Expand the Winter Village Contest IV

[Legonardo]

Am I aloud to do a hobbit themed winter village??

tried that last year, my entry didn't get accepted

im sad about the 16* limit, its pretty tiny...

[ShaydDeGrai]

Have read a few complaints about the new rules and even though i fall into the camp of people who have already worked towards a full building entry this year, I certainly don't think it's fair to complain. The competition is not about the prizes for me, I just enjoying building & designing lego WV. I will do so regardless of the ability to enter a competition with my creation.I hope everyone else who has pre built an entry that cannot now be used can share this sentiment...

Well I, for one, haven't pre-built or even pre-designed anything in anticipation of the contest and I have kind of mixed feelings about that concept in general - I can appreciate people wanting to get into the spirit early, but I don't think anyone has the "right" to be bitter or even irritated by the notion that the Mods "changed the rules out from under them." I think we should just all be grateful that there are contests (and prizes) regardless of the rules (or unexpected rule changes).

Then again, I've always been more of a "building for its own sake" than a "build to win type" (that's why - despite many PM's and invites I've never done things like MOC Olympics, too much focus on equating "victory" with "fun" I'd rather just focus on the fun and if people like what I'm doing - great). I used to be a very competitive (and usually successful at it) person but I eventually got over it.

That said, I have participated in this contest in the past and, because of the rule change, do not anticipate entering this year - not because I've been secretly masterminding the ultimate entry which now doesn't meet the requirements, rather, I'm sitting it out because the contest is asking for something that I'd never build _unless_ it were for a contest. I love the Winter _Village_ theme but found the Winter _Market_ concept to be a bit lame and the requested scale (16x16) to be too tiny to fit into _my_ annual Winter Village set-up. Does this mean it's a _bad_ contest or the rules are somehow unfair? Of course not - it just means it's not something I feel like pursuing and am likely not going to enter.

I look forward to seeing what _other_ people come up with within these constraints and I wish them all well.

And to any disgruntled "pre-builders" out there, I'd recommend just asking yourself a few simple questions: Are you proud of what you've done? Did you enjoy designing and building it? If you answered yes to either of those, then does it really matter if qualifies for a contest?

Anyway just wanted to say thanks to the mods for keeping this comp running and I look forward to seeing some great entries.

Here, here! And best of luck to all those who chose to enter.

[CM4Sci]

Wait, so, this has to be a market thing and not our own building?

-Sci

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

And to any disgruntled "pre-builders" out there, I'd recommend just asking yourself a few simple questions: Are you proud of what you've done? Did you enjoy designing and building it? If you answered yes to either of those, then does it really matter if qualifies for a contest?

I'll reiterate what I said before--I acknowledge that EB sets the rules and is giving away the sets for free, so I have no "right" to complain. I think it's more that I'm expressing personal disappointment that I worked hard on something and it doesn't qualify. I get the impression that other EBers have either a huge supply of bricks or a great deal of time to devote to their projects. I've entered only a few other contests here, and I've never gotten many votes. The competition is really, really good, but I can't tell if my projects are comparatively lousy or if I'm working from limited resources or what.

My personal hope was that I had a chance at being competitive for this year's WV contest because of the work and detail that I put into my project over the last year. It was built from multiple trips to the Pick-a-Brick wall, endless searching for specific CMFs who fit with the scene, and a few special orders on Bricklink and eBay for just the right pieces.

At this point, I'm leaning towards posting my build anyway even if it's not eligible. I do like what I built and I hope you will too (once it's finished). My disappointment in the rules is a personal thing, and it's ultimately my problem rather than EB's.

[Hinckley]

Town themed or Friends themed means NO Technic pieces at all?

There are Technic pieces in Friends sets. Haven't you read my reviews?

[Jim]

There are Technic pieces in Friends sets. Haven't you read my reviews?

Uhh...well...yes of course I did

I'm kinda new in this area, but I will read your reviews from now on

(Seriously, I will look into them)

I do like this winter village themed contest a lot. And I sure hope people won't take it too seriously and start building way in advance. Just wait for the rules and build accordingly, instead of prebuilding the rest of the year. So thumbs up for Pandora

And if you do have something built, just show us!! Can't wait to see these well prepared MOCs!!

[Rick]

Would a seller of toy swords be aloud?

I don't see why not. Just make sure it fits the Winter Village theme.

I get the impression that other EBers have either a huge supply of bricks or a great deal of time to devote to their projects.

This is one of the reasons why the competition a little "smaller" (with a similar prize pool) for a change. Next to focusing the attention on detail, we also want to give people with small(er) collections a fair chance.

[Pandora]

Town themed or Friends themed means NO Technic pieces at all?

There are Technic pieces in Friends sets. Haven't you read my reviews?

There are tons of Friends sets with Technic pieces, including the Bakery that Hinck reviewed. For a full list for thorough research the Friends Review Index is here.

