Updated the pack with Turrican's new version of the level.

Difficulty comes mostly from 2 factors in my opinion.

1.) The unexpected usage of tricks.
2.) Entropy. Or a bit more precise: Having many meaningful possible things to do with the limited resources you have.

To further explain point 2:
Let's say you have 1 builder and 1 water pit in the only path to the exit with no other workarounds. The builder is 100% locked in that position and is therefore no mystery. 
Having multiple possible routes where that 1 builder can really help you out on the other hand makes the choice unclear. Bonus points if the meaningful usage is even hard to spot in the first place (hidden in plain sight).
If this holds true for not only one but multiple skills (+ adding some unortodox trick usages) the level can quickly become a very hard nut to crack (if there are no glaring backroutes of course).

As I was just adding a few levels to the nomination list via some pms that have gotten to me:

1.) Another reminder to send me your nomination list even if it is just one level (I already got a few of those! )
2.) I extended the deadline to April 4th due to me being away at the end of the month.

Welcome to another contest of the Lemmingsforums! This time the three rules have been picked by Armani, kaywhyn and myself this time.

A few words to new participants and forum members: If you haven't entered before, I strongly encourage you to try - even if you don't win, it's fun to participate; and we have had cases where first-time entrants have won before! There are three choices of rules given, you may enter one level for EACH one of the rules.
You may either use new format NeoLemmix, or Lix.
If you have more than one entry, they may (but do not have to) be for the same engine. Please make sure you tested your level for basic solvability before submitting and be sure to also submit any custom tileset you are using, so others have no problem playing your level.

Pre contest testing: You can choose 1-2 persons who do a bit of pre-testing for you, so that the biggest backroutes and screw-ups of your levels can be detected before the playing phase. I cannot control this so it's only a guideline, but still I would prefer not everyone knows every level before the playing phase starts.

Here are the rules on how the submission deadlines work:
- Initial submission phase deadline will extend such that it's 72 hours from the time of the last submission, up to the 5th submission (inclusive). After this it no longer changes no matter what.
- Update phase deadline will not extend over the initial dead line!
- Even if you missed the cutoff date for the initial submission phase, late entries are accepted until the update phase ends. There is no penalty for a late entry, beyond that people are less likely to spend as much time on the level before voting begins.


And here is the new ruleset:

Rule 1: New tilesets, new levels! (Armani)

Make a level using a tileset that you haven't used before in a level you have publicly published.

 - In the case that you have published levels that collectively use every tileset, make a level with a tileset you have used less frequently.
 - Tileset mixing and VGASPECs are not allowed.

I can't exactly remember every level published by every person so please be nice and try to follow the rule.

Rule 2: Tools of Mass Destruction (kaywhyn)

- Use bashers, miners, diggers, laserers(NL) and fencers(NL). (You can use just 1 of these skills, any 2, any 3, any 4 or all 5 is also fine)
- Use bombers | For Lix: Use imploders
- Don't use any other skill

Rule 3: The Classic Tribe (IchoTolot)

- Make a level in the "l2_classic" style and use only the tiles and objects present in there. Further restriction here:
  Tiles: The tiles are all allowed except for "gray_block"!
  Objects: The NeoLemmix standard objects (owa_down, owa_left, owa_right, lemming, pickup, button, updraft, flag_blue, flag_green), trap_01 and trap_02 are not allowed! 
- Have a Lemming count of 60 and a locked RR. (Timer is not nessesary though)
- Only use the claissic 8 skills (you do not have to use all though)
- Use the music track attached to this post for the right ambiance.

For Lix: Simply use the "standstone" style (terrain, exit and hatch) instead of "l2_classic" (the music is not required here). Thematically it is quite close.

Maybe we can make a nice little Classic tribe for this rule.

Submission phase ends May 31th 2024 at 00:00 UTC.

Ruleset in detail again: http://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=2246.0

Send me a personal message with your level/s and if needed tileset/s to participate. It would also be nice to also tell me the rule which each level satisfies.

Please use the following naming format:  User1_Levelname_R3V1.nxlv ---> Level "Levelname" by User1   for Rule 3   Version 1 of the level

Prize selection:
- US $5.00
- Pick next contest's rules

Entries so far: 3

- JRT (3)

However, I disagree that this should be the basis on which to choose a graphic. It's my usual reasoning - Lemmings is an animated video game, not a picture puzzle. If absolutely everything has to be clear when the game is paused, why animate anything at all?

It is true that it's not the only point, but still a big one that needs to be considered.
Not everything has to be clear, but it should be if possible.

A lot of people start a level paused and already make conclusion while it is paused (You cannot avoid this situation!) - quite a few new players as well and I already saw cases of confusion because of design not taking this into account.
Simply pushing it to the side and ignore the problem with "Lemmings is an animated video game, not a picture puzzle" it not the player friendly approach here - especially if through a more thought out design it can be avoided in the first place. And it can be avoided in this case!

Ladies and gentleman, we've got our final results!

The winning level is:

Armani's "Tensegrity"

The 2nd place goes to:

kaywhyn's "Fun Teleportation Race in Space"

Congratulations to Armani for winning the contest and kaywhyn for a geat 2nd place!

3rd place goes to:

IchoTolot's "The Amazing Lemming Tightrope Act"


Choice for the prize for the first place is either:

- picking the next contest's rules
- US $5.00 (PayPal would be the easiest here I think).

Those look good!

Although blue seems to not touch the ground properly.

There can be an argument that the red cross could be misinterpreted.

If his wish is still for NL development to discontinue with the final version, then that leaves us with 2 options:

1) Start a “Community Edition” fork which will essentially pick up where the final version of NL leaves off.

2) Adopt a new engine as the community standard. We need something that’s actively maintained and open for business or people will basically just lose interest.

Here I disagree. 

Having a final version that is stable is totally fine!

Option 3: Accept the final version and continue playing with it is 100% viable.

Just because there are no patches anymore, interest will not automatically go away and there is also no need to forcefully switch the standard.
+ adding more and more stuff for eternity != a better version. There needs to be a limit at some point and I think it can be now.