Map of the Fortnight: Main thread

[Klisz]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

Perhaps you're right. I think we need to have a seperate "vote for the next contest" poll thread: no contest until we find a subject at least ten people are in favor of?

Bruce

I rather like that idea.

[Turquoise Blue]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

Perhaps you're right. I think we need to have a seperate "vote for the next contest" poll thread: no contest until we find a subject at least ten people are in favor of?

Bruce

Brilliant, and it would help the Map Contest greatly.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

Perhaps you're right. I think we need to have a seperate "vote for the next contest" poll thread: no contest until we find a subject at least ten people are in favor of?

Bruce

That kinda complicates things, creating so many threads. A couple of simpler ideas are:

The runner of the map contest selects the 3-5 most popular suggestions and chooses one at random.

OR

The winner of the previous round chooses the next challenge.

I prefer the first one. I'd also like to see the return of wildcard challenges.

Maybe the MOF contests should have an expanded leadership? I'd be happy to take up responsibilities again, just so if one person is unable to post the contest on time the other could step up.

[Kaiphranos]

What were "wildcard challenges?"

[tormsen]

Committee leadership is a good idea. Kraal has had a good reign of terror, but it would likely be easier for him and us if there was a collective moderation.

Basically for the contest choices it's mob rule, rule by the victor, or rule by the moderator. I prefer mob rule: one more thread every two weeks isn't going to kill us.

Let's say, every map suggestion during two weeks that is seconded is included in the poll. The deadline is the same as the map contest. The most popular choice by deadline is the new map challenge, second suggestions and perhaps the most popular choices from the previous poll are included in the new poll. So we have only three dynamic threads (map thread, map winner poll thread, map theme poll thread), plus this one, going at any one time.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by tormsen

Committee leadership is a good idea. Kraal has had a good reign of terror, but it would likely be easier for him and us if there was a collective moderation.

Basically for the contest choices it's mob rule, rule by the victor, or rule by the moderator. I prefer mob rule: one more thread every two weeks isn't going to kill us.

Let's say, every map suggestion during two weeks that is seconded is included in the poll. The deadline is the same as the map contest. The most popular choice by deadline is the new map challenge, second suggestions and perhaps the most popular choices from the previous poll are included in the new poll. So we have only three dynamic threads (map thread, map winner poll thread, map theme poll thread), plus this one, going at any one time.

On consideration that could work, especially with an idea I have been kicking around recently. Essentially alongside the regular MOF rounds we have what I have roughly termed "Crappa Mappa Mundi" [name subject to change]. The focus would be on more challenging contests, designed to be a bit tougher, for the more experienced cartographer. People can enter either, but maybe the CMM should run for a bit longer, say a month.

The CMM would be decided by the committee rather then mob. The two contests would run in parallel, one more friendly, the other a bit tougher.

What do people think of that idea?

[Kaiphranos]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

On consideration that could work, especially with an idea I have been kicking around recently. Essentially alongside the regular MOF rounds we have what I have roughly termed "Crappa Mappa Mundi" [name subject to change]. The focus would be on more challenging contests, designed to be a bit tougher, for the more experienced cartographer. People can enter either, but maybe the CMM should run for a bit longer, say a month.

The CMM would be decided by the committee rather then mob. The two contests would run in parallel, one more friendly, the other a bit tougher.

What do people think of that idea?

Interesting, but is there a large enough pool of talent to support it? How would one deter the less experienced cartographers? (Require more detail--a minimum length for accompanying text? Higher levels of plausibility? Make it invitation-only?)

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Kaiphranos

Interesting, but is there a large enough pool of talent to support it? How would one deter the less experienced cartographers? (Require more detail--a minimum length for accompanying text? Higher levels of plausibility? Make it invitation-only?)

To me it didn't matter about the numbers available, but to present different sorts of challenges to being found in the regular rounds.

