tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16224858685178648062024-03-13T23:33:46.347-06:00Blogging the ENniesBlogging my efforts as an ENnie Awards judge.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-60608783931864236572010-08-06T08:00:00.001-06:002010-08-06T08:00:07.317-06:00Finally - my pick for the 2010 ENnies Judges' Award<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">I had an extremely difficult time choosing my which one of the fantastic products we received to recognize with my Judges' Award, so in the end I went with the most important criteria I could think of - which one provided the most fun at my game table. To that end I've decided to recognize Fiasco from Bully Pulpit Games. It's extremely well written, and the kind of game that makes you want to stop reading and start playing. In my case, it took a group of people who barely knew each other and had us playing and laughing together for nearly 4 hours without any hesitation or awkwardness. I don't know that there is a better test for a roleplaying game.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-21611946078784227292010-07-17T13:36:00.004-06:002010-07-17T15:28:23.684-06:00Best Original GameSo, I'll admit it. I'm vain enough to go back through and look at sites that link to my blog. Today that exploration led me through one forum and over to another, one that I used to frequent before I stopped surfing the web at work all night.<div><br /></div><div>There I found an extremely interesting thread asking the question, "<a href="http://story-games.com/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=12477&page=1">Are the ENnies Broken?</a>" What I found interesting however wasn't the actual question (though I'd be glad to discuss the points raised if anyone really wants to), but the discussion that lead from it. Specifically on the appropriateness of a Best NEW Game or Best ORIGINAL Game category.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bias up front: I'm a new category junkie. Seriously; I'd argue for a 'Best Book Apparently Written by 12th Century Monks' category provided enough entries of quality to justify nominating a stand-out product from amidst the pack.</div><div><br /></div><div>I like categories. I like adding more slots to fill up with games that deserve a nomination for something they do better than anyone else. I like being able to judge products on specific merits and common features rather than nebulous overarching monster categories. Every year I argue for the inclusion of a new category or the reworking of an old one, and every once in a while, they stick.</div><div><br /></div><div>That out of the way, I actually kind of like this idea. When I first read it my instinct was that it was unnecessary like maybe people feel that the products we nominate somehow aren't capable of standing up against the big name products. As a judge you look at the games you've put on those lists and think "I've read all these, compared them side by side, why would someone think one isn't just as good as the other?"</div><div><br /></div><div>But that's coming at it from the wrong angle of course, and that's where the misunderstanding lies. I'm thinking like a judge;. I look at Best Rules or whatever, and in my opinion Hero deserves its place every bit as much as Wild Talents or Atomic Highway does. But I'm not thinking like a fan, or like someone who is looking at a list of winners for that matter.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see, Hero is fantastic. It's really the best iteration of that game I've ever seen, and it deserves recognition for that. I stand firmly behind my vote to call it one of the best games of last year. Then again, I get to pick five, don't I? Not only that, I get to pick five I like for Best rules, Best Setting... Would I say the rules for Hero are absolutely better than BASH if I only got one choice? If they are, why?</div><div><br /></div><div>From this perspective a Best Original award makes sense. Not because the games can't stand on their own, but to celebrate a different kind of common ground: The designer came up with something from scratch. Innovation should always be recognized, maybe above all else.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, new categories are at the discretion of ENnies management, and I wouldn't campaign on the promise that I'd add one, but I find the idea intriguing, and I'd definitely like to discuss it. As seen over the last few years, they've been trying hard to find the right categories to fit the right products, and I think that Tony, the new manager will be open to anything that would help to continue this improvement. To see proof of that you only have to look at this year's categories, a mixture of proven favorites, reworked existing awards, and yet another new one - Best Blog, to show their difference in focus and technology from traditional websites.</div><div><br /></div><div>----</div><div><br /></div><div>That out of the way, let me go ahead and say that I'm going to post at least a couple more of these updates soon. I'd like to touch on some of the additional issues in that thread and general questions I've seen floating around, so I'll do a Q&A style post (probably tomorrow). I'd also like to touch on the article I had planned for today: "(What I used to call) The other 80%".</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have anything you want to talk about please let me know. I stopped updating regularly because I flat out ran out of content. Three years of telling how I do this and why makes me feel like I've covered it all, like I have nothing left worth sharing. If I'm wrong, let me know.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always, you can leave comments here, or I'll do my best to keep up my forum lurking, but the absolute best way to talk to me or see my thoughts is always on Twitter. I'm @motg.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-57848738683949398402010-07-16T13:57:00.007-06:002010-07-16T15:14:03.779-06:00Why your product doesn't suckThis year, perhaps more than any other that I've been a part of, I've seen a great many publisher comments and questions. They're always polite, always good natured, and always reasonable. As someone who is sent a great many products at publisher expense every year, I can tell you they are always understandable as well.<div><br /></div><div>Still, they usually come down to the same thing: "Why wasn't my product nominated." Publishers go through a lot of hassle to enter the awards, and with that hassle comes a not inconsiderable expense as well. This makes the question fairly natural.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here's my general answer:</div><div><br /></div><div>If my little spreadsheet (see how we've come full circle? That's talent baby.) is to be believed, I received 301 entries for the awards this year. There are 20 award categories (now - the number has expanded as the awards have expended), each with six slots for recognition (counting Honorable Mentions); except for Product of the Year, which has 12. This year we also added five more slots to recognize great games, but we'll come back to that.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's 126 slots available (131 if you'd rather count the Judges' Awards, which haven't been announced). By my count that means 60% - give or take a tad - will not see an award no matter <i>how </i>good they are. But of course there's far more to it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Each category has 5 slots to fill with nominations. Your product isn't competing for 126 openings. You're competing 20 times for 5.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's less than a 2% chance that you'll be recognized for <i>anything</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, if you don't get a nomination, does it mean that we didn't like your product, or that we think you need to change anything? No, it just means that 2% is a really small number, and there's not room for everything, no matter how much we like it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to use Penny for My Thoughts as an example. I choose it because I'm familiar with the publisher and the author, and based on dealing with them in the past I trust them not to take my words the wrong way or find offense. The reason I have this trust is because it's come up with them in the past. Not that they questioned a nomination, but because my love of Don't Rest Your Head helped cost Spirit of the Century a much deserved nomination back in 2007. I've learned a lot since that first year, and it's a mistake I wouldn't make again, but their response to my admission was far more understanding than I deserved :)</div><div><br /></div><div>So, Penny for My Thoughts was one of my favorite entries this year. I know it is because of those Judges' Awards. Each judge had to pick one game to give it to, and found myself torn between three, one of which was Penny. Its a fantastic game. It's well-written, fun, interesting, and different. Exactly the sort of thing I look for first in a nomination, and I couldn't recommend it more. Yet it didn't get a single nomination.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, why is that?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, it's because it never quite seemed to make it. There's no doubting it's a good game, and worthy of recognition, but it always seemed to fall just short. Something always seemed to just edge it out. When it failed to make the final cut in Best Writing, the place I felt it best belonged, it became clear that the game, no matter how much I wanted it to, wasn't going to quite make it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fact disappoints me quite a lot, but I don't really think its the wrong choice. Finding a place to put it on the list means knocking out another game that deserves its place just as much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Judges decide on nominations (at least in my experience) by mutual assent, not through arbitrary voting. If we don't all believe it needs to be on the list, it isn't, and by doing this we've created the most diverse list of nominations that I've seen in my time with the awards.</div><div><br /></div><div>126 slots, 96 unique nominations. That's amazing to me, and I think it's a real testament to the work of the judges I worked with this year and the system we used. It's easy for one favorite product to completely dominate the awards, or for a handful to see nomination over and over again in a dozen categories. It's harder, and in my opinion better, for the judges to look at every product and honestly recognized their individual strengths in each category, rather than see a single much-loved product and nominate it over and over again until something sticks.</div><div><br /></div><div>The downside of this, of course, is than many products that were really exceptional only received one - or a small handful - of nominations. That doesn't mean that the dominating products from previous years were better with their larger number of nominations, but is rather a reflection of the judges' dedication to putting the right product in the right place, and of the exceptional number of truly outstanding products that we received this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to do this again this year, it's been quite an honor, and it's something I enjoy more than I can say. I hope this does something to explain why good games don't make the list. Choosing these games - making sure the right games make it into the right place - is harder than it seems. It's disappointing to see good games go without the recognition they deserve, as much to us as to the fans of the games that don't make it. As often as not, we're fans ourselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think great strides are being made toward spreading the love around, and have absolute confidence that the awards' new leadership and new judges will be able to make use of all these new tools we've begun using to continue that trend. The Judges' Awards themselves are a great representation of this; a chance for each judge to pick just one thing that didn't quite make it, that they wish had.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't wait until they're announced so I can talk about them more.</div><div><br /></div><div>----</div><div><br /></div><div>Just to head off the questions, no - Penny wasn't my Judges' Award. I'm not allowed to say what that is until the ceremony. For that I was forced into a tie breaker, and I chose the game I had the most fun with in actual play. Sadly I didn't get a chance to playtest Penny, but the guys who taught me [my Judges' Pick] made it one of the best times I've had playing a game the entire year. Maybe it was the group, maybe it was the game facilitating the fun, but I had a blast, and I had to put my award where I found the fun first-hand.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-17447263612763362842010-07-16T12:31:00.002-06:002010-07-16T13:10:25.754-06:00I love spread sheetsNo, seriously, I do. This is going to be all over the place, but bear with me please.