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Old Jun 19th, 2017, 03:33 PM
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What is Outplay?

What is Outplay?

Outplay is an annual competition started back in 2011 by Admin RonarsCorruption that pits groups in a single-elimination-style tournament together against common sorts of challenges they might face in any game. The goal is to identify and reward the RPGX member who best exemplifies what we want to see in a PLAYER on this site. That's a mix of rules knowledge, performance of their role in a team, excellent role-play, quality writing, and plain old success in their ability to develop and execute a plan.

Round zero works a little differently, and tackles the most important challenges a player might face: creating an interesting character and showing him in action. We have begun making round zero anonymous, so don't worry that your name doesn't have the same pizzazz as some of the site dinosaurs. You are judged based on how awesome your character is. We have a public poll regarding the anonymous entries, which will play a major role in who is selected, if we have more applicants than available spots in the competition.

During most years there is a poll posted in Open Roleplaying a couple months before the start of the competition to determine what game systems will have enough popularity, and those are the systems for which the organizers spend their time designing the game. Any game system which can't come up with eight players to run the elimination bracket as well as GM and judges will not be run.

In each of the following rounds, the players work together in groups to overcome the challenges the GMs put forward to face you. There are normally four rounds (in a predetermined yet secret-until-the-competition-starts-order): a combat challenge, a problem-solving challenge, and a social challenge. The final round is a special challenge, where characters from all systems will be able to compete simultaneously (requiring roleplaying skills, but no convoluted cross-system mechanics).

While the plot, mechanical requirements, and opening hook change from year to year, the best way to get a sense for how Outplay works is to check out the previous years' competitions.

For the RecordBecause it has been pointed out to me that we haven't actually said it anywhere else, please be aware that Outplay is a major time commitment! The applications round is a significant portion of a month, which means most people should have time to create their character, but the rounds that follow require daily posting for the game weeks, and then the judges have a week to read everything and choose which players go on to the next round. Missing even a single post during a game week can decide a player's fate, for while we would love to make sure everyone can play, there's only so much time!


Outplay Champions!

See below for copies of the Outplay winner announcements dating back to 2011!

2023
Qiksilv and squirmonkey!


2022
Bushi


2021
Wishkamon


2020
pianoman90 and UngainlyFool


2019
Qiksilv


2018
jbear and DAquilina


2017
Wynamoinen


2016
Khelbiros


2015
Frostburn


2014
Thorsten


2013
Thorsten


2012
Squeak


2011
Thorsten


Great Player Competition 2008
(Proto-Outplay)
GleefulNihilism

Last edited by Bhelogan; Aug 27th, 2023 at 01:16 PM. Reason: updated, fixed too many images error
  #2  
Old May 18th, 2020, 08:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2011 View Post
AnnouncementThe time has come!
After months of competition, we've tested every aspect of our players - from how well they create characters, and can search for turnips, to how well they can sway a crowd and fight off demonic bears. The contestants have been weighed, measured, and judged. And now, we can reveal the final outcome of Outplay. The top player of 2011 is...
 

Congratulations to Thorsten most of all, but also to the other four finalists; Elfman6 who came in second, syberpuppy in third place, and uruz who finished fourth. Give them all a hand!

And let's not forget the nearly forty other excellent players who applied, and all the judges and DMs and contributors to this competition. Without all your participation, we wouldn't have had such a great year - and you can be sure to see us all again, next year.

Game on!

Last edited by Aethera; May 18th, 2020 at 08:38 AM.
  #3  
Old May 18th, 2020, 08:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2012 View Post
It's been a few busy months for all involved, but finally we have found this year's best player.

First, they proved to a crowd why they deserved to be there, even more than their competitors who were just as much of a champion as themselves.

Then, they talked down a group of dopplegangers, who were hiding from the champions a gem of unimaginable power.

And finally, the outplay player managed to take out a dragon. Not by themselves mind you, but by the end, the now-champion's assistance couldn't be ignored. Not everyone can summon giant crocodiles, after all.

