Xindaris
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1531
Registered: 06-13-2015
IP: Logged

Hi everyone,
For quite a while, I restrained myself from trying to host any contests, for a few reasons: I didn't have time, I didn't want to pile on another compilation I was responsible for, while the Custom element contest compilation was still unfinished, so on, so forth. Those things no longer apply, and I think I would enjoy seeing the results of another contest.

I've put out a few possible contest gimmicks now and then, but what I'd really like to do now is just a "do whatever" contest. No special restrictions, even when it comes to things like custom elements. Just--make a level in DROD, and make it good. I was thinking something like 1 level per entry, up to 3 entries per person, and allow/encourage people to "collaborate" in the sense of testing each other's entries. Or even the more ambitious sense of choosing to work together on a level somehow, I dunno.

I'd be equally happy to run this as an unofficial or official contest. But I don't want to put it out there and have nobody participate, so I thought I'd post this thread first just to gauge interest and avoid stepping on toes (if someone else has a contest in the works already, for example).

So: Let me know your opinions here, please!

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109th Skywatcher

Here are some links to Things!

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[Last edited by Xindaris at 06-05-2021 10:39 PM]

Rabscuttle
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2460
Registered: 09-10-2004
IP: Logged

Personally, I prefer to have some sort of theme or restriction, as it helps to narrow down the design space.

Plus, if I'm going to think up some rooms all by myself, I'd probably want to just make my own hold out of it.

Then again, without any sort of deadline I tend to not get around to making my own holds.

Xindaris
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1531
Registered: 06-13-2015
IP: Logged

That's fair, but you're always free to think up your own theme, or arbitrarily steal a theme from an earlier contest if you want. Actually, maybe I can post a bunch of leftover titles from the Hold Title Mixup Contest as "design prompts" that people can choose to use or not.

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109th Skywatcher

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Illusionist
Level: Master Delver

Rank Points: 165
Registered: 05-27-2020
IP: Logged

Hmmm... Let me say what I would consider a "Good" Drod level.

It's creating a level that looks good, and has puzzles with evolving difficulty, so the experience feels also good.

For me an example would be that creepypasta hold, where you have to go in haunted mines. It's one of the best holds, and something that I would like to see more. Great visual aesthetics, story complementing puzzles, and the proper difficulty that steadily increases. I myself have some plan about creating such hold, but I'm still thinking about how to make it satisfying puzzle-wise and interesting visually

Maybe something in that vein?

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[Last edited by Illusionist at 06-08-2021 04:29 PM]

mauvebutterfly
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 720
Registered: 05-03-2015
IP: Logged

I'd be interested in seeing what kinds of levels ended up being submitted to something as open-ended as this. I'd probably try to put up an entry or two.

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106th Skywatcher