Unique Item Contest Scoring Information
 
Printouts for the Contest
Party Size/Character Score Chart Unique Item Score Chart
 
Party Size Score:
The smaller the party the higher the score. With fewer party members it will be more difficult to make use of the unique items. 

The scoring is based on the total possible number of characters available. The total possible is 14. Up to 6 created and  8 RPCs that qualify for the contest. Sexus, Glumph, Drazic, and Rodan Lewarx cannot be used since it cannot be verified they gained 5 levels with the party. (Hence why the Rapax Mageblade is not included among the Unique Items.)

There is an optimum number of party members, created + RPCs that can use all unique items. Every entrant who hits this optimum will receive a 1,000 point bonus. To clarify what is meant by optimum: there is a specific minimum number of created characters that can be combined with certain RPCs in order to make use of at least 1 copy of each Unique Item.
 
Character Score:
Scores for Profession, Race, and Gender were calculated on a percentage of how many Unique Items each could use. The fewer Unique Items they can use, the higher their score, since the difficulty to create enough characters to make use of the Unique Items is impacted. 

Scores will stack. Each Profession score, Race score, and Gender score are added together to reach a character total score.  See the printable Character Score Chart

Example: A Male Faerie Mage would be worth 10 + 32 + 78 for a total character score of 120.
 
Item Score:
Items have a 3 part scoring system based on Usability, Availability, and a Bonus where applicable.

Item Usability was based on similar criteria to that of the character. The fewer races, professions, and genders that can use the Unique Item the higher its Usability score. 

Item Availability was based on how easily the item is attainable. The more difficult it is to obtain the item the higher its score.

Bonus Scores exist for items that may fit more than one category as described below where the codes are discussed. Bonus scores also exist for rare items that are obtained in only a few places. Not all items have an Availability Bonus score. 

An example would be the the PK Crystal. It shows up randomly in only 2 chests in the game and is dropped randomly by a single monster. In addition to the limited number of places to obtain it the party must be level 31 or higher to get it. Pretty steep requirements for an item. If your party obtains two PK Crystals the bonus for the second one is higher because you have used up one of the only three options available to get it already. 

Item Availability will be added to Item Usability. The catch, you must have a profession that can use the item in order for it to be counted. For example if your party gathers the two PK Crystals from the example above, you need to have a pure Psionic in the party, or an appropriate RPC that is +5 its starting level, otherwise it will not be counted in the final score. (The created party naturally will be level 31+ but the RPC using the item does not need to be 31+)
 
The items all have a code associated with their Availability score and Bonus. This tells you how they may be obtained. Many items have a set value based on the code. These will be explained briefly below.
 
C = Custom Item = 35 points: There is only one Custom Item that meets the Unique Item criteria. Its ingredients are both random and fixed in some manner so the scores for those categories were merged to arrive at this value. There is no bonus value for an additional item since the same effort to get the additional item is the same as the first.
 
E = Starting Equipment = 5 points: These items are a "gimme" since they are available on a starting character. The Fur Halter is a good example in this situation. If you start a Valkyrie she's wearing one but, if you do not start a Valkyrie and use instead an appropriate RPC that same Fur Halter will be worth the bonus value for a purchased item instead of the starting equipment value.
 
F = Fixed Location = 10 points: Items that will always be available in the game in a fixed location and items fixed to always show up in a chest. These are almost a "gimme" item since all you have to do is get to them. (I know sometimes it requires more effort for some items but a standard needs to be set.) 
 
FD = Fixed Drop = 25 points: These items will (or should) always be dropped by the appropriate enemy. Their value is based on the fact they will always be attainable but will require more effort than just running to a location and snatching it up. A fixed drop is also considered the equipment from an RPC. For example Tantris comes with a full set of Do-Maru and a Kabuto. Some items in this category may also be pickpocketed from NPCs.
 
P = Purchased = 15 points:  Any items that can be purchased. The item may also be randomly acquired, but since there is no real way to "know" how your party got it, all items that can be bought will have this value only.
 
RC = Random Chest: Multiple factors were taken into account when creating the individual scores. Whether or not the chest is level sensored. How many different chests the item might be in. If it appears only in one chest and another Unique item(s) also shares the chest, thus making it more difficult to obtain them. 
 
RD = Random Drop: Like the random chest category multiple factors were taken into account. How many different monsters drop the item. How many of these monsters you can reasonably expect to find. Whether or not the monster drop is level sensored. As with Fixed Drop items, sometimes these may be pickpocketed.
 
All randomly obtained items were scored with thought to the criteria mentioned above in both random chest and random drop situations. Monster difficulty and frequency of drop/load rates are also taken into consideration. Rarity and frequency of the  creature spawns were also considered. An example might be Mercucio's Blade compared to a Rod of Sprites. Its a lot easier to find multiple Higardi Rogue types who drop the Blade. They are also fairly easy to defeat for the most part when taken on at a comparable party level. We all know how rare and difficult those Sprites who drop the Rod can be.
 

Exception

For the sake of the Samurai gear an exception will be made if an entrant uses the RPC Tantris as their Samurai. Credit will be given for ALL Samurai armors. Although Tantris can wear, and comes equipped, with Do-Maru (L) he cannot wear a Tosei-Do (L) nor I believe a Hi-Kane-Do (L). Why? I have no idea they all look the same to me.