[Game Thread] Round Zero (Your Applications Go Here)

[bananabadger]

Round Zero

Round Zero is upon us!

This is the Round Zero thread, where all those who wish to join this year's competition can show what they have and gain entry into the event.

For this year, submitting a qualified entry into Round Zero will allow you to compete in the first four rounds of competition.

This tournament will refine and build your DM/GM/Referee/Keeper/etc. chops no matter your system or experience level! Come share your skills with other game masters and join us in cheering on those who advance into the final rounds as we see who will be crowned Iron DM of 2024!

This thread will be open for around 21 days from the time this is posted. The exact time is indicated on the time ticker below. Please only post entries (placeholder posts are allowed and encouraged) in this thread. Questions about the rules, the tournament, or that amazing wooden shields that will be mailed to this year's winner and runner up are welcomed and answered in the "Studio Audience Thread".

Make sure you get your entry in before deadline!



Editing is allowed up to deadline, but not after. Repeat: Do Not Edit After Deadline because we will close access to the thread and no changes can be made.

It is recommended that you read the general rules for the competition, though quite a few are not necessarily applicable to Round Zero (this will be clear from the context).

In the case that anything mentioned in this announcement post for Round Zero contradicts anything in the rules, then this is a specific rule for Round Zero and supersedes the general rules in that particular case.

Call for Contenders It arrived mysteriously. How it got to your desk in your library you have no idea. But there it is. A letter, sealed in red wax with a decorative "I" embossed on the seal. Inside, on thick parchment and written in flourishing script, is an invitation ... The Invigilator Summons You I request the pleasure of your presence at the annual Iron DM competition. This year's gathering brings the top game masters from across the world to my luxurious island retreat for three months of fellowship, celebration, and competition. Please respond by indicating your acceptance and including a short advertisement for an RPG Crossing game. You may choose the system and the number of players, but it must feature an island isolated from the world ... as we will be while you are my guest. Your humble servant, The Invigilator On the reverse side of the note, in what appears to be a hastily scrawled addition in another hand, are the words ... Hey! Be sure to pack for the weather and bring snacks and dice! There's never enough snacks and dice! Hops and hugs! Harrison & The Steward

 

• Write an RPG Crossing "Game Seeking Players" advertisement.
• It can be for any system, any amount of players, and at any levels (or skill points).
• The advertisement must be for a game that takes place on an island cut off from the world.
• The advertisement should be no more than 500 words. This limit includes all text within the body of your post, so be careful!
• Do not include links or images in your post; the entry should be only text and text formatting. You get one entry; second posts by anyone under the same or a secondary account will result in disqualification from the tournament.
• When you submit, place your entry in secret text and under spoiler button. Secreting to HOSTS is sufficientSecreting and Spoilerbutton inside of the secret textspoiler-buttoning your entry is not only highly recommended, but required!
• It only takes 1 judge to vote "Qualified" to your entry to be selected for the rest of the tournament.
• It is recommended that you follow the Those Who Shall Fight, as that will be where pairings, results, and standings will be posted. We will not be individually contacting each participant who qualifies to let them know they did so, but rather posting a list. It is your responsibility to keep track of this and other announcements.

Questions: Feel free to post them in this year's OOC thread!

[Admin Dirk]

Name: Island Formido
Theme: Dark, Gritty, Mystery, Horror

It was supposed to be an easy trip. The five of you boarded Her Royal Majesty's finest corvette for a simple cruise to the capitol, and the ceremony where you would be awarded the Order of the Lion. Three days on the great inland sea, and then a week of fetes in your honor, culminating with the grand ceremony where you would all be given titles to your own Baronage, a stipend, and a small pension. All this for your efforts to defeat the wizard Fargall, and his villainous plot to destroy the monarchy, by assassinating the royal family.

That was, before the storm. And the order to abandon ship, and the mad scramble for the few lifeboats. As heroes, you made sure all the crew were safely ensconced and away in theirs, before boarding the final boat with the Captain, quartermaster, and the cabin boy.

After the storm, you awoke on what must have been island beach, somewhere in the inland sea, your lifeboat ripped apart by the rocks, your possessions scattered but intact. There were hundreds of such islands and islets scattered across the vastness of the great sea; most uninhabited except for the occasional pirates, corsairs, or rebels using them for hiding.

