Iron DM 2023!

savoylen · #1 Mar 5th, 2023, 11:00 PM

Round 0

Round Zero is upon us!

This is the Round Zero thread, where all those who wish to partake in 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 the those who advance into the final rounds as we see who will be crowned Iron DM of 2023!

This thread will be open for 21 days from the time this is posted. Please only post entries (placeholder posts are allowed and encouraged) only in this thread. Questions about the rules, the tournament, or that amazing wooden shield that will be mailed to this year's winner are welcomed and answered in the OOC thread.

Make sure you get your entry in before deadline! (1-OCT, 11:59 PM)

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.

Round Zero Rules
Write the first post of a new game that begins with a total party kill.

The post should also set up hooks and adventure options for the players.

The post must include at least one item from the list of items inside the spoiler button. This item should be central to the events and story set up in the post.

Do not include links or images in your post; the entry should be only text and text formatting. The item can be for any setting/system you like; even mentioning a system is not necessary!

You have a hard maximum of 500 words for your post. Do not break it. This limit includes all text within the body of your post, so be careful! Do not waste words on mechanics -- the focus for this Round Zero challenge is to create an interesting introductory story post.

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 me 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 That 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!