Submissions

We're getting close to the end. Game entries are due by 11 p.m. on Tuesday January 11, 2011. Here's a recap on the format requirements, and how to submit.

Format: Submissions may be from 1 to 10 pages in length (500-5000 words). The required format is a text document: Rich Text, Word, or Open Document (.rtf, .doc or .odt). Plus charts, tables, graphs or illustrations that are needed to communicate the rules. Feel free to send in a beautiful version and we'll post it, though the judging will just use the text versions.

Submit your entry with the following information:

Name of Designer:
Email:
Title of Game:
Challenge(s):

Where to Send it: Email the game to the following address:
e.chimerapi-at-gmail-dot-com

Results: Feedback and Favorites will be announced on February 1, 2011. As a prize for each award, Judges will write a post or blog entry on their Favorite during February.

Good luck to everyone!

Birds of a Feather and Golden Crow Awards

The contest is afoot, three games have been submitted and more than twelve other games are being worked on! The designers are busily working away, with more playtest than in many contests, I imagine, since an audience of 1 is easier to get together.

There is another part of the event that is going on: reading up about your compatriot's games. Ten so far are designing in the open. They are dealing with the same constraints, and coming up with different solutions. And just as you might want to hear an encouraging word or get a timely suggestion, so would others.

All who comment on someone else's blog are eligible for the Birds of a Feather Award. And those who give substantial comments on everyone else in the running will receive the Golden Crow Award: which involves a physical prize that will be sent to you by the US Post. Both these prizes are open even to those who don't finish their game, or who are only participating through comments.

This is really the best part of these contests. I look forward to seeing you all in the comments pages.

Challenges Announced

The RPG Solitaire Challenge has begun! There are eight challenges, offered by four judges:

Build a Better Choose-Your-Adventure
The Stuff in Your Domicile
Pencil and Paper
Living in the Future
Unlonely Your Fun
ARG! RPGS! (or, the Andy Kaufman Challenge)
The Scheherazade (or Campaigner's) Challenge
Sharing Challenge

Post in the Black & Green forum at RPG Crossroads to let us know you're working on a game. Everyone is encouraged to design in public: at the Forge, at Story Games, on your blog, or wherever else appropriate that you frequent. Include a link and it will be posted here so other contestents and folks watching the challenge can see what you're up to and give you input and ideas. There will be a special award for all contestants who participate in other people's game threads.

Submissions are due by 11 p.m. January 11, 2011. They can be emailed to e.chimerapi at gmail in text format (.doc, .odt, .rtf) for judging. A version with full layout may also be submitted in PDF format. All entries will be posted online with links available at the RPG Solitaire Challenge site, unless requested by the designer. For more information about submissions, see the rules page.

Good luck and may the muses be with you!

RPG Solitaire Challenge

Role playing games can involve a lot of lonely fun. Whether it is the GM creating a wicked and challenging world for the players to delve into, or a player charting the journey their character has taken to become who they are, there are many of these eddy-pools of solitary creativity. But so often they come before the 'real' play, or between sessions, or perhaps in our mind at night as we drift off to sleep. Their fun is overlooked.

Let's change that.

Starting January 1, 2011, you are invited to to make a role playing game for one person to play on their own. There are several challenges that you can choose among to guide the direction for your game. Each game submitted will get overall feedback, as well as input from the judge who created the challenge.

The challenge will be complete on January 11, 2011 (at 11:11pm EST).