Future Contest Ideas

[RedRebelCustoms]

Has a vehicle contest been done yet? If not that would be pretty cool. I imagine we'd have a lot of Marvel Universe scale customs for a contest like that since converting GI Joe vehicles would be a lot easier than scratch building for ML/ DCUC scale. I think it would be cool. Maybe see some Bat vehicles, Quin Jets, Fantasticars, or maybe some noble soul would even turn a USS Flag into a Helicarrier. That would be epic!

Aquiring a USS Flag and customizing it into a Helicarrier??? One can only dream!

[Patraw]

Finn Varra: We had a Legendary Riders contest, but that included animals like horses, Battle Cat, etc., not just vehicles specifically, so I would think that a vehicle-only contest would probably be different enough. I'm thinking the vehicle would probably be work enough, so I'd probably not require a customized figure to go with it.

Bob-a-Ferret: I have been considering writing up a base contest ("Bases are Aces" or something) rather than just repeating the larger diorama one (scale-wise, something smaller that would fit inside a typical clamshell/blistercard--think Marvel Select or early Marvel Legends waves.) Because the base would be a smaller thing, I'd probably require a customized figure to go with it. So, instead of making an entire Bat Cave, you'd want to just focus on a smaller section/area of it.

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Here's an idea I saw on a sculpting forum that I belong to and thought was kind of interesting: You take three random, generic objects/concepts and then have to incorporate them into your figure in some way. Structurally, in the rules, there'd be three lists, A, B, and C, and you'd pick one thing from each list and then you have to find some way to incorporate them into your figure (kind of like those fill-in-the-blank ad libs, except in 3-dimensions.) Let's say you picked "sword", "triangle", and "undead", two ways you could approach that are to make a zombie armed with a sword and wearing a triangle-shaped amulet around its neck or a rock 'n roll musician with a vampire on their T-shirt, a sword tattoo, and a triangle-shaped body on their guitar. What do you think?

Some other ideas I've had recently are a bootleg/knockoff contest (make screwed-up "counterfeit" versions of existing toys) and a Thundercats-only contest (to celebrate the return of the cartoon and toys.)

[Finn Varra]

Finn Varra: We had a Legendary Riders contest, but that included animals like horses, Battle Cat, etc., not just vehicles specifically, so I would think that a vehicle-only contest would probably be different enough. I'm thinking the vehicle would probably be work enough, so I'd probably not require a customized figure to go with it.


Here's an idea I saw on a sculpting forum that I belong to and thought was kind of interesting: You take three random, generic objects/concepts and then have to incorporate them into your figure in some way. Structurally, in the rules, there'd be three lists, A, B, and C, and you'd pick one thing from each list and then you have to find some way to incorporate them into your figure (kind of like those fill-in-the-blank ad libs, except in 3-dimensions.) Let's say you picked "sword", "triangle", and "undead", two ways you could approach that are to make a zombie armed with a sword and wearing a triangle-shaped amulet around its neck or a rock 'n roll musician with a vampire on their T-shirt, a sword tattoo, and a triangle-shaped body on their guitar. What do you think?

Some other ideas I've had recently are a bootleg/knockoff contest (make screwed-up "counterfeit" versions of existing toys) and a Thundercats-only contest (to celebrate the return of the cartoon and toys.)

It's probably a good idea to not require a custom figure along with the vehicle, I totally agree. I think it would do pretty well since the Marvel U line has opened up that scale of figures for comic fans too.

I love love love LOVE!!! the Thundercats idea! The A,B,C contest sounds like it would be super fun too!

[Finn Varra]

Not sure if this has been suggested before, but how about an Anime contest? It could be any character that has ever appeared in an anime or manga. So Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Sailor Moon, Trigun, Full Metal Alchemist, Dragon Ball, etc, etc. I imagine this contest would have a very wide net since Marvel did a Manga some years back, so a lot of Marvel heroes would still be fair game.

