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Scavengers Design Contest Entry Form


This is a single-round contest in which the contestants will design a complete game using recovered materials.

Deadline for Entries:

No entries will be accepted later than Friday, April 14th, 2006, midnight website time (Pacific Standard Time). All entries must be original, and your own work.

Maximum Number of Entries:

Each person may only submit one entry. The entire contest will be limited to 25 entries. Once 25 valid entries have been received, no more entries will be entertained.

How Do I Win?

Well, lie, cheat and steal often works. But not here! Once the contest deadline has passed or the maximum number of entries has been received, five Finalists will be chosen by an august committee of highly experienced contest judges. If we can't get a committee of highly experienced contest judges, I guess I'll pick them.

After that, a vote by the TMP membership will determine first, second, and third-place winners. In case of a tie, there will be a 15-minute cook off. Oh wait, that's Iron Chef. In case of a tie, the judge will choose the winner.

What Do I Win?

There will be three prizes:

First Prize:
A custom suitcase of Vallejo paints! That’s right, 72 colors of your choice! Plus the snazzy carrying case and brushes. Plus a $100 USD gift certificate to ScaleCreep.com. Of course, the bragging rights alone should keep you motivated, but truly a little loot never hurt, either.
Second Prize:
12 Bottles of Vallejo paint and a $50 USD gift certificate to ScaleCreep.com.
Third Prize:
A $25 USD gift certificate to ScaleCreep.com.

What Are Format Requirements?

Text should be sent in any major word-processing format (MS Word, Wordperfect, etc...) or as a plain text file. Graphics should be sent separately, in jpg or gif format. Please indicate in the text where you want the pictures used, and what the captions should be.


4,776 hits since 28 Feb 2006
©1994-2024 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

Mark Severin of Scale Creep Miniatures writes:

Contest logo

Scale Creep Miniatures is ecstatic to celebrate it's first anniversary (February 24th). And to celebrate, we're doing just what you would expect – we're having a contest! Yes, a silly contest, with prizes and everything!

I've always been struck by the resourcefulness and ingenuity of gamers in using ordinary items as gaming fodder. Packing material as space port, rice as figures, panty hose as camo netting and so on. So I thought, why not have a contest where these scavengers can really strut their stuff?

But we're upping the ante!

It's not enough to just make a silk purse from a sow's ear. We want a complete game made from recovered objects. By "recovered," we mean items readily available to any gamer, for free. Coffee stirrers from Starbucks. Toilet paper tubes. Paper clips. Disposable foons/sporks. Packing "peanuts." You get the idea.

But here's the catch...

Other than paint and glue, you may not use anything but "recovered" items. So, no static grass. Real grass, sure. And remember, anything you use needs to be available to anyone. So, cool-looking scrap from the product you manufacture doesn't count. Nor do incredibly unusually shaped packing trays. The test is this: could a gamer in another city easily find one for free? The bits box is Verboten!

How Do I Enter?

To enter, just send your game to editor@theminiaturespage.com. Each entry must include the following components (though if you're inclined to send more, knock yourself out):

  • Your back story (aka "fluff"). Alternate-universe Roman Empire? Time-traveling cowboys? Poorly dressed Spaniards? Upper Class Twits In Space? Tell us about the universe you're gaming – real, imagined, deranged or otherwise. Who are the nations/races involved? Who is fighting who and why? Make sure you give your game a really snappy name, too.
  • A description of your rules. We’re looking for jacket blurbs and a general run-down of the new and innovative procedures you've come up with. 1-sided dice? Unlimited movement allowances? You know, the stuff you always see on the back covers of other rules sets. I know – telepathic combat resolution.
  • A list of the packs in your first two armies. Be sure to include scale and price!
  • Pictures of at least three of the first releases in your new "recovered" miniatures line. These should be painted/flocked/based. Aim to impress the judges (see below). But remember: 100% of the materials used must be “recovered.” And be sure to include a parts list!

What else could you send?

A company logo or sales brochure. Scenarios. Future "Codex" releases. Teasers on upcoming races and armies. Whatever your fevered brains can come up with!