SamhainIA wrote:
the point of highlighting that particular slippery slope is not so that it can be avoided, but rather so that it can be managed. I point back at those intentionally ludicrous diversions, given a sufficiently accelerated set of rewards over the years (accelerated down that slippery slope) how soon would it take for rewards to look like people are playing the gods them selves?
I think the slippery slope you would run into here is the one where the campaign has sufficient judges for a couple of years...maybe even too many!
I haven't seen any serious suggestions that people should get to play special characters for judging at a convention, but yes, if someone judges 6-8 slots at Origins, I wouldn't have any issue with them receiving a pair of greaves, or a ring, or some other appropriate item from a list pre-approved by campaign staff. How many people do we have that judge that many modules? Half a dozen? Probably fewer.
I am skeptical that anyone who has no experience judging and no other motivation is going to sudden decide to GM an entire convention (and potentially miss out on a number of magic items from those modules) just so they can get X reward at the end, especially if the rewards are appropriate. Minor magic items, reputation perks, gp and xp bonuses are all reasonable, in my mind.