2025 Base Contest Feedback

[SupaFreak]

Making this post strictly to provide friendly public feedback on the 2025 Base Contest.

 

Categories

The more clear and comprehensive categories likely led to increased participation vs 2023 despite a likely reduced population.  I hope these categories are kept and possibly expanded upon for next year.

 

May I suggest and possibly get public feedback for the following?

Start with sub-categories with reduced rewards (like 400/400 Prismatics) but with the option to merge into its main category (800 Prismatics) if not enough interest in a sub-category.  Say, you require 2, 3, 4, 5 (etc) per sub-category and if you do not meet that threshold, you reserve the right to merge with its corresponding sub-category into its main category.  Doesn't mean you have to merge, but you reserve the right to and without explanation as long as the threshold is public beforehand.  You may only get 2 entries in a sub-category that are both top tier bases and get 3 entries in its related sub-category that are top tier but had 12 entries and choose not to merge.

Examples as follows:

 

Mystic - Ancient places or ruins of magical sites and the like.

Magic - Modern places of gathering for magic rituals and the like.

Merge into ---> Mystic/Magic <--- if participation requirements not met.

 

Modern - Realistic renditions of a modern-day setting with limited (>25%) future/ancient elements.

Nature - Realistic renditions of a nature setting with limited (>25%) modern/magic/tech elements.

Merge into ---> Modern/Nature <--- if participation requirements not met.

 

Sci-Fi - Space ships, space stations and sites that are literally out of this world.

Tech - Earthbound sites that push the bounds of future technology.

Merge into ---> Sci-Fi/Tech <--- if participation requirements not met.

 

Fantasy - Build something odd?  A magic/tech nightclub? A bowling alley in the sewers?  A mystic/sci-fi nature reserve?  Hey, as long as it blends together cohesively!

Freeform - Like fantasy but without the constraints of cohesion.  Chaos completely welcome here.

Merge into ---> Fantasy/Freeform <--- if participation requirements not met.

 

I personally feel people are more interested in the Titles than anything.  To be recognized in some capacity for their hard work and creativity.  The Prismatics or Reward Merits or whatever are just a bonus incentive to add to the competition.

 

While I do commend you all on adding Novice category, I personally feel it's a little overwhelming for the judges from an outsider's perspective in a Grand Competition.  Perhaps run a Novice competition at the halfway point to the 2026 Base Competition?  Gives those still learning the ropes a chance to be more competitive in time for the big one?  *shrug*  Just a thought.

 

And yes, I am very satisfied and honored as the winner of 2025 Spirit Award for Torchbearer.  Do I wish we didn't have to compete against Elysian Temple (which IMO was the clear winner of Fantasy/Arcane)?  I sure do.  Ours being more "Mystic" with no modern/tech elements vs a "Fantasy" base with some of those elements is challenging considering the lack of Arcane details in the game that go cohesively with what we built.  Still, I accepted that as just part of this challenge without complaint but obviously not without remark.

An no, this isn't a complaint.  Just giving feedback as a participant.  Like I said, I'm extremely happy with the results and in the way the competition was ran.  Who knows, maybe I'm lacking creativity myself and not realizing there is more I could do to improve our base with item-blending "custom objects".

 

I'm sincerely just curious if there's elements of the contest that kept people from participating or would make people happier in the future.  Would sub-categories like these be more enticing?   Is there some element or thematic category or definition that's being completely overlooked?  Additional public feedback would help... as long as it's done in a respectful manner.

 

If Dacy, Easter Bunny or whoever orchestrates a future contest would like another judge, I'll gladly volunteer.  Even if allowed, I don't plan on entering our base any further... unless there's a massive influx of cool Arcane details.  I got a second tier Title and I absolutely love it.  Time for someone else to get theirs.

 

Thanks in advance and here's to the future!

Edited Wednesday at 02:55 AM by SupaFreak
Re-wording of "second place" to "second tier" - more appropriate and accurate

[Easter Bunny]

This is fantastic @SupaFreak! I logged on to share my own feedback survey and was delighted to see others thinking the same! I won’t share my link here to avoid stepping on your post - I’ll make a separate one. Just wanted to say I love your approach and will take time to consider the thoughtful questions and feedback you’ve raised.