My initial thought was to not allow the use of a full UCS, simply to get people to thinking about different colour schemes, and a certain level of back story, that's it.

[Krall]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

Well, it's monday, and I thought we would have heard by now ... Krall, where are youuuu???

I was busy... busy being lazy and forgetful.

Yeah, I don't really have an excuse beyond "I was too busy drawing maps of castles and watching My Little Pony", so sorry about that. I'll get right on posting the new voting and entry threads - expect them up within the hour!

Originally Posted by tormsen

Extensions should be allowed upon request, if someone's like "Hey fuck it's almost done but I've got work but I can finish it by tomorrow wait" then sure thing. But otherwise I don't think it's worth it.

Well I try to only extend the contest if there's a significant number of people who say they will enter a new map in the extra time, it's just that people are still unable to finish their map in time (that sounds a bit insulting - rest assured that I'm probably the worst offender in this case, as there have been many, many MotF rounds that I've planned to enter, but I've only ever half-finished the map for).

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

Maybe the MOF contests should have an expanded leadership? I'd be happy to take up responsibilities again, just so if one person is unable to post the contest on time the other could step up.

Perhaps. I suppose we could alternate who runs each contest round, and if one of us is unable to run a round the other could cover for them? Alternatively you could just cover for me when I can't run a round, which was basically the system I'm already using, it's just that I very rarely can't run a round.

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

On consideration that could work, especially with an idea I have been kicking around recently. Essentially alongside the regular MOF rounds we have what I have roughly termed "Crappa Mappa Mundi" [name subject to change]. The focus would be on more challenging contests, designed to be a bit tougher, for the more experienced cartographer. People can enter either, but maybe the CMM should run for a bit longer, say a month.

The CMM would be decided by the committee rather then mob. The two contests would run in parallel, one more friendly, the other a bit tougher.

What do people think of that idea?

Hmm, I'm not too fond of that idea - it separates mapmakers into two groups, and I'd rather not have a group of cartographers who only ever enter the "harder" contest lording it over the cartographers who only ever enter the "easier" contest. Plus, I don't see how you can make making a map more challenging - you can make constructing a plausible scenario harder, but I'd rather the contest allows for people who are good artists, but poor storytellers to win as well as the inverse.


Since we're talking about reforming the MotF to some degree, I've got a couple of suggestions that I think people might like:

1. Firstly, a rather simple suggestion: A Hall of Fame thread. I haven't announced the winners of the contest for sometime now (mainly due to forgetfulness), meaning their victory may go undocumented, so instead of/in addition to announcing the victors in this thread, I propose that I start a "Hall of Fame" thread, where the winning maps will be posted after every contest. In order to keep it uncluttered only I - or whoever's running the contest that round - would be allowed to post in the thread. The thread would be linked to in every opening post of each entry and voting thread, as well as in every post where I announce a winner in this thread and in the opening post of this thread (though I suppose I'll have to get a moderator to edit that for me). I could also create a Hall of Fame page on the Wiki to showcase the winners, which would be linked to from the Hall of Fame thread and MotF pages on the wiki.

2. An idea I had whilst writing this post, essentially it amounts to an extensive reconstruction of how MotF works. Instead of deciding each challenge on a round-by-round basis, we would decide the challenges in batches of five or six rounds. These five or six rounds would then be run in order, perhaps with a one or two week break in the middle. The break could be used to decide the the challenges for the next batch of rounds. Perhaps we could decide the challenges using one or more polls - the five or six challenges with the highest number of votes would be run in the next batch. Alternatively we could choose five challenges, and the sixth round of each batch could be a "wildcard" round, where there are absolutely no entry requirements beyond that the entry be a map created specifically for the contest that has not been entered before.

What do you guys think?

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Krall

Hmm, I'm not too fond of that idea - it separates mapmakers into two groups, and I'd rather not have a group of cartographers who only ever enter the "harder" contest lording it over the cartographers who only ever enter the "easier" contest. Plus, I don't see how you can make making a map more challenging - you can make constructing a plausible scenario harder, but I'd rather the contest allows for people who are good artists, but poor storytellers to win as well as the inverse.

