The First Task: The Elder Wand

So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! So Death crossed to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it to the oldest brother.
— The Tale of the Three Brothers

"My wicked and most subtle friend. Who knows ways of magick moste evil"
— Godelot

"Wand of elder, never prosper."
—An old saying about Wands made of Elder


The Elder Wand

The Challenge:
Pick a character which has had the elder wand in possession and create either a story or a comic strip around that person. The Elder Wand has to play an important role in the story.

Character has to be one who is mentioned in DH as once owning the Elder Wand.

Rules:
- Stories will have a minimum of 500 and maximum of 800 words
- Comic strips will have a maximum of 6 panels sized 250x250. 1 panel of 500 allowed.
- Comic strips will have a maximum of 150 words
- Comics: You may use pictures, original drawings (if you borrow from a fanfic artist, ask first and credit)
- Animation is not allowed.
- All entries should be in keeping with the Forum Rules (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=120541)

Submissions:
1. Once you have submitted your entry, it is done. No alterations or resubmissions allowed.
2. Please submit your entry via owl to one of the following staff members:
Hes (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=52712), mexicant (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=141899), Nadia (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=118687), RemusLupinFan (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=23922) and SusanBones (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=47011)

Deadline:
- The deadline for this challenge will be March 15th, Midnight GMT
Timezone converter (http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc)

House points
Yes you will be able to win points for your house.

Important
Remember all work must be kept anonymous. Please do not share your work, this includes hinting about elements of your work, with anyone until the voting is over. Any entries posted publicly anywhere else or otherwise shared will be disqualified. No exceptions.

Questions about this challenge go here.

Oh great. Sounds cool. :clap: Where are we to ask questions? In this thread?

That last line, was edited in later. I am sure of that. :whistle:

The comic strip is that size for the complete comic or only for one panel?
For the story, how do you count words like "you're" as one or two words?

:clap: Yay Mods!!! :clap:.

Does that mean there is another house cup in the end? :).

Questions about this challenge go here.

Where are we to ask questions? In this thread?
Detention, Mrs Tenshi! :evil:

OI! I am being set up here. You know that I never really pay attention to Dumbledore. You only waited for me to blunder.

I edited the last post to actually include questions.

The comic strip is that size for the complete comic or only for one panel?
For the story, how do you count words like "you're" as one or two words?

I decided to change the size to 250x250 maximum for each panel. That works better.

We will count it as one word. But it's essentially better to write the whole word. Looks a lot better.


:clap: Yay Mods!!! :clap:.

Does that mean there is another house cup in the end? :).

I think Professor McGonagall has planned that yes.

OI! I am being set up here. You know that I never really pay attention to Dumbledore. You only waited for me to blunder.

I edited the last post to actually include questions.

Do you think I accept those excuses?

100 lines with my special quill.

I must pay attention and must not talk back to Professors.

I am going to enjoy this quest. I never had any idea about the Hallows existence but that Wand is so interesting. I want it. Pity I am in Azkaban at the moment.

I must pay attention and must not talk back to Professors.

My dear Ms Umbridge... if that were a standing rule, I'd be sporting more ink lines than Dennis Rodman. :rolleyes:

I never had any idea about the Hallows existence but that Wand is so interesting. I want it.

Sorry, it's reserved. :relax:

Pick a character which has had the elder wand in possession and create either a story or a comic strip around that person.

Professor, I trust our choice is not limited to celebrities? :huh:

Professor, I trust our choice is not limited to celebrities? :huh:

You may pick a character that was mentioned as possessor of the Elder Wand in DH and we only know by name.

But you shouldn't give Professor Snape, Ron or Hermione the wand.

You may pick a character that was mentioned as possessor of the Elder Wand in DH and we only know by name.

Splendid! :elaugh:

But you shouldn't give Professor Snape, Ron or Hermione the wand.

