Jubilee OCT Round 3

Thoughts and Comments about Round 3 and Jubilee-OCT

Warning Rant ahead for the First half of my Thoughts and Comments:
TLDR: I don't agree with the judge's decision to revoke the extension for R3 because I found it created an unfair environment for the competitors, created time management problems, and overall left an unsatisfactory feeling with my R2 work.

R2 lined up with two trips I spent with my long distance girlfriend, one being one week and the other being two weeks, and I obviously wish to spend time with her rather than working on a round. We only see each other a few times a year and R3 also fell on a one week period where she is visiting me. I obviously made the choice to spend time with her than dedicating the time she is here to the round itself.

I tried my best to work on the round during the few weeks prior but unfortunately, I'm pretty much flat out of time to work on this right and I'll take responsibility for the time management on that part. Incomplete rounds in OCT entries was a habit I really tried to avoid falling into with this New Year. I didn't want another year of incomplete entries, as I already have a history with not completing entries. I'm very disappointed in myself, however, I felt that the judges executed the round somewhat poorly. Especially so while comparing this round to my experiences with previous rounds and rounds from other OCTs.

The issue I have between both of these rounds (R2, R3, and R1 to an extent) was that we were offered extensions due to circumstances that the judges created, and these circumstances clouded our window of time to dedicate to our rounds. I always try to mention how much I appreciate these extensions, as the additional time allows my artwork to flourish and demonstrate what I can do given an appropriate amount of time, but it saddens me to say that the feeling remains in a round where extensions were not given.

During R1, the United States was hit with several natural disasters and the staff of Jubilee gave the competitors two additional weeks (42 days total) and additional time to a few competitors for special circumstances. R2 landed in an awkward time with everyone involved. Several extensions were granted by the staff (60 days total). The first extension was a typical extension, probably due to USUM's release. The second extension occured when the judges realized that a few of the competitors were seemingly killing other competitors in their rounds. The judges enacted a "No Kill" rule. However, this caused confusion from the competitors and the judges gave a third extension to make up for confusing the participants. After R2's third extension, it was announced that there would be no extensions in R3. This may have been due to the amount of extensions needed, or because of the incomplete rounds being presented towards the end of R2. Needless to say, I can understand the frustrations the staff may have felt during this time period.

And although I understand the desire to be more strict with submissions, as this is a competition afterall, I felt that this round had been treated in a distant and cold fashion. Especially when compared to R1 and R2. As I stated, no extension had beengiven for this round. This round occured during the month on February, the shortest month in the year, and with the balance of the round, my job, my schoolwork, my transferring of colleges, and my girlfriend's visit incoming, I could not utilize my time to effectively deliver a presentable round. This round was 35 days total. And when weighing all of these options together, I would choose all of the other options before my round every time.

In addition, I believe that the optional social dinner event after R2 wasted potential time that could have been spent on R3. The social dinner fell during winter break, where students have more time to work on their rounds, however I realize that not all winter breaks line up like mine does. But I firmly stand in my opinion that this round could have been worked on during that time period, had we been allowed to, and given a substantial amount of time for entries.

As someone familiar with running an OCT, I understand the frustration of having participants who do not submit fulfilling entries during their time provided. Even with the addition of deadlines, sometimes the participants do not submit the entries desired. But I learned that this is a normal aspect of running an OCT. The staff decided to eliminate the competitors who did not submit any work. I agree with this choice, but the staff also decided to pass any competitor who submitted an entry onto the next round. I do not believe that passing all competitors who submitted any form of an entry was correct or fair towards the competitors who completed entries. And I do not believe that punishing the group with a "No Extension" policy was correct.

I understand that the staff felt a need to curb the lack of entries within the round, but 20 people got passed out 36 participants. If I had known that all I had to do was draw a few lines and hit the submit button to pass R2, then I would have gladly done so and went to study for my classes. I spent an innumerable amount of time working on my R2 and to only be passed with anyone else who gave any excuse of an entry was unfair and disheartening. R2 was absolutely some of my best work, but it was at the price of balancing it with my schoolwork, finals, vacation with my girlfriend, and my work. Passing everyone who submitted an entry after I had worked so hard on mine made me feel as if my artwork had been underappreciated by the staff.

In conclusion, I understand why the staff decided to enact a "No Extension" policy on this round. But that does not mean I agree with the decision made. I don't think that the staff's unhappiness with the result of their own shortcomings should result in punishment of their competitors who are participating in the OCT for the sake of improvement, creativity, and fun. I don't think that the amount of people passed should have been decided based on whether or not a submission button had been hit. And though the number is even at 20 competitors, I know that the entries were not judged against each other with the eyes of R1. It is unfortunate to say that the number of extensions that helped the competitors truly goes to waste when the staff uses those extensions to simply undercut the hard work of the completed entries. Again, I understand if extensions do not continue throughout the upcoming rounds, and perhaps I will not make it to the remaining rounds because of the shallowness of my own entry here, but I firmly believe that if the extensions were in place for this round then everyone would have more of a fighting chance. However, an OCT is about fighting the competitors not the staff. As I learned in my own OCT, when the staff is fighting to win against the competitors, no one wins.


