Let's get rid of all this friendliest/most helpful/funniest/most supportive crap and just replace it with a "user of the year" award.

WE HAVE TOO MANY AWARDS!

Also, @Ebenezer Splooge, letter isn't really something that needs a reward for it; it's kind of just a pass/fail thing. Besides most people use computerised fonts anyway.

I'm against a 3D/sprite merger for reasons already stated by everyone else.

May have to agree with bff satan. How do those get judged anyway? Does someone go back and look at all the comments a certain user made? Seems like a headache...

I like all the categories from last year. I think amanda did a super job sorting out the ones that make sense from the ones that aren't needed. I vote for keeping all the comic-related ones!

BffSatan
Also, @Ebenezer Splooge, letter isn't really something that needs a reward for it; it's kind of just a pass/fail thing. Besides most people use computerised fonts anyway.

Those that simply use a computerized font for everything wouldn't be likely to win the award. Lettering has traditionally been one of the key skills in comics, along with coloring, penciling, and writing. There are comics that don't use standard fonts and then the use of specific fonts can denote different effects and in my opinion the creative use and style of lettering and fonts can greatly add to the experience of the comic. Case in point would be this page of Charby the Vampirate .

Anyway, just my two cents. I find there are comics that definitely stand out in the lettering area.

There would have to be a reasonable number of entrants, but sure, if they do traditional lettering there might be some consideration in creating a category for it. Emphasis on "reasonable number of entrants".

I like the idea of the lettering category.

Seems a decent following for it so it's in :)

And we won't be combining the sprite and 3d/poser categories. I feel pretty much the same about their differences. So I guess we'll just keep them too =p

How many think we have too many awards? Should we get rid of the non comic related ones?

@ Jonko: Those did not get judged. They are won by votes alone.

Thanks for all the feedback thus far everyone. I'll go ahead and let us keep discussing this week.

Oh I think we should have a contest for the award banner this year too ^_^
What do you think of that? Letting everyone submit the DD Award design for this year.

This was last year's award

Ebenezer Splooge
I don't see them being the same at all. I view Pixel/Sprite and Photoshopping/screenshots as being the same as they're 2D images and manipulation. But 3D/Poser is using and positioning 3d models, lighting, and environments, that's a whole different system and skill set. Oil, pencil, markers, and pen are all a similiar system just a different choice of drawing/coloring medium.

Definitely different. Creating comics with 3D software brings a whole host of different skills and work flows. Plus, there are some of us that do a bit of our own 3D modeling as well.

JustNoPoint
I like the idea of the lettering category.

Seems a decent following for it so it's in :)

Funnily enough, I've just been writing down a list of the principles I've found to work for "good" comic lettering. Since DD hasn't had a lettering category before, they might be helpful to the judges for this one.

Of course, the actual details are only my opinion, but they might give the judges some idea of what areas they probably ought to consider. Feel free to ignore but, if anyone is interested, you can find them here .

I'd love to participate as a presenter this year! (Am I jumping the gun a bit? I suppose you'll have a sign up later) :)

Yeah I'll start the sign ups after all the categories are confirmed. Still would like some feedback on the non comic categories since it was brought up.

Like funniest DDer
friendliest DDer
etc

I dunno about this lettering category.
I read a lot of comics and I've never read one and gone "wow, great lettering!"
Personally, I cant think of any comics I would nominate for a category like that.

I notice lettering when its done badly, but when it is done it tends to go unnoticed (which is as it should be.)

I would remove the non comic categories. They are kinda dumb.
I mean how can you say who is most helpful? I can tell you people who helped me and people I have helped, but most of that was done in PQ so it is not going to be seen by anyone but me.
Generally its just a cheap award for moderators.

I don't think there are too many comic related categories. I think it's good because we've covered so many different aspects of comics.

In terms of the user related awards, now that I know that they are judged by votes alone, I think it's good to keep them. No reason to remove a category that appreciates people for being nice or helpful, I think we should thank them!

harkovast
I dunno about this lettering category.
I read a lot of comics and I've never read one and gone "wow, great lettering!"
Personally, I cant think of any comics I would nominate for a category like that.

I notice lettering when its done badly, but when it is done it tends to go unnoticed (which is as it should be.)

