2009 ENnies Judge Selection

[Dextra]

The process has begun for the selection of the judges for the 2009 Gen Con EN World RPG Awards. Nomination packages and information are available now online, voting starts the day after product voting finishes (August 4th).

[The_Universe]

Excellent. I'll be running this year.

[zacharythefirst]

Good deal! I'll be throwing my hat in the ring one more year to see if I can't get elected. Better get to work on answering those questions! Good luck to everyone!

[Xath]

I'll be running again this year.

[Mark]

More candidates, please.

[monster_slayer]

I am planning to throw my hat in the ring this year.

Most people know me on all the other forums I frequent as Bubba Ho-Tep.

[Master of the Game]

I'm running again this year. My term last year was the most rewarding thing I've ever done as a part of the RPG community.

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I'm on the fence at the moment.

I've run the last three years and come close each time. I'm going to have to think about it some more and look at what my next year is going to be like.

[HellHound]

Ok, mo-fos.

I'm In.

[JoeGKushner]

Originally Posted by Mark

More candidates, please.

With encouragement like that, I'll throw my own hat into the ring.

And the good thing about using the same screen name at other sites is that Joe G Kushner is pretty much Joe G Kushner everywhere.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by JoeGKushner

With encouragement like that, I'll throw my own hat into the ring.

And the good thing about using the same screen name at other sites is that Joe G Kushner is pretty much Joe G Kushner everywhere.

Your gift and your curse?

[zacharythefirst]

Over on RPGnet, some of the judges have started listing their Q&A answers. I'd like to do that here as well. I've strove to be as open and as communicative as a judge can in the past year through my online threads and my blog, and hope you will honor me with the chance to do the same for one more year:

Introduction:

I've been gaming since 1993, although the games I played early on tended to be those from the 80s. I started out with Palladium Fantasy (1e), and soon branched out to many different titles, playing in memorable sessions of TMNT, Rules Cyclopedia D&D, Traveller, Ghostbusters, Rifts, FASERIP, and more. Since then, favorites of mine have included d20 (various incarnations), Truth & Justice, Rolemaster, Two-Fisted Tales, Roma Imperious, Iron Gauntlets, Burning Wheel, Don’t Rest Your Head, Delta Green, and many more. To me, the true mark of success for a RPG product is not how pretty it may look, or how many shelves it sits on, but rather how much inspiration and enjoyment it brings to gaming tables.

If elected to a 2nd judgeship, I will be honored by the responsibility with which you've entrusted me. Again as I did all this year, I will make my evaluation and selection process as open, public, and visible as possible, explaining the whys and wherefore of the process as much as I can. I hold no agenda other than that of quality, and do not care who made a product, so long as it is a great product that encourages and/or assists in a fun session or campaign of top-notch gaming. A judge owes those who elected him and those whose products he is evaluating the full and thorough discharge of his duties, and I’ll work as hard as I can to give every product the best look regardless of company, system, or genre.

1. When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?
I began playing RPGs in 1993 (a meteorite fell on my character in the first 5 minutes; you have to love those junior high games!), and even with a rough first few sessions, I fell in love with gaming immediately. The only inspiration I needed to stick with it through the years were the feelings I had when I gamed—those of worlds of endless possibility, excitement, and adventure. That, and hanging out with good friends (and new ones)—what could be better?

2. Since you joined the hobby, what roles have you played (e.g. vending, professional writing and publishing, freelancing, reviewing, convention organizing, homebrewing, playing, GMing, etc.)?
I think most gamers try at some point to write for themselves, their group, or the hobby; my contribution on that level has been as a Rifter contributor and supplier of various homebrew works. I also cover Gen Con Indy as “press” yearly and love every minute of it! In addition, I review RPG products for a variety of websites, but that would all be moot if it weren’t for the dual roles I have and love as heavy-duty player and GM.

I was also a judge for the ENnies this past year—this will be my 2nd and final run for the job.

3. The ENnies require a major commitment of time and mental energy. What resources do you bring that will help you discharge these responsibilities? Will your gaming group or other individuals be assisting you? Does your family support you?
I am a night owl, and that gives me free time in which to review and evaluate plenty of gaming material. When fitting, I have a pair of fantastic gaming groups to assist me, one that has plenty of diverse gaming experience, an eagerness to try out new material, and a rather unique collective sense of humor to boot. Above all, I have the desire to make the judging process as open, direct, and public as I am allowed and able.

