Tim wrote:
One small question: Does it matter to you if we "mark it down"?
I'm sure it does. Most people would prefer to build a good hold that people like to play, rather than not care about it and make a poor one.
If so, then you should make the best hold according to all our wishes (and I can send you my very large list if you want to 
)
That's a purely subjective remark. What's defined as "
the best hold"
? Holds can be viewed as better for different reasons, for example, "
A Quiet Place"
is notable for its specific rooms while "
The Fool's Errand"
is renowned for its sneaky puzzle design.
Anyway, discussing how you should make a hold is the best excuse not to make one...
That doesn't make any sense. You seem to be saying that discussing hold-building is an excuse for not building one, which implies that you think people who discuss hold-building are actually only doing it because they can't be bothered to make one. I personally disagree - discussing architecture of a DROD hold is very important, since it helps people to find new and better ways of enhancing and building their own holds.
PS. Would it help you if I say I will mark it down anyway?
Are you discouraging this architect from releasing his/her hold?
Anyway, I agree partly with Eytan. How you advertise your hold can be important to the sort of critical reception it gets.
However, I'd say that holds that look good but contain poor puzzles won't do as well as holds with great puzzles but which look rather minimalist. In any case, it would be better to try to get a good mix of the two; good puzzles in an aesthetically pleasing hold.
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Resident Medic/Mycologist
