true !

After all, this comp is mostly internal. There are quite a few painters here I think I could recognise without needing their name in the jpeg.

Anyway, I am also adding my "shame on me" post here, specially as I said I was going to enter "at least something". Then I realised I probably couldn't enter my old marines and titans (painted a long time ago, although never shown before 2010), and I had nothing else that was finished enough that I could show it. In fact I started a Titan and a lone 6mm character for the comp (that lone character was intended as a kind of joke, but eventually you'll see it anyway).

I doubt I could have finished them in time, but anyway since last Saturday I have been almost unable to paint : I can't seat for extended period of time, specially hunched over as I am while painting, since I have awful lower back aches since then (sciatica strike back).

I think for 2011 I'll have to start preparing some entries quite ahead of schedule

Also, I didn't find the rules very easily, and I wasn't sure what I could enter, if multiple entries were still allowed, etc...
I expected to find such informations in this thread, but I didn't. Maybe I simply didn't look hard enough.

It is not so much the anonymity per se that I have a gripe with, as it is the consequenses in terms of visibility in the months leading up to the competition.

IIRC there were two main arguments for the anonymity/secret submission-thing:

1) The wow-factor of miniatures posted early in the comp would wear off, thus putting them at a disadvantage compared to stuff posted near the deadline.

2) People would vote for forum regulars out of habit rather than by judging the actual paint job.

Now as has already been pointed out, many forum regulars already have a distinct paint and photography style that is fairly easily recognised. The question is if issue 1) is big enough to really justify the lack of exposure the competition gets by keeping everything under wraps? Especially when you consider that people can submit stuff that has already been seen on the forum anyway.

Personally I always found it a motivating factor to see people submit stuff along the way.


Criticism aside: Thanks again V for organizing this. I can't wait to see the entries

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I agree Apoc, it is usually easy to determine who painted what regardless of attached name. I personally don't have an issue with anonymous entries in the gallery, but I don't see it as adding much to the competition. Even if it were a physical competition the only way to prevent people from recognizing a painter's style and affecting the voting (if it does) would be to have outside judges who aren't familiar with peoples work pick the winner which removes the community aspect.

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-Vaaish

So for next year:

1. Drop any restrictions on entries.

2. Announce EpiComp starting & progress in several of the more traffic-heavy forums instead of a sub-forum that many folks don't look at.

A sticky right above the "Land Raider" thread is probably the best real estate on this board!

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WAAARGH!!
The Lost & the Dipped

How about if there was a thread where vanvlak or myself posted the entries as they arrived at the email address? This would keep the flow going, would show if you didnt know if your entry had been received and still keep things anon.

Would this be worth doing?

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Shameless plugs in E&C, Otterman and a few other "hobby blog" threads would be good too

I think those always are the first place I check on the board, and I suspect quite a few others do the same

That is a fine idea & it would give people a chance to drop things in early & increase visibility.

You know how the poppy border was up earlier last month for WW1? Perhaps something similar would be appropriate for EpiComp? You don't need Vegas-style lights and explosions with car chases, but maybe we could recruit some StuGmiester art or a WMN photoshop pic for the banner.

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WAAARGH!!
The Lost & the Dipped

How about a prize for 'Best First Timer'?

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Was there really that much of an outcry for anonymous submission after 08? I don't remember anyone making a real fuss over it.

I'll also add that there were no EW, DRM or art categories this year. That could have had something to do with it.

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Dave

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Squats 2019-10-17

Or we could train the members to use the View new posts button at the top right of the page every time they visit .

This would make sure all members see the latest posts and would cut down on potential repetition of topics. EpicComp was mentioned months before the deadline.

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The upcoming deadline was also announced on Warseer. And yes 'view new posts' button... on a forum with a small user base but 70+ sub forums this is pretty much the only sensible option anyway, so i can't really see how the topics can have been missed unless people really do manually trawl tac-coms.

I do like the idea of an Epicomp banner near the deadline though, great way to attract attention.

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AFK with real life, still checking PMs

I'd totally agree, except that "View new posts" purges itself at least twice a day. By 10-11AM, anything that was in the queue at 6AM is gone.

It's easier to add a post or two in a part of the forums that naturally gets more traffic, especially if you are trying to rope in newer folks. "Training" people to change their browsing behavior is likely to be a more difficult route.

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WAAARGH!!
The Lost & the Dipped

TacComms is actually bookmarked with the newposts link for me. I only go through manually when I'm looking for a post not in there.

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Dave

Blog

NetEA Tournament Pack Website

Squats 2019-10-17

That's an especially appealing idea.