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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 9:20AM
#1
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As you all may very well know, UnCon (the Wizards of the Coast online convention) is coming soon. As part of the festivities, I've agreed to host and judge a Saga Edition Starship Design Competition. The winner(s) will receive a Fabulous Prize (TM)*, the recognition of his or her peers, and a general sense of awesomenes. Starships submitted will be judged on a scale from 0 to 25, with points coming from three categories. [list=1] Originality (0-5): Statting up an extant, but currently unstatted, ship is worth fewer points than statting up a personalized variant for a particular character, which is worth fewer points than statting up a completely new ship. For a canon example, providing YT-1300 stats is worth less than the stats of the Millennium Falcon, which is worth less than a brand new YQ design of your own making. It should be needless to say, but copying someone else’s stats will result in disqualification.
Fluff and Star Wars Appropriateness (0-10): Each entry should describe the ship and its history within the Star Wars setting: who developed it, when, and why. Although novels are certainly not required (!), something more substantial than “CEC designed it” will garner more points here. Additionally, each ship should strive to fit within the Star Wars universe: 0.5x hyperdrives are rare, single-ship installations; the Empire likes cheap, disposable fighters; etc. This is not to say that playing against type will necessarily cost you points, but that it must be done well (see the first part of this category).
Balance and Role Fulfillment (0-10): Each entry should clearly state the ship’s intended role in the Galaxy Far, Far Away, and then the ship’s stats should support that role. As an example, a ship described as a stock bulk freighter, but sporting massive turbolaser batteries and hangar space for a squadron of fighters, will score few points in this category. Similarly, each ship should be balanced for inclusion in a normal Star Wars Saga Edition game. A space superiority fighter craft with three times the weapons and twice the HP of an X-wing, costing half as much, will do poorly.
The entry with the most points at the end of the day wins. Tie breakers, if required**, will be the three categories, in order (such that, total score being equal, the most original ship will win, followed by the ship with better fit in the SW universe.)
Check back in this thread for an announcement of the contest start. In the meantime, feel free to ask any clarifying questions you've got, and I'll answer them to the best of my ability.
[size=+1]Contest Timeline:[/size]
[list=1]
Contest Opens for Submissions: 12:00:00 AM Eastern Time, October 6th
Contest Closes to Submissions: 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time, October 12th
Winners Announced: October 14th
[Size=+2]The Contest Is Now Ended! Congratulations to our 2008 Winner, Gleemaxbug!!![/size]
* Fabulous Prize (TM) to be determined by UnCon staff, and may not actually exist. Still, bragging rights are worth something, right? In fact, we might get more than one prize to award. More information to follow.
** They may not be. More information to follow.
[size=+1]Clarifications[/size]
How many times can I enter?
[indent]You can submit as many entries as you'd like. (When the time comes, please separate them into separate posts.) However, when it comes time to determine the winner (and especially if multiple winners are allowed), only your best entry will be used. Each separate ship is a separate entry.[/indent]
What about pictures? Can I include them?
[indent]Pictures of your ship are perfectly acceptable to include in your entry. If the picture is your own work, it will be reflected favorably in the "Fluff" category. Moreover, if it's your own rendition of your own starship design, it'll also be reflected favorably in the "Originality" category. You can certainly use someone else's picture as an inspiration, but due credit to the artist should be given, and you shouldn't expect any bonus points for having one. Pictures of your ship should be considered a nice-to-have and certainly not a requirement.[/indent]
Do I have to use the Starships of the Galaxy ship-building rules? Can I make up my own ship components?
[indent]No, you do not have to use the ship customization rules present in Starships of the Galaxy, though you are certainly welcome to use them if you wish. If you want to create special rules for your ship (analogous to the bonus on Mechanics checks that Junker-template ships get) or new components, feel free to do so - but keep in mind your "Balance" score![/indent]
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 11:33AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Feb 12, 2007
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Will a pic of the ship score me extra points? If so what are the rules for using pics?
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 12:24PM
#3
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If you've drawn the picture yourself, including it would be part of the second category.
And, obviously, if it's your own design that will influence the Originality score.
Using someone else's picture as inspiration is fine, of course, but you won't get any bonus points for it.
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 12:50PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2006
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How many submissions can you make?
Do the submissions have to be Star Wars, or just use Saga rules?
Can they use custom equipment, or must the vessel's components come from SotG?
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 12:54PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Feb 12, 2007
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What about adding odd rules to a ship? Something along the lines of "The ship adds +2 to its speed but suffers a -1 on the CT at the end of its turn do to overheating?
Also must we use the shipbuilding charts in SOTG or are we more free to play?
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 1:09PM
#6
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How many submissions can you make?
Do the submissions have to be Star Wars, or just use Saga rules?
Can they use custom equipment, or must the vessel's components come from SotG?
1. I don't see a reason to limit the submissions to 1 per person; however, for purposes of determining (the) winner(s), only your best submission will count.
2. This is a Star Wars Saga Edition contest.
3. Custom equipment is fine, but beware of losing too many points from your "Balance" score. 
What about adding odd rules to a ship? Something along the lines of "The ship adds +2 to its speed but suffers a -1 on the CT at the end of its turn do to overheating?
Also must we use the shipbuilding charts in SOTG or are we more free to play?
1. As above, custom equipment and new rules are fine (like those present in the Junker and Mandalian ship templates), but beware submitting an unbalanced ship because of it.
2. You are not required to use the shipbuilding charts in SotG, but may if you wish.
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 1:15PM
#7
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Also must we use the shipbuilding charts in SOTG or are we more free to play?
And along those lines, is there any 'official unofficial' errata to the ship templates, like a smaller version of the light freighter? The difference between it and anything smaller is so vast, it's impossible to recreate many starships in the SW Galaxy without deviating massively from the templates.
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5 years ago ::
Sep 30, 2008 - 1:16PM
#8
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Good questions, guys. Carthaginian: Let me know if you still need your question addressed.
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5 years ago ::
Oct 01, 2008 - 1:46AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Feb 12, 2007
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Would the stock + upgraded model count as one submission?
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5 years ago ::
Oct 01, 2008 - 9:15AM
#10
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As in, you want to submit (by example) a YT-1300 and the Millennium Falcon?
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