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I entirely understand. Personally I found the LPL quite a hellish strain, which is why I've only ever done it once. I'm not mad at any individuals (I think you have to be a bit bonkers to enter it at all), just sad that it seems our once-great event is in decline.
Just 18 entries this time. Some members (including Captain Blood and Admiral Benbow) were intending to give this year a miss, even before the contest was announced. Maybe the new format isn't liked? Maybe there is little interest in taking part in general? Entry numbers have varied between 26 and 70+ over the years. It has always been a very small percentage of (7000+) members taking part and voting (sub 400 in LPL11). All forum "contests" attract only small numbers of participants. You can't force people to enter.
... entries always suffer from a lack of photography and staging skills. Not that my painting is up there with the best by any means! I do think there have been occasions when I've been beaten by the terrain etc compared to the actual figures though.
It is, unavoidably, a wee bit disappointing. But then again, well done to the 18 valiant fellows who have entered. There are many seriously nicely painted entries there, and that's worth celebrating Nothing ever stays the same. LAF has changed enormously. Many of the 7000+ members we have here now don't seem quite so interested in the visual aspects of the game - painting figures, modelling, making lovely terrain and scenery. This was very much part of the early LAF ethos. For many people these days the aesthetic stuff is perhaps not so important. Rather it's all about the game, rules, systems, scenarios, etc. Pity, but there it is.Also, of the many, many people who have had a tilt at the LPL (I'd guess 250 or more different participants down the last 11 years) a lot of people do it once or twice and then decide (as mentioned) it is way too much like hard work - which it is! You have to be very motivated or very competitive (like me! ) to keep on coming back to it. This time, I've had recent cataract surgery, so it was never going to be possible for me this Spring. Also, having 'medalled' a few times, I had already decided it was time to step back a bit from it. But perhaps next time, I will be unable to resist! Please don't be too downhearted. It's one of those things. I think it will pick up again.I'm going to focus on enjoying the entries we have got, and wishing good luck in the hunt to all the painters taking part - keep it up lads
Oh well, it has been a lot of fun, though. And it has got me painting again and actually enjoying it, something I have been pleasantly surprised about.
There is another barrier to entry and that is the astonishingly high level of painting and presentation displayed in LPL. Its not a great motivator to enter a competition when you have no expectation of winning. I know winning isn't everything, but its nice to think if you pull everything together you have a chance. But having seen the level of entries, I know that isn't remotely likely.