Pretty Town Contest

[Starvation]

Inspired by: http://aok.heavengames.com/contests/ptc

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Hello Guys,

 

The general idea is to design the most beautiful, pretty town/city/village there is. We have loads of threads about: "show you base here", "what does you base look like?". But we don't really have a thread for the best bases. How beautiful/organised/cool can you make your base? This is still an idea in my head, i've written down below what i've thought up. I wrote it as if i was actually posting the contest to make things easier to read. Please help me expand and improve on this idea, I think it'll be great for the community, something fun to do and to liven up the forums a bit

 

You're entry can be set in Summer/Autumn/Spring/Winter and at Day/Dusk/Night It isn't to daytime in summer lol xD

 

And don't forget to vote in the poll above!

 

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Judging:

 

[Need help on this bit]

What should we judge on? Turf placement and mixing? Structure placement? Overall beauty of map? Overall feel and look?

 

This is how AoK Heaven did it:

» Judging

All entries will be judged on how they look, however only what is seen will be judged. The categories are simple and are as follows:

• Terrain – (Covers things like terrain mixing, how well the design looks, and the overall representation of the setting selected by the designer)
• Buildings – (Covers the placement of buildings on the map and how it improves its overall look and feel)
• Elevation – (Covers the effectiveness of elevation and how it improves the map and its overall look and feel)
• Beauty – (Covers the overall map design, its structure and how beautiful the map looks)

 

Each category is marked out of 10, making a total possible of 40 points per entry per judge. With three Age of Kings Heaven staff doing the judging, there is an overall maximum of 120 points per entry, which will be the deciding line for places in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

 

Rules:

[copied and pasted from Adapted from: http://aok.heavengames.com/contests/ptc/2011/] 

 

1. No combat is allowed.

2. One entry per person or per team only.

3. There should be a set path for the judge to follow

4. A story is encouraged to add further interest, however no 3,000 word epics please. Alternatively, you can have a short narrative, a journal from a traveler or a history of the land to get us, the tourist, into it all! Use whatever you like, but make sure to remember that this is a design-oriented contest.

 

Submitting your entry:

Entries would be submitted in the 'Custom Map' section of the DS Download page. In this format:

PTC14 - [map name here]

 

(One entry per person)

 

Judges:

There'll be around 5 judges, Anyone can apply to be a judge. However, one spot is reserved for me and Moderators, Admins (etc.) get priority over normal folk. I may forfeit my spot if I get too busy with school. Obviously if you are a judge you can't enter this competition.

 

Mods:

Mods would be allowed i guess, Utility mods like architectural geometry would be useful for building long walls. Also, a mod could be made to make all mobs passive? So you could have a kennel full of dogs that won't attack you and maybe a throne room of the Holy Chester guarded by 2 deerclops. 

 

Custom structures/items/other things would be allowed too, but you might be scored down if it doesn't fit in with the art of the game. Depends on the judge really, and what he/she thinks, does it ruin the look of the base? etc.(Flaw pointed out by Mobbstar - need ideas on the limitations and restrictions to structure mods)

 

The wormhole mods will be popular cos it'll be unlikely you'll find a plot or land big enough for you needs, they will allow you to build bits of your base here and there.

 

The Winner:

 

The winner would get bragging rights obviously and I don't know if any1 wants to include a prize for the guy/gal? Amazon/Steam voucher? DST Beta code? I'm broke ATM (as always) so i dunno if some1 else wants to do that? just an idea. no pressure, since im not giving anything either lol

 

Also, it would be like a advertisement for him to the Modders. As in, "Guys do you u need a person to build stuff for your mod? Well, here he is!) Just speculating(and maybe talking out of turn here), but i guess Hero in the Dark & Up and Away and other big mods have this main area or base thingy, whether its a boss area or the capital city. The Winner could be asked by the modders to build the city since the guy won this thing and it most likely to build something awesome.

 

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So, what do you think? Great idea or GTFO this is terrible?

 

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BTW: this is NOT an actual contest thread, I'm putting out an idea and hoping the community builds and expands on it.

 

PS: RoG allowed, of course, if anyone was wondering

[Mobbstar]

I want to amend my vote.

 

I fear allowing mod buildings and such without limitations may be a bit... well, insecure? I mean, one could make themselves a mod with really awesome epic art, slap that on dummy objects which do nothing, then c_spawn a three-dimensional painting using those and put that on the competition.

For example, I could assemble myself a creepy deerclops figure, make it black'n'white, slap it on a dummy, put it in a forest with little furnishing and call it Slendeerclops.