Pity. It would make quite an interesting addition to 'Hogwarts: A History' - "And thus Ronald Weasley became the Master of the Elder Wand, which resulted in remodeling of the entire west wing of the castle." :relax:

My dear Ms Umbridge... if that were a standing rule, I'd be sporting more ink lines than Dennis Rodman. :rolleyes:

You are right, I know from a reliable source that you are more interested in joining me in Azkaban.

Pity. It would make quite an interesting addition to 'Hogwarts: A History' - "And thus Ronald Weasley became the Master of the Elder Wand, which resulted in remodeling of the entire west wing of the castle." :relax:

Oi!

Oi!

It's 'Daggerstone'. :relax:

And... what? :huh:

You are right, I know from a reliable source that you are more interested in joining me in Azkaban.

Because your sources proved oh, so reliable in the past?

I must regretfully decline your invitation. I have prior arrangements for the next lifetime or so. :relax:

Pity.True. I demanded that Harald - first chocolate frog who ever escaped the Boy, who defeated the Dark Lord - could be mentioned as secretly be in possession of the Elder Wand, too. But it was denied. :sad:

Since I've been off for awhile because my computer was down, I have a question: Can anyone just enter, or is there a sign-up thing?

It has to be from DH?

*shrugs and returns to his other writing schtuff.*

Since I've been off for awhile because my computer was down, I have a question: Can anyone just enter, or is there a sign-up thing?Ah, this particular muggle technology is not very stable by time I've heard. No worries, anyone can enter the Quest for the Hallows, there was no sign up.

It has to be from DH? Since I've spent a lot of my life time with researches about the Elder wand, I'm almost sure quite everyone who owned it ever, was mentioned in DH.

Is there any character you have in mind, who isn't? After all, I was dead already, when Mrs Rowling saw fit to describe Harry's final adventure with Tom, so I might overlook someone...

Character has to be one who is mentioned in DH as once owning the Elder Wand.
So they didn't have to own the wand during the time of DH, we just have to have learned that they were an owner during DH. Yes? So, for example, Grindlewald or the Peverell brother would be fair game.

Yep. In DH Ollivander told the Trio about the history of the Elder Wand, who owned it after the Peverell brother. So you could use one of the obscure characters of whom we only know their name or a few details :)

Is there any character you have in mind, who isn't? After all, I was dead already, when Mrs Rowling saw fit to describe Harry's final adventure with Tom, so I might overlook someone...
I'll reread the book. (I'll be quick)

If the one mentioned isn't in the book, I'll send an owl to the appropriate authority already mentioned inquiring as to his or her suitability.

If he/she is mentioned...

*peruses an old notebook*

800 words max...right.

*sigh* Editing, that's all I seem to accomplish anymore.

Ooooh!!! This sounds quite interesting!

800 words?!?!?! :wow: You don't mean to make it easy, do you?

How many tasks will there be on this quest? Only 3?

Will participation count like it did on the Trapdoor contest?

Do you think I accept those excuses?

100 lines with my special quill.

I must pay attention and must not talk back to Professors.


I thought you'd try to collect her in your inquisitorial squad for not paying attention to Dumbledore. :whistle:.
----

I hope they're more than three challenges! Perhaps more than one challenge for each object. :hmm:. The Hallows quest shouldn't be an easy one. :shrug:.
Anyways I'm sure the Mods have great things in store. :D.

Do you think I accept those excuses?

100 lines with my special quill.

I must pay attention and must not talk back to Professors.

I am going to enjoy this quest. I never had any idea about the Hallows existence but that Wand is so interesting. I want it. Pity I am in Azkaban at the moment.
Not sure exactly how you intend to enforce any detentions...or how you intend to get or give you "special quill" to anyone to write with. I think everyone will likely do the same as I did last April 1st and ever so politely decline your invitation. :p

800 words?!?!?! :wow: You don't mean to make it easy, do you?

We have to find a balance between the two choices. Making a comic is potentially quite a lot of work, so asking 500 to 800 words sounds reasonable.



How many tasks will there be on this quest? Only 3?

At least three, maybe more.

(We don't want to give away everything just yet ;) )

Will participation count like it did on the Trapdoor contest?

We will see how many people will participate and what will be best. The last contest gave us insight on what works and what doesn't.