My family does support me—I like to think they keep me sane.

4. Judging requires a great deal of critical thinking skills, communication with other judges, deadline management, organization, and storage space for the product received. What interests, experience and skills do you bring that will make you a more effective judge?
My other hobbies include art, writing, reading, and history. All of these areas can be pretty directly (and indirectly) useful in judging gaming products.

I’m also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a vocation that saw me placed around the world in situations requiring integrity, flexibility, dedication, understanding, and an appreciation both of beautiful simplicity and useful innovation. I also (as some of my fellow judge colleagues can attest to) love discussing games, and am very task-oriented and organized when it comes to projects.

5. What styles and genres of RPGs do you enjoy most? Are there any styles or genres that you do not enjoy? Which games best exemplify what you like? Do you consider yourself a particular system’s, publisher’s or genre’s “fanboy/girl”?
I really have no one RPG style or genre I value highly above any others (I really am all over the map as far as what I play!), but I do admire various features in many diverse RPGs. I love the carefully-considered mechanics of Burning Wheel. I love the build and widespread appeal/availability of d20/D&D 3.5/Pathfinder. I love the sheer, unabashed enthusiasm of Rifts. I love the red-eyed, caffeine-fueled harsh neon buzz of Don’t Rest Your Head. I love the awesome attitude and surprising range of Risus. I love those Rolemaster crit tables. I love the mutant creation tables in TMNT. I love of the freaky-cool vibe of Lacuna. I love what Traveller simply is and can be. I love the maps from MERP. I love the troupe play and writing from In Harm’s Way. I love the intrigue and careful, clever maneuvering Amber encourages. I love Delta Green, period. I love the pure fact people would take time to create a game in the first place and put so much investment and enthusiasm into it. Seriously, what an amazing hobby!

The only games I really dislike are a) those that do not inspire, and b) those that are flat-out unplayable. I also dislike any game that attempts to denigrate another form of roleplaying, or takes a holier-than-thou attitude.

I love too many different RPGs to be the fan of just one company exclusively. Consider me a “fanboy-at-large”.

6. What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?
I’m still a tremendous fan of Burning Wheel’s subsystems, which is actually several very distinct systems combining to make a tremendous game. For rules-light, beer n’ pretzels gaming, I think the flexibility and attitude of Risus make it a sublime choice. I’m also a big fan of Atomic Sock Monkey’s PDQ system, which has a universal quality and structure that makes it so robust there’s not a lot I can’t think of using it for. All those systems do get face time at my gaming table.

7. What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.
As an ENnies judge, I have played dozens upon dozens of different games this past year. The 10 games that I’ve likely played the most would likely be (in no particular order) Rolemaster (heavily houseruled), D&D 3.5/Pathfinder, Risus, Truth & Justice, Palladium Fantasy, Rules Cyclopedia D&D, True 20 (Freeport & Roma Imperious), Burning Wheel, Classic Traveller, and Lacuna. Other games I’ve recently played include (but aren’t limited to) Two-Fisted Tales, Don’t Rest Your Head, A+ Fantasy, Breaking The Ice, D&D 4e (demo), Epic RPG, Changeling, Thousand Suns, T20 Traveller, Aces & Eights, The Princes’ Kingdom, and Rifts.

8. Briefly summarize the criteria you will use for judging products in the different categories. How will you deal with comparing products of vastly disparate lengths, medium (PDF vs. print), or mechanics to prose ratios? Will innovation and originality play a major role?
First, I would like to reiterate my rolling campaign pledge of making this judging and evaluation as open as possible, if you do me the honor of electing me to this awesome responsibility.

The length or size of a book or product does not necessarily denote quality or value. Each product, regardless of length, will be evaluated on organization, focus, overall substance and style, and if it inspires/enhances the roleplaying experience.

Aesthetics do play a role (obviously much more in certain categories than others), but are not always the final determination of a product’s quality. Obviously, when they affect a product’s usability, that factors in much more.

Regarding pdf vs. print, the book should be easy to read and follow, regardless of medium. Aside from that, both pdf and print products should be judged on actual content and quality, not preferred medium.

Mechanics-to-prose is a case-by-case basis. If a book achieves its intended goal through whatever mechanics/prose ratio it may have, that’s far more important to me than any abstract number or formula. Innovation and originality are fantastic, valuable aspects to any product, so long as they improve that product. Being different just to be different without enhancing the quality of product carries little weight with me.

