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[42]

Note - These guidelines are currently being re-written. As such, some of the content on this page may be out of date. Until further notice, though, all the rules on this page still hold. Any questions, feel free to send a PM to Hive Lord.

Introduction

Thanks for visiting the Contests board!

Competitions are run every month here at Tau Online (usually three per month) and are a great way of taking part on the Tau Online community. Although there are prizes for the winners, we are happy to promote a friendly atmosphere where all are welcome to compete and have fun, no matter the standard!

The Competitions

We generally will be running three competitions each month here at Tau Online. The definitive calandar for competitions can be found here. There will be one main Painting Competition, another miscellaenous competition and a Cod. Cod? Yes, a Competition On Demand where you get to vote for the competition you want to happen the next month.

Every year we hold a few special competitions which will run on an annual basis such as a huge Fluff Competition and the longest running competition ever - the highly revered and prestigious (and a bit of a laugh sometimes!) Tau Online Awards!

We are always happy to accept ideas for new competitions to run. If you have any thoughts, please don't hesitate to post them in the Suggestions Box .

The Rules

Unless otherwise stated, there are a few rules that hold true for all competitions (and for voters as well as entrants!). 

• One entry per member, unless explicitly stated otherwise - you may resubmit an entry or change your submission prior to the deadline, but only one entry per member will be entered in the final poll.
• In model competitions, three photos may be entered of your entry.
• A model may not be entered into more than one competition,
• Addendum; this rule is not set entirely in stone - a single model from a squad or army entry may be re-entered in some cases, or a single-miniature entry re-entered in a squad competition, as long as it does not form a "centerpiece".
• Entries must not reveal the author of the piece (credit in photos, etc).
• To maintain confidentiality and a positive atmosphere, avoid from criticizing entries or saying who you voted for till after the winners have been revealed.  Please inform us, though, if you spot an illegal entry.

Submissions

If you have trouble uploading images to a host or understanding how to submit attachments, don't worry - we're happy to help!  We all had trouble with tech issues like that once!

However, it must be stressed that it is the responsibility of the submitter to supply ready-to-go entries.  We of the committee are not responsible for trimming images, picking photos from a group, navigating an album to find the photos, or any similar actions.

We are here to help, but we are not your parents or guardians - most members of the committee are at school or work full-time, and have important commitments beyond Tau Online.

The Prizes

We love to give away prizes here at the Contests board to reward the immensly talented group of members here! Placing highly in Official Tau Online competitions is rewarded with competition points as follows -

1st Place - 10 Points
2nd Place - 5 Points
3rd Place - 2 Points

However if many people enter a competition more postitions will score points! I hear you asking though,

"What do points mean?"
42: "Prizes!"

Competition Points are stored in The Bank and can be exchanged for Karma and even custom titles. In addition to this, the top three placers in competitions will always recieve a highly coveted Official Tau Online Winners Seal to sit smugly in your profile!

How They Work

All entries for competitions, unless explicitly stated will have the following set of dates -

Dates to submit an entry - 1st-21st of the Month
Dates when voting will happen - 22nd-29th of the Month
Date for the winner to be announced - 30th of the Month

For painting competitions most people upload pictures onto photobucket before sending them to Novae via pm. The general deadline for competitions is that entries must find there way to my inbox (or anther person in the competition committee) by midnight on the 21st (Midnight BST/GMT) for inclusion into the competitions. I'll always try my best to include latecomers but they will only be admitted at my discresion.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions about Competitions, Rules, The Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything then feel to PM Dra'Tuisch-Novae, Hive Lord, or the appropriate member (such as Timjim if you have a problem with your award seal).


Cheers,

--42 (and the rest of the Competition Committee)

P.S.:  Sometimes we run a few hours or a day behind posting various contest related threads.  With both Dra'Tuisich-Novae and Hive Lord around, we generally are able to handle things.

However, keep the following in mind:

[Dra'Tuisich-Novae]

The Current Team

Following a big reshuffle, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to the committee as it stands today.

