IamBrook wrote:
I'm all for this idea and I look forward to putting my best guesses up for discussion....this'll take some thought.

Just for clarification though, how many of each age are we allowed to vote for? I mean, guessing that there will be only Marvel age would be ludicrous. but as was mentioned above, how do we level the playing field for someone who only guesses say, Marvel Age? Will there be some sort of equalizer for them? e.g. I guess that there will be 12 Marvel Age and I only guess 12 Marvel Age, without guessing any other age (or a number greater than 12) do we account for that or not? I am going to guess for each age, i just thought it was a point that may need to be raised. ooh, here's a great idea for those people, they guess just the 12, get all right, but were they in the correct order you predicted them?

I think that would put a big enough wrinkle in the mix for those who want to guess for one age.
Just to abstract the key information out of my earlier wordy post, here's my proposal in short form:

Everyone will be requested to submit an entry comprised in the following manner:
* 12 Marvel Age Masterworks (Prioritized 1-12)
* 5 Atlas Era Masterworks (Prioritized 1-5)
* 5 Golden Age Masterworks (Prioritized 1-5)

Only your selections equal to the number of Masterworks actually published for each era will count. Thus, using 2012 for an example, if there are just 11 Marvel Age Masterworks published, only your Marvel Age selections 1-11 count and your number 12 pick does not count. Now, your number 12 selection COULD be one of the 11 published Marvel Age Masterworks, but because you did not not prioritize it in your Top 11, it doesn't count towards your score.

Same drill for the Atlas Era and Golden Age. If only three volumes are published for each era, then only your Top 3 selections in each era count towards your score, regardless if your 4th and 5th choices are among the published volumes.

So, with that recap, now to address some the technical issues you raise in your note:

* If someone choses to guess only one era -- say, just the Marvel Age -- they place themselves at a disadvantage and make it highly unlikely (if not impossible) to win.

* Let's say for sake of argument that someone decides to lean on the rules -- "Rules are for people without imagination!" -- and select 22 Marvel Age volumes, 0 Atlas Era volumes and 0 Golden Age volumes. Since only the prioritized guesses equal to the number of volumes actually published for that era count, that person is potentially leaving a lot of wasted guesses on the table if far less than 22 Marvel Age volumes are published.

* I don't know if we need to level the playing field for someone who chooses to select from only one era. It's like they are entering the 100 metre dash, and declaring they will just be running the first 80 metres.

* That said, out of 32 entries last year, only 2 did not compete with a full slate. Both were advised / warned / begged / Dutch Uncled to add the other eras to their selections and the consequences of not doing so. One of the two stated his goal was to finish in last place, while the other said he didn't care about winning. (A third contestant with an incomplete field did weaken to my pleading and add the missing era to his list.) So, under the circumstances, this really isn't a problem in need of solving.

* Nevertheless, as contest hosts and fellow participants, I think Chris and I should continue to extend the courtesy of offering advice to anyone whom submits an incomplete or potentially incorrect entry (in the latter case, for example, an alphabetized list), to clarify the rules and confirm that's what they intended or, if not, to give them the opportunity for adjustment / correction prior to the deadline.