Welcome, one and all, to the first monthly Super Mario World level design challenge! We're looking to set up a new, repeating series of contests aimed at both new and veteran level designers. We hope that plenty of people will choose to take part and try their hand at designing a level!
Before I go over the rules and theme of this Mushroom Circuit challenge, allow me to run through what the circuits mean, and how these challenges are scheduled.
- A "Circuit" is a specific ruleset. Every time we post a Mushroom Circuit thread for example, it will use the same ruleset as this one. Other Circuits will have different, consistent rulesets.
- Challenges will be posted the first of every month. After this, a submission period of two weeks will apply where anyone can reserve levels or resource slots depending on the specific rules, and also submit their levels to the contest.
- After two weeks, submissions will be closed (there will be warning posts ahead of this), and a compendium thread will be posted with all the validly submitted (no editing posts!) levels indexed together. Everyone will be able to then download and play these levels.
- After voting has ended (Voting rules are specific to given circuits, and may not always be the same), the winners will be announced on the 21st of each month!
Introducing the  Mushroom Circuit
 The Mushroom Circuit is your basic set of rules, easy enough to follow and quite common.
The rules of the Mushroom Circuit are:
You may:- Use the MAP16 editor to create custom blocks in your assigned/reserved page
- Use the Old or Super GFX Bypass dialogs
- Use the extended level tile animations dialog FULLY
- Use an original custom palette
- Use any feature of the standard level header
- Use any compatible (with 2.01) version of Lunar Magic.
- Use both of your assigned/reserved Lunar Magic level slots as you wish
- Have either one or two exits
You may NOT:- Use custom 8x8 graphics or alter existing 8x8 tiles
- Bypass the music or time settings of the level header
- Make any modifications to the base ROM
- Changing the overworld to give yourself access to your level doesn’t count. Feel free to do so.
- Use the extended global tile animations dialog
- Use more than two LM level slots, or split them into two separate levels.
For Mushroom Circuit contests, players may reserve their level slots and MAP16 slots via post. Players will be notified that either their reservations have been acknowledged and are valid or if their reservations violate the above rules, in which case their reservations will be removed from their posts to avoid confusion for other players looking to reserve slots.
The Mushroom Circuit supplies players with a theme, or a selection of themes, which must be reflected in the design of the level. If multiple themes are provided, only one must be used at minimum. If you think you can mix multiple themes together however, feel free! Remember, it is you and your peers who will decide the winners for each prize category!
Voting in the Mushroom Circuit is community-vote. Multiple categories for voting will be announced, for which anyone may vote. Voting rules are simple: You may only vote for one level per category, you may never vote for yourself, and ties for position are allowed.
This challenge's categories are:- Best in Show
This category is for the overall best level submitted to the contest. Do your best, and hope for it as well!
- Most Original
This category is for the level that was most creative and unique. Showcase your creativity with this category!
- Technical Excellence
This category takes into account the technical difficulty or complexity of the level as it is designed, not as it plays. Show off how much you know about SMW’s engine!
This challenge's theme is:Romp in the Grasslands
How appropriate! We're starting this contest just like the games that inspired it - with wholesome, natural influences and a happy-go-lucky burst of freshness! Exercise your green thumb and grow a winning entry!
Submissions will be closed on October 14th, 2012. To submit, create a .zip or .rar file of your level file(s), specifically the .mwl file and the two binary files for the MAP16 page you reserved, if you reserved one.
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