I do like this winter village themed contest a lot. And I sure hope people won't take it too seriously and start building way in advance. Just wait for the rules and build accordingly, instead of prebuilding the rest of the year. So thumbs up for Pandora

Thanks Jim, but it isn't me at all, it's Team Town. I just happened to be the one to start this particular topic, that's all.

[Jim]

Thanks Jim, but it isn't me at all, it's Team Town. I just happened to be the one to start this particular topic, that's all.

Thumbs up for Team Town! Nice work

Hopefully, I can find some time to build something in LDD and order the parts to build it for real. Would love to contribute/participate.

[billyneon]

Ah... the first EB competition I might enter.

I know some experienced builders are disgruntled by the scale limitation, but to someone like myself, with lots of overly ambitious but unfinished MOCs, it's actually useful. In fact it has given me an idea already!

Question - can we add power function elements (specifically, lights) to our entries?

[citizenpiper]

Putting in details into that size would indeed be a challenge. But anyway, no complaints here! Challenge accepted! A very merry Christmas to y'all!

[Rick]

Question - can we add power function elements (specifically, lights) to our entries?

Remember that all PF components should fit on the 16x16 stud space, but you can definitely use 2x3 light bricks (like most of the official Winter Village sets).

[lightningtiger]

It might be a silly question, but stickers are allowed I believe ?

[paostmo]

I'm very excited about the new rules. I hope that every year the contest will have a little twist on the regulations!

[billyneon]

Remember that all PF components should fit on the 16x16 stud space, but you can definitely use 2x3 light bricks (like most of the official Winter Village sets).

Yep - I have an idea that I think will fit the battery box - and the rest is lights (and their wires).

That doesn't contravene the rules, then?

[Paperballpark]

I'm quite surprised that no-one has posted an entry yet (either than or I'm looking in the wrong place for entry topics).

I built mine this morning, and I think I'll go take photos of it and post it shortly. It may not be perfect, but I have 6 weeks to improve it, and I want to get in there first before anyone else has the same idea!

[LAKAbricks]

It's always nice to follow the competitions here on Eurobricks. And I think it's a nice twist compared to other years that there is a size limit to the entry this year. To build bigger, wider, taller is not the hard part. The hard part is to limit yourself - and your work. Thumbs up for the 16x16 limit this year If I come up with an idea, I might take part for the first time.

Even though I prefer the WV buildings compared to the market, I think it might be good to see the entries of this year's competition. There might be ways to improve the market.

[timmyc1983]

Yep - I have an idea that I think will fit the battery box - and the rest is lights (and their wires).

That doesn't contravene the rules, then?

I also have an idea involving PF. Just to clarify, there is no height restriction correct? As long as everything fits on a base that is 16 x 16?

[BrickBloke]

I'm a relative newbie to this site (although a lurker for some time) and I find laughable at the amount of "but it's just not fair" bemoaning here! So what if you had an idea in January and thought you would get ahead of the game? Tough! EB changed the rules!! I find it funny... Maybe you should have waited until the competition was published before putting brick to plate!

That said, I do like seeing other people's MOC's and where instructions (and funds!) are available, have built them and incorporated them into my village.

I've had an idea for this competition, but unfortunately do not have the time (nor the collection) to build it. If I do have the time, I may do a LDD version... But don't hold your breath .

Good luck to all that enter! Remember - it's fun, not serious stuff!

[Rick]

I also have an idea involving PF. Just to clarify, there is no height restriction correct? As long as everything fits on a base that is 16 x 16?

There's no height restriction. Just make sure it fits the Winter Village Market.

[CM4Sci]

There's no height restriction. Just make sure it fits the Winter Village Market.

Wait so, it has to be a market related thing? It can't be like a building or anything?

-Sci

[Rick]

Wait so, it has to be a market related thing? It can't be like a building or anything?

Things have changed slightly, but the core of the contest is here - we'd love YOU to build us a 16x16 vignette or set to expand upon the theme of the Winter Village Market. We'd love to see stalls and activities and lots of people having wintery fun, and we'd also love this to be either Town themed or Friends themed. Minidolls in entries are most welcome!

[CM4Sci]

You're kidding. I just finished my Book Store..

-Sci

[lightningtiger]

So we have to come up with market stalls eh ?

I owned and operated a market stall for ten years........shouldn't too hard for the tiger.

It will be a huge market in the end if we combined everyone's entries all in one place eh ?

You're kidding. I just finished my Book Store..

-Sci

Change it to a book stall, my plans are heading from a building to stall format right now.

[CM4Sci]

Change it to a book stall, my plans are heading from a building to stall format right now.

It's a big building, I actually had a lot of trouble designing it and I finally finished it.

I'll see if I can make it into some sort of market related thing.

-Sci