The Contest System of Temuair
What is the contest system?
Why participate in the contest system?
Contest Rules
Tips for Success
Explanations for the Contest Types
What is the contest system?
This library contains player created art, literature, philosophy, history, and lore created by people as their player character to represent the Dark Ages world itself. All of these entries were first submitted as contest pieces and each of them was awarded based on their ability to meet criteria for their given categories.
In the beginning, the original Dark Ages GM ran all contests. Each contest had a set deadline every month and those that were submitted would be judged by the GM with winners being announced on the Dark Ages website. Over-time newer GMs became less interested in judging contests so eventually the current mostly player-run contest system was implemented after a few different iterations.
Currently, the way contests work is thus: Players must attend classes held at the Mileth College. After every class attended, there is a small chance of obtaining an 'Educated Mark' on your Legend (approximately 25% chance per class attended). After obtaining three of these marks you are allowed to enter the Contest Hall on the lower right side of the Mileth College map to post an entry for judging. Once an entry is posted, former contest winners are asked to critique the entry and then give a suggested award level.
As you might imagine, this is not the most fool proof system and does have its drawbacks. However, players involved with the Mileth College and the Contest System have done the best they can to make it work. If you have any particular questions about an aspect of the contest system, the current contest host is 'Laurier', contact them in-game and I'm sure they'll be more than happy to answer.
Why participate in the contest system?
The contests are a unique feature to Dark Ages. The contest system might be considered the social 'end game' of Dark Ages. Becoming an award winner opens your character to greater social responsibility:
- Teach College Classes: Award winners are able to teach their own classes. As a classroom teacher, your classes give students the ability to gain Educated Marks that allow them to submit their own contest entries.
- Advance to High Clergy: Priests gain the ability to advance rank in their temples, enabling them to provide more for their congregation.
- Create Guilds: Having an award allows you to create your own guild. As of this writing, the game population is small so it may be difficult to get enough people to do it. But if you find your social standing high enough to inspire others (or you just get enough of your friends to play), than you can lead them in the formation of their own guild.
If access to additional levels of social structure isn't motivation enough, winning contests does come with a number of more tangible perks:
- Legend Mark: Award Winners gain a unique legend mark that shows which contest you won and what rank it was awarded.
- Clout: If you are involved in politics, winning an award will give you a set amount of clout depending on the rank awarded.
- Unique Noble Garments/Titles: Aisling level works are awarded a special currency that is redeemable for Unique Noble Garments as well as temporary noble titles that appear on the world list.
Contest Rules
Written by Former Contest Host MaeSen
Official Contest Rules
- Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Should an entry be noticed as containing or being constituted of plagiarized material, please report it to a Contest Host. If they are not available for some reason, let one of the Knights know. (( Individuals utilizing reference material from sources other than their own creative works MUST cite their sources! )) You will be disqualified and barred from entering other works if you attempt this.
- Those with more than one jail or arrest mark, or any combination thereof, are not allowed to enter the contests. This decision was made by the Mundanes. (( You can enter on an alternate character if they qualify, but it can only be entered in their name. ))
- If you receive your first or second jail/arrest mark while having the mark of Nobility, you will be marked for denouncing immediately. We are mentors, keep that in mind.
- Those of you who have been Sgathed are not allowed to enter the contests. (( You can enter on an alternate character if they qualify, but if can only be entered in their name. ))
- Those suspected of bribing, coercing, or otherwise harassing other Nobles for cotes on their entries will be reported to a ranger and/or the Mundanes for further review.
- Your submitted entries may not violate Mundane Law. Works containing inappropriate or non-contextual profanity will be disqualified at the discretion of a Contest Host, and forwarded to a Ranger and/or Mundanes for review.
- You are not allowed to vote for a sibling's entry, your own entry, nor may a sibling (or siblings) vote for an entry if you have already done so. Those suspected of this will be reported to the Mundanes.
- Altering your work after submitting it for review is not permissible. Works that are significantly altered during the course of the vote and/or Mundane review will be disqualified at the Contest Host's discretion.
- Each Aisling may submit only one entry per Deoch. Any entry posted before a full Deoch has passed since their previous entry will be disqualified. Ask a Contest Host for information on when you can enter again.
- Nobles and Rangers must spend the five "Educated" marks in order to submit an entry. Works not accompanied by the Global Shout will be disqualified. (Editor's note: The required number of marks is now three instead of five)
- ((Use of Nexon/'s intellectual property pertaining to unreleased content - including, but not limited to, images, quests, armors, icons, skills, spells, animations, or any other content either from LOD, or unreleased but unimplemented within this client, is a violation of the ToS, and is strictly prohibited.))
- All entries must relate to/evoke the theme of Temuair. ((Entries should be free of OOC content (Heresy), and MUST be DA-related.))
- All entries must be either posted on the Contest Board or Posted on a Foreign Board ((AKA a website, etc. This method is preferred. NO downloads!))
- Once you have voted, you can not change your vote. This helps the Contest Board and possibly the Contest Host.
- Individuals found to be breaking the rules, in addition to being disqualified, may have any existing nobility taken away from them, or may be barred (permanently or temporarily) from making future entries.
