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VLDC11 - Discussion and Questions

You can use this thread to discuss the contest in a general setting and ask questions about what is and isn't allowed. You shouldn't use it to post screenshots of your levels because as a judge and the host I want to be able to answer questions without seeing progress on levels until I actually start judging things. Have fun with your levels everyone!


This thread isn't where you submit your final level! Use the Submissions and Rules Thread for that!




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Going to try and preempt a question or two down here:

What happened to the "New Contest" that was listed in the Event Calendar?
To be completely honest, there was a new contest in planning, one that was supposed to happen quickly after LM3.0 launched that would focus on 3.0's features. But as we developed the rules, it became clear that we were essentially making a "VLDC-lite" contest, since it was also a vanilla contest using slightly different VLDC rules. So we decided to just go ahead and make it into a full VLDC and here we are now. I'll admit to messing with expectations on purpose a little bit. I wanted this to be a bit of a surprise to people!

It's not called the 11th Annual Vanilla Level Design Contest anymore?
Well, we skipped a year so I didn't feel like we should include "Annual" in the name anymore. It's mostly just semantics on my end.

Where is the VLDCX collab?
It's still being worked on but progress has been slow. We figured we shouldn't let it stop us from hosting another VLDC.

Why are the graphics rules more restrictive this year?
We removed the ability to do recolors and merge tiles because those two really go beyond the original intent of the contest and place a weird emphasis on aesthetics over design. So we wanted to try and move back towards a level design focus with the contest. Hopefully everyone will understand.

Can I change anything that's not part of the entry?
You can do whatever you want as long as your entry level follows the contest rules and is easily accessible, but none of it affects your score. The judges only care about your level.
i hope i win
Windowless ride, feeling alive
Are you alive or just breathing?
More concentration on level design instead of making levels not vanilla but vanilla? Count me in!
Great, but doesn't mixing tilesets already breaks the rule of 8×8 tileset editor? (When having >6 gfx files)
wheres the chocolate contest
This is certainly a great contest. I wonder if I'll have the time and inspiration to participate.
It's easily the best thing I've done
So why the empty numb?
Thanks for the no secret exits rule btw.
I have some questions for the staff (or someone) in charge of this contest.

1) Would the VLDC11 have composers to do a soundtrack?
2) Would the staff make the VLDC11 less complex? (like VLDC7)
3) Why not 1 (one) more exit for the level?
Originally posted by Roberto zampari

3) Why not 1 (one) more exit for the level?


Secret exits are nothing but stretching the level's actual length.
You gonna have to play the same level twice for wrong reasons.
Guess this is my cue to finish my level that's been almost complete since May of last year.

Also Morsel as a judge 👀
Originally posted by Roberto zampari
I have some questions for the staff (or someone) in charge of this contest.

1) Would the VLDC11 have composers to do a soundtrack?
2) Would the staff make the VLDC11 less complex? (like VLDC7)
3) Why not 1 (one) more exit for the level?


1. Ultima brought up the idea and I think I might go ahead with it if people want to contribute new remixes.

2. I'm pretty sure this ruleset is already close to the complexity that was VLDC7's ruleset.

3. This is already answered in the rules:
Quote
We’ve chosen to restrict multiple exits this year because more often than not they drag down a level’s overall quality by adding length to a level but rarely any depth. In all the contests I’ve judged, a level with two or more exits will almost always score lower than it would have if it only had one exit. We are continually experimenting with our contest rulesets, and this year we want to see how this change especially affects levels.
I must admit the aesthetic-restrictive rules are interesting this time (recoloring and merging was always too much in my opinion).

Currently busing with another project but if I have motivation to do a level for this contest I'll probably do.
Layout made by MaxodeX
2021 TRENO vibe check thread
Originally posted by FPzero
2. I'm pretty sure this ruleset is already close to the complexity that was VLDC7's ruleset.


Oh, it seems that i don't explained a tiny detail.

I'm talking about the Overworld to be designed.
Will the VLDC11 have Overworld to access the levels?
roberto please read the base thread before asking questions
Read the whole Rules. There is no collab planned.
I would love to take part in this contest.

But I fail at level design AND aesthetics so I don't know.
                                                                                                                  
                              
Nice changes! And thanks to all the judges as well. Looking forward to how this turns out!
Can you use Palette Editor for BG and FG or changing the BG from a level? And for example, could I use Super GFX Bypass if I want to change a grassland FG for the one from castles?
When you find out you can't merge or recolor tiles and include more than one exit in your level. When they see faces of those who love finding secret exits, the judges are like...

Seriously, though, I like how the rules of this contest have changed. Making ExGFX rules more restrictive actually makes the contest feel more vanilla than last time. Though I'm indeed kinda disappointed that we cannot include secret exits, as I stated before, it's bad news for secret exit lovers. On the other hand, it means lesser likeliness of jank resulting from the way of getting to the secret exit.

Originally posted by OP
You shouldn't use it to post screenshots of your levels because as a judge and the host I want to be able to answer questions without seeing progress on levels until I actually start judging things.
Sorry if I've found a loophole, but could this be taken easy collapsing screenshots or linking to them?

Originally posted by N450
Can you use Palette Editor for BG and FG?
Yes.

EDIT: Typo
I have a Discord server as well! (by joining, you agree to the rules)
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Basically, I believe in peace and bashing two bricks together.

Originally posted by Emerald Shell
Originally posted by OP
You shouldn't use it to post screenshots of your levels because as a judge and the host I want to be able to answer questions without seeing progress on levels until I actually start judging things.
Sorry if I've found a loophole, but could this be taken easy collapsing screenshots or linking to them?

I suppose you could link them in collapsing spoiler tags since that means the judge doesn't have to see it, but you can also just make a thread for your level and show things off there if you want to.