What goes into evaluating any game product is a long, involved, considerate list, but you might boil it down to “does it bring the awesome?”

9. How will you judge supplements or adventures for game systems whose core rules you are unfamiliar with or you believe are badly designed? What about for systems that are out of print?
First, let me say I have been very blessed to be able to play a wide range of systems over the past few years, so I am very much hoping this maximizes the number of products I am able to evaluate with immediate or quick familiarity system-wise.

Aside from that, I pledge to familiarize myself with as many different systems as I can for this competition. And for those times I may not know the system or not personally care for it, I think I have to really step back and look at the overall product for what it is and what it offers. Descriptions, usability, flow of text and prose—a judge needs to be willing to ask for help when need be and work like crazy to make sure each submitted product gets the best possible look. These individuals and publishers entrusted us with a copy of their work for full evaluation—we need to honor that trust.

10. How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?
I have three main changes: First, I would look at a more formalizing of the Lifetime Achievment award that Gary Gygax and Erick Wujcik have received. We have so many truly deserving, legendary folks in this hobby—it is right & proper to honor them as we can for the joy they’ve brought us.

Second, I think the awards needs to continue to looking at the submissions process, ensuring it is as fair and accessible to all publishers/entrants as possible.

That said, I think my biggest push is for a culture of honesty, transparency, and communication on the awards—both to publishers and fans. I think the awards have made steps towards that, but need judges who are willing to discuss, garner interest/buzz, and generally drive up interest in the awards in general.

BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be, and would you play it?
I believe I would be someone's old homebrew system. A couple of really good ideas surrounded by a lot of baggage and tacked-on bits from years past. Would I play it? Heck, yeah--I'm always up for a game!!!

[HellHound]

Crossposted from my waffling thread:

Introduction

I go by HellHound or a variant thereof on a dozen or so different RPG boards. My name is M Jason Parent, and I've been heavily involved in RPGs for over 26 years now. I've been a publisher, a writer, an illustrator (not a very good one), cartographer, and a rules-tweaking monster. I've run games in just about every genre and every style, from some seriously Monty Haul AD&D1e campaigns, to deep role-playing sessions in a variety of systems.

I'm currently running games for 4+ gaming groups in a variety of systems - Dungeons & Dragons, Star Frontiers, Lacuna Part 1, Dark Heresy and Vampire: the Requiem. I've run a dozen or so RPG fansites over the years and am a chronic rules tweaker. I bring RPG books wherever I go and have a small stack on my office desk as well as a room dedicated to them at home.

In 2002 I published my first professional product, and then won my first ENnie award that summer at Gen Con. Since then, I've been closely involved with the ENnies as an observer and volunteer since Denise got the job as Business Manager. After years of watching from the sidelines and helping behind the scenes, I figure I now the job better than anybody who hasn't already done it.

1. When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?

I started with D&D in 1980. I've been playing, without more than a 6 month break, for 28 years now. I'm one of those "system hoppers" - I've run or played over a hundred different games over the years, starting with the various TSR offerings and Traveller back in the 80's, and moving on to just about every game style and genre under the sun (with a lot of my teenage years spent playing a variety of Palladium RPGs). But I also keep coming back to D&D - running a BECM D&D campaign on and off for 12 years, and rediscovering D&D with the release of 3e in 2001 which then lead me to release my first "professional" RPG product.

2. Since you joined the hobby, what roles have you played (e.g. vending, professional writing and publishing, freelancing, reviewing, convention organizing, homebrewing, playing, GMing, etc.)?

Yes.

Actually, I've never worked in the retail side of gaming. But I've been a writer (for Ambient, ENPublishing, Mystic Eye Games, Fantasy Flight Games, Paradigm Concepts) & publisher, I've worked with conventions (and was on a panel about epublishing at Origins a few years ago), and I've run a whole slew of RPG fansites (some of which are still around - such as my Star Frontiers, CyberPunk, deadEarth and a few other sites).

For most of my gaming time I've been running games. I've run over a hundred systems over the years, and I've written house rules for a large number of them or tweaked them towards purposes I'm sure their authors never intended.

3. The ENnies require a major commitment of time and mental energy. What resources do you bring that will help you discharge these responsibilities? Will your gaming group or other individuals be assisting you? Does your family support you?

