Welcome to the ManiaExchange BASCO 2014, where BASCO stands for "Build A Stage COmpetition"

It will replace the Monthly Track Contest (MTC), September and October 2014.


• What is a BASCO?
  The BASCO is a competition separated into 8 stages: The Route (6 Stages), the Scenery (1 Stage) and the Mediatracker/Screenshot (1 Stage). Each stage consists of 3 days for building and 3 days for judging.
  In each stage you continue on what has already been built in the previous stages and fight against your competitors for the best part, which will continue the map.
  
  
• Timetable
  List of all deadlines
  The deadline is currenty set at 10pm CET for each stage, but will (for sure) differ on some days because it is not possible to be there in time every time. To still maintain the reliability of deadlines in that case, I will only delay them and never hurry them up, so that maps will never be due earlier.
  Additionally, if I happen to know a delay early enough, I will obviously try to note it down in the List.
  
  
• Deadline for Stage 1
  As you can infer from list, the deadline for the first Stage will be Thursday, 04. Sep 14, 22:00h. (1 day longer because it is the beginning of the MTC )
  
  
  
• Prize
  • Honour and the right to brag! (Jozii used to say that )
    
  • The winner of each stage wins a showcase of a map of his choice on the frontpage, getting extra spotlight!
  
  
• Rules
  • Environment: Valley
    
  • For stage 1 I provide a basemap you are allowed to build on.
    
  • The basemap contains objects you are allowed to use, which add up to almost 150KB. Those are the following from Dagobert's Valley Extension pack: BankedCurve_04, BankedCurve_03, FlatRamp_11, FlatRamp_09 and FlatRamp_07.
    Make sure that object embedding under "experimental features" is activated.
    (You do not need to download Dagobert's pack, as the object files are already included in the mapfile.)
    
  • Do not delete the objects in the edge of the map! Thus every future builder can see and receive them.
    
  • Your part must have a maximum length of 10.x seconds and a finish at the end.
    
  • EDIT: If you happen to have any troubles building a finish below 11sec, for whatever reason, just build three finishes above the first block, which is not a part of your track anymore. Then you can build enough connectors on the ground to place the actual finish, which you'll drive through, just a bit later (e.g. 15sec).
    
  • Do not build any scenery, as there will be a scenery stage near the end of the BASCO. Only build blocks your really drive on + signs if necessary.
    
  • Blockmixing is allowed. Just check others' blockmixed parts again, when you move the track with the copy and paste tool.
    
  • EDIT: Please center the thumbnail of the track on your part, to make it easier to identify parts in the judging form later one. (You can change the thumbnail under extended options "Hammer symbol").
    
  • Validate and save the Map as S1-YourAuthorName (S1= Stage 1) and upload it to the mapgroup for this BASCO.
    
  
  
• Judging
  Judging will be a bit different this time:
  • Everyone is allowed to judge, even players who submitted a map (just give your own map a 10)
    
  • In order to judge you will have to fill out a form and enter your name in a list on mx to verify your judging. (The link and the exact spot to enter your name will be provided once the judging begins.)
    
  • Every part will be judged with marks from 1 (bad) to 10 (good).
    
  • Note that you have to judge a stage entirely, you cannot judge only half of it.
    

Good luck and have fun! If you have any questions, please ask.

• General How To
  • Download objects from Maniapark.com or elsewhere. Note that only the newest objects, which were created with the new MP3.0 Improter, can be embedded into maps.
    
  • Place the zipfile in /documents/maniaplanet/Items/ and unzip it.
    There should be one or two subfolders after /Item/subfolder1/subfolder2/file.Item.Gbx to get the nice folder structure ingame. Depending on how many folder you want to have ingame
    (e.g.: /documents/maniaplanet/Items/CanyonPlatformExtra/ArenaBank/CanyonPlatformAreBorPlain.Item.gbx )
    
  • Use the hammer symbol in the Editor
    
    
  • Choose "experimental features" at the very bottom
    
  • Activate object embedding
    
    
  • Enter the the Item Mode by clicking the tree Symbol (F4) and place the objects somewhere on the map
    
    
  
  
• Tipps and Tricks
  
  
  
  • Click the Tree symbol twice (or press F4 two times) to get into grid snap mode for items. Thus you can place the items in a very small grid and also in mid air to easier align them with other blocks. The Tree Symbol turns white in Grid snap mode
    
    
  • Use the + and - keys on the numpad to rotate the Objects by 15°. Use the arrow keys to rotate them around the additional two axis.
    
