Map of the Fortnight: Main thread

[Ares96]

Originally Posted by Krall

Unless a better and more popular suggestion appears in the meantime (highly unlikely on both counts), then MotF 43 will still be "PUNK'S NOT DEAD".

Splendid! I'll make the map(s) either way, but this way there'll be a purpose for them.

[Krall]

Okay, is anyone planning to make a map for MotF 42? If not then extending the entry period for another week is not really going to help.

[LSCatilina]

I honestly thinks that the challenge is far too vague, and need to be precised even at the cost of a liberty of choice regarding, i don't know, the OTL, the other dimension, etc.

[The World Jones Made]

Originally Posted by Krall

Okay, is anyone planning to make a map for MotF 42? If not then extending the entry period for another week is not really going to help.

Originally Posted by LSCatilina

I honestly thinks that the challenge is far too vague, and need to be precised even at the cost of a liberty of choice regarding, i don't know, the OTL, the other dimension, etc.

I'm sorry LSCatilina, but I couldn't disagree with you more. The problem with this challenge isn't that it's too vague, but rather that it's too restrictive, because the aliens (or whatever) can have only observed, not interfered. This invariably results in a very narrow spectrum of map-making possibilities (either OTL or completely random AH), with the accompanying text having to carry the story, rather than the map itself. Even if say, the aliens think that cities are Earth's dominant lifeform, you'll still end up with a conventional ol' map of global urban sprawl, rather than something truly fanciful.

Unfortunately, I think that our collective love for the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy has led us to rush into a poorly conceived challenge this time. That's not meant as a diss to anyone, just an observation that's probably more easy to make in hindsight.

Anyway, I *am* making a map for this challenge (thanks for your PM advising me, Krall!), one I'm pretty sure I can have finished by tomorrow. However, I'd be more than willing to chuck it if that means we don't have to spend another week on this dud of a challenge: I'd much rather get started on Punk's Not Dead.

[Krall]

Originally Posted by The World Jones Made

I'm sorry LSCatilina, but I couldn't disagree with you more. The problem with this challenge isn't that it's too vague, but rather that it's too restrictive, because the aliens (or whatever) can have only observed, not interfered. This invariably results in a very narrow spectrum of map-making possibilities (either OTL or completely random AH), with the accompanying text having to carry the story, rather than the map itself. Even if say, the aliens think that cities are Earth's dominant lifeform, you'll still end up with a conventional ol' map of global urban sprawl, rather than something truly fanciful.

Unfortunately, I think that our collective love for the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy has led us to rush into a poorly conceived challenge this time. That's not meant as a diss to anyone, just an observation that's probably more easy to make in hindsight.

Yeah, the challenge is probably a little too complicated and a little too specific. In future we'll have to be more careful with any themed challenge.

Originally Posted by The World Jones Made

Anyway, I *am* making a map for this challenge (thanks for your PM advising me, Krall!), one I'm pretty sure I can have finished by tomorrow. However, I'd be more than willing to chuck it if that means we don't have to spend another week on this dud of a challenge: I'd much rather get started on Punk's Not Dead.

Well, you've got eleven hours to make your map and enter it. I'm eager to get started on "PUNK'S NOT DEAD" too, since we've agreed on it before hand this does mean that people can start making their maps now and have more time until the entry period closes, so hopefully it won't be barren like it seems "Mostly Harmless" will be.

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by Krall

Well, you've got eleven hours to make your map and enter it. I'm eager to get started on "PUNK'S NOT DEAD" too, since we've agreed on it before hand this does mean that people can start making their maps now and have more time until the entry period closes, so hopefully it won't be barren like it seems "Mostly Harmless" will be.

What a shame... Our first dud challenge.... Will you call PUNK'S NOT DEAD MoTF 42?

[Krall]

Originally Posted by DrTron

What a shame... Our first dud challenge.... Will you call PUNK'S NOT DEAD MoTF 42?

No; "PUNK'S NOT DEAD" will still be MotF 43.

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by Krall

No; "PUNK'S NOT DEAD" will still be MotF 43.

Why? I think this one dont really count, because it was a dud.

[Krall]

Originally Posted by DrTron

Why? I think this one dont really count, because it was a dud.

Well, it would cause confusion when trying to refer to this specific challenge, for one, and I see no reason why we shouldn't include this challenge in the numbering.

[KCammy]

I am making a map for it.

[Krall]

Originally Posted by KCammy

I am making a map for it.

For "Mostly Harmless" or "PUNK'S NOT DEAD"?

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by Krall

Well, it would cause confusion when trying to refer to this specific challenge, for one, and I see no reason why we shouldn't include this challenge in the numbering.

Alright, but couldnt we reboot this later with a looser version, so we dont have to have a dud?

[Krall]

Originally Posted by DrTron

Alright, but couldnt we reboot this later with a looser version, so we dont have to have a dud?

We could use a looser version of this challenge later, but this round will still have been a dud.

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by Krall

We could use a looser version of this challenge later, but this round will still have been a dud.

No, I meant use the same number, 42, but make it looser. This will make it not a dud.

[Krall]

Originally Posted by DrTron

No, I meant use the same number, 42, but make it looser. This will make it not a dud.

We will not use the same number again. If we run a similar, looser version of the challenge in future then it will be as its own number, and nothing we do will make this current challenge not a dud.

[Martin23230]

So, I come back from holiday to find that the first time one of my suggestions was picked, it turned out to be a failure.

I would like to say that I suggested several possibilities for 42-themed challenges, and the one that was picked was debated and turned over so much that even I didn't know what the criteria were. I did bake a map the day before I left, but in my opinion it no longer fits the criteria.

Anyway, I do ask that it is not retconed out of existence, at least leave it as a warning for others.

[Eigenwelt]

I made a map for this. It depicts the marriage between an interesting idea for a map challenge and awkward failure. The map looks exactly like the last few pages of this thread.

But given how close it is to our time line, I don't think it qualifies. Oh well.

[KCammy]

Originally Posted by Krall

For "Mostly Harmless" or "PUNK'S NOT DEAD"?

Mostly Harmless.

[charl]

If you extend the challenge a couple of days I could make a contribution to it, and win by default.

[Ares96]

Originally Posted by charl

If you extend the challenge a couple of days I could make a contribution to it, and win by default.

Actually, that is precisely the reason I didn't hastily cobble together an entry.