RIZZASTERBuilding Contest Rules Incident Review
/archive/maps/2021/ · last edited 01 Jul 2020 · Security
In January 2022, a number of players reported issues with the judging process for the winter building contest. Specifically, some players felt that their builds were unfairly penalized due to minor infractions that didn't significantly impact the overall design or functionality. The moderators reviewed the contest guidelines and noticed that there was some ambiguity around what constituted a valid "improvement" to a build, and what would result in penalties.
Further investigation revealed that the issue stemmed from a combination of factors, including inconsistent application of rules and a lack of clear guidelines on what constitutes a "major" and a "minor" infraction. The moderators acknowledged that the guidelines were in need of revision and agreed to simplify the language and provide more specific examples of what was considered valid and invalid. The consensus was to focus on building functionality, creativity, and overall aesthetic appeal, with clear penalties for major infractions that compromised these aspects.
Following the incident, the moderators updated the building contest guidelines to include more specific language and examples. The guidelines now state that minor infractions will not affect judging, but major infractions will result in a minimum of a 20% penalty. The moderators also agreed to conduct a thorough review of all contest builds to ensure consistency and fairness in judging. The building contest guidelines have been posted on the server and will be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary to maintain fairness and consistency.