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[Master of the Game]

Originally Posted by Umbran

The judges are all gamers. They will have looked over, bought, and used some of the products in the year before judging begins. It is not reasonable to expect that they have no opinions whatsoever about any products before they begin.

It is also not reasonable to suggest that having a favorable opinion about one product constitutes "having one's mind made up". Just because I like one book today, doesn't mean I can't see quality in other products. I like the shoes I am currently wearing. That doesn't mean I can't see another pair of shoes as being even better.

I agree. By the time elections are held we're already 3 months into the judging year. I know that I, during my term, already owned several of the books that were turned into me, and was really glad to see them submitted because I liked them so much, but I'd be curious to go back over them and see how many made the cut. I'd guess not many. That was the year I fell in love with games I had never heard of before.

ENnies judging opens you up to a lot of new things. I don't care who you are or how much you collect you will find and love something you had never even thought about during the process. It's the nature of the beast. If you're the kind of person who should be judging, the kind that keeps an open mind about games in general, then knowing something existed before it is submitted isn't much of a barrier.

And if you aren't, having a pet book is the least of the worries.

I can speak without hesitation in the defense of the people I have worked with. They were definitely the kind of people I'd trust for advice on a game system. Even when we disagree, I trust in their reasons for making the choices they did.

Now, I don't know how much weight that holds with others, but there it is for what it's worth. I like Zach, and I think that a person has to stand up for what they believe in. If that's what he needs to do then I trust that in his heart and mind it is the right thing to do, but I honestly have no idea what is going on, and I refuse to speak badly about people who I think are honestly working hard to do something good for the hobby they love.

That won't mean a lot to some people. I have that little ENnies Staff button by my name, but I came by it honestly. I was voted in by the gaming community as a judge. It's the only major roll I've ever had with the ENnies. I wasn't some EN World insider or friend or family or what have you. Like Zach I was voted in by people from other places who wanted their voices heard, and I got my shot, did the best I could with it, and I'm proud of what we did.

So yeah, I'm probably biased. I'll even admit that I ran again this year and I'm the first runner up, so it may well be me who takes Zach's place, but if so it would be with a heavy heart. I like Zach, and we've spoken several times about wanting to be judges together, so I'd hate to do it without him, but please remember that judges are people. If you don't like them, vote differently next year. No one would blame you.

As for the money thing, I couldn't imagine anyone really wanting a cut, though I could see why it might be brought up. I know during my year one of the judges got hit hard with import duties. There are expenses that go with doing this work.

Anywho, that's my two cents. I'll admit that I heard about this first today and I've read all of two threads on this matter so I likely have no idea what I'm talking about, but I've worked with these people before, and I trust their motivations. Including Zach's. I just don't know that motivations always translate well into actions.