I have an extensive background in game mechanics and design from 1980 onwards. I own in excess of 200 RPGs, at least half of which I've run, and a few of which I've actually been a player in. I don't read fiction much anymore, I bring RPG books to read when we go on family trips, when I go to bed, and there's always at least one RPG sitting on the 'reading desk' in the bathroom beside the throne.

I also have 4+ gaming groups with a variety of members, all of which are willing (well, except for one player in one of the groups) to pick up new games and try them out with me.

And I have the support of my family. Dextra (the current business manager of the ENnies) is my wife, so I've seen the ENnies run from the sidelines for years now, and am aware of the commitments involved, and so is she. Between her support and the support of my kids (13 and nearly 17), I know I'll be available through this.

Plus, the 'crunch time' of the ENnie judging process falling on the first week of July gives me an excuse to bail on extended family gatherings for Canada Day.

4. Judging requires a great deal of critical thinking skills, communication with other judges, deadline management, organization, and storage space for the product received. What interests, experience and skills do you bring that will make you a more effective judge?

My day job is marketing director for a small firm with a lot of IT infrastructure - which means I'm constantly maintaining a dozen or so projects that require constant attention, hands-on action and reporting, and documentation so everyone else in the company has a clue as to what is going on.

At home I have an entire room dedicated to nothing but games (and dance studio space). I know exactly how much product the judges receive every year, and the full collection is hardly enough to make a noticeable change on the shelves in that room.

And what do I bring to the table? 28 years of meddling with game systems, playing games to the breaking point and beyond, modifying games, and in more recent years writing game supplements and even RPGs. And a wide variety of games at that - I've run or played in long-term campaigns of Gamma World, Omega World, CyberPunk, Shadowrun, B/X D&D, BECM D&D, AD&D1, D&D3.x, CyberPunk, Vampire the Masquerade, Vampire the Requiem, Werewolf the Apocalypse, Star Frontiers, CyberPunk, Boot Hill, Recon, Call of Cthulhu, Top Secret, GURPS Autoduel, Traveller, MegaTraveller, CyberPunk, Warhammer Fantasy RolePlay (both editions), TMNT, RIFTS, The Palladium RPG, Robotech and I'm sure a few more that I'm forgetting - not counting the games I've only played or run a few times.

5. What styles and genres of RPGs do you enjoy most? Are there any styles or genres that you do not enjoy? Which games best exemplify what you like? Do you consider yourself a particular system’s, publisher’s or genre’s “fanboy/girl”?

My personal favourites are generally modern-day and near-future RPGs. I have an unhealthy obsession with firearms trivia. That said, I also run and play a lot of Fantasy RPGs because they provide a lot of freedom in character concepts and MacGuffins.

I keep trying to come up with game genres that I don't like... but I can always think of a game in that genre that I love. For instance I'm not a fan of the Shadowrun setting, but am a fan of several other similar settings and games. Overall, I'm not happy with games that are written with the base assumption of the characters working as "operatives" and having missions handed to them by the GM. But then again, one of my favourite RPGs is Lacuna Part 1, a game that is exactly that on the surface. I tend to dislike point-buy character creation systems, but was blown away by the setting of Alpha Omega this year.

I like games with a strong social conflict system - games that play up social settings as much as physical ones. I like games where something is drastically shifted from the paradigm you expect. I like games with a fairly unified mechanic so you can learn the main rules structure in the game with a simple role-play scene and fight scene. I like death spirals - no matter how unrealistic they are.

I'm a total CyberPunk and Post-Apocalypse RPG fanboy. I'm also a fan of companies that support organized play in a big way - that kind of support for the player base gives me a case of the warm fuzzies.

6. What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?

This is the hardest question in this process.

The game I play most is CyberPunk 2020 - it is DEFINITELY not the best designed system, in fact I play it in spite of the system.

While I love the unified mechanic of the new World of Darkness, I don't like how it plays out in combat.

I think d20 came close to being an incredible game system, but was bogged down by complexity. I think that True20 tried hard to clean that up, but didn't go far enough.

For one-shot games, the simpler the better. This makes games like Lacuna Part 1 ideal for me (roll dice equal to your appropriate stat, difficulty of all rolls is 11).

For extended games, I like games that provide a gentle power curve and reward process that improves characters gradually but also immediately. If the resolution mechanic of CyberPunk was not a straight d10, it would come close to this ideal for me (and if the game wasn't so shopping-oriented).

In the end, a game system has to support the setting and vice-versa. That's what makes it work for me.

