Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => The Lead Painters' League => LPL Archiv => Topic started by: Ray Rivers on January 09, 2017, 01:34:44 PM
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Hey guys and gals!
Just wondering if this rule needs to be revised. There have been tons of new minis released in the last few years which cater to more veteran painters and skirmish/board gaming. For folks who like this format, 5 minis per week is just too much work to ask folks to do and enter the league.
Was wondering if perhaps 3 new minis per week is a more realistic goal, one that would encourage more folks to participate in.
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Hey guys and gals!
Just wondering if this rule needs to be revised. There have been tons of new minis released in the last few years which cater to more veteran painters and skirmish/board gaming. For folks who like this format, 5 minis per week is just too much work to ask folks to do and enter the league.
Was wondering if perhaps 3 new minis per week is a more realistic goal, one that would encourage more folks to participate in.
The number of miniatures needed per entry was not a factor for me in deciding to participate or not. When I entered I did use miniatures which were painted some time in advance (could be from january of the same year)and not the week before the entry was due.
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When I entered I did use miniatures which were painted some time in advance (could be from january of the same year)and not the week before the entry was due.
Indeed,
That is another reason for reconsidering the number of minis required to participate in the league. My feeling is that a number of people paint minis far in advance of the actual league IOT participate.
If folks "hold back" minis and save them for the League it means that they will not be posting their work on the normal forums during the year. This actually hurts the general forums, which is the real meat of the site. To be quite honest, the overall quality of miniatures on the normal forums is now fairly low. Granted there is some really nice stuff here, but it's just getting tougher to find it.
I have participated in 2 leagues and there is absolutely no way that I can ever see me participating in the future because the miniatures I now paint would not allow me to "paint and participate." The only way I could do so would be to pretty much start preparing many months in advance.
There are a also a number of folks on the forums who are wonderful painters, but never participate. You see them painting things like Infinity miniatures. These kinds of minis require lots of time. For them to paint 60+ miniatures for the league, I believe, is a major inhibitor from joining.
I would think also, size should be a consideration. Look at this miniature:
(http://i.imgur.com/IrMAUBm.png)
Granted, the guy is probably a professional painter, but if I wanted to paint this miniature and also have to have 4 others to go with it... well, that's just impossible.
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The League, back in the day, was designed to get folks painting their minis at every skill level, not for showing off masterpieces. This is an unfortunate by-product of all the talent around here. :)
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No.
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I don't compete in the LPL as my skill level in painting as well as photography just isn't up to the challenge. Three versus five miniatures wouldn't matter to me.
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The League, back in the day, was designed to get folks painting their minis at every skill level, not for showing off masterpieces. This is an unfortunate by-product of all the talent around here. :)
Back in the day, it was to spur folks to paint lots of minis for their armies. I love armies. But I also like skirmish and the league doesn't support that given the hobby's expanding scope.
And yes, it does highlight masterpieces... from folks who prepare for the league from day 1 after the ending of the last league.
Back in the day, it was suppose to be a painting challenge.
I posted this just as a thought. Perhaps the organizers can think about it a bit. Given the multitude of different games, greater detailing in miniatures and more complex miniatures available at differing scales (Mythic Battles for example has many minis far larger than 28mm) an adjustment here or there might be appropriate.
Having 3 minis as a minimum might yield unexpected results, even if it was for only a couple rounds.
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Indeed,
That is another reason for reconsidering the number of minis required to participate in the league. My feeling is that a number of people paint minis far in advance of the actual league IOT participate.
If folks "hold back" minis and save them for the League it means that they will not be posting their work on the normal forums during the year. This actually hurts the general forums, which is the real meat of the site. To be quite honest, the overall quality of miniatures on the normal forums is now fairly low. Granted there is some really nice stuff here, but it's just getting tougher to find it.
I have participated in 2 leagues and there is absolutely no way that I can ever see me participating in the future because the miniatures I now paint would not allow me to "paint and participate." The only way I could do so would be to pretty much start preparing many months in advance.
