The Rivalry Contest Thread

[Roland St. Jude]

The Rivalry Contest


(Larry Elmore is my hero.)

"Look, this isn't an argument! It's just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says!"

This month's contest is to describe and design two beings who are locked in some kind of ongoing rivalry. It need not be formal, fated, or fatal, though it could be any or all of these things. To make things a little more interesting there's a theme: hearts. As usual, this theme can be taken literally, poetically, or in just about any other way your heart desires.

The contest begins with the posting of this thread and will continue until Noon, February 14 (Eastern US Time). Please remember, as always, to follow the general contest guidelines.

The Rules:

1.) You will be creating two beings involved in some kind of rivalry. Name your entry something to differentiate it from others.
2.) Your entry must include the following:

• A description of the pair involved in the rivalry with backstory and stats (as applicable).
• Some "crunchy" element such as an item, spell, PrC, or other rule element that fits into the rivalry somehow.
• A good entry will demonstrate the heart theme.
• Entries should be for D&D only, and not specific to any particular setting (e.g. Forgotten Realms or Eberron.) Try to avoid referencing non-core/SRD books if at all possible, but do what you have to do.
• Each new entry should be started on a new thread here on the Contests board, dedicated to just that set of items and the discussion of it. Put the tag [RIVALRY] in front of the title of that thread. Any thread without this tag will not be officially entered.
• Post on the Entry Thread to let the mods know that you have completed your [RIVALRY] entry. We'll try to keep a post with all the entries listed in one place for easy reference. This post in the Entry Thread is where you must post a link to your thread to be officially entered.

Categories of voting and judgment will include the following:

• Best Overall Rivalry
• Best Articulation of the Theme
• Best Crunchy Element
• Funniest Entry
• Rookie Award
• Roland's Choice (Staff) Award

If you are eligible for the Rookie award (this is your first entry in an official GitP Design Contest) please note that in your post to the Entry Thread. Otherwise, everyone is eligible for everything else - no need to indicate anything.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to post them to this thread. Good luck!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Though once again no entry immediately comes to mind, I must say, Coolest. Contest. Yet!

[Amotis]

I was gonna post the same thing kinda but I didn't know if this thread was for posting.

So yeah, this might be the first contest I participate in : )

*thinks*

[geez3r]

Huh, I may just have to try for that rookie award....

[Fax Celestis]

Teh. Awesum. I'll start the ol' cogz a turnin'.

[EndlessEnnui]

Neat way to take some little thing I suggested and tweak it into something truly inspiration-seeding, RSJ!

These seeds, they are a' sproutin'...

[Roland St. Jude]

Neat way to take some little thing I suggested and tweak it into something truly inspiration-seeding, RSJ!

These seeds, they are a' sproutin'...

Thank you very much! Kudos on the suggestion, too! It jibed with an idea I had recently while making a character for a superhero game I'm in (he has a rival superhero who always seems to be one step behind him and maybe slowly turning toward evil as a result of his mounting frustration.) Your suggestion came just at the right time and seemed like a good idea with lots of room for creativity and variety.

[Ultimatum479]

Definitely joining this as a rookie. I wanna try making a legacy character. It fits, and they're cool. *loves his new rulebooks* ^_^

[Grey Watcher]

Hmmmm.... I'll have to ruminate on this subject. I've almost go something....

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Hmmmm.... I'll have to ruminate on this subject. I've almost go something....

Yeah, me to, jusssst on the tip of my brain.

[Grey Watcher]

OK, I've got an idea, but I think I'm going to have to use one of the Complete books. Is that kosher. How much are we going to have to stick to the SRD stuff?

[Lord Iames Osari]

The rules say "do what you have to do," so I don't think there's a penalty.

[PhoeKun]

Ah, crap. Here I am diligently creating an entry for this, my first contest, and only now do I see the "try and stick to the SRD" bit.

Way to kill my confidence, text.

edit: while I'm here, how should I be handling that stuff? Should I just reference the books I'm using? Write out the relevant details? Both?

