I know that this isnt the thread for chat, and I apologise, but as a new person to rp/ws, I think that everything we need to do our best, is in all of the threads,that way we've all got an equal chance of success,thats the whole point of it surely? to read-up and interpret what we've read, using all our group to help each other, not have every detail handed on a plate, wheres the fun in that? We will all be good or bad at certain things, and this is a way to learn about them by using our group, not expect Rowan to explain every minute detail. Sorry, no offence to anyone,and not aimed at any particular person or post either.

Catnip Thieves did a fantastic job! :D I really love our drawing--good thing I didn't have to draw lol or people would be wondering what that strange stick structure was that's flowing in the wind. :P Sure we might not get all of the bonus points either, but what matters is that we enjoy ourselves and try our best. I'm enjoying getting to know my teammates as well as collaborating with them. After all, in the end, all teams are winners regardless of how they scored--as long as they participate.

Since our team Reaver didn't get any bonus points at all for the last chapter, would you mind explaining to us what our team specific could do better next time to try and get them in the next chapter? I'm just asking since we think we did good based on the given criteria of using every character, etc. haha

Also....our score on the first page isn't correct, either the total or the score coverage is off ;)

I think first and foremost we need to thank for putting up with all of us and doing this event. It's not an easy thing to do. It's supposed to be a friendly competition but sometimes I think we can forget that. The bottom line is we should be having fun and I sure am. The points don't really matter to me, I enjoy the interactions between my group and solving riddles/puzzles along the way. The best part is seeing the story unfold before us, it's fun to think how something might end and then it goes a totally different way. That's the true spirit of these type of events. So thank you to GreenRowan, the judges, and to my amazing team The Foggiest Notions! Keep up the good work everyone!

big HUMONGOUS squishes to you!!!! Just in case you needed them :D Thank you so much for including the comments from the judges explaining how they came to award the bonus points for this Chapter (and last chapter too). I appreciate the transparency and the guidance that those comments give. I also appreciate your patience and amazing creativity that keeps me reading the Chapter posts like they are chapters in an actual book.

I love how my team has come together and I couldn't be happier with how we have each really brought our own special talents and quirks to this adventure and it has been working out so well. I am so proud of us! Each of us has done really great with these challenges and I just want to say a big public THANK YOU to each and every one of you wonderful ladies for being you, for constantly bringing your best and for just general awesomeness :D I know it seems easy for me to say that the points don't matter from where we are sitting now, and while I am very happy about our standing as of now, I genuinely appreciate the fact that I'm having fun and getting to play with all of you more than any amount of points could show. Big huge squishes to you guys too!!

I just noticed the settling in rp, I either missed this ping and so did the rest of my team, or we had some misunderstanding. I dont think we did it. All we wrote were the puzzle challange, then the item list for the design. Im guessing our missing this took a big hit on us and Im so worried about it now. And wondering how the poop we didnt see it.

I am a bit bummed we didnt get bonus points for the design as rox and I were the only two really there. Our other team mates were gone and yet we still feel we lived up to the standards of a full team with just two people designing a ship. Plus I guess Im a bit sad our creativity in design and such werent noticed with how hard we worked.

Still this is all about having fun, and our team truly is. I guess its just sad to see us having problems with rp/points when I feel such an improvement over last year. Not like that should be our only focus. Im just a perfectionist lol. You are so freaking creative with new challenges this time around, I cant thank you enough for bringing in artistic sides. This is Very unlike anything Id done before.

.. like you.. I didn't see/past by or whatever any setting. Am assuming none from my team saw or noted. If we had a setting it was pure accident on my part. :)

Oh good at least it wasnt just us. I saw on the thread people posted rps of the charas settling in at the lodge or something, but thought they just did it for fun. I feel so fail that we missed an actual challenge D;

.. kind of glad myself we weren't the only ones... though we seem behind some as Travelers, at least we are having fun!