<div><br /></div><div>My first year as an ENnies judge I wrote down all on my thoughts about books on post-it notes and littered my books with them. I created stacks of "yes", "no", and "maybe". I printed up sheets with the names of every book and every category and used different colored highlighters to show which ones I had read, liked, and needed to revisit. Finally I broke down and used lined paper with a category name at the top and went through each book one by one and wrote its name on the paper with the category I thought it belonged in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Somehow it actually worked, and it worked well. I'm proud of the lists we produced that year, and I'm proud of the work I did to make it happen. I'm a closer you see. I listen and I discuss, but in the end, as time winds down the part of me that was a small business owner, the part that handled sales, marketing, and operations all by myself for 12 years kicks in. At that point I organize, gather everyone's opinion, then push through to consensus.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2007 we used a message board for that. Each award had its own thread, and each judge published their lists for what would be in the category. I then went through an organized them into a single list, ranked in order of what games had appeared the most on various lists. From that point discussion resumed with a focus on explaining our choices and wheeling and dealing our way to consensus.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2009 I updated my personal process to the use of a spreadsheet and everything got better. It was faster, easier to read, and I didn't have to look through the same books over and over again to compare my thoughts. I listed each book in one column, then created columns for every award category. As I read each book I scored it with a number in every column, followed by commentary on why it got that score. If the book didn't qualify I highlighted it red and ranked it "0". Books that had no chance got orange and a "1". A "2" was yellow and indicated a good quality submission that was lees than likely to make the final cut. "3" was green, and often the hardest category; these are books that deserved recognition in the area, but not instant winners. Finally there was "4"; I tried to be very stingy with these, 2 or three at most in every category. They were the books I read, and knew had to make the short list.</div><div><br /></div><div>When time came to discuss what was getting the award I simply sorted each column by score, then compared the notes that followed until I had narrowed my choices to a reasonable number. this worked extremely well, and I still use it to help me narrow down my own thoughts. Then again, I still have my highlighters and paper too, so maybe I'm just old-fashioned.</div><div><br /></div><div>The point of this whole thing is that this year we moved EVERYTHING to spreadsheets. Thanks to the easy and ubiquity of Google Docs we were able to make a spreadsheet with a column listing every category, and another for each judge. If a judge wanted to discuss a product for possible nomination he or she would add it under the appropriate category and then start an email (through Google Groups of course) discussing the product, what he/she liked about it, and asking for thoughts of the others. At the end this turned into emails about each category, and each judge went in and put an "X" in their column next to any products they supported.</div><div><br /></div><div>These weren't votes precisely, more an idea of where each judge stood - a starting point for discussion. From there we talked at length in each category's email, while adding and taking away "X"'s on the spreadsheet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that this system is the best we've ever used. There was no last minute scramble, no going-along to get-along; we came up with a solid list determined by mutual assent.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did everything that deserved an award make it on to the list? No. That'll never happen. But I am firmly of the mind that everything that is on the list deserves to be there.</div><div><br /></div><div>This method gave us the most diverse group of nominations I've ever seen in the awards, and I'm proud of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, why waste so much of your time going over a long list of the "hows" of judging? I know it doesn't much effect anyone who is not a judge, but it lays the groundwork for my next post: "Why your product doesn't suck."</div><div><br /></div><div>Do me a favor. Go vote for me <i>before</i> you read that one, okay?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-12603529678374118622010-07-16T08:33:00.002-06:002010-07-20T07:39:10.034-06:00Climbing back on the stump<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;">As many of you know, for the last several years I have participated as a judge for the Ennie Awards. The ENnies – an annual award seeking to recognize the best in games and gaming – are held in August each year, and I have once again been nominated to serve as a judge.<br /><br /><br />This is an elected position however, and the judges are chosen from<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "> among the nominees in an online vote between August 16th and 25th. I'd appreciate it a great deal if you would go to the awards' web site (<a href="http://www.ennie-awards.com/voting/judgesballot.asp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span>http://www.ennie-awards.com/vo</span><wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></span>ting/judgesballot.asp</a>), and cast a vote for me and a couple of my friends! The election uses a Single Transferable Vote system, which means you must numerically rank the candidates, and margins tend to be in the tens, rather than hundreds, so every vote counts.<br /><br />Please, take less than 60 seconds to vote, remembering the the number "1" denotes your top choice, going down to "5", the total number of judges that can be elected. If you have no preferred candidates of your own, I suggest the following:<br />1. Jeramy Ware<br />2. Tracey Michienzi<br />3. Kennon Bauman</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; ">4. Matthew Maddoux<br />5. Christopher W. Richeson<br /><br />Voting has just opened, and I know the site can be hard to connect with right now, but I'd appreciate your persistence, as this is something I really enjoy doing. Thank you for your time.</span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-993899059417851152010-07-09T09:07:00.001-06:002010-07-19T14:38:25.402-06:002010 Nominations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Adventure</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* The Grinding Gear (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)<br />* Pathfinder AP #31: Stolen Land (Paizo Publishing)<br />* A Song of Ice and Fire: Peril at King’s Landing (Green Ronin)<br />* Trail of Cthulhu: The Armitage Files (Pelgrane Press)<br />* WFRP: The Gathering Storm (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Trail of Cthulhu: Shadows over Filmland (Pelgrane Press)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Aid or Accessory</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Battlegraph Dry Erase Boards (Longtooth Studios)<br />* Campaign Coins (King of the Castle Games & Paizo Publishing)<br />* Gaming Paper (Gaming Paper)<br />* Hero Lab v3.6 (Lone Wolf Development)<br />* Pathfinder GM Screen (Paizo Publishing)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: A Song of Ice and Fire Narrator’s Kit (Green Ronin)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Art, Cover</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Eclipse Phase (Catalyst Game Labs & Posthuman Studios)<br />* Pathfinder Bestiary (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Rogue Trader Core Rulebook (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* Trail of Cthulhu: Rough Magicks (Pelgrane Press)<br />* WFRP: The Gathering Storm (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Star Wars: The Unknown Regions (Wizards of the Coast)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Art, Interior</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Escape from Tentacle City (Willow Palecek)<br />* Pathfinder Core Rulebook (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Rogue Trader Core Rulebook (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* Shadowrun – 20th Anniversary Ed. (Catalyst Game Labs)<br />* Warhammer Fantasy RPG (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Hero 6th Edition (Hero Games)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Blog</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Critical Hits<br />* Gnome Stew<br />* Kobold Quarterly<br />* NewbieDM.com<br />* One Geek to Another<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Sarah Darkmagic</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Cartography</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Aces and Eights: Judas Crossing (Kenzer & Company)<br />* Dungeon of Terror Virtual Box Set (0one Games)<br />* Maps of Mastery: Swamp Caves (Maps of Mastery)<br />* Pathfinder City Map Folio (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Revenge of the Giants (Wizards of the Coast)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Death Frost Doom (Lamentation of the Flame Princess)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Electronic Book</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* The Great City Player’s Guide (0one Games)<br />* Heroes of the Jade Oath BETA (Rite Publishing)<br />* To Kill Or Not To Kill (Rite Publishing)<br />* Pathfinder Society Scenario #29: The Devil We Know Part 1: Shipyard Rats (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Shambles (A Terrible Idea)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Fey Folio: The Unseelie Court (Alluria Publishing)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Free Product</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Advanced Players Guide Playtest (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Combat Advantage #15 (Emerald Press)<br />* Lady Blackbird (one.seven Design)<br />* Warriors Adventure Game (HarperCollins Children’s Books)<br />* Wayfinder #1 (Paizo Fans United)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Hexographer (Inkwell Ideas)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Game</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Dragon Age: Set 1 (Green Ronin)<br />* Hero 6th Edition (Hero Games)<br />* Pathfinder (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Shadowrun – 20th Anniversary Ed. (Catalyst Game Labs)<br />* Wild Talents 2nd Edition (Cubicle 7 & Arc Dream Publishing)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Labyrinth Lord (Goblinoid Games)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Miniature Product</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Alkemy Minis (Kraken Editions)<br />* D&D Minis (Wizards of the Coast)<br />* Fortress of Redemption (Games Workshop)<br />* Gaming Paper (Gaming Paper)<br />* Maps of Mastery: Swamp Caves (Maps of Mastery)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Battlegraph Dry Erase Boards (Longtooth Studios)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Monster/Adversary</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Aces and Eights: Rustlers & Townsfolk (Kenzer and Company)<br />* Hellfrost Bestiary (Cubicle 7 & Triple Ace Games)<br />* Pathfinder Bestiary (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Pathfinder: Classic Horrors Revisited (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Supernatural: Guide to the Hunted (Margaret Weis Productions)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Fey Folio: The Unseelie Court (Alluria Publishing)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Podcast</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* All Games Considered<br />* Atomic Array<br />* NewbieDM.com Minicast<br />* Open Design<br />* Power Source<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: The Gamer’s Haven Podcast</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Production Values</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Eclipse Phase (Catalyst Game Labs & Posthuman Studios)<br />* Pathfinder Core Rulebook (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Rogue Trader Core Rulebook (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* Shadowrun – 20th Anniversary Ed. (Catalyst Game Labs)<br />* Warhammer Fantasy RPG (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Mysteries of the Hollow Earth (Exile Game Studio)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Regalia</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Battletech: 25 Years of Art and Fiction (Catalyst Game Labs)<br />* Buried Tales of Pine Box, Texas (12 to Midnight)<br />* Cthulhu 101 (Atomic Overmind Press)<br />* Grind (Privateer Press)<br />* Three Dragon Ante: Emperor’s Gambit (Wizards of the Coast)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Best of All Flesh (Elder Signs Press)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Rules</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Atomic Highway (Cubicle 7 & Radioactive Ape Designs)<br />* BASH Ultimate Edition (Basic Action Games)<br />* Diaspora (VSCA)<br />* Hero 6th Edition (Hero Games)<br />* Wild Talents 2nd Edition (Cubicle 7 & Arc Dream Publishing)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Earthdawn 3rd Edition, Player’s Guide (RedBrick LLC)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Setting</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Day After Ragnarok (Atomic Overmind Press)<br />* Goblin Markets (White Wolf Publishing)<br />* Kerberos Club (Cubicle 7 & Arc Dream Publishing)<br />* Judge Dredd (Mongoose Publishing)<br />* Rome: Life and Death of the Republic (Cubicle 