I actually have gotten at least one comment about my lettering being good. I agree though, lettering is generally not something people notice unless it's intrusively bad. I think good lettering is really more of a discipline than an art, and as long as you stick to a few basic rules your lettering will be fine. I'm not sure how I'd grade one comic with good lettering any higher than another one, so what goads one into voting would likely end up being factors other than the quality of the lettering, like which comic the voter likes better overall.

On the other hand, I have to say that a lot of comics here (even some in the Top 10) have not-so-great lettering; it may be a discipline, but it seems to be a dying one. I read so many comics with unpleasant-to-read fonts, ugly speech balloons, and speech balloons placed in weird arrangements where you can't figure out who's saying what and in which order. So a Best Lettering category might at least serve as a good symbolic gesture to encourage folks to pay more attention to their lettering. So... I guess I'm for it. I guess.

harkovast
I would remove the non comic categories. They are kinda dumb.
I mean how can you say who is most helpful? I can tell you people who helped me and people I have helped, but most of that was done in PQ so it is not going to be seen by anyone but me.
Generally its just a cheap award for moderators.

Sounds like a popularity contest to me. Really doesn't matter though whether it's in or not, I guess; doesn't do any harm.

I say encourage greatness by instead creating a WORST lettering/word balloons category. After about 5 years we could drop this category altogether.
Believe me...I was in a bowling league about 10 years ago. After winning two tropies for "Lowest Score" and "Most Improved Game" (with my high score anything was an improvement) I sucked it up and improved my game. ;)

harkovast
I would remove the non comic categories. They are kinda dumb.
I mean how can you say who is most helpful? I can tell you people who helped me and people I have helped, but most of that was done in PQ so it is not going to be seen by anyone but me.
Generally its just a cheap award for moderators.

I agree, scrap 'em.
However, I think we could replace them all with a 'user of the year' award. I think it should be decided by the admins and go to whoever they think has set a good example/worked real hard to improve the community/helped people in need, etc.


Lettering I have already made clear that I am against. (How can you really even spot the difference between good lettering and computer generated font?) It's silly to have such an award. How are we even going to nominate a comic for that? Nothing really stands out in terms of it. How could it even be judged? It would probably just go to whoever has the most unique look to their letters, not necessarily the best. Lettering is pass/fail.

Also, site design and layouts should be cut for similar reasons. Those things are both too pass/fail for an award.

My 2(00) cents:

Let's take a look at the categorization criteria:

- we have categories based on genre
- we have categories based on art style, although that overlaps with "genre" in the webcomic world
- we have specific, we could call them, technical art categories - BW, color, bg, char. design, layouts)
- we have "wordy" categories - dialogue, writing

Anything not fitting into these could (and I believe should) be scrapped:

- the "scenes" awards,

- "DDer" stuff, most supportive reader and web site design.

- best lettering - although it is true that lettering is an important part of the comic medium, I am of the opinion that there will not be really enough contenders with lettering that stands out enough to be awarded.

- best antagonist/protagonist- could be fun, but is really just a tiny subcategory of the writers ability to be creative, original etc, which should already be exemplified in the writing award.

- best completed comic. I see how it could be argued that the award is supportive, in a way that it motivates you to complete a comic, but it is kinda arbitrary - why not then have a best non-completed comic award? That could also be enough of a motivation for the creator to complete it. And anyway, that is just an arbitrary subcategory of "best overall", when you look at it.

- I am also kinda not sure about "all ages" - it isn't a genre, really. Why not have a best "teen" comic, then? I would keep "adult", though, that is actually a genre. ;)

- community project? OK, if there are enough of those. I can think of two. Is that enough?

Having said all that, I would keep "most improved art". It kinda gives me a fuzzy, warm feeling. Ditto for "deliciously offensive"

And, of course, I volunteer for being a judge/panelist. I am qualified for most categories, but specialize in dialogue, story, fantasy, Sci-Fi, layout, improved art, adult, philosophical/spiritual.

Okay, I just wanted to clarify a few things for myself (because I am easily confused!)
- When do judges start signing up for the 2010 awards and how long will judge sign ups go on for? I went to the forum you linked to but it was not letting me post on there, so I dont think its open yet.

