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Here it is, round one of Rare Entries IV. The game is simple, you take a look at the four prompts below. Come up with a legal, correct answer for each prompt; answers that you think will be unique, or at least uncommon. Submit your prompt answers to laszlow either via PM or in an email to epicpoet AT gmail DOT com before midnight on Sunday, November 14th. Include the phrase Rare Entries in your subject line. On Monday morning I will score the entries and the winner will be announced Monday night. Oh, and there's one more thing:

There will be an AmaCoN gift certificate as a prize.

The prize money will be $[the number of players], and the winner will receive ALL of it. No prizes for second or third. If 20 people participate, the prize is $20. If only I participate the prize is $1 awarded to myself. So if you want a chance at they money, play. If you want the prize to get bigger, convince others to play. It's that simple. Just play.

So, without further ado, the prompts:

1. Name one of the seven games that Caves of Narshe covers

2. Name one of the mana spirits in Secret of Mana or Seiken Densetsu 3

3. Name a dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

4. Name one of the Robot Masters from Mega Man 2

Sources:
Caves of Narshe
Mana Spirits
Dungeons in A Link to the Past
Robot Masters in Mega Man 2

This is a preliminary first round, so there will only be four prompts. All four are borrowed from past Rare Entries games. Future rounds will have either six or eight prompts, with most of them user-submitted. If you're interested in taking part in future rounds, either post here after the thread is unlocked, or Check out the possibilities thread.

This post has been edited by laszlow on 11th November 2010 20:46

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Well, with sixteen players, I think the prelim round of Rare Entries was basically a success. Scores were low, with a median score of 54 and a mean score of 62.5, but I'll blame that on the half-sized round rather than the players or prompts. I mean, I know I'm doing something right when my own submissions get hit with two traps.

My own entries aside, at least one guy didn't get hit with any traps: CoN's own Kappa the Imp, who dominated with a score of 2. Del S and Cefca tied for second place with each scoring an 18. Let's have a look at Kappa's entries:

Final Fantasy I (1)
Salamando (2)
Hyrule Castle (1)
Air Man (1)

In Kaps' own words: "Protip: First choice on every list." Worked for him, didn't it? But if you try that strategy in round 2, will it work again or backfire? You never can tell. But without further ado, the prompts:

1. Name one of the seven games that Caves of Narshe covers

Final Fantasy Tactics (6)
Final Fantasy VII (3)
Final Fantasy IV (3)
Final Fantasy V (2)
Final Fantasy I (1)
Final Fantasy VI (1)

Interesting that our site's namesake's game only got a single, but I shouldn't really be surprised at these things anymore. FF Tactics was this round's biggest trap, and Kappa and Tonepoet scored the prompt's only singles.


2. Name one of the mana spirits in Secret of Mana or Seiken Densetsu 3

Jinn (5)
Shade (2)
Salamander (2)
Undine (2)
Dryad (2)
Wisp (2)
Luna (1)

No penalty for using SoM names instead of the ones listed in the source. However, major penalty if you submitted Jinn, the round's second trap. No-one chose Gnome. Cefca scored the only single.


3. Name a dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Water Gate Dungeon (3)
Misery Mire Palace (3)
Thieves' Town (2)
Turtle Rock (2)
East Palace (1)
Skull Woods (1)
Ice Palace (1)
Desert Palace (1)
Hyrule Castle (1)
Palace of Darkness (1)

Unsurprisingly, the biggest category had the lowest scores, with a whopping six singles. No entries for the Tower of Hera or Ganon's Tower (which are, ironically, light and dark versions of the same building) What's all y'alls problem with towers?


4. Name one of the Robot Masters from Mega Man 2

Bubble Man (4)
Metal Man (4)
Wood Man (3)
Quick Man (2)
Crash Man (2)
Air Man (1)

A little more irregularly-distributed than our other 8-sized prompt this round, with only one single and two robots unselected (Flash Man and Heat Man). Kappa kept to the top of the list and got the only single.


Thank you for playing
I hope everyone had fun
Send me Round 2 prompts

More detailed version: if you haven't already, send me prompt ideas for round 2 of the game either via PM or via email. My new-ish, 6-prompt format is going to be: 2 about games covered by CoN, 2 about any video game info, and 2 about anything you want. Ideal prompts have between 6 and 12 entries. I'll choose five of the submitted prompts I like best, and round 2 will begin... on Thursday morning. I decided that just now.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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I chose:
1. Final Fantasy V - personal favorite at the moment.
2. Shade - figured no one would go for the awesome.
3. Turtle Rock - most awesome dungeon opening animation.
4. Bubble Man - first robot masters' theme I had in my head when pondering this question. This was a bad idea apparently.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

This game is 90% luck, 10% experience. From experience, I know that the more you think about it, the worse you do. The more you try to win, the more you end up losing.

Now if only I could do this for my NCAA Tourney brackets...

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I find your lack of faith disturbing...

