FireMage on 13/12/2018 at 11:29
Well, let's join the debate since I still don't understand why are people disagreeing on such thing.
Should we use custom or not custom?
I love creating custom models and objects, I love to add new ressources in the game and share it with the community. No doubt I would have loved doing it for TDP20AC as for the incoming TMA20AC since I use to imitate LGS'style to be closer to their vision of the game when creating it. However, if I can create custom object without any limitation, will it be fairplay compared to mappers who can't create custom objects? No, It won't. And it would be the same problem with a newcomer who decide to submit his first mission ever made for the contest and who is not confident yet with ressources downloading and use, even if it's not that hard.
Okay, T2 stock ressources are limited and uglier than TG ressources (in matter of colors, not polys of course) so I can understand why people asks for custom.
So just for this, we could at least authorize custom made from stock only (as TDP20AC did) AND perhaps 10 custom objects/meshes as Tannar and Yandros said.
At worst, we could maybe prepare a file containing custom models and objects filled by contributors before the contest start. 5-10 Thief2 themed objects/scripts/meshes/textures per ressources contributors maybe? I won't be disturbed by doing this and, at least, backscene contributors would have a chance to show themselves as the mappers! It would be fair isn't it?
Of course, I understand that such a plan would be more work to be managed since we can't mix textures, objects, models and scripts but at least, contestant will have ressources MADE FOR TMA20AC, limited in matter of amount and available for -every- contestants.
Purgator on 13/12/2018 at 15:12
One contest, two categories. Old School Classic/Custom. Pick a winner from each. Then, whoever wants to build, can build in a manner befitting their style. When you have two eventual winners from those categories, vote on a Grand Champion, but limit that vote to gameplay, story, and layout.
Judith on 13/12/2018 at 15:14
Meanwhile 20 years later: (
https://darkfate.org/view/simple/files/fan-missions/thief2/beginning/screenshots#pp)[1]/1/
It's not like all new missions have to look like this, in fact KoI has some framerate problems due to the engine being pushed too far. And IMO that's a creative limitation itself. You may have a kind of stylistic restriction, saying that missions "should reflect the spirit of original T2 missions", but let the authors interpret and express that in their own way, whether with original assets only, new materials made upon the old ones, or completely new models, textures, and materials. Regardless of visual approach, gameplay is still king.
Yandros on 13/12/2018 at 15:57
After discussing with skacky, we have reached a decision on this which hopefully will make most people happy (for now, at least) and reduce some of the contentious arguing going on here.
In late January, we will post a poll here asking you to vote on whether you would prefer the TMA20 Contest to be limited to stock and stock-derived resources only (which will be expanded slightly over what was allowed for the TDP20 Contest as has been discussed here), or to allow unlimited custom content. Those will be the only two choices. We are nixing other options that have been discussed here, such as having both categories with separate voting, or a finite limit on the number of custom resources allowed. The reason for that is a combination of keeping the choice simple and those other variations being a lot more work to administrate when the missions arrive.
The poll will run for around 4 weeks, and the new contest will be announced soon thereafter (right as, or just after, the voting for TDP20 concludes) using the rules which won the poll.
Quote Posted by Judith
Regardless of visual approach, gameplay is still king.
I think we finally can agree on something. :cheeky:
Psych0sis on 13/12/2018 at 16:22
Quote Posted by Yandros
After discussing with skacky, we have reached a decision on this which hopefully will make most people happy (for now, at least) and reduce some of the contentious arguing going on here.
In late January, we will post a poll here asking you to vote on whether you would prefer the TMA20 Contest to be limited to stock and stock-derived resources only (which will be expanded slightly over what was allowed for the TDP20 Contest as has been discussed here), or to allow unlimited custom content. Those will be the only two choices. We are nixing other options that have been discussed here, such as having both categories with separate voting, or a finite limit on the number of custom resources allowed. The reason for that is a combination of keeping the choice simple and those other variations being a lot more work to administrate when the missions arrive.
The poll will run for around 4 weeks, and the new contest will be announced soon thereafter (right as, or just after, the voting for TDP20 concludes) using the rules which won the poll.
This is good. It's either all is allowed, or none is imo. Any limitation with regards to quantity would just be arbitrary.
bbb on 13/12/2018 at 19:02
Yandros/Skacky:
This sounds like the right idea and I for one, completely support it.
Also, we can’t lose sight of the amount of work that goes into organizing and managing the contest. Sometimes we think of the work the mission authors and expend, but forget the amount of work to create/enforce the rules and manage the process.
Thanks to Yandros and Slacky!! Looking forward to the poll, but enjoying the heck out of the T1 missions. What a joy!
xx Bla xx on 14/12/2018 at 00:38
Even though Yandros and Skacky came to an agreement about that topic I wanted to say my opinion.
I don't know why there should excist any restriction for an anniversary contest. I understood that for a thief reloaded contest for example but for an anniversary contest?
The most precious thing with having so much different authors creating fm's is that there are so much different fm's. Just looking at the "fm listing by type"-list makes clear how different each of us interprets the thief universe. And that's a good thing. For the anniversary contest I really want to see how each contestant pays tribute to the game in his/ her own way.
I would rather prefer a change of the voting system especially to observe how many fm's a contestant made before so that a new dromeder really have a chance to win. Or even don't make this a contest. Let's call it the "Thief 2 20th anniversary party" as we could have called this contest the "Thief 1 20th anniversary advent calendar" (because there where 24 entries:D). Let us just celebrate. *add smiley with a confetti gun here*
Random_Taffer on 14/12/2018 at 02:53
Right, contest confined to only T2X resources confirmed.
trefoilknot on 14/12/2018 at 02:59
Quote Posted by Random_Taffer
Right, contest confined to only T2X resources confirmed.
HA! Actually not a bad idea for May 2025... ;)
ticky on 2/1/2019 at 15:24
Quote Posted by Yandros
After discussing with skacky, we have reached a decision on this which hopefully will make most people happy (for now, at least) and reduce some of the contentious arguing going on here.
In late January, we will post a poll here asking you to vote on whether you would prefer the TMA20 Contest to be limited to stock and stock-derived resources only (which will be expanded slightly over what was allowed for the TDP20 Contest as has been discussed here), or to allow unlimited custom content. Those will be the only two choices. We are nixing other options that have been discussed here, such as having both categories with separate voting, or a finite limit on the number of custom resources allowed. The reason for that is a combination of keeping the choice simple and those other variations being a lot more work to administrate when the missions arrive.
The poll will run for around 4 weeks, and the new contest will be announced soon thereafter (right as, or just after, the voting for TDP20 concludes) using the rules which won the poll.
I think we finally can agree on something. :cheeky:
Well, I'm really happy that the final verdict is there will be a contest. Regardless of stock or non stock resources. :)