This is the official discussion thread for the MC2, the second Master Contest. While it shares the name and attributes of the first Master Contest, it is very different, and so please refrain from any reference to the old, especially along the lines of 'why wasn't MC1 finished?'.
What is the Master Contest?
MC2 is a Warcraft-related art competition run on several levels. The competition has seasons which each follow a theme, such as 'Night Elves'. Each season is split into 3 main stages; concept, modelling, and skinning. Each stage lasts 1 month. So a season should last 3 months. However, a new season is borne with the completion of the previous season's concept phase.
Stage 1, Conception requires participating artists to create 2d art of a unique unit. Multiple images may be entered to offer different perspectives and detail to the unit, and a small (500 words max) text suppliment may also be entered. You should not enter statistics, but rather information concerning the unit's background and characteristics.
Concept entries will be rated on:
[1-3]Relevance to theme and uniqueness.
[1-4]Concept information, including background, name, abilities.
[1-5]Quality use of colour, shading/light and texture.
[1-10]Quality of Drawing, and overall composition.
Total: 4 - 22 (2-7 for theory, 2-15 for art)
So, to attempt points in all areas, provide a detailed colour image, with a short bio. Bear in mind that entries that are blatantly unrelated to a theme will be ignored (ie, anything from a different season or opposing race - PM me if unsure).
The top 3 rated concepts will be rated gold, silver, bronze and proceed to stage 2.
Stage 2, Modelling poses the task of creating an animated 3d model of one of the three concept winners. Models should be low poly (within 50% of Blizzard's reccomended poly budgets | Approx - 1200 for heroes, 800 for elite, 600 for core units). Modellers must produce a UVW with their model, but will not be marked on it.
Models will be rated on:
[1-3]Use of polygons
[1-5]Animation
[1-10]Mesh construction
[1-4]Accuracy to concept
Total 4-22 (2-7 for relevance, 2-15 for art)
The top rated model for each of the three concepts will be awarded gold, silver, bronze by rating. Any tie of rating will put the higher ranked concept above the lower, proceeding to stage 3.
Stage 3, Skinning presents up to 3 models to be textured. Skinners are free to rewrap the model's meshes to aid their texturing as they see fit. Skins may not exceed 512x512 size, with the exception of large units that may use 1024x512 textures.
Skinning will be rated on:
[1-3]Etiquette (small skin, quality of screenshots, team colour)
[1-4]Relevance to concept art
[1-10]Overall quality, composition and consistancy of skin
[1-5]Use of shading, texture and colours.
Total 4-22 (2-7 for relevance, 2-15 for art)
Season 1 will commence NOW, with a deadline of Saturday 19th June. The theme is Naga. Judges will be announced contacted privately at the deadline, to publicly provide their ratings within 3 days of that deadline.
I hope I didn't omit anything. | 