7 & Alephtar Games)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Shadowrun: Seattle 2072 (Catylst Game Labs)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Supplement</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Lucha Libre Hero (Hero Games)<br />* Mysteries of the Hollow Earth (Exile Game Studio)<br />* Nobis: The City-States (Pantheon Press)<br />* Player’s Handbook 3 (Wizards of the Coast)<br />* Rebellion Era Campaign Guide (Wizards of the Coast)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Cthulhutech: Damnation View (WildFire)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Website</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* d20PFSRD.com<br />* Epic Words<br />* Obsidian Portal<br />* Pathfinder Wiki<br />* Pen & Paper Games<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Hexographer</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Best Writing</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Eclipse Phase (Catalyst Game Labs & Posthuman Studios)<br />* FantasyCraft (Crafty Games)<br />* How We Came to Live Here (Galileo Games)<br />* Kerberos Club (Cubicle 7 & Arc Dream Publishing)<br />* Victoriana 2nd Edtion (Cubicle 7)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Colonial Gothic (Rogue Games)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Product of the Year</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />* Doctor Who (Cubicle 7)<br />* Dragon Age: Set 1 (Green Ronin)<br />* Eclipse Phase (Catalyst Game Labs & Posthuman Studios)<br />* Geist the Sin-Eaters (White Wolf Publishing)<br />* Kerberos Club (Cubicle 7 & Arc Dream Publishing)<br />* Pathfinder (Paizo Publishing)<br />* Rome: Life and Death of the Republic (Cubicle 7 & Alephtar Games)<br />* Shadowrun – 20th Anniversary Ed. (Catalyst Game Labs)<br />* Warhammer Fantasy RPG (Fantasy Flight Games)<br />* Wild Talents 2nd Edition (Cubicle 7 & Arc Dream Publishing)<br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: FantasyCraft (Crafty Games)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br />* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">HM: Savage Suzerain (Cubicle 7)</span></i><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-11659869689568416162010-04-02T12:00:00.002-06:002010-04-02T12:00:01.949-06:00This yearThis is my third year participating as a judge for the awards, and it's been a ton of fun.<div><br /></div><div>I'm not really sure why I feel that way. Maybe because it's been a slower, easier process, or maybe because I'm feeling pretty comfortable with it now.</div><div><br /></div><div>2007 was my first year. All the other judges were very experienced, and they did a great job of showing me the ropes and leading me through it. It was an incredible successful year, with a ton of great products and a group that was really willing to listen to suggestions and ideas.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2009 I judged again, but that was only because Zachary Houghton withdrew and I always kind of felt like an outsider. Not because of anything anyone else did, but just because it was a different group than I had worked with before, and my excitement was tempered by the circumstances under which I received the job.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year just feels like it's going fantastically. The judges did a whole lot of talking early on, which I think eased the transition and helped me to feel comfortable with them. Also, we really updated the tools we used for communication and tracking this year. Mostly thanks to google groups and documents I always feel like I can post what I need to and be sure that everyone is seeing and responding in a timely manner.</div><div><br /></div><div>And of course there's the judges, who have been the real boon this year. I was a bit apprehensive after so many of the old guard left, leaving me as the most senior judge here. As I listed before I always felt a little separate from the others in previous years, and I certainly don't think I've done half the job of leading the way that those who taught me did, but still they really jumped right in and got down to work. Especially giving my own absence over the last couple months, it's left me humbled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anywho, there's not much point to my rambling I guess, just some thoughts that were on my mind that I figured I'd share. I'll try to give the next post some sort of value or at least meaning, I swear.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-13324740455867990882010-03-29T12:00:00.000-06:002010-03-29T12:00:03.464-06:00So yeah...Ok, it's been a really long time, like six months long, but I haven't forgotten about my responsibilities. There are a lot of good reasons why i haven't been around much, but they're not really going to be of interest to those who read here. Really it comes down to a lack of time, a lack of anything interesting to say, and some changes in the procedures for releasing information which turned me off to the process for a while.<div><br /></div><div>Those who voted for me did so because I try to post my thoughts though, and I do think it's important. Also, I really appreciate those who've made it possible for me to do this job, which I love.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, what's going on?</div><div><br /></div><div>As anyone who cares has likely seen, there have been a lot of changes to the awards. Entry forms have migrated online, the business manager is in the process of moving control over to Tony Law, who has done a wonderful job getting things moving, and the process for submitting electronic entries has changed considerably.</div><div><br /></div><div>For my part I've completed the side project that was occupying my time, and have begun the process of building back to an acceptable amount of feedback. To aid in this I am now writing posts in advance so that I don't run into the stumbling blocks that cause me to lose initiative on keeping this blog up to date.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll still write timely posts on what I'm up to, but I can at least promise two posts a week, because I've already started writing them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you so much for you patience. As always, feel free to ask any questions you might have, and look for me on <a href="https://twitter.com/MotG">Twitter</a> where I've been posting my thoughts and entries regularly.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for my list of entries, My last post is current for now, and I'll update the list as more items arrive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again for all the support.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-26993620440951066752010-03-26T11:01:00.000-06:002010-03-26T11:04:50.667-06:00The current list<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><p>Since the ENnies have their own <a href="http://www.ennie-awards.com/ennies/blog/">blog</a> this year the list on the site has been very well maintained, but I still like doing it, and I like people seeing what I actually have in hand, so I'm going to continue my online list.</p><p>Everything I've gotten is listed below, and I'll update this list as new products arrive.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Acheson Creations</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Acheson Creations" href="http://achesoncreations.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Cluster of Wooden Barrels, 28mm (resin miniatures)</a></li></ul><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline; ">AEG</span></strong></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Legend of the Five Rings - Death at Koten" href="http://www.l5r.com/death-at-koten/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Legend of the Five Rings – Death at Koten</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Ultimate Toolbox" href="http://www.alderac.com/ultimatetoolbox/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ultimate Toolbox</a></li></ul><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>aethereal FORGE</strong></span></div><div><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Vox" href="http://aeforge.com/vox/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Vox</a></li></ul></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Anansi Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Terror Thirteen" href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=63498" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Terror Thirteen: A Horror RPG</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Basic Action Games</strong></span></p><div><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="BASH RPG" href="http://www.bashrpg.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Basic Action Super Heroes: Ultimate Edition</a></li></ul></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Battlefield Press</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Battlefield Press" href="http://www.battlefieldpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Gaslight Victorian Fantasy (Savage Worlds)</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Blogs</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="The Escapist" href="http://www.theescapist.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">The Escapist</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Jonathan Drain's d20 Source" href="http://www.d20source.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Jonathan Drain’s d20 Source</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="www.newbie DM.com" href="http://newbiedm.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">www.newbie DM.com</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="RPGBloggers" href="http://www.rpgbloggers.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">The RPG Bloggers Network</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="RPG Examiner" href="http://www.examiner.com/x-6911-RPG-Examiner" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">RPG Examiner</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Stargazer's World" href="http://www.stargazersworld.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Stargazer’s World</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Box Ninja</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Insignia's" href="http://www.leisuregames.com/acatalog/3_16_-_.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars – Insignia (Sergeant and Brigadier)</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Cellar Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Chronica Feudalis" href="http://chronicafeudalis.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Chronica Feudalis</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Chimera Creative</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="44: A Game of Automatic Fear" href="http://www.storiesyouplay.com/44" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">44: A Game of Automatic Fear</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>CMON Miniatures</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Army Brat" href="http://www.coolminiornot.com/store/product.php?xProd=3669" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Army Brat</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Crafty Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Fantasy Craft" href="http://www.crafty-games.com/node/348" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Fantasy Craft</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>d20PFSRD</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Pathfinder SRD" href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Pathfinder SRD</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Dagon Industries</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Dagon Industries" href="http://www.dagonindustries.com/index.php?main_page=index" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Mythos Chips</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Dark Age Miniatures</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Outcast Manhunter" href="http://www.coolminiornot.com/store/shopimages/products/normal/dag5001-600.jpg" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Outcast Manhunter</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Dig a Thousand Holes Publishing</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Time & Temp" href="http://dig1000holes.wordpress.com/time-temp/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Time & Temp – Unbound Edition</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Dragon Roots</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Dragon Roots Magazine" href="http://www.dragonroots.net/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Dragon Roots Magazine, #3</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Expeditious Retreat Press</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="1 on 1 Adventures #13: The Pearls of Pohjola" href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=78964&filters=0_0_0_31813_0" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">1 on 1 Adventures #13: The Pearls of Pohjola</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="The Lost Keys of Solitude" href="http://www.xrpshop.citymax.com/catalog/item/3906568/7057097.