It's more about having the challenge be a bit harder and descriptive. For example:

- A radical group is given access to a wormhole that links back 200 years into the past. Your map must depict the results of the radical groups meddling in the past.

Its a bit more complex then the regular rounds. So the idea is the challenge not the standards being tougher. I may have not been to clear on this in my previous posts, Sorry!

Originally Posted by Krall

Perhaps. I suppose we could alternate who runs each contest round, and if one of us is unable to run a round the other could cover for them? Alternatively you could just cover for me when I can't run a round, which was basically the system I'm already using, it's just that I very rarely can't run a round.

I think alternation would work well, spreads out the work.

Originally Posted by Krall

Since we're talking about reforming the MotF to some degree, I've got a couple of suggestions that I think people might like:

1. Firstly, a rather simple suggestion: A Hall of Fame thread.

Its a good idea. It's such a shame that we don't have a longer period to edit posts like other forums. Maybe once we reach challenge 50 we could start a new thread, and put all 50 previous winners in the OP, and then ask a mod to put in more as time goes on

Originally Posted by Krall

2. An idea I had whilst writing this post, essentially it amounts to an extensive reconstruction of how MotF works. Instead of deciding each challenge on a round-by-round basis, we would decide the challenges in batches of five or six rounds.
What do you guys think?

I think planning ahead is a good idea. Five or six rounds, and then during the last round the next six could be decided, rather then a break.

I aslo wonder about getting a good spread of different challenges, such as the occasional ASB round in, but it would depend on the votes.

[Krall]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

It's more about having the challenge be a bit harder and descriptive. For example:

- A radical group is given access to a wormhole that links back 200 years into the past. Your map must depict the results of the radical groups meddling in the past.

Its a bit more complex then the regular rounds. So the idea is the challenge not the standards being tougher. I may have not been to clear on this in my previous posts, Sorry!

No, I understand that the idea is to make the challenge more specific and, well, challenging in its requirements, but I don't think that will actually encourage better mapmaking, or better storytelling. People who are good mapmakers will generally not want to jump through the hoops of a more challenging suggestion, and the same goes for storytellers. More specific challenges reduces the number of people who are willing to participate, but they do not reduce it to the people who are actually good at mapmaking or storytelling - it just reduces it to the few people who are actually willing to conform to the full restrictions of the challenge.

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I think alternation would work well, spreads out the work.

Okay, I'll PM you sometime soon to discuss it.

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

Its a good idea. It's such a shame that we don't have a longer period to edit posts like other forums. Maybe once we reach challenge 50 we could start a new thread, and put all 50 previous winners in the OP, and then ask a mod to put in more as time goes on

I was thinking more of each winning entry having its own post - that would mean that we wouldn't need mods to edit the posts, and the first page wouldn't take bloody ages to load due to having 50+ large images on it.

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I think planning ahead is a good idea. Five or six rounds, and then during the last round the next six could be decided, rather then a break.

I aslo wonder about getting a good spread of different challenges, such as the occasional ASB round in, but it would depend on the votes.

Well I imagine the challenges would be chosen by multiple-choice polls, so people would logically vote for a range of different types of challenges. If we had a "wildcard" round for every batch of rounds, where the challenge is just "make the best map you can", that would allow ASB maps, so even if all of the specific challenges don't allow ASB people who want to make ASB maps can still enter in a round.

The reason I proposed a break is because it might take more than a couple of weeks to fully decide on a set of five challenges, and I'd like to give the mapmakers a rest period where they know that no contests are currently on-going. I might abandon the idea if people don't want a break period, but it's an idea that should be considered nonetheless.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Krall

Well I imagine the challenges would be chosen by multiple-choice polls, so people would logically vote for a range of different types of challenges. If we had a "wildcard" round for every batch of rounds, where the challenge is just "make the best map you can", that would allow ASB maps, so even if all of the specific challenges don't allow ASB people who want to make ASB maps can still enter in a round.

