Hey! Ive never made a game before, but recently got into junipers content. 

I want to put myself down under "first game" for a chance to win the boot dev category. 

Am I allowed to make the game maker rpg tutorial game for practice and still be in the running for "first game" or do i need to go in completely blind? 

Either way. Im really hyped.

RPGs are hard. As you say, you're a beginner, so many people quit making games not because of a lack of skill, but because they burn out after taking on an overly ambitious idea. Juniper made a video called "Make Tiny Games." This is the most valuable advice for beginners: don't try to overreach. Do a little, but do it well.

Following tutorials to practice does not count as your "first game". Your first game is your first *published* game that has at least some unique elements to it, where it's more than following a tutorial line for line. For example, if you need to follow tutorials to make a platformer but the level design and art are your own ideas, that's fine!