Monks of Majere Contest!

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Dragonhelm

Nov 24, 2003 22:57:22
THE CONTEST

Majere is the primary god of monks in Dragonlance, yet his followers have not yet been fully detailed. That’s all about to change, and you can help!

Margaret Weis is asking you, the fans, to come up with fighting styles and techniques appropriate for the monks of Majere, as well as the weapons that they might use.

All entries will be considered for use both in Ashes and Amber, the first book in Margaret’s new Dark Disciple trilogy featuring Mina, or they may be included in the upcoming Holy Orders of the Stars sourcebook by Sovereign Press!

Entries can be either descriptive text or gaming stats (contestant’s choice), and should be under 800 words. All entries should strive to evoke a “Dragonlance feel”, and be centered around Krynnish themes.

Send all entries to [email=dragonhelm@dragonlance.com]dragonhelm@dragonlance.com[/email] with the words “Monk of Majere Contest” in the subject header. Please attach your entries to the e-mail in a word document format, and include your full name and e-mail address in the entry.

All entries must be received by Saturday, December 6, 2003.

THE BOOTY

The booty for this contest is two-fold. First, those whose materials are selected will be listed as a contributor to Holy Orders of the Stars by Sovereign Press, and in the acknowledgements of Ashes and Amber.

Never fear, for you won’t walk away empty-handed! All whose materials are used will also receive a complimentary copy of the Dragonlance Dungeon Master’s Screen by Sovereign Press!

LEGAL STUFF

All entries to the Monks of Majere contest must be received on or before December 6, 2003. All decisions will be final.

All entries will become the intellectual property of Wizards of the Coast, and may be used by their licensees within terms of the license. By submitting, you authorize Margaret Weis and Sovereign Press to use the materials in the entry in full or in part for Ashes and Amber, Holy Orders of the Stars, and any future products within terms of agreement with Wizards of the Coast.

GOOD LUCK!
#2

talinthas

Nov 25, 2003 0:15:15
oh boy. you're on, trampas =)
this has been my dream for years =)
#3

ferratus

Nov 25, 2003 0:53:43
Is there a limit on the number of entries we can submit?
#4

Dragonhelm

Nov 25, 2003 9:15:06
Originally posted by ferratus
Is there a limit on the number of entries we can submit?

No limit on the number of entries, but only one prize per person.
#5

sweetmeats

Nov 25, 2003 10:35:12
Doh! And I had just had one posted to the Nexus site.

I guess I will have to design a new one.
#6

Dragonhelm

Nov 25, 2003 10:50:07
Originally posted by SweetMeats
Doh! And I had just had one posted to the Nexus site.

I guess I will have to design a new one.

Remember, this is just weapons and fighting styles. No prestige classes and the like.

If you've already posted something to the Nexus, send me an e-mail with the link.
#7

sweetmeats

Nov 25, 2003 11:30:52
Phew! Thats ok then. I did a PrC. Must have read your inital post wrong.

Still, something to think about.
#8

zombiegleemax

Nov 25, 2003 14:11:30
This is so perfect. In the game I'm running, I've got a Cleric of Majere, so this is already something I've thought about...
#9

zombiegleemax

Nov 25, 2003 14:17:44
If we have a bunch of fluff about various orders of monks of Majere, as well as a prestige class, could we submit the whole thing, and you just pick out the bits you like/want? The rest can be added to the Nexus as and when the competition comes out (and I find out I've lost anyway), but making the prestige class is too fun if we have all this stuff on them already...
#10

Dragonhelm

Nov 25, 2003 14:20:17
Originally posted by pddisc
If we have a bunch of fluff about various orders of monks of Majere, as well as a prestige class, could we submit the whole thing, and you just pick out the bits you like/want? The rest can be added to the Nexus as and when the competition comes out (and I find out I've lost anyway), but making the prestige class is too fun if we have all this stuff on them already...

For the contest, I'm looking for fighting styles and weapons only.

However, if you wish to also send a write-up that includes all your materials for posting on the Nexus, feel free to send that in a separate e-mail, and we'll get it posted.
#11

zombiegleemax

Nov 25, 2003 14:26:01
Although, thinking about it, you'd then be flooded by monastic orders of Krynn. Perhaps you should put them on their own page for a while, and have only the best stay on. Or divide them up between the Nexus and Dragonlance.com. Or something.

Back to the classes... muahahaha...
#12

Dragonhelm

Nov 25, 2003 17:02:48
In case anyone is interested, here is an old link from Legends of the Lance on the Monastery of Majere.

The Order of Majere Monastery
#13

shugi

Nov 25, 2003 19:43:09
Dragonhelm's not worried... in all likelihood, I'll be posting most of that information.

#14

Dragonhelm

Nov 25, 2003 22:33:13
Originally posted by Shugi
Dragonhelm's not worried... in all likelihood, I'll be posting most of that information.


Don't worry, Shugi. I've got some of Rooks' "special brownies" and a 12-pack of Mountain Dew! Woo! :D

Seriously, though, if we get swamped, I'll be happy to give you a hand.