7. What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.

Since GenCon 2007 I have played the following role playing games:

Lacuna Part 1 - The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl in Blue City: I run this game whenever I have a gathering of gamers and non-gamers and people who don't play in my regular campaigns. It's my RPG obsession of late.

D&D3.5: Specifically an Arcanis game and a random dungeon crawl game. We introduced our kids to gaming through D&D, and this is the game they love to play.

CyberPunk 2020: I've been running the last ever CyberPunk 2020 campaign for our group for 18 months now. I'm a total CyberPunk junky.

New Tribes: This is my own house-rules edition of CyberPunk. Ran a version of it for the first time for New Year's Eve to introduce a group of 9 players to a game other than D&D. One of the players had never role-played before, and the rest had never played another RPG. It was a rocking playtest of the game system.

Exalted 2nd Edition: Pulled out the sample game and ran it for my D&D group. They found it interesting, but the player most into crazy acrobatics ended up playing the tank and in the end the game kind of fizzled.

Star Frontiers: Yeah, the classic oldie from TSR. Ran a few games of Truane's Star Vice, a game where toupee-wearing dralasites in pastel suit jackets try to interrupt the drug trade around Truane's Star, to the sounds of 80's mega-hits.

Vampire: the Requiem: Finally started a chronicle of this last summer and played a few sessions over the past year. Not impressed with how the combat system seems to be working, but happy with the rest of the game.

Werewolf: the Apocalypse: Ran two games of this to introduce the oldest daughter's boyfriend to non-D&D games.

Scion: Started a new Scion cycle two weeks ago.

B/X D&D: My favourite flavour of D&D, but unfortunately we discovered it is NOT our D&D group's favourite flavour after three sessions, much to my chagrin.

Warhammer Fantasy RP 2e: Ran two (awesomely fun) short campaigns to convert a player from miniature wargaming to roleplaying.

8. Briefly summarize the criteria you will use for judging products in the different categories. How will you deal with comparing products of vastly disparate lengths, medium (PDF vs. print), or mechanics to prose ratios? Will innovation and originality play a major role?

Originality yes, Innovation sometimes. Innovation for the sake of innovation is tiring, it has to suit the game, advance the story, or somehow really WORK for me to enjoy it. Originality is important, not that all th ematerial has to be original, but for example, if reading a book on necromantic magic, it should present ideas in a way that doesn't remind me of other books on necromantic magic.

I've been a PDF publisher. I love the medium. However, the medium has it's limits. A huge PDF product is a pain to read - I'd much rather read it on paper. A very small product, or a product designed for a lot of referencing works very well in the PDF medium, as do adventures.

After reading thousands of RPG books over the years, I look for a product that makes me stop reading it and go "wow". Better than that, a book that makes me start talking about the game to my wife and friends. Good mechanics and good prose both get me excited. A well-written game can make me want to play it, even if the mechanics bore me... and really cool mechanics can make me overlook shortcomings in other material in order to give them a test-drive.

9. How will you judge supplements or adventures for game systems whose core rules you are unfamiliar with or you believe are badly designed? What about for systems that are out of print?

First I would try to hunt down the rules for the supplement or adventure if I don't have them. If I do have them and don't like the rules set, I can still be excited about the supplements - as a long-time home-brewer, I've often taken supplements for one game and used them for another. I've run adventures for CyberPunk games over the years from at least a dozen different game systems (and vice versa - I ran a CyberPunk-feeling D&D campaign where I converted CyberPunk adventures to Eberron).

For out of print systems, I would talk to my extensive network of gaming friends to obtain a copy of the rules if possible, otherwise I'll evaluate the product based on using it for another game of a similar feel.

10. How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?

I would like to see my wife a little more often. After the judging is over, she seems to go into ENnies overdrive for a month and goes to bed every night at 2-3 am. However, I can't see how to arrange this while she's the business manager, so I figure that jumping onboard will make it more of a family event.

BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be, and would you play it?

I would be an RPG where you play a robot on a variety of pharmaceuticals (with the base assumption that for some reason these drugs have the regular human effects on these robots), trying to save the world from Ninjas while also preventing your own cybernetic brain from exploding.

It would use d4s and d12s primarily, and include optional rules for use as a drinking game (or for use with the consumption of other intoxicants).

I would play it once, get way too far into it (anyone at the Feng Shui table from Origins a few years ago knows what I'm talking about), then my brain would explode.

