Is there a guide anywhere to this site?

[Pygmalion]

Is there a guide anywhere to this site? I'm a newbie and it's a little overwhelming.

What is the scale for rating minis? It's from 1 to 10, but what is it? Is 5 awful or OK? I've seen people bitterly disappointed with 7.9. Is that good or bad?

What do the little words "Rep Power" on the left of everyone's posts mean? Where does it come from and what does it do? Does it have anything to do with those little sheriff's badges at the bottom of people's posts where you can "approve" someone's post and leave a little message? How do those people find their messages?

What are coolminiornot's policies on posting pictures? What if I just wish to post something I've painted and talk about it, but not submit it for reviews? (because I know it's only so-so, I'd just like to talk about it) Can I just, I dunno, talk about it without competing with all the wonderful artists here?

I checked out the FAQs, but they seem mostly about accounts and auctions and buying stuff, not the nitty-gritty of how the site works.

So is there some information somewhere?

 

[freakinacage]

Welcome!

Scale is 1-10, 10 is perfect, 1 is crap, 5 is in the middle (table top normally). It's up to you as to how you vote really

The badges add to someone's rep. Click on it if they make a good post and their rep goes up, yeah you can leave a message. edit - you used to be able to look at what people gave you rep for but I can't seem to find out how...

If you don't want to submit, just host them else where and put up a thread in the wip section, you'll hopefully get some good advice

 

[QuietiManes]

What is the scale for rating minis? It's from 1 to 10, but what is it? Is 5 awful or OK? I've seen people bitterly disappointed with 7.9. Is that good or bad?

7.9 is gotten by few painters. Certainly not an easy thing to do. 5, table top, used to be described by Games Workshop as 3 colours on the figure, base finished with sand and/or grass, etc. Basically a minimum effort to consider the model "finished". If there are paint spots where they shouldn't be, flock glued to the knee accidentally, clumpy paint, bare metal/plastic showing, people will start deducting points, if the paint is smooth, clean, neat, more techniques like blending and shading and special effects, free handed scroll work/tattoo's/script/banners, then people might start adding points. Of course, you're free to calculate your vote as you'd like but I think that's how most people go about it. It's fairly easy for most people to get a 5 if they put in a little effort and practice some to get the basics down. Maybe not on your first mini but early on.

What do the little words "Rep Power" on the left of everyone's posts mean? Where does it come from and what does it do? Does it have anything to do with those little sheriff's badges at the bottom of people's posts where you can "approve" someone's post and leave a little message? How do those people find their messages?

It is sort of an indication of how much they participate on the site and how well their participation is received by the members. If you get a message, there should be a little notification beside your "logged in: name" up at the top of the forums, I think you can set your account preferences to get emails or at least pop ups too.

Submitting a photo is a good idea, or can be, even if you aren't thrilled with your results. You'll get a good idea of how the general public thinks you're doing. Posting in the WIP section generally yields more useful info, but, no reason to not submit.

 

[TrystanGST]

The scale is indeed 1-10, but it's one hell of a bell curve. Very few 10s (none actually) and even fewer 1s (again, none). The farther you try to get from 5, the harder it is.

 

[PegaZus]

Most of the questions have been answered, but I'd throw out that you should go ahead and make a gallery post of what finished minis you've done. Gives you a record of how well you've progressed.

Then again, should you have thin skin... maybe that's not as great an idea.

But post away in the WIP sections. Feedback is good.

 

[me_in_japan]

The standards minis are judged against rise every year, so last year's 9.7 will be next year's 8.7 (well, possibly). As a general rule, I find most average Joes are happy with anything over 7, and bummed with anything less than 5. If you're an experienced painter who has maybe won a couple of awards, your expectations rise accordingly. The galleries are very unforgiving of mistakes, and many people feel their initial offerings aren't scored fairly. Maybe this is true, maybe some folks have a higher opinion of their own work than they perhaps should. Who can say? As somebody wiser than me once said: "this site is like cake, the galleries are icing. If you don't like the icing, scrape it off - the cake is still delicious!" Its best to use the gallery as a measure of your own work progression. There are so many factors influencing score that it's an exercise in frustration to compare your scores to other artists'. If the mini you posted in June scores higher than the mini you posted in April, then be happy

Whch leads me to the question you asked about posting pics - the answer is definitely yes. Post work in progress pics in a thread in the forums if you want feedback, as you often don't get feedback in the gallery, just scores. If you do get feedback, try to take it on board and thank the person who gave it to you, even if you disagree. the forums tend to be much more helpful for specific ways to improve than the galleries.

Hope that helps

Welcome to the forums - I look forwards to your first WIP thread

 

[KruleBear]

Welcome!

Scale is 1-10, 10 is perfect, 1 is crap, 5 is in the middle (table top normally). It's up to you as to how you vote really

The badges add to someone's rep. Click on it if they make a good post and their rep goes up, yeah you can leave a message. edit - you used to be able to look at what people gave you rep for but I can't seem to find out how...

If you don't want to submit, just host them else where and put up a thread in the wip section, you'll hopefully get some good advice

Dang, i have been on here several months and did not even pay attention to the little badge and triangle. Now i know. I guess i will need to start using those to recognize the good advice i get in my wip.

I agree that the wips are a great place to set up a thread to get feedback on your painting progress.