Number one in a long list of observations that I find interesting. Sometimes I'll put a name to such observations such as this one I call the CMON Mass Effect.

I'm sure there's away to mathematically project this and it may be interesting someday to work out all the angles but for now I'll just try to sum this up quickly.

CMON Mass Effect: The condition resulting in posting models in groups will increase the overall average score of any one individual model in said group.

This can be observed by listing a single mini, of average workmanship. The score should average out around 5-6 on the CMON scale. Now take 5-10 of same average ranked models and post them as a group and the score will go up, maybe not exponentially, but it will go up. From what I've seen, group postings will usually ranks nearly a full point higher.

The funny thing about the CMON Mass Effect is that it works nearly the opposite for high ranked work.  Post a mini that would routinely hit 9's. Post a group shot of 5-10 models that rank 9's (not anything of mine, of course ;) ) and you'll see the average will decrease overall.

I think part of it has to do with level of detail that's visible in a given photograph.  I notice that many photos that utilize the full 600px width for posting on a single model tends to show too much detail. Blending issues, color banding, mold lines. etc. If you want to see where you need technical improvement, take very close photo of your mini and look at it objectively. If you were to re-shoot that same model from a bit farther away and reduced the width of the image you would find that some of these issues tend to soften up and not be so noticeable.

This is one reason why the CMON Mass Effect seems to work. The more models in a photo, the less detail can be seen. For an average model, this is a plus. It works opposite for exquisitely painted and highly skilled pieces. You tend to lose sight of these exceptional details when posting multiple models in a single photo.

Someday I'll try to come up with a scale/ratio on how good you think your model(s) is(are) to how large the actual picture should be here on CMON to optimize your score.

Again, just an observation.

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mass effect or lack of immage processing software
I noticed that too, but I mostly attributed to lack of image processing software (or lack of skills). In general it is almost impossible to post decent submission without making a composite image and some people either don't know how to do it or just don't bother. As for the opposite effect of multiple submissions on average scoring models vs high scoring the reason, I think is purely mathematical. If you assume that you scoring scale is infinite any score would be distributed near-normally (almost "bell"-curve). Our scale is limited by 10, so you simply cannot go more "up" and you distribution will be immediately skewed to the left (toward lower scores).
Written by: Skeeve | 21/08 11:36AM

mass effect or lack of immage processing software
I noticed that too, but I mostly attributed to lack of image processing software (or lack of skills). In general it is almost impossible to post decent submission without making a composite image and some people either don't know how to do it or just don't bother. As for the opposite effect of multiple submissions on average scoring models vs high scoring the reason, I think is purely mathematical. If you assume that you scoring scale is infinite any score would be distributed near-normally (almost "bell"-curve). Our scale is limited by 10, so you simply cannot go more "up" and you distribution will be immediately skewed to the left (toward lower scores).
Written by: Skeeve | 21/08 11:37AM

Gestalt effect
Keep in mind that a lot of people consider that finishing a whole unit to, say, a 7 standard deserves a bonus for consistency and hard work, therefore will vote 8. A unit of 8's is a 9 etc. It's out of respect for the sheer difficulty of painting a whole group this well. But yes, a group posting will hurt a truly superb model simply because it will be harder to appreciate its special qualities.
Written by: No Such Agency | 21/08 03:38PM

Completely Agree NSA
I agree with you No Such Agency and I as well take this into account when I grade a particular entry. It is hard to keep a certain standard when doing many, many models (as I'm trying to do with a large ork army) so I do score higher for those, myself.
Written by: Sukigod | 21/08 07:04PM


I'm with NSA as well. I think that is a part of what is being judged (for me at least) is the over all submission. If that submission is a unit of 16 troops, in a cohesive unit, with standards, and all tha jazz. . .I'll up the score. The whole group can be worth more as a finished project than eash individual on it's own might be. :)
Written by: blackfly | 16/10 04:20PM