BATTLE CRY RETURNS!

Back again for 2014 is The Battle Standard’s very successful painting competition, BATTLE CRY!  In 2013 we started this event with hopes of bringing out of the woodwork those hobbyists without a local venue to show off their skills.  Weren’t we surprised to find so many people interested in the event!  After eighty-seven (87) entries we realized we had a much larger showing than we anticipated and those of you in attendance will recall our delayed finish due to this overwhelming response.  For 2014 we’ve made the changes to accommodate these numbers and more…

More categories, More trophies, More opportunities to win!

NEW! for 2014 TBS has added these categories:

• Conversion: We’ve removed the modeling conversion score from our previous grading system and created a whole category in it’s place.  The Conversion category is for those hobbyists that enjoy the expansive modeling aspect of the hobby.  Hobbyists that enter will be asked to create their own sculpt, kit-bash or unique construction (includes extensive repositioning of an existing miniature) and then…NOT paint it!  This is very important because in order for judges to see the work it must not be covered.  For this reason, we will not permit painted models in this category.  Primed models however, will be permitted, but competitors must understand that it can, and likely will, hinder the judges ability to see your work.  In other words, even just with a coat of primer, you are going to be at a disadvantage to compete.  Judging will be based on creativity and imagination combined with overall feel and presence of the completed conversion.  It’s important to make sure your entry fits in the world for which it’s intended.  Judges will be looking at the quality of added or manipulated features and accents, and of course the overall cool-factor!  This is not a painting category and therefore the winner is not eligible to also win the overall Best-in-Show award.  TBS Staff that are not judging the event are permitted to enter this category.
• Youngbloods: For our up-and-coming hobbyists we’ve created the Youngbloods category.  This category may be entered by anyone of age 15 and under.  We’re very excited to offer this category as it gives a greater chance for those just starting out in the hobby to compete and win.  To honor this competition properly we’ve arranged for a special trophy that may ONLY be won as a result of participating in the Youngbloods category.  This is a painting category and as such the winner is eligible to win the overall Best-in-Show award.  TBS Staff may not enter this category.

We’ve changed some of 2013’s categories:

• Open: 2014’s Open category is now an official no-holds-barred category that allows anything and everything.  TBS Staff is permitted to enter this category provided they are not judging the event.  Former winners of Battle Cry Best-in-Show awards that have been asked back to judge the event are also permitted to enter this category.  The trophy for this event will be an exceptionally well painted Battle Cry “Wallace” bust trophy with colors in the spirit of our actual store logo.
• Historical: In 2013 this category was a mash-up of historical and other small scale entries.  For 2014 this category is all scales and is focused on historical.  The category allows for all miniatures based on various figures and armor occurring within a loose frame of historical accuracy.  This means games that embellish the actual history by taking an alternate timeline or adding mystical elements to enhance gameplay will be permitted.  Examples would be Dystopian Wars or Saga.  One is an alternate timeline on our planet inviting extensive technological advancement, while the other invites magic into an otherwise historically accurate setting.  These would both be permitted in Historical.

Judging Changes…

We’ve made a few changes to simplify and streamline the judging process so everybody can get home on time this year!  Here are the changes:

• Rubric Changes: We’ve changed the Rubric (the guide by which the judges score your entries) in a few ways.  First, we removed “conversion” from the rubric completely and gave it it’s own category in the competition.  Competitor’s will be judged solely on painting and basing their entries going forward.  Second, we combined the “metals” grading score to include both metallic and non-metallic painting.  In general, non-metallic metals are harder to paint well however we felt the old grading system did not do well to properly credit well done metallic painted metals.  The combined score will allow the judges the ability to determine overall how the metals look and then add extra points as they see fit for the technique.
• First Cut: New for 2014 is the First Cut round of judging.  This round is used in most large scale painting competitions and would have helped us keep to our time schedule in 2013 had we considered the amount of entries we had received.  We apologize for that delay and to prevent it from happening again we will be using a first cut for 2014.  This round will help us examine and judge the categories efficiently by selecting the more standout entries to be judged further and more critically later.  During the first cut round of judging, those entries that standout to the judges will be moved to the second tier.  There are no set counts for how many entries can make the first cut but the judges will endeavor to keep it around 10-12 entries whenever possible.  After the first cut round, entries that did not qualify for the second tier may be returned to their owner.  The first cut qualifiers will then be judged using the rubric against one and other to find the entries that will ultimately place in the competition.
• Guest Judge M. Tobias Bermudez!

Best-in-Show winner, M. Tobias Bermudez (Toby) was invited back to Battle Cry in 2014 as our honorary Guest Judge.  This is a tradition we plan to uphold in years to come and we are very grateful to have Toby be the first to agree to return in this capacity.  As Guest Judge Toby will be working alongside the TBS Staff judges to find the winners in our various categories.  As a result of accepting our invitation, Toby will be unable to participate as a competitor, with the one exception of the Open category which the Guest Judge is not included.  Please help us welcome Toby to the judges team for 2014!

We hope to see all our 2013 competitors return this year to compete, along with some new faces for 2014. As always we appreciate the support of our customers and fans and we look forward to continuing to shed a bigger, brighter light on the hobby we all enjoy!

Find all the specific details for this year’s BATTLE CRY PAINTING COMPETITION on the BCPC page here.