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2007 Judge Selection
- Thread starter Dextra
- Start date
How do you think price factors when evaluating a product?
I am highly unlikely to factor price into my evaluation of a product unless a designer finds a way to offer stunningly good value for money through innovation. Otherwise, I do not plan to factor price in at all. Charging too high or too low a price is its own punishment for a gaming company.
Do you have a favourite system, or particular dislike of one? Why?
Absolutely. However, my favourite systems are, for the most part, homebrewed or out of print. Generally, I tend to be what those who study such things term as “simulationist.” I especially enjoyed 3rd Edition Runequest and Harn in the 80s for just this reason. I like D20 and OGL fine and probably do most of my actual gaming in these systems but this is more for ease of compatibility than a strong endorsement of the system.
How will this affect your ability to judge products?
I hope not very much at all. Everybody brings their personal preferences and biases to the table. What matters is to be cognizant of these things and rise above them when selecting products. When I GM, I often have a variety of players with different gaming tastes and priorities but I seek to balance these sometimes divergent wishes and deliver a game that is fun for everyone. My approach to the awards will be similar: I will look at each product and evaluate how well it meets the needs of those who enjoy the gaming style for which the product has been designed.
How do you feel about PDFs? Inherent advantages and/or disadvantages?
I think PDFs have really opened up the industry and enabled a lot of creative people to reach the gaming community unmediated by big companies. As a result, I think there is a wider range of quality in PDFs, both high and low – sometimes things get to the virtual shelves short some proofreading and playtesting; but sometimes someone’s specific and brilliant vision can be realized without harmful interference inherent in a corporate production process.
That stated, PDFs are not my preferred way to buy gaming materials. I have a lot of loose paper in my life. More than I can handle. The prospect of printing off gaming materials holds little appeal for me personally – but that’s just a lifestyle choice.
Mutant or troll?
Troll. Second edition Runequest Dark Troll, to be precise.
mechanics or concepts? if you find too many errors in mechanics or in the writing will you fault the submission?
Absolutely. These are not the sci-fi/fantasy literature awards nor are they the First Draft Awards. I am looking for an integrated whole when I judge a product – the basic art of RPG writing is to create an integrated whole wherein concepts, flavour text and mechanics function as a single mutually supporting structure. Similarly, I mark sophomore college students’ work for a living so, on the one hand, I will be tolerant of a fair number of typos (given how this work has beaten my standards down); on the other hand, when poor writing gets in the way of clarity and meaning, I am quite prepared to mark a product down.
are you in a long term relationship or a job which requires you to be on call or have little free time?
No.
how much time are you willing to spend to see this project to completion? are the outside factors going to effect your commitment? (a non gaming SO, a sick child, an aging parent, a new job, a move, planning a marriage, etc...)
Well, I have chosen to run this year specifically because I will just have finished my comprehensive exams and will be at the pre-dissertation phase of my program. So, between April and July, I will have a very flexible schedule and considerable free time.
what are you gonna do with your stuff when all is done?
Keep some. Give some away.
4e - Now, Soon, Later, or Never?
I think 4E will come out when WOTC has gauged that the community is ready for it and there is real demand for the product. I expect that this will be sooner than some people imagine.
Which is your favorite Beatle?
George. I liked his work for Bangladesh and his decision to help create Hand Made Films, my favourite movie production company of all time. Plus I’m one of the guys who actually liked the sitar music.
Software. What role do you see for software in DnD?
That is sort of dependent on GM and player style. I think we are well-served by game systems that are versatile and modular enough to work well with pen and paper but can also be souped-up or made easier with software if that is what people are into. I think it would be a disaster if D&D, at some point, did with computers what it did with minis in 3rd edition and began operating on the assumption that computers were going to be used in character generation, for instance.
Do you use software in DnD (more than Word/PDF etc)?
No.
Are minis more important than software?
I wish they were not but, objectively, they certainly are in D&D’s current incarnation. It is my hope that future editions of the game will make gaming without minis easier.