For me that was one of the reasons I didn't join a second LPL. I love eye candy, but it's weird to see entries which were probably finished in a week 'compete' with stuff that was completed in advance. Sure, some of the photos were mind blowingly good, but for challenges as these I prefer to see stuff done during the competition.
But nonetheless I watch all entries every year, enjoy them immensely and vote for my favorite. So I'm still a fan of the LPL, but not one who joins in anymore :)
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No, although I think the LPL does have problems with its current format the minimum of 5 figures is a good thing.
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I think it's a case of horses for courses. The Prof's original idea for the LPL was to encourage painting and sharing of small groups of gaming figures -precisely because there were already various CMON style outlets, painting competitions and showcases for single figures painted to masterpiece standards. But not for small units painted to wargames standards (and we all have different ideas of what constitutes wargames tabletop standards, but I certainly don't see any CMON type painting in the LPL) designed to take part in skirmish level 'Lead Adventure' style games. Hence the format.
We also have the painting clubs for people who are happier painting one figure at a time. Different, non-competitive format, true, but still an LAF organised showcase for members contributions and viewing pleasure :)
Certainly agree with keeping the rules and format under review and adjusting from time to time as needed though.
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Honestly, would be interested either way...3 would be fine but was happy with 5 as well. Three would be easier of course but 5 did get me to paint more minis.
I competed for the first time this year. Yes it is daunting as there are some fantastic entries, but it was nice to "complete" so many minis and also get better at taking photos. Yes it was time consuming and yes I painted or started a bunch of the minis before the competition started...with real life that is a must. Some weeks there is no way I have time to paint 5 minis.
That said, I think the potential for some variety some weeks (maybe 3 with a theme, maybe 10 with a theme) is a way to go. This would not address Ray's concerns but would provide some variety in what you can paint as sometimes you don't have 5 of a certain theme...or want to paint a mob of cultists...
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Maybe it's just me. I'm not a "top notch" painter in the LPL realm, but I don't think 3 figures would be much faster to paint than 5... just my 2 cents ;)
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What about having a 'Monsterous' special round where the contestants paint either a big creature, war machine or scenery piece?
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Thanks for ya'alls thoughts!
I love the League and look forward to it ever year. So please don't misinterpret the reason I started the thread.
Nowadays, there is a tremendous variety of miniatures out there. Some are not so easy to finish as others. For example, I love Perry Miniatures... standard 28mm, metal (and plastic) miniatures with very nice detailing. Perry miniatures are a natural fit for the LPL.
Others not so much.
I just wanted to open a discussion about whether having some different categories might just give folks an opening to present some of the stuff we don't normally see in the League. Think something like "Larger than 39mm" category with 3 miniatures. Or, yea, one week a single miniature or vehicle.
Just to provide some variety if nothing else.
And once again, thanks for your comments.
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I appreciate all the entertainment value you contestants provide, Thank you.
I wonder what the league would look like if dioramas were not permitted or segregated into a different category? Only the new figures for the round and plain backgrounds would produce a much different result I think. It might reduce the intimidation factor and get more participation. Looks like you got 34 of 50 last year.
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I also donīt think 3 or 5 miniatures does mean much difference as long as we are talking usual 28mm gaming miniatures and there is still the encouragement of painting many miniatures behind it.
My feeling is that a number of people paint minis far in advance of the actual league IOT participate.
If folks "hold back" minis and save them for the League it means that they will not be posting their work on the normal forums during the year. This actually hurts the general forums, which is the real meat of the site.
However this is a good point and I feel guilty of being one of those who tried to accomplish the goal of showing NEW miniatures with every entry by painting at least some in advance (at least planning which ones to enter when, etc.). And you are absolutely right: Doing so prevents them to be shown on the other boards on LAF (and the personal blog archive where I normally publish my newest stuff). A price I am willing to pay to be part of the competition, that I otherwise could not achieve due to slow painting and daily life circumstances.
I donīt feel the need to change the rule(s), itīs still up to everybody to decide whether he/she can manage to contribute or not and you are always allowed to miss a new entry at the cost of a few bonus points. That is still a lot of encouragement to participate, I think. I look forward to many more LPLs to come - be it as a spectator or a painter if time allows!
