|
Post by Emiko on Jan 7, 2019 16:28:05 GMT -6
Ok, so I realize our last role playing contest was a complete bust... It had to be cancelled due to all sorts of problems that plagued it ranging from the old site going down to miscommunication and tech issues hindering many of our judges and participants. That said, the contest last year was actually off to a really good start and had the potential to go all the way. It was just these major issues that kept us from being able to finish it and forced me to cancel it. So on that note...
While I realize last year's contest wasn't exactly a dream come true, I would like to know if there would be any interest in doing yet another role playing contest this time around? If nothing else, last year was a solid learning experience and I won't allow this thing to start til all our ducks are in a row and everything is figured out.
As of this moment if we were to do a contest, we would have a similar setup to last year. A signup period ranging for about a month. I am going to increase the duration of the contest though to six (6) months meaning entries have that long to finish and wouldn't be judged til September or October. This would give everyone ample time to create and work on their stories without life getting too much in the way. There will be a few other changes this time around that I'll elaborate on later. But right now, I'd like to just gauge the interest.
Would you guys like to give the role playing contest a try again this year? If so, just let me know here and I'll see about getting it up and running again. You're welcome to post your interest or even dis-interest if that is how you feel. You can also place your suggestions and whatnot as that is what I'd like to do here by discussing it. If you're interested, I'd really like to know ASAP. The sooner I can gauge the interest, the sooner I can actually get to work getting things into motion!
|
|
|
Post by softscales on Jan 7, 2019 22:14:01 GMT -6
Me and Sleepwatcher was bummed that the first time was cancelled. We had completed our's in time and it was like a stamp on the foot. But I do understand there were problems that lead to the reason. so yes I may be interested in another try and my partner may too but id have to talk with them first.
|
|
|
Post by Emiko on Jan 8, 2019 0:01:53 GMT -6
I was just as bummed as you were we had to cancel it. We lost most of our judges though and many participants just couldn't get finished. I am working to remedy this for the next contest, but I need to know the interest is there first before I say anything
|
|
|
Post by softscales on Jan 9, 2019 21:05:20 GMT -6
as long as the contest doesn't get cancelled again I think we both will be interested. We'll see how it goes.
|
|
|
Post by Emiko on Jan 10, 2019 0:28:59 GMT -6
IF we do get this contest off of the ground again, I have no intentions of cancelling it. I don't foresee anything major like the website going down stalling this one like last one. And I won't even allow this thing to start until I have EVERYTHING figured out beforehand. I'm going to make sure all the loose ends are tied up before we have it. Before that happens though, I still need to know if everyone is interested. I can't exactly have an event like this go through for three or four interested people.
|
|
|
Post by Tiamat on Jan 11, 2019 14:10:24 GMT -6
I haven't had much time for roleplaying in the past months, but I've already been drawn into discussing possible plot concepts with a friend so... guess I'd be in if we go ahead with this!
|
|
|
Post by Emiko on Jan 11, 2019 17:05:35 GMT -6
Last year we had problems with people needing extension after extension to get their work done. I'm just as guilty of that as anyone else. x-x I do also understand that we all have a life which is why I'd like for the contest to span a six month period. So if we started in say...March, we'd let the contest go all the way through September to get our projects done. That's my plans anyway to compensate for the lack of, or need for time to not only get the stories done, but enjoy them as well.
|
|
|
Post by mrgrimm55 on Jan 11, 2019 17:12:15 GMT -6
I don't know. I might want to hop into it this time around (especially now that I have the time), but given the mess that was the last contest, I'm not that optimistic. Not trying to discourage you, and I would love to if I have a partner who wishes to go along with it. I just want to be sure with myself that it'll actually work out this time around. I mean, that's just my two cents.
|
|
|
Post by Emiko on Jan 11, 2019 17:30:01 GMT -6
I understand your hesitation after last year's contest fell apart... Keep in mind though that the contest DID get off to a really good start and was functioning just fine until conforums went down on us. It was that event that really derailed us and we never quite recovered from. Granted, there were some things that happened I do take personal responsibility for ranging from not having the judging criteria figured out BEFORE we started as well as a contingency plan should the judges not be able to perform their duty. Ultimately though, most of the events that tore the contest apart were things beyond anything I could control.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you the contest is going to be perfect this year, but I have learned from the mistakes I made last year. I will not, I repeat WILL NOT start this thing until I have everything I need to figured out for it. That includes judging criteria for our stories, judges themselves, prizes, etc. I will not go into this thing blind and everyone will know their places/responsibility once we get going. There will be no 'figuring it out as we go along' from me this time around, that I can assure you.
