As a change to previous years, this year’s contest is held using the open format, in which the amount of entries and awards is not limited as before. Instead, considering the overall quality of entries in the category and the competition, all pieces deemed worthy of awards are awarded rather than just the best three in each category.
A contestant may enter each category with one or more pieces. These pieces together form the contestant’s display for that category. A display doesn’t necessarily have to be a cohesive combination of models, as each piece in the display is judged individually. Every contestant will mark their own display from other contestants’ works using small sticks available at the contest area. As a loose guideline you should keep your displays between 1-5 pieces each due to the restricted space of the contest area.
A contestant may have one display in each main category (1.-6.), not including the special categories (7.-9.), the restrictions of which you can find under the details for those categories.
The contestants can participate in the contest with a miniature they have painted. The miniature can be anything as long as it counts as a miniature and follows the restrictions of the category in which it is submitted. Fantasy, sci-fi, historical or modern, anything goes. Your entry doesn’t have to be painted exclusively for this competition – any piece is eligible as long as it hasn’t placed in previous Ropecon painting competitions. In accordance with the Ropecon rules, entries cannot showcase any symbols which are not in accordance with Ropecon’s values or incite hatred against marginalized groups of people without specific permission from the organizers of the event.
Entry to the contest is done online ahead of the contest. Entering online helps everything go smoothly on the contest day and helps the competition organizers assess the need for space. It is however also possible to enter your entries at the competition area if for some reason needed.
Contestants are awarded with commendations and bronze, silver and gold awards. A contestant may only receive one award per category – either for the single best entry in their display or for their whole display if all of the pieces entered are deemed to be on the same level by the judges. Additional awards include the Best of Category awards in categories 1.-6., the Best of Theme award, the People’s Choice award and the top award of the entire contest, the Best of Show award.
As in previous years, commendations will be given out to pieces with commendable merits to mark all the finalist pieces that made it past the 1st cut. Winning pieces will be picked from within these commended entries. The commended entry cards will be placed with the pieces on the showroom table by Sunday morning. If your piece has a commended entry card alongside it on Sunday, please come to the award ceremony!
Lastly
If you are not sure which category the miniature you have chosen belongs to, you can contact us by e-mail at coldtonessociety@gmail.com. The judges can rule to move an entry to another category if it is considered that it has been submitted to the wrong one.
The contest is organized in collaboration with Ropecon by actives of Cold Tones Society, an open community focused on developing the display miniature painting scene in Finland. Our aim is to get all of the most important information on the official channels of Ropecon, but for additional information, news and content related to the contest we recommend keeping an eye on the Cold Tones Society website and social media (instagram.com/coldtonessociety).
Cold Tones Society 