Revision as of 16:53, 2 January 2011

Brief

Create a piece of equipment. There are two groups:

• Armour Retexture Group - This group is creating a new texture for an existing DAO armour or shield.
• Weapon New Model Group - This group is creating a new weapon or shield model.

The contest discussion thread can be found here.

DEADLINE: Monday 10 January - your entry must be ready for judging before midday GMT+0. It is strongly recommended you submit well before this time (sunday!) in case you run into troubles. Modifications to your submission are welcomed - the newest version of your entry will be judged, although modifications made after the submission date will not be judged.

Requirements

All entries must (many of these steps are covered in the video tutorial):

• complete the |entry checklist below and agree to the |Consent to Share
• include either a retexture OR a new model for the piece of equipment

• have a unique ID in a variations GDA
  • reserve a variation slot on the Contest ID page
  • create the variations GDA

• be created as an item in the toolset
  • have a name/description/style that fits DA-canon or generic-canon (do not make a lightsaber or reference the Dagobah system in the description, for example, but you do not need to reference Ferelden)
  • create a dadbdata of the item (R click the item resource > Builder to Builder Create)

Guidelines

Strong entries will:

• have a strong visual design

• Retexture Group:
  • if using an existing DA model, make the new texture distinctly different so as to do something "new"
  • have a high quality of texture at a suitable resolution (see below)
  • accommodate tinting the item

• new Model Group: - (in addition to texture standards above)
  • be positioned and scaled correctly to fit character and animations well.
  • have a high quality of model
  • use a suitable polycount (see below) and use the budget effectively

Suggestions

• New Model Group: sword, blunt weapon, staff, bow, shield,
• Retexture Group: clothing (full-body), chest armour, boots, gloves, shield

Allowable

While no "bonus points" will be given for the following, entries may:

• create armours for just one race/gender combination (HM, HF, EM, EF, DM, DF, QM). Obviously, creating for all seven combinations is great too :)
• use existing DA models provided a new texture is made which is distinctly different
• use existing DA textures provided a new model is made which is distinctly different
• modify existing DA models or textures provided the overall texture/model combination is dintinctly different from the original
• include several pieces in one submission (ex. boots, gloves, chest items as an item set)
• entering the contest several times, including entering both groups (provided a single entry only enters a single group)

Not Allowable

Please:

• do not use somebody elses model or texture unless you have permission to do so under the consent to share outlined below
• do not submit weapons for which there is no suitable animation (For example, there is no DA animation for thrusting with a pike, firing a sling, etc)
• a single entry may not enter both groups - your entry is EITHER a new (textured) model, OR it is a retextured existing model

Groups and Prizes

Groups

This contest has two groups. A single entry may only enter one group.

Retexture Group

• 1st place - 10 points, chooses first
• 2nd place - 5 points, chooses second
• 3rd place - 3 points, chooses third
• Best Newcomer - 3 points (unless 1st, 2nd or 3rd place)
• All other entries meeting requirements - 1 point

New Model Group

• 1st place - 15 points, chooses first
• 2nd place - 10 points, chooses second
• 3rd place - 5 points, chooses third
• Best Newcomer - 3 points (unless 1st, 2nd or 3rd place)
• All other entries meeting requirements - 1 point

Best Newcomer Award

If an entrant has not entered a Community Contest before, they qualify for the Best Newcomer Award. This award is given to the newcomer with the highest number of votes.

Prizes

Please see Community Contest Prizes

Helpful Links

New Model Group

• Custom Weapon Appearances - covers how to set up a weapon in 3DS Max for exporting.
• Adding item appearances to DA - covers how to add your new appearance to DA without replacing anything.
• Eshme's Import/Export Script for 3ds max and GMax (new models only)
• Texture Formats - Builder Wiki
• ItemVariation Documentation - Builder Wiki

Retexture Group

• Retexturing an existing model - covers how to find and retexture a DA armour model.
• Adding item appearances to DA - covers how to add your new appearance to DA without replacing anything.
• Tutorial: Reskinning an Item - Builder Wiki
• Texture Formats - Builder Wiki
• ItemVariation Documentation - Builder Wiki

Guidelines (extended)

Models

As a guideline (not a strict limit), aim for 1000 - 2000 triangles for weapon/shield models. Anything over 3000 triangles had better have a very good reason for it ;)

Textures

The recommended is in line with DA spec. Its pretty safe to go over though, but you shouldnt need more than double the texture space. I would not recommend using two or more textures - its really not needed for equipment.

Weapons/shields

• recommended: 512x512
• reasonable maximum: 512x1024

Full-body outfit (includes hands/gloves and feet/boots)

• recommended: 1024x1024
• reasonable maximum: 1024x2048

Chest

• recommended: 1024x1024
• reasonable maximum: 1024x1024

Boots/gloves

• recommended: 256x256
• reasonable maximum: 256x512

GDA (variations)

Remember that you should be EXTENDING (and not replacing) the variations. This also applies to replacing textures - forcibly overwriting textures WILL BE JUDGED UNFAVORABLY, since it requires extra work to fix. As such your variations sheet should contain ONLY one extra line.

Mike will include a screenshot of his finished GDA once he's done.

Entries

Entry File(s)

File Contents:

• dadbdata of your item file
• variations GDA
• mmh, msh, phy, mao, dds as appropriate

File Format: one .7z file (preferred)

Checklist

1. Create your file (see above)
2. Create a Dragon Age Nexus page for your entry and upload the above file. Please include "Community Contest" in the title.
3. Edit this page with a description and pictures of your content.
   • Please include pictures which are both functional as well as attractive (so your work can be seen clearly)
   • Link to your DA Nexus page. See the sample entry.
4. Optionally, let us know in the Contest Discussion Thread that you've entered

For the general entry guidelines (as well as more detail on the above steps), please see the Entry FAQs

For information on Judging, please see the Judging page.

Consent to Share

IMPORTANT - consent to share

By entering this competition you consent to share your work for other community members to benefit from.
Where appropriate, source files should be shared (prop models, VFXProj files). 
The work *MUST* be your own (obviously you may use DA assets).
Others may use and modify your work in their Dragon Age mods, though are encouraged to give credit. 
As the entries are judged, local copies will be saved If your work is taken down.
If your work is taken down, you allow for it to be re-uploaded, crediting the work in your name.  

Warhammer by mikemike37

• Dragon Age Nexus project page

This is just a sample entry for others to see the sort of thing judges might expect to see, and the format in which it has been submitted.

NOTE: it is not a requirement of this contest to create the script to give the item to the player, or create any kind of player package. You do have to create the item in the toolset and export it as a dadbdata though.

Judges' Comments

Judges will leave comments both as contructive suggestions for the entrant and also as impartial guidance for any looking to make use of your work.

HjorrMikill by Nattfodd

• Dragon Age Nexus project page
• BSN project page

HjorMikill means GreatSword in ancient language. Protected by the mountains and snow, this sowrd was probably forged for a King when the elders were young, to protect in troubled times. This sword is the backbone of the life a warrior knows, forged in fire and ice: who will be the one ready to let this old sword to sing again?

Judges' Comments

Judges will leave comments both as contructive suggestions for the entrant and also as impartial guidance for any looking to make use of your work.