Mine could probably extend to the other games - It's based on on color pallettes, designs, and images

That would have made me a beginner for this contest - it's the only one I've ever entered. I still think asking people what level they'd like to go in at would work - as long as we all agree to accept whatever level it is.

Yeah, it's trucky. But I think we know who the experienced builders are.
As I said before, I will forever remain a beginner if you have to get in the top 3 to get beyond that. I can't see myself winning anything.

Not if the top three can't enter, then it would be a new top three from those who are more intermediate.

It is quite hard to host a contest for all three games, I have done it. You need a judge from each game really as well. It's also quite hard to find joint contests on the forum.

You are making it too complicated again. (@maxon; @gdayars; @yannawatw; @joandsarah77)

A beginner is defined and anyone who meets this definition is allowed to enter as a beginner - NOT forced. If you think or know you are good enough for intermediate/advanced, you can enter there. (We do build because it is a challenge after all).

A beginner has to move to intermediate after winning or placed in the top 3 - but can move to intermediate any time when feeling ready to do so (same with intermediate).

Now (sorry for bringing up flowers again ) - in flower arranging - the system has worked for years. Of course when there is a new face, nobody knows what the person is already capable of - but most of them do go to intermediate right away if they are good enough, and even to advanced/open. And you can win the beginners only once anyway, then you have to go to the next level. It is simple, it works and I have never heard complaints about the system.

Edit: Although I regard myself as intermediate - I would probably enter the advanced category, because, personally, I would prefer being challenged over winning and a sticker (and I may not win the intermediate anyway). But there are true beginners out there, and they see how the winning entries look, and they do not think that they would stand a chance against some of the top builders here, so they will never enter; and they are unhappy about anyone being allowed to take part when a contest is called a beginner's contest and top builders are allowed to enter it anyway. And in my opinion, a beginner's contest, besides giving a beginner a chance to win something, would be a very good learning curve for new builders or players who want to improve their building skills.

There are often questions on the forum about how to improve building in games, especially from newer players (the UC is still given out and we still get brand new ones) - that would give them an opportunity to learn as well eg: http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=611587

I have a habit of wanting to post to contest threads just after the thread has closed, so I realise I'd better be quick if I want to post in this one (where I haven't even played along). May I also beg your indulgence by turning the topic back to Cat's magnificent rendering of the Alamo, and the effect it had on me of reawakening some very early childhood memories. (I saw the 1955 Davy Crockett film probably even before I started school.) I refer back to posts on pages 51 and 52 of this contest.

Firstly may I say, Cat, that your first picture of the interior of the mission church is, IMHO, the most convincing picture of a Sims building I've ever seen. On first seeing it I thought it must be a picture of the real Alamo mission church. Only when I saw the next picture, with a Sim in what was recognisably the same church, did I realise it musty be your Sims church. Where did you get the "arches" you used for the roof vaulting?

I like to think that my Sims feel the same way about Veronaville. That's why they put up with the sometimes considerable inconvenience of living in a 400-year-old house.
Oh please Peni, tell me how my childhood hero really died. I saw the Disney version before I started school, so I think I'm ready to learn the truth now. (I must say that, aged 4 going on 5, the Disney version quite impressed me. How else would I still remember it?)

The Story of the Alamo is way, way off topic, especially now that the contest is over; so I'll PM you soon, Andrew.

Thank YOU, Andrew

For the Gothic arches I used these: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=388188
and these: http://themedievalsmithysims2.blogs...ess-pillar.html

Actually at this point I think the whole thing is about ready to be closed but have kept it open so we could discuss the beginner contest concept.

Otoh.... I would like to know how he died too so feel free to tell it here @Peni Griffin or add me to a pm :p

I won't close it till this weekend just so we can iron out the contest stuff and what people think about beginner concepts. After that if we need to discuss it further perhaps a thread somewhere else or a social group for contests would be good?

Only because the host asked:

Santa Ana was a barbaric individual with no honor.

Thanks Peni! If anything, your information has given me a higher opinion of Davy Crockett than I had before. But it's lowered my opinion of Santa Ana. I don't think I'd realised just how unpleasant a character he was.

Contests? I think the one I enjoyed most was the Monopoly Game Town contest, the only one where I was a full contestant rather than a play-along. I liked financial side of it. I liked working to produce designs that would produce a healthy return for the construction company. For me too, my decision to make two of my favourite Sims, Andrew Jones and Julian Moltke from Veronaville, the directors of the company, greatly increased my enjoyment, because it meant that I was working for them, and I could imagine meetings with them where we discussed design points and company policy. And at the end it was a bonus to be able to share the company's closing balance of over 400,000 Simoleons between them. if d_dgjdhh (or anyone else) ever runs a similar contest, it might be an idea to give a bit more weighting to the build quality, as I sometimes felt that the scoring gave a bit too much advantage to bean-counters and box-tickers like me over master builders like Jo.

I'm no master builder Andrew! Intermediate I would say lol. I hope you might like the contest I am doing up now Andrew, the Strangetown makeover. If I can get my smooth edges back so I can take some pictures.

I can take pictures if you like Jo.

Doubt I could ever be a judge, I'd probably give the highest score to everyone for showing us how far the game can be taken. If it's ok, I have a suggestion for a contest. This could be a teaching type, since not many seem to be creating for it. Using Mootilda's Lot Adjuster, and/or or CC mini lots (I think it's more the LA) and creating 1 to 2 level homes, while utilizing space to give sims comfortable, yet efficient homes. I use these almost exclusively and have learned how to make them with no routing problems, very high environment scores, low cost to buy, yet furnished with skilling objects and furniture for 1 to 8 sims living comfortably. A contest like this could be a great way for others to learn and the award could be something on the idea of a 'teacher' type sticker. The limit on cost to build could be according to how much simoleans would be gained from Create A Sim. Could start at 1 or 2 sims, then 3, 4 and so on. To be fair to contestants, probably no CC.

Haven't attempted the lot adjuster, that's on my future list after I get moved, finish up some medical testing and get 2 needed surgeries. I'll then be able to afford a few fixes on the pc and get back to playing. (:

Thanks Gina, if I don't get this fixed by the end of next week I will take you up on that offer.

I could help on that sort of contest Duine but I couldn't host since I have little experience of taking part in and judging contests.

About to be closed Happy Mother's Day!