Which means, this year's winner is Squeak! Congratulations, at outplaying all your competition this year!

Last edited by Aethera; May 18th, 2020 at 08:38 AM.
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Old May 18th, 2020, 08:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2013 View Post


It's been a long competition, everyone, but the results are finally in!

This year was the first year Outplay has catered to members in three different game-systems at once, Pathfinder, DnD 3.5e, and DnD 4e, the three biggest ones out there. Over the past two months, we've whittled down each of those systems to the single best player in each:

For 4th Edition, the finalist was Enthusiast, playing Ghiliyad!
For 3.5e, the finalist was Nefarious Plot with Duilgneshsvant
And finally, the finalist for Pathinder the Thorsten with Thibault

All of this year's competitors were fantastic, and these three still managed to rise above the rest, so congratulations to all of them! But, only one can outroll, outsmart and outplay all of the others.

And that winner is...
 
  #5  
Old May 18th, 2020, 08:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2014 View Post


Outplay 2014 Conclusion...

This whole year has been great for Outplay - every match has had nail-bitingly close moments where competitiors have had scores so close to one another we have to consider half-points.

The finals were no different! An excellent back and forth where the PCs destroyed the universe! That's right, there's no saving it this time, it's gone! They'll do better with the next one.

But who won?
Well, the first judge was torn, he liked both players a lot, but in the end one player narrowly won his vote. For the moment, we'll call him Player #1.

The second judge, a new addition, was less conflicted. Confidently, he cast his vote for player #2.

The third judge's sentiments mimicked the first. He was very torn, and considered changing his vote at the last moment, not even knowing his was going to be the deciding vote in the competition. Narrowly, he decided to vote for...

Thorsten! Damn, that was a close one - congratulations! One post different and the whole competition might have gone to your competitor. But once again, you are our outplay champion. Congratulations!

And congratulations to all our other competitiors, too - you've all been excellent players: there just can only be one winner. I hope to see you all next year, and for Iron DM coming up in just a few short months.

Game on!
  #6  
Old May 18th, 2020, 09:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2015 View Post
Four players. Four systems. One winner.

It's all come down to this:
Ekidnu - the champion of the Pathfinder bracket playing the "paladin", Kayla
Frostburn - the champion of the Shadowrun bracket, playing Quara - who married her guardian spirit
Melchior - the champion of the 3.5e bracket, playing Chezo the goblin chef
Bhelogan - the champion of the 5e bracket, playing the druid, Ivan

The judges deliberated at length, and with a resounding 5-2 vote, this year's winner is clear:

 


I'd also like to say congratulations to all of our competitors this year for all their excellent writing, and double-so for all our finalists. This has easily been the best outplay to date, and is going to be hard to top.

Congratulations!
  #7  
Old May 18th, 2020, 09:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2016 View Post


Thirty-two players. Four systems. One winner.

It's all come down to this:
Khelbiros, who played Rimoka to victory in the 13th Age bracket.
Wodine, whose Ignatius C Hypatius III rose above the rest in the 3.5e bracket
Avner, playing Thomas Templeton through to the top of the 5e bracket
Pianoman90, whose character of Jorgum was the best of the Pathfinder Bracket.

The judges deliberated at length, and the winner of Outplay 2016 is...

Khelbiros!

Congratulations to you and Rimoka - you deserved it!
  #8  
Old May 18th, 2020, 09:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2017 View Post


It has been a long summer, but Outplay 2017 has reached its conclusion.
3 Wrecked and Stranded Crews. 24 Heroes. One Winner.

This year we played Mutants and Masterminds, D&D 5E and Pathfinder, Oh My! Contestants battled through their brackets to reach the Final Round, all to contend for the coveted title of Winner of Outplay 2017. It came down to three contestants:

Wynamoinen, whose Princess Syarafina survived the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edtion bracket.
JackinIron, whose Wanderer outlasted all the other Mutants and Masterminds
Blackfyre, whose Kavax the Magnificent found the way through the Pathfinder bracket.

