Blades of Exile Scenario Scoring Rubric

Version 2

Directions: This rubric can be used in two different ways.

  1. You can use it to provide both categories and an overall score for a scenario. Place your score in the appropriate box for each item. If you feel an item is inappropriate, remove it from the rubric. Then total your score, and the possible score. A total of 100 is possible if you use the entire rubric, but if you removed an item you must re-calculate the possible score as well. Purists may want to then convert the final score to a 100 point scale.
  2. You may just want to place a checkmark beside each item, indicating you have examined the scenario for this item and found it acceptable and/or included in the scenario.

My personal thanks to Jamie "Skyle" Clark --> BOESkyle for his major contribution to this version.

Description
Possible Score
Your Score
Check

STORYLINE

The storyline is a unique one, and not common or overused.

7 - The storyline is totally unique.
4 - The storyline is somewhat unique, but contains elements of other, well-recognized stories.
2 - The storyline is very common. It is difficult to see anything unique in it.
0 - What storyline?
7

 

 

The storyline is cohesive; most major quests and encounters revolve around the storyline.

4 - The author did a superb job of tying all the major quests to the storyline.
3 - Most of the quests and encounters revolve around the plot(s) of the story, but one or more quests or encounters just don't fit well.
2 - Few of the quests and encounters revolve around the plot(s) of the story.
1 - The quests and encounters do not match the storyline, but seem to be a random collection of things.
0 - What quests and encounters?
4

 

 

The story reacts to actions taken by the player.

6- There are major changes in the scenario play depending of what the player does.
4 - There are some changes in the scenario play depending of what the player does.
2 - There are some very minor changes in the scenario play depending of what the player does, such as dialog that changes when an event occurs.
0 - There are no changes in the scenario play no matter what the player does.
6

 

 

The storyline contains enough richness, variety, suspense, etc. to be engaging to most players.

3 - The storyline is very defined. You feel like you are there. You are emotionally aroused.
2 - The storyline is OK. It's not the best, but it keeps you interested.
1 - The storyline is boring. You find yourself nodding off.
0 - The storyline is so bad you cannot maintain interest at all.
3

 

 

The storyline DOES NOT contain ethnic, sexual, or racial slurs that may be offensive to some players. The storyline does NOT contain foul language.

3 - No slurs OR foul language are present.
2 - There are possible slurs, depending on interpretation.
1 - One or more distinct slurs OR foul language are present.
0 - The scenario has more than one instance of of slurs AND/OR foul language.
3

 

 

GAMEPLAY

Tactical challenges are well-designed and reasonable for the party level expected.

3 - The player feels a real sense of accomplishment upon successful completion of all tactical challenges.
2 - Most tactical challenges are good, but a few are not balanced properly.
1 - Most tactical challenges are not balanced properly.
0 - No tactical challenges are balanced. The party is either way to weak or way too powerful.
3

 

 
Logical challenges are well-designed and reasonable for the party level expected.These include traditional puzzles that may require the player to do something in a certain sequence, answer a riddle, find a key, etc. They also include navigational problems where the player must ascertain how to travel from point A to point B.
4 - The player feels a real sense of accomplishment upon successful completion of all logical challenges.
3 - Most logical challenges are good, but a few cannot be solved without some sort of esoteric or foreign (outside of the scenario) knowledge.
2 - Most logical challenges are common and quite easy to solve.
1 - Most logical challenges are impossible to solve.
0 - All logical challenges are impossible to solve without a great deal of outside assistance, or there are no logical challenges.
4

 

 

Quest rewards reflect the level of quest difficulty.

4 - All quest rewards match the level of quest difficulty.
3 - Most quest rewards match the level of quest difficulty, but there are some exceptions.
2 - There is a noticeable imbalance between quest rewards and quest difficulty.
1 - This is a Monty Haul scenario. Players receive far too much gold, items, and/or experience for their efforts.
0 - What quests?
4

 

 

Quests are reasonable given the expected party level.

4 - Quests challenge the party without overwhelming them.
3 - Quests are somewhat too hard or too easy for the party.
2 - Quests are too hard or too easy for the party.
1 - Quests are much too hard or too easy for the party. The party either is totally killed or doesn't even break into a sweat.
0 - What quests?
4

 

 

The game is balanced in terms of tactical and logical challenges.