[Grey Watcher]

Well, my basic idea is rival artists: A singer (Bard/Virtuoso (PrC from Complete Adventurer)) and a dancer (Rogue/Shadowdancer). What their point of conention is, and how "heart" fits into it is not entirely clear.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Pffttt, I've never really kept too closely to the SRD stuff, and some contests, like the organization one, though not relying on non-core, had a category or two for voting based soley on stuff from a non-SRD book.

So all in all, do what you like if it can't stay core. I've never really given it a second thought and not done too badly.

[Dareon]

Typically, I've seen either explaining the stuff used (If it's Open Game Content (None of the Complete books are, if memory serves)), or noting which book it came from and providing an alternative. For instance, someone using a Warlock may say (Source: Complete Arcane. If unavailable, use a Sorcerer specializing in ray spells.). It's usually not too big a deal, though.

[Ptolemy]

Are we allowed to work with a partner? I'm not usually one for group work, but I'm a D&D noob. I really think I have a great idea as far as character background, but I'm lost on the stats and building. Is anyone interested in such an arrangement?

[Roland St. Jude]

Are we allowed to work with a partner?...

Sorry, no.

From the general contest rules

6. Under normal circumstances, all entries must consist of the work of one contestant. In other words, team entries are not allowed unless specified otherwise for a particular contest.

I'd suggest that you do the best you can on the stats. Also, post early so that you have time to get some feedback from others. And, you can post in the Homebrew section, too, to get feedback.

But the work has to be yours.

[Ptolemy]

Thanks for the quick reply, Roland. I'll get to work, homework willing.

[Amotis]

If you pm me Ptolemy I can help all I can too.

Also, I'm having fun making my entry : )

[Geneticist]

I think that I'll make this my first entry. I'm tempted to do a pirate one, but that would be way too much of a ripoff from Pirates of the Caribbean. ah well.

[Roland St. Jude]

I think that I'll make this my first entry. I'm tempted to do a pirate one, but that would be way too much of a ripoff from Pirates of the Caribbean. ah well.

It's not a "rip-off" - it's an "homage"

[Varen_Tai]

My first contest application! yay me!

[PhoeKun]

Query: to mark oneself as a rookie entrant, should that note be made in the thread title, or in the post to the entry thread? Or both? Neither?

...Just rambling now.

[Amotis]

I, as a rookie too, am scared of all the big people showing interest and making threads for this contest.
*cowers*

[Roland St. Jude]

Query: to mark oneself as a rookie entrant, should that note be made in the thread title, or in the post to the entry thread? Or both? Neither?

...Just rambling now.

Definitely in the Entry Thread post (as required by the rules) but I would say in the thread title would be a great idea, too.

I, as a rookie too, am scared of all the big people showing interest and making threads for this contest.
*cowers*

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

[Varen_Tai]

If we decide to submit more than one, are both up for the rookie award?

[kuja.girl]

Okay I have a really silly but fun idea. I'm not all that good at tweaking game mechanics but I'll manage.

My idea will be roughly based on the well known story about a knave and some tarts.


It might be more of a "rivalry triangle" than a pair though.

Silly question, but are illustrations allowed?

[PhoeKun]

Definitely in the Entry Thread post (as required by the rules) but I would say in the thread title would be a great idea, too.

Wow, that really makes me wish I could alter thread titles. I can, I'm just an idiot.

[Roland St. Jude]

If we decide to submit more than one, are both up for the rookie award?

Yes.

Okay I have a really silly but fun idea. I'm not all that good at tweaking game mechanics but I'll manage.

My idea will be roughly based on the well known story about a knave and some tarts.


It might be more of a "rivalry triangle" than a pair though.

Silly question, but are illustrations allowed?

Yes. Many people use a picture of some kind that they, um, find somewhere. So if you make the drawing yourself, definitely indicate that somewhere for whatever that might be worth to the judges.