Area-Building Contests

In some years, though not all, Avatar MUD's immortals host area-building contests. These contests are not normally held more often than once per year because hosting them takes much time and effort.

Normally, these contests are open to all Avatar players. Also, normally, each entrant may submit only one area per contest. Each contest's guidelines usually require all submissions to be within a certain level range and, sometimes, within a certain geographical region of Avatar.

In each contest, each participant is normally given (1) a list of general guidelines and restrictions (such as area level range) specific to that contest, (2) an electronic copy of the most-recent edition of The Avatar MUD Builders' Guide (Player Version), (3) a specific range of "vnums" to use in building his/her entry's rooms and mobs and objects, (4) a program called ListArea that helps to troubleshoot area files for certain kinds of errors, and (5) a deadline to submit his/her entry. Contestants are usually prohibited from giving their submission's objects either any affects flags or any values for casting spells, though they may provide recommendations for these; immortals will add such flags and values if and when contest submissions become permanent parts of Avatar. All submissions become Avatar property and thus may be altered further by Avatar's staff without any notice to—or consultation with—their original authors.

Some time after this submission deadline has passed, all (functional) contest areas receieved will become accessible together from a temporary Hall of Judging (or other such area) located somewhere in the realm so that Avatar's staff and players may explore them. In weeks that follow, Avatar's staff will judge each of these areas and, eventually, announce a contest winner. This winner's area, along with selected other areas, will then be slated to become permanent additions to Avatar while those that do not "make the cut" will eventually disappear forever. Prizes are usually given to those who participate, to those whose submissions "make the cut," and/or to those who win. Prizes vary by contest and may (or may not) include gains in character levels or quest points.

Contest participants who demonstrate great interest and talent in building areas may (or may not), at some point, be invited to join Avatar MUD's builder team.

2005 Area-Building Contest

This contest involved creating areas with up to 25 rooms/mobs/objects each for levels 15-25. Each contestant was to choose an appropriate location in Midgaardia for his/her submission. Contestants were encouraged to build areas that were logical, creative, appropriate for level 15-25 characters, fun, and with a good storyline. Entries were as follows:

Name:                    Builder:       Level Range:   Map:      Judgment:
Ash Canyon               by Enda        levels 15-20
Borley School of Music   by Vivaea      levels 15-18
Catacombs of Solace      by Dani        levels 21-25   (Map)     runner-up
Centaur Hollow           by Yaxche      levels 20-20   (Map)     winner!!!
Crypt of the Damned      by Erion       levels 15-25
Cryptid Hollow           by Ibn         levels 20-25   (Map)     runner-up
Dungeons of Undrehand    by Towner      levels 15-25
Feeding Grounds          by Jaromil     levels 15-15
Of Dice and Men          by Neuf        levels 15-25  
Fangclaw Island          by Tevildo     levels 15-25
Garden of Perathia       by Shdwtop     levels 15-22
Hidden Spider Forest     by Anthem      levels 15-25
A House of Stone         by Pico        levels 43-45
Laboratory of Chalmus    by Waite       levels 15-20   (Map)     runner-up
Mirlion's Cottage        by Mirlion     levels 20-25
The Mon-Keigh            by Pros        levels 15-25
Moss Village             by Becky       levels 15-20   (Map)     runner-up
The Proving Grounds      by Elonan      levels 15-25
Qass Tomb                by S.Heart     levels 15-20   (Map)     runner-up
The S.S. Mutgar          by Timond      levels 10-15   (Map)     runner-up
Thrall Swamp             by KayeOss     levels 17-23   (Map)     runner-up
Tul-Sith's Hospice       by Kyandra     levels 17-22   (Map)     runner-up
The Walking Woods        by Neyne       levels 15-20   (Map)     runner-up
Westwood Outlook         by Quidt       levels 15-18   (Map)     runner-up

All winner and runner-up areas were added to Midgaardia in 2006 March, as was A House of Stone. Some area level ranges were changed at this time; this list above shows these areas' current level ranges.