The first day was one of simple survival. Some limited exploration for food, water, and a quick days work to make a decent shelter took you until nightfall. Shelter secured, nightfall loomed.

That was when the cabin boy died. Some things came out of the trees, pale, fast, and vaguely human. Before the pitched battle was over, three of the things lay dead on the sand, but the cabin boy was gone. Alive, but gone. You could hear his screams for almost an hour, coming from the impenetrable darkness of the forest, but no amount of searching or calling was able to track him down.

Night two was when the Captain disappeared. This time, not a sound was heard until a shout from the watch alerted you to trouble, and by the time your mad scramble ended, he was gone, and six more of the hairless creatures were dead on the beach. His screams lasted for several hours in the darkness, almost until dawn.

On day three, the quartermaster left. After arguing that those 'things' were intelligent, or at least, controlled by something greater than them, he simply walked into the water and began to swim. Wave after wave engulfed him, his head bobbing up between each, until finally, there was no further rising bob.

Now, your fate is in your hands. Do you follow the quartermaster and try to escape? Do you explore the island, and find other survivors? Or do you take on the island itself, and dive into the mystery of the strange, hairless creatures, and whatever is controlling them? No matter your choices, you need food and water, and you must survive at least, the coming night.

An adventure for 5 midlevel PCs.

[Toad`]

Game Name: Invigilator's Isle
Edition: D&D 5e
Setting: My version of the Forgotten Realms; this will not be an established lore heavy game.
Description: Inviligator's Isle is the unofficial, yet widely accepted, name for the island where the most violent criminals, the habitually lawless, and compulsively crooked are sent to be separated from (read as: "forgotten by") the rest of society. Few remember, nor care, what the actual name of the place is. Rumors are that it has something to do with an ore of some kind, perhaps iron? Also, the context of a game or a competition or somesuch... Whatever, it doesn't matter.

The PCs in this game are being sent here... wrongfully. They all, collectively, got in the wrong person's/people's way politically or otherwise. Or maybe they just happened to be a convenient scapegoat? We'll figure that out together.
It was only took a matter of months to be framed for a string of crimes, convicted of them all simultaneously, and then sentenced to live out their days on the island. Transport was expedited.

The game and roleplaying will begin on a sorry excuse for a boat, little more than a log raft really, as Invigilator's Isle comes into view suddenly as the three (or was it four?) day journey ends in the dead of night. While a misty, damp chill envelops them, the first sight visible to the party is a massive statue of marble carved in some twisted tribute to The Invigilator.

He or... maybe she?.. it, or.. lets just stick with 'they' - The Invigilator - was among the first several groups of the ill-fated sent here. Now, they run the place, ruthlessly.

Nearly starved, having been only served warm, watered down, and somehow chunky carrot juice during the long voyage (no one brought snacks), the characters may find themselves salivating when they are told that the first stop after landfall will be the galley at The Invigilator's mansion. Here they will begin working straight away for the Kitchen Local Union #431. The characters may not realize it, but it's a joke - there are few laws in a community of the lawless; as such there is no room for a coalition where workers have something as contrived as rights.

Characters:
Races: The party will be comprised completely of harengon. If you don't want to play one, don't bother applying.
Classes: Any, but don't plan on multi-classing.
Spell casters be warned; spell casting focuses will be confiscated and material components will likely be hard to come by. Though, due to this scarcity, you may find magic to be quite powerful.
Starting gold: HA!
Character level: 3 and be prepared for some Session 0 OOC discussion in order to flesh out how the characters have adventured together. Also, it is likely the events leading them to Invigilator's Isle are shared experiences.
Ability Scores: Point-buy, TCE rules for ability score upgrades
Homebrew: Don't ask. I don't have the time nor the patience to read and vet any.

[Auron3991]

The Grey Isle

A pale light intrudes into your eyelids. Opening them reveals you to be on a beach. The sand, an almost-white color, stretches out to either side as far as you can see. Not far away, you can make out a few people from your voyage just beyond the melancholic lapping of the leaden waves. Luckily, you see no signs of what attacked your ship, but you feel a mental pressure settle on your thoughts.