Now I don't have control over what happens outside of my specific plans. I can't control freeforums should that also decide to throw us a curve ball again, god forbid. >.> I also can't control what other people do should emergencies come up, people have tech issues, or other things like that. I can do my part to make sure everything flows as smooth as possible, and that is going to be my goal this year.
If you want to join, please don't let the mess that was last year's contest keep you from this one. I will do everything in my power to make sure what happens last year doesn't happen this year. I am glad to see the support from you guys, even if it is with a bit of reluctance which I totally understand.
|
|
|
Post by Eric the Blissful Sorcerer on Jan 11, 2019 17:53:06 GMT -6
I'd love to see the contest return there were some wonderful stories written last year. The shutdown was definitely a problem before, but this year things should go much better. 😊
|
|
|
Post by MagicalSleepyGirl on Jan 11, 2019 23:54:43 GMT -6
As someone who regretted not being able to at least try last year, I would be very interested in taking part in the contest this year
|
|
|
Post by Emiko on Jan 16, 2019 4:02:50 GMT -6
Seems like we've got some interest in the contest. Enough that I am willing to start planning the implementation of it. However, before I actually start doing that, I need some help if this thing is really going to be a success.
The main thing I need right now are some volunteers who might be interested in being a judge for this year's contest. Being a judge isn't a complicated task beyond reading through role plays and judging/scoring them based on a set of criteria I'm in the process of working out right now. I have one official judge right now, but could really use a few more. So if you are interested in being a judge for the contest this year, please get in touch with me either through PM here, or through discord and let me know.
Another thing I will need really soon is an artists who would be interested in doing an art project for me in regards to the contest. I would really like to offer a personalized picture as the first place prize again, but I have no artistic skills whatsoever... So I'm looking for artists to help with this.
If you have any skills in art and would be interested in doing a picture for the contest winners, please get in touch with me as soon as possible. If funding for the project is a necessity, I don't see any problems making arrangements for that. I just need to hear from anyone who wants to help out very soon so I can get everything planned out accordingly.
I think that's all I have for you guys at the moment. I'll try to make another post a bit later pertaining to rules, a schedule, and a few other things a bit later as it comes to me. For now, this is what I'm looking for and really need help filling. Outside of this, if you guys have any suggestions for the contest you'd like to see implemented, now is the time to throw those out there. I'd love to make this thing bigger and better than last years was!
|
|
|
Post by Tiamat on Feb 6, 2019 13:27:55 GMT -6
I think it would be pretty cool to have a Contest Commentary thread where people can discuss the various roleplays and give feedback on what scenes worked well or stood out for them. Or ask like "What was happening here?" I don't know if that would be fine to have up while the entries are ongoing, but if it's distracting, maybe after everything's complete and/or judged? Alternately, each pair could give permission on whether they want a commentary thread or not, and then individual threads could be made for each RP that wants one.
I don't usually consider who else is reading my public roleplays, but given that these are the contest entries, it could be a nice way to provide encouragement and incentive!
|
|
|
Post by blissymouse on Feb 7, 2019 8:50:04 GMT -6
I'm willing to volunteer to be a judge. Those that have rped with me are usually pretty happy with my writing skills, so I believe I'm qualified in that regards. I also have some personal experience with hypnosis and can give realistic feedback as well.
|
|
|
Post by kanatokisho on Feb 7, 2019 10:06:22 GMT -6
I think it would be pretty cool to have a Contest Commentary thread where people can discuss the various roleplays and give feedback on what scenes worked well or stood out for them. Or ask like "What was happening here?" I don't know if that would be fine to have up while the entries are ongoing, but if it's distracting, maybe after everything's complete and/or judged? Alternately, each pair could give permission on whether they want a commentary thread or not, and then individual threads could be made for each RP that wants one. I don't usually consider who else is reading my public roleplays, but given that these are the contest entries, it could be a nice way to provide encouragement and incentive! While that's a good idea it could affect the judging IE popular conversations over negative opinions.
|
|