If we tell a story about the wand passing from one owner to the next, do BOTH have to be mentioned in DH? Because that might be tricky - I don't think we have anywhere close to the full series of people....

I am fine with you inventing a character as long as the other is mentioned in DH.

Is it OK to tell a story that isn't really canon, as long as the right characters are featured?

Yes. As long as you give the Elder Wand an important role and the owner is a HP character, you should be fine. No crossovers though.

We have to find a balance between the two choices. Making a comic is potentially quite a lot of work, so asking 500 to 800 words sounds reasonable.

I didn't say it wasn't reasonable, just that for me to cut a story down to 800 words or less is a challenge!


We will see how many people will participate and what will be best. The last contest gave us insight on what works and what doesn't.

I'm sure this one will be just as much fun as the last one was. You guys (and gals) always do a great job!

Yes. As long as you give the Elder Wand an important role and the owner is a HP character, you should be fine. No crossovers though.

Darn! There goes my Sherlock Holmes plan. ;) :lol:

This sounds like fun. Can't wait to see the entries.

Is Harry out-of-bounds?

-JR

Is Harry out-of-bounds?

-JR

Harry is one of the characters who had possession of the Elder wand, so he is okay to use in the story. :)

Does Voldemort count? :hmm:. He'd owned it, but he'd never been it's true master..

Ownership and mastery are two different thigs.

Damn it! Dolores Umbridge ate my homework...again!

Are we drawing a distinction between mastery and ownership, mods? Draco was master of the wand, but never its owner. Voldemort was owner of the wand, but never its master.

So does Draco count or not count? How about Voldemort?

For comics, would it be OK to have four panels at 250 and one panel at 500? Or some other combination like that?

ETA - not sure if that made sense. I mean something like this:

[ ] [ ]
[ . . ]
[ ] [ ]

Instead of this:

[ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]

[ ] = one 250 panel

Are we drawing a distinction between mastery and ownership, mods? Draco was master of the wand, but never its owner. Voldemort was owner of the wand, but never its master.

So does Draco count or not count? How about Voldemort?

All characters that once had the Wand in possession count.

I realize Draco didn't know it's special powers but you could for instance describe or portray a special form of magic the Wand did and which surprised Draco.

Let's not make it more difficult than that.

For comics, would it be OK to have four panels at 250 and one panel at 500? Or some other combination like that?

ETA - not sure if that made sense. I mean something like this:

[ ] [ ]
[ . . ]
[ ] [ ]

Instead of this:

[ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]

[ ] = one 250 panel

That's okay. It would give you some more room. Because I realize it will quite detailed work (if you draw)

This sounds awesome. I can't wait to start! :D

- You may use pictures, original drawings (if you borrow from a fanfic artist, ask first and credit)


Does that mean we can include a picture in the Story? Or is that meant for the comics?

Only the comics :)

Do the stories/comics have to have a title? :hmm: Or do we have to think up one of them as well?

Something I've wanted to post but I've been forgetting.

Beware the Ides of March.

Do the stories/comics have to have a title? :hmm: Or do we have to think up one of them as well?

They don't have to have a title, it's your own free choice.

Something I've wanted to post but I've been forgetting.

Beware the Ides of March.

It kinda suits doesn't it. Day Julius Caesar was murdered. Thankfully it won't be full moon.

That's good.

I'm in! this is a tought challenge

I'm halfway through my entry. I hope I could finish it today or tomorrow. :shrug:.

I'm already in...

I'm finished with my entry, but I am afraid to turn it in that I may want to edit.

Five days to go everyone :)

Just wondering, does the title go towards the word count?

Just wondering, does the title go towards the word count?

No. We are not counting the title in the word count.

No. We are not counting the title in the word count.

Thanks.

I hope we get lots of entries. There seems to be significantly less interest in this challenge than the trapdoor one :shrug:

Yeah, the interest seems less than last time :agree:. I hope things get more active when the entries are posted. :shrug:.

I should probably go work on my entry, now. :whistle:.