System Dungeons & Dragons 3.5

About the Adventure The Grey Isle is a survival adventure with an exploration of motivation and will. This means environmental hazards, carry weight, starvation and similar systems will be used. However, the natural threats are not the only ones present on this island. It will be up to you if you seek to conquer the island's mysteries or escape what put you on it in the first place. Post Rate will be 1/week. Specifically I plan to make story posts by 6am Monday EST. In case of delay or change, I will attempt to notify everyone. As a forewarning, this will be a heavier adventure. It will touch on subjects like burnout and loss of hope. These topics aren't for everyone, so player discretion is advised.

About the DM For those interested in the little ray of sunshine running this game, I've played a few games both on and off site. Unfortunately, none have lasted as long as I'd like, and it's time for me to attempt being the change I want to see in the world. Luckily, I have at least some experience running sessions IRL, so I'm not completely new to this side of the table. As for how I run games: I will not force you into challenges I don't think you can overcome. However, there will also be things present I don't intend you to face. Also, I will allow you to try just about anything you can explain with the caveat that penalties can apply.

Character Generation Level 8 28 Point Buy Any Race which is in the PHB or is in the MM and has one racial hit die (don't forget to factor in the level adjustment) Any Class whose Level chart appears in PHB 1+2 and the DMG. Starting HP: Max for 1st, Average for remaining 27,000gp starting cash Any alignment is allowed so long as they can work with the group Multi-Classing is fully allowed, but incurs normal multi-class experience penalties

I am looking for a group of 5 people. Applications should include the character's:

• Name
• Race
• Class
• Backstory
• and Reason for being on the boat

Deadline is October 1st.

As normal, no dice rolling in this thread (especially since there's no reason to anyway).

[GodRosen]

After a fierce storm you and your shipmates have found yourself ship wrecked on an island. You can see a shimmer in the horizon which looks to encase the entire island in a dome. You remember from old legends the stories of the Slivers island. An island which world leaders enlisted the help of a group of spell casters to cast a containment spell on. The nightmares of monsters adventures have faced, nothing compars to the Slivers. A race of monsters which are highly adaptive to their environment. One sliver can develop a snake like body while another one can develop a venomous bite. The worst part about Slivers is their hive mind ability to share their evolutions with each other. Imagine facing several slivers and watching them all sprout wings as a winged sliver flies over head. That's what legends share of the Sliver's Island. That and the Sliver Queen, the sole reason for the containment spell. Her ability to raise an army through her offspring on demand poses her as a potential global threat. Maybe the legends are exaggerated or maybe they don't scratch the surface of the horrors you're about to face.

[Iron Signet]

I accept.

Theme and Flavor Themes: Tough Choices, Thriving After Adversity, Establishing a Legacy, Long Term Consequences, Isolated Community Flavor: Secret of NIMH, SCURRY, Small Saga

Game Details Game: Custom Mausritter Settlement Colonizing Hack Players: 3-5 Premise: Players take control of not just of a single mouse adventurer, but an entire clan as they grow from small families of refugees into, maybe, something far greater. These families are isolated on an inescapable river island, and players will have to scavenge and adventure to find resources, defeat enemies, and protect their clans. However, space and resources are both limited, and what neighbors you have you may be stuck with for a long time. The game will take place in several phases, representing the seasons. Each season resources deplete, and players can decide to build, travel, explore, or defend. In the build phase projects are assigned such as building, digging, or farming. In the travel phase mice may move one hex in any direction. In the exploration phase, mice adventure to search for resources, befriended allies, and defeat enemies. In the defense phase the settlement prepares for enemy assault. Progress is marked by the progression of clocks that tick one mark forwards each season. The current adventurer may retire at any time, but must retire after 3 years. Players must choose which resources to invest in their adventurer and which to invest in their clan. Example: If the players bring home a peach found on the riverbank, do they give the seed to their clan to grow, or do they break it open to create a poison for their own weapons?

Hook First came the fire, then came the flood. Several families of mice escaped the burned wreckage of their former homes only to end up floating among the flotsam as the waters surged and swept everything away. When the flood receded, several small families of mice found themselves on a small island in the middle of a river, with no way off, and no telling what other creatures landed with them. Resources are scarce, and danger lurks around every corner. Through your guidance, your clan will rise or fall. Through your guidance, your civilization will grow or be trodden under claw. Explore the island, scavenge wreckage, and most importantly- survive.