-Any idea how long after that till voting will start and how long that will go on for?

I want to link to the awards from my comic to encourage people to take part (and support me!) as well as taking part myself, so I dont want to time it wrong and miss my chance.

Thank you.

I was making sure the categories could be discussed well before moving forward. I'm going to post the categories today and ask how many each person is willing to judge.

Will get the forums opened today and start asking for those interested in judging and being a presenter.
About to PQ Amanda and have her remind me in case I'm forgetting anything too :P

After I make sure I'm not forgetting anything I'll start open the voting forum. Should be next week at the latest.

Though I forget how long we let the voting go on for. I'll ask her that too if she remembers XD

I think it was near a month? Eeep, I have a horrid memory sometimes I knew I should have taken notes last year =p

Anyway, you can start telling ppl about it. Especially so they can help with judging and presenting. We also still need a 2010 DD award designed. I'll be starting a thread to let ppl post their designs today.
Next week you will be able to link them to the voting forum.

I'll post this in public too to help update others with similar questions and go pester Amanda ^_^

I think I will go ahead and cut the best user awards. I'll keep the best lettering category in. We'll see how it works this year. If it's tough to judge or gets many votes at all.

For this year we will just cut the best user awards. That should still make the voting forum much smaller. Though I'll miss seeing my name mentioned in the most helpful/friendly categories.

Not like it would have happened this year though. I haven't been very active this year XD

*keeps being active here --- pressing forward!!!

Here's the list of the categories for this year's awards.

Best Dialogue

Best Manga

Best Website Design

Best Action Comic

Best Superhero Comic

Best Sci-Fi Comic

Best Romance Comic

Best Socio/Political Comic

Best Pixel/Sprite/Stock Image Comic

Best Photo Comic

Best Parody/Tribute Comic

Best Overall Strip Comic

Best Overall Story Comic

Most Deliciously Offensive Comic

Best Mystery/Noir Comic

Best Layouts in a Comic

Best Humor Comic

Best Horror Comic

Best Fantasy Comic

Best Community Project

Best Color Art

Best Black and White Art

Best Background Art

Best Character Design

Best 3D/Poser Comic

Best Completed Comic

Best All-Ages Comic

Best Slice-of-Life/Autobiographical Comic

Best Writing

Best Philosophical/Spiritual Comic

Best Simplified Art/Stick Figure Comic

Best Adult-Oriented Comic

Best Abstract/Random Comic

Most Improved Art

Best Anthropomorphic Comic

Best Adventure Comic

Best Protagonist

Best Antagonist

Best Lettering

I don't know if it's too soon to say but I'd like to volunteer to judge the lettering category.

Not sure how you would vet nominee's but what about best new comer or best comic by a minor and things like that to encourage newbies and young ones.

JNp said he wasn't sure about the how so anyone think there is merit to this and how it would get implemented. perhaps on how long someone has been on DD? as for the best comic made by a minor surely that wouldn't be too difficult.

I like the categories!

There's one thing I don't get though: As far as I understand, there are two categories for "best scene": "best tense scene" and "best action scene". Why not just best scene? Because if you have "best adjective scene"-awards, any choice ("tense" moreso than "action" ) will seem a bit arbitrary.

I'm not saying this because I request the list of categories be changed, I'd just like to understand the reasoning behind it ^_^

I have a question about the Best Completed Comic category.

My comic, Persona 3 FTW technically ended on April 1st of this year. The story was over.

However, since it's a parody comic and my next series won't be starting until next April, I'm gonna be doing more comics related to the PSP port version of the game.

So the comic will be updating again in a few months, but the overall story was finished a while ago. These are just random comics to keep my readers occupied to pass the time.

It's fine if that doesn't count as a completed comic. I just wanna check and see if Persona 3 FTW would be eligible for that category or not.

Strain42
It's fine if that doesn't count as a completed comic. I just wanna check and see if Persona 3 FTW would be eligible for that category or not.

From observing the last awards I noticed that it usually seems that the eligibility of a comic for an award is decided by the voters and then the judges. So if your readers vote it as that and it gets nominated it's eligible; however the judges could decide that it isn't.