Are any of you offering cash incentives, beer, and/or incriminating photographs of Morrus in return for my vote?
I’ll be too busy signing up the homeless and getting them to vote at the public library.
What game(s) are you playing in now / have played in in the past year?
Two OGL homebrews, Warhammer, Dogs in the Vineyard, Runequest, Traveller, D&D and True20.
How do you feel about Wizards of the Coast abstaining from entering products?
I think it is probably a good move. It is kind of analogous to the Roman Catholic Church’s decision to sit only as an observer at the World Council of Churches.
How long have you been gaming? Does that affect the perspective you will be bringing to the judging table?
Since 1981. I think that experience with a variety of gaming group dynamics gives me a sense of perspective on the social aspects of gaming and how systems and people can fit together in different ways. But I don’t think it is a big factor. As Thoreau said, “age is no better an instructor than youth.”
How much game design experience do you have? I don't mean published, I mean in general- 10 years of homebrewing? Have you created your own systems? Do you think this affects your level of qualification as a judge?
I have designed homebrewed rules for three of the last five games I have run. I think this experience has given me an appreciation of the challenge of designing clear, self-consistent systems. It has also convinced me that there is no universal system that is going to work with every setting, every campaign or every group. I tend to view the rules of the game as the physics of the game world but I will keep this perspective at bay when I judge systems like the Indie-RPGs games which are differently premised.
Do you think that the ENnies should have a codified set of rules for how they should be run, including a specific list of points that the judges should use for each category?
I have just got through hashing out this issue in a non-profit advocacy group on whose board I serve. Currently, Fair Vote Ontario is evaluating various models of voting systems that are being presented to a government-mandated commission that is reviewing the province’s voting system. Many people thought that scoring these models through a complex point-based system would make the project of evaluating and ranking them easier. The reverse has happened.
While a lot of these point systems look good on paper, in practice, they tend to produce strategic voting by judging panels (mix/maxing in gamer terms) and tend to deliver middling scores to all products, regardless of actual merits. So, no – I am not a fan of such an approach.
Or do you think that the ENnies should be like they are currently, and the judges voting on the rules each year?
I don’t think the practice is to vote on the rules each year. I think there is a bit of tradition involved at this point. But yes. I prefer an evaluation process that gets the judges to behave honestly, fairly and co-operatively.
Do you think that the ENnies being so intimately tied to the World's Largest d20 Fan Site might mean that the basic voting pool for the ENnies might be a bit biased towards d20 products in general?
First of all, the ENnies are not “so intimately tied” as they once were. Denise Robinson has been working with Peter Adkinson for the past several years to broaden the awards. And their work on this front has been a resounding success. Any scan of award recipients over the past few years demonstrates conclusively that her efforts have been a resounding success. Non-D20 products have won major awards several years in a row.
Do you think that the ENnies should move everything over to their own, independant website (which they already have), to have all aspects of the ENnies in 1 single central location? Why or why not?
I would hope that every major RPG forum has a thread like this. I think it would be most foolish for the ENnies to seek to limit discussion of the awards to one site and attempt to shut down EN World, RPG.net or any other forum’s discussions.
Do you think moving the ENnies off EN World would cause a drop in the overall number of voters?
No. I believe it will increase the number of voters. Last year, moving the awards voting off the site resulted in a major turnout increase.
Do you plan on playtesting any of the material?
I inevitably will but do not intend to do so systematically. Obviously there would not be time to do so.
What prompted you to consider being a judge for the ENnies?
My work with the ENnies judges, board and staff over the past two years. This is a fun project and a great team of people. Now that I have finished work on reforming the voting systems for the awards, I would like to continue being a part of the project.
Would statements by those "in the industry" affect your opinions on a product?
Nope. The only statements that will matter to me will be those in the published material.
I am highly unlikely to factor price into my evaluation of a product unless a designer finds a way to offer stunningly good value for money through innovation. Otherwise, I do not plan to factor price in at all. Charging too high or too low a price is its own punishment for a gaming company.