-----------------

BONUS BONUS:

I have worked in the RPG industry in the past. I have self-published books and had RPG material of mine published by other publishers. I have a history with these publishers, and I am married to the current Business Manager of the ENnies.

However, I keep my biases under control, IMO. I have a history of dislike for a few companies over the years, however I still play some of their games, and am blown away by others of theirs and promote them. I am also not a hardcore fanboy to the point of it colouring my perceptions of a game.

With regards to my wife (Dextra) being the Business Manager of the ENnies, I feel that this is more a benefit than a problem. I am probably more aware of the ENnies process than anyone who has not already been a judge. When Dextra has questions about products and their eligibility in certain categories, she usually already comes to me for advice. And finally, because I'm running to be a judge this year, she has asked that a third party with a proven track record for valueing democratic process take over as returning officer for the judging panel elections.

-----------------

I am over 18 years of age and can enter into a legal contract.

I have had noprofessional relationship with any RPG publisher from the period of May 2006 to August 1st, 2009.

I have in the past done freelance work for several publishers (Fantasy Flight Games, Mystic Eye Games, Paizo, Paradigm Concepts), published my own work under Ambient Inc. and E.N. Publishing, and was full partner and co-owner of E.N. Publishing.

My employment requires a fairly high skill level in communicating in the English Language.

[HellHound]

Over on RPGnet, some of the judges have started listing their Q&A answers.

[The_Universe]

Introduction:

In my spare time, I’m a professional analyst, but most of the time I’m a gamer. I’ve been in love with games and gaming since I first saw an ad for Dungeons and Dragons on the back of a Transformers comic book, and hooked since an uncle, seeing a fledgling nerd, bought me a copy of HeroQuest for Christmas. Since then, I’ve played or run games in 4 editions of D&D, 3 versions of d20 Star Wars, d6 Star Wars, d20 Modern, Mutants & Masterminds, Savage Worlds, True20, Hollow Earth Expedition, Shadowrun, GURPS, Kobolds Ate My Baby, Torg, Dread, Warhammer FRP, and a few others too obscure to name.

I’ve been deeply involved with the ENnies since 2007, and with the greater EN World community from when it was still Eric Noah’s 3rd Edition News. If chosen as a judge, I’ll judge the entrants fairly and systematically, using a weighted pair-ranking system that ensures each product’s merits and flaws are carefully considered.

Finally, if elected, I promise to do my part to avoid destroying your puny world with space lasers. Honestly, where are you going to get a better deal than that?

1. When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?

I’ve been fascinated with the idea of roleplaying games since I first read a “choose-your-own-adventure” book in my grade school library, and involved in the hobby itself since shortly after seeing an ad for D&D on the back of a comic book. My first real game, though, was d6 Star Wars, which I played or ran more or less continuously throughout high school and the first couple of years of college.

There’s never really been any question that I’d stick with the hobby. I love the action and heroism of any well-run game, and, as DM/GM, I love plotting out stories for my players.

2. Since you joined the hobby, what roles have you played (e.g. vending, professional writing and publishing, freelancing, reviewing, convention organizing, homebrewing, playing, GMing, etc.)?

I’ve spent the vast majority of my time in the hobby as a DM/GM, but I play whenever I can. I tend to run homebrew campaigns, but I’ve had a great time with published adventures when I can’t get things rolling on my own.

I’ve had an article published in Dungeon, but that’s the extent of my publishing experience. I’ve also helped organize and run the recently resurrected National Capital Area Gameday, and attend regional conventions and gamedays when my schedule allows.

3. The ENnies require a major commitment of time and mental energy. What resources do you bring that will help you discharge these responsibilities? Will your gaming group or other individuals be assisting you? Does your family support you?

I’m well-organized, methodical, and (when not gaming) a professional analyst. I’ve got a huge extended “family” of gamers that can help me playtest anything that should need it, and a wife who games with me (Queen Dopplepopolis/DangerGirl!, who’s been an ENnies judge before).

4. Judging requires a great deal of critical thinking skills, communication with other judges, deadline management, organization, and storage space for the product received. What interests, experience and skills do you bring that will make you a more effective judge?

Aside from my secret underground lair, I have a basement that’s entirely dedicated to gaming, with bookshelves just waiting for ENnies entrants. I’ve seen the judging process in action for the past two years, when my wife, Liz, was a judge, and have a good idea of what the ENnies really entail.