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Advanced Adventures #10 – The Lost Keys of Solitude</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Castoff and Crossbreeds" href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=64164&filters=0_0_0_31813_0" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Castoff and Crossbreeds</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Freeport Companion" href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=77793&filters=0_0_0_31813_0" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Freeport Companion</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Home for Wayward Minions" href="http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2636" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Lands of Darkness #5.5 (April Fool’s Edition) – The Home for Wayward Minions</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Nevermore" href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=65109&filters=0_0_0_31813_0" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Nevermore</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="One on One Adventures Compendium" href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=64278&filters=0_0_0_31813_0" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">One on One Adventures Compendium</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Gaming Paper</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Gaming Paper" href="http://www.gamingpaper.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Gaming Paper</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Gamer’s Rule</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Dungeon Deck: Quests" href="http://gamers-rule.com/DungeonDeck.aspx" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Dungeon Deck: Quests</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Green Ronin</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="A Song of Ice and Fire Narrator's Kit" href="http://www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr2704.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">A Song of Ice and Fire Narrator’s Kit</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="A Song of Ice and Fire: Peril at King's Landing" href="http://www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr2702.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">A Song of Ice and Fire: Peril at King’s Landing</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Dragon Age: Dark Fantasy Roleplaying - Set 1" href="http://www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr2801.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Dragon Age: Dark Fantasy Roleplaying – Set 1</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Mecha and Manga" href="http://www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr2524.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Mecha & Manga</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Mutants & Masterminds: Warriors & Warlocks" href="http://www.amazon.com/Mutants-Masterminds-Warriors-Warlocks-Sourcebook/dp/1934547190" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Mutants & Masterminds: Warriors & Warlocks</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="True 20 Freeport: The Lost Island" href="http://www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr1908.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">True 20 Freeport: The Lost Island</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Wild Cards: All In" href="http://www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr2525.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Wild Cards: All In</a></li></ul><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Habitual Indolence</strong></span></div><div><div><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Masterplan" href="http://www.habitualindolence.net/masterplan/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Masterplan Adventure Design Studio</a></li></ul></div></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Hero Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Lucha Libre Hero" href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=62173&filters=0_0_0_10010" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Lucha Libre Hero</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Thrilling Hero Adventures" href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=62775&filters=0_0_0_10010" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Thrilling Hero Adventures</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Imagination Sweatshop</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="MonkeyDome" href="http://imaginationsweatshop.com/?p=52" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">MonkeyDome</a></li></ul><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline; ">Inkwell Ideas</span></strong><a title="Hexographer Map Making Software" href="http://www.hexographer.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; "></a></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Hexographer Map Making Software" href="http://www.hexographer.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Hexographer Map Making Software</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Kenzer & Co.</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Hackmaster Basic" href="http://www.kenzerco.com/product_info.php?products_id=670" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Hackmaster Basic</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Kraken Editions</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Aurlok Nation Starter Box" href="http://www.coolminiornot.com/store/product.php?xProd=3554" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Alkemy: Aurlok Nation Starter Box</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Khaliman Republic Starter Add-On" href="http://www.coolminiornot.com/store/product.php?xProd=3560" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Alkemy: Khaliman Republic Starter Add-On</a></li></ul><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Lamentations of the Flame Princess</strong></span></div><div><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Death Frost Doom" href="http://www.lotfp.com/RPG/products/death-frost-doom" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Death Frost Doom</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="No Dignity in Death" href="http://www.lotfp.com/RPG/products/no-dignity-in-death" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">No Dignity in Death: The Three Brides</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="People of Pembrooktonshire" href="http://www.lotfp.com/RPG/products/people-of-pembrooktonshire" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">People of Pembrooktonshire</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="The Grinding Gear" href="http://www.lotfp.com/RPG/products/grinding-gear" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">The Grinding Gear</a></li></ul></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Margaret Weis Productions</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Supernatural RPG" href="http://www.margaretweis.com/wp/game-products/supernatural/supernatural-role-playing-game/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Supernatural RPG</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Mongoose Publishing</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Judge Dredd" href="http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1698" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Judge Dredd</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Obsidian Portal</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Obsidian Portal" href="http://www.obsidianportal.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Obsidian Portal</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Paizo Fans United</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Wayfinder #1 (OGL)" href="http://paizo.com/store/downloads/paizoFansUnited/v5748btpy88vh" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Wayfinder #1 (OGL)</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Pantheon Press</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Nobis: The City-States" href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=62860&language=en&filters=0_0_0_1100&free=3" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Nobis: The City-States</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Pelgrane Press</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Trail of Cthulhu" href="http://www.pelgranepress.com/trail/releases.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Trail of Cthulhu: Rough Magicks</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Trail of Cthulhu" href="http://www.pelgranepress.com/trail/releases.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Trail of Cthulhu: Shadows over Filmland</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Pen & Paper Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Pen & Paper Games" href="http://www.penandpapergames.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Pen & Paper Games<br /></a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Podcasts</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Lords of Tyr" href="http://lordsoftyr.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Lords of Tyr</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Power Source Podcast" href="http://www.powersourcepodcast.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Power Source Podcast</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="RPG Circus" href="http://www.rpgcircus.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">RPG Circus</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Pirate Jenny</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Pirate Jenny" href="http://piratejenny-rpgs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Role Playing Girl Magazine, August 2009</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Radioactive Ape Designs</strong></span></p><div><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Radioactive Ape Designs" href="http://radioactiveapedesigns.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Atomic Highway – Post Apocalyptic Roleplaying</a></li></ul></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Red Brick</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Earthdawn 3rd Edition, Player's Guide" href="http://www.redbrick-limited.com/cms/index.php?categoryid=67&book_id=34" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Earthdawn 3rd Edition, Player’s Guide</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Rogue Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Colonial Gothic" href="http://www.rogue-games.net/colonialgothic/colonialgothic.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Colonial Gothic</a></li><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Thousand Suns: Foundation Transmissions" href="http://www.rogue-games.net/thousandsuns/tsfoundation.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Thousand Suns: Foundation Transmissions</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Shard Studios</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Shard RPG Basic Compendium" href="http://www.studio2publishing.com/shop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=74&products_id=2748" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Shard RPG Basic Compendium</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Skirmisher Publishing, LLC</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Sight Unseen" href="http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=60&products_id=2478" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Sight Unseen: A Script for Cthulhu Live 3rd Edition</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Stardust Publications</strong></span><a title="Dark Aeons: The Atlantean Chronicles" href="http://dark-aeons.stardust-publications.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; "></a></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Dark Aeons: The Atlantean Chronicles" href="http://dark-aeons.stardust-publications.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Dark Aeons: The Atlantean Chronicles</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Tangent Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Gem Cards" href="http://www.tangent-games.com/products.html#gems" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Gem Cards</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>A Terrible Idea</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Shambles" href="http://aterribleidea.com/shambles/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Shambles</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Tracy & Curtis Hickman</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="X-treme Dungeon Mastery" href="http://www.xtremedungeonmastery.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">X-Treme Dungeon Mastery</a></li></ul><div><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Vigilance Press</strong></span></div><div><div><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Wargames 1: Superhuman Threats of the Cold War" href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=69095" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Wargames 1: Superhuman Threats of the Cold War</a></li></ul></div></div><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>VSCA Publishing</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Diaspora" href="http://www.vsca.ca/Diaspora/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Diaspora</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Wells Expeditions</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Arcane Legions" href="http://arcanelegions.