Area-Building Contests
In some years, though not all, Avatar MUD's immortals host area-building contests. These contests are not normally held more often than once per year because hosting them takes much time and effort.
Normally, these contests are open to all Avatar players. Also, normally, each entrant may submit only one area per contest. Each contest's guidelines usually require all submissions to be within a certain level range and, sometimes, within a certain geographical region of Avatar.
In each contest, each contestant is given a list of general guidelines and restrictions (such as area level range) specific to that contest, an electronic copy of the most-recent edition of The Avatar MUD Builders' Guide (Player Version), a specific range of "vnums" to use in building his/her entry's rooms and mobs and objects, a program called ListArea that helps in checking area files for certain kinds of errors, and a deadline to submit his/her entry. Players are usually prohibited from giving their objects any affects flags or any values for casting spells, though they may provide recommendations for these; immortals will add such flags and values if and when contest submissions become permanent parts of Avatar. All submissions become Avatar property and thus may be altered further by Avatar's staff without any notice or consultation given to their respective authors.
Some time after this submission deadline has passed, all (functional) contest areas receieved will become accessible together from a temporary Hall of Judging (or other such area) located somewhere in the realm so that Avatar's staff and players may explore them. In weeks that follow, Avatar's staff will judge each of these areas and, eventually, announce a contest winner. This winner's area, along with selected other areas, will then be slated to become permanent additions to Avatar while those that do not "make the cut" will eventually disappear forever. Prizes are usually given to those who participate, to those whose submissions "make the cut," and/or to those who win.
Some contest participants who demonstrate great interest and talent in building areas may, at some point, be invited to join Avatar MUD's builder team.
2005 Area-Building Contest
- Ash Canyon by Enda.
- Borley School of Music by Vivaea.
- Catacombs of Solace by Dani.
- Centaur Hollow by Yaxche (winner).
- Crypt of the Damned by Erion.
- Cryptid Hollow by Ibn.
- Dungeons of Undrehand by Towner.
- Feeding Grounds by Jaromil.
- Of Dice and Men by Neuf.
- Fangclaw Island by Tevildo.
- Garden of Perathia by Shdwtop.
- Hidden Spider Forest by Anthem.
- A House of Stone by Pico.
- Laboratory of Chalmus by Waite.
- Mirlion's Cottage by Mirlion.
- The Mon-Keigh by Pros.
- Moss Village by Becky.
- The Proving Grounds by Elonan.
- Qass Tomb by S. Heart.
- The S.S. Mutgar by Timond.
- Thrall Swamp by KayeOsse.
- Tul-Sith's Hospice by Kyandra.
- The Walking Woods by Neyne.
- Westwood Outlook by Quidt.
