WINNER of the “First to 25” Small Builder Challenge is…

Whoa!  What a narrow victory!

The Winner of the First to 25 Small Builder Challenge was a joint effort between father and daughter…

But they only just scraped over the finish line thanks to the shenanigans of another Building Entrant…

And the Winner is…

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Sydney… and her Father, SevenDeadlyStreamers!

Bonus points if you caught the 2000 Olympics reference.

13 year old Sydney teamed up with her father, SevenDeadlyStreamers to create a Micro Build of 6277 Imperial Trading Post – the set in which introduced Steve into the LEGO Pirates theme.

Notably their entry demonstrates:

• You’re certainly not limited to a particular building style.
• The Steve minifigure is not required!

Above is an updated build which utilises custom stickers on 1×1 transparent bricks to depict the minifigures; however, their initial submission was just the Mini Build alone, without any minifig bricks.

SevenDeadlyStreamers writes:

My daughter, Sydney, wanted to join in on the fun, so I will enter her build first! She is 13 and likes to build mini and micro size MOCs. This one should be easily recognizable. It is a mini version of the Imperial Trading Post (set 6277) where the Infamous Steve made his debut!

The Classic Pirates encourage building with your children so the love of LEGO Pirates is shared with future generations.

In fact, that’s why we’ve allowed up to 3 Entries per Building Category, so you may submit a build of your own, and another created by your children… or younger relative… or cat.

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The Prize

Sydney, who is based in Canada, was awarded a 25€ LEGO Prize.

Sydney selected 31136 Exotic Parrot which retails for 24.99€ or $39.99 CAD, so we hope she’ll build Steve a fine parrot!

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Why Sydney and SevenDeadlyStreamers Won

As to be expected; Entry Topics submitted during the outset were slower to attract Replies as Participants gradually became aware of the Contest.

SevenDeadlyStreamers conscientiously responded to Replies in the Mini Imperial Trading Post Entry Topic during this initial phase, but it wasn’t until the Challenge Deadline was announced that engagement took a massive leap forward.

BrynnOfCastlegate began eyeing the 25€ LEGO Prize and was determined to usurp the family team! She increased responding to those Replying to her International Society of Steve Entry Topic and rapidly closed the distance on the Mini Imperial Trading Post.

Victory was in sight!  But then she made a somewhat curious decision…

Brynn decided it would be amusing to simultaneously submit the 25th Reply to both Entry Topics, and then let the LEGO Pirate Forum Crew determine who achieved the Objective first.

But alas!  Her plan backfired!

BrynnOfCastlegate wrote:

This is also Sydney’s 25th post. I’ll let you figure out which one I pressed Submit on first. ????

Edit: The forum software requires 30 seconds between posts, foiling my plan to make the posts simultaneously. Who knew?

Congratulations Sydney on winning the first to 25!

Ah yes, to prevent Denial of Service Attacks, the forum software only permits one Post every 30 seconds, thus eliminating the possibility of submitting multiple Posts simultaneously.

Brynn honourably conceded defeat to Sydney affording this tale with a joyous conclusion!

The Moral of this Story…

Like all these Challenges, complacency is not an option otherwise another Participant is highly likely to overtake you. Therefore, when others Reply to your Entry Topics, follow-up ASAP!

Directly Respond to other Participants, thank them for taking the time to Post in your topic, and then probe them for more feedback… or maybe just fish for compliments!   Whatever works – just keep the conversation flowing!

And above all; when a Prize is within the grasp, don’t mess around or it may slip through your fingers and be awarded to someone else!

Well, unless you don’t mind conceding graciously as BrynnOfCastlegate – five stars for being a good sport!

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What are the First to 25 Challenges?

In addition to the Prizes awarded at the end of the Contest, the First to 25 Challenges provide Entrants with further opportunities to WIN Prizes throughout the Contest.

The First to 25 Builder Challenges offered two 25€ LEGO Prizes; one for the Large Building Category and a second for the Small Building Category, which Sydney won.

The Objective was simple: the first Building Entrant to attract 25 Replies to one of their Building Entry Topics WINs a Prize.

Question: if you won a Prize, which LEGO Sets would you choose?

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More Prizes

We haven’t lost sight of the bigger picture… or the bigger Prizes for that matter.

Challenges aside, the Infamous Steve Contest still offers Grand Prizes for both the Large Building Category and best performing Creative Critic

Should you win, you’ll be able to select a LEGO Set to the value of 215€, or the equivalent in your local currency.

Therefore, you may choose any set from your local LEGO.com of equal or lesser value to 10320 Eldorado Fortress.

Or you may choose Eldorado Fortress itself!

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Even More Prizes

Before we announce yet more Prizes, let us know how you’d prefer to win them.

What kind of Prizes do you find most enticing?

Do you prefer Prizes of greater value? Or more opportunities to WIN?

More Prize Questions

To further our understanding of your preferences, we have a couple more polls if you’re interested in providing further feedback.

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What Do Yer Think?

Do these Builder Challenges provide a suitable alternative for WINNING Prizes alongside the traditional Voting system?

Or should we scrap the Challenges and just have more Prizes at the end?

And what kind of Prizes would you like to WIN? Do you have suggestions for future Challenges?

Right! Now plot a course to the LEGO Pirates Forum and let share yer thoughts on the Challenges and Prizes!