Okay, since I'm probably the one who has the most patience, I'm going to field these comments myself. Sorry it's late but I had to cool down a bit, and I will try to be the least snarky I can, but, honestly, some things are really a bit much!

Basically, it comes down to this:

Q: Why did little Johnny get an A+ while I only got an A? A: Because in this place, at this time, little Johnny did it better!

You think you were shortchanged? You don't know what shortchanged is. Shortchanged is criteria that pop out of nowhere with no warning, and believe me, I've been there. Our judges' criteria has been prominently posted, now more than once.

As for telling anyone precisely what to use and do to force the judges to make you a winner, it's not only ridiculously impossible in a creative endeavor, it's demeaning, insulting, and a slap in the face to all those who shone (which by the way, changes from challenge to challenge.)

So it's never going to happen, Charlie Brown!

There, my snarkiness is now vented. I'm going to suggest that, if you want a score higher than "standard perfect," you study the "winners." I did ask the judges to tell me what they especially loved about the bonus vehicles and here's the breakdown:

Cream, KarenP, Raggydoll, Elethia, Shae, and Eurus, thank you!

Shylarah and Rox I'll send you a note.

Taters and Straywillow. It's okay, but be sure to check the OOC threads to make sure you didn't miss anything or ask. I try not to drown you all in pings, but Subeta is, well...Subeta.

And the bottom line is a double. First of all, this IS all about having fun, and Elethia is right. You will all be winners as long as you participate! Second, please remember there is a lot of event left to go. Points can easily be made up and the judges are also starting an "hidden easter egg" aspect (Vesnali eggs for us. :D) which will be included in the next scoring. This is a pretty standard game device, but can be lots of fun!

Questions and comments welcome, as always.

Scoring is different for travelers and adventurers so really in the traveler standpoint you are on par with your score. I am a traveler myself and you are a little ahead of me points wise because your team earned a few more bonus points :D

... thanks for the advice, actually I wasn't aware to check the ooc threads until just recently but will do so from now on. Thanks also for the extra information from the judges. You do a wonderful job running this great game sends special huggles

PS Judges, I don't envy you!

, Having as much fun as we are? :)

Lots of fun,I love the WS events :D

BTW, just so you know, your RP bonus was based on your complete capturing of what it felt like to creep in to the Wayward Squirrel as a lone "stranger in a strange land" with no one except your little companion. They were very taken with your story, so kudos!

Also, I think you might have gotten a partial bonus on that coach if it hadn't been Unseelie in nature. :D

I never noticed the RP part either (DOH! headdesk on not reading the OOC part this time) Luckily the rest of my team are thorough lol I thought we were just RPing the puzzle for fun. :P

I want to join in on the thanks! I've loved having the judges comments along with the scores and I appreciate that the criteria are laid out plain and simple. Having the same basic 7 requirements for each chapter really simplifies things when we're all working to make time to get things done together. (ALSO: HUGE thanks for not giving massive bonuses for all these fantastically talented people making not-required HAs for every conversation! I saw those and thought OMG That is genius and so much work! They are gonna blow us out of the water... If they had gotten points for that I was gonna volunteer to do them for our whole team every time cuz no one wanted any part in that. lol)

As to those worrying about the bonuses, I know those feels. Our team has been very hit and miss on bonuses in the past, and we're all really competitive so it usually bugs us too. LOL But, I figure we aren't given the requirements to earn a bonus simply because, that's not how bonuses work. You know what is expected of you so you do your best and maybe shoot for excelling. I think when the judges are evaluating our entries, bonuses only happen because they come across a few that catch them off guard like, "WOW! Okay, that is way better than we would have hoped for." So there isn't really anything they can tell us. If it were expected, it would be part of the base score. And since it's unexpected they can't tell us what they expect us to come up with to earn the bonus points. SO if you are having trouble earning bonus points, my advice, is to be unexpected. ^_^ hugs Don't worry! You'll get it next time!!!!