3 - There is a nice balance between tactical and logical challenges
2 - The scenario somewhat favors tactical over logical challenges, or vice versa.
1 - The scenario definitely favors tactical over logical challenges, or vice versa.
0 - The scenario totally favors tactical over logical challenges, or vice versa.
3

 

 

DESIGN

The towns and dungeons are well-designed:

  • The space is effectively used (the rooms are not overly large).
  • There is logical consistency (such as living areas, building levels are realistic/consistent unless magic is involved, etc.).
  • The town's design supports its purpose as a town and has aspects that supports the plot
  • Towns, town areas (rooms) have believable and creative names.
  • The wandering encounters are appropriate for the town or dungeon's design (and the plot or party level).
3 - They contain most to all of the elements above and are remarkable in their design.
2 - They contain many to most of the elements above (some inconsistencies).
1 - They contain some to many of the elements above (poorly designed, little common sense).
0 - They contain a few of the elements above, but overall make no sense at all. Their design detracts from the plot and playing experience.
3

 

 

The outdoor sections are well-designed:

  • The space is effectively used (no open meaningless spaces), there is continuity between sections.
  • There is a logical consistency (deserts w/o lakes, hills - mountain transistions, lakes have rivers, etc.).
  • There are outdoor landmarks or other interesting features (named boundaries) - believable names.
  • The placed encounters are appropriate for that section and tie into or augment the plot or that section.
  • The wandering encounters are appropriate for that section (and the plot or party level).

3 - They contain all of the elements above and are remarkable in their design (they have a real purpose).
2 - They contain most of the elements above (some inconsistencies or some have no real purpose).
1 - They contain some of the elements above (many inconsistencies or many have no real purpose)
0 - They contain very few of the elements above, and overall make no sense at all. This is a boring waste land of sections.
3

 

 

Encounters fit the storyline.

3 - All the encounters augment or add to the storyline.
2 - Most of the encounters augment or add to the storyline.
1 - Few of the encounters augment or add to the storyline.
0 - None of the encounters augment or add to the storyline.
3

 

 

Custom monsters fit the storyline.

3 - All the custom monsters augment or add to the storyline.
2 - Most of the custom monsters augment or add to the storyline.
1 - Few of the custom monsters augment or add to the storyline.
0 - None of the custom monsters augment or add to the storyline, or no custom monsters exist.
3

 

 

Custom items fit the storyline.

3 - All the custom items augment or add to the storyline.
2 - Most of the custom items augment or add to the storyline.
1 - Few of the custom items augment or add to the storyline.
0 - None of the custom items augment or add to the storyline, or no custom items exist.
3
    

Custom graphics are high quality.

4 - The graphics are of publishable quality, equal to or better than the built-in BoE graphics.
3 - The graphics are of fair quality, but less than the built-in BoE graphics.
2 - The graphics are of poor quality, definitely amateur.
1 - No custom graphics exist.
0 - The graphics are terrible, OR the graphics do not work and make the game unplayable.
4

 

 

Sounds are used appropriately.

3 - The sounds definitely match the current situation, and add to the overall enjoyment of the scenario.
2 - The sounds mostly match the current situation, adding to the overall enjoyment of the scenario, but there are some places where they could have been used are were not.
1 - Use of sounds is spotty. There are many places where sound could have been used and wasn't.
0 - No sounds were used.
3

 

 

Personality/Dialogue, both responses to queries and any related text, is interesting and in-depth.

3 - The major non-playing characters (NPCs) have depth to them, respond to obvious things they should know about, and add to the scenario in a significant way.
2 - The major NPCs have some depth to them, respond to most obvious things they should know about, and add to the scenario.
1 - The major NPCs have little depth to them or don't respond to most obvious things they should know about. They really don't contribute to the scenario.
0 - The major NPCs either don't exist, or have no depth to them or don't respond to most obvious things they should know about. They don't contribute to the scenario in any way.
3

 

 

The scenario is free of spelling errors, as determined by the author's nationality, OR, spelling errors are intentional as part of the storyline.

3 - No spelling errors are detected.
2 - A few spelling errors are detected.
1 - Many spelling errors are detected.
0 - The scenario is full of spelling errors.
3

 

 

The scenario is free of grammatical errors.

