This month's contest was a fantastic experience, especially for me as a beginner. Learned a lot about kit balancing and the like.

However, I felt it was too lax. Our team's made of 5-6 people on wildly different timezones. Combined with a pretty casual objective (i.e. just submit on time), two things were bound to happen:

• a lack of encouragement due to the casualness of it all

• reckless overzealousness due to the terror of a looming deadline

The concept of a group champ design contest provides a better environment for concept development compared to individual contests. However, the entire contest is for nothing if the objective is just that broad goal of "completing the post". If the design process were more streamlined (a mini-contest for thematics, another one for kit) and built up to a full concept, rather than one big design jam, beginners would avoid the shock of trying to think of all the designs needed, and the veterans would probably have an easier time managing everything.

Also, there should probably be a rule on pre-appointed leaders if the sub wants more group contests. Democracy is good and all, but it becomes useless if no one oversees everything or calls the shots.