CONTEST INFORMATION
The Warlock’s Journal is an interdimensional book that moves through the planes always seeking new information. In September 2014, it was discovered by the minions of Tabletop Adventures, and we had a contest for special descriptions to add to it. In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th, this contest was to describe somewhere that might be a good place for a pirate.
VOTING RESULTS
The results are in! The September Warlock’s Journal Contest had the theme of “Pirate Places.” Authors favored us with 18 entries, and now the fans have spoken. The favorite place for a pirate is “The Barrel Head,” a special meeting place described by Ben Moats. Ben’s prize is a $15 gift certificate to RPGNow and DriveThruRPG, courtesy of Tabletop Adventures.
“The Barrel Head” received its top rating by a considerable margin. Leading the rest of the pack were “Diver’s Rest” and “Rigging Town,” both by Dimitri Horaites, followed closely by “The Booty Chest” by Tim Latham, and “Island o’ th’ Faceless Ones,” written by Charlie Fleming.
Congratulations to Ben Moats, and our thanks to all the entrants, for providing an exciting contest full of inspiring ideas for pirates! You can download the PDF of all the entries, plus bonus swashbuckling content provided by Tabletop Adventures, HERE.
ORIGINAL CONTEST DETAILS
The object is to describe a place for a pirate, whether it’s a tropical island, hidden cove, or smoky tavern. The location may be inspired by the real world, or it may suit a fantasy setting. (See more suggestions after the technical details.)
Each place needs a catchy title, such as “Black Bart’s Tavern” or “Dutchman’s Cove.” The body of an entry should be at least 100 but not more than 500 words. A person can enter more than once, but each entry must be sent separately. Put the entry in the body of an e- mail with the subject “contest entry” and be sure to include contact information; at a minimum, name and e-mail address. Send all entries to customerservice @tabletopadventures.com. Entries must be received by Wednesday, September 17, 2014 before midnight, US Central Time.
A PDF of all the entries will be available by Talk Like a Pirate Day. In it the entries will be presented anonymously for voting by fans, using Survey Monkey or a similar service. (Any ties will be decided by the Overlord, of course.) Voting will run through September 26th.
The winner of the fan vote will be announced by September 28, 2014, after which all entries will be made available as a free PDF with credit to the authors. (Entries remain the property of their authors, but participation grants permission to use entries in the free contest PDF and any annual or other compilation that may be made later.) Members of Tabletop Adventures and their households are not eligible to win. Tabletop Adventures reserves the right to add more winning places or award Honorable Mention prizes at the Overlord’s discretion.
POSSIBLE PLACES
A good place for pirates could be a quiet cove with a wide beach where the crew can relax while they resupply their water. It could be a hidden inlet on a rocky island that allows a ship to make a quick getaway when chased by some country’s navy. On the other hand, a pirate place could be a low-down city filled with scurvy dogs like themselves, and those who cater to them. Pirates could also appreciate a smoky tavern or noisy eatery where they can roister with friends. Of course, the place a pirate might prefer most could be a secret clearing or a partially submerged cave, in which to bury some treasure. Any or all of these would fit this month’s theme, and the voters will decide which one is a pirate’s true place!