Dra'Tuisch Novae - Hailing from Canada, I started out responsible for making up the rules to the monthly competitions each month and then took over from 42 when he stepped down.  I haven't smiled or felt happy looked back since .

Hive Lord - The Maths guru of the team!  Hard-working in the extreme, Hive Lord is deputy head of the committee and is responsible for a great deal of organization, planning, and daily maintainance in the committee.

King Winter - Currently away for military training, King Winter is the jovial creator of 'Competitions on Demand' (more affectionately known as CoD) and a very hard worker. He is/was often responsible for brainstorming ideas for new competitions.

Timjim - Timjim, as well as entering a good number of competitions himself, is responsible for the victory seals that competition winners receive each month.




42 - The former head of the committee and a font of knowledge, 42 stepped down late in 2007.

Afterscrescent - Imperial Guard moderator and former deputy committee head, AC stepped down along with 42 so that he could pursue more real-life commitments.

Toastmaster - Toasty had the job of announcing winners at the end of each month, and fielding general questions, but he is no longer active on the forums.

Tau-killer - T-k joined the team briefly  after 42 and AfterCrescent left to take up some of the slack.

Generalissimo Stankov - Our American fisherman! Another top bloke with a great sense of humour, Stankov still drops in once in a while and advertises current competitions.

Pollo - Pollo left due to real-life commitments, he was responsible for making and distributing the coveted official Award Seals.

[Redbeard]

Rules question for you:

In all competitions, your submission must not have been entered in a previous contest.

Can the same model be entered in two contests running simultaneously, as neither is a previous contest?   Assuming, of course, that it fits in both.

Case in point;  A new ork weirdboy.  He's a psyker, and he's a new ork model, so he qualifies for both contests.

[Hive Lord]

Sorry - the rule is meant so that you can only enter a model into any competition once.

I'll change the wording now to avoid any future confusion.

Now, you have to make the tough decision as to which of the two you will enter it into

[Redbeard]

Ok, another question...

(Not trying to be difficult or anything, just want to know what's allowed prior to doing anything).

If I entered a model in a prior contest, but then repainted it, is that allowed?  If yes, how much of the model has to be repainted in order to make them valid again?  (I'm repainting the skin on all my orks)

[Dra'Tuisich-Novae]

That's actually a very good question... so good, in fact, that Hive Lord and I are stumped.  If the model's painting is significantly different I think it's fair game, but not just touchups and the like.  Any chance you could send me before and after shots of a mini or two so the Committee can come to a consensus?

Again, it's a good question... a precedent-setting one, at that.

[knightperson]

This one seems obvious, but it isn't actually specified anywhere.  If I have an entry in a competition, can I vote on it?  Either my entry or the contest in general.  For the few that I've entered I take the high road and not vote in that contest, but it surprises me that I could actually vote for myself.  Is that supposed to be 1) impossible, 2) forbidden, 3) merely frowned on, or 4) expected?

[Boneguard]

You are allow to vote...just not for yourself. As stated in the youngblood competition (page 2):

EDIT: also, are people who posted entries allowed to vote? Or would it be classed as cheating even if you don't vote your own?

As Boneguard said, you may vote, just not for yourself.

http://forums.tauonline.org/index.php?topic=72506.15

[Boneguard]

Alright sorry about the double post but I got a quick question which might help other in the competition.

Now although converted and, to a certain point, scratch built is OK; all models have to be GW. Does this also includes Forge World models since it's a GW subsidiary?.

[Dra'Tuisich-Novae]

Generally, contests exclude Forge World because of the 'exclusive' nature of FW models.  Once in a while we have a FW-allowed (or even FW-specific) contest, though.

[Mr X]

Umm... I use a couple of forge world parts in my converted guard, just the head and grav chutes, the rest is completely cadian, but is that ok?

[Dra'Tuisich-Novae]

Umm... I use a couple of forge world parts in my converted guard, just the head and grav chutes, the rest is completely cadian, but is that ok?

I believe that comes under the "conversion" allowance... it really varies depending on the competition, degree of conversion, and the like, but it's probably fine.