Branstorming for ENnies 2003 -- improvements, changes, etc

[Blacksad]

I can't speak for the other judges, but I think that it would've been cool to set up the ENnies as a sort of "dual-award" - "Critic's Choice" (for lack of a better term) and "People's Choice" (again, for lack of a better term). The nominations of the judges could have been boiled down to what we felt were the best, and then the nominees would go to the popular vote, pretty much as it was done this time. Then both awards could have been announced simultaneously. That sounds like some of what others have proposed. So, does anyone like that idea? Would you guys like to know what the judges felt were the best items, or does it not matter?

It would put on an equal footing the critic choice and the fan votes, so I'm against it, I still prefer a fan award.

Though, an additional category for the critics choice: the favorite book of the 6 judges could be nice, favorite doesn't need to means the best: it could be the one the judge most used, had an original idea, etc...

Also on the naming of first and runner-up, if you don't like the first second, or gold, silver, we could use:

-Great Wyrm, Wyrm
-Red, Gold (TSR dragon used to be red)
-Vorpal, Keen

or something else recognizable by any D&D player.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

One things is very apparent - there is absolutely no possible way to please everyone. It seems that for everyone who complains about how the popular vote skews things in WotC's favor, there is another who is adamant that the popular vote is of paramount importance.

Personally, I think the system is pretty much the most fair way to do the awards. There are certainly ways to improve upon it, but that's what's being worked on here.

 

[drothgery]

1. PLEASE PUT AN "OPT OUT BUTTON". I know I voted in several catagories because I couldn't cast the votes for the catagories I liked without voting in every catagory. some very random places got my votes in the game acessory catagory.

It wasn't explicitly mentioned, but this was possible.

At least in IE6/Win2K, you could just click the submit/go to the next category button without voting; I did for about half the categories, after making sure that nothing was pre-selected.

 

[Psion]

Well... as I see it there are a couple of issues involved. Judged strictly on the quality of the work, I think WOTC would win a heads up competition with any small publisher.

Wizards can afford the best art, the best layout people, the best writers, can afford any licensing property it wants, etc.

I soundly disagree.

I think every publisher we nominated DESERVED to be nominated, and deserved a shot at winning. I don't think that "WotC is the only one who could afford good artists" pans out in reality.

Why I think WotC did a sweep is simple: they have the most universal name recognition. I mean you have your Kalamar fans, your Green Ronin fans, your Scarred Lands fans, but they ALL have the PHB, and most of them have several other products as well.

 

[Psion]

I would like to here the arguments of anyone who thinks that Manual of the planes,Oriental adventures and Call of Chtulhu

MotP most assuredly deserved the category it won in. Look at how highly it is rated in reviews. Have no doubt, it is a top notch product.

The other two products, I take umbrage with, and think they won those categories based on name recognition. Do you really want to hear arguments, 'cause I can make them? But it's largely not the point, since we accepted from the get-go that the fan nomination was a popularity contest, not a critical overview.

 

[Psion]

PDF cats? But should it be restricted to PDF-only product?

Good lord. You make that a category, there will be a huge amount of competition and you can count me out as being a judge. I think the other judges will understand this...

 

[drothgery]

I think every publisher we nominated DESERVED to be nominated, and deserved a shot at winning. I don't think that "WotC is the only one who could afford good artists" pans out in reality.

WotC can afford good artists for every product, and puts out a large, diverse line of products. Figure that none of WotC's products are going to be immediately dismissed because of poor production values (art, layout, editing, paper quality, obvious major errors with d20 mechanics), and they've simply got more chances to win.

Why I think WotC did a sweep is simple: they have the most universal name recognition. I mean you have your Kalamar fans, your Green Ronin fans, your Scarred Lands fans, but they ALL have the PHB, and most of them have several other products as well.

I think distribution is a big factor here as well. Most gamers still shop at their FLGS, and so have at least flipped through WotC's products; your FLGS, like mine, probably carries some d20 products, but exactly what's carried will vary a lot from store to store. And I'd rather have people voting for a WotC product that they've seen (and preferably used) than something else where they're just going on reviews.

 

[Orcus]

Here is, in my mind, the reason WotC should not be part of the Ennies:

WotC is NOT actually a d20 company.

They do not make d20 products. They make products that they put a d20 logo on. That is different.

They dont have to follow the d20 license. They arent constrained by the content of the SRD. I think that makes a big difference. I was against their inclusion and voiced this opinion some time ago. I repeat the same argument here.

To me, a d20 company is a company that uses the d20 license. WotC, by definition, is not one.

Ryan Dancey and I joked at the con that the award intro should have gone like this:

"And the winner of Best d20 Publisher that doesnt have to follow the d20 license is......Wizards of the Coast!"

That is the difference and the reason they should be excluded: they are not constrained by the SRD or the terms of the license.

I'm not saying that WotC should be kept out. I am saying that products that are not produced under the OGL or d20 Licenses should not be eligible for an ENnie. Until WotC makes such a product--which they havent done--they shouldnt be eligible. When they actually make a d20/OGL product, they can be considered.

This, of course, raises the issue of the EQ RPG which is OGL but NOT d20.

Clark

 

[Psion]

I'm not saying that WotC should be kept out. I am saying that products that are not produced under the OGL or d20 Licenses should not be eligible for an ENnie.

Not that I have a problem with this approach personally, but you do realize that would exclude Kalamar and Ravenloft, don't you?

 

[tmaaas]

Weighting votes

It seems that one of the biggest issues is how to reduce the effect circulation size has on the awards. The problem is that a lesser product with a large distribution will probably beat a superior product with a small distribution in a popularity contest.

Would it be possible in the voting to also mark how many of the products in each category you have actually reviewed/read/used/etc. and feel qualified to judge between [1 to 5], and then weight the results accordingly? (Having a 0 option would also satisfy the 'opt out' requests that others have made; your vote could be ignored. But an explicit 'opt out' option would probably be better.)

Personally, if I've only read two of five products in a category and vote for one of those two, I would not consider my vote as significant as someone who was knowledgeable about all five products. Of course, marking how many products in each category you feel you are qualified to judge would depend on the honor system, but I trust the integrity of most voters.