Announcing Modern Masters 2017

List of Builds released in 2017

How to qualify:

The Modern Masters is a tournament that showcases recent builds that have been added to the Vault. This one specifically focuses on all the builds that were posted in 2017, and includes normal builds, event builds, and contest builds. Basically if it was posted in 2017 it qualifies for the tournament. Below are the requirements for entry.

The Date:

This is the Modern Masters 2017 Tournament so only builds that were posted between January 1^st 2017 and December 31^st 2017 will qualify. In order to enter the tournament the build also has to be nominated in the appropriate thread with a link to the build in question. 

Nominations: 

The event is divided into five parts (neither of which are running at the same time), each with the goal of finding the best three builds in the following categories: 

Presentation - Gameplay - Roleplay - Mods - Lore

Over the course of a week, from one Friday morning until the next, members will be able to nominate however many builds they want in that week's chosen category. I am however enforcing a rule demanding that if you nominate a self made build, you are required to nominate at least two other builds posted by someone else. Once the nominations in a week are completed, we will be running a multiple choice poll from Friday morning until Monday morning to choose the best three builds in that week's category. If a build wins in a week's poll, it will automatically be removed from all future category polls even though it is nominated again. As I said, I want to see as many people as possible earn recognition for their hard work. So be careful what you nominate. If however, someone nominates a build for a category but the builder/author feels like it would be a way better fit in another category, then the builder/author can make a request to have their build removed from the current nominations.

After determining the top three winners for each category, we will be running a multiple choice Best Of 2017 poll in which all the builds posted in 2017 will be included. And by all, I mean all of them regardless if a build previously won in a poll or wasn't even nominated. In this poll we will be selecting only one winner.

Tournament Schedule

This week we are nominating for... Gameplay! Below you will find the schedule for both the nominations timetable as well as the poll. Since the event has been slightly modified due to the huge number of builds from 2017 (thank you Lis for coming up with The Compendium), the time remaining until the deadline for nominating the most stunningly presented character builds will be greater than for the other categories.

Presentation Nominations: 24-Aug-2018 - 31-Aug-2018

Presentation Poll: 31-Aug-2018 - 07-Sep-2018

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Poll Links

Coming Soon...

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FAQ’s

Q: What if there is a tie?

A: In the event of a tie, both builds will win! If two builds clash over the third place with the same number of votes, then they'll both be considered winners. Yes, we may have four winners in a poll if it comes to it.

Q: Why is the format different this year?

A: Because I decided that I wanted to change things up and focus on something different. MM2016 was very much a test run and there are a few rulings this year designed to counter some flaws in last year's running. Mostly it's the number of builds that can be featured, where this year we want people to put a hell of a lot of thought into their nominations. As for the lack of categories...honestly it's just a personal choice. I believe we should be focusing on the best builds of the year rather than the best builds for each category. It isn't something that's locked in permanently, just for this year at the very least.

Q: Why has the event been changed more than halfway through its run?

A: Most people were not even aware of the huge number of builds posted in 2017. Once I learned this, it became clear that as many builders should win this event as possible.

Q: Will there be badges rewarded to the winners, just like last year?

A: Yes! 

Q: Will there be a Modern Masters 2018?

A: YES!! And 2019 and 2020 and so on :D So get building, improve your builds and work your hardest to make some really awesome builds.

Alright, gameplay. My nominations may be down to the wire on this one, Noodles. I start full time student load for my Doctorate AND a full time job, so TV stuff is gonna go at a much slower pace and I need to fit it in when I have spare time. 

Okay, so I have two unique nominations, but I also wanted to second Mara's Might.

The Mage Knight is my first nomination. I think it's just...it's hard to explain quickly but the combat and gameplay in the build is just incredibly well explained I suppose.

The King of the Undead is a build that I think is a bit underrated, but the gameplay is very similar to the Mage Knight, in that for me the main selling point is how well it's explained, and the amount of detail that Peppo went into. 

Motty's Sister-Hawk gets a nom from me right now, the interpretation of the Hawk into skills and special moves stays with me. Although Motty might request this be nominated for lore, I think his take on the totem is best exemplified through clever and fun gameplay. I'll add a link after work.

All the builds above are great. I'll give two builds right off the bat, but I'll edit later with links and stuff, my "whys" (chromebook won't let me do this, bad chromebook!)

EDIT: Damn, first week of work was a killer. I'm frankly glad this whole competition is running behind because I'm freaking behind too. I really cannot get on much until the weekend, so I appreciate your patience, Noodles. 

I deliberately went with unmodded builds for my nominations because well, the mods have their own category and at this point, you really have to reward great gameplay from vanilla builds because that's frankly quite a challenge now. 

Soly's Mage Knight - I enjoy a good spellsword and this Mage Knight does a fantastic job representing the class well, especially so late into Skyrim's life. 

Vargr's Reckless Waif - teeeny little waif, GIANT ANGRY WEREWOLF. A very enjoyable dichotomy of skills. 

Tyso's Big Head - Forks, 'nuff said. :D Gameplay that really captures the cray cray. 

I adore Plunders-The-Mountains's build The Bow-Knight of Auri'El as well as Liss's Outsider and would like them to pretty-please be considered.

Added links and shit to my nominations. Finally was able to get back online. 

I'd like to nominate The Beast of Anequina and The Pure Alchemist  I really enjoy the single skill aspect of these kinds of builds.  The beast is great fun with a very direct playstyle of punch it till it stops moving, very fast paced playthru with a satisfying combat feel.  Alchemy as a skill is a favorite of mine I enjoy the gather and craft loop that the Alchemist build requires and it's the least grindy of all the crafting skills and the one whose grind really doesn't feel like a grind at all.  Really it's a skill that directly rewards exploring the world.  The playstyle of each are opposite ends of the spectrum one runs in and wrecks the place while the other has to be more measured and analytical using the right potions and the right poisons as the situation demands.