I'm not exactly sure how the scoring works out, but I think that I didn't do too well regardless . Other than getting sucked into the Tactics trap, my choices weren't too bad though. I'm excited for the upcoming rounds, and I'll PM any ideas I think of for categories!

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

You all have about 36 hours to send me new prompt ideas. I've gotten a few, but they're mostly from before the first round finished. Send me your ideas, pronto!

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Playable characters in Final Fantasy IV.
Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Tellah, Edward, Yang, Palom, Porom, Rosa, Cid, Edge, FuSoYa (12 items)

Resubmitting this:
Non-final bosses in Scurge: Hive
Scylla, Cyclops, Atlas, Jormungand, Heimdall, Mandragora, Cerberus (7 items)

Another new idea:
Areas in Scurge: Hive (other than wherever the final battle takes place)
Cruiser, Biocore, Ransol Industrial Complex, Deadscape Wasteland, Ransol Excavation Site (a.k.a Mines), Forest Lab (6 items)

Did I mention I like that game?

Just FYI for people who haven't played it:

1. The first area, the intro area, is your spaceship, a cruiser.
2. The second area, and the hub, is the Biocore facility, which has teleports to all the other areas apart from the cruiser.
3. The industrial complex is an abandoned, decaying industrial facility.
4. The Deadscape Wasteland is a desert/mountains area.
5. The Mines are a bunch of twisty, dark places spanning several stories. The music is vaguely reminiscent of the Phazon Mines music from Metroid Prime.
6. The Forest Lab, an unusually late-in-the-game forest-themed area, is filled with poisonous gas, among other deadly features.

1. Scylla is a large plant-like growth formed by the Scurge lifeform.
2. Cyclops is a security robot.
3. Atlas is a teleportation node that has been taken over by the Scurge lifeform.
4. Jormungand is a giant insect.
5. Heimdall is a strange-looking energy-based lifeform.
6. Mandragora is a gigantic carnivorous plant.
7. Cerberus is a three-part creature whose characteristics change constantly.

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 17th November 2010 01:13

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

12-ish hours left. Ehh, probably closer to 16-18 hours left. I'll set up the next round after I run some morning errands, so that's the latest I'll accept submissions.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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The sealed weapons in FFV (list here)
Assassin Dagger (a.k.a. Assassin's Dagger), Apollo Harp (a.k.a. Apolon Harp, Apollo's Harp), Excalibur, Fire Bute (a.k.a. Fire Lash), Earth Bell (a.k.a. Gaia Bell, Gaia's Bell), Holy Lance, Magus Rod, Masamune, Rune Axe, Sage Staff, Sasuke (Sasuke's Knife, a.k.a. Sasuke's Katana, a.k.a. Ninja Blade), Yoichi's Bow (12 items)

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 18th November 2010 02:37

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

I sent Lasz about, what... 22, 24 or so? Don't be lazy, kittens.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN? Or perhaps buying a really good looking shirt?

I was going to send one, but I got a bit distracted by tests this week. I'll probably get you a few this weekend though, for the later rounds and such.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

Ahh, cripes. I just noticed he said "by PM or e-mail". Yay spot check fail.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

Behold Round 2. I've decided that I will give away a prize just like Round 1, with an AmaCoN gift certificate equal to the number of participants (Kaps, try and contact me so I can send you your prize). So there's another reason to get to playing, although you already have no reason not to. Without further ado, the prompts; These prompts were brought to you by laszlow, Elpanachino, Glenn Magus Harvey, Neal, and Rangers51:

1. Name one of Setzer's slot combinations from Final Fantasy VI*

2. Name a Movement ability that begins with the word "Move" in Final Fantasy Tactics

3. Name an item (not a weapon or armor) from Secret of Mana

4. Name a boss other than the final boss in Scurge: Hive

5. Name a Traitor Legion of Chaos Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000

6. Name one of The Endless from Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics**

*Lagomorph is not listed by CoN, but is an allowed answer. Joker Doom 777 is not separate from Joker Doom 77Bar.

**The only acceptable answers are the seven titles of The Endless. Morpheus and Daniel are not separate entries.

Recommended research sites:
CoN's Setzer page
CoN's listing of Movement abilities
Secret of Mana items
This thread, the Scurge: Hive prompt (remember to send them via PM next time, dood)
WH40K Traitor Legions
The Endless

Please send me your prompt answers, either via PM or via email to epicpoet AT gmail DOT com, before 8AM US Eastern Time on Monday morning, November 22nd. This gives you roughly four days. I will post the results sometime on Monday, after which this thread will be unlocked. Thanks for playing!

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Sorry I'm a little late on this. Today was my day off, but I kept finding other distractions and diversions unrelated to Rare Entries. But enough excuses, let's offer a hearty congratulations to ElPanachino, who achieves victory in only his second Rare Entries game! EP had a final score of 12, and Glenn Magus Harvey and Gigantuar were right behind him with a final score of 24. Here's our favorite Spasian's winning entry:

Lagomorph (1)
Move+1 (2)
Barrel (2)
Scylla (3)
Night Lords (1)
Desire (1)

ElPanachino's strategy for the first round was to go with all of the "water-themed" entries he could. This strategy is a little more random and more successful. Go figure. Now is when I break down all the prompts for you.