Do you have a favourite system, or particular dislike of one? Why?
Absolutely. However, my favourite systems are, for the most part, homebrewed or out of print. Generally, I tend to be what those who study such things term as “simulationist.” I especially enjoyed 3rd Edition Runequest and Harn in the 80s for just this reason. I like D20 and OGL fine and probably do most of my actual gaming in these systems but this is more for ease of compatibility than a strong endorsement of the system.
How will this affect your ability to judge products?
I hope not very much at all. Everybody brings their personal preferences and biases to the table. What matters is to be cognizant of these things and rise above them when selecting products. When I GM, I often have a variety of players with different gaming tastes and priorities but I seek to balance these sometimes divergent wishes and deliver a game that is fun for everyone. My approach to the awards will be similar: I will look at each product and evaluate how well it meets the needs of those who enjoy the gaming style for which the product has been designed.
How do you feel about PDFs? Inherent advantages and/or disadvantages?
I think PDFs have really opened up the industry and enabled a lot of creative people to reach the gaming community unmediated by big companies. As a result, I think there is a wider range of quality in PDFs, both high and low – sometimes things get to the virtual shelves short some proofreading and playtesting; but sometimes someone’s specific and brilliant vision can be realized without harmful interference inherent in a corporate production process.
That stated, PDFs are not my preferred way to buy gaming materials. I have a lot of loose paper in my life. More than I can handle. The prospect of printing off gaming materials holds little appeal for me personally – but that’s just a lifestyle choice.
Mutant or troll?
Troll. Second edition Runequest Dark Troll, to be precise.
mechanics or concepts? if you find too many errors in mechanics or in the writing will you fault the submission?
Absolutely. These are not the sci-fi/fantasy literature awards nor are they the First Draft Awards. I am looking for an integrated whole when I judge a product – the basic art of RPG writing is to create an integrated whole wherein concepts, flavour text and mechanics function as a single mutually supporting structure. Similarly, I mark sophomore college students’ work for a living so, on the one hand, I will be tolerant of a fair number of typos (given how this work has beaten my standards down); on the other hand, when poor writing gets in the way of clarity and meaning, I am quite prepared to mark a product down.
are you in a long term relationship or a job which requires you to be on call or have little free time?
No.
how much time are you willing to spend to see this project to completion? are the outside factors going to effect your commitment? (a non gaming SO, a sick child, an aging parent, a new job, a move, planning a marriage, etc...)
Well, I have chosen to run this year specifically because I will just have finished my comprehensive exams and will be at the pre-dissertation phase of my program. So, between April and July, I will have a very flexible schedule and considerable free time.
what are you gonna do with your stuff when all is done?
Keep some. Give some away.
4e - Now, Soon, Later, or Never?
I think 4E will come out when WOTC has gauged that the community is ready for it and there is real demand for the product. I expect that this will be sooner than some people imagine.
Which is your favorite Beatle?
George. I liked his work for Bangladesh and his decision to help create Hand Made Films, my favourite movie production company of all time. Plus I’m one of the guys who actually liked the sitar music.
Software. What role do you see for software in DnD?
That is sort of dependent on GM and player style. I think we are well-served by game systems that are versatile and modular enough to work well with pen and paper but can also be souped-up or made easier with software if that is what people are into. I think it would be a disaster if D&D, at some point, did with computers what it did with minis in 3rd edition and began operating on the assumption that computers were going to be used in character generation, for instance.
Do you use software in DnD (more than Word/PDF etc)?
No.
Are minis more important than software?
I wish they were not but, objectively, they certainly are in D&D’s current incarnation. It is my hope that future editions of the game will make gaming without minis easier.
Are any of you offering cash incentives, beer, and/or incriminating photographs of Morrus in return for my vote?
I’ll be too busy signing up the homeless and getting them to vote at the public library.
What game(s) are you playing in now / have played in in the past year?
