snowlord wrote:I have two questions about the rules.
Is the sticky rules post in the "A" forum valid for B contests too?
If no, where are the rules for B contests? I have chosen to link to the A rules, so they are in effect for this contest, but was it right?
Yes you were right - they are in the 'A' forum because that way it is more likely new people will see them. But they are common rules for A & B (& C now?) Competitions.
Secondly, one solution I have received have overlapping metal bar endpoints. It doesn't create any destruction, the physics engine sorts it out by moving the endpoints. I think this solution is dark, according to the rules. Can anyone post an opinion without seeing the specific solution?
I can, here is my opinion:
You are the contest host, so if you think it is dark, it is dark.
However, there have been numerous past solutions to levels which have won light prizes but have had enpoints starting in other materials. The tradition has been to allow constructions like that which are just there so you can 'build tighter', or fit something in that wouldn't otherwise fit.
Basically, this is when the 'collision resolution' in AR works how it is supposed to, so it's not really a bug, although it is unrealistic.
The 'archetypal' case was of course PeterT's winning solution to Classic Contest 4:
http://armadillo.metaclassofnil.com/for ... highlight=
The discussion toward the end of the first page gets slightly heated about it, so I suggest you review this (and other levels*?) before making up your mind.
*for eg, ?rjan's winning solution to B #6 (2nd level):
http://armadillo.metaclassofnil.com/for ... .php?t=425
He overlapped some metal bars at the start, which may or may not have helped him.
PS: If you're really keen - what happens when a bunch of 'hanging' metal bars go outside the boundary and overlap? Should be dark, because the level resloves into a situation where there are overlapping endpoints?