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Arcane Legions</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Willow Palecek</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Escape from Tentacle City" href="http://willowrants.wordpress.com/my-games/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Escape from Tentacle City</a></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Zeitgeist Games</strong></span></p><ul style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-indent: -10px; "><li style="margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; "><a title="Dave Arneson's Blackmoor" href="http://mmrpg.zeitgeistgames.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor</a></li></ul></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-29931655218253481472009-08-20T12:18:00.003-06:002009-08-20T16:45:49.978-06:00The new year begins earlyI know I've been basically silent since I started GenCon preparations, but I wanted to post and let people know that I haven't stopped working on the stuff I promised last year just because the new year has begun. I've just been trying to catch up on everything since I got home Monday.<div><br /></div><div>In the mean time, I need to say thank you again to everyone who supported me this year, and voted for me in the elections. I've gotten a chance to talk to a few of the other judges online already, and it's going to be a great year.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also talked to Denise and Tony, and I think a lot of people are going to be happy with some stuff that's going on behind the scenes. As soon as it's finalized and announced I'll get on here to discuss it. Of the most immediate importance is the fact that, in answer to some complaints that it was awfully hard to find this place and see what has been submitted, the ENnies site will now be maintaining an official list there. I'll still post my stuff here as I get it, but I'm not particularly great at getting it done in a timely manner, and I've made mistakes, so for the official list it's best to look there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now for the fun stuff. My shipment from GenCon came in today. Unfortunately I had to leave before it was ready, but all the hard working people who don't get enough credit (like Denise, Tony, and Hans) shipped it out to me right away.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here's what I got in:</div><div><ol><li>Cluster of Wooden Barrels - Acheson Creations</li><li>Legend of the Five Rings: Death at Koten - AEG</li><li>Ultimate Toolbox - AEG</li><li>Terror Thirteen - Anansi Games</li><li>3:16 Insignias - Box Ninja</li><li>Army Brat - CMON Miniatures</li><li>Fantasy Craft - Crafty Games</li><li>Mythos Chips - Dagon Industries</li><li>Outcast Manhunter - Dark Age</li><li>Dragon Roots #3</li><li>Home for Wayward Minions - Expeditious Retreat Press</li><li>Lost Keys of Solitude - Expeditious Retreat Press</li><li>Dungeon Deck Quests - Gamers Rule</li><li>Gaming Paper</li><li>All In - Green Ronin</li><li>Mutants and Masterminds: Mecha and Manga - Green Ronin</li><li>Song of Ice and Fire Narrator's Kit - Green Ronin</li><li>True 20: The Lost Island - Green Ronin</li><li>Lucha Libre Hero - Hero Games</li><li>Thrilling Hero Adventures - Hero Games</li><li>X-Treme Dungeon Mastery - Hickman, Traci and Curtis</li><li>Monkey Dome - Imagination Sweatshop</li><li>Time and Temp Unbound Edition - Imagination Sweatshop</li><li>Hackmaster BAsic - Kenzer</li><li>Alkemy Aurlok Nation Starter Box - Kraken</li><li>Alkemy Khaliman Republic Starter add-on - Kraken</li><li>Supernatural - Margaret Weis Productions</li><li>Judge Dredd - Mongoose Publishing</li><li>Escape from Tentacle City - Palecek, Willow</li><li>Nobis: The City-States - Pantheon Press</li><li>Mutant City Blues - Pelgrane Press</li><li>Trail of Cthulhu: Rough Magics - Pelgrane Press</li><li>Shadows Over Filmland - Pelgran Press</li><li>Earthdawn Player's Guide - Redbrick</li><li>Colonial Gothic - Rogue Games</li><li>Thousand Suns: Foundation Transmission - Rogue Games</li><li>Shard RPG - Shard Studios</li><li>RPGirl - Shield and Cecent Press</li><li>Sight Unseen - Skirmisher</li><li>Gem Cards - Tangent Games</li><li>Arcane Legions Starter - Wells</li><li>Blackmoor - Zeitgeist Games</li></ol></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-53935308248115739782009-08-18T08:54:00.002-06:002009-08-18T08:59:57.258-06:00ENnies resultsSo, I'm absolutely certain that everyone who care to knows who the winners of the ENnies were by this point, but I didn't bring my laptop, so I wasn't able to post earlier.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b><span style="font-size:100%;">Best Cover Art</span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: CthulhuTech, Catalyst Game Labs</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Pathfinder #19: Howl of the Carrion King, Paizo Publishing</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Interior Art</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Dark Heresy, Fantasy Flight Games</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Mouse Guard, Kinoichi / Archaia Studio Press</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Cartography</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Pathfinder Chronicles Second Darkness Map Folio, Paizo Publishing</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Star Wars: Scum and Villainy, Wizards of the Coast</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Writing</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Kobold Quarterly, Open Design</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Don't Lose Your Mind, Evil Hat Productions</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Production Values</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Dark Heresy, Fantasy Flight Games</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Mouse Guard, Kinoichi / Archaia Studios Press</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Rules</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Players Handbook, Wizards of the Coast</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, Green Ronin Publishing</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Adventure</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Pathfinder #19: Howl of the Carrion King, Paizo Publishing</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: P1 King of the Trollhaunts Warrens, Wizards of the Coast</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Monster Supplement</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Monster Manual, Wizards of the Coast</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Dark Heresy Creatures Anathema, Fantasy Flight Games</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Setting</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting, Paizo Publishing</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies, Atomic Sock Monkey / Evil Hat Productions</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Supplement</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: CthulhuTech Vade Mecum, Catalyst Game Labs</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Wizards of the Coast</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Aid or Accessory</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: D&D Insider, Wizards of the Coast</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Kobold Quarterly, Open Design</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Miniatures</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Game Mastery Flip-mat: Waterfront Tavern, Paizo Publishing</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: DU1 Halls of the Giant Kings Dungeon Tiles, Wizards of the Coast</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Regalia</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Battletech: The Corps, Catalyst Game Labs</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Art of Exalted, White Wolf Publishing</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Ebook</b></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Collection of Horrors: Razor Kids, White Wolf Publishing</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Tales of Zobek: An Anthology of Urban Adventures, Open Design</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Free Product</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Song of Ice and Fire Quickstart, Green Ronin Publishing</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Swords and Wizardry, Mythmere Games</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Website</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Obsidian Portal</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Kobold Quarterly</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Podcast</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: All Games Considered</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Order 66</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Best Game</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition, Wizards of the Coast</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Dark Heresy, Fantasy Flight Games</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Product of the Year</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Players Handbook, Wizards of the Coast</span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Mouse Guard, Kinoichi / Archaia Studios Press</span></span><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Fan Award for Best Publisher:</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">Gold: Wizards of the Coast </span><br /></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Silver: Paizo Publishing</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>And the results of the 2010 ENnies Judges Election:</b><blockquote><span class="highlight">1. Justin 'Jay' Peters</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="highlight">2. Jeramy Ware</span></blockquote></span><blockquote><span class="highlight"><span style="font-size:100%;">3. Mark W. Green</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="highlight"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">4. Christopher W. Richeson</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="highlight"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">5. Megan Robertson</span></span></blockquote></span><div><br /></div><div>Still a bit exhausted from my trip, so it'll be a bit before I have a chance to talk about the con and next year's ENnies, but I wanted to say thanks for the incredible outpouring of support I've received this year, and for giving me one more year to do this thing that I enjoy so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>I know a ton of stuff was entered at Gencon, but unfortunately I wasn't able to wait any longer for it to be divided up, but I'll post as soon as it ships.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again, and a special thanks to everyone who took time out at the cone to say hi, or congratulate me. More than anything it's the people I meet there that make me come back.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-82294808548301272032009-08-02T15:52:00.002-06:002009-08-02T15:55:06.027-06:00Voting for 2010 ENnies judges is now live.I'm running again this year, and if you're of a mind I'd appreciate your support. Just go to <a href="http://www.ennie-awards.com/voting/jvoting.asp">http://www.ennie-awards.com/voting/jvoting.asp</a>, put a '1' (or other appropriately low number if there's someone else you're voting for as well) by Jeramy Ware, and click 'submit'. It only takes a couple seconds, and I could use the help.<br /><br />Thanks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-85954817456285304872009-08-02T08:00:00.005-06:002009-08-02T14:43:37.966-06:00In which I blatently promote myselfWith the polls having closed on the nominees for the 2009 ENnie awards, I find that it's time to move on. By which I of course mean moving on the the selections fot 2010 ENnies judges. It's the first day of voting for this year's judges, and I thought I'd drop at least one quick plea for whatever support anyone may have to offer. <div><br /></div><div>If you're here then I hope that you know who I am, and what I have to offer. I'm listed on the ballot as Jeramy Ware, and I have served as a judge twice, in 2007 and 2009. This blog has served as a chronicle of my efforts, and does a better job of describing my judging style and the sorts of things I look for in a product far better than I could in this space, so I'll skipp reitterating all the stuff that can be found in my questionairre from the ENnies site.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most importantly I believe that the judging process should:</div><div><ul><li>Be open and honest.</li><li>Serve the needs of the community anf the publishers and fans that support it.</li><li>Judge each product on its own merits, rather than against one another.</li><li>Take into consideration the thoughts and preferences of others.</li><li>Be receptive to questions and critisism.</li><li>Be responsive to those who take their time to offer input.</li></ul><div>I hope that in my terms I have met those goals, and I promise to continue to strive toward those ends should I be elected again.</div><div><br /></div><div>----</div><div><br /></div><div>Because I'm not above asking for help in my campaigning, a few testimonials from those who have followed my work:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>You're exactly the sort of judge that keeps me excited about the Ennies.