Play Scene Contest Rules
and Judging Criteria

Entry Rules:

1. Each contest entrant will consist of a contestant group, hereafter referred to as a "block", with two separate member types: (1) Writer/Narrator to "set and stage" the scene in a spoken manner, and (2) Player to actually perform the scene.
   
   
2. Each block will consist of (1) one Writer/Narrator, and (2) not less than two Players but not more than four Players, for a minimum block size of three members and a maximum block size of five members. Blocks will be identified for judging purposes by Writer/Narrator name.
   
   
3. The scene performed should be original in script and in-genre in nature, such that scenes about space travel, for example, would immediately eliminate the block from the contest on grounds of off-genre topic.
   
   
4. All language within the scene, whether in spoken dialogue or play action, should conform to Gemstone III general guidelines, i.e., no open vulgarity, etc.
   
   
5. Writer/Narrator cannot double as a Player.
   
   
6. Players may double in more than one role, but in such case would be within the scope of the Writer/Narrator to "inform" the audience that the Player's character has changed from one to another.
   
   
7. Writer/Narrator is the only member of the block free to use the recite verb for all his/her spoken dialogue.
   
   
8. Players should "perform" the scene via appropriate verbs where feasible, and via utilization of the "act" and "smile" verbs for those situations where no appropriate verb exists or the verb in question is not feasible in a "play" situation, i.e., kill, and other such aggression verbs. Players should use the more "natural" speech verbs, i.e., say, shout, etc., to speak their dialogue. Use of the recite verb by Players is limited to those situations where it is the verb of the role, for example, within the context of the script a witch may recite an incantation or a priest may recite a prayer. All use of the recite verb by Players where it obviously is not a role choice will be considered a violation of rules and will result in a score markdown for both the Performance Quality and Rule Conformance areas of judging.
   
   
9. Props, either real or imaginary, should be handled consistently by Players.
   
   
10. Costumes, in the sense of a "proper look" for role played, are viewed as prerequisites for Players.
    
    
11. Each block should prepare two separate scenes: one for the preliminary round of the contest and one for the final round, which will be used only if the block advances to the final round.
    
    
12. Maximum time allowance for a scene in the preliminary round of the contest will be fifteen minutes. Maximum time allowance for a scene in the final round of the contest will be twenty minutes.
    
    
13. Preliminary round of the contest will be limited to a maximum of 18 blocks on a "first come, first serve" basis with regard to the opening of the sign-up procedure. Final round of the contest will be limited to a maximum of 6 blocks based on judges' scoring.

Judging Method and Criteria:

• Judging will be final and not open to debate by contestants. No actual scores will be made public. Judging will be calculated on a 10-point scale, with .5 point intervals allowable, within the following five areas:
  
  1. Originality & Writing Quality - Is the scene an interesting story? Does it flow? Is the writing sound and in-genre?
     
  2. Performance Quality - Do the Players actually perform the scene? Or just speak it out? Do Players seem to be creating characters other then themselves? If a Player doubles more than one role, is there a noted difference between the approach to each role?
     
  3. Rule Conformance - Are all Entry rules properly met?
     
  4. Mood Setting - Are props and costumes used to advantage? Does the Writer/Narrator set everything up in a manner to allow the scene to become "real"?
     
  5. Completeness - Does the scene have a viable beginning and end? Does it have an overall style that stays intact throughout?
     
  
  
• To derive a block's final score by a judge, each judge's raw score per individual area will be weighted and tallied by a predesignated scorekeeper as follows: Originality & Writing Quality x .25 (25% of final score), Performance Quality x .25 (25% of final score), Rule Conformance x .20 (20% of final score), Mood Setting x .15 (15% of final score), and Completeness x .15 (15% of final score) to provide a maximum final score per judge of 10 as well. The final scores of all judges will then be combined to decide a block's full score and actual placement.
  
  
• In the event of a tie between blocks, total raw scores, i.e., the combined raw scores of all judges, for each area by rank will provide the determinant, such that a higher total raw score for Originality & Writing Quality for the first block, as an example, would override a higher Mood Setting total raw score for the second block, and give first placement to the first block.

Please Note:

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For a sample scene, click the Sample Scene button below.
For contest registration, click on the PSC Registration button below.
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