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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Drew" data-source="post: 3337142" data-attributes="member: 1314">MoreI subject all flavor text to a test. I imagine reading it to a table full of gamers. If I see their imaginary eyes gloss over, the text fails the test.That means it must be evocative without being cheesy, descriptive without being wordy, and grammatically sound without being too hard to read. I'm interested in stuff that inspires me to game, not to purchase the author's latest fan fiction.Clarity is the most important factor in writing when it comes to game mechanics. Products will be evaluated on their own merits, based on the intended goals of the designers and how well those goals are met.Fortunately, the kind of books that can be really well done in 20 pages are seldom the kind of books that require 400. If weighing two books of vastly different lengths against one another, I'd assess each on how well it stands on its own merits.I own a handful of such products. Some of these materials seem to be real labors of love, and I think that its great to see grass roots support done not for profit but for love of the game. I'd first focus on the system neutral aspects of the book in question. Things like setting, flavor text, art, layout, and originality are easy to assess regardless of the system. I'm a pretty quick study when it comes to new games, so next I'd try to learn at least the basic mechanics of the system and test the rules myself. Finally, no judge should exist in a vacuum. If a book was completely outside the scope of my knowledge and experience, I'd find out the opinions of the game system's diehard fans. My final decision would be my own, but I'd be foolish not to listen to the thoughts and ideas of people who had devoted years to a game or system. I think that its entirely possible to factor in one's personal bias when evaluating a product.  I don't particularly care for West End Game's Star Wars system, for example. That doesn't mean I can't see the appeal of that system to gamers trying to achieve a certain type of gaming experience. Just because something doesn't appeal to my exact tastes doesn't mean it isn't well designed. Of course. Just as there can be a bad adventure for a good system. An adventure, or any other book, can rise above its system by excelling in writing, innovation, and other areas. Its a truly great product that can build awesome ideas upon a flawed base.  I don't know that one can reasonably expect to playtest hundreds and hundreds of gaming products. A good judge knows when and what to playtest, and how to best manage their time and resources. I think that my experience as a reviewer has taught me how to do this fairly efficienctly.I'm a strong writer with good public speaking skills and a lot of passion for gaming. I really believe in the ENnies and all that they represent. I've been watching from the sidelines for a long time, and I'm eager to throw my hat in the ring and devote my time and effort to doing the job right.My organization skills are lacking, however, which is my biggest weakness. I've never undertaken something so big, and I know its going to be a challenge sorting through all this product. However, this is a challenge I'm looking forward to facing. If selected, the ENnies will be a real labor of love for me. I'm a chubby white guy with a beard...wait. This is a pretty tough question. While there are certainly differences, a lot of the judges come from similar backgrounds. I've been a part of EN World since its inception, but I lack the strong ties of a Crothian or PirateCat. I don't bring a new gender perspective like the women bravely stepping up to take a shot. Heck, I'm not even Canadian.What I am is a talented writer and gaming enthusiast with a real desire to become an ENnie Judge. I watched the first ENnies from the back row of GenCon. I remember thinking to myself, “I could really be a part of all of this.” If selected, I'll give the job every once of energy and devotion I have. Does a brown belt in Okinawan karate intimidate anyone into voting for me?Art, like any other individual aspect of a book, is a piece of the whole. An ENnie winning product should have good art in addition to good writing, sound mechanics, etc. When art is good, it helps convey a book's overall feeling.I wrote a single monster that appeared in Strange Lands: Lost Tribes of the Scarred Lands.As I said above, I was in the audience for the very first ENnies at GenCon. I remember that the trophies weren't even finished. The whole thing had a nice, almost family atmosphere to it. Sitting there in the back row, I felt really proud. Over the years, I've been something of a quite observer as the awards have grown and evolved. That first ENnies really sparked something in me. I very much want to be a part of what I see as one of the best things in gaming. I feel that I'd make a good judge, and I want to do my part to help support the hobby I love. Not any more so  than the statements of other knowledgeable gamers affect my opinions.</blockquote>

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