1. Name one of Setzer's slot combinations from Final Fantasy VI*

H-Bomb (5)
Joker Doom (3)
Magicite (2)
7-Flush (1)
Lagomorph (1)

Chocobop and Sun Flare went unchosen, but more notable is the trap at H-Bomb. Dunno what to say here, really. Sucks for the five of us.

2. Name a Movement ability that begins with the word "Move" in Final Fantasy Tactics

Move on Lava (3)
Move+1 (2)
Move - Get JP (2)
Move - Get EXP (1)
Move in Water (1)
Move - MP Up (1)
Move+2 (1)
Move+3 (1)

This one makes a little more sense than the first one. More to choose from, two went unchosen, but the choices are way more evenly distributed, despite three unable to resist the sweet seduction of walking on lava.

3. Name an item (not a weapon or armor) from Secret of Mana

Candy (2)
Flammie Drum (2)
Barrel (2)
Royal Jam (2)
Faerie Walnut (1)
Midge Hammer (1)
Medical Herb (1)
Cup of Wishes (1)

Kinda boring. 8 people got deuces, 4 people got singles. No one wanted chocolate or Moogles.

4. Name a boss other than the final boss in Scurge: Hive

Scylla (3)
Jormungand (3)
Mandragora (2)
Cerberus (2)
Heimdall (1)
Atlas (1)

Well, I guess everyone picked a random mythological figure and rolled with it. Two 3s, two 2s, two 1s. It's like stairsteps!

5. Name a Traitor Legion of Chaos Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000

Thousand Sons (3)
Iron Warriors (2)
Emperor's Children (2)
Word Bearers (1)
World Eaters (1)
Death Guard (1)
Sons of Horus (1)
Night Lords (1)

I'm pretty sure when I was into Warhammer waaaay back in the day there were only four or five of these. Damn.

6. Name one of The Endless from Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics**

Destruction (4)
Death (3)
Delirium (2)
Despair (2)
Desire (1)

I'm not sure what's more confusing - that no one went for Dream (the main character) or that only ONE person went for the androgynous bisexual incarnation of desire. Where's my CoN crew at?

Thanks for playing, everyone. We had exactly twelve participants, so I suppose this won't be the last time I do this in the holiday season. I'll post the new prompts Friday evening, after spending most of the day recovering from a food coma. I have enough leftover prompts from last week, so I'm not going to harrangue you guys to send them to me. If you want to send some anyway (via email or PM, GLENN), then go right ahead and I just might use some. Until then, discuss and be merry.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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I am very satisfied with my results on this one, pretty much only 1-2's with a few being little more.

Damn, I forgot to enter this. Ah well, looks like if I had done I'd have been 13th entrant and 13th placed! I'd also probably have ruined things for the other person who took World Eaters.

I really have to encourage anyone who just casually reads over this thread without taking part to, er, take part. Even if you're completely random as to which ones you take, you stand a good chance of a good score. And it only takes a few minutes unless you're a dozy git and forget to enter.

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"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

Don't forget that a lot of us (like me) will be traveling for the holiday, so even if you post new prompts Friday night, don't be shocked if a lot of people miss them. I won't have internet other than on my phone until I make it back to the city, personally.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN? Or perhaps buying a really good looking shirt?

Quote (Rangers51 @ 24th November 2010 07:57)

Don't forget that a lot of us (like me) will be traveling for the holiday, so even if you post new prompts Friday night, don't be shocked if a lot of people miss them. I won't have internet other than on my phone until I make it back to the city, personally.

That's absolutely true. Well, it's probably smarter for me to start it later, so... it'll come up when it comes up. Probably Sunday or Monday.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Wow, I didn't expect that. Thanks Lasz!

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Wha? Thanks to me?

Hey, CoN! The awesome Final Fantasy Song Bracket CoNtest isn't the only forum game going on! Here are a fresh new batch of prompts that need your answering. To take part, just PM your six responses to laszlow or email them to epicpoet AT gmail DOT com, but if you email please provide your CoN username. [B]The deadline on this one is noon US Eastern time on Saturday, December 4th[/B, giving you about four days]. Round 3's prompts were written by laszlow, Rangers51, SilverMaduin, and ElPanachino.

1. Name an enemy in Final Fantasy VII that has an X-Potion available via Steal or Morph

2. Name one of Sabin's claw weapons in the SNES version of Final Fantasy VI

3. Name a playable non-boss character from Power Stone*

4. Name of the eight worlds housing Bowser or one of his children in Super Mario Brothers 3

5. Name one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

6. Name one of the ten most-populous nations in the world

*Valgas and Kraken are bosses and thus not acceptable answers.

Recommended research sites:
FF VII Potion data
FF VI Claws
Power Stone characters
Mario 3 worlds
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Top ten countries with the highest population

Again, you're encouraged to send me new prompt ideas. Hope to get a solid turnout this time!

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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