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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgbrowning" data-source="post: 1395247" data-attributes="member: 5724">My suggestionsSome of my suggestions/ideas:The Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe (and soon to be Magical Medieval Society: Ecology and Culture) problem. We release books both as a PDF, a printed book, and we also release a goodly portion (that stands alone) of the same book as a free PDF. We do this for both fiscal and community reasons. We also, defacto, submit to the best setting suplement, best electronic product, and best free product what is, essentially, a single product. This does cause difficulties for judging. As much as I appreciate and respect people's opinions about our MMS:WE ENnies last year, I think the judges should make a final determination if what we are doing is fair in the ENnies process.Good arguments can be made either for or against our practice. I myself don't think a free product should be allowed in the best electronic product category (which we won last year with a free product). I just want to be the first to bring it to the attention of the judges and perhaps others can weigh in their opinion in the matter.Enough about us-on to other subjects...Revision products: We also need to consider "compilation" products such as some of the mongoose "complete" books. Books that compile OGC material. Are they revisions or new books? Also, some products contain more "old" material than "new" material. IMHO, an update to the mechanics shouldn't be considered as "new" (it's just a issue of system portability), and compilation products shouldn't be considered as new either.But on the other hand there is truly new material in some of these products. Using the Book of Fiends as an example (this isn't indicative of the BoF, just using it as an example) we know that if the Gehenna portion of the book was released as an independent product, it would be new and available for ENnie consideration just like any other product. But should BoF be viewed as a new product or an old product?One reason for not viewing it as a new product is that you may eventually have the same product winning awards in different years. Also, it is easier to update and add new product to an existing one than it is to create a completely new product. But here again, what about OGC... how much OGC can be in a book and be considered "new" and should that matter at all, considering the ENnies are supposed to promote the idea of the D20 system and the OGL?. It's a slippery slope and I'm not going to pretend I know the answers. I'm just bringing things up for consideration.But, on the other hand, is it right to not allow the BoF to compete for an ENnie related to it's writing? I just picked it up today and it's a fine looking book, and if the new material is as good as the old material, it's definitely, IMHO, ENnie quality material. Also, there's the viewpoint that suggests a product should only be judged on its quality and if a product (new or old) is of enough quality to make the top 5 judges choice, so be it.Liscensed products: These products have an advantage over products that are not liscensed. Some of the best material in D&D is the liscensed stuff: beholders, mind-flayers etc... the most interesting and unique ideas. This allows liscensed products to discuss the more interesting subjects to the D&D audience, thus the advantage.However, many liscensed products do nothing of the sort. The Orcs of Tellene is a good example. IMHO, its a good, useful and ENnie quality book that just happens to have the official D&D logo on it's cover. Sure it has an advantage of greater production resources (Kenzer) but I don't think that should be a deciding factor in what product is good or not. IMHO, there's no way to level that field: money's a factor and it always will be.But again, liscensed companies have the option of releasing OGC material, as WoTC's Unearthed Arcana proves. Of the options of allowing liscensed products into any category, allowing liscensed products into any category as long as they're OGL, and allowing liscensed products into a special "liscensed product" category, I favor the latter two. I'm sure other's opinions will differ.Thanks for listening and thanks for making the process open to discussion.joe b.</blockquote>

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