TOTM/TOTY

**Theodotos I** · February 28, 2009, 06:29 PM

Okay, something I've been mulling over for a little while, sitting on it, thinking about it. I finally decided I might as well toss it out there. Feel free to shoot it down if you don't like it or consider it impractical.
We have a weekly contest(which is why we're called Tale of the Week

), featuring multiple stories about a single picture. I enjoy the format, but perhaps we can expand upon it.
What I'm proposing is that each month we take the four winning stories and run them off for Tale of the Month(TOTM). We could advertise this contest on the Front Page and perhaps attract voters from the MAARC competition, which would run consecutively.
I realize the difficulty would be that in the past we've often had the same person win two or more times in the same month. As the contests become more publicized and we attract more entrants, I trust this problem will dissipate. Even if it doesn't, I don't see it as a killer. Only one story will be named Tale of the Month, regardless of who is entered.
Two points will be awarded to the winner, cumulative with the point they had won in the initial TOTW, giving them the same ranking as a second-place finisher in the MAARC.
Then, each winning TOTM will be automatically entered in the mother of all “Tale” contests, the grand and glorious Tale of the Year(TOTY). Twelve TOTM winners, vying against each other for the six points handed out as the prize for winning Tale of the Year. We could do advertising on a massive scale for this, as the culmination of the years' worth of writing. Each Tale of the Month would become an even more epic struggle, as writers vied for one of the only twelve slots, the twelve people going to the finals.
Let me know your thoughts. Personally, I think this approach gives each contest a bigger meaning, something beyond itself and the one point awarded. But I welcome any feedback, negative or positive. Slainte! Theo

**Mega Tortas de Bodemloze** · February 28, 2009, 10:59 PM

Lead and we shall follow....

**Nazgûl Killer** · March 01, 2009, 03:04 AM

Well said, Mega.
Theo, I believe that this is a brilliant idea, 4 stories for each month and 12 for each year seems very nice to me.
If you don't want the same person running with two different stories for each month, you can just take the 2nd place instead of that week, or, take the same person using the other story, it can't hurt having 2 of your own stories in the competition.

Anyways, I believe that this is a good idea and will attract many more people, and I suggest that you hold the competitions, Theo.
Today's the 1st of March, at the 30th, hold the competition, and so on and so on... However it might just get tricky, so the TotY should be at the 1st of April, right after the last TotM competition at the 30th of March next year. Anyways, good luck! If you want any help, I'll be more than happy to assist you in holding these competitions.

**Aldgarkalaughskel** · March 01, 2009, 12:38 PM

I have no problem with a monthly and annual runoff of stories, but I don't think more points should be handed out. That way you could win 3 points with one story consisting of 200-400 words. It seems a bit too much.

I agree with you on advertising. ToTW still has a lot of potential to grow and expand.

**Elendil of Númenor** · March 01, 2009, 12:58 PM

Hmm, I don't know. I agree so much points shouldn't be handed out for that. Maybe 1 point for every win. But how about making another type of monthly challenge, where you are allowed to use more words - say 800-1000. Who wins this, wins 3 points or something like that.

I like the general idea for TotM and TotW, though.

**molls** · March 01, 2009, 01:02 PM

jesus, well need a TotW medal soon if you guys go on that way:

- Regular TotW: every 1 Week
- CG TotW: every 2 Weeks
- Monthly Comp: every 4 Weeks

**Musthavename** · March 01, 2009, 02:57 PM

Maybe just for fun, but, if it awarded points I think that's a bit too much, as PW said.

The other thing is that out of say those 4/12 AARs for the Monthly/Yearly contest, won't a lot of it be influenced by the screenshot?

**Sunbird Alkibijad** · March 01, 2009, 05:41 PM

There won't be 12 people in finals.

**Xavier Dragnesi** · March 02, 2009, 11:50 AM

It's an interesting idea. Its true that point accumulation shall be too easy if a point system is worked out, but the idea of a TotM and a TotY is very good, I believe. Perhaps we could enlarge the word limit of TotW so that it can be better suited for TotM and TotY?

@SA: You don't need 12 people, you just need 12 tales.

**Sunbird Alkibijad** · March 02, 2009, 12:56 PM

@xavier.

I know. Never mind, I'm not going to discuss hehehe. But ToTY is a good idea.

**Theodotos I** · March 02, 2009, 05:27 PM

Well, I just tossed some stuff out for discussion--I'm game for anything regarding the points. As for being influenced by the screenshot--who says we have to show the screens. Just run the stories off and if someone wants to see the screens, let them dig. Whether we give more points or not, and perhaps just adding one point for TOTM would be enough--I think this would draw more people to the competition. Me two cents.

**Sunbird Alkibijad** · March 02, 2009, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Theodotos I

Well, I just tossed some stuff out for discussion--I'm game for anything regarding the points. As for being influenced by the screenshot--who says we have to show the screens. Just run the stories off and if someone wants to see the screens, let them dig. Whether we give more points or not, and perhaps just adding one point for TOTM would be enough--I think this would draw more people to the competition. Me two cents.

I agree with your idea, but too many points are too much.
I'm thinking some special badge +1 point on that board. But a real special badge.

**Theodotos I** · March 02, 2009, 05:58 PM

Interesting. Of course, you have to consider how hard it would be to get those points--but I see your point. . .

**Sunbird Alkibijad** · March 02, 2009, 06:13 PM

Have You noticed Xavier, Juvenal and Lysimachos not participating in MAARC, btw?

**Theodotos I** · March 03, 2009, 08:01 AM

Juvi won last month, so he has to sit out. As for the other two, I'm not sure why.

**Sunbird Alkibijad** · March 03, 2009, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Theodotos I

Juvi won last month, so he has to sit out. As for the other two, I'm not sure why.

Wait, if you win, you can't participate in the next?!?!? That, tbh, sucks horribly!(Thank You God, for giving us a fighting chance

)

**Theodotos I** · March 03, 2009, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Sunbird Alkibijad

Wait, if you win, you can't participate in the next?!?!? That, tbh, sucks horribly!(Thank You God, for giving us a fighting chance

)

Correct. First place winners have to sit it out, UNLESS they have another AAR.

**Nazgûl Killer** · March 12, 2009, 02:31 PM

Question that might just be irrelevant, if it is, please direct me to the relevant thread...
How does the point system work? How do you gain points, and how many?

**Sunbird Alkibijad** · March 12, 2009, 05:20 PM

tale of the week gives 3,2,1 points for first, second and third position respectively. AAR competition gives 6,4,2 points I believe, for first, second and third position, respectively. 6 points required for bronze medal. There is a topic with post from PowerWizard explaining it. It's under AAR group, shoot me if I can remember or find it atm.