"Battle at Elemental Plateau" by Thoy Bradley

[Angeli]

I was just browsing net for ideas, one link led to another, and then I've stumbled on this; I like to think that I am well informed about great fantasy mocs, but I've missed this somehow :)

This great fantasy named "Battle at Elemental Plateau" was made by Thoy Bradley and a lot of other pictures can be found here on Mocpages

[jFox]

Oh my goodness! Plenty of MOCs have made me lean forward to stare hard, but this made me jump back a bit and cry out "What the <expletive>!" Jaw droppingly cool! The elementals are really cool, but the architecture caught me off guard. I love the elevated design, and the consistency of the columns.

[Ecclesiastes]

That's pretty epic! Especially those trans-clear made creatures!

[JackJonespaw]

Wow! This is a fantastic MOC, from the buildings to the figures!

[Captain BeerBeard]

Big builds don't do anything for me if they don't have detail. This build is the same thing over and over. It's boring.

[viracocha]

Hey! This realy looks huge!

[Derfel Cadarn]

Big builds don't do anything for me if they don't have detail. This build is the same thing over and over. It's boring.

I do know what you mean, big builds don't impress as much and most of them are similar. However, this has a neat layout and the white gold combination works well. Plus those elemental creatures are sweet! Thoy has built some great creations, however I'd like to see him build some smaller more detailed scenes.

This is a very interesting moc with some nice ideas. Nice find Angeli.

I think the general problem with big builds is that people seem to think if you build big it instantly makes the moc epic, and most people go 'wow', but then you take a closer look and realize its quite basic and nothing new.

[Big Cam]

Big builds don't do anything for me if they don't have detail. This build is the same thing over and over. It's boring.

If you can't see the details here, your not looking hard enough. Remember how upset you got when your MOC didn't get the attention you thought it deserved? That's how your making this person feel.

Just because the MOC isn't flooded with foliage doesn't mean it's not detailed.

I like the design of the towers and the landscape looks good. It's not too much, or too little.

[Angeli]

I do not agree with few comments. Repetition can be a source of beauty. Simplicity also. Just look at beautiful castles of the Bob Carney. The whole impact that one picture gets to you - it is exactly what this moc do. Complicated or new is not by definition always appealing, and simpler is sometimes better.

There is one saying in my language, translated it is something like this: "The dog is not barking because of the village, but because of it self" :) - My creations tend to be large, and if I go into details, it looks silly from afar, and if I go for the shape that looks great from far, from close it looks simple :) sweet troubles :) I was thinking of erecting a 1 meter high wall that is 2D for pictures, and when I remove it, there will be detailed garden and stuff... Actually, this is not such a bad idea... I will have to think about this some more...

[mephistopheles]

After all, this hobby is all about personal taste. I don't like this build. Not because it is bad or repetitive or anything. I can see that he put good work in it and the "quality", lets go with this word, is very good. Still neither form nor color scheme approve to me.

I still agree with Angeli's last comment though, oh and thanks for that Bob Carney link!

Edited March 28, 2012 by mephistopheles

[Hinckley]

Big builds don't do anything for me if they don't have detail. This build is the same thing over and over. It's boring.

I recall having a talk with you about this type of behavior. Why are we seeing it again?

[Derfel Cadarn]

I do agree with Angeli, if something is repetitive, it doesn't mean it isn't good. However, it can be bad for the builder. I built in pretty much the same way for quite a while and it got very boring and it wasn't pushing me to be a better builder. This is the reason why I have been trying a different look and style. I don't recommend anyone to constantly build the same thing as you will struggle to grow as a builder.

I have tackled a few large mocs and it isnt easy. Firstly, they take time and you can sometimes find yourself losing interest or get an idea for something else that you want to build. Another factor is pieces. I like to build in detail and you need to get a lot of pieces to pull that of on a big scale, so a lot of time and money goes into large creations. In this respect, I always admire people who build large epic creations as I know they have obviously put the time and effort in.

It's true that a lot of people do believe that large equals good, but that isn't always the case.

