Meet your 2010 ENnies judge nominees

[reveal]

The nominees for the 2010 ENnies judges are now online for you to look over! Please visit and study each nominee carefully as only five of them will judge next year's entries. I will update this thread later today once voting goes live.

2010 ENnies Judge Nominees

Edit: Voting is now live!

Sorry

[reveal]

Voting is now live! I've updated the original post.

[YourSwordIsMine]

Hello, My name is Sean Parker. I've been a gamer since I was 11 (26 years or so) and gaming has played a prominent role in my life ever since. For a while now I've felt the desire to be able to do something more for the hobby that I enjoy so much. I know I'll never write the next big game, but I still want to contribute to the community and industry in some way. That's when I found the ENnies a few years ago and realized that being a Judge gives me the chance to do just that. So here I am.

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

My first introduction to gaming was my mother flipping out when she found me looking at the Dungeons and Dragons toy line in the toy department at a Zares department store. How could a toy cause such hysteria? I got curious and that was that; been hooked since. My first purchase was the Car Wars Deluxe box set followed not long after by the BattleDroids (and eventually Battletech) box set. My real introduction to roleplaying games came with 5th grade and I met my best friend at the time. He introduced me to the Marvel Superheroes RPG (YAY! FASERIP!) and we played that for nearly 3 years solid after that. Since that time gaming has been a major part of my life both as a hobby and a social and creative outlet. I think it's the people I've met (and will meet) that keeps me so enamored with the hobby.

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.)?

Mostly I've just been a player. I enjoy playing but I've always had a creative streak so have tried my hand at world building and such. Nothing that will ever see print of course but the creative exercise is worth it. I have recently gotten the GM bug and will be starting a game in the near future, I'm really looking forward to that. I did have a friend who was/is a game designer. I enjoyed hanging out with him, being a sounding board to his ideas and helping with the playtesting. Was neat to see the books after they were printed and knowing I had a small part to play in their creation. Even if I wasn't in the credits.

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?

Time is what I have in spades at the moment. I am currently a part time student, taking only 2 classes a quarter. I do have a gaming group and other gamer friends that I can call upon to help with any playtesting that might arise. My family might not understand my gaming lifestyle, but they have always been supportive.

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?

Professionally I am a Computer Support Specialist and that has given me the skills to handle the needs of being a Judge. Storage won't be an issue, anything new I get always goes on the best shelves of my already overburdened book cases.

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”?

Wow, hard to answer really since I've read and played so many games and genres. I'm a softy for Superheroes games, Mutants and Masterminds being one of my favorite systems right now. I also played GURPS for nearly 10 years so I'd have to say it's also one of my favorites. Besides the Superhero genre I also really enjoy grim and gritty fantasy (from Conan to Warhammer), Victorian/Steampunk, Space Opera and especially anything with giant robots in it...

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

Best designed? I'd personally have to go with two, GURPS and Mutants and Masterminds. GURPS for the sheer level of detail in character creation and the tactical advantage of 1 second combat rounds. I think my love with GURPS has bled into Mutants and Masterminds because it too is so versatile with the added advantage of being a lot easier to play. M&M has boiled the d20 mechanic into its purist form. It really is a wonderful game and like GURPS, can be completely genre generic.

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

Mutants and Masterminds, Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 2e, Dread, D&D3.5 and 4e, and Hollow Earth Expedition. I also play a wide variety of tabletop miniatures games as well.

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 feel that creativity is more of a factor than originality or innovation. Humanity has been around and telling stories for thousands of years before the invention of the roleplaying game. Creativity in how we tell those stories is what brings originality and innovation to the experience. Each product should be judged on its own merits not how they compare to one another. I will look at its creativity and see what originality it brings to the table and with that what innovations it has made both from a mechanical point and in storytelling.

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?

Well, the likelihood of stuff for systems that are out of print I don't think will be that much of a problem and if I personally don't have it on my shelf, then I'm certain one of my friends whose game collection far exceeds my own would be willing to loan it to me. Plus there is always Ebay and other outlets to find obscure games. And again, with systems I'm unfamiliar with and don't own I have those friends who more than likely will have a copy somewhere. Supplements and Adventures should be based off the merit of their content, creativity and how it adds to the game they are for and shouldn't matter if their systems are badly designed or not.

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

I don't know enough of the process of the ENnies to really make a comment. I do however hope that the ENnies continues to be a force within the gaming community, bringing heightened awareness to the best of the industry and ensuring continued quality from game publishers.

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

haha With my surgery last year it would first start off as an espionage game of trying to get a patients file dropped into the hands of a waiting admissions clerk. Then there would be a long skill challenge simulating standing in line for 12 months and then move into a game of Operation where you try desperately not to touch the sides as you remove little plastic Gallbladders within the allotted time. Finally you'd break out the Car Wars like game set where you stumble through the hospital dodging crash carts and wheelchairs as the nurse walks you through the halls...

I will be happy to answer any questions anyone has for me. Thank you for your consideration.

[Skeld]

Good evening! My name is Mark Green and I'm a 2010 ENnies Judge candidate.