Two OGL homebrews, Warhammer, Dogs in the Vineyard, Runequest, Traveller, D&D and True20.
How do you feel about Wizards of the Coast abstaining from entering products?
I think it is probably a good move. It is kind of analogous to the Roman Catholic Church’s decision to sit only as an observer at the World Council of Churches.
How long have you been gaming? Does that affect the perspective you will be bringing to the judging table?
Since 1981. I think that experience with a variety of gaming group dynamics gives me a sense of perspective on the social aspects of gaming and how systems and people can fit together in different ways. But I don’t think it is a big factor. As Thoreau said, “age is no better an instructor than youth.”
How much game design experience do you have? I don't mean published, I mean in general- 10 years of homebrewing? Have you created your own systems? Do you think this affects your level of qualification as a judge?
I have designed homebrewed rules for three of the last five games I have run. I think this experience has given me an appreciation of the challenge of designing clear, self-consistent systems. It has also convinced me that there is no universal system that is going to work with every setting, every campaign or every group. I tend to view the rules of the game as the physics of the game world but I will keep this perspective at bay when I judge systems like the Indie-RPGs games which are differently premised.
Do you think that the ENnies should have a codified set of rules for how they should be run, including a specific list of points that the judges should use for each category?
I have just got through hashing out this issue in a non-profit advocacy group on whose board I serve. Currently, Fair Vote Ontario is evaluating various models of voting systems that are being presented to a government-mandated commission that is reviewing the province’s voting system. Many people thought that scoring these models through a complex point-based system would make the project of evaluating and ranking them easier. The reverse has happened.
While a lot of these point systems look good on paper, in practice, they tend to produce strategic voting by judging panels (mix/maxing in gamer terms) and tend to deliver middling scores to all products, regardless of actual merits. So, no – I am not a fan of such an approach.
Or do you think that the ENnies should be like they are currently, and the judges voting on the rules each year?
I don’t think the practice is to vote on the rules each year. I think there is a bit of tradition involved at this point. But yes. I prefer an evaluation process that gets the judges to behave honestly, fairly and co-operatively.
Do you think that the ENnies being so intimately tied to the World's Largest d20 Fan Site might mean that the basic voting pool for the ENnies might be a bit biased towards d20 products in general?
First of all, the ENnies are not “so intimately tied” as they once were. Denise Robinson has been working with Peter Adkinson for the past several years to broaden the awards. And their work on this front has been a resounding success. Any scan of award recipients over the past few years demonstrates conclusively that her efforts have been a resounding success. Non-D20 products have won major awards several years in a row.
Do you think that the ENnies should move everything over to their own, independant website (which they already have), to have all aspects of the ENnies in 1 single central location? Why or why not?
I would hope that every major RPG forum has a thread like this. I think it would be most foolish for the ENnies to seek to limit discussion of the awards to one site and attempt to shut down EN World, RPG.net or any other forum’s discussions.
Do you think moving the ENnies off EN World would cause a drop in the overall number of voters?
No. I believe it will increase the number of voters. Last year, moving the awards voting off the site resulted in a major turnout increase.
Do you plan on playtesting any of the material?
I inevitably will but do not intend to do so systematically. Obviously there would not be time to do so.
What prompted you to consider being a judge for the ENnies?
My work with the ENnies judges, board and staff over the past two years. This is a fun project and a great team of people. Now that I have finished work on reforming the voting systems for the awards, I would like to continue being a part of the project.
Would statements by those "in the industry" affect your opinions on a product?
Nope. The only statements that will matter to me will be those in the published material.
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Piratecat said:
Not the venue to discuss policy? I have been told that the judges are the ones who vote on and set policy each year for the ENnies. Doesn't it make sense then to ask them their opinions on the policy issues that I am concerned about, to find out their views and opinions on those policy issues?
To me, it would seem that this IS the thread for asking the potential judges questions of that nature. Or is it that you prefer them answering idiotic ("Mutant or Troll?") or trivial questions?