</i> - Rob Donoghue</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We need more hard working, open folks like you who understand the value of blogs/podcasts in the Ennies. </i>- Dave Chalker</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Honesty and dedication to transparent processing are just two of the attributes that make (MotG) a great candidate for ENnie judge."</i> - Jess Hartley</div><div><br /></div><div><i>You gave really good feedback and updates throughout the Ennie nomination, which I really appreciated.</i> - Sean Nittner</div><div> </div><div><em>I felt your process, in addition to being open and honest, and revolved around quality, not just personal opinion.</em> - Meg McG</div><div><br /></div><div>----</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for your time and your support.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-57228388940534391542009-07-30T21:20:00.006-06:002009-07-31T09:20:05.003-06:00Best Regalia<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So, this is the category I hear more about than any other. Technically it's, "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Awarded for the best product which, while it does not complement role playing game play, does enhance the lives of RP gamers." In practice, it's a bit of a 'catch-all' category for that stuff that deserves a nod, but doesn't really fit into the usual products that the awards try to represent.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This year it saw a lot of neat stuff, especially with the abolition of the Fan Products award. Unfortunately there were also several things that come right to mind as having been missed because of the lack of space and different nature of the award.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">First, the actual nominees:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Devil's Due Publishing - Worlds of Dungeons and Dragons, volume 2</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is an excellent compilation of several Dungeons and Dragon comics that adds a face to some of the worlds and characters we've come to know from the system. The art is excellent, the writing is good, and it provides a nice contrast between worlds.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">White Wolf - The Art of Exalted</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There's no question the Exalted's art has a lot to do with its success. It illustrates exactly what to expect from the book, is often dynamic, and always well done. This book features some of the best works the system has showcased over the years.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>Catalyst Game Labs - Battletech: The Corps</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">An absolutely fantastic primer into the world and intrigue behind the Battletech world. I know a lot of people think of the minis game when you first hear Battletech, not helped by the Mechwarrior game being co-opted for use in the video games, but these stories give a little insight into what can be done in this evocative setting.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>White Wolf - Hunter: Deadly Play</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">One of my personal regrets about the ENnies is that they don't specifically cover board games. This is done on purpose, as it's important to the management that we keep our rpg focus, and probably for the best, but it would sure be fun :) We do however cover games with a roleplay focus in Regalia however, and that's where this one fits in. It's a quick, fun look at the world of hunter, that actually feels a bit like playing the game. It plays fast, and I think it might make a good 'mood-setter' while waiting for stragglers and last minute eaters before a game session.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>Paizo Publishing - Planet Stories: Infernal Sorceress</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is an excellent piece of light fantasy, and classic Gygax in every way. The characters are fun, the writing is enjoyable, ad all in all in makes for a nice farewell to one of the forefathers of roleplaying.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Beyond just the nominees however there are several products that really deserve a special mention.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Innsmouth House - Lovecraftian Tales from the Table</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is a fantastic compilation of Call of Cthulhu files distributed on DVD that centers around audio recordings of two of the most famous scenarios in Call of Cthulhu's (and perhaps the hobby in general's) history. Listening to the Bradford Players as they make their way through these adventures bring you a little piece of the excitement, mystery, and fun. Beyond that however is a fantastic assortment of interviews, discussions, and even handouts from the games. This product is absolutely amazing, and it's a shame it didn't find a place on the final list.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Open Game Table - Anthology of Roleplaying Game Blogs</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">This books collects some of the best articles that RPG bloggers have to offer, and that's really saying something. It's a bit of an odd-duck, leading me to include it here, and maybe why it didn't get all the attention it deserved. It contains everything from system-specific game information to an absolutely amazing article about the formative history of modern roleplaying. This book is fantastic, and has a bit of something for everyone. Even if you don't check it out I can't encourage you to go read the excellent blogs it was based on enough.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Gold, the Series</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">If there was ever a series by gamers, for gamers, and about gamers, it is Gold. Clearly a labor of love, well designed, excellently produced, and fantastically written. The only look at gamer culture I've ever seen that doesn't just hit you over the head with the comedy. It's funny, but it's also touching and endearing. If you haven't seen it yet, I reccomend that you check it out, either online, or at the special screenings that are being held at GenCon on the 14th and 15th, and maybe meet some of the cast.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Exalted: Legacy of the Unconquered Sun</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Like I said above, we don't get a lot of board games, but this one was definitely my favorite. Moreover, it actually makes for an excellent primer for the Exalted world. Like a lot of my favorite board games it doesn't just pit you against other players. It gives you a mission, and tells a bit of a story. The components are absolutely fantastic, and the board itself is a sturdy an beautiful copy of the map of the world of Exalted. I'm very impressed by this game, and what I hope it represents for the future of White Wolf's board game production.</span></span></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-25601148597324193602009-07-29T22:20:00.005-06:002009-07-30T14:18:30.611-06:00Best Free Product commentary, part III<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As I said before, Free Products is one of the categories that suffered when we had to drop Best Fan<br />Product, and it really caused a lot of great stuff to get overlooked. There are a couple fan products in particular that jump to mind when I regret things that never found a home on the lists.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>Dragonlance Nexus - Adlatum</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For anyone who follows my Twitter (<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MotG">https://twitter.com/MotG</a>) <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">this probably won't come as a surprise, but I absolutely loved this product. Dragonlance is a gaming icon, and a bit of a shared experience for pretty much everyone from my generation of gamers. This PDF introduces a new 'third continent' to the world, and manages to keep the distinct flavor and feel of the world while introducing a whole new storyline. It's beautiful, well laid out, and well written.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>When Autochthon Dreams</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This neat little PDF is a compilation of dozens of cool new items for Exalted games. They're interesting, fun, and there's a ton of variety.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-26327681748700233692009-07-25T17:15:00.000-06:002009-07-25T17:21:36.145-06:00Best Free Product commentary, part IIGiven the combination of Best Free Product and Best Fan Product this year we were left with a wide variety of content, everything from complete games systems, to rich setting material, to previews of some really great new games. This gave us some really neat nominees, but unfortunately it meant that some products that deserve a nod never found room on the short list.<div><br /></div><div>Obviously there's no way I'm going to cover every product in any given category, but sitting here a few weeks later there are a few that come easily to mind. First, the nominees:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Catalyst Game Labs - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Battlerun</span></b></div><div>This fun little product is a bit of a guilty pleasure, and is obviously the result of an April Fools release that went <i>way</i> too far. It's pretty, and a fun read, and full of neat little call-backs that will be familiar to anyone who enjoys the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Battletech</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Shadowrun</span> lines. Well written, extremely well produced, definitely worth the download and read.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>White Wolf Publishing - Hunter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Quickstarts</span>: The Hunt and One Year Later</b></div><div>Obviously only The Hunt was nominated, but I feel like One Year Later could have just as easily been on the list, so I'm going to cover both here. It's no secret that White Wolf does a fantastic job with their quick start rules. For the last three years in a row their contributions have been nominated, and of course Hunter was no exception. Changeling (which won), Scion, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mage</span> (which took silver) have all been nominated in the past, and Hunter continues this Legacy with the inclusion of a couple really great mini-adventures, and a nice preview of what is, in my opinion, the most versatile and fun World of Darkness setting yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Green <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ronin</span> Publishing - Song of Ice and Fire <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Quickstart</span></b></div><div>There's no escaping the fact that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">SIFRP</span> really hooked me this year, and this product is partially responsible for that. It was the first thing I read about the system, and the book that I passed around to my players when I was convincing them to play it with me. The adventure is quick and straightforward, but a nice introduction to the kinds of characters and rules you are most likely to see in the game. If you have any interest in this system or setting at all I recommend that you give the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Quickstart</span> a try.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mythmere</span> Games - Sword and Wizardry</b></div><div>I've heard it said that the hobby is going through an "old school renascence", and if you spend any time looking around at some of the great products being produced and distributed through non-standard means then you'll have a hard time denying it. Swords and Wizardry is the perfect example of this 'back to the basics' style <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">philosophy</span>. It's fun, it's familiar, and it's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">extremely</span> well produced. Clearly the product of a lot of hard work and well-thought revision, if you have any interest in the 'old school' feel of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">RPGs</span> you'd be doing yourself a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">disservice</span> if you don't give S&W a look.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Imagination Sweatshop - Trial & Terror: Supernatural Victims Unit</b></div><div>This little 26 page game is another fantastic example of the kinds of interesting and innovative games being produced outside of the standard channels. It's an extremely approachable game that covers the kind of police/trial dramas that we've all seen on TV for decades, with it's own, fun twist. The kind of game you can pick up today and play this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">afternoon</span>, I'm really glad this one made the list.