Purgator on 27/9/2014 at 15:19
I quite like the pre-defined idea too.
I don't know if anyone watches those "Master Chef" cookery competitions on TV?
During the course of the show, contestants are often given a mystery box of set ingredients to create dishes.
A "themed" box for a fan mission may be an idea, not necessarily a set story but have core ingredients.
Elements of that theme could be drawn from a defined pool.
Your theme would have to have a faction: a location/terrain type: a season/weather type.
A Hammer mission in a forest, up a mountain, in winter.
Pagans in a cathedral, in the city, in the rain.
Zombies in a mansion, on an island, in autumn.
If contestants don't like an element there could be a swap option, put back an element.
I'm just throwing out some ideas.
nickie on 27/9/2014 at 19:06
I like that, Purgator, especially if contestants don't know what box they're getting - they just draw a number.
klatremus on 27/9/2014 at 22:11
So is that to say each contestant will get a different theme? If so, I don't see how that can be a fair contest. Some themes are naturally easier than others. And how do we judge it as a player? To me it's like deciding if this guy's high jump was better than the other guy's javelin toss.
Ah well, perhaps I'm just being negative. :rolleyes: Who knows, it might work. But I'm in favor of a random selection (or a community decided pre-made story) of a few simple themes that all contestants must incorporate. They should be open enough so the author has plenty of freedom and so that every mission most likely will be quite different. But they should be focused enough so it's clear to the players to judge how well they were implemented.
Whatever is decided, I will support that and enjoy playing the missions. :)
Yandros on 28/9/2014 at 01:35
That's an interesting idea. Each author is randomly assigned a faction, general location, and primary objective from pools brainstormed by the community. So one author gets Mechanists in a forest, and rescuing someone; another gets Bluecoats in a factory, and stealing an artifact. Assuming the choices for each are roughly equivalent, it should be pretty fair.
margotbean on 29/9/2014 at 07:46
I want Christmas missions! Hanukkah missions too! And let's have a mission about Kwanzaa, because I don't know anything about it (other than what I see on the news once a year). It would be informative, and fun. If there are Buddhists or Shintoists or even Animists who want to make a mission about their faith's holidays, then why not? If I were more proficient with DromEd, I might make a Festivus mission. :sly:
At least a Winter theme, with a holiday theme not specifically excluded. That's my vote. Thx. :)
PinkDot on 29/9/2014 at 09:02
Quote Posted by "Purgator"
I don't know if anyone watches those "Master Chef" cookery competitions on TV?
During the course of the show, contestants are often given a mystery box of set ingredients to create dishes.
A "themed" box for a fan mission may be an idea, not necessarily a set story but have core ingredients.
Elements of that theme could be drawn from a defined pool.
Your theme would have to have a faction: a location/terrain type: a season/weather type.
A Hammer mission in a forest, up a mountain, in winter.
Pagans in a cathedral, in the city, in the rain.
Zombies in a mansion, on an island, in autumn.
If contestants don't like an element there could be a swap option, put back an element.
Creating a mission is not like answering to a random question in a TV quiz - it's a far bigger dedication.
If contestants are allowed to be fussy and keep choosing randomly until they get what suits them then this simply defeats the purpose of having anything predefined. Better to let them decide on the theme.
If they are not allowed to change what they got, then in case they don't feel the theme they will either withdraw or create a poor mission and will hate dromeding for ever. This defeats the idea of a contest.
Rules should be the same for everyone.
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As for the pre-defined elements. These could be more abstract things / keywords. Let's say: 'mother', '12', 'orange', 'scream', 'dirty', 'broken glass' etc. Not sure how many. But the point is that this still gives you a room for creativity, choosing the theme that suits you.
An added interest for the players would be to discover these key words in the mission. For example 'orange' could be a dominant colour of wallpapers in a mansion. Or there could be a cargo of oranges in the docks warehouse.
And one of the voting category would be how well the author managed to incorporate these key words into their mission.
nicked on 29/9/2014 at 09:33
Hahaha that's an excellent idea! Everything else is open but you must somehow incorporate these random keywords drawn from a hat. :laff:
Purgator on 29/9/2014 at 12:44
Just to be clear, I said cookery shows not quiz shows. :)
I don't believe I was denigrating the art of the author, I'm well aware of the dedication involved.
I've spent a lot of free time producing art work to benefit authors, if they feel it is of benefit to their mission.
Neither, I believe, did I suggest that contestants throw away all elements to arrive at a theme they wanted.
It's just a contest idea.
Contests have rules, the last time I checked.
Rather than "feel" constrained by a choice, having a limited theme may spark creativity in other areas.
I'm reminded of the boy who was given an english assignment to write on the subject of "falling in love".
It did not appeal to him whatsoever.
When the boy handed his assignment in some days later, his teacher was amazed to find he had written a gripping work of science fiction.
Falling in L.O.V.E. was the thrilling story of a lone astronaut, who had to abandon his space station above the moon and jettison to safety in L.O.V.E. (Lunar- Orbital- Vehicular- Escape).
Creativity.
PinkDot on 29/9/2014 at 16:39
I like your example Purgator and I totally agree on the 'limitations stimulating creativity' aspect of it.
Also - I didn't mean to sound harsh - in case I did. Blame it on the language...
But if you look at that boy - he HAD to do that assignment. And the cookery show participants HAD to prepare something - I believe they signed the contract and were paid for this.
The Dromed map makers on the other hand, DO NOT have to make fanmissions, because it's a huge commitment in their spare time, made for pure entertainment only. If they feel too limited by the rules of the contest there is a big chance they won't commit to it. And the community doesn't suffer from the too-many-contest-participants syndrome.
Take the above as a general note, not directed solely at your idea, but just my few cents thrown into the discussion.
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On a side note - if we were to randomly chose ideas/elements/restrictions for the contest missions, there are a few things to consider:
1) do participants know them beforehand or do they just put their names on the list and wait for the starting day, so everyone gets the surprise at the same time?
2) it could be a good idea to have the draw done somehow using some application and the process recorded and posted on youtube. Think of a LOTTO offical draw... :) This would prevent any speculations (not, that I suspect any to happen) but also would build the contest atmosphere and hopefully it would help with the authors commitment to the draw results.
Purgator on 29/9/2014 at 18:35
I'm a little cranky today, so apologies too if I came across a little brusk. :)
There is usually a reward at the end of these contests for the winning author, so there is an incentive to enter.
Of course we're just throwing around a few ideas here.
I think it should be a winter/snow theme though.