The reason I proposed a break is because it might take more than a couple of weeks to fully decide on a set of five challenges, and I'd like to give the mapmakers a rest period where they know that no contests are currently on-going. I might abandon the idea if people don't want a break period, but it's an idea that should be considered nonetheless.

Well I guess it will all depend on the suggestions that are suggested as well. For one voting session the top five may all be ASB related, but then in the next time a mix of ancient and medieval, etc.

[Martin23230]

Originally Posted by Krall

1. Firstly, a rather simple suggestion: A Hall of Fame thread. I haven't announced the winners of the contest for sometime now (mainly due to forgetfulness), meaning their victory may go undocumented, so instead of/in addition to announcing the victors in this thread, I propose that I start a "Hall of Fame" thread, where the winning maps will be posted after every contest. In order to keep it uncluttered only I - or whoever's running the contest that round - would be allowed to post in the thread. The thread would be linked to in every opening post of each entry and voting thread, as well as in every post where I announce a winner in this thread and in the opening post of this thread (though I suppose I'll have to get a moderator to edit that for me). I could also create a Hall of Fame page on the Wiki to showcase the winners, which would be linked to from the Hall of Fame thread and MotF pages on the wiki.

Nice idea. And I've been meaning to bug you to get a link to the MotF wiki pages in the first post, though a friendly mod will be necessary.

Now for some reason I've had this idea that when we get to 100 maps we publish a huge book featuring all the challenges and winners, with the map-maker's permissions of course. That would be amazing.

Originally Posted by Krall

2. An idea I had whilst writing this post, essentially it amounts to an extensive reconstruction of how MotF works. Instead of deciding each challenge on a round-by-round basis, we would decide the challenges in batches of five or six rounds. These five or six rounds would then be run in order, perhaps with a one or two week break in the middle. The break could be used to decide the the challenges for the next batch of rounds. Perhaps we could decide the challenges using one or more polls - the five or six challenges with the highest number of votes would be run in the next batch. Alternatively we could choose five challenges, and the sixth round of each batch could be a "wildcard" round, where there are absolutely no entry requirements beyond that the entry be a map created specifically for the contest that has not been entered before.

What do you guys think?

I see one problem, that being it wouldn't really be MotF anymore.
For example, over two "batches", colour-coded for your convenience:
Batch 1 Round 1 - 2 weeks
Batch 1 Round 2 - 2 weeks
Batch 1 Round 3 - 2 weeks
Break 1 - 1 week, pick batch 2 rounds
Batch 1 Round 4 - 2 weeks
Batch 1 Round 5 - 2 weeks
Batch 1 Round 6 - 2 weeks
Batch 2 Round 1 - 2 weeks
Batch 2 Round 2 - 2 weeks
Batch 2 Round 3 - 2 weeks
Break 2 - 1 week, pick batch 3 rounds
Batch 2 Round 4 - 2 weeks
Batch 2 Round 5 - 2 weeks
Batch 2 Round 6 - 2 weeks
Batch 3 ...

Now since we would decide on the rounds in the previous batch's break, there exists a problem. Say B2 R6 was a particularly interesting challenge to me, I would have 17 weeks from when we decided it would be run to when the contest actually starts. That's over 4 months. I think that might be planning ahead a little too far...

On the other hand, it would have to be a pretty awesome map if you've been working on it for 4 months. I would accept no less than it being carved into marble, or possibly the contest requirement that your map is visible from space..

Randomising the rounds within one batch may be better, but if we have an idea of the challenges coming up over the next month and a half it would take some of the challenge out I feel. That's what I like about MotF, you never know what's going to come up (well, you do if you watch this thread, but rarely more than a week in advance). A logical counter would be to move the break to the end of each batch, to at least remove 6 weeks. On the other hand breaks could be strategicaly placed, such as over Christmas or common exam times. But still, I can't remember what the popular suggestions were 3 months ago, I suppose the wiki database would become more useful.

