMC #16 - Prestige Class MDMC #17 - Feat Chain MDMC #18 - Special Event MDMC #19 - Lost Deity MDMC #20 - Create an NPC MDMC #21 - Adventure Competition MDMC #22 - Trick Portal MDMC #23 - Monster MDMC #24 - Design a Vehicle
Edymnion 06-24-06, 01:06 AM	Actually it was more like Vharuck fell off the face of the earth, and everything fell apart after that because no one quite knew what to do for a bit, and then new judges had to arranged. I think if we were to give it another go it would work. DrakeYeah. If somebody wants to take up the mantel and try it again, I'll reprise my role as an Eberron Master DM judge.
Sereno 06-24-06, 04:13 PM	Edy, thanks! I would like to see this happen, as I somehow missed the first EMDMC. And, it's about time we had a second. The MDMCs over on What's a Dm to Do have been going strong and spawned two other competitions ("Wyrmling DM" and, new, "Drunk DM"! :) ) I will contribute as much as I can, but I don't want to "taint" the competition in any way because I'd still like to participate. As I mentioned, when it really starts I wouldn't mind handling the "bookkeeping" and maintaining the links and notes and whatnot. What comes next? Who do you think should actually set up the competition? Do you want to take the lead role and pick one of the many mentioned topics and theme elements? Would you like a cookie? :cookie: :D
Sereno 07-06-06, 02:41 PM	Just giving this a :bump: I don't want to see this great idea die off!!!