Please let me know? Are serious questions about the judges' views on policies valid questions or do you want to keep the questions trivial? Wouldn't that be akin to not being allowed to ask a presidential candidate his position on foreign policy?
Umbran said:
Right! Apparently asking questions on their policy viewpoints is a forbidden topic, and the judges are only meant to answer trivial questions....
So much for the fairness and open-ness of the d20 awards... excuse me, I mean the ENnies....
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Allow me to quote from The Rules. (emphasis added)Rasyr said:
However, please don't be offended if, in a given instance, the moderator doesn't agree with you. I can assure you that all of the moderators here do their best to be fair and frequently talk issues over. With that in mind, we do have a couple of rules when it comes to moderators, and we ask you to abide by them:
1) We appreciate that sometimes you will disagree with a moderator's decision, or feel that a request from a moderator is unfair or unjustified. With over 32,000 members, we're not going to be able to keep everyone happy all of the time, so we settle for trying to keep most people happy most of the time. Whether or not you agree with a moderator's stance, we do expect you to abide by their decisions and requests.
2) If you really, really disagree with a moderator's position on a [moderating] issue, please don't argue about it on the boards. That means no calling out of moderators, no challenging their decisions in the thread, and certainly no attempts to go over a moderator's head. The moderators all discuss such things amongst themselves, and no moderator or admin is ever going to override another. If you honestly feel that you have been treated unfairly, please contact the moderator in question privately and discuss it with them. The end result may not be the one you were seeking, but we will do our our best to be fair.
These apply to everyone, Rasyr, and this thread is no exception. Please email me if you wish to discuss the issue. I'd be happy to do so.1) We appreciate that sometimes you will disagree with a moderator's decision, or feel that a request from a moderator is unfair or unjustified. With over 32,000 members, we're not going to be able to keep everyone happy all of the time, so we settle for trying to keep most people happy most of the time. Whether or not you agree with a moderator's stance, we do expect you to abide by their decisions and requests.
2) If you really, really disagree with a moderator's position on a [moderating] issue, please don't argue about it on the boards. That means no calling out of moderators, no challenging their decisions in the thread, and certainly no attempts to go over a moderator's head. The moderators all discuss such things amongst themselves, and no moderator or admin is ever going to override another. If you honestly feel that you have been treated unfairly, please contact the moderator in question privately and discuss it with them. The end result may not be the one you were seeking, but we will do our our best to be fair.
Rasyr said:
That's enough, Rasyr. You've had an instruction from Piratecat. You are bound by the rules of EN World. You do not challenge moderators publically. I know that banning you wil play exactly into your agenda, but you are one inch from it, agenda or no. You're not that important; don't think you are. Last chance.
Feel free to make the obligatory "censorship" protests on other boards* (we've been there a million times before with better than you; trust us, it won't phase us) but do not break the rules of this messageboard again.
*[Edit - ah, I see you already have! Good on you! You're quicker off the mark with the TEH TROOOOF!!11!! BEWARE THE SHINING LIGHT OF MY BLINDING TROOOOOOOFFF!!11!! posts than even Chatdemon was, and he invented it! Well done, man!]
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Morrus said:
If you ban me for my above post, that is YOUR choice, cause I did break the rules by talking back to the Mods. I realized it after I posted, but I am a strong believer in not editing my posts after the fact if I can help it, that I decided to let it stand and take the consequences. If I get banned it is for break the rule, not for censorship.
And I did actually post over in another forum and I did state that the above post may have gotten me banned (for talking back to the Mods), and I copied the post there, cause I was also afraid that would get deleted.
In any case, P-Kitty didn't answer my question about what sort of questions are valid, and I am not emailing him privately about that because I also believe it is something that should be answered publicly. I won't repeat the questions again, but they do need to be answered...
Rasyr said:
You'll use email if he intructs you to. What you "believe" is, no doubt, fascinating to you, but irrelevant to the rules. You're a big fan of codified rules, right? Or just those which don't conflict with what you "believe"?
