Contest Rules*
This contest will take place in three stages: landscape design, castle design, and story/scenario scripting. Each stage will have two weeks for entries to be submitted, followed by a week for judging. The winner for each round will be announced at the start of the next stage.

The winning map from each stage will continue on to the next stage to be built upon. For example, the winning landscape map will be used for everyone in Stage Two to build their castle upon.

General Guidelines:

• This is a single player competition.
  

Stage 1 - Landscape Design (Runs January 25th to February 8th)

The challenge: To create a suitable site for a castle in a fertile river valley.

Guidelines:

• Maps should be Invasion type and 400x400
  
• All map editor tools under landscape may be used, except for signposts. Do not place signposts.
  
• Buildings, ruins and troops may not be placed.
  
• Maps will be judged in the following categories:
  -Fulfils the Challenge /10
  -Originality /10
  -Aesthetics /15
  Total: /35
  
• Maps must be submitted by February 8th (forum time) to GillB.
  

Judging will take place February 9th to the 14th, with the winner announced on February 15th, at the start of Stage Two.

Stage 2 - Castle Design (Runs February 15th to March 1st)

The challenge: To build the best castle (out of wood or stone).

Guidelines:

• Contestant may not change the landscape in any way, except for dead tree replacement (or removal to make room for the castle) and replacing parts of rivers with bridges.
  
• Only tools from the buildings section of the editor may be used (i.e. no landscaping)
  
• Do not place troops.
  
• Do not place signposts.
  
• Maps will be judged in the following categories:
  -Originality /10
  -Aesthetic Quality /15
  -Practicality /10
  Total: 35
  
• Maps must be submitted by March 1st (forum time) to GillB.

Stage 3 - Story/Scenario Scripting (Runs March 8th to the April 12th)

The challenge: In this stage the contestants must provide the following for the map: name, story, instructions for play, and scripting.

Guidelines:

• The map type can be changed to fit the story/win requirements.
  
• The map should be reasonably challenging.
  
• Story should be both original and entertaining. The map entry should include both the story and instructions in separate .txt files. The instructions can be in the form of a help file or a readme file, with as much information as you think is necessary or desirable. The in-game story area should include an aspect of the story or instructions, or a combination of both.
  
• Length is not important for the story - it's the content that counts.
  
• The following (and only the following) changes may be made to the map itself:
  **signposts may be placed
  **dead trees (if there are any at this stage) can be replaced
  **troops may be added to fit your scenario
  **animals may be placed if they fit the story/scenario
  
• Maps will be judged in the following categories:
  -Playability /10
  -Balance /10
  -Usefulness and integration of scenario instructions: /5
  -Story /10
  Total: 35
  
• Maps must be submitted by April 12th (forum time) to GillB.

Judging will take place March 23rd to the 28th, with the final winner announced on March 29th.

*With thanks to Thorium for the contest idea, and Zebas for writing the first draft of the rules!

[This message has been edited by Kester (edited 04-14-2005 @ 01:55 AM).]