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now an apology. I hadn't intended to drag this out longer, bu work has been busy this week as a lot of stuff I've been putting off has begun to catch up with me. I hadn't intended for this to be three parts, but it looks like it's going to have to be, because I have to run in to the office real fast. Next up I'll cover a couple things that didn't make the nominee list as soon as I have a chance: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Dragonlance</span> Nexus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Adelatum</span> and When <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Autochron</span> Dreams. If I'm missing anything someone would like a commentary on, please let me know.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-50663644255486253002009-07-24T18:51:00.001-06:002009-07-24T18:52:56.437-06:00Voting booth openJust thought I'd pop in and say:<div><img src="http://www.ennie-awards.com/images/ennies_i_voted%20_square_09.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 244px;" border="0" alt="" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-64593883015616166502009-07-20T08:00:00.001-06:002009-07-20T08:00:01.484-06:00Why I judgeThis is a little off topic, but as I look toward the nomination deadline for judging next year and think about whether or not I should try again it passes through my mind a lot. Iappologize if it goes a little off the track, or pushes back the other, more important stuff I'm working on, but I feel the need to get it out.<div><br /></div><div>Please feel free to skip it. There's no great insight into the award, just my own ramblings and random thought process.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I judge first and foremost because I am a fan of the <i>elements</i> of roleplaying games. I love rules, I like mechanics that make me think, ones that solve problems in interesting or elegant ways, or ones that simplify overly-complex process. I love setting design. I love worlds that are interesting, unique, or that hook into me. I love to share that little piece of someone else's creativity, and maybe make it my own in some small way</div><div><br /></div><div>I judge because I love being introduced to products and people I wouldn't otherwise see, and spreading them around to make sure everyone see what I've discovered. There's a certain, simple joy in introducing someone else to something cool. It's a little akin to having made the thing yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div>I judge because I love the process. As much as I whine or complain about those nights sitting on the floor of my livingroom, surrounded by books, with a spreadsheet out, lists in hand, a pen and highlighter clenched between my teeth, and dozens of pages of notes scattered about, it feels absolutely amazzing. It's a sort of high, being completely in the zone like that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I judge because I <i>like</i> the questions. I love being challanged on the reasons I chose what I did. I like discussing the process and what can be done to make it better. I love the immedaite and constant feedback, for better or worse.</div><div><br /></div><div>I judge because I think I'm good at it. I don't know that there have ever been any major complaints over the choices I've made, but I stand behind them. I stand by my process, and I stand by the work that I do. I feel like I do my best to keep people informed, and I think I do it better than most who have come before. I have the time, I put in the effort, and I do my best to do it right. I feel like I have a lot to contribute, and I think I've done at least some good for the awards, for the people who submit, and for the public's perception in my time here.</div><div><br /></div><div>I judge because I value the ability to contribute something to the hobby that has given me so much. I'm no great shakes as a writer, I'll never be the kind of guy who can put out consistant content for a blog or podcast, I don't have the drive or desire to publish anything myself. I feel like <i>this </i>way however, I have skills when I can point people toward places where they can find others that are the best at doing just that, and in that way, I have something to offer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I judge because the arguments don't really bother me. The frustrating moments are fewer and further between than most acknowledge (and are more often than not built around real points). I feel like I'm less likely to take it personally. I know that opinions are not attacks, and most people will be calm and rational if you just listen, acknowledge their points, answer their questions, and stay calm and reasonable yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last, but not least, I judge because it is fun. No gaming geek could tell me that the idea of sitting around, surrounded by a mountain of the best products that rpgs have to offer and trying to figure out in which way, which one is the best.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-44145004566085805332009-07-16T19:48:00.001-06:002009-07-16T22:17:41.208-06:00Before product discussion begins...<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I know I said I’d finish my Free Products commentary today.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m sorry to push it back, but as I was typing it a thought came up, and I felt it was important enough to take precedence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sorry it pushes things back a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Before I get started I wanted to thank everyone for all the helpful discussion and commentary over the last couple days, especially those here in the comments section of my own blog.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Now, to the actual topic:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Talking about individual products is always hard because it's impossible to cover everything. I really enjoy judging, but I'm no blogger or reviewer. Coming up with content is tough for me, and I don’t always have a huge amount to say about every single thing that I read.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I miss something you want to hear about let me know, it’s probably not because I disliked it or anything, most likely I just didn’t think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Following the nominations announcements you can count on a few things: Some people are going to disagree and tell you what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">should</i> be on the list.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some will pat you on the back and tell you what a good job you did.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some will find something important enough to them to argue about. Some will be disappointed that their pick didn’t make it, and wonder why.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The last one in the tough one.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The others are easy enough.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They can be chalked up to differences in taste or misunderstandings for the most part.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some are because of something that really does need to be looked at, and therefore can be far more valuable than the kudos.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">That last one however?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It sucks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It sucks because there isn’t always a good answer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s not like people throw their time and money away on a product that they don’t think has a good chance of winning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Therefore almost everything we get has some real value.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the probably 500 products I have reviewed for the ENnies I can probably count the number of actually “bad” products on my fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">No, most often the real answer is, “It didn’t make it because we only have five slots, and the five of us fight over them tooth and claw so the things that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">we</i> want to see recognized.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It sucks, but it’s the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Beyond that however, it breaks down even further.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Roleplaying products are curious beasts, they come in different shapes, sizes, and varieties, and not only to our own individual tastes need to be sated, but the variety of different <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">types</i> of products needs to be considered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you have a category that’s an amalgamation of products that are really different, but could be grouped on some similarity (read: almost every RPG product out there) you need to make sure that not only the absolute best is represented, but also the best of its type.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">For example, if you have one cover with an amazing art piece on the cover, one where the cover is dominated by a fairly simple, but extremely attractive logo, and one with an embossed, textured cover, but maybe not an attractive hard-cover, I feel like they should all be represented if at all possible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Therefore you can’t just look at the five best books, but must make some attempt to show the best of the various types, even if they can’t be directly compared to one another well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">In their Origins Awards episode the Brilliant Gameologists touched on this with their “best of breed” analogy, and they do a far better job of explaining it, so I won’t go into details here, but I will steal their analogy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">What’s important here is that in every category there are only five possible winners, regardless of how many of the 260 or so products that we reviewed qualify.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Those <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>five slots must be broken down according to the various sub-types in each category, and then further sorted by each judge’s tastes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If there are five covers with absolutely amazing art, we must still at least consider the one that is just a fantastic logo.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It may not always make it, but if it does then we only have one four slots left for those five amazing pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It doesn’t mean that fifth piece is any worse; it just means that something, somewhere, had to give.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I say this because I want to make sure that it is clear that just because something didn’t make the list it was somehow ‘rejected.’<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most likely we just didn’t have room for everything we love.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">More often than not one or more of us comes out of each list just as disappointed that something we were rooting for didn’t make it as any other fan.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Like maybe a book whose cover is just an awesome logo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-52866673565434825632009-07-15T08:21:00.006-06:002009-07-15T09:23:43.101-06:00Best Free Product commentary, part II'll admit that I'm a little hesitant to jump right into this, but I think it's an important discussion, so I'm going to hope that it's best to start the dialog right away.<div><br /></div><div>The biggest source of controversy with the ENnie awards comes from the disconnect between what people want/expect them to be and what they are. This year's debate over the appropriateness of allowing quick-start products into the category next to full RPGs is a perfect example.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see, it's not a matter of allowing quick-start's to compete in the other RPGs' category, but rather allowing other RPGs into the category that was specifically made to cover things like quick-starts that is the problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, the full title of the award is Best Free Product or Web Enhancement.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until this year it has always been a category designed to acknowledge all the extra stuff companies give away for their game lines. Of course quick-starts are done for promotion and advertisement, but they're still a service to their fans, and still products worth acknowledging. In addition to usually including a quicker, easier version of the rules, most include a sample adventure and some characters so people can get started playing right away. All in all they're generally a pretty neat package of gaming goodness.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, to illustrate this I thought I'd do a little research. Here are last year's Free Product nominees:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; "><li>Changeling Quickstart, White Wolf Publishing <span class="style5" style="color: rgb(170, 187, 204); ">*Silver Winner*</span></li><li>Fire and Brimstone!, SammichCon Creations</li><li>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Alpha, Paizo <span style="font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:-1;"><span class="style3" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); ">*Gold Winner*</span></span></li><li>Shadowrun Quick-Start Rules, Catalyst Game Labs</li><li>Signs & Portents, Mongoose Publishing</li><li>Honorable Mention: Bits of Magicka, Tabletop Adventures</li></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Two quick-starts and a playtest document.