Post by bravesirkevin on Jan 9, 2013 11:52:27 GMT -9
I read this thread for the first time today: cardboard-warriors.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=2012submissions&action=display&thread=4159
I signed up here back in 2011, but I've only been really active in the last few months, so I completely missed out on this when it rolled around, much to my regret. A lot of what I read there bothered me, and at the same time, I did see a lot that got me thinking in a more positive direction too.
I've started a new thread rather than continuing the old one because I don't want to carry any of that baggage into this new conversation. My intention here is just to express some thoughts I've been having, and to invite you all to express yours too, so that we can make things better when we get down to it this year. Some of this may come off as a rant or a criticism, just to be clear upfront, it's not meant to be either of those.
Why the Papercut Awards matter:
From what I've seen out there, the whole papercraft-scenery/paper-mini scene is relatively small. Within the general papercraft hobby scene, the stuff made for games is like an awkward little brother, and within the wargaming and RPG scene, paper scenery and paper minis just don't get a whole lot of respect in general. With very few exceptions, paper stuff just isn't considered all that great when you've got fancy stuff out there like Forge World, Hirst Arts, Dwarven Forge, and the hundreds of metal and plastic miniatures lines that are packed with really cool things. The paper-scene absolutely should have a place though, and not just as the poorman's alternative to the "good stuff".
I think the Papercut Awards are an opportunity to highlight the best in the scene and to show the people outside of this small community exactly what's possible and what really makes the paper stuff we put so much effort into creating so awesome, so that the scene can grow. Further, it's an opportunity to show the people already in the community the best that we designers have to offer.
The Categories:
I'd like to propose that we consider a completely different set of categories this year based on what I've said above. Firstly, we should have three broad categories, each with smaller awards within them.
• The Builder's Category focuses specifically on the fans who download the products and make them. We want to see lots of people uploading their photos of our sets being used in interesting ways. Judges would give separate awards for things like Best Photography, Most Interesting Compostion, Best Story, etc.
• The Paper Mini Designer's Category is exactly what it says. Judging is not based on photographs alone, but on the products themselves. Awards would be given based on aesthetic things like Best Artwork, Most Original Concept etc, and on the technical side of things like how easy it is for someone to build without messing it up, and how easy the instructions are to follow.
• The Papercraft Model Designer's Category is much the same is the last one, but focusing on 3D and 2.5D stuff rather than just the miniatures.
Submissions and Nominations
I think it should be easy for anyone to nominate something they think is cool in addition to people submitting their own works. In this way we'd have more contenders for each award. The panel of judges can veto anything that doesn't really qualify.
The Judges
There can be a popular choice award in each category, but I think most of the decisions should be made by a broad panel of knowledgeable judges who are capable of scoring the nominations in an informed way. The judges should have a diverse background so that they can't be said to be biased towards any one particular brand.
The Awards
I think the builder's category awards should have prizes attached, and I think the prizes could be simpler things like free products from the designer's ranges, or alternatively, smaller vouchers for a shop like RPGNow so that they can choose their own prize.
I think the designer's awards should be something entirely different. I don't know about you other designers but honestly, I'd rather have the right to say my product won the Papercut for Best Art in 2013, than have a five hundred thousand dollar voucher for RPGNow. If anyone has the leverage to make it happen, perhaps we could get one of the major stores to create a dedicated section in their stores to showcase the winners.
In Conclusion
These are just some thoughts I've had on this. I know I've said some things that may be pretty controversial, and I'm sure I have said some things that you disagree with completely... Feel free to say so below, and add your own ideas. I think we can do something pretty spectacular if we put our heads together and get involved in making it happen. I know this was pretty lengthy, so thank you to everyone who actually read all the way through it!
I signed up here back in 2011, but I've only been really active in the last few months, so I completely missed out on this when it rolled around, much to my regret. A lot of what I read there bothered me, and at the same time, I did see a lot that got me thinking in a more positive direction too.
I've started a new thread rather than continuing the old one because I don't want to carry any of that baggage into this new conversation. My intention here is just to express some thoughts I've been having, and to invite you all to express yours too, so that we can make things better when we get down to it this year. Some of this may come off as a rant or a criticism, just to be clear upfront, it's not meant to be either of those.
Why the Papercut Awards matter:
From what I've seen out there, the whole papercraft-scenery/paper-mini scene is relatively small. Within the general papercraft hobby scene, the stuff made for games is like an awkward little brother, and within the wargaming and RPG scene, paper scenery and paper minis just don't get a whole lot of respect in general. With very few exceptions, paper stuff just isn't considered all that great when you've got fancy stuff out there like Forge World, Hirst Arts, Dwarven Forge, and the hundreds of metal and plastic miniatures lines that are packed with really cool things. The paper-scene absolutely should have a place though, and not just as the poorman's alternative to the "good stuff".
I think the Papercut Awards are an opportunity to highlight the best in the scene and to show the people outside of this small community exactly what's possible and what really makes the paper stuff we put so much effort into creating so awesome, so that the scene can grow. Further, it's an opportunity to show the people already in the community the best that we designers have to offer.
The Categories:
I'd like to propose that we consider a completely different set of categories this year based on what I've said above. Firstly, we should have three broad categories, each with smaller awards within them.
• The Builder's Category focuses specifically on the fans who download the products and make them. We want to see lots of people uploading their photos of our sets being used in interesting ways. Judges would give separate awards for things like Best Photography, Most Interesting Compostion, Best Story, etc.
• The Paper Mini Designer's Category is exactly what it says. Judging is not based on photographs alone, but on the products themselves. Awards would be given based on aesthetic things like Best Artwork, Most Original Concept etc, and on the technical side of things like how easy it is for someone to build without messing it up, and how easy the instructions are to follow.
• The Papercraft Model Designer's Category is much the same is the last one, but focusing on 3D and 2.5D stuff rather than just the miniatures.
Submissions and Nominations
I think it should be easy for anyone to nominate something they think is cool in addition to people submitting their own works. In this way we'd have more contenders for each award. The panel of judges can veto anything that doesn't really qualify.
The Judges
There can be a popular choice award in each category, but I think most of the decisions should be made by a broad panel of knowledgeable judges who are capable of scoring the nominations in an informed way. The judges should have a diverse background so that they can't be said to be biased towards any one particular brand.
The Awards
I think the builder's category awards should have prizes attached, and I think the prizes could be simpler things like free products from the designer's ranges, or alternatively, smaller vouchers for a shop like RPGNow so that they can choose their own prize.
I think the designer's awards should be something entirely different. I don't know about you other designers but honestly, I'd rather have the right to say my product won the Papercut for Best Art in 2013, than have a five hundred thousand dollar voucher for RPGNow. If anyone has the leverage to make it happen, perhaps we could get one of the major stores to create a dedicated section in their stores to showcase the winners.
In Conclusion
These are just some thoughts I've had on this. I know I've said some things that may be pretty controversial, and I'm sure I have said some things that you disagree with completely... Feel free to say so below, and add your own ideas. I think we can do something pretty spectacular if we put our heads together and get involved in making it happen. I know this was pretty lengthy, so thank you to everyone who actually read all the way through it!