I don't know if it's the topic or the timing or people are just not creative anymore :whistle:

But it doesn't matter. As long as a few people at least have fun with it I am happy.

I think it might be a timing thing I'm hearing a lot of people saying that they have lots of school/Uni. homework due and its keeping them from taking part . Maybe the next part of the new challenge will get lots more interest.

Hey it might even let someone who is bad at writing :whistle: have a chance at winning this challenge ! :D

I don't know if it's the topic or the timing or people are just not creative anymore :whistle:

But it doesn't matter. As long as a few people at least have fun with it I am happy.

Psh, I'm always creative. :anxiously waiting for some form of the weekly graphics contest to resume: :p

Holy shoot. I'm glad I checked the first page of this thread. My story isn't finished. :( I am under word minimum by a hundred or so.

Oops, am I not allowed to mention that?

I think it might be a timing thing I'm hearing a lot of people saying that they have lots of school/Uni. homework due and its keeping them from taking part . Maybe the next part of the new challenge will get lots more interest.

Hey it might even let someone who is bad at writing :whistle: have a chance at winning this challenge ! :D

My exams start in mid-late April and go on to the end of May so the next part of the challenge would have to be in June if I want to spend a lot of time on it. That hasn't stopped me from entering though :p

Yeah, it's bad timing for me, too. Just got a lot going on. I'll enter, but I don't know that I'll be able to devote as much time to it now.

:elaugh:

Is that an evil cackle I hear???

Definitely an evil Dags cackle :agree:

^^I kept reading it 'a devil Dags cackle' :rotfl:.

:lol:

Well that suits as well.

Just practicing, kids... just practicing. :relax:

I am extending the deadline to Midnight GMT March 15th-16th.

And that's supposed to help them... how? :relax:

Gives them more time to put it off. ;)

I'm finished, but this is my first contest. Do I submit the text of my submission in the owl, with all the appropriate formatting etc.?

I'm finished, but this is my first contest. Do I submit the text of my submission in the owl, with all the appropriate formatting etc.?

Send your entry in an Owl to one of the mods listed, like me :). Do a preview of the Owl before you send it. The way it looks in the Owl will be the way it looks in the contest.

Thanks, Susan. I just turned it in.

Thanks for extending the deadline. I still haven't finished it. :scared:

*cracks whip*

:whistle:

How many hours to go?

Enough. Aka already answered in an owl :)

Is it a secret? :scared:

*types frantically*

No, take your time. It's still around 11 hours.

She had also owled me you see.

I got mine in by the first deadline. I'm so proud of myself. :D (Yes, it doesn't take much these days. :lol:)

I finally sent mine in :D.

I am extending the deadline to Midnight GMT March 15th-16th.

Wasn't that what it was anyway?

When I read that the deadline is midnight of a certain date, I expect it to be the midnight at the *end* of that day.


Thans for extending it! :)
I hope we get a heap of great entries! :)

Alrighty the deadline has arrived, we're closed for entries. Voting will be up soonish. :)

*is extremely excited to see what people have come up with*

Where will the voting thread be? Sorry, stupid question. I know you'll link to it in here.

I can't wait to see the entries! I'm going to give a pre-voting shout out to my fellow Hufflepuffs who entered! Go Hufflepuff!

I can't wait to see the entries! I'm going to give a pre-voting shout out to my fellow Hufflepuffs who entered! Go Hufflepuff!

I agree with all of the above, except that "Ravenclaw" should go where HMN put "Hufflepuff". ;)

RAVENCLAW RULES! :cool:

Not to be left out of the house-promotions: Go Gryffindors!!

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo261/DenMuggle/COS%20Avatars/Go-Gryff-1.gif

I hope the voting starts soon!!! Go Hufflepuff!! :huff:

Best of luck everyone. :)

I agree with all of the above, except that "Ravenclaw" should go where HMN put "Hufflepuff". ;)

RAVENCLAW RULES! :cool:
Agreed! :rave: :D

Missed the deadline, ah well, procrastination is not a good thing. :shrug: You guys never cease to amaze me, so I look forward to the enteries. ;)

Ah nooooo I just saw this :(
This is what I get for not being proactive enough... Guess I'll be on the bleachers this time, cheering on Gryffindor :D

Yay Gryffies! :clap:

I'm getting excited about this! GO HUFFLEPUFF!!! :huff:

Good luck fellow Slytherins :). :slyth:.