Tips for Success
Speaking from my own experience both judging entries and reading the reviews of other judges, these are a few tips that may be helpful in getting the most out of whatever kind of entry you plan on making.
General Advice: 'Invoking the Theme' is the most important aspect of any entry. Whatever category you are entering, include imagery and feeling from the Dark Ages world. The greatest works all found a way to feel like they belong in the game itself. Also, keep in mind that Dark Ages is set in a fantastical dreamland rooted in gothic horror. Don't assume that Temuair must follow real-world parallels, because there is no need for it to. It is more interesting, and more fun to create works for, if Temuair as a world has its own unique sets of circumstances. (Example: Stars in the Temuarian sky aren't necessarily giant orbs of fire seen from across the universe.)
For written entries: Proper grammar, spelling, and paragraph structure are the foundation of a written entry. Although entries are judged foremost on the content of their writing as it relates to the category entered, judges are prone to look more favorably on entries that are aesthetically pleasing. Proofread your work and use proper structure. If you are hosting your entry on a website, use complimentary fonts and color schemes.
Poetry: Poetry entries are notoriously hard to judge and typically don't end up being ranked highly. Both because good poetry is hard to write and most judges have no idea how to properly judge them. Using proper poetry techniques and explaining how you used them in a postscript paragraph will help your entry be judged appropriately.
Art: Art entries are the most common works submitted to the contests. You don't necessarily need to be an amazing artist to win an award; taking imagery from the game and putting your own unique spin and style on it will always make people take notice.
History: Don't get too hung up on agreeing with other History works from the library. The only unassailable accountings of history in the Dark Ages world are the words of the NPCs in-game, the Temuair Timeline, and The Sancheas Temuair. If you have an idea that contradicts another work in the Library, follow the "Yes, and..." or "Yes, but..." rules of thumb.
Persona: Persona entries are the rarest contest entries submitted. Although most Persona entries are auto-biographies, you don't need to write about yourself for it to be a Persona entry. You could write it about a Mundane or about another Aisling (with their permission). If you do write an autobiography be sure not to gloss over your own faults. A puff piece about yourself almost assuredly won't be met well by the judges.
Art Artwork or music created and owned by you, directly related to Dark Ages.
Tips:- Evoke the theme.
- Specify something found in Temuair.
- Use a style appropriate to your piece's mood and the overall theme.
In-character, your character is considered to have created this work of art.
Biography/Persona A biography of an Aisling or a mundane in Temuair. Submissions will be judged for cohesion with the world of Temuair, literary quality, sincerity and originality. The character need not have done incredible deeds. The importance lies in how completely you describe all or any aspects of the character's biography.
- Evoke the theme.- Don't be an alien. Unless there is a very good reason, you were born somewhere in known Temuair.
- Include and animate some mundanes.
In-character, your character is considered to have told this tale about him or herself, and acclaimed some fame for it.
History Temuairan History: History of in-character events in the Dark Ages world.
Grinneal History: History of significant events before the appearance of the tuatha de danaan.
Danaan History: History of significant events after the appearance of the tuatha and before Danaan's Great Sacrifice.
Deoch History: History of significant events after the appearance of the first Aisling.
Works directly relevant to Temuair are appreciated. Imagine the events that occur, which newer Aislings have no chance to hear about. Today's events become tomorrow's legend. If the work includes entertainment, storytelling, and/or character development, then it should be a literature entry instead of a history entry.
Tips:- Evoke the theme. Research.
- Include and animate some mundanes.
- Pick an important event that affects Aislings now.
- Don't attribute actions to Temuairan gods without good reason. Don't make up new races, gods, and so on without good reason.
In-character, your character is considered to have written the work.
Literature: Story/Poem Literature written by you, based in the Dark Ages. world, Temuair
Story: Prose writing of actual characters in Dark Ages, or ones never-yet heard of, but in the Dark Ages world.
Poem: Poetry based on Dark Ages.
Tips:- Evoke the theme. Research.
- Include and animate some mundanes. Evoke the mood of locales, the sensation of items or experiences.
In-character, your character is considered to have written or told the work of literature.
LoreOut-of-character or in-character manual-quality material. It may be on any aspect of the Dark Ages game or world.
Tips:- Pick a topic useful to new Aislings.
- Pick a topic you are an expert on.
In-character, your character is considered to have written an article of lore about the aspect of Temuair.
PhilosophyTemuairan Philosophy
Theory: This may be a magical theory, a treatise on a particular creature, or anything that inspires you and is considered 'plausible.'
Theology: A theory, treatise, or essay in-character about a deity in Dark Ages, that is either known to exist or reasonably exists but is not known.
Sociology: A social treatise. Not a propaganda document or doctrine; instead, a useful document. For example, a creative treatise on the merchant's trade of Abel.
Your own: Another humanity work you are inspired to write.
If the work is more practical in nature, perhaps it better as a Lore submission.
Tips:- Evoke the theme. Research.
- Don't plagiarize Earth's philosophical treatises.
- Don't put words in a Temuairan god's mouth. Do be creative. Don't make up things that don't fit into Temuair.
In-character, your character is considered to have written the work.