Apart from that, even if every single team did something fantastic and unexpected and made the judges really feel like they outdid themselves, they probably wouldn't like the idea of giving everyone bonuses, so they would still probably narrow it down to a few teams whose effort they loved the most. So don't get disheartened when you miss out on a bonus. Pretty much everyone is throwing everything they've got into this because it's so much fun. So your best not getting a bonus doesn't mean it wasn't good enough, it just means you aren't the only ones giving your best. WAYWARD SQUIRREL FOR LIFE!!!! <3 lol

[edit] BAHA! Why do I always take so long to write/edit/post LOL I wrote this before we got the response from GreenRowan. Glad you were able to cool down and compose your thoughts, Ms.! Well said. Thanks to the judges for the further elaboration and for the complements to our Misfit's ship <3 Maybe they can borrow it sometime... maybe! hehe

I also want to thank you for all the enjoyment you give all of us. You and the judges do a wonderful job and deserve a medal for putting up with us.

: Thanks Hon for posting judges remarks with the updated scores...that really helps us keep our eyes on the prize. : Way to go Rogues! We got bonus points for our writing! Let's keep up the momentum, we're really doing well!

June 15 is the deadline for Chapter 4...be sure to check in and finalize your entries. Be sure to look over the puzzle challenge too.

I thought a lot about our glider and realised our flaws would pretty much be the Mast since it would bethe first thing to snap/be ruined in a battle. If we'd streamlined it a bit more we might have done a but better, but over all I'm thrilled with our standings! :)

and of course the judges I totally get you and know we werent shortchanged, after all just because we werent in the top doesnt mean you didnt like our stuff ;D I just always expect the most of myself and due to some struggle last year keep thinking its not good enough. When I should live in the now and not give two of my ratties little butts about it. Its not even about being competitive, more expectations on myself that I can never meet.

I have to say I usually suck at finishing art, let alone doing said art in two days. So if nothing else I am so glad that with this challenge I could remind myself it can be done if I have the will ;D Thanks for forcing me to have deadlines lol

You stay so composed even with us pushing our questions and woes. Idk how you do it and still make up such great plot/events/challenges. So you should seriously get every bonus point there is to give on subeta for all you do rowan. Same for the judges. It must be hard to do the dirty work and not be seen for all you do.

I will for sure look at the ooc more now. I usually just skim it to make sure I dont miss anything. Guess that wasnt enough this time xD Maybe if we have spare time my team can writethe rp just for fun, Its always nice to get to know each others charas better. (This also reminds me to turn off all the darn pings I dont need so I can focus on the ws ones)

And again, as with every chapter and day that goes by I have to thank my team. Especially for putting up with my madness and color coding haha.

I totally feel you there xD My team picks up the pieces I drop for sure. I bet the only reason we missed it was because half were away for that part. So its not like we would have much of an rp for it anyway. Ill have to keep my eyes peeled on those darned ooc threads hurhur.

Also gah me too, Im so slow at thinking up words for these thank you sorts of things. I edit it maybe five times before feeling it says everything I want to. So by the time I post everyone else has said most of it anyway.

Thank you for sending me a message about the last chapter sweetie, hopefully we will be able to do it better (I'm a perfectionist, can't help it lol), but I'm having fun and really....that's the only thing I need in this ;) So thank you so much for that :) I'm always looking forward to the ws pings I'm getting!

Maybe some people just need to realize that this is all about having fun and it's not about the points and/or prizes they will be getting. I know I would still play even if there weren't any prizes at all, since you're amazing at making plots/stories/characters and challenges and I love every second of being in this adventure with you and the other players.

Then a little note for you about the points (no not going to complain, just letting you know, so don't be scared to continue reading LOL), I saw you changed the score for the chapter of my team (reaver), but now the totals don't match the score coverage ;)

Also it's not hard to put up with you at all, you're the best ❤️