Ah nooooo I just saw this :(
This is what I get for not being proactive enough... Guess I'll be on the bleachers this time, cheering on Gryffindor :D

Yay Gryffies! :clap:

You can participate in the next task!

When will the voting start? I saw the voting area, but there appears to be nothing in it.

-JR

We are still sorting things out. I can safely predict that in the European evening voting will probably start :)

What will be the policy on feedback, for anyone with enough time and energy to do it? Do we wait until after voting to post it? Where should we post it? Any other rules about it we should be aware of?

What will be the policy on feedback, for anyone with enough time and energy to do it? Do we wait until after voting to post it? Where should we post it? Any other rules about it we should be aware of?

When the voting thread is posted, there will instructions on how to vote and what you can/can not say in the comments thread...if I recall correctly.

-JR

wooo-hooo! I am curious! I am particularly curious to see what people came up with in the cartoon category.


Oh... almost forgot:


Go, Ravenclaw! :rave:

I hope the entries would be posted before midnight. :shrug:.

The 'European evening' barely started, bella... :lol:

That's right. It's around 6-8 pm in Europe. :)

Good luck to everyone who entered :) But I'll have to join HMN, JR637 and ArryGrotter cheering on the Hufflepuffs :huff:

Well, it's only two hours to midnight for me , Dags. :p.

I just looked at the voting thread (still empty) and noticed that Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore were moderators! :lol:

I hope there isn't any Gryffindor bias :evil: :p

Both Dumbledore and Harry have had the Wand in possesion so it was only logical they are involved.

Soon guys I promise.

Both Dumbledore and Harry have had the Wand in possesion so it was only logical they are involved.

I didn't even think of it that way - I thought that they were just important enough characters to be involved :lol: :)

I understand Aurors are hard to train and even harder to keep, but... hiring dead wizards?! What was Minister Granger thinking? :no:

Where's that Skeeter woman when you need her, darn it? :evil:

Where's that Skeeter woman when you need her, darn it? :evil:

Azkaban, if I recall correctly. ;)

And even if she was free to moderate, I'd just as soon not have to make all my entries include pink ruffles and saccharine kittens in order to not get rejected out of hand. :lol:

Excuse me? You mean that Umbridge woman, she is in Azkaban.

I am still around and interested in what kind of nonsense Dumbledore has made you write :relax:

Excuse me? You mean that Umbridge woman, she is in Azkaban.

I am still around and interested in what kind of nonsense Dumbledore has made you write


RITA!!!!!!! :D :D :love:

Just making you feel loved, cos I know no one else will :relax:

I am still around and interested in what kind of nonsense Dumbledore has made you write :relax:

You mean Auror Dumbledore? :huh:

He didn't make us write anything, of course... That would mean the Ministry interfered with Hogwarts curriculum again, and we all know that's impossible under Minister Granger. :whistle:

Will you make seperate voting for stories and comics? Because I don´t think that you can really compare the two genres.

I don´t get the split in the second round thing. Does that mean that only the 10 entries with the most votes will go to the next round and it could happen that no comic will be in it?

Charming as ever, Rita :)

You can now see the entries (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124133) and vote!


In the second round we will have a split between comic and story. As you will see there are only three comics so they don't need an extra selection.

So much too read! :wow: *starts reading*

Yep, I think we can create our own history of the Elder Wand saga.

I don´t get the split in the second round thing. Does that mean that only the 10 entries with the most votes will go to the next round and it could happen that no comic will be in it?

It's possible that a comic doesn't belong to the best entries overall. But there will still be a subcategory.

Such great entries! Looking forward to reading them all! :clap:

I just voted - all of the entries are amazing! :D :tu:

Oh, I'm going to read them now. :D. :clap:

When we post in the moderated thread can we go back and edit our post again later?

