Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 406
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Dear forum folk,

A new contest has begun.

Custom Element Revival Show

Rules
1. Taken an existing custom element that you think deserves more / renewed attention and build a showcase level around that element.
For inspiration, a full (?) list of all custom elements can be found here: http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewtopic.php?TopicID=44298&page=0#431452
2. Before starting, ask permission from the original architect to use the element. It's a nice thing to do and the original architect will perhaps be willing to help you out with small scripting issues you might encounter.
(Added) Several architects have given blanket permission to use everything they designed. Check the replies below.
3. Aim for about half a dozen puzzle rooms in your level. That should be enough to get your point across. Less rooms (even a single room) is fine! It's better to have one good room than a hundred boring ones.
4. Make sure the player will understand the element. For example, by including a tutorial room, providing explanation scrolls or whatever.
5. Combining different custom elements is fine, too! Perhaps there's some really nice interaction between elements to be discovered...
But keep it reasonable: it's called the Custom Element Revival Show, not Custom Element Revival Frenzy.
6. Make sure to include TWO stairs in your level. One stairs to lead the player back to the hub level directly, another one behind a blue door that the player can take to mark the level as completed.
7. This is an official contest. Regular prices apply. Also: check out the general contest rules here: http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewtopic.php?TopicID=41930
8. (Added) I would recommend against using an element you built yourself as main focus, but feel free to combine your own element with someone else's, or even build a new supplementary element to go with an existing one.
9. (Added) Let's not use elements from the TSS download pack. Those have been used quite extensively already. Shine some light on a forgotten gem!
10. (Added) Make sure to only use elements that are actually publicly available. So: no elements from holds that are still in development or under beta testing. For elements from the 'custom elements contest' http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewtopic.php?TopicID=42159&page=0), be sure to get permission if not granted explicitly below.
11. (Added) Tweaking of elements is allowed to make them work properly with other elements. Perhaps the element was coded in an older version and it's better to even rewrite part of the code. That's not a problem, but please keep the original intent of the element in mind.

Submission deadline
Submission deadline is Sunday 29 March at 23:59.
Choose any timezone that suits you
I'll start collecting the entries starting on 30 March and will build a compilation hold for voting purposes a.s.a.p.
If you need more time, please let me know by PM and I'm sure we'll be able to sort it out.

How to submit?
That's easy. Upload your contribution to the submission topic and - dark powers a'play - only I will see it.
Submission topic here: http://forum.caravelgames.com/viewtopic.php?TopicID=44423

Final thoughts
If you have any remarks or suggestions, feel free to respond below. I'm here to clarify issues or change the rules a bit if that makes us happier.

And, just to be sure, this contest is about sparking your imagination. If you feel that the rules are limiting your scope, don't feel obliged to stick to them too rigorously. Creativity is also about bending and breaking the rules. If you step out of line too far it'll be duly penalized by the voters anyways.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

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[Last edited by Dying Flutchman at 02-19-2020 08:30 AM]

mauvebutterfly
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 720
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For what it's worth, I'd personally rather be surprised by the entries when I play through the contest during the voting period, so I'm just granting blanket permission again here to use anything I've made. Since the custom weapon tokens involve other peoples' elements I guess permission for those might still be needed, but since they're based off of the previous Custom Element Contest and permission was granted for everything there I don't think it'll be an issue. The point is: PLEASE DON'T TELL ME if you are going to use one of my elements or even my custom weapon tokens.



Likewise, I intend to submit my entry(ies?) without seeking permission again, since I'd rather architects be pleasantly surprised that their element got used. If that's a poor judgment on my part I can always apologise later.



Super excited for this contest. It's one thing to play a level that an architect built an element around, and quite something else to have someone take an existing element and do something new and unexpected with it.



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106th Skywatcher

Dying Flutchman
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Rank Points: 406
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Well, mauve's making some good points here. Still, I think asking permission is generally a fair thing to do.

I'm going to non-solve this by asking you to use your own judgement on this.

Forum atmosphere seems to be always friendly, so I can't imagine any problems.

BTW: I give permission to use my stuff and like to be surprised. But contact me if you need help.