Application Family Name: Family Physical Description: Family Background: Character Name: Character Physical Description: Character Biography: Family Guiding Philosophy: Character Archtype:

[psuedenim]

Cast off System and Theme Quarrel and Fable (free) Additional rules from other systems will be used where needed. From the start dice will be used to track resources. Fantasy. Semi-serious, semi-fun (play will decide if its dark, high, odd or low or varies). Collaborative World building. You get to describe where you came from. We will make the Island as we play and you will get to share in defining it. The Island You come around in a boat that has run aground on a beach. Groggily sitting up you see the beach leads off into a rocky temperate forest. Turning your head you see the beginnings of a dark storm way off on the other side of the island. Behind is open sea and a plume of smoke on the distant horizon and some more boats drifting in, further out you see one suddenly capsize and quickly go under. As you turn back to try and climb out of the boat you feel an odd weight and change in your body and as the haze in your mind sloughs away so does the dark and wet gelatinous mess on your body slough away. Your mouth opens and whether its surprise or horror you are cut short and you hear movement and groans from another boat and even worse under a tarpaulin behind you. You were kidnapped and drugged as your last memory. Your sense of time is awry but it feels like a long time since you were taken. You have been altered. All that you have is a basic set of gear and a note but its wet and mostly indecipherable. Can you survive? Can you figure out why you were taken? Can you get back and do you want to? Characters Race, Class, Alignment, Gender are irrelevant. You have SKILL, STAMINA, LUCK and some points to assign to any reasonable skills. Provide the following with sufficient detail to let me know who you plan to play, but this is not a writing contest. Description images pre-alteration are good, post-alteration are better but will not be a factor in picking. Archetype hints of race and class, even though the rules dont have them its nice to know if you are going to be Thief or a timid Orc. Skills 4 things you want your character to be good at. Alteration Animal, Vegetable, Mineral please. Was something added or replaced? Does it excite or repulse you? How does it work and can you control it? Secret Joyful or dark? A reason to stay or leave? A clue to your presence on the island? Is it in the note? Personality Broad strokes and I wont be monitoring this in play Backstory You get to define part of the world you left behind

[rhaiber]

The Isle of Gilleah

The Hook The city-state of Gilleah was the pinnacle of mortal achievement. Arcane airships filled the skies, glowing crystals illuminated the streets, and living buildings reshaped themselves to suit their inhabitants. But in their hubris, Gilleah’s mages overreached. They began to unravel the mysteries of the gods themselves, daring to challenge the divine order. It was then that the gods joined together and unleashed their wrath. Gilleah was obliterated. So legend says. However, some claim a single god took pity and sheltered the city. The city of Gilleah was not destroyed but was sundered from the mainland and floated out to sea. Unable to shatter the protector god’s defenses, the remaining gods surrounded the isle with an eternal maelstrom preventing any from coming or going, including the savior god, whose name was erased from memory. Now an eccentric nobleman claims to have a map to the Isle, along with a guide through the maelstrom. Threading this needle requires a tiny ship, one with room for a small but fearless crew and a handful of passengers. Maybe you could be one! Jump right in and we'll tell this tale.

Game Information System: D&D-2024 Beginners Welcome! D&D may be old, but the 2024 rules are hot off the presses so beginners should not be intimidated. We will all be learning the new rules as we go along. Posting Rate: 1/week.

Applications Beginners: I have a crew of pre-generated characters you can select from. Experienced Players: If you’re comfortable building a character, pick one of the archetypes below. This will determine your class and role in the crew. The rest of the details you can fill out for yourself. Please Provide: Name: Archetype: Select from below and respond to the prompt. Archetypes The Sea Captain (fighter or paladin): You need this job. You need the expedition to be successful. Explain why it is so important to you. The First Mate (rogue): The captain is more than a boss. They’re your best friend and you owe them your life. Describe what they did to earn your undying loyalty. The Aristocrat (warlock): You made a pact with dark forces for wealth and power. Describe who/what you made this contract with and what they demand from you in return. The Faithful Priest of a Forgotten God (cleric): You are a follower of the god who saved the Isle of Gilleah and was trapped there. You received a vision telling you to join this expedition. Describe how the vision came to you. The Traveling Performer (bard): You are a famous performer, but now you’re taking the show on the road. Who or what are you avoiding? The Academic (wizard): You joined the expedition to research the lost civilization. What secrets do you hope to uncover? The Wild-card (any class not listed above): You have a connection to one of the other PCs, whether they know it or not. Describe the nature of your relationship. Appearance: Artwork optional, but a brief description is required.