Finished reading the first page some very good entries I'll read and finish my picks later my brain needs sleep.

When we post in the moderated thread can we go back and edit our post again later?You can owl a moderator, provide chocolate, and ask if she/he changes your post.

But it's not possible for a member to change the moderated post (I think).

I have given my feedback and I am NOT amused. Too much Dumbledore, Potter and that deplorable weak wizard Grindelwald :grumble:

I have given my feedback and I am NOT amused. Too much Dumbledore, Potter and that deplorable weak wizard Grindelwald :grumble:Speaking of feedback, Mr. Riddle, I was just going to ask where to post mine, and then I saw it in the Voting sub-forum. Thanks!

We currently have a moderated feedback (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124138) thread, which will be viewable after the voting closes. So you can write your feedback in there already.

For the next tasks I expect feedback threads will be around as well :)

I have given my feedback and I am NOT amused. Too much Dumbledore, Potter and that deplorable weak wizard Grindelwald :grumble:

Rectified, my lord... just don't Avada the owl, it's considered school property. :relax:

I'm so sorry, but I don't quite understand how the voting goes. :hmm: We just owl a mod with the numbers of the entries we vote for?

I'm so sorry, but I don't quite understand how the voting goes. :hmm: We just owl a mod with the numbers of the entries we vote for?

No, you post your posts in the following thread here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124139). You won't be able to see the post after you posted it. So if you change your mind please owl one of the staff and they will edit your changes in.

No, you post your posts in the following thread here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124139). You won't be able to see the post after you posted it. So if you change your mind please owl one of the staff and they will edit your changes in.

Oh, that's why. I found the combination 'post here your votes' and 'please do not talk about which ones you voted for' a bit weird but now I understand. :lol: Thanks!

Yeah the bit about not telling who you voted for refers to social groups and other threads and so on, not the thread itself :lol:

Haha, okay. Now I know how it all works! Now, let's see who gets my precious votes. :relax:

I have given my feedback and I am NOT amused. Too much Dumbledore, Potter and that deplorable weak wizard Grindelwald :grumble:

hmmm....sounds like someone's jealous that they never got to be master of the elder wand....poor baby. :p

hmmm....sounds like someone's jealous that they never got to be master of the elder wand....poor baby. :p

Honestly, I wish the Dark Lord would make up his mind - first it's 'why no one mentioned me?!' and then it's 'Avada Kedavra!' once I do mention him. Megalomaniac autocrats... there's simply no pleasing them. :rolleyes:

Finished voting!, man what a tough job!, so many great entries to choose from.

I finally finished reading the entries! I really missed how creative CoS' members are. :D.

I voted and posted feedback for the stories. I'll try to do the feedback for the comics tomorrow. :).

Voting this time around is taking me much longer than normal. I've only read 5 entries so far. Got a long way to go.

Finally got the votes done, but typing up the feedback is going to take a while (if I manage to get to it...considering my schedule these days, that's no sure thing...:sigh:)

Thanks to the people who have voted so far :tu:

Quick question..
I am ready to post my feedback - do I have to make up a phony feedback for my own entry? i.e. will voters of the second round be able to see feedback before entries are revealed?

It's best to write a feedback for yourself as well. Just to be sure.
:)

Yeah, after reading others' entries, you can spot mistakes and other things in your own entry.
I wrote myself a short one just in case its needed. :shrug:.

No, the feedback will be revealed after the entire task is over and we know who is who and which entry won.

Does it have to be 10 or can it be less?

Well, if you can't come up with 10 just put mine down. :p

Totally did so, after I got your message that you voted for mine. *winkwinknudgenudge*

;)

OK voting is all done. So many different styles and ideas. Good job people.

Do I have to come over and punish you Miss Tenshi?


Last day to vote people!

Yikes, last day to vote. What time? I want to get my vote in, but I've only read 15 stories! Eeep!

Yikes, last day to vote. What time? I want to get my vote in, but I've only read 15 stories! Eeep!