Three days. Next time it's permanent.
Queen_Dopplepopolis
First Post
Do you think that the ENnies should have a codified set of rules for how they should be run, including a specific list of points that the judges should use for each category?
The ENnies, in my experience, are constantly evolving. Each year, things are changed and adapted to fit with industry innovations and (hopefully) gamer's likes and dislikes. And, I think that's the way it should be.
Moreover, I think that gaming products are simply too subjective to be judged on a point-based scale.
Or do you think that the ENnies should be like they are currently, and the judges voting on the rules each year?
I think the current system has worked out quite well.
Do you think that the ENnies being so intimately tied to the World's Largest d20 Fan Site might mean that the basic voting pool for the ENnies might be a bit biased towards d20 products in general?
I think that the results for past years speak for themselves: d20 products are not favored. The winners come from the entire RPG spectrum.
Do you think that the ENnies should move everything over to their own, independant website (which they already have), to have all aspects of the ENnies in 1 single central location? Why or why not?
Discussing the ENnies on many forums, while a bit of a struggle for the judges, is a fine way to talk about the awards.
Do you think moving the ENnies off EN World would cause a drop in the overall number of voters?
fusangite said that moving voting off of ENWorld increased voting... and I believe what he says.
Do you plan on playtesting any of the material?
I have already warned my gaming group that they will be my subjects! *evil laughter*
What prompted you to consider being a judge for the ENnies?
It was actually The Universe's idea. He said, "you'd make a good judge. Can I nominate you?" And, after careful thought, decided it would be a fun, interesting thing to do.
More importantly, I think that having women running is very empowering... and having a woman on the panel would be even more empowering. So, I'm hoping, by having Xath and I in the running will increase the chances that a woman's voice will be heard on the ENnies panel.
Would statements by those "in the industry" affect your opinions on a product?
No.
The ENnies, in my experience, are constantly evolving. Each year, things are changed and adapted to fit with industry innovations and (hopefully) gamer's likes and dislikes. And, I think that's the way it should be.
Moreover, I think that gaming products are simply too subjective to be judged on a point-based scale.
Or do you think that the ENnies should be like they are currently, and the judges voting on the rules each year?
I think the current system has worked out quite well.
Do you think that the ENnies being so intimately tied to the World's Largest d20 Fan Site might mean that the basic voting pool for the ENnies might be a bit biased towards d20 products in general?
I think that the results for past years speak for themselves: d20 products are not favored. The winners come from the entire RPG spectrum.
Do you think that the ENnies should move everything over to their own, independant website (which they already have), to have all aspects of the ENnies in 1 single central location? Why or why not?
Discussing the ENnies on many forums, while a bit of a struggle for the judges, is a fine way to talk about the awards.
Do you think moving the ENnies off EN World would cause a drop in the overall number of voters?
fusangite said that moving voting off of ENWorld increased voting... and I believe what he says.
Do you plan on playtesting any of the material?
I have already warned my gaming group that they will be my subjects! *evil laughter*
What prompted you to consider being a judge for the ENnies?
It was actually The Universe's idea. He said, "you'd make a good judge. Can I nominate you?" And, after careful thought, decided it would be a fun, interesting thing to do.
More importantly, I think that having women running is very empowering... and having a woman on the panel would be even more empowering. So, I'm hoping, by having Xath and I in the running will increase the chances that a woman's voice will be heard on the ENnies panel.
Would statements by those "in the industry" affect your opinions on a product?
No.
Hi!
I've got a stack of answers to post, but this thread has been moving a lot and I need to sort out the order of the later questions. So, here are my answers to the earlier questions, and I'll be posting again tomorrow (it's nearly 2am here. Blue Wizard needs sleep badly.)
1. How do you think price factors when evaluating a product?
As a consumer, very much. As a judge, only if it is one of the criteria, or if the price is somehow disproportionate. I also have a lot of respect for people who are willing to make professional-quality games and not charge for them.
