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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rodrigo Istalindir" data-source="post: 4395285" data-attributes="member: 2810">IntroductionI’ve gamed most of my life, and I’m grateful for the friends and enjoyment gaming has brought me.  I enjoy learning new systems and tinkering with rules, and I am not attached to any one system over all others.    I believe that the ENnies Awards best serve the gaming community when used as a spotlight that shines on the best that gaming itself has to offer, and this belief will be the foundation of all my efforts and considerations as an ENnies judge.  If elected, l will endeavor to bring both a fresh perspective to the Awards, as well as a deep appreciation for the wide variety of experiences all role-playing games provide.Judge Questionnaire1.    When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?I started playing RPGs around Christmas of ’80, having received the Holmes’ boxed set as a gift.  I’d always had an interest in history, plus I’d just recently discovered Tolkien and fantasy literature, and a friend had just introduced me to Avalon Hill war games -- it was a perfect storm.  Despite some slow periods, I’ve remained active and interested in the hobby ever since.  I find RPGs to be an excellent creative outlet, and I’m particularly interested in the puzzle and problem-solving aspects of a game.  Coming from a wargaming background, I also really like the tactical aspects.2.    Since you joined the hobby, what roles have you played (e.g. vending, professional writing and publishing, freelancing, reviewing, convention organizing, home brewing, playing, GM’ing, etc.)?Early on, I was primarily a player.  Eventually I took on GM’ing duties, and that became my primary role in recent years.  I’ve also organized gamedays for local players.  During the times between regular gaming opportunities, I enjoy tinkering with my own rules systems and engaging in world-building.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?Gaming is my primary hobby, and I’m fortunate to be able to devote a great deal of energy to it.  I don’t have many responsibilities with a stronger claim on my free time.  I’m also a voracious, fast, and thorough reader -- so while the amount of material is immense, I don’t think I’ll find it overwhelming.  Plus, I don’t sleep.5.    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 work in IT, so I’m used to tight deadlines and project management, which I think will serve me well.  I’ve spent several years doing systems and business analysis, so I believe I have very good critical thinking skills.  In addition, I think I’m a fairly accomplished writer – the Ceramic DM competitions on ENWorld have honed the communications skills I learned in college to a fine edge.6.    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 enjoy fantasy-themed games the most, although I’m happy to play just about everything.  It was what got me hooked, and it’s what I always come back to.  I enjoy most styles and genres -- I’ve found over the years that it’s the players, not the game, that make RPGs fun.  I am a true system junkie, so I’m not particularly wed to any given game.  When my group first got started in the hobby, we would typically switch systems as soon as someone had saved enough money to buy the next game that caught our eye.7.    What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?That’s like asking what painting is the best.  There’s no right answer, and there’s no system that’s a perfect fit for every play-style or player.  Like many, I’m rather fond of d20 -- not any particular variant so much as the unbridled flexibility it offers to tweak and tune to your heart’s content.  In recent years, I’ve logged more time in d20-based games than any other for regular play, as it made it easier for my less-experienced players to hop from game to game.  I’ve relished the opportunities the gamedays and GenCon have provided to branch out into other systems such as Dread or Hollow Earth Expedition, both as a player and as a GM.8.    What games have you played in the past year?  List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.In the past year, D&D 3.5 and 4e, Dread, Grim Tales, d20 Modern, True 20, Hollow Earth Expedition, Savage Worlds, Cthulhu d20, Serenity, All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Star Wars Saga Edition.  I’ve bought and read probably another dozen on top of that.In terms of play time, D&D in various incarnations would be at the top, followed by various iterations of Star Wars.  9.    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?The movie critic Roger Ebert said something to the effect that “it’s not what the movie is about, it’s how it’s about it.”  I think I would approach the ENnies with a similar philosophy, looking at what the game was trying to achieve, and how well it accomplished its goal.  You shouldn’t judge a beer-and-pretzels game by the same criteria as a game designed for immersive role-playing, for example.  For the holistic categories (e.g. ‘Best Game’) one should look to how well the various elements of a product as a whole mesh together.  For the content categories such as Best Rules, it’s more important to be able to see the singular system elements separate from the overall product.  It’s been my experience that many, if not most, gamers are likely to build their own Frankenstein’s Monster and cherry-pick from various sources, so a product that does one thing exceptionally well should be recognized, even if the other elements don’t quite meet the same standard.10.    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?For any systems I’m totally unfamiliar with, I’d look to pick up the core book (in print or PDF).  For products intended for systems that aren’t my cup of tea, I’d do my best to set aside any prejudices, and look at the product in terms of what it brings to the table for gamers in general, and for fans of the core material in particular. I would also rely on judges with a different gaming background to provide perspective and history on unfamiliar systems.  While I trust my own judgment, the insight provided by an experienced player of a particular game would be invaluable.11.     How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)?  What should remain inviolate?  I’d like to see the categories fixed for the coming year before submissions are accepted.  While there are always going to be square-peg/round-hole dilemmas, I think the having the playing field established early will further enhance the ENnies’ credibility, and will encourage more publishers to participate.  I would also suggest that for the “edge” cases (supplement vs. setting, or supplement vs. adventure, for example), the publisher should decide which category they wish to submit for, with the ENnies judges having the right to veto the inclusion in a category where it is clearly inappropriate.BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be, and would you play it?The Big Lebowski: The Game.  And yes, I would play it.  Although it’d have to be rated “MA” for Mature Audiences.</blockquote>

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