Having started with group builds at another site I've viewed the badges as "proof" of completion, but one of the builds specified that people could display them during the build, that kind of changed my view of them. Because of past practice I won't be adding badges until I finish something but really it is a good way to get the word out on a build or show how many are in it (and we all want to be popular right?
).
Seems to me if a person has seriously contributed to a build (regular posts of progress, pics etc) but failed to complete due to outside issues (parts needed to finish the kit didn't arrive, real life interferred etc) they should still have the right to "wear" the badge, on the other hand someone who signed up took the badge and never really participated doesn't.
But in the end its all in fun I mean if someone signs up for 10 builds and never finishes anything it really doesn't matter and if it makes them happy, good for them.
So to sum up I see them as participation "awards", if the person seriously participates I'm fine with them showing the badge although personally I wait until I've finished something.
To take the other idea a little further how about doing them like some medals that add stars, oak leaf clusters etc for special merit or multiple awards, so the builds basic design is the participation badge, completion adds an extra design (for arguments sake lets say a star) and completing multiple builds within the build ( 4 shermans in a Sherman build for example) gets multiple designs (say 5 stars) that would keep the work of designing the badge fairly simple yet show the differance between participation, completion and obsession
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