Everyone has their own opinions and look for different things in a moc. For example, the size of this moc is not what interests me. What I like is the great layout of the towers and bridges that run at different angles and the interesting color scheme makes this stand out as something different. Which is good I'm not very keen on the tiled water. Thoy seems to have a big expanse of tiled water in all his mocs and I would enjoy seeing him build a nice forest landscape instead, which I know he's more than capable of. I absolutely love those elemental guys, very creative and look excellent.

None of us can please everyone with our mocs, but we all build and try our best, which is what he has done.

[gedren_y]

The trans-blue creature reminds me of the Dredge from Titan A.E. Wonderful find.

Edited March 28, 2012 by gedren_y

[Angeli]

I meant repetitive not like, from moc to moc, but in one moc, you build a segment (part of the wall, for example) and then you repeated this segment through that particular moc :)

I also think that Cptn. BeerBeard should be able to express his opinion in descent way, as in his previous post, but that is just my opinion, and this is not my site, as I am just a guess here

...but Drow will conquer the world, and everything will be mine, this site also, but even then he is an avalonian, and they will work in mines and have no time for mocing :)

[Gabe]

I know Thoy a little bit (I'm in his MocAthalon team this year) and i think i am correct in saying that this is a "test build" of sorts for something that he intends to take to America to exhibit - so it makes sense that this build concentrates on structural concerns and modularity, rather than a mass of detail. I also know that Thoy heavily uses repitition as a design motif in his work - some ppl will like that, others won't. For myself, i am impressed with things like the diagonally placed towers, the light, airy architechture and the undulating, complex course of the river. My opinion is that the brown areas could use some more detailed landscaping and the various minifigs seem isolated and lost in the huge diorama, but these are more cosmetic concerns and do not overly detract from my enjoyment of his creation.

[mephistopheles]

I recall having a talk with you about this type of behavior. Why are we seeing it again?

I am sorry to say, but I have to defend Captain BeerBeard here. I have read his comment a few times and I can't find anything offensive or insulting in it. People should have the right to say if they don't like something and why they don't like it. I can't see how he violated any written or unwritten ethical rule here.

Edited March 29, 2012 by mephistopheles

[Gabe]

I am sorry to say, but I have to defend Captain BeerBeard here. I have read his comment a few times and I can't find anything offensive or insulting in it. People should have the right to say if they don't like something and why they don't like it. I can't see how he violated any written or unwritten ethical rule here.

I think the idea of leaving feedback on mocs in this forum is that a) you do it constructively and b) you do it politely. Tbh, i consider that Cpt. Beerbeard failed on both fronts with his comment - it was harsh, short and in effect dissmissed the work of an experienced builder as "boring". Did that really need to be said?

I think a good way to approach leaving criticism on a moc is something called "The good news sandwich". First you find something to praise about the moc, then you outline it's shortcomings and ideally suggests avenues for improvement, then you finish by recapping the good points of what the builder has achieved. Yes, it's hard work, but evaluating the work of others in this way helps you to become a better critic of your own work as well - which can only contribute to making you a better builder. It's worth it, and what's more, it will make you more friends!

Edited March 29, 2012 by gabe

[mephistopheles]

@gabe: I personally agree with you. When I don't like a MOC but wish to comment I always try to reasonably explain my point of view and/or add constructive criticism. I didn't say that I agree with Captain BeerBeard's style at all, but I didn't find his comment so offensive that he needs to get warned like this. Everybody can easily skip over such a comment. I think warnings are appropriate only if rough language is used or the comment contains ad hominem attacks. My 2 cents.

[Captain BeerBeard]

If you can't see the details here, your not looking hard enough. Remember how upset you got when your MOC didn't get the attention you thought it deserved? That's how your making this person feel.

Just because the MOC isn't flooded with foliage doesn't mean it's not detailed.

I like the design of the towers and the landscape looks good. It's not too much, or too little.

I got destroyed. Do you remember that? I came up with a different style. It's okay now just to dump a whole box of loose pieces and that's awesome. I remember how crap I felt. Nobody told me sorry for that. Why? Was what I did that bad? I responded to this the same way that pirates did me. Why is everyone else allowed to have an opinion besides me?

[Tazmaniac]

I got destroyed. Do you remember that? I came up with a different style. It's okay now just to dump a whole box of loose pieces and that's awesome. I remember how crap I felt. Nobody told me sorry for that. Why? Was what I did that bad? I responded to this the same way that pirates did me. Why is everyone else allowed to have an opinion besides me?