Also, I remember from travelling back through the thread you suggesting this, a long time ago. I kept meaning to bring it up. An idea for picking rounds perhaps? I quite like it. The downside being you need a google login, but most people do don't they?

[Krall]

Originally Posted by Martin23230

Nice idea. And I've been meaning to bug you to get a link to the MotF wiki pages in the first post, though a friendly mod will be necessary.

Ah, good point. I'll ask them after we've decided whether to reform MotF and how.

Originally Posted by Martin23230

Now for some reason I've had this idea that when we get to 100 maps we publish a huge book featuring all the challenges and winners, with the map-maker's permissions of course. That would be amazing.

That would be awesome! We could add things to each map, like map-makers' comments, or comments of the person running the contest (i.e. me, and maybe Scarecrow). I doubt it would sell much, but it'd be awesome if we could do it!

Originally Posted by Martin23230

I see one problem, that being it wouldn't really be MotF anymore.
For example, over two "batches", colour-coded for your convenience:
*List snip*

Now since we would decide on the rounds in the previous batch's break, there exists a problem. Say B2 R6 was a particularly interesting challenge to me, I would have 17 weeks from when we decided it would be run to when the contest actually starts. That's over 4 months. I think that might be planning ahead a little too far...

On the other hand, it would have to be a pretty awesome map if you've been working on it for 4 months. I would accept no less than it being carved into marble, or possibly the contest requirement that your map is visible from space..

Randomising the rounds within one batch may be better, but if we have an idea of the challenges coming up over the next month and a half it would take some of the challenge out I feel. That's what I like about MotF, you never know what's going to come up (well, you do if you watch this thread, but rarely more than a week in advance). A logical counter would be to move the break to the end of each batch, to at least remove 6 weeks. On the other hand breaks could be strategicaly placed, such as over Christmas or common exam times. But still, I can't remember what the popular suggestions were 3 months ago, I suppose the wiki database would become more useful.

Ah, dammit, I said "in the middle", didn't I? I meant "in between", so there would be a week's break in between each round batch.

You make a good point about giving people a huge amount of time to prepare for each contest round, but I have an idea:

First, each batch is reduced to 3 contest rounds instead of 6. Instead of 5 chosen suggestions and one "wildcard" round, there will be 3 chosen suggestions. The breaks will be two weeks long - BUT the "wildcard" rounds would be run at the same time as the breaks. I suppose that makes the breaks not actually breaks, but the fact that we wouldn't actually have to spend time and effort deciding on a suggestion for the "wildcard" rounds means that running it wouldn't be any extra work, and if a mapmaker misses a "wildcard" round, well, there'll be another one in a month or two.

Originally Posted by Martin23230

Also, I remember from travelling back through the thread you suggesting this, a long time ago. I kept meaning to bring it up. An idea for picking rounds perhaps? I quite like it. The downside being you need a google login, but most people do don't they?

Ah! I'd forgotten about that. The main reason why I didn't really go through with that idea is because it would put all the suggestions and the suggestion choosing process on another site, and I'd rather keep everything here on AH.com. The fact that it would force people to get and use google accounts is an issue too, since it's an extra bit of hassle that's not really needed at the moment.

[Scarecrow]

How about the order of the rounds in the batches is selected by me and Krall? That we you have a rough idea of whats coming up, but not when.

I'm also not keen on a 'free for all' for the wildcard round, at least no every time, since we have the Map Thread for that anyway. Maybe the wildcard could be a suggestion that a moderator likes but wasn't chosen? That way a slightly random element could still remain.

What do people think?

[Krall]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

How about the order of the rounds in the batches is selected by me and Krall? That we you have a rough idea of whats coming up, but not when.

