55. Something's Off with the Strategy Guide Judging
Something felt weird about the state of the judging comments on the strategy guides.
What can I say... they seemed way more harshly critical than I'd expected. Is this really how they're announcing the winners?
"...Maybe there's something wrong with the strategy guide content?"
Even so, I had zero knowledge about combat, so I couldn't judge the guides myself. I just didn't have the expertise.
Still, I could gauge if a guide was good or bad by looking at the recommendations and comments...
"Should I just check it out?"
I clicked on one of the bronze prize winners to open the actual post.
↳ Yeah fr, takes forever to break the Sand Crab shell.
↳ Nah nah, that's Power Strike.
↳ Exactly... it's just a smash though...
↳ Doing it with full power makes it Power Strike.
↳ Jeonbung-i is a one-trick Power Strike guy until he learns Aura.
↳ No you idiots, Power Strike isn't even a proper technique ffs.
↳ You mocking Jeonbung-i right now?
Maybe it's because I'm not an explorer? Even reading the content, I honestly couldn't spot the issue.
I could only guess the guide's quality from the recs and comments.
This post was about finding hiding spots for Sand Crabs, a variant of Mud Crabs.
Even I, a non-explorer, could tell it was super useful for spotting Sand Crabs buried in sand.
But the judge's comment...
Hmm... Are the judges just too picky?
"It seemed like pretty useful stuff though?"
Looking at other bronze winners, some looked like comedy sketches or jokes.
↳ Author: Sorry haha;;
↳ Author: Got it haha;;
"...Even I can see this one's total trash...."
The judge's comment made sense. Probably placed due to high recs.
I checked silver prize winners too.
↳ Thick bear hide, so stabbing low-defense armpits is effective.
↳ ...But how to hit hind leg tendons? Bears are surprisingly agile, hard to flank.
↳ Yeah;;; Even with strat it's tough...
↳ Check 108 pattern strat, brief opening during overhead smash.
......
"These are supposed to be prize winners... is this really okay?"
Since StickyThingLover posted without issue, she must've thought it was fine.
Still, better ask her directly.
I skimmed the rest. Thankfully, as Sticky said, top prizes had much better reviews than lowers.
Gold Prize (3 winners)
Rewards: 50 tickets of choice, 1M coins
Grand Prize (1 winner)
Rewards: 100 tickets of choice, 2M coins
Post-shelter lockdown, explorers stuck hunting same monsters daily for food—standards plummeted.
Sticking to easy/fast kills to avoid competition spots. Inevitable.
Hunting became boring grind, killing thought. No more life-risking "adventures," no wall-breaking.
We judges lament the environment.
Shelter life's regression isn't just food/culture/art. Combat skills tanked too.
Didn't expect this low—guides proved it. Still, top winners show promise.
Dungeon Master, fix food then drop "hardcore dungeons" pls.
That's Padakjin's thoughts. Thanks for the hard work.
↳ Placed at all, cheer up lol
↳ 2M coins means no dungeons needed;;; I'd swap all for new park tickets.
The strategy contest awards ended like that.
"5PM—showcase part 2 finally starts."
Progression handled by broadcasting Padaks, so I just watch...
But tense about new park reactions.
Plus, once they learn about the Orchard...
"Gonna be chaos, right?"
No matter how I think, gallery meltdown incoming.
...Revealing dungeon roadmap too. More tension.
"Hek hek...."
I kneaded Kkomangi furiously to calm nerves.
Thinking back, early isekai days I never planned scaling this big...
"...Did I bite off too much?"
Momentarily doubted if I could handle it all.
But soon figured no problem.
"It'll work out somehow."
Alone maybe not, but with capable folks like Joodak-hyung, dwarf bros, Yeomje-nim around—will be fine.
And so, showcase part 2 time arrived, Padak started broadcast.