Oh! It's that time of the year again! I've let myself get sidetracked. Voting opens next week?! Better start updating again soon @_@. A nomination for best mystery will be enough for me ^_^;.

And also, I would like to judge at least two or three categories again this year. I don't knownif the sign ups for judging has even started though, haha.

Genejoke
Not sure how you would vet nominee's but what about best new comer or best comic by a minor and things like that to encourage newbies and young ones.

JNp said he wasn't sure about the how so anyone think there is merit to this and how it would get implemented. perhaps on how long someone has been on DD? as for the best comic made by a minor surely that wouldn't be too difficult.

It seems like a lot more work for the average reader/voter. A lot of people don't even announce their age on here or gender.

Abt_Nihil
I like the categories!

There's one thing I don't get though: As far as I understand, there are two categories for "best scene": "best tense scene" and "best action scene". Why not just best scene? Because if you have "best adjective scene"-awards, any choice ("tense" moreso than "action" ) will seem a bit arbitrary.

I'm not saying this because I request the list of categories be changed, I'd just like to understand the reasoning behind it ^_^

Um.... uh.... I don't know the exact reason why it was done like this last year ^_^; Maybe there was a discussion about it last year. I suppose I can combine the 2 still. That will keep the # of categories needed to be judged the same as last year at least.

EDIT: When I started to change the list and just had "Best Scenes" instead of "Best Adjective Scenes" it seemed a tad odd. I think the kicker is the plural "scenes". Best Scenes would make for the best comic in general I'd suppose. Along that line, Best Action Scenes would probably be better worded as Best Action Comic and so would Best Tense Scenes. So I changed Best Action Scenes to Best Action comics. Tense didn't get a whole lot of votes and many of them are the same as horror so I have removed it.

Strain42
I have a question about the Best Completed Comic category.

My comic, Persona 3 FTW technically ended on April 1st of this year. The story was over.

However, since it's a parody comic and my next series won't be starting until next April, I'm gonna be doing more comics related to the PSP port version of the game.

So the comic will be updating again in a few months, but the overall story was finished a while ago. These are just random comics to keep my readers occupied to pass the time.

It's fine if that doesn't count as a completed comic. I just wanna check and see if Persona 3 FTW would be eligible for that category or not.

BFFSatan said it best. You can still become a finalist if you are voted into it. But the final say on these things are always left to 3 judges.

Nicotine
Oh! It's that time of the year again! I've let myself get sidetracked. Voting opens next week?! Better start updating again soon @_@. A nomination for best mystery will be enough for me ^_^;.

And also, I would like to judge at least two or three categories again this year. I don't knownif the sign ups for judging has even started though, haha.

Well not next week. I thought it'd be next week but sat down and made my timeline and deadlines for the official dates which you can read in the post I am about to make below.

Glad so many of you are all interested in being judges and presenters this year!!! ^_^

After speaking with Amanda and looking at the dates everything happened on last year I have come up with what I am hoping will be the official timeline. Since I always seem better working with a tangible deadline and all XD

So everyone make way to this new thread to see when voting and judging all begin and lots more information!

LINKAGE

Things to do
Finish up website
Will be finished between today and Tuesday

Finish setting up ballot
Still have plenty of time! I can just keep saying that every day! Right? :P

Finish setting all the boards on the voting forum
Doing so each day 5 categories at a time.

Okay, cool beans!

I notice the judgin forum is open; do you have to reactivate our account if we were judges last year?

Strain42- BFFSatan is right.
When I and others judged most deliviously offensive last year thre was at least one comic that we discounted almost immediately for not meeitng the criteria of what we were lookingfor (not naming names!)
Getting nominated for a category you dont fit into wont really do you any favours at all, but if you feel like a category fits you then go for it. It is really a judgement call.

Nicotine
Okay, cool beans!

I notice the judgin forum is open; do you have to reactivate our account if we were judges last year?

Nope. You should still be good to go!

BffSatan
WE HAVE TOO MANY AWARDS!

I'd have to agree with this, i just checked through the list and there are basically millions of awards. I think it kinda eliminates the purpose of a award if more or less everyone gets one. (or one comic gets 50 )

I mean, "Best Anthropomorphic Comic"... really?