Well, they'll still have a heads up regarding the final round no matter what we do. I'd rather announce the order before hand so people don't have to keep checking in order to know when they'll need to start making their maps.

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I'm also not keen on a 'free for all' for the wildcard round, at least no every time, since we have the Map Thread for that anyway. Maybe the wildcard could be a suggestion that a moderator likes but wasn't chosen? That way a slightly random element could still remain.

The problem with that is that the chosen challenge would be one that people liked less than the other suggestions being run, and so is likely to be the least popular. The idea of a free-for-all challenge was to let all and sundry enter and to remove any sort of restriction on their entries, in order to get more entries.

[tormsen]

There's been lots of suggestions that people have been like "Oh, cool idea!" and then end up swept away. Perhaps suggestions that consistently get supported, but never quite make it can be put into the competition can be put in the wildcard round. I have a half-made map for Enemy of my Enemy, but it never did emerge.

[Martin23230]

Originally Posted by Krall

That would be awesome! We could add things to each map, like map-makers' comments, or comments of the person running the contest (i.e. me, and maybe Scarecrow). I doubt it would sell much, but it'd be awesome if we could do it!

Indeed. "Maps of Alternate Worlds - the best Maps and scenarios from Alternate History.com". It's a nice thought, but we would have to get everyone to agree to make money of their works. I know some people have mentioned publishing their own maps before. But heck, if we don't get all of them we don't have to do it in MotF order.
The other, slightly easier version, I considered was like your Hall of Fame thread; get all the maps and comments for them and instead compile them into a pdf book, or an e-book if someone knows how to do that. Perhaps when we get to 50.

Originally Posted by Krall

Ah, dammit, I said "in the middle", didn't I? I meant "in between", so there would be a week's break in between each round batch.

You make a good point about giving people a huge amount of time to prepare for each contest round, but I have an idea:

First, each batch is reduced to 3 contest rounds instead of 6. Instead of 5 chosen suggestions and one "wildcard" round, there will be 3 chosen suggestions. The breaks will be two weeks long - BUT the "wildcard" rounds would be run at the same time as the breaks. I suppose that makes the breaks not actually breaks, but the fact that we wouldn't actually have to spend time and effort deciding on a suggestion for the "wildcard" rounds means that running it wouldn't be any extra work, and if a mapmaker misses a "wildcard" round, well, there'll be another one in a month or two.

No worries! That idea makes sense, I personaly like the idea of MotFX (Map of the Fortnight Extra/Expanded) rounds, just showcasing the best of our maps without any restrictions. Basically like the map thread, but with a poll. It's not really part of the main MotF contest, more a spin-off franchise that uses the same brand-name. You have my support.

There would have to be some restrictions, like one entry per person per round. I like the idea of it being showcasing the work we've done over the last two months, but there would be no way to police that; and I think you will get people going into their archives to get their best map and stick it in. On the other hand not that bad of an idea. Oh, and I assume maps entered into the previous three MotFs would be allowed?

Oh - that gave me an idea of what to do after the 50th MotF - Champion of Champions! Make say 10 polls with the winners of MotF 1-5 in one, MotF 6-10 etc (or, to have less of a chance for the same person, say the winners of MotF 1,11,21,31,41 in one, the winners of MotF 2,12,22,32,42 in another...), the winners then go on to the two semifinals, then a grand final to find the best map in the contest's history!

Originally Posted by Krall

Ah! I'd forgotten about that. The main reason why I didn't really go through with that idea is because it would put all the suggestions and the suggestion choosing process on another site, and I'd rather keep everything here on AH.com. The fact that it would force people to get and use google accounts is an issue too, since it's an extra bit of hassle that's not really needed at the moment.

Fair enough, it would be perfect if it was integrated into AH.com but you can't have everything.

Originally Posted by tormsen

There's been lots of suggestions that people have been like "Oh, cool idea!" and then end up swept away. Perhaps suggestions that consistently get supported, but never quite make it can be put into the competition can be put in the wildcard round. I have a half-made map for Enemy of my Enemy, but it never did emerge.

