The Goal

For the uncertain, the goal is to build the cheapest, most original, best-looking or craziest bridge possible that allows the train to complete the level, while obeying the following simple rules ...

Contest 14 RULES - read carefully!!

There are 2 main bridge categories: 'CLEAN' and 'DIRTY', and the additional 'ARTISTIC' category. Exact definitions can be found below.

Contest 14 will be a Pontifex II. contest, more precisely a drawbridge contest. Hence, a special contest 14 rule is introduced (related to the traditional categories): A 'CLEAN' bridge must be a drawbridge. In contrast, a DIRTY bridge may also be an arch (or whatever).

The full version of Pontifex II (incl. patch 1.25) is required.

For 'CLEAN' bridges:

1. A 'CLEAN' bridge must be a drawbridge (i.e. it has to contain at least one hydraulic element pushing or pulling part of the deck; drawbridges may submerge under water).

2. The train must pass the bridge without breaking any links and without ever touching the water.

3. No bridge links (except at the anchor points) may touch or penetrate the level terrain. This will be checked in edit mode (medium detail terrain (default setting)) Please note this tiny rule clarification page.

4. The bridge must work ('test passed') with any train delay beyond the 'settling point' (architects should include the required settling time in game seconds in the bridge description).

5. The train may go through crossbeams (only if they are part of a 'normal' beam |X|). The train may not go through straight/horizontal beams, 'single' crossbeams /\ or cable.

6. The bridge may not have any gaps.

7. The ships may not touch any part of the bridge.

For 'DIRTY' and 'ARTISTIC' bridges:

For the uncertain: Rules 1-7 do NOT apply to 'DIRTY' / 'ARTISTIC' bridges, i.e. theses bridges need no hydraulic elements, may have broken links, may have gaps, bridge links may touch/penetrate terrain, the train may touch the water and go through all kinds of bridge materials, and finally, ships may touch the bridge, but:

8. The bridge must work ('test passed') relyably with a train delay specified by the architect (again, in game seconds in the bridge description).

For all bridges:

9. You may not exploit bugs or flaws in the game engine.

10. Editing the level is strictly prohibited (and pointless - all bridges will be copied to the original level for testing).

11. Sleeping under bridges is allowed (at your own risk).

12. Save your bridge in a .PFB file. It will be located in your profile folder. Compress it with RAR or ZIP! Then attach it to an e-mail and send it to contest@bridgebuilder-game.com.

13. The e-mail subject must read "[CLEAN/DIRTY] Cost: xxx Name: yyy" or "ARTIST Name: xxx Cost: yyy". No dollar signs ($), no punctuation in the bridge cost, e.g. "CLEAN Cost: 12345 Name: Gray". Use these e-mail links to make sure you get it right: CLEAN, DIRTY, ARTISTIC.

14. The contest ends at 6:00 PM GMT on August 3rd. I take no responsibility for e-mail servers being too slow for your e-mail to reach me in time, etc. You will get an automatic e-mail reply when an entry is received.

15. Strictly ONE bridge per category per participant is allowed, no exceptions. You may send in a bridge in order to ask if it applies to the rules ONCE per category (if yes, it will count as your submission, if not, you may send in a corrected/new version).

16. ALL bridges count as 'ARTISTIC' as well, so you don't have to submit your 'CLEAN' bridge twice to get the Bridge Artist title :)

17. Any discussions on contest bridge COSTS are to be kept in this special sub-forum. For your own good, it is password-protected. To get the password, first read this. General comments on the level and the contest are welcome and should be posted here.

18. Breaking, bending or scratching any of the above rules will result in disqualification. If you are unsure whether or not your bridge meets all the requirements, contact me for a clarification before submitting your entry.

19. In the event of a tie, the entry I receive first will be rated better.

The Prizes

For the cheapest working 'CLEAN' bridges:

Winner: Eternal glory and admiration, the title of 'Bridge General' and the full version of any Chronic Logic game!
1st Runner-up: Temporary glory and admiration, the title of 'Bridge Major'
2nd Runner-up: Momentary glory and admiration, the title of 'Bridge Captain'

For the cheapest working 'DIRTY' bridges:

Winner: Eternal respect and awe, the title of 'Bridge Don' and the full version of any Chronic Logic game!
1st Runner-up: Temporary respect and awe, the title of 'Bridge Mafioso'
2nd Runner-up: Momentary respect and awe, the title of 'Bridge Bandit'

Additional awards:

The Title of 'Bridge Artist' for the best-looking entry
The Title of 'Bridge Inventor' for the most creative entry
Possible additional Special Titles as I see fit :)

Many thanks to Chronic Logic for providing the prizes!

The winners will be announced soon after the contest ends. They will have the right to register on the Forum completely free of charge and bear the best of their titles there forever. Their names will also appear in the eternal Hall Of Fame.

The Level

Unzip the file into the 'files' folder and load it from the main menu using 'Load Level'.

Contest 14 level (ZIP) (94 kB)

Some Hints

I suggest you read the Manual (especially the drawbridge section), study the record bridges from DWN's Site and check out the forum in case you're not very familiar with the common bridge building techniques.

Good Luck!