Guys, I cannot say enough good things about Shugi. I was sort of getting into a crunch between my work with DL, work, and home, and Shugi has been a godsend.
#15

daedavias_dup

Nov 25, 2003 23:24:36
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Don't worry, Shugi. I've got some of Rooks' "special brownies" and a 12-pack of Mountain Dew! Woo! :D

...and you're supposed to be a role-model

Ok, so let me get this straight, it is just combat styles and weapons, am I right? No PrC's and or whatever else is left. Shoot! Darn! DANG!
#16

kalanth

Nov 26, 2003 11:20:55
Well, I built one and sent it. I am not good at these kinds of things, so I would not expect to win but at least I tried. The hardest part is trying to come up with something that I could actually see running around on Krynn, and there was not much that I could think of that worked with that thought.
#17

Dragonhelm

Nov 26, 2003 12:33:01
Originally posted by Daedavias
...and you're supposed to be a role-model

I don't recall that in my job description! lol

Ok, so let me get this straight, it is just combat styles and weapons, am I right? No PrC's and or whatever else is left. Shoot! Darn! DANG!

Correct, combat styles and weapons only. If you want anything else, send it my way and we'll post it on the site.
#18

daedavias_dup

Nov 26, 2003 12:37:36
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
I don't recall that in my job description! lol



Oh, ok. Bring on the magic brownies!



Correct, combat styles and weapons only. If you want anything else, send it my way and we'll post it on the site.

Like what exactly are you looking for? I can't think of any weapons that would be specific to the Majere monks. When I read that it was combat styles and weapons only, kata from Way of the Samurai popped into my head magically, though. Would those be a good or bad thing to use for combat styles. Otherwise, are you looking for something like the combat styles from OA, where a collection of feats yields a greater outcome?
#19

Dragonhelm

Nov 26, 2003 13:01:53
Originally posted by Daedavias
Like what exactly are you looking for? I can't think of any weapons that would be specific to the Majere monks. When I read that it was combat styles and weapons only, kata from Way of the Samurai popped into my head magically, though. Would those be a good or bad thing to use for combat styles. Otherwise, are you looking for something like the combat styles from OA, where a collection of feats yields a greater outcome?

Well, you know how in Tales of the Lance they made up new weapons for the various races? Think along those terms for Majere.

Fighting styles could include various kata, etc., but try not to make it Oriental.
#20

zombiegleemax

Nov 27, 2003 8:33:30
Well, creating new weapons isn't always that easy. Most of the weapons that exist and could feasibly work have already been created. And since there are fairly few people who know all these weapons... the ones that do are at a disadvantage because their heads are filled with this stuff already. I've just described some of the weapons that'd fit with the monks I've described, so if mine were picked, I'd expect the names to change. Just call them things like 'iron hand of the yellow monkey' or something.

Hehehe... monkeys!!
#21

Dragonhelm

Nov 27, 2003 8:59:07
Originally posted by pddisc
Hehehe... monkeys!!

Oriental Adventures has a new race called the Vanara. They're humanoid monkeys.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people who want to play "monkey monks". lol (Uh....self included. Tee hee.) :D
#22

shugi

Nov 28, 2003 11:55:32
Pddisc, I just wanted to let you know that my Yellow Hand of the Iron Monkey is completely different than your Iron Hand of the Yellow Monkey. The same holds true for my Monkey Hand of Yellow Iron.

I'm working on some techniques as well. When everything is done and a "winner" has been announced, it'd be neat to post our ideas up here for others to see, but the terms & conditions don't really allow that.

Now that I think of it -- if someone submits material to Dragonhelm, they might not be able to post it to DL.com and the Nexus due to those rules. DH, your thoughts?
#23

Dragonhelm

Nov 28, 2003 13:00:01
Originally posted by Shugi
Now that I think of it -- if someone submits material to Dragonhelm, they might not be able to post it to DL.com and the Nexus due to those rules. DH, your thoughts?

If I'm reading your question right, it amounts to whether all contest materials will be posted or not.

Basically, I will post materials that don't win the contest, and will have to check with Sov. Press on the ones that do win. If materials are included, it may become a copyright issue with posting them on the sites.
#24

shugi

Nov 28, 2003 16:16:31
All entries will become the intellectual property of Wizards of the Coast, and may be used by their licensees within terms of the license.

I was talking about that particular section, which implies that material couldn't be posted without violating copyright.
#25

Dragonhelm

Nov 28, 2003 17:50:54
Amend that to say that any entry used becomes the intellectual property, etc. etc.

No matter what, if you post anything online DL related, it is "co-owned" by WotC and the author. Neither can do anything with it without the other, professionally speaking of course.
#26

zombiegleemax

Nov 29, 2003 11:44:22
So how is the winner going to be decided? Do you look at it, or Margaret? Is she looking at them as they get to you, or is she planning to stay up until the early hours of the morning on the 3rd of December, working out which of the ideas would work best with her novel? If there are fairly good, very 'DL' ideas sent in, but wouldn't work with the story, is it possible they could see publication in some kind of official context anyway? For that matter, is anything on the Nexus or Dragonlance.com ever likely to be published, or would it be unnecessary due to being free on the net anyway?

Monk-eys are nowhere near so good as bard-barians. At the very least, in terms of puns. Given me an idea though... A bard/tribal fire oriented spellcaster... call it a Scald...
#27

zombiegleemax

Dec 04, 2003 17:28:26
Well, *bump*, and can you answer these questions, please? How many entries have there been?
#28

kalanth

Dec 05, 2003 11:23:58
When do we get to know the results of this? Especially since the contest ends tomarrow.
#29

Dragonhelm

Dec 05, 2003 12:28:00
Okay, got a few questions to answer here.

Basically, it will be Margaret and Jamie who will judge the entries. I have nothing to do with judging. We've had a number thus far (20?), so they have a lot to go through.

Since this is just for use in Margaret's novel and possibly Holy Orders of the Stars, I doubt it will show up anywhere else.

I'm not sure how long Margaret and Jamie will take on making a decision. I'll try to get that info.

I hope that answers your questions. Let me know if you have more.