Explode1Join Date: 2008-05-04
Post Count: 4663 |
After a ridiculous amount of quaint and misunderstood entries, It's struck me that not many users realize that the idea of getting into EBR is not what it's all cracked up to be. Although the goal to get into EBR seems quite simple at first, what we really look for is constructed by a series of complicated expectations and styles that we have dealt with in our experience as builders. I've created this thread to list some things to watch out for when building.
[Inspiration]
When EBR mods review an EBR entry, we look for more than just talented CFraming, unique use of meshes, and new styles. Although all three are equally important, there is a secret to winning our interest, that never fails. However, many users have found this difficult to accomplish.
Inspiring us.
That's how we know a place is elite, when it inspires us. It may evolve depending on the conditions, and it almost never requires any run-of-the-mill building method. This is our challenge for you, the ultimate task. It's where you have the ability to take the reins of our mind, and sculpt our opinions to your liking. It's all up to you, you're the builder.
That's just my first piece of advice.
[Quality and quantity]
There are two elements that are great indicators of elite building, the latter which has struck us more recently. Quality is the first factor, quantity the second. Upon the topic of quality, we seek out clever bits of detail and pattern in your entries. This is almost always accomplished by ingenious CFraming.
In case you didn't know, quantity is just another word for amount and size. This factor has become quite a problem these days, with entries being rather small or not a whole lot displayed, or both. Many EBR applicants struggle with accomplishing this, usually from focusing on more quality in a contained space. Expanding your entry while keeping every aspect of it detailed is a challenge, but accomplishing this will skyrocket your chances of getting into EBR.
[The brick-within-brick glitch]
This is a small yet common mishap I have seen in many entries, which appears when the surface(s) of two or more bricks are shared, by CFraming them into each other. In my point of view, this is a very annoying bug, and when abundant, is a sign of amateur CFraming.
Fixing this glitch is simple, just overlap the bricks by a very small amount (I fix it by 0.005, but it's up to you) so that the side(s) of the bricks are no longer shared.
[No stamper entries]
It's just a very rustic and untalented form of building. However, a few EBR mods have said that terrain is okay. I am not one of those mods.
[NO FREE MODELS]
This should be really obvious by now. No free decals, either. Just make your own.
[NO COPIED PLACES]
I shouldn't have to explain this either. But apparently some people can't drill it though their thick skulls that you can't copy a place and call it your entry (you shouldn't copy places in the first place). We'll report you, and then mock you. Because you're just dirt under our feet if you copy places.
[YOUR ENTRY MUST BE PUBLIC]
Yes, this is in fact a reoccurring problem. No free friend requests either.
[Self-evaluating your place]
It's a good idea to thoroughly evaluate your own entry before and after contacting an EBR mod. Our suggestions for improvements and constructive criticism will not guarantee a golden ticket into EBR. In fact, the best entries don't receive any constructive criticism, because they don't need any.
I cannot stress how important self-evaluation is. We've had many cases where our own suggestions for an unfinished entry have ended up deteriorating it. You just need to be persistent and motivated when evaluate your own place, which will result in the best possible outcome.
As I like to say: "Everything is a box you can think outside of".
[The problem with common styles]
When EBR mods analyze an entry, we don't like to run into the same style over and over and over (especially vignettes). So here's a few genres and elements to avoid:
-Zombie
-Apocalypse
-Zombie apocalypse (oh noes)
-Steampunk
-Generic houses
-Cathedrals (mainly the ones with hundreds of meshes)
-Sphere terrain
-Rings of bricks created by circle scripts
-Cafes
-Airships (of every kind)
-Temples/ruins
-Crossroads (yes, this is a common genre)
This also pairs with the idea that you want to inspire us. Because we've seen this stuff too many times in entries. It may have inspired you, and it may have inspired us the first time. But only the first time.
[Watch your brick count]
This is has been another rather recent problem with EBR entries. Entries that use a wide genre are most likely going to contain a lot of bricks, if the idea is fully fleshed out. However, we're not seeing this too often. So just make sure that enough bricks are used to complete the atmosphere around your entry.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you need to add bricks until the game lags. This has only been an issue once.
However, we don't have a specific number of bricks that you must exceed or keep below. This is just a minor problem that has become slightly more frequent. Make sure your game is playable, and not just an empty baseplate.
[Not the ESR]
We're not the Elite Scripters of Robloxia, and any scripts you have added in your entry will most likely not be noted when we look at it. As previously mentioned, there's an issue with overusing circle scripts. However, spinning scripts, the output, and most other CFrame-related scripts are fine. But they won't increase your chances of getting in.
We aren't the best scripters of Roblox, but the best builders.
That's basically all there is to say. I hope this thread helped. And I hope it keeps my inbox free from mediocre entries. Please post anything that should be added or changed.
-Explode1
EBR Moderator |
|
|
Please keep in mind that standards vary slightly from moderator to moderator, and we may each have our own ideas of what is acceptable or not. While this may seem confusing or even silly, if you toe the line between what one mod considers sufficient and what another considers deficient you will certainly have little or no success in the group vote.
Ideally, be well beyond that threshold.
That is all. |
|
|
put this in building helpers |
|
|
This gave me a lot of perspective in my hope to become EBR
Thanks.
-]-[- EG -]-[- |
|
|
Explode1Join Date: 2008-05-04
Post Count: 4663 |
The many tips and instructions in this thread include a few opinions from other EBR members and mods. However small, these opinions have helped shape this thread, and we've agreed on upon more than one statistic.
However, a few of these planes of evaluation might be elusive to only a few mods, and in a couple of cases, maybe just me. But when voting, every one of these points has been brought up at one time or another.
