Fanart Contest Winners

Winner One: Todo Deygulash (Compact Story Contest):

There were a lot of really great entries for the Compact Story contest, but I think this piece captured the contest’s premise better than any other. The wall of flame, the trap off to the side, and the ice bolt through slightly-older-Katia’s shoulder paint a clear and cohesive story where you can not only tell what happened immediately before the picture, but also what is about to happen right after it.

The details that really make it for me, though, are the shattered health potion on the ground, the two unshattered magicka potions Katia is drinking, and the mix of the two running out of her bag. While there were some other great entries that showed Katia dealing with a pursuer, this one took the extra step by providing a context: she’s trying to make a magic trap for her pursuers because she’s injured and has nothing at her disposal but offensive firepower.

Winner Two: Mayrasiili (Compact Story Contest):

The second winner was harder to decide, since there were a number of strong contenders. Some had neat details (check those mousetraps!), some had funny premises, and some were awkwardly relatable. Ch’marr and I agreed, though, that this one in particular stood out. The events shown are simple, but it’s emotional and hopeful in a way most of the other entries didn’t manage, and it tells a fun story with far-reaching implications.

Winner Three: Daniel (Nameless Bandit Memorial Baking Contest):

Before I talk about this entry, I want to show you some of the others. These cookies look delicious, the craftsmanship on this one is spectacular, the detail here is amazing, this person actually made cookies out of fish, this person got a Hist tree involved, and this person provided a recipe that looks great and I may try later. Every one of these cookies looks like something I’d actually want to eat.

Unfortunately, the contest was for the most creative cookies, so Ch’marr and I agreed it has to go to the person who sculpted Quill-Weave’s head out of clay, made a cast of the sculpture using dental silicone, and tried to bake a three-dimensional cookie from the cast. The result looks kind of like a chicken leg from a dystopian future where all food is a disgusting artificial facsimile, but damn it if Daniel didn’t try to push the boundaries of what a cookie could be. Remember kids, creativity is not always a good idea. For his crime against the culinary arts, however, I think Daniel more than earned this victory.

As mentioned in the contest descriptions, all three of the above winners will receive their choice of a Tapestry Pack or Apparel Pack in merchandise crowdfunding campaign, or an upgrade to their current tier. For everyone else, feel free to check out all the entries and then discuss how wrong my judging decisions were in the comments below.