Loreshapers is my new pet project, and I’m starting things off big—two contests for game design! Read below the break for more details.
The Loreshapers Game Design Contest Rules
The Loreshapers Tabletop Game Design Contest, sponsored by Stuffer Shack, is about making fun tabletop roleplaying games for the masses.
Entrants may work individually to create a game of no more than 8000 words in length over the course of 24-hours, or in a group of up to three to create a game of 12000 words of length or less. Tabletop roleplaying games are preferred, with a Game Master and players. Entries should be free of graphic language and imagery (safe for work, PG-13, etc.).
The theme will be announced January 1 2014, which will mark the official beginning of the contest. The contest will run through January 10th for 24-hour games and January 19th for 72-hour games. The final deadline on each of these days is midnight MST. Entries should be submitted in PDF format to [email protected] by e-mail as an attachment or via link. Games must be licensed under a Creative Commons license, the Open Game License, or a similar license that permits free redistribution. Entries compliant with the rules will be published on loreshapers.net, in addition to anywhere else that their creators wish for them to be published.
Prizes are provided by Stuffer Shack, and include a $10 Amazon, DriveThruRPG, or Stuffer Shack gift certificate for the 24-hour competition, and a $30 gift card to one of the same for the 72-hour competition!
Games will be scored by a panel of judges on the following criteria, and a composite score will be made available by the end of April, 2015. Finalists will be selected at that time, and winners will be declared by the end of June, 2015. Scores will be reported on a scale of 1-10.
Design: Is your game playable? Are the rules clearly written? Does it give the GM/Players a headache?
Theme: Do your mechanics fit the intent of the game? Did you follow the competition theme?
Appeal: Is your work well-edited and clear of grammar mistakes? Does your typesetting assist play? Is your art appealing and engaging?
Authenticity: Did you make the judges emote? Is your game just an attempt to win the prize, or is it made with care? More importantly, did you comply with team size and word limit restrictions?
Sample games that comply with the rules for each competition are available. Games intended for digital or print use are accepted, so long as our judges can read them on their screens.
Rules for 24-hour games:
Deadline: January 10
One entry per person, participants must work alone.
While typesetting and the use of any non-iconographic fonts is permissible, games made in the 24-hour competition should not feature graphical elements. These will not be factored into the appeal of the game, and penalties may be levied on the Appeal score of a game for their inclusion. There is an 8000 word limit on entries.
Rules for 72-hour games:
Deadline: January 19
One entry per person, participants may work in groups of up to three people.
Use of original art is permitted and encouraged—public domain art (either under a CC-0 license or equivalent, or based on age/non-copyrighted government works) may be included as part of a manipulated media presentation, though it should not be used without modifications. There is a 12000 word limit on entries.