Also, some elements described here are more important than others, and may be called upon by EBR mods more than others. |
|
67highJoin Date: 2009-01-07
Post Count: 566 |
Like it. |
|
Artlens5Join Date: 2010-08-07
Post Count: 6484 |
now that i read this im considering applying for ebr
i have a friend who is either in it or was in it, his name is lakersfan2146
~Glory to Vaktovia!~
|
|
ogresJoin Date: 2012-03-02
Post Count: 3645 |
tl;dr version:
build good, no fms, no glitched bricks, no copying, and inspire us. |
|
8SunTzu8Join Date: 2011-09-30
Post Count: 8199 |
[The brick-within-brick glitch] I completely agree. I call it static, but I guess that's a good name... I can't believe how many people ignore this... -_-
[Watch your brick count] Most people who consider themselves as good builders cannot watch their brick counts.
Judging by the requirements, it seems rather easy for me to get in, since I follow most of them on anything I build. I have quality, just not 10000 bricks Cframed "quality". If I'd make an EBR entry, I would probably need to use a wacky idea I have, and not hold back as much considering it won't be used for playing. I also need more group space...
This is a good guide, and the hardest part will be inspiration. You didn't mention medieval styles, or classical styles. I am assuming you get a lot of those, but they might not have come up. It's hard to find a genre that's not common, since genres are usually common, but I can think of a few things.
Anyway, I can't think of much to add. I'd stress that you don't want your CFraming to look messy, and overusing it does not mean you're a good builder. Textures are also an iffy, they don't always look very good unless you use them right, like Terrain.
"Improvise, Overcome, and Adapt." -Captain (RIP) |
|
Explode1Join Date: 2008-05-04
Post Count: 4663 |
"You didn't mention medieval styles, or classical styles."
That's because they're not common in entries in the slightest. It's really disappointing, though Block Town is a great example of a classic style, and Conquest City is the same for a medieval style.
"I'd stress that you don't want your CFraming to look messy"
Messy CFraming makes good landscape in many ways that sphere terrain does not. |
|
tyriculJoin Date: 2009-11-08
Post Count: 13528 |
Alright this is going to help me a lot I'm working on an entry.. ._. |
|
8SunTzu8Join Date: 2011-09-30
Post Count: 8199 |
I don't CFrame for terrain, but messy CFraming happens often with the smaller details.
(If you CFrame with Terrain, it can become trickier to add on to it, or build around it, often requiring more CFraming). I like to go for the natural effect, while staying on a grid.
Looks pleasant, and makes counting easier. I said I was OCD, I use ratios and even numbers in building... Feels like a curse.
I'll keep that in mind, but by classical, I meant Roman or Greek architecture, as I was referring to the time period. I don't know what Block Town looks like. It is sad that you don't get many of those entries, but it's a rather simple style... Perhaps people think they are too cliches. (It's common on ROBLOX in general).
Maybe I don't need a crazy idea after all.
"Improvise, Overcome, and Adapt." -Captain (RIP) |
|
Explode1Join Date: 2008-05-04
Post Count: 4663 |
"I said I was OCD, I use ratios and even numbers in building... Feels like a curse."
^^ this
"but by classical, I meant Roman or Greek architecture, as I was referring to the time period."
Ah, I've yet to see an entry like that either. Although it would seem that these ideas would be quite popular, they are not. Taking up one of these genres for your entry would be a delight. |
|
8SunTzu8Join Date: 2011-09-30
Post Count: 8199 |
Odd, with all of those castles and roman or greek god references on ROBLOX... I guess EBR level builders feel they are beyond that, since it's so common, or perhaps they think there are too many entries of those... Like I thought.
Though, you can't do much with a castle unless you make it completely amazing. :p
Roman or Greek temples, that'd be fun, but a bunch of columns and a statue of some god or goddess is not so impressive... Though, that reminds me of an idea a friend and I wanted to work on...
That would make it impressive... hmm... Too many ideas for places are in my head. I don't like using too much detail for places meant to be played, rather than looked at. (Two different types of building, art and game).
So, I might go as far as naming a weird RPG game as, "Dull RPG", and use that for the color scheme, lighting, and building style. Dull. (Except the gameplay will be the focus, so it will be made suspenseful and more exciting). Not the typical RPG.
Still, saddening that you don't get a lot of castles. It's always interesting to see how people make castles, and there are a lot of cultures that made them. :) Heck, one king, a young one at that, made a fairy land like castle...
"Improvise, Overcome, and Adapt." -Captain (RIP) |
|
tyriculJoin Date: 2009-11-08
Post Count: 13528 |
Would a vignette be too cliche, or..? |
|
spotJoin Date: 2006-12-29
Post Count: 37192 |
Read this.
Ok, thanks. |
|
Explode1Join Date: 2008-05-04
Post Count: 4663 |
Vignettes are not too cliche, it's just that many of them are focused around only a couple of genres. If you make a zombie apocalypse vig for instance, we'll most likely ignore it. Because there are so many of those types of vigs that it's not even funny. |
|
spotJoin Date: 2006-12-29
Post Count: 37192 |
[The brick-within-brick glitch] = HAVE to agree. It bugs the crap out of me. I move it 0.002/0.001 above.
Also, are castle type things common? |
|
Explode1Join Date: 2008-05-04
Post Count: 4663 |
"are castle type things common?"
Nope, not at all. |
|
|
spotJoin Date: 2006-12-29
Post Count: 37192 |
hi eg |
|
tyriculJoin Date: 2009-11-08
Post Count: 13528 |
My vignette is more of a generic roblox themed one, would that be acceptable? |
|
spotJoin Date: 2006-12-29
Post Count: 37192 |
Also
agreed @ sphere terrain
|
|
ZegionJoin Date: 2011-06-23
Post Count: 10277 |
The brick-within-brick glitch is really annoying. |
|