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">2007:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><li>Black Industries Web Site, Black Industries</li><li>6Guns: Lawmen- Earps and Mastersons, Dog House Rules</li><li>Nevermore Gazetteer, Expeditious Retreat Press</li><li>Classic Battletech Free Package, FanPro <span style="font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:-1;"><span class="style5" style="color: rgb(170, 187, 204); "><span class="style4" style="font-family: verdana, arial; ">*Silver Winner*</span></span></span></li><li>Savage Tide Player's Guide, Paizo Publishing <span style="font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:-1;"><span class="style3" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); ">*Gold Winner*</span></span></li><li>Honorable Mention: Scion: Hero- Of Shadows Yet to Come, White Wolf</li><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Two quick-starts and a player's guide for an adventure path.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">2006:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><li>Age of Worms Overload (Paizo Publishing) <span style="font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:-1;"><span class="style3" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); ">*Gold Winner*</span></span></li><li>Gates of Hell (Dicefreaks)</li><li>Mage the Awakening Demo (White Wolf Publishing) <span style="font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:-1;"><span class="style3" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); "><span class="style4" style="color: rgb(170, 187, 204); font-family: Verdana; ">*Silver Winner*</span></span></span></li><li>Return to the Tomb of Five Corners (White Wolf Publishing)</li><li>Six-Guns: The James-Younger Gang (Dog House Rules)</li><li>Honourable mention: Temple Quarter: Ceremonies and Rituals (The Game Mechanics)</li></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">A quick-start, an adventure path intro, and an introductory adventure.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">This isn't to say that those who want to see complete products have their own place don't have a point or a right to complain, but I just wanted point out that it's a little misplaced. The mixing of this category was the result of an attempt to include these products that wouldn't have had a category of their own at all, not an effort to compare a product used as an advertisement against those produced just to share with the community.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Most years these sorts of products fit into the Best Fan Product category (which could use some renaming given the shifting way and reasons these products are being produced), and so there is less of an issue. This year however there simply weren't enough products to allow for a category of their own. This is hugely unfortunate, and I'm not a fan of the decision, but according to the rules as they have always been presented there wasn't much choice. The judges had to find a home for the eight qualifying products that would have normally gone in the Fan category, and we chose to include them here. It's not ideal, but I don't see what other option there was left to us.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Hopefuly future judges and staff members can find a way to encourage enough free, complete products that this won't have to happen again. Maybe a partnership with programs like Game Chef and the like could be encouraged. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I don't know, and I don't have a great answer right now, but I hope people can see that this unfortunate circumstance was just the result of trying to be more inclusive, not any effort to push corperate products against those which are independant.</span></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-84442754403138338562009-07-15T04:29:00.002-06:002009-07-15T04:34:34.713-06:00I took a couple days offSorry I haven't been around, I know there have been several questions asked, especially in light of the nominations being posted, and I feel bad about not responding sooner, but the last week or so of finallizing ENnies stuff was extremely time consuming, and I decided to take a little break. I tried to stop and offer congratulations whenever I thought about it, but for the most part I haven't been keeping up well with the discusions. <div><br /></div><div>It's late, and I don't have a huge amount of time right now, but I wanted to at least drop in, appologize, and let everyone know that I'll begin my post-nomination commentary and product reviews afte I get some sleep. I'll also try to catch up on what discussions I have missed (and my twitter feed) and answer the questions I've been asked here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for the patience, sorry about the delay. Bear with me a bit longer and I'll do what I can.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-68463639887789414722009-07-13T09:00:00.000-06:002009-07-13T09:00:04.224-06:002009 ENnies Nominations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); LINE-HEIGHT: 20pxfont-size:13;" ><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Cover</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars</span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Scion: Ragnorak</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Howl of the Carrion King</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">CthluhuTech</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Interior Art</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">CthluhuTech</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Mouse Guard</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dark Heresy RPG</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hellas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">M&M: Wild Cards</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Cartography</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Pathfinder Map Folio</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Sellswords of Punjar</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The Saltshacks</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Modern Floorplans: Victorian Mansion</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">SW Saga: Scum & Villainy</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Writing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Don't Lose Your Mind</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hot War</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hunter Horror Recognition Guide</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Baron Munchhausen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; 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LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Mouse Guard</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">CthulhuTech</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Anima RPG</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dark Heresy Core</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hellas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Rules</span></span></span></b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">D&D 4e PHB</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dark Heresy RPG</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Song of Ice and Fire</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Starblazer Adventures</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hunter: The Vigil</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Adventure</span></span></span></b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">King of the Trollhaunt Warrens</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; 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LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Purge of the Unclean</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Monster/Adversary</span></span></span></b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Witch Hunter: Grand Tome of Adversaries</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Night Horrors Grim Fears</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dark Heresy Creature Anathema</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">D&D 4e MM</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Freedom's Most Wanted</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Best Setting</span></span></span></b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Pathfinder Campaign Setting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hot War</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Candlewick</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Slipstream</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; 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LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Brilliant Gameologists</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Voice of the Revolution</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; 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LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Kobold Quarterly</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Mad Brew Labs</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Obsidian Portal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt"><b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Product of the Year</span></span></span></b><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">D&D 4e PHB</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Mouse Guard</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Song of Ice and Fire</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hunter the Vigil</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dark Heresy Disciples of the Dark Gods</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Don't Lose Your Mind</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Star Wars Clone Wars</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Scion: Ragnorak</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; tab-stops: 147.75pt"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Starblazer Adventures</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-16853257801392258102009-07-10T08:28:00.002-06:002009-07-10T08:30:29.391-06:00Best Publisher nominations are openFan nominations for Best Publisher are now open. Just go to: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><a href="http://tinyurl.com/mf9oya">http://tinyurl.com/mf9oya</a></span> and fill out a very simple form.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-84421578090146689542009-07-09T21:17:00.002-06:002009-07-09T21:29:29.665-06:00Nominations are doneWell, the judges' meeting is over, and we have our final list of nominations. One way or another these will be out on Monday.<div><br /></div><div>In the mean time, tomorrow starts the fan part of the nomination process, the Best Publisher award. This will be using a whole new system this year that should make tracking much better.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the nomination process itself... It was more painful than I expected. The list is good. Really, really good. As always however I didn't get everything I wanted. That sort of goes with the territory. The hardest part was the loss of a new category I advocated which I thought was pretty much a done deal.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Final List of categories:</b></div><div>Best Cover</div><div>Best Interior Art</div><div>Best Cartography</div><div>Best Writing</div><div>Best Production Values</div><div>Best Rules</div><div>Best Adventure</div><div>Best Monster/Adversary</div><div>Best Setting</div><div>Best Supplement</div><div>Best Aid/<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Accessory</span></div><div>Best Miniature Product</div><div>Best Game</div><div>Best Regalia</div><div>Best Electronic Book</div><div>Best Free Product</div><div>Best Podcast</div><div>Best Website</div><div>Product of the Year</div><div><br /></div><div>19 categories.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last time we did it via message boards. This year we did it by chat. Both have their strengths. Chat feels more confrontational, less wheeling and dealing, more 'getting it done.' This is good because it make a three day process three hours. It's bad because it can make someone with a temper like me unreasonably hot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, it felt right, and these guys did a really great job. Everything on those lists absolutely belongs there, and when you get five people with such divergent tastes, that's hard to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>My hat is off to those other judges, who did an outstanding job, and even managed to put up with me even when I got pushy. Can't wait to see everyone at GenCon.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1622485868517864806.post-80444962053369691522009-07-09T13:09:00.001-06:002009-07-09T13:10:26.127-06:00By the wayThe list of entires is now final. Everything that was reviewed should now be on there.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://enniejudge.blogspot.com/2009/05/updated-list.html">http://enniejudge.blogspot.com/2009/05/updated-list.html</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094915984145149438noreply@blogger.com0