Sigh...Anyways now for the positive thoughts~

I made a lot of friends during this round in the jubilee chat and ive never felt more close than i do to a handful of the remaining competitors
and im ashamed to have been so secluded from the rest of them this far deep in the OCT lmao

Im very satisfied with how creative i had to get with this round, it was by far an enjoyable challenge, none of my pokemons moves are really flashy so it forced me to get really creative.

I love how detailed i get to be in this round, and i love showing what i hope is just as strong a story through my splash pages as a competitor who opts for submitting comic entries does.

STFU DAN WHATS GOING ON IN YOUR ROUND

Youll have to excuse the lack of color, i hope that my descriptions here can help you understand and enjoy the round i present to you, please enjoy!

PANEL 1: AIDAN'S GRAND FINALE
Aidan and his Eevee December and Sableye Spalis finish their performance, which would have been a mix of sableye's dazzling gleam shining from behind, and Eevee's Z-Move Extreme Evoboost glowing from the front; The two of them gleaming with light for the rest of the round.

The entirety of the remaming competitors along with a handful of pokemon, admins, staff, and NPCs claps and congradulates Aidan for a wonderful performance.
All of Wesleys Pokemon are visible in this panel.

Wesley is backstage visible to the viewer (Thats you!), but not visible to the audience in the round. Wesley waits with his Golurk Ganymede and His Ditto D.D. transformed as his Castform Breezy.


PANEL 2: STAGEFRIGHT
Wesley steps onstage, and tightens up in terror at those he recognizes in the audience. He Feels that along with all the participants whos life he put in danger with his stunt last round, 4 of the most important judges are in the front row watching him: Felix, Keiko, Mala (Who had previously repremanded him for last round) and Jamie.

Aidan and his Sableye walk off stage behind Wesley and his team, with Eevee trailing behind (still glowing from their Z-Move Finale)

Golurk Stands ready for their performance that starts with D.D. using Hail.
The cloud blows out from D.D.'s Mouth and the Kecleon Scale curtain behind them all begins to shift color to a white to match the icy cloud.


PANEL 3: A SAFE CATCH
As Hail from D.D.'s Cloud falls down about to pelt the Audience, Golurk stops them in their place with a powerful psychic move.

D.D. the Ditto/Castform uses transform to shift into the shape of Laguna the Corsola (who is in the audience in the first panel)

Aidan and his team stand behind them in awe, while NEKO and Felix, two of the remaining participants flinch away from the hailstorm.


PANEL 4: THE HAILS BACK, SURFS UP!
D.D. the Ditto/Corsola uses surf to send out large waves of water out off the stage and into the audience!
The surf so powerful it sweeps up Aidan and his pokemon off the stage, and Golurk brings the hail that falls from D.D.'s previous Hailcloud channelling it around him.

PANEL 5: GO-GO-GOLURK
As Golurk channels the Hail around him with his Psychic Attack, D.D. transforms out of their Cosola disguise and into something to match Wesley and Ganymede! This would be D.D.'s final transformation and finally Welsey has had the oppurtunity to Showcase every single one of his Pokemon In this Competition so far! (Which is my way of choosing to meet the requirements of the bonus point)


PANEL 6: PREPARING THE FINALE!
Aidan and his team are lifted with Golurks Psychic attack, along with the Hail surrounding them. Sableye has to be held by Aidan to not fall since he is part dark type and is unaffected by Psychic.

D.D's Original Surf flows out into the Audience who's less than happy at the possiblility of getting soaked.
D.D's also near fully transforming into Golurks shape


PANEL 7: WESLEYS GRAND FINALE!
Ganymede, Wesley, and D.D. Pose for their finale.
Ganymede  channels all the hail into a huge sphere, a sphere surronding Aidan and his team, Who still by the way are shining brightly, transforming their icy hail ball into a discoball like centerpiece.

D.D. Uses their newfound psychic powers to stop all the surf previously about to splash everyone in the audience, allowing it to flow seamlessly in front of them!

The four Wesley was worried about now all look stupified by Wesleys Fantastic Performance!



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AND THATS IT IM GOING TO BED 

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE TO TAG SO ILL SPARE YALL AND JUST TAG MY OPPONENT AIDAN HE IS A FANTASTIC COMPETITOR CHECK OUT HIS ART
AIDAN

Also heres a link to the colored progress i plan on finishing when i getmore time