Nothing stopping those ideas being put forward for suggestions for the main MotF contests.

[Ares96]

I feel like I need to say this - isn't this 'batch' idea kind of similar to the old Map Contests? Not that I don't like that, but still…

Also, I too do certainly like the idea of making a book with all the contest winners. I know that EdT has some experience with layout and publishing of books; maybe he can help. Also, I'd think you'd have to pay some kind of royalty to the winners (perhaps just 1 percent of the profits; that'd leave the 'MoF treasury' (Krall himself, that is to say) with 50 percent of it to use for prizes and the like).

[Krall]

Originally Posted by Martin23230

Indeed. "Maps of Alternate Worlds - the best Maps and scenarios from Alternate History.com". It's a nice thought, but we would have to get everyone to agree to make money of their works. I know some people have mentioned publishing their own maps before. But heck, if we don't get all of them we don't have to do it in MotF order.
The other, slightly easier version, I considered was like your Hall of Fame thread; get all the maps and comments for them and instead compile them into a pdf book, or an e-book if someone knows how to do that. Perhaps when we get to 50.

Well, we'll see. A PDF or an e-book wouldn't be too hard, but it might be a whole lot of work for nothing if it doesn't sell.

Originally Posted by Martin23230

No worries! That idea makes sense, I personaly like the idea of MotFX (Map of the Fortnight Extra/Expanded) rounds, just showcasing the best of our maps without any restrictions. Basically like the map thread, but with a poll. It's not really part of the main MotF contest, more a spin-off franchise that uses the same brand-name. You have my support.

There would have to be some restrictions, like one entry per person per round. I like the idea of it being showcasing the work we've done over the last two months, but there would be no way to police that; and I think you will get people going into their archives to get their best map and stick it in. On the other hand not that bad of an idea. Oh, and I assume maps entered into the previous three MotFs would be allowed?

When I said "no restrictions" I meant it more in terms of no challenge restrictions, and no restrictions on date or plausibility - the standard restrictions (one entry per person per round, entries must be made specifically for the contest) still apply.

I don't think maps entered into the previous batch of rounds being entered in the free-for-all would be a good idea, because then you're entering one map in two separate MotF contest rounds, which basically means good mapmakers would be able to win a MotF round and then possibly win the free-for-all round without actually needing to make another map.

Originally Posted by Martin23230

Oh - that gave me an idea of what to do after the 50th MotF - Champion of Champions! Make say 10 polls with the winners of MotF 1-5 in one, MotF 6-10 etc (or, to have less of a chance for the same person, say the winners of MotF 1,11,21,31,41 in one, the winners of MotF 2,12,22,32,42 in another...), the winners then go on to the two semifinals, then a grand final to find the best map in the contest's history!

I don't know, I feel like one person's map being declared "the best of the best" would devalue everyone else's victory to an extent. It wouldn't really stimulate mapmakers, too, since they wouldn't have to make new maps for the contest.

Originally Posted by tormsen

There's been lots of suggestions that people have been like "Oh, cool idea!" and then end up swept away. Perhaps suggestions that consistently get supported, but never quite make it can be put into the competition can be put in the wildcard round. I have a half-made map for Enemy of my Enemy, but it never did emerge.

Originally Posted by Martin23230

Nothing stopping those ideas being put forward for suggestions for the main MotF contests.

I think the kinds of suggestions tormsen was talking about are like the "Golden Oldies" I suggested reviving a short while ago - suggestions which were excellent and popular at the time, but lost out to a slightly better suggestion.

A "Krall's/Scarecrow's Choice" or "Overseers' Choice" (I've randomly decided that the title of people running the contest should be "Overseer", since "administrator" and "moderator" imply we have actual power on the forums) contest round every now and then might be quite good - provided unpopular and flawed suggestions were avoided.