  • The objects vary in size and quality. Some objects are too big to embed them, while some are really small, but simple. Choose smaller objects, if you want to embed multiple objects.
    
  • Using one and the same object twice (or even a 100 times) in the map does not increase the size, as it'll only be embedded once in the mapfile.
    
  • There is a list of the embedded items on MX after uploading your track on your trackpage. If the list stays empty, something probably has gone wrong.
    
  • To simplify placing objects in the big grid that blocks use, it is easier to place the objects correctly in the big grid once and then use the copy and paste tool to place the objects the next time. This method works because the copypaste tool uses the big grid. You can even save the objects as macroblocks then

haenry says:

Your part must have a maximum length of 10.x seconds and a finish at the end.

I have some issues with that, there are no finish blocks for platform or dirt, only for road. I have placed a platform CP at about 10.3s and a road finish (which I don't necessarily see as part of the track, but I have to finish it ) at 11.05s.
Would that be rejected? As stated above, the intention for my part is to end with a platform CP and then the next stage would continue from there.

as done on other basco's in the past I assume this will be the same this year.
the finish (1-2 blocks made to validate the map aren't used on the next stage the finish could be replaced as an CP
but i think you really need to state that at your entry so the judges/ next builder knows where to start building without having an irritating placed finish.


well I was thinking about the same thing with the finish blocks, but I'm not sure how people will judge the parts. if they look if the finish also is part of the 1st stage than you have to build and smooth finish, but if they won't count the finishing blocks (the las 1 or 2 blocks) you can make an rough finish since this finish is meant to be delted afterwards. in this case I would do this since if you will keep the finishes you'll create more oppertunities to cut the map later on (multiple finises (or fake finishes) can make cuts where they weren't meant to be.

Edit:
also I'd like to ask: In what style wil lthe track be build?
since this will be a huge factor during the judging fases.

like I'm an Full speed builder, but if the most people will want a tech map it would be impossible to gain a score above 5... and otherwise.
you see if you deceide on the track style in front of the building, it would help both judging- as the building fases.

I see your problem erikfzr. A finish is necessary to validate the maps and thus simplify judging.

I suggest you to place three finishes directly above the first block, which is NOT your track anymore, and then add enough straight blocks/connectors to place another finish you'll drive through on the ground.
Those three finishes will be clear enough, as there is not scenery at all. (I'll make a note of it for future stages )

Okay, Lolig, actually it is up to every builder what style he wants to build in. Thus we will get a very diverse track in the end. However, I do not suggest a fullspeed start, as it narrows down future possibilities quite a lot. I don't forbid you to build a fullspeed start, but I recommend to not build one
Regarding the judges: Everyone will be a judge and therefore your part should be accesible to a lot of players.

EDIT: Please center the thumbnail of the track on your part, to make it easier to identify parts in the judging form later one. (You can change the thumbnail under extended options "Hammer symbol")

ok good to know well I've build a fs start but with some nice opportunities.
(a slow transitional start)

also for the signs are there only the standard ones, or can i use a package with more clear signs, since a normal right arrow does not help on diagonal parts and jumps/drops.
(atm I've inserted Black arrow MX community package.) these can be changed later on

It doesn't really matter what signs you use at the moment because Stage 7 will be about scenery including signs

haenry says:
I see your problem erikfzr. A finish is necessary to validate the maps and thus simplify judging.

I suggest you to place three finishes directly above the first block, which is NOT your track anymore, and then add enough straight blocks/connectors to place another finish you'll drive through on the ground.
Those three finishes will be clear enough, as there is not scenery at all. (I'll make a note of it for future stages )

I'd rather 'finish' the stage with a CP and mark that one with the three finish blocks, more or less like we did in the 75 builders project, where each builder had a stage/part from CP to CP and we just added a start and finish to validate it.

PS: Obviously, if the stage finishes on road, then the builder could still use a finish block.

I see no Problem with the cp, but you still need a finish afterwards for the judging phase

Of course