I won't bother to re-post all my answers to the questionnaire here; you can view that online at Headline 2


I will say that I'm strictly a hobby enthusiast and not an "industry guy." In other words, gaming isn't part of my profession. I don't write reviews for a living and I've never worked for a gaming company. I play strictly for fun and have been gaming for 25 years, the last 10 of which have been with my current group. Most of that time, I've been a GM, but I like to take a break as a player once in a while.


I've played alot of games along the way (including board games, miniatures, and card games). My mainstay will always be fantasy RPG, with my original "Red Box" Basic D&D set and 3.5 OGL competing for favorite. I also enjoy all things Star wars (WEG d6 and Saga). Mouseguard is a recent favorite as well.


Even though I have my favorites, I will be open and objective as a Judge. I love both the crunch and the flavor and like to see a nice balance between the two. Originality is always appreciated, whether it is original mechanics, concepts, or even just an interesting twist on a staple concept.


I hope you take the opportunity to vote in the coming week, and especially that you decide to vote for me as a Judge for the 2010 ENnies. For me, that would offer an awesome opportunity to give something back to the gaming community.


-Mark

[kinetic]

Hey all,

Like the others posting here, I am one of the Judge candidates as well. I have been gaming since I was nine years old and it has been my biggest hobby for all of those 21 years. I have always had a strong love for supers games but that won't prevent me from paying equal attention to everything that comes my way, and judging each product fairly on its own merits. I have never been one to shy away from any genre or system and I don't intend to start now. I know that the people behind the games put a lot of effort into what they create and I can say that I will put just as much into reviewing each product without any bias. I have almost no professional gaming experience outside of being a playtester for a couple systems, so my industry experience pretty much ends with being a retailer eight years ago in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Back then I had purchased a gaming store and ran it for one reason and one reason only: I love gaming.

The above paragraph had only two sentences that didn't start with "I..." so enough about me! The links have been posted but just in case you are digging through that list of names looking to find out more about me, I'm Justin Peters (friends call me Jay) and my page is here.

Thanks in advance to everyone that votes!

[Mexal]

Hello, I'm Megan. I've been having a great time role-playing for over 30 years, so maybe it's time to put something back, hence standing for ENnie Judge 2010.

Why me? Best way to help you good people decide if I'd make a good Judge is for you to see how I look at games... I'm a teacher in 'real life' and when the bell rings I scamper home to work on my site, RPG Resource on which you'll find lots of reviews. If you like the way I think, please consider voting for me.

Irrespective, thank you for taking the time to particpate in the ENnies process.

[Mark]

Voted!

[Crothian]

Greeting, EN World.

I am once again running for ENnies Judge. I know I haven't been around as much as I used to but hopefully people haven't forgotten me. I really hope many of you vote for the judges after taking time to read everyone's bios and picking the ones you believe will be the best. I am also hoping I am one of the ones you feel is the best.

Chris Gath

[JohnnyScott]

Hello!

My "real" name is Scott St. John, and I would appreciate it if you would vote for me for ENnie judge. I have been an avid RPGer/Wargamer for approximately 30 years, and I am a veteran of many different game systems, from 1E D&D to PFRPG, Champions to Mutants and Masterminds, Traveller (both incarnations), Star Wars (d6 and SAGA), Chill, Call of Cthulhu, and many more.

I have been obsessed with gaming for as long as I can remember, and look at the possibility of becoming an ENnie judge as my opportunity to give back to the gaming community by promoting those gaming products that are the most original and highest quality get the recognition they deserve.

You can vote and read more about me at the following URL:

http://www.ennie-awards.com/voting/jvoting.asp

Thank you for your time, and I hope you vote for Scott St. John for ENnie Judge!

[C.W.Richeson]

I'm running. I very occasionally post or contribute a review to ENWorld, but I'm largely unknown here. While I'm currently playing D&D 4E, I try to play as many games as I possibly can.

I voted for Chris Gath. Both in person and online, I tend to think of him as ENWorld's goodwill ambassador. I've never seen him fail to be friendly, and he has contributed a huge amount to both ENWorld and the hobby over the years.

[Crothian]

With EN World faster now a bump to the first page and encouragement to get people to vote.

[Skeld]

Just a few other tidbits:

I'm a long-time EN World lurker, new poster.

I've been gaming with the same group for 10 years. Several of them were college friends (although we didn't game together back then).

Red Box D&D Basic was my introduction to gaming in 1985 and I played it for 10 years before switching to 2e in college. I think the Red Box is still my long-time favorite.

I killed Bargle.

Mouse Guard (first the comics, then the RPG) are a recent favorite.

-Mark

[YourSwordIsMine]

Originally Posted by Skeld

Mouse Guard (first the comics, then the RPG) are a recent favorite.

-Mark

In 95-96 I was developing a campaign where the players were mice in a small town in France of 1347... Now I have a system to run it in! I really love Mouse Guard. Both the comics and RPG.

[ExploderWizard]

Originally Posted by YourSwordIsMine

In 95-96 I was developing a campaign where the players were mice in a small town in France of 1347... Now I have a system to run it in! I really love Mouse Guard. Both the comics and RPG.

And now that there is actual support for it, I would kindly request that you actually run it for us.

[YourSwordIsMine]

Bumping to keep on page one.

Originally Posted by ExploderWizard

And now that there is actual support for it, I would kindly request that you actually run it for us.

I might... Right after that Boer War game...