 

Do you mean a Don't Starve Game orientated contest, or a Don't Starve Style orientated contest? The former shouldn't allow for mod constructs (plantable lightbulbs and what not are of course allowed, as you said), the latter would be much better with mod constructs, even if they're just dummies.

 

EDIT: Potato-Moo

[Starvation]

I fear allowing mod buildings and such without limitations may be a bit... well, insecure? I mean, one could make themselves a mod with really awesome epic art, slap that on dummy objects which do nothing, then c_spawn a three-dimensional painting using those and put that on the competition.

For example, I could assemble myself a creepy deerclops figure, make it black'n'white, slap it on a dummy, put it in a forest with little furnishing and call it Slendeerclops.

 

Do you mean a Don't Starve Game orientated contest, or a Don't Starve Style orientated contest? The former shouldn't allow for mod constructs (plantable lightbulbs and what notare of course allowed, as you said), the latter would be much better with mod constructs, even if they're just dummies.

 

EDIT: Potato-Moo

Very true, the contest it a Don't Starve Game orientated contest. I'll generalise the "plantable lightbulbs and what not" as Utility Mods and edit the OP accordingly.

 

Any ideas on the limitations of structures or should they just be banned outright?

[Starvation]

Also, I was thinking, building your town in winter would make your base look a bit cooler

[Winterbird]

mods...

[Starvation]

mods...

What about them?

[Winterbird]

What about them?

 

Forget it... XD

[TheKingofSquirrels]

I love to see what you guys make, I won´t participate though, I hate building.

 

One problem though, how do you know people aren´t using creative? 

[Kortig]

Wow.Love to join this.Would you like to tell me how?

#newbiehere

[Starvation]

I love to see what you guys make, I won´t participate though, I hate building.

 

One problem though, how do you know people aren´t using creative? 

The whole point is to use creative lol, the contest isn't about surviving and building but more like: "Use everything in the game to design the best town you can make". Creative mode is going to be a must for this contest, otherwise you'll spend half ur time worrying about freezing, food, sanity, etc.

[Starvation]

Wow.Love to join this.Would you like to tell me how?

#newbiehere

#Welcome to the forums!

 

Well the contest hasn't started yet, we will need a lot more replies! Once there's more feedback and the judging bit is discussed, then i'll make a new thread for the actual contest.

 

You'll just have to post a message like "Count me in" or "I want to join" in the new thread, when it's made.

[Winterbird]

The whole point is to use creative lol, the contest isn't about surviving and building but more like: "Use everything in the game to design the best town you can make". Creative mode is going to be a must for this contest, otherwise you'll spend half ur time worrying about freezing, food, sanity, etc.

 

LoL, Debug ftw...

[Starvation]

Should we allow DST worlds to be allowed? Like a team of 4 friends can work on one town, then submit it as a 'team' entry. Would that be ok? Or is it unfair, and there should be a separate contest for that.

[Mobbstar]

Any ideas on the limitations of structures or should they just be banned outright?

 

This is a very good question. One possibility I came up with - although I don't like it a lot - is that any mod structure or appearance must clearly be assembled of game assets (including unused ones?).

It's the only somewhat measureable limitation I can think of, other than excluding mod objects altogether.

[Starvation]

This is a very good question. One possibility I came up with - although I don't like it a lot - is that any mod structure or appearance must clearly be assembled of game assets (including unused ones?).

It's the only somewhat measureable limitation I can think of, other than excluding mod objects altogether.

I like the sound of that tbh!

 

So mods like these would be allowed (since it's just a re-arranged Siesta Lean-to)

 

As a result, structural mods will be limited to those that use the DS art made by Klei. Sounds like pretty solid idea to me ;D

 

I'll be interested to see if anyone uses the Tesla Tree, though i'm not too sure how you would use it lol

 

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I'll edit the OP later lol, I'm sleepy ATM 

[imsomony]

The whole point is to use creative lol, the contest isn't about surviving and building but more like: "Use everything in the game to design the best town you can make". Creative mode is going to be a must for this contest, otherwise you'll spend half ur time worrying about freezing, food, sanity, etc.

 

I voted no because of this, but it's just personal opinion... I'm impressed by being able to build pretty towns while combating the world and environment. I'm not impressed by spawning in all the content necessary on day 1.

 

There was someone I saw once, ages ago so I can't find it, who built an actual city. I think he showed it here on the fourms, but it was so long ago I can't find it anymore. I just remember his pictures, and saying it took about a day to travel all the way around it.

[Starvation]

I voted no because of this, but it's just personal opinion... I'm impressed by being able to build pretty towns while combating the world and environment. I'm not impressed by spawning in all the content necessary on day 1.

 

There was someone I saw once, ages ago so I can't find it, who built an actual city. I think he showed it here on the fourms, but it was so long ago I can't find it anymore. I just remember his pictures, and saying it took about a day to travel all the way around it.