Regarding briar seeds:
Rule #8 - You're not allowed to revive your own custom elements

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

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[Last edited by Dying Flutchman at 02-18-2020 04:59 PM]

disoriented
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2383
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Likewise I’m giving permission for any elements I’ve made or modified.

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34th Skywatcher

Best to PM me, since I might miss your message on CaravelNet chat.

Dragon Fogel
Level: Smitemaster
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Just for future reference: In a case like this, I think it would be a good idea for the organizer to get permission from as many people as possible before starting the contest. In addition to allowing for surprises for the architects, it's less pressure on contestants to check, and generally allows things to be more thorough (for instance, you can put a full list of elements you have explicit permission for in the contest rules).

I don't think it's going to be a big problem here, though. Definitely not if we get a few more people explicitly granting blanket permission, in which case there should be plenty of options available for people who want to surprise the element's creator. I just think it's a good idea for making things run more smoothly overall.

Also, a couple of rule questions that just struck me:
-Is it okay to include a custom element that you made as long as you also build the level around somebody else's custom element? This isn't going to affect me, obviously, but now I'm curious.
-Taking things a step further, is it okay to make a new custom element, while still having the level focused around the existing ones?
(Whether it is or not, now that I've thought about this, I'd like to see it as a future contest. "Pick an existing custom element, create a new one, and make a level about them both".)

Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

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Dragon Fogel wrote:
Also, a couple of rule questions that just struck me:
-Is it okay to include a custom element that you made as long as you also build the level around somebody else's custom element? This isn't going to affect me, obviously, but now I'm curious.
-Taking things a step further, is it okay to make a new custom element, while still having the level focused around the existing ones?
(Whether it is or not, now that I've thought about this, I'd like to see it as a future contest. "Pick an existing custom element, create a new one, and make a level about them both".)

Sure, why not. Will add to the rules.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

Nuntar
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Are the TSS custom elements included in this? (I would prefer not, since this is meant to be giving more showtime to our custom elements; but they are on the list of custom elements linked to in the first post, so it's worth making it clear.)

And like the other posters, I'm happy for my custom element to be used, you don't need to specially ask.

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50th Skywatcher

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[Last edited by Nuntar at 02-18-2020 07:50 PM]

Dying Flutchman
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Nuntar wrote:
Are the TSS custom elements included in this?

Let's not do that, indeed. Most of them have been used extensively already in various places.
Changed the rules above.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

hyperme
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File: Hypermes Custom Element Pack.hold (18 KB)
Downloaded 51 times.
License: Public Domain

Rather than give blanket permission to use my custom elements, I'm instead going to attach the very first Hyperme's Custom Element Pack to this post. Anyone can use any of the elements contained within. Yay!

This provides a few benefits. Firstly, you don't have to master Temporal Adeventure (although you should). Secondly, some of the elements in the pack have had weird edge cases ironed out, so they work better. Thirdly, Chronovores look less like circles and slightly more like actual dangerous monsters.

The pack contains:



I'm also going to request that no one uses any custom elements I've made from unreleased holds. This mainly applies to the four from Escort Mission, but some people have access to others.

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[Insert witty comment here]
Qzvlkx?

Dischorran
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Do elements need to be used exactly as written or can they be modified in keeping with the element's intent?

For instance, my hookshot script checks each creature individually, so it wouldn't work as written with, say, Insoluble's torus roaches. However, modification would be fairly straightforward and in keeping with the expected behavior of the element.

To take it a step further, while kieranmillar's burritos are only written to work with the custom lightweight roaches, there doesn't seem to be any reason in particular why they wouldn't work with an arbitrary normal critter. Or go further yet and make a torus goblin?

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Xindaris
Level: Smitemaster

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I'd like to ditto the "use whatever of my custom junk you want" train. Although I'm not as invested in who made what being a huge surprise, so if anyone has a question or something about how to use an element I made feel free to PM me about it.

Also I'm interested in the answer to Dischorran's question, as, for example, when I built Traps Traps Traps I actually modified some of the elements in there slightly to have interactions with the other custom elements they weren't originally built to work alongside.

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109th Skywatcher

Here are some links to Things!

