FAQ
Additional questions to be added as needed
The Prize
Q: What’s the prize? Is there a second place?
A: The only prize goes to the winner, which is the deed of the Free Mann Tavern and everything that comes with it.
Q: What is the Free Mann Tavern deed?
A: Check out this promotional thread for more details.
Q: How will you give it to me?
A: Soulbound Studios (SBS) will directly bind the Free Mann Tavern to the winning account of this contest.
Q: Wait, so they are giving it away for free?
A: No. Pteroguin is paying SBS for the tavern at full value. This contest was presented to SBS as something he would like to do for the Oceanus community if the tavern did not sell. The contest and money put forth are his, and the ability to accomplish it is with the help of the studio.
Q: Why didn’t Oceanus buy it for themselves?
A: Although we cannot know the exact reasons from such a large group of people, it’s a fact that it’s more difficult for the other regions to make such large purchases. This stems from the change in prices due to currency conversion and potentially additional time or fees associated with currency conversion.
Q: Can I give it to a friend?
A: The other legendary tavern deeds cannot be gifted and this one will not be any different. The prize will be bound to the winning account. You can help your friend with their submission and submit as a group however! 😊 See more about participating as a group in the Submissions section of the FAQ.
Q: Are you announcing the winner?
A: Yes, we’ll announce it in this thread as well as update the original post after contacting the winners. We have ultimately decided to be transparent and not allow people an anonymous submission. This is a guarantee to other players that the prize is not being secreted away to a person of our choosing.
Eligibility
Q: Is there a minimum package requirement?
A: You must have exposition access to the game, and additionally be locked into the Oceanus (OCE) Server.
Q: How do I see what package I have and what server I’m locked into / how do I lock into a server?
A: Log in and go to your Account Page. Your server is listed just to the right of your email and right above your package. Locking into your server is not possible at this time, but you will be able to do so again after Domain and Settlement Selection has ended. You are qualified only if you have Bloodline or higher.
Q: Why do you have requirements at all?
A: The required age of the account is to prevent the prize from going to a spam account or troll. The Server lock is inherited from the original requirement to buy the deed for The Free Mann Tavern from the store. The deed can only additionally be claimed within Exposition as stated in the store description, and Bloodline is the lowest tier that gives Exposition access.
Q: How do you know whether I qualify or not?
A: Short Answer, we don’t. SBS is not giving us access to anyone’s personal data or information. There will be a prescreening process; However, this will be handled by the studio to maintain user privacy.
Judging Process
Q: Why are the judges for an OCE contest from NA-W?
A: This is a gift purchased to help Oceanus players. We’ve also enlisted help from outside of our community to ensure it doesn’t just get awarded to someone we know. Additionally, the blind submission format will keep things fair.
Q: Can I talk to judges about my submission?
A: No. General questions can be asked, but anything that might reveal which submission is yours could lead to a disqualification. Direct questions about your particular submission to the contest email.
Submissions
Q: What if my dog got sick or I misunderstood the deadline somehow, and I submit an hour late?
A: The deadline is a hard deadline with no exceptions to make it fair for all contestants.
Q: How do I apply as a group?
A: Add your groups information into the submission so that we may credit them and apply as normal. Make sure to have the account meant to receive the package specifically listed within the submission.
Q: What makes a group?
A: This could be your tavern-oriented guild or just a group of friends. A group is what you make it and is left vague on purpose. If you believe in this person and their ideas, also believe they will hold up well in competition with others. Everyone should have a chance.
Q: Are my ideas private?
A: As private as you want them to be. The submission will only be shared between the judges and some members of SBS staff. The details of the submission will not be shared by us, but the winner is more than free to advertise their tavern however they’d like. 😉
Q: Can I promote my ideas through the duration of the contest?
A: No. This isn't a popularity contest. Additionally, your identity must remain hidden from the judges in order for the contest to remain fair as a 'blind' contest. This process is similar to blind auditions. Promotion, or other actions that could intentionally or inadvertently make the judges aware of the submission's author, may merit a disqualification.
Q: What is a business plan / How do I make a business plan?
A: It’s best to google some business plan examples if you have never seen one to first get a basic image in your head. There are additionally many templates available online to get you started. Making a quality Business Plan may require a little more reading. I suggest this in-depth explanation found by Polaris.
Some components usually included in business plans are superfluous or lack necessary in-game information (like in-game economic data) for the needs of the contest. The ultimate purpose of this format is a way to lay out your ideas. The contest is not over who makes the best business plan, but instead over the content within. Tailor the format to fit your needs as you see fit rather than strictly conforming to the business plan structure.