 

I agree with you, building a base the normal way would be waaayyyyy more awesome than spawning everything from day 1 then continuing from there. Props to that guy for being able to do that lol. Building something awesome while surviving, maintaining loads of things at once (hunger, sanity, mobs, winter etc.) and still being able to build a pretty base. That's an accomplishment, and something to marvel at.

 

 

The problem is, and I'll quote @TheKingofSquirrels :

How do you know people aren´t using creative?

 

That is a huge problem, and the answer is: We can't. Let's say we banned creative mode. With all the console commands available at this moment, you can skip days, seasons, clock segments. You could literally activate creative mode, build your base in around 20 game days, then skip ahead to day 453. Next, burn and chop down trees, destroy beehives and spiderdens(with console), spawn a few spider queens and tree-guards randomly on the map, mine loads of rocks. Spelunk caves with godmode on and thulecite gear equipped, defeat the guardian and conquer the ruins. BOOM, submit your entry, and no-one will know any better. Sure some of those tasks are tedious but its a hell of a lot quicker and easier than doing what the guy you mentioned did.

 

And what if a guy that did all of that won the competition? How would it make the legit guys feel? Both have the same amount of resources consumed, around the same days, same gear. Hell, the guy who cheated could even put a half-used pickaxe, and a 1/4 used umbrella to make himself seem legit. With like 23 stale meatballs in his inventory. The list goes on and on.

 

And how exactly can we monitor that?

- Make everyone record their gameplay and post it on Youtube? Not everyone has good internet and CPU speed. It could take hours to record and even more to upload. Even if everyone did, I can bet you that the judges won't even look at the video, way too long lol, plus it makes judging a chore. Plus you need to submit a video with your entry, or all your work won't be counted? That shouldn't be an entry requirement.

 

- We can't exactly tell from the worlds they give us as it it VERY easy to fake them, as I mentioned above. Give someone 15 mins on the wikia, and they'll learn how to fake the world usage to any extent they want lol. Again, it will be a chore for the judges, won't let us appreciate the bases if we need to constantly check mundane things. Then there's also the possibility of accusations flying everywhere, remember that everyone has access to your entry. Someone could post 1 screenshot and a few lines of text and suddenly its a bloodbath.

 

The thing is, we can never be sure if someone used creative or not, it's a simple case of: "If you can't beat them, join them". We have no choice but to allow it. Instead of typing this huge message the first time, i just posted a short message on artistic talent and on the focus on the competition to save time lol. But here is the real reason why creative mode is allowed.

 

Still, I respect your opinion, but I'm just stating my reasoning behind my decision to allow creative mode.

[acemurdock]

Cool idea! I'd be down. I'm going to say no to the mods as well. As much as I like the cabin mod...I think that'd be an unfair bonus. 
Maybe list a few mods that are allowed, purely utilitarian such as the ones you mentioned? We can always add to the whitelist later.

Also, I think if someone tried using a more cosmetic mod it'd be pretty obvious anyway.

Also, are we allowing folks to build these by spawning in items, like minecraft creative mode, or do these have to be created from actual survival mode? 

[Mobbstar]

Cool idea! I'd be down. I'm going to say no to the mods as well. As much as I like the cabin mod...I think that'd be an unfair bonus. 

Maybe list a few mods that are allowed, purely utilitarian such as the ones you mentioned? We can always add to the whitelist later.

Also, I think if someone tried using a more cosmetic mod it'd be pretty obvious anyway.

Also, are we allowing folks to build these by spawning in items, like minecraft creative mode, or do these have to be created from actual survival mode? 

 

I... we... *slams head on desk*

Yeah, let's make a list of few exeptions. But they oughta be very Don't Starvy

 

Spawning in is allowed, as there is practically no way to prevent it happening anyways.

[acemurdock]

I... we... *slams head on desk*

Yeah, let's make a list of few exeptions. But they oughta be very Don't Starvy

 

Spawning in is allowed, as there is practically no way to prevent it happening anyways.

 

 yeah, sorry, read through the thread after and saw it was covered. Not sure how I....completely missed that the first time.  

I guess it has to be allowed for, then. 

[Starvation]

Also, are we allowing folks to build these by spawning in items, like minecraft creative mode, or do these have to be created from actual survival mode? 

-.- so i take it you didn't read my essay lol

 

anyway thank's for the support bro!

[Duplo]

It would be pretty curious, seeing how everyone sets up their bases.  I've always gone out of my way to carpet/floor my base, because I dig the Harvest Moon games and such, making a house a home as it were!

 

Anyhow, I wholeheartedly approve.