I teach critical thinking and structured analysis to adults as a part of my job, and can generally make myself understood in any medium (including messageboards, where a lot of the critical discussions will happen).

5. What styles and genres of RPGs do you enjoy most? Are there any styles or genres that you do not enjoy? Which games best exemplify what you like? Do you consider yourself a particular system’s, publisher’s or genre’s “fanboy/girl”?

I’m a big fan of action/adventure, and find that I don’t often gravitate toward systems that depend on madness or horror (or emotional turmoil) for their core dramatic tensions (except Dread, from the Impossible Dream; I friggin’ love the Jenga mechanic). At the moment, I’m most fond of Green Ronin’s M&M (for it’s flexibility and excellent narrative-control mechanics). That said, I’ve had a good time with 4th edition D&D, had fun tinkering with Paizo’s Pathfinder update for the 3e ruleset (which I still deeply enjoy), and had a good time with Hollow Earth Expedition, which all, in their own ways, play to the “strengths” I like. But, as much as I like them, these systems have their flaws, and I’m not above looking at each of them with a critical eye.

6. What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?

Mutants and Masterminds will handle almost any kind of game I’d routinely want to run, and, until recently, it would have been the game I played most often. My group is playing 4e right now, and, though they miss M&M’s flexibility, they’re enjoying the return to some classic RPG tropes.

I think both systems are well-designed, but none of them beat Dread (mentioned above), which does a better job matching its task resolution mechanics to its theme than any other game I’ve ever played. It’s an incredibly simple, elegant design. It’s not overly versatile (which I do value), but it’s an unparalleled horror game.

7. What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.

Dread, Savage Worlds, Star Wars Saga, D&D 3.5e, D&D 4e, Hollow Earth Expedition, Mutants & Masterminds, True20, d20 Modern, and Kobolds Ate My Baby.

8. Briefly summarize the criteria you will use for judging products in the different categories. How will you deal with comparing products of vastly disparate lengths, medium (PDF vs. print), or mechanics to prose ratios? Will innovation and originality play a major role?

I think form should follow function (which should give you an idea of how I’ll judge products of disparate lengths, mediums, and mechanics/prose ratios). Some games and supplements work best as short PDFs, other things work best as long books.

Innovation and originality will, of course, play a large role in my assessment of products, but I’m all about total quality, and ensuring that the product in question has a great “hook” and that, in the end, it lives up to the promise of that hook.

To judge each product, I’ll use a weighted pair-ranking system originally developed for the CIA that I use at work, occasionally. As a part of that process, I’ll develop a list of elements that I consider essential indicators of quality in each category. You don’t judge “Best Interior Art” by the same standards you judge “Best Writing!”

Then, I’ll exhaustively compare each product in that category to every other product therein (this is the pair-ranking part) until I have a final ranking for each product. It helps cut the work down into manageable chunks, minimizes bias, and helps ensure that I’m only judging products against the other products entered this year.

9. How will you judge supplements or adventures for game systems whose core rules you are unfamiliar with or you believe are badly designed? What about for systems that are out of print?

I’ll judge them like I’d judge anything else, I suppose, though I’m not sure we’ll see a lot of new entries for systems that are out of print.

In any case, each entrant should be judged on its own merits and flaws (whatever they are), and not any “baggage” that it brings with it. As an example, I’m not a huge fan of any edition of GURPS, but I have a ton of supplements for that game on my shelf, because they’re almost uniformly excellent.

When possible, I’ll try to find the rules I’d need to playtest the supplement. When not, I’ll try to evaluate how much value the supplement would add to the system its meant for, as well as the quality of the ideas that the book itself contains.

10. How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?

I’m perfectly happy with the ENnies officially stated categories and policies. The only thing that must remain inviolate are the judges’ discretion to consider entrants as they see fit.

BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be, and would you play it?

Let’s be realistic: if I was an RPG, it’d be something like…

“Cubicles & Crusades, a game of cutthroat professional rivalries in which your character must fight to protect his three-hole-punch from a variety of horrific foes, including the dreaded MicroManager, the dead-inside Almost Retiree, and the uselessly meddling Deputy Branch Chief.

Can you convince IT support to install new RAM in your computer before the Budgetary Officer stops you? Can you finish writing that e-mail before the Ignorant Trainee attacks with a barrage of Banal Questions?

Prepare for the Great Cubicle War, and find out what you’re made of!”

Now that I think about it, that might be kind of fun. I might play.