The judges deliberated, and the Winner of Outplay 2017 is:

 
  #9  
Old May 18th, 2020, 09:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2018 View Post
And The Winner Is...

This year, Outplay doesn't have a winner... it has two! Rather than naming one overall winner, we bring you two winners - one for Pathfinder and one for 5th edition DnD. The two brackets both showcased some excellent players, and win or lose there was great play all around!

 


A huge thanks to all competitors, judges, applicants and spectators! This year was a huge success, and I'm excited to do it again next year!
  #10  
Old May 18th, 2020, 09:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2019 View Post

21 players entered the contest, playing either Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition or Pathfinder (which, over the course of the competition, we needed to start calling 1st edition). Hundreds of top-notch posts were made. Over many grueling weeks for players and characters alike, the field of competitors narrowed.

In the final round of competition, three remained:The judges deliberated...

Rostamoinen
left-aligned image
"We have come to an agreement." the Archmage Rostamoinen says as this throne rises into the air.

"This choice was not easy. We would have been disappointed, had it been. Well done. And yet..." he snaps his fingers and two glowing portals appear behind the competitors. "only one shall remain. We may call again to the other two. But there will be more trials. We are constantly tested, and must be ever ready. Without further ado..."

He snaps his fingers again. There is a flash, and two of the adventurers feel the portal's light wrap around them, lighter than a feather and stronger than a chain. It pulls them through the portal. Time and space lose all meaning to them.

Only one remains in the room with the other seven:

 
OOC
 
  #11  
Old Jun 4th, 2021, 01:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2020 View Post

Congratulations on all of our Finale participants! In the D&D Bracket, we have rhaiber (Ginnifer) and pianoman90 (Shugaro). In Shadowrun, we have UngainlyFool (Bonus) and Blackfyre (Tamara). And, now for the winner:

 
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Last edited by Bhelogan; Jun 4th, 2021 at 01:50 PM.
  #12  
Old Jun 6th, 2023, 11:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2021 View Post
It was a photo-finish race to the end, with our three immensely talented contestants crossing spells, proverbial swords, and stones with each other, competing against each other yet working together to defeat the evil Bishop Bartholomew, and rescue the Crossing Companions from captivity. In the end, we have to have one winner. The votes were close. Very close. So close in fact, that the judges tried to mount a mutiny and insist that all three be crowned champions. Their please and cause was valiant, but alas, in the end, one winner was chosen.



Huge congratulations to Wishkamon for pulling out a Win, and be crowned the Champion of Outplay 2021!
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Last edited by Bhelogan; Jun 6th, 2023 at 11:22 PM.
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Old Jun 6th, 2023, 11:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outplay 2022 View Post
We have reached the end of Outplay 2022. It was a neck-to-neck race in the finish line with two very different styles of players, showing different strengths and bringing their own flavors to the final showdown with the Benefactor. Between Bushi's Amari and AnotherDragoon's Legion, who would take the round? The finale had no mechanical scores, and no bonus points to influence the end results. Only the word of the Judges decided who the winner will be. The scores were tallied, and the results are as follows:

Scoring Summary - Round 4
CategoryAnotherDragoonBushi
Marshmallow3536
GleefulNihilism3334
Retry3835
rhaiber3436
Judges Average35.0035.25

Winning by a single point (0.25 points in the overall average) Bushi, who will be crowned the champion of Outplay 2022! Congratulations, and a huge shoutout and thank you to all of our players who helped make an exciting, adrenaline-filled event this year.
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Old Aug 27th, 2023, 01:15 PM
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And, tallying up the scores the results are:

Yes, that is correct! We have a tie score! This year, we have co-champions, Qiksilv, and squirmonkey! Congratulations to the two of you, not only for making it to the finale but for writing such a collaborative narrative together that our judges were so impressed with the collective work that a single winner was impossible to determine. Were this an earlier elimination round, I would serve as a tie-breaker vote. In this case, though, I happen to agree with the judges.
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