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Having participated once in the LPL, I did find it was a lot of pressure to complete the miniatures on time. I didn't start painting until the competition was announced which probably added to the pressure. However the satisfaction of completing a team, photographing them and sending them in was immense, especially when I received positive comments on my efforts (which were very middle of the road). It would not have made any difference whether there were 3, 5 or even 8 figures in the team.
Having missed the last two years due to other pressures, I fully intend to enter this years competition. I have selected most of the figures I want to paint (can't predict the 'special rounds') but in the spirit of the competition have not put brush to figures. I have however made a start on the scenery that I intend to use as background for the photographs.
In summary, the LPL is a fantastic way of painting up the figures you need, with an added spur of a tight time schedule but with a wonderful chance to get feedback on your work and for me most importantly has helped my painting improve. I would vote to keep the competition the way it is.
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Having participated once in the LPL, I did find it was a lot of pressure to complete the miniatures on time. I didn't start painting until the competition was announced which probably added to the pressure. However the satisfaction of completing a team, photographing them and sending them in was immense, especially when I received positive comments on my efforts (which were very middle of the road). It would not have made any difference whether there were 3, 5 or even 8 figures in the team.
Having missed the last two years due to other pressures, I fully intend to enter this years competition. I have selected most of the figures I want to paint (can't predict the 'special rounds') but in the spirit of the competition have not put brush to figures. I have however made a start on the scenery that I intend to use as background for the photographs.
In summary, the LPL is a fantastic way of painting up the figures you need, with an added spur of a tight time schedule but with a wonderful chance to get feedback on your work and for me most importantly has helped my painting improve. I would vote to keep the competition the way it is.
I wholeheartedly concur with Gary, as it is exactly my experience :)
Except for planning to enter this year ;) :D
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For me it is always a challenge to get enough figure s down however more than 5 would prove very difficult and less than 5 form a voting person as well would put too much pressure on a few figures
I think currently the level is about right
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When will the next LPL start?
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We're looking at a likely schedule now.
An announcement will be made as soon as we've worked out who is available to do what in terms of running the next LPL.
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Thanks for your reply Captain.
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Back in the day, it was to spur folks to paint lots of minis for their armies. I love armies. But I also like skirmish and the league doesn't support that given the hobby's expanding scope.
Can you skirmish with less than five miniatures?
The goal of the event wasn't just quality paints, it was also the marathon. The marathon was a key piece, being able to keep up the painting schedule is almost more important than well-painted figures. The evidence is in the loss of points when someone posts previously-painted figures!
To change the number of figures required would change the fundamentals behind the event.
In essence you're describing a different kind of competition really. Should we change the LPL into that kind of competition? Or maybe leave that kind of competition to other sites that already have it very well covered - cough - CMON - cough?
Thanks
n.
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The marathon was a key piece, being able to keep up the painting schedule is almost more important than well-painted figures.
Like I say, I've competed in 2 competitions, so I know what it is all about.
And I personally believe there are folks who aren't engaged in a marathon as they have been painting miniatures for the competition for a long time before it begins. Just my feeling. Perhaps I'm totally wrong. I've got lots of minis I've never posted on the web, so maybe that is a more accurate description.
As for skirmish minis, I'm seeing more and more stuff at the 40mm scale. Try painting 70 40mm miniatures for the LPL. I'm also seeing more and more highly detailed miniatures at 28mm, especially in plastic... which is what I call the "hobby's expanding scope."
But I am repeating myself here.
I guess some folks think I'm attacking something or another. I'm not.
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I don't have any problem with painting 5 figures as opposed to 3. Where I have a problem keeping up is with getting a proper photo submitted. I entered one year and had fun even though I ended up at almost the bottom, a few spots up. But every year I set up figures to paint. I paint them but don't enter the league. Just too much trouble posting photos. I do the same thing with the army painters challenge, I paint but never get the photos posted. I think the current format is just fine.
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I think we can probably "bin" this thread.
No reason to have LPL 11 cluttered up with it here.