[getsa]

hey! i like that idea finn! anime and manga contest.. i grew up watching anime shows and i still read mangas today. i would want to participate in that contest if ever.

the ABC is also cool. a lot of creative ideas would pop in that contest. we'll have different variations and interpretations so that'd be cool to see. also like the vehicle contest as i have some dismantled vehicles lying around my desk, having a vehicle contest may motivate me to move my lazy customizing @ss and produce an entry. hehe!

[Patraw]

Anime/manga is one I've been thinking about doing for a while too (been reading a lot of Ranma 1/2 myself lately.) That hasn't been done before, and anime/manga seems to be fairly popular amongst the Figure Realm membership, so it'd be a good one to try out. There are lots of toys/statues out there to use for base bodies too, which is always a plus.

[cosmicfantasycustoms]

I still can't wait to see the arch nemesis/face off contest, really like that idea and many others you have in the works. keep up the amazing work.

[RedRebelCustoms]

How about something simple like a hooded figure contest? Cowls and cloaks would also be acceptable. Skeletor, Batman, Desaad, Cloak. Or you could put characters who normally wouldn't be in a hood in one amd redesign the costume. Create your own character or make a more mysterious Superman or Mario.

[RedRebelCustoms]

Super articulated contest. Add articulation to a static figure or make one even more poseable. The goal would be not to compromise the sculpt.

Ort if we have an everyday hero contest? Military men, policemen, firemen, Ghandi. Portray your hero in action figure form. It could be your Dad or Fireman Wally West.

[RedRebelCustoms]

Rock goes metal. Whether its a rock troll or Rocklord. Take a character with rock skin, shell, or terrakinesis/ earth bending powers and turn them metal. Think the Thing comprised of banded steel or an earthbender bending metal. For the later they would need to show the energy effect in some way.

[Patraw]

I like the hooded one, that has a lot of potential.

The super articulation one is one that I've considered myself in the past--not quite sure how to best implement rules for something like that though. Some members might have difficulty adding joints to figures if they've never done that type of thing before, which is something to consider in terms of accessibility.

The everyday hero is another good one.

While an interesting idea, Rock goes Metal sounds a bit too thematically similar to the current Mechanized one to me, even though it doesn't specifically deal with machines. Maybe if it was more general, transmuting any substance into another, instead of just rock to metal.

[redmist]

Glad to see so many peoples ideas come to life so I'll throw my suggestion in the mix again(months later, same suggestions)
MOVIES!
OSTENTATIOUS ORIGINALS 4!
VEHICLES!

[RedRebelCustoms]

Great ideas! Is there a possibility of adding the Facebook, Twitter like buttons under the contests rules page? It may bring more interest to the contest as many of us have fellow customizers and fans on our social networks. I think it would be a great representation to others of what the Realm is about.

[Shinigami]

I say Black & White, Grodd dangit!

[Patraw]

redmist: I've got the vehicle contest rules written up ("Vehicular Toyslaughter" is the best title I came up with so far), not sure when I'll use it though.

It's my preference to not repeat past contests, so I don't know about Ostentatious Originals #4--if I were to revisit some older contests, in the interest of fairness, I think it'd be good to do some of the other oft-requested past ideas like amalgams, alternate realities, and dioramas, that have only had one go, rather than one that's been done three times already. More often than not I include the option to do original characters in the various contests. Given that there are twice as many contests now, I have been thinking that perhaps I should relax my policy on old contests a bit and have one now and then.

Movies are excellent subject matter, and we did have one in the past. Somebody suggested a cult movie contest, that might be a route to go as it differentiates it from the previous contest, my only concern with that one is that it can be difficult to pin down what is, or isn't, a cult movie, as the definition can vary quite a bit and is arguably subjective to opinion.

RedRebelCustoms: You'd have to suggest that to Captain Coder, but it does sound like a good way to increase exposure.

Shinigami: While I personally like the B&W idea, I'd be hesitant about doing it now given that the similar Monochromatic contest didn't have the greatest turnout.