EUD conditions, presumably.

This. Players shouldn't need to use or go through third party programs to play the map.

Disagree. For single-player maps that use mods, it's literally just a matter of running a different executable; the EUD Action Enabler is presumably equally simple, though I can't vouch for that personally. If it's a long map such as an RPG, then this could be quite justified.

EDIT: Though, obviously it's a very different story for multiplayer maps, because then you'd need to plan to play in advance. I think that mods should be allowed for this contest but only for single-player maps.

I always think with mods the judging process basically becomes split in half. You have to look at how good the MOD is, and then how good the MAP is.

I've never seen a mod that had a good map - hell, I don't think I've ever seen a mod RPG. They are usually just typical vanilla Starcraft maps.

Or at how good the game is. If it's a mod designed for a specific map, they're just two components of one game.

Yer but all the other mappers don't have access to all the extra features using a mod provides. So it has to be factored in...

So if I make sure my map isn't multiplayer, I'm allowed to add stuff that isn't part of the map and get it evaluated as part of my score for a mapping contest? What unfair advantages can I have if I only have 2 players?

Your suggestion would be reasonable if this was a single-player mapping contest, but there's balance issues that need to be addressed if you want to apply it here. The easiest/fairest option is to not allow mods.

I thought this was a SC1 mapping contest, not a build-a-game-on-top-of-the-SC1-engine contest.

I don't. This is a mapping contest, not a modding contest.

Don't like it? Join a modding contest, or make your own.

That's what I think.

In case the reasoning isn't obvious enough, those who use mods have a significant advantage over those who don't, which requires anyone who wants to be on an even playing field to mod as well. That is why everyone mods in modding contests, and why mods are never allowed in mapping contests.

A mapping contest is about mapping, otherwise known as the process of opening a map editor and making a map which can be played in StarCraft. It's about working within the boundaries of the client to create said map. If the StarCraft client has to be modified to something other than itself, then it's called modding, and it entirely defeats the original point.

This isn't the only contest that has ever been or will ever be. Every contest isn't for every person. I don't participate in modding contests, and I definitely don't try to argue that they should change their contest to something else just because it would interest me more.

If you dislike standard mapping, then you're free to reconsider entering a mapping contest. You're also free to create a modding contest thread, to which I'm sure you'll generate interest from other modders, some of whom also dislike mapping. Additionally, you could inquire about submitting a modded map to this contest, with the compromise being that both your entry and its received scores will not be official. Assuming the judges were willing, it seems likely to be the most favorable terms you could possibly expect.

Edit: Ninja'd.

No mods, sorry.

Would I be allowed to assemble and format some audio clips for use in the map before the week begins?

I'd say that things like this qualify as "planning" and not actual "mapping"; therefore it should be acceptable.

I don't mind. I suppose you'll have to see if other people do.

Are teams allowed? Seeing as only 1 person is able to work on the map at a time shouldn't be an issue but wanted to make sure everyone was ok with this.

According to the first page there are no teams, although that's up for discussion. But 2 or more people can work on a map at the same time so it would be a big advantage to have, say, a terrainer and a triggerer working together, so IMO it shouldn't be allowed.

True enough, didnt even see that. was right in the very first post too

I could see someone saying that assembling the unaltered audio might be part of the planning process, but once you start formatting or editing it for use in the map, I would consider it by definition to be mapping.

This may be kinda stupid, but we could maybe have like a 2-3 day preparation period before the contest starts to get things like audio done. Since mapping already takes such a long time, it seems like an incredibly hard task to find time to map and make audio samples at the same time.

Sleep less and you'll have more time.

I have a bunch of .wav files that I made a long time ago because I was bored. Some of these were used for other maps that I have no interest in finishing/releasing, and some are completely unused. Am I not allowed to use any of these audio clips?

Following this, would we then not be allowed to find existing formatted wav files online that would work for our map? What's the difference between using something someone else already made versus what you already made? If it's "availability" that concerns you, fine: make it required that you post any pre-made audio clips in the thread when the competition begins. Though now it just sounds like we're being silly.

I don't think audio editing has anything to do with mapping. The importing/timing process is what actually makes an audio file part of the map.

Another good use of a theme: it helps regulate things like this.