I'm not familiar with the instance you are referring to Captain BB, and if that has happened to you and made you feel crap, I would have thought you'd be less critical with others creations.

You are most certainly entitled to an opinion but ending a post with a thumbs down and the word boring comes across rude no matter how you cut it.

I think Gabe nailed it with the "The good news sandwich" analogy, speak your mind, but do it in such a way that does not offend others. If you reread you post and feel it doesn't add anything to the discussion it's probably a good idea not to post it.....now go and

you crazy kids.

[Captain BeerBeard]

I'm not familiar with the instance you are referring to Captain BB, and if that has happened to you and made you feel crap, I would have thought you'd be less critical with others creations.

You are most certainly entitled to an opinion but ending a post with a thumbs down and the word boring comes across rude no matter how you cut it.

I think Gabe nailed it with the "The good news sandwich" analogy, speak your mind, but do it in such a way that does not offend others. If you reread you post and feel it doesn't add anything to the discussion it's probably a good idea not to post it.....now go and

you crazy kids.

Just have me banned. I can't have an opinion unless I jump on the bandwagon.

[Tazmaniac]

Just have me banned. I can't have an opinion unless I jump on the bandwagon.

I think rather than playing the victim, you could take some of the advice offered by your fellow builders and just curve you enthusiasm when posting on a creation that doesn't float your boat.

Nobody is trying to stop you from having an opinion, we are merely saying that if you don't like it you don't have to post on it, and if you do decide to post try to do so in a manner that is not offensive.

[Gabe]

@gabe: I personally agree with you. When I don't like a MOC but wish to comment I always try to reasonably explain my point of view and/or add constructive criticism. I didn't say that I agree with Captain BeerBeard's style at all, but I didn't find his comment so offensive that he needs to get warned like this. Everybody can easily skip over such a comment. I think warnings are appropriate only if rough language is used or the comment contains ad hominem attacks. My 2 cents.

Perhaps you are right, but i think also a person's posting history has to be taken into account. If someone is constantly causing friction by mouthing off and making others feel uncomfortable, then i think the mods have a right to take the person aside and have a quiet word. I can't see anything wrong with a bit of discretion like that.

I got destroyed. Do you remember that? I came up with a different style. It's okay now just to dump a whole box of loose pieces and that's awesome. I remember how crap I felt. Nobody told me sorry for that. Why? Was what I did that bad? I responded to this the same way that pirates did me. Why is everyone else allowed to have an opinion besides me?

Dude, you can totally have your opinion, but you could have couched it a heap better, you know. I have no idea what thread you are refering to (where you got "destroyed"), but giving abuse as a response to getting it isn't very helpful to anyone - 2 wrongs not making a right and all that. Srsly, why not let old resentments go?

Anyway, that's seriously the last word i have to say about all this shennanigans. We seem to be getting derailed from Thoy's moc, which was the purpose of this thread in the first place.

Edited March 29, 2012 by gabe

[ZCerberus]

I have no idea what thread you are refering to (where you got "destroyed"), but giving abuse as a response to getting it isn't very helpful to anyone - 2 wrongs not making a right and all that.

Thanks gabe. I think you have been spot on in this thread.

I think the "destroyed issues" was a MOC in which Beery used a water technique that a lot of people did not respond favorably too. I haven't viewed that thread in a while, but from what I recall, though a lot of people mentioned not being fond of it, I did not think they were overly harsh in how they said it. However, it can be hard no matter who you are getting a critique on something you worked hard to make. I think that is the one thing Beery needs to work on. He knows what it feels like to be bashed (and neglected), but he doesn't always do the best job of remembering that when he posts on others MOCs. Maybe it is the assassins guild in him that makes him so bent on revenge! I hate myself for even being in his business anymore. I hope now that he has been warned by those with a little more authority he will just think a little more about what he posts before he posts it since he has made some very nice MOCs on the forum, and it would be too bad if he were no longer contributing.

Anyhow, I really love the elemental creatures here, and the color scheme. I do think some parts of the MOC are a little baren, but who knows what stage of "completeness" this thing is in. Good find Drow master.