3 - No grammatical errors are detected.
2 - A few grammatical errors are detected.
1 - Many grammatical errors are detected.
0 - The scenario is full of grammatical errors.
3

 

 

DOCUMENTATION

The scenario comes with a ReadMe file(s) containing:

  • A brief description of the scenario's storyline.
  • Installation instructions.
  • Custom graphics installation instruction (if needed) for both Mac and PC.
  • A saved game file for both Mac and PC (if needed)
  • A help file/section addressing all problem situations and things unique to the scenario.
  • The ideal party level for the scenario, including appropriate skills and items.
  • Suggested party size, including warnings if a one-person party cannot complete the scenario.
  • Credited sources of ideas, inspirations or techniques, creators of custom graphics, beta testers.
  • Contact information. The author's name, e-mail address, and BoE web page (if any).

4 - The file contains all of the above information in sufficient detail.
3 - The file contains most (including contact and help information), but not all of the above information in sufficient detail.
2 - The file contains at least contact and help information, but little more, OR the information lacks sufficient detail.
1 - The file contains contact OR help information, but not both, OR the information lacks sufficient detail.
0 - The file does not exist OR no contact information is provided.
4

 

 

Players can contact the scenario designer if necessary.

3 - The designer has provided a way for quick and timely feedback to occur.
2 - The designer has provided a way for feedback to occur, but it may take some time (several days).
1 - The designer has provided a way for feedback to occur, but it takes at least a week.
0 - The designer has not provided a way for feedback to occur, OR that way no longer works (like a dead e-mail address).
3

 

 

Scenario Technical Aspects

All necessary files to run the scenario are included in the scenario download, including:

  • The BoE scenario file.
  • The custom graphics file (if needed) for both Mac and PC.
  • The BoE saved game file (if necessary) for both Mac and PC.
2 - All files are included.
1 - Most files are included, but some are missing, i.e., a .meg file for Macintosh users.
0 - Major files are missing, or incomplete, or damaged.
2

 

 

The scenario shows up in the Custom Scenarios Menu properly.

2- All the fields are completed properly.
1 - Some of the fields are completed properly.
0 - None of the fields are completed properly.
2

 

 

The scenario is bug-free. Some examples:

  • One time events are used - text messages (no repeating text), traps (disarm or fail to disarm only once).
  • No "You've reached the world's edge" in outdoor sections (unless it is water).
  • The party/PC is not trapped in rooms due to shifting into and out of combat mode.
  • The designer had made efforts to overcome BOE bugs/features.
10 - The scenario runs without flaw or known bugs and crashes that are a result of a BOE program bug are noted.
8 - Very few bugs are detected (relative to the scenario's size).
6 - Some bugs are detected (relative to the scenario's size).
4 - Many bugs are detected (relative to the scenario's size).
2 - A significant number of bugs are detected (relative to the scenario's size).
0 - The scenario has so many bugs, or crashes so much it is unplayable.
10

 

 

The scenario was beta tested prior to public release.

2 - The designer has indicated this and given appropriate credit. Several people were involved in the beta test. The test occurred on both Mac and PC platforms.
1 - The designer has indicated this and given appropriate credit. Only one or two people were involved in the beta tes, OR the test occurred on only one platform.
0 - No beta test has occurred, or no indication of a beta test is given by the designer.
2

 

 

The scenario is updated when a bug is located.

3 - The designer has provided a way for quick and timely revisions to occur.
2 - The designer has provided a way for revisions to occur, but it may take some time (several days to a week).
1 - The designer has provided a way for revisions to occur, but it takes at least a week.
0 - The designer has not provided a way for revisions to occur.
3

 

 

The scenario runs the same on both platforms.

2 - The scenario runs the same on both Windows and Macintosh platforms.
1 - The scenario has some minor problems on one of the platforms. For example, dialog text that displays fine on the Windows platform is truncated on the Macintosh platform, but gameplay is not affected. OR, the custom graphics file was not gamma-adjusted for the platform it runs on.
0 - The scenario has some problems on one of the platforms that affect gameplay. For example, dialog text that displays fine on the Windows platform is truncated on the Macintosh platform, and key words are now missing that prevent the player from completing the scenario.
2

 

 

 Total
100

 

 

This scenario receives a score of _____ out of _____ possible points.

This converts to ______ on a 100-point scale.