2. Do you have a favourite system, or particular dislike of one? Why? How will this affect your ability to judge products?
I don't have a single favourite system, because I don't have a single preferred style/genre of gaming. As for systems I dislike - I rarely dislike an entire system, unless there is something I find offensive about the product (on a FATAL or RaHoWa scale - I'm not easily offended.) I do dislike (sometimes irrationally) parts of systems because they I think they bring down the rest of the product. I deal with this by noting down what I don't like, so I can forget about it while I read the rest of the game. Then when I go back to the things I don't like, I'm reviewing them in the light of the other stuff.
3. How do you feel about PDFs? Inherent advantages and/or disadvantages?
I think they're great for publishers and consumers. More choice, easy distribution, some products become viable that wouldn't be on paper. I want to be able to use PDFs and books, not just one or the other.
4. Mutant or troll?
Regenerating mutant. Go munchkin me!
5. mechanics or concepts? if you find too many errors in mechanics or in the writing will you fault the submission?
Either or both. If it's both, the mechanics and the concepts should be a good match for each other. "Too many errors" - for me - would be the point at which the errors would detract significantly from the fun of the game, so I would fault the submission.
6. are you in a long term relationship or a job which requires you to be on call or have little free time? how much time are you willing to spend to see this project to completion? are the outside factors going to effect your commitment? (a non gaming SO, a sick child, an aging parent, a new job, a move, planning a marriage, etc...)
I have a non-gaming SO, but she's already cleared me to participate
I will spend as much time as it takes - and I am a public servant with a lot of leave entitlement and a boss who is actively encouraging me to use it.
7. what are you gonna do with your stuff when all is done?
I already have more books than I need, so I will only keep stuff if it bumps something else of my shelf. Anything left over will be disposed of charitably (which may include giving it to people I like.) This will be a non-profit exercise for me. I live in the UK, so I won't be sending anything back, sorry.
8. 4e - Now, Soon, Later, or Never?
When it’s ready: More helpfully: I think that 3e was a significant improvement over
2e, and 4e would also have to deliver significant improvements to justify the effort. Opening up the d20 license has reduced the need for an “official upgrade”; if there is a particular itch you want scratched, odds are it’s covered somewhere. Having said that, I would like to see a leaner, meaner set of 4e core rules as a more flexible base for people to add their own favourite options. But I don’t need that, because I can do that for myself. Ultimately, it’s a decision for the publisher to make, based on feedback from their customers.
9. Which is your favorite Beatle?
Any except Paul.
10. Software. What role do you see for software in DnD? Do you use software in DnD (more than Word/PDF etc)? Are minis more important than software?
For D&D, chargen software and that’s about it – but I’ve played other games in IRC. For me, software is good for making tasks easier (chargen, randomising, bookkeeping), or for extending what is possible (internet gaming, multimedia). For face-to-face play, I find it easier to use books, dice and minis; the laptop gets in the way (and is less spill-resistant!) Neither is intrinsically more important than the other.
11. Are any of you offering cash incentives, beer, and/or incriminating photographs of Morrus in return for my vote?
Nope.
12. What game(s) are you playing in now / have played in in the past year?
Now: Most of the time, my best friend’s homebrew campaign. It used to be 1st edition AD&D, but has evolved over the last 12 years into something very different. It’s very comfortable, like an old sock with lots of holes in it… also a fun little 1st Edition Spycraft campaign, using the corebook only.
Past Year: Most of my gaming time is spent in the campaigns above, so very little – I’ve run a few one-shot games (The Pool, Capes, a work-in-progress of my own devising that I won’t plug here) to give my friend a break from the GM seat; however, as I tend to pick shared-authority games, it’s not that much of a break!
I've got a stack of answers to post, but this thread has been moving a lot and I need to sort out the order of the later questions. So, here are my answers to the earlier questions, and I'll be posting again tomorrow (it's nearly 2am here. Blue Wizard needs sleep badly.)
