Somebody sent me a few questions about DragonMaster. I'm answering them here so that the answers are available to everybody.
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Hello i have a few questions about the dragon master event next month.
1. What category would a shield fall under?
Construction (traditionally Construction: Shield; but I changed things up a bit)
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2. How much of a cooked item is needed to be judged?
Most of the judges are likely to only have a couple of bites... that being said, often times the judges appreciate seeing what the completed plate will look like as well. There will not be more than 5 judges so at most enough food for five plates. you could probably get away with only 3 plates (possibly be ok with only a single plate or 2 plates... but your taking chances that the judges will think you were ill prepared)
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3. Will there be a way to warm cooked food?
There is a full kitchen on site. If you were able to come (I understand if you can't), you could actually just fix the dish on site. Please be considerate of each other if making use of the kitchen area. Also, be aware that the Kitchen is in the same (albeit large) room as the judges. Don't make them think less of you or your entries via your behavior. Most certainly, don't make me remove anybody from the competition because of behavior.
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4. Is a bardic song considered writing for the dragon category?
It is either Writing or Performance. Depending on the presentation. If you just present us with the written down version of the song then it would be writing. If Performing it... well, it's a performance and will be judged as such.
If you are doing it as a written entry, let the judges know what the tune is. Preferably I won't be judging, I'll just be running it. If I were Judging, then I would prefer to see sheet music to go with it; if you are entering it as 'I wrote this song...' but saying this is to be sung to the tune of "Whatever song's melody I stole," that would be acceptable. If it can stand alone as a poem, then you should consider entering it as such.
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Additional notes based on the above questions
You should think about how you want the judges to look at the items you are entering. If you want them to focus on how amazingly pretty the shield is, then you could enter it as art. Just keep in mind that entering a shield (or a place setting where you threw the pottery yourself) as art, that it could potentially be up against an oil painting.
Function and durability tend to be primary factors in Construction.
Shields (real or Amtgard legal), Swords (real or Amtgard legal), Armor, Tables, Chests, Flags, Castle Walls, Even forging cutlery (silverware), plates, Banners, etc... Things you build that aren't garb.
Garb is judged on a multitude of factors: aesthetics, durability being among the most important
Belt Favors, Tunics, Tabards, Cloaks, Monster Garb, Hats, full Outfits... things you wear that are not intended as Armor
Dragons are for art... this is more than simply looking pretty
Performances, Food, Writing, 2d & 3d Art are the typical things that fall into this area.
Smith is ridiculously similar to Rose
Look in the Rulebook under Ladder Awards or in the Corpora so find the specific differences between Smith and Rose. If you have been paying attention to AS in our kingdom for a while you might notice that most things we accept as Rose entries would be better classified as Smith.
I hope this helps.
I look forward to seeing as many people as possible on the 6th. We will work hard to be able to announce the winner and hand out awards that evening at Court. There will be battlegames and such being run by the Champion and we will have AC for those of you who want to get out of the heat or come watch the A&S competition.