So for anyone who didn't see the newspost, FFG is having a contest to write up a Deathwatch Adventure of no more than 10,000 words, including the backstory for the mission's Watch-Captain in 1,000-2,000 words. Link is here.

Anyhow, I suspect that the 10,000 word limit is going to be a very real problem for me, as I like to get descriptive with my adventures and I'm creating a 3-part mission for this contest. So does anyone know if the Watch-Captain backstory is included in the 10,000 word limit for the adventure? I should be able to make things work out, but I'm at about 4,000 words already and less than halfway through Part Two, with no backstory written yet.

Kind of hoping for an 'official' answer here.

Never mind, after re-reading the news post it looks as though 'The Entry' includes the Watch-Captain's backstory. Kind of disheartening, but I'll make things work somehow.

If it wins, you might be able to post the 'deleted scenes' on Dark Reign. Unless there's some clause in the competition's terms & conditions that would prevent it?

From the official rules page:

"Entrants shall not submit or expose their scenarios or any part thereof for any purpose beyond private use once submitted. "

I'm pretty sure this means I can't post any 'deleted scenes' on other sites, but it might just mean that I can't try to sell the work to someone else. What, exactly, constitutes private use? If anyone's fluent in legalese I'd appreciate an answer to this.

I have a question. Do we have to create stat blocks for creatures or characters in the adventure or can the existing books be refereanced instead? If we have to create stat blocks that will cut into our word count considerably.

Phaide, I don't see why you can't cite the existing books for pre-existing antogonists. You are right, they would eat up word counts. FFG does it all the time. As long as the the correct page is cited (don't do the infamous White Wolf reference of "See Page XX").

Phaide, I've just been providing page numbers in the Core Rulebook and Mark of the Xenos in my adventure and noting adjustments when they're necessary. For example, if I were to use a horde of heretic Guardsmen with heavy weapons in my adventure, I'd list it like "Heretic Guardsmen (DWCore, Pg#, +10 BS, Plasma Cannon, Magnitude: 30).

Of course, for unique or custom monsters I'll try and stat them out in the most word-efficient way possible, which generally means using shorthand, and abbreviations that I'll be providing a key for. (Example, might list an Astartes Assault Shotgun as AAS in the text). Characteristics, Skills, Talents, and Traits can eat up a lot of word count, so I would only list the essential stuff. For example, if I create a custom monster with the Lightning Attack talent, he is assumed to have Swift Attack as well since it is a prerequisite.

It'd be nice if we were allowed to attach a separate document with full monster stats, since I don't really feel 10,000 words is adequate to include everything. You have to have a 1,000-2,000 word Deathwatch Watch Captain back-story, stats, numbers, and tactics for any monsters, dialogue, descriptions, various Skill and Characteristic Tests with included modifiers, and a fairly large chunk of legalese at the front of your story. It all eats into word count. I understand this contest was about creating short missions, but it's still annoying. I'm sitting at 7,800 words, not finished with the mission (but pretty close), and I haven't written up my Watch-Captain's back-story or statted out the unique monsters yet.

When we include the watch captains profile, do we need to include a stat block and skill set?

Tunnelhckrat said:

I didn't. Your Watch-Captain is likely not going to see any combat during your mission, and if he does for some reason it's easier and simpler to just assume he can hold his own - prevents accidentally overpowered DMPC's, too.