Writing comps &/or mass spar-like events?

[Shadow-Risk & Rosemary]

Writing competitions, I imagine, would be tournaments were writers could bring their work to be judged. The event would prob'ly be sectored into periodical catagories to make judging more simple - e.g. It is hard to compare a sci-fi with a classical writing.

These would be fun events for people to get others opinions on their work. Poetry could also be included in this event.

Mass spar-like events would be similar the Peanut Gallery Rebellion or IDCs on DAB. There would be two sides (or more, as the site grows), pitted against eachother in combat. Of course, neither team would actually shed blood or injure. This event would be held in a safe, no-kill environment, of course. Don't want to kill off yer own army, right?

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Those were the basic ideas. I want you guys to elaborate and discuss them further. What do you like about the ideas, and what do you disagree with? What do you want to see in them? What would be the ideal (keep it reasonable, please) reward(s) for them?

I encourage you guys to /actually read/ everyone's posts too. Someone might have a good point that you might want to consider before posting.

Keep open minded, and don't slam other people's ideas 'cus you disagree with them. Be good little children now... ;D

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Here are my thoughts --

The writing comp would be difficult to pull off at this point. The site is still small, and it would prob'ly die out quickly. I love writing, and I would like to submit stuff. But one can already do this on the Campire board. Maybe they could make a specific section for OOC stories, poems, and writings. Of course, rules and close moderation should be kept on this thread. All entries should abide by the rules (mainly the part about being appropiate and personal info-free).


As for the mass spar-like events... They sound really fun! I would like to see these occur between the sections of the army (ranger, warrior, blacksmith, etc.). This kind of event would be a very good training ground for RPers, and fun as well.

However, since the army sectors are still small, I would suggest that they be teamed up - e.g. Warriors, Blacksmiths, & Cooks vs. Healers, Rogues, Rangers.

I am not sure what the prize would be, since we do not have a currency system like DAB.

[Mary Narai]

You can post stories on the campfire?

[Shadow-Risk & Rosemary]

Yes. You can. Go check it out.

[Mary Narai]

I did. Well, this ought to be fun.

[Xumim Blacktarn]

Here are some problems with the concept of a writing competition.

First of all, who is to say what is good writing and bad writing? What is to determine that the judge will make the best call? If this is supposed to work, it should be a group vote, not just an individual judging. But that again presents a problem- what is to prevent everybody from simply voting for themselves, or for a friend? There isn't really a way around the issue of fair judging, as least none that I can see.

Second, the losers are bound to have their feelings hurt, especially if they spent a long time on what they wrote. But, it sort of defeats the purpose if everybody wins.

If you want my opinion, I think you should just stick with conventional spars.

[Shadow-Risk & Rosemary]

Interesting points, Larkspur.

Actually, I was thinking along the same line. There wouldn't be a winner, I think. Perhaps the judge/s should act more like critiques, offering advice and such. But, like I said, I don't think this site is quite ready for something like this. For now, the Campfire should serve it's purpose.

[Xumim Blacktarn]

Yes, that would be more appropriate...but that follows the same sort of problem- who's to say that the judge's advice is sound? Aside from grammar notes and such, it is possible that the writer may be in fact more correct than the judge.

But I agree. Let's stick with the campfire.

[Tumbletail Spikedog]

Well, I like to think of writing as more of a past-time and not a competition. Someone's feelings might be hurt if someone thinks that the poem they spent nearly two hours on is crappy!

[Forgin]

I think the writing should just be kept to the Campfire, at least for now.

I really like the idea of a mass sparring event. But, rather than just awarding the winning team, I think the top five RPers, no matter team they were on, should be awarded.

Or, if we can't think of any good awards, we should just have the sparring event for fun. Sure, we can have a winner, but maybe we shouldn't have awards or anything. Just a thought.

[Xumim Blacktarn]

Do we even have enough active members to host a mass sparring event like that? Or perhaps an even more important question, will the members who do participate stay active till the end?

[Shadow-Risk & Rosemary]

Well, then. I think it just might be safe to say that the majority vote is no writing competitions at this point. The Campfire should be adequate. Agreed?

Hm. Well, it's hard to talk about the activity of members, 'cus it can be extremely varied and almost impossible to predict on. However, I think we could bet that most of the members on GOM are pretty active, which is why it is such a nice site. I think we definitely /could/ have enough members; but not all may want to join in. So we'd just have to see how that goes. Or, if you all are that worried, we could start two polls - one to see how many active members there are; and another to see who is interested in actively joining such a tournie.

[Xumim Blacktarn]

I agree with Shadow. The Campfire should be adequate. We really don't have the means, or the motivation, to start either of the above.

[Darter]

Any time now, any time...

[metalhead]

*coughs in confusion* Pardon, Darter sah?

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

He wants to do it, I think.

PEANUT GALLERYYYYYY!!!! ROSEPAW! **Falls over.**