[ENnies] Categories

[Rifter]

1) There will be no PDF-only category.

I think this is a bad idea. PDFs need more publicity, though, this would be a good one for peer review, not fan review.

2) WotC will be allowed to enter.

Good

3) Some heavy discussion about OGL only products, and where the line should be drawn. Opinions here would be extremely useful.

I would say make best OGL game, and best OGL supplement.

4) Most importantly - the judges have suggested reducing some of the "marketting budget" advantage held by some companies by creating a "Judges' Choice" award. This could take one of two forms - 1) a single overall award for what they consider the best product overall or 2) a Judges' Choice for each category. I have strongly advised them to solicit opinions before deciding on this last issue, as I can see it being fairly sensitive.

I like the other idea, no judge review, but have a peer review. But, just a few major areas, not in every area. (like best rules, and stuff like that)
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[mearls]

Hmmm... that's an interesting idea. I think I quite like it. Anyone else got any thoughts on this?

How about a writer's choice award? You know, pull together about a dozen d20 freelancers who aren't fulltimers at any publisher and have them submit their list of the top 5 d20 products in each category. Collect the lists, and the products that get listed the most win a "Designer's Choice" award or something.

There really isn't an outlet for designers to recognize each other's work.

(No, the Origins Awards do NOT count.)

I'd be more than happy to step up and help organize this.

 

[tensen]

Why not have a separate voting booth that will allow each publisher (one rep from each pub only) that has at least one product entered into the ENnies make a selection in each category from the five nominated products. If the Publishers' Choice happens to also coincide with the People's Choice, then that entrant gets an added boost (two awards). If the Publishers' Choice happens to be different than the People's Choice, then so be it and two companies/products can share the glory in that category.

Hmm.. at least one product entered in the ENnies?
Dang.. that means I get bumped out of this too. Since Dark Quest products coming out under the Natural 20 Press banner won't be eligible for the ENnies... so then I wouldn't get to vote for that either.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I like that WOTC is included. Sets the bar higher.

I don't like a Judges' Choice award. The nominations themselves are the Judges' Choice awards, right?

I don't like the Publishers' Choice, either. I don't think the ENnies are the proper forum for that.

Really the only thing I would change from last year is tighter control over the voting system. I think some minimal amount of participation at ENworld (either by number of posts or age of account) is a perfectly acceptable requirement for voting.

Wulf

 

[Blacksad]

Moving this thread toward the General Forum might be a good idea (because, publisher are likely to prefer another chance to get a price, while buyer prefer a clear choice).

PS: I reiterate that I don't want a judge or publisher special price

 

[jgbrowning]

I like that WOTC is included. Sets the bar higher.

I don't like a Judges' Choice award. The nominations themselves are the Judges' Choice awards, right?

I don't like the Publishers' Choice, either. I don't think the ENnies are the proper forum for that.

Really the only thing I would change from last year is tighter control over the voting system. I think some minimal amount of participation at ENworld (either by number of posts or age of account) is a perfectly acceptable requirement for voting.

Wulf

I'll have to agree with Wulf. I'd like a bit tighter control over the voting system as well. I'm all for either of his requirements for voting. That would, hopefully at least, reduce the amount of voting based upon name recognition as opposed to individual product quality.

 

[Pramas]

1) There will be no PDF-only category.

Is this to allow PDFs to compete in more categories? If so, that's a noble goal, but the PDF publishers are likely to get spanked by the print publishers. Print publishers just sell way more of their product, which means more people are exposed to it, which means more people are likely to vote for it.

4) Most importantly - the judges have suggested reducing some of the "marketting budget" advantage held by some companies by creating a "Judges' Choice" award. This could take one of two forms - 1) a single overall award for what they consider the best product overall or 2) a Judges' Choice for each category. I have strongly advised them to solicit opinions before deciding on this last issue, as I can see it being fairly sensitive.

It's not the marketing budget, it's the unit sales that matter. The problem with WotC competing is that the average d20 publisher these days sells 1-2,000 of any given product and Wizards sells 50,000+. Voters are just far more likely to be familiar with a given Wizards product than the competition.

Judges choice could be nice. Might consider doing two based on page count. Best product 96 pages or less and best product over 96 pages. That way smaller products would have a chance for recognition (this is a problem the Origins Awards sometimes has, with 32 page adventures competing against 300 page mega-adventures).

 

[Darrin Drader]

I think last year's results proved that the general public aren't qualified to vote. I say make it a judges only awards. I also like Mearls' suggestion

 

[Frilf]

On the OGL issue...

Yes, Jason, Engel is OGL. And a darn beautiful product, to boot!

 

[Blacksad]

I think last year's results proved that the general public aren't qualified to vote.

I heartily disagree with that statement