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[Last edited by Xindaris at 02-18-2020 09:46 PM]

Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

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Even more questions.
Hyperme: Thanks for your pack. Good suggestion, will add a rule not to use unreleased elements.
Dischorran: tuning & tweaking is allowed within reason.

Actually, contacting the original architect (while not necessary per se) could still be useful to obtain the latest code with the lowest bug-count.

Well, you get the point. Use your sound judgement.

First post edited.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

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[Last edited by Dying Flutchman at 02-18-2020 11:19 PM]

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
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Same here, I give blanket permission for anybody to use any custom element I've ever made. Go ham and enjoy.

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Quick links to my stuff (in case you forgot where it was):

Dischorran
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 3408
Registered: 09-10-2005
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All my stuff is available for use and adjustment.

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Xindaris
Level: Smitemaster

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File: Xindaris elements for contest.hold (58.6 KB)
Downloaded 47 times.
License: Public Domain

It's occurred to me that I have several custom elements I would consider feature-complete but which, for one reason or another, aren't in published holds. So...here's a thing that includes all of those (I think?) along with some brief instructions if anyone wants to use them.

EDIT: Added KILL LASER since the compilation for Unchained Malady--the contest it was invented for--isn't anyone edit, so this should be a more convenient place to get it from. It uses a recolored pulse cannon sprite with hyperme's permission.

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109th Skywatcher

Here are some links to Things!

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[Last edited by Xindaris at 02-19-2020 05:09 PM]

Dying Flutchman
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File: Dying Flutchman - Customs Galore.hold (355.5 KB)
Downloaded 45 times.
License: Public Domain

Attached you find my custom stuff for you to peruse.

If you use my elements, this is the package to use, with the latest fixes and improvements.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 406
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Bumping this as a reminder.

There's an official contest going on. In case you missed it: go check it out. In case you've been procrastinating: get to work, there's only three weeks to go

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

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[Last edited by Dying Flutchman at 03-08-2020 11:25 PM]

Xindaris
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I've got one entry basically done, and I'm very happy with it. Holding off on submitting as I have ideas for at least one more entry, and hope to include them all in the same upload/post for convenience.

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109th Skywatcher

Here are some links to Things!

Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 406
Registered: 01-27-2017
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Bumping this again as a reminder.

Stuck at home with nothing much to do? Go build some custom element rooms.

Looking forward to your submissions!

Due date is next weekend.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

disoriented
Level: Smitemaster

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Folks, you have 3 days to think of and finish up your entries!

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34th Skywatcher

Best to PM me, since I might miss your message on CaravelNet chat.

Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 406
Registered: 01-27-2017
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It's Sunday evening in my timezone, and formally, this is the deadline for submissions. Informally, I won't be building a compilation until start of April, so feel free to keep submitting.

In fact, I have not been precisely swamped by submissions. Please send me a PM if you intend to submit, so I know what to expect.

Also: I acknowledge all submissions through PM. If you didn't get a PM, something must have gone wrong.

This feels just like the start of a birthday pary when you wonder if anybody will show up.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.

Chopkinsca
Level: Goblin
Rank Points: 19
Registered: 11-04-2014
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Oh man, I'm a bit too late to this it seems. I just started to dabble in DROD scripting.

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
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In principle, most of these custom elements are stand-alone characters that you can just drop into a room - you don't need to open the character editor and/or edit any of their code. I think there might be a couple where some manner of "global manager" might be involved, but the rest are pretty much just plain old elements you can put in like any other monster.

If you want to make an easy hack-and-slash hold or small entry with a few rooms, I'd say go for it! Not every contest entry has to be a huge undertaking full of fiendish puzzles.

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Quick links to my stuff (in case you forgot where it was):

Chopkinsca
Level: Goblin
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I must have been confused, this self-isolation is getting to me. I thought it was a contest to create custom elements.

Dying Flutchman
Level: Smiter

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This contest is about taking an existing element and using it in your own rooms. The first post of this topics describes the details.

You can still participate and make some rooms. But deadline is 31 March, so that's already tomorrow in my time zone.

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Autocorrect is not my friend. Apologies for the typos.