And Still, There's Money

Good morning.  It's June 1st and the contest is officially over.  No entries, which should come as a shock to no one since I didn't promote it to the general public.  There's nothing left to be said about that; readers can disparage me as they please.

The greater point is that I have $1,050, which I'm still perfectly desirous to give away.  I can even kick the total up a little higher.  I'm looking for ideas.  I have a few of my own, which I'll list:

Run a lottery.  Limit it to regular users.  I have no idea how I'd pick the winner.

Give a rebate to my Patreon supporters.  Spread the money around.

Pay editors for my wiki.  Support on the wiki has been there, but not exactly in a way that I really need.  This could be a motivator for one or two contributors over a short time.  Not sure how I'd scale the work.

Use the money to buy air fare to a place in Canada, the United States or Europe.  Meet a Patreon supporter.  Again, not sure how I'd pick the winner, but total support on Patreon might be a measure.  Depending on the destination, it may be possible to meet more than one supporter.

Buy a designer's module and publish it.  I have the means to lay out and publish items for free, so I could use the money to promote other designers and artists that way, giving them an up front fee and splitting publication sales.

Any other ideas?

The Contest Approaches

In the 1850s, two decades of explosive growth had produced a crisis for New York city residents, who had no place to go on their one day off.  The dearth was at its worst for poor people, who couldn't afford a street car or a carriage to go anywhere, who would pile up on the streetcorners, on curbs, on dockyards leaning against railings looking at the water.  New York had virtually no park space for its 800,000 residents ... and the city was at a loss what to do.

They purchased tracts of land north of the city and issued eviction notices to the farmers and residents there, clearing an area of 341 hectares, or 843 acres, give or take.  In desperation, New York City Mayor Wood announced a "design contest," for what would be called "Central Park."  The winners, Vaux and Olmstead, had never designed a park before; Olmstead had never designed anything.  Yet the two of them succeeded in creating what must be described as one of the most architecturally significant parklands in the world — one that continues to thrive and find new imagination among New Yorkers.

The lesson here is New York's willingness to admit that it didn't have a plan; and to believe that by creating a contest, it could inspire others to create something new and innovative.

This is MY intent with the contest I'm running, which will be announced in full on January 15th.  It's asking others do to something I cannot.  Something I don't know how to do.  And in compensation for the efforts and attempts that others would make, I'm ready to pay real money, just as New York gave to Vaux and Olmstead.

There will be three prizes: 1st, 2nd & 3rd, and an honourable mention will also be named.  1st prize will be $800 USD.  2nd Prize, $200.  And 3rd Prize, $50.  This is happening.  The money is ready.  The general rules are written and last minute negotiations on those rules are being discussed with the judges.

Five days from now, creators will learn what to do.

A Chance to Win, with More than $1,000 USD in Prizes

The intention on the 15th of January is to initiate a contest, with prizes for the three winners amounting to more than $1,000 USD.  No, I'm not kidding.  With work and the benefits of 2021's successful kickstarter, which managed the financial backing behind the Jousting Pig Menus, I'm in a position to give something back to the community that has supported me for so long.

The contest is to be judged by five members of the online D&D community.  All five have agreed.  I will have no part in the judging whatsoever.  It's my responsibility to establish the rules of the contest, to promote the contest, to take legal responsibility for the contest and to hand out the money.

The winners will be chosen by others, whose names will be announced on the 15th.

More later.

Welcome the New Year

This post is a momentary departure from the worldbuilding series.  I'm writing this at 2 A.M. on January 1st, 2022, to say that on January 15th, I'll be launching something different and BIG on this blog, set to run for the first half of the New Year.

I'm not saying what it is, right now; but some bloggers and other D&D community members who regularly visit the Tao of D&D have been contacted and brought on board.  They will be taking part.  This is something I've never done before.  I don't think anybody on a D&D blog has done it before.

Come back around on the 15th and I'll be ready to announce.