I just want to say that while I've decided against a rule change for this years awards, I am considering everything that is being said here. Everyone is making valid points and I think in the 2010 PCA in Jan 2011, we may change the way this category works.
Zach you will need to change how the rules work for all of the categories, and especially for all of the community star groups as well and the best RP groups as well, because the same argument can be offered for that as well.
Further more, Mullay I understand that we can agree to disagree here, and while you make very valid points, my argument in the Win/Win scenario is that it only requires 3 people to nominate a group something of which even a small Fleet can muster, win or lose everyone is given an equal spot light during the voting process to be seen by the community as a whole and as such those groups who have spent time advertising, recruiting and putting effort into there overall design will have not done so in vein, however those smaller groups that are starting up and have fewer members will most certainly have the opportunity to build up and do some great things because of the attention that they will be given. I by no means feel that this is a Big Fish eating the little fish scenario as the nomination process allows for all to take part in and be a candidate for all to consider.
Another point that I will raise, last year Lotus Fleet was quite small and in so doing we took 2nd place in our category against Starbase 118...as a result we as a group evaluated what we had, worked on a number of improvements not only to our appearance but to our look and wide spread community recognition and as a result of that have not only taken many hours of hard work by LF members but reflected that back onto the community in hopes that this year we can improve upon last years results. Now if again this year the community chooses that we be 2nd place then that's great! We will work yet again only to come back even stronger next year and in so doing we will have a great time and enjoy the opportunities that this competition offers.
In addition and while I can see your view point in this being a fun activity...in reality those nominating fleets are in fact competing for an indirect reward. 1. the opportunity to be voted number 1 in any of the categories and while this does not offer any year long recognition, its a reward for the members of the groups who win and a challenge to those who do not for the following year. Two and again this offers wide spread advertising and recruitment possibilities for all involved.
In addition as far as the Star Trek Gaming Community is involved and being that this is the only Star Trek Based awards time that we as a community have, this is very much our "Oscars" and as a community I hope that in the following years we can adjust the rules and grow this event even more with more categories.
Its fun, challenging and offers friendly competition between all who are involved in addition its community driven, which is always a good thing.
So I would encourage everyone to take part in it because of the valued added on all levels.