1. How do you think price factors when evaluating a product?
As a consumer, very much. As a judge, only if it is one of the criteria, or if the price is somehow disproportionate. I also have a lot of respect for people who are willing to make professional-quality games and not charge for them.
2. Do you have a favourite system, or particular dislike of one? Why? How will this affect your ability to judge products?
I don't have a single favourite system, because I don't have a single preferred style/genre of gaming. As for systems I dislike - I rarely dislike an entire system, unless there is something I find offensive about the product (on a FATAL or RaHoWa scale - I'm not easily offended.) I do dislike (sometimes irrationally) parts of systems because they I think they bring down the rest of the product. I deal with this by noting down what I don't like, so I can forget about it while I read the rest of the game. Then when I go back to the things I don't like, I'm reviewing them in the light of the other stuff.
3. How do you feel about PDFs? Inherent advantages and/or disadvantages?
I think they're great for publishers and consumers. More choice, easy distribution, some products become viable that wouldn't be on paper. I want to be able to use PDFs and books, not just one or the other.
4. Mutant or troll?
Regenerating mutant. Go munchkin me!
5. mechanics or concepts? if you find too many errors in mechanics or in the writing will you fault the submission?
Either or both. If it's both, the mechanics and the concepts should be a good match for each other. "Too many errors" - for me - would be the point at which the errors would detract significantly from the fun of the game, so I would fault the submission.
6. are you in a long term relationship or a job which requires you to be on call or have little free time? how much time are you willing to spend to see this project to completion? are the outside factors going to effect your commitment? (a non gaming SO, a sick child, an aging parent, a new job, a move, planning a marriage, etc...)
I have a non-gaming SO, but she's already cleared me to participate
I will spend as much time as it takes - and I am a public servant with a lot of leave entitlement and a boss who is actively encouraging me to use it.7. what are you gonna do with your stuff when all is done?
I already have more books than I need, so I will only keep stuff if it bumps something else of my shelf. Anything left over will be disposed of charitably (which may include giving it to people I like.) This will be a non-profit exercise for me. I live in the UK, so I won't be sending anything back, sorry.
8. 4e - Now, Soon, Later, or Never?
When it’s ready: More helpfully: I think that 3e was a significant improvement over
2e, and 4e would also have to deliver significant improvements to justify the effort. Opening up the d20 license has reduced the need for an “official upgrade”; if there is a particular itch you want scratched, odds are it’s covered somewhere. Having said that, I would like to see a leaner, meaner set of 4e core rules as a more flexible base for people to add their own favourite options. But I don’t need that, because I can do that for myself. Ultimately, it’s a decision for the publisher to make, based on feedback from their customers.
9. Which is your favorite Beatle?
Any except Paul.
10. Software. What role do you see for software in DnD? Do you use software in DnD (more than Word/PDF etc)? Are minis more important than software?
For D&D, chargen software and that’s about it – but I’ve played other games in IRC. For me, software is good for making tasks easier (chargen, randomising, bookkeeping), or for extending what is possible (internet gaming, multimedia). For face-to-face play, I find it easier to use books, dice and minis; the laptop gets in the way (and is less spill-resistant!) Neither is intrinsically more important than the other.
11. Are any of you offering cash incentives, beer, and/or incriminating photographs of Morrus in return for my vote?
Nope.
12. What game(s) are you playing in now / have played in in the past year?
Now: Most of the time, my best friend’s homebrew campaign. It used to be 1st edition AD&D, but has evolved over the last 12 years into something very different. It’s very comfortable, like an old sock with lots of holes in it… also a fun little 1st Edition Spycraft campaign, using the corebook only.
Past Year: Most of my gaming time is spent in the campaigns above, so very little – I’ve run a few one-shot games (The Pool, Capes, a work-in-progress of my own devising that I won’t plug here) to give my friend a break from the GM seat; however, as I tend to pick shared-authority games, it’s not that much of a break!
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