Voting round One ends March 21st 11pm GMT



I think that is about 5 hours from now, which would make it 6 pm in Chicago, 7 pm in New York and 4 pm in Los Angeles. :)

Thanks. I just finished voting (I was wondering if I had enough time to finish reading entries before I left for orchestra practice and I did).

Voting is now closed so stay tuned for the results and the next round (and final round) of voting ^_^

Voting for the final round (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124165)

is open now so go and vote!!!

I missed voting in the first round, but many of my favorites were there for the second round anyway. :) Good luck, everyone!

I noticed that the entries are categorized as best overall and best story. But what is that based on? :hmm:

Many of my favourite entries made it to the final round too. :tu:. Though, I still haven't checked them all.

I noticed that the entries are categorized as best overall and best story. But what is that based on?First category includes stories and comics, the second includes stories only.

First category includes stories and comics, the second includes stories only.

Why is entry 26 in best comics but not best overall?

We had to draw the line somewhere and only entries with a certain number of votes went through.

Since there are only three comics it's logical that all three of them feature in that category.

I'm glad I checked this thread. I forgot to vote for best overall.

This was surprisingly easy...

I wonder... :hmm:

This was surprisingly easy...

I wonder... :hmm:

Give our great mods enough time and they can get the process settled and streamlined so that things work smoothly and flow easily from start to finish.

Great Job Mods. :clap:

Give our great mods enough time and they can get the process settled and streamlined so that things work smoothly and flow easily from start to finish.

Great Job Mods. :clap:


Yeah it was awesome, I like that the categories are split later, far simpler for my brain to comprehend :D

:grumble: it is exceedingly hard to select one favorite entry from the finalists. There's too much good stuff there. :sigh:

Yeah, I can't choose either. :lol:. Especially in the overall and the best story category.

I found the second round surprisingly easy :shrug: Mainly because there was a story and a comic that stuck out for me since I first read the entries :lol: (And they both made it to the second round :))

Just take your time guys if you have a tough choice, no pressure :D

I finished voting! :clap:. Can't wait to see the results. :D.

I found the second round surprisingly easy :shrug: Mainly because there was a story and a comic that stuck out for me since I first read the entries :lol: (And they both made it to the second round :))

I'll second that... :agree:

Can't wait to see the results. :D.

...AND that. :lol:

I found the second round surprisingly easy :shrug: Mainly because there was a story and a comic that stuck out for me since I first read the entries :lol: (And they both made it to the second round :))

My problem is that there are at least 3-4 stories that really stood out for me in the first round and, lo and behold, they all made it to the second round. As for the comics, I like them all, for different reasons, so picking a "best" one is hard because it depends on what criteria I use to judge "best"--sad to say, but it may come down to me waiting until the end of voting and then doing a "just get something in' vote that will be entirely dependent on my mood at the time rather than deciding that one entry is inherently better than the others...

That just means there were really great entries in this contest, which is a good thing! :tu:

last couple of days of voting everyone!

I just voted, it was so difficult. In the end I had five entries open which I was attempting to cut down to only two- absoloutely impossible. Why is everyone on here so annoyingly talented? :p

All I know is that I am totally jealous of their talents.

Will the next task start right after this one finishes or will we be given a few days off to enjoy our victories?.

Can't wait to see who won.

The question is: whether we'll see the results shortly after the voting closes or have to wait for a few more days? :p.

I voted yesterday. It was definitely hard. I finally narrowed the stories down to two, and then had to read them in the opposite order from how I had been reading them just to make sure! Tough choice... and it might have been a different choice if I'd been in a different mood. Good stuff.

Will the next task start right after this one finishes or will we be given a few days off to enjoy our victories?.

Can't wait to see who won.

The question is: whether we'll see the results shortly after the voting closes or have to wait for a few more days? :p.

Depends on how busy we will be today and the upcoming days :lol:

I had major difficulty voting too! It was so hard! And I agree that my choice might have been different had I been in a different mood! Everyone did an amazing job! :clap:

Voting is closed :)

my choice might have been different had I been in a different mood!

Mine wouldn't.

Author, beware: I will hunt you down, tie you to a chair, and force a full-length novelette out of you. :relax:

So if voting is closed, are we now at liberty to talk about our entries, other people's entries, etc.? Or do we need to wait for results?

I think it's okay to talk about the entries.

Results are in! Go and take a look here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124215)

Congrats to the winners!

:clap: Awesome! Congrats to ccollinsmith and Anhelda for winning the other categories. Both of them were in my final "voting plan".

I liked Entry 17 best from the stories. VampiricDuck I think you did a good job there.

Looks like far less people voted for overall than for the stories and comics alone.

Great showing, people! :D

I got 2 out of 3 winners correct, not bad at all... :lol:

Congratulations to Cakehelda, CC and Tenshi! :clap:

It's 25 for best overall, 24 for best comic and 25 for best story.

Congrats everyone.

Congrats to the other winners - Tenshi and Anhelda! :clap:

Well done! Well deserved! :clap:

As for me, all I can say is that I'm pleasantly shocked. :lol:

Err... I got the green light from the powers-that-be to showcase "the 7th panel".

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt25/Daggerstone/grim_5.jpg

A nod to the Spinner's crew. ;)

Dags! :rotfl: :evil:

Congrats to Tenshi, ccollinsmith and Anhelda :clap:

Matched my final votes exactly!

I really loved your entries. :D

I moved the feedback thread into this area so everyone can read your feedback.

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who entered and thanks to everyone who voted. :clap:

I think that covers everyone. :whistle:

Now where did I put my spreadsheet? :eeep:

Congrats to all the winners! :clap:

ccollinsmith: I loved your story! :love:

Voldemort about my entry#24:

I quite resent that entry about the Wand having it's own thoughts! :grumble:

If I had known that the Wand had a will of it's own I would have punished it. Torture it with fire and threatened it with snapping in half.

That would have shown it and it would have obeyed.


:rotfl: :rotfl:.

I want to thank all those who voted for me in both the first and second round. I'm really glad you liked it. :D. And more glad that the main point was taken. Cos I had to remove huge parts of the original one to fit with the word limit. :shrug:.

Congrats to the winners! :clap: :clap:. Congrats Tenshi, CC, and Anhelda.
I especially loved Tenshi's entry. So funny.
And I'd like to applaud Dags for the great entry. ;).

Congrats to all the winners :clap:

Mine was #9 Thank you to everyone who posted feedback.:D

Congrats to the winners! :clap: :clap:. Congrats Tenshi, CC, and Anhelda.

Thanks, Bella! And congrats to you for placing so well in the Best Story category! :clap:

I really loved the idea that the Wand had a mind of its own. :D

Thank you to everyone who posted feedback.

I'm so sorry that I didn't get a chance to post feedback. I was out for the first week of the contest. And then I had technical difficulties when I tried to post my comments - late in the second week.

OMG! Thanks, guys! I'm utterly flattered at the response to my story, and shocked that it got so many votes, since the competition was fierce. So many of the stories were just fantastic and original, I'm honored that people liked mine. Thanks especially to the people who voted for me: twinsrule26, leah49, Daggerstone, Perlidia, Morning_Star, FurryDice, ccollinsmith, and gottriplets. You guys are the best!

Congratulations, too, to ccollinsmith and Tenshi for their wins--your entries were both excellent, so I'm not surprised you did well.

With regard to feedback, I meant to post it, but I ran out of time for typing it up--it's partially done, so I may post it yet if I can finish it very soon, but I have a feeling that RL is going to prevent that from happening...

Congrats to all the winners and everyone who participated! :clap:

You guys did a wonderful job :)

I had #23. Didn't make it out of the 1st round, but I got close. It was my first contest.

Thanks for all the feedback!

Just saw the points and banners :clap:

Love the special categories! :D

Yay I love my banners. :D. :clap:. Congrats everybody!

Thanks to RemusLupinFan for the awesome banners and SusanBones for the scores!