How do you feel about the ENnies so far?

[RangerWickett]

Well...since you asked...

1) I have a concern about the need for fundraising. I think that if GenCon wants their name in the awards, and is going to dictate their content, they should assist with funding enough so there is no need for fundraising. The ENnies seem to be a lot of work for those involved as it is, and to compound that work with fundraising seems like too much added stress. (Although I do admit that some of the auctions, such as sitting with the game designers, are pretty cool. )

Gen Con does provide a ton of support. I think at least a dozen staffers are getting free badges and hotel rooms. We get a booth, a venue to host the awards, and the publicity of Gen Con. Asking them to cough up a few thousand bucks to cover shipping fees would be nice, but we're still the 'Gen Con EN World Awards.'

And yeah, fundraising is added stress. We're trying to come up with things that people will be interested in, since few of us actually kill monsters and take their stuff (and thus have tons of disposable income) for a living.

2) The non-d20/OGL products are of no use to me, and I wish they weren't part of the process.

It's good for us to see what other cool games are out there, I feel. If your favorite product is beaten, well, just maybe then you should take a look at the competition. I certainly don't want to think that D&D is the only game out there.

We're all gamers. We all like roleplaying games. It's good for those of us who like different games to get to share the fun.

3) IMO, there should be some sort of fan vote and nomination process that is independent of the formal submission process - even if it's just for 1 or 2 categories. I think it's a travesty that there's no way to recognize, for example, WotC products, and also perhaps groundbreaking ones like the World's Largest Dungeon, since AEG for whatever reason didn't submit it.

If I may make an analogy, if a player doesn't show up to the game, should the DM give his character XP?

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I am pretty indifferent to the ENnies. I did vote, but since I only recognized maybe 1 product in 5 my votes were pretty skewed (go Piazo!). To be fair though I don't like most award shows so to actually get me to vote in one shows that the ENnies must be the best one

 

[DaveMage]

If I may make an analogy, if a player doesn't show up to the game, should the DM give his character XP?

If you want to encourage them to show up the next time you play, then yes, you should.

But, analogy aside, the fact exists that there are companies out there who don't submit. If there are EN Worlders out there who feel that a product really inspired them, or caught their attention in some way, it would be nice to have a way to honor those products even if they choose not to be a part of the formal process. I'm not advocating that such products be up for all of the awards, just one or two that would let the field be open. (And, of course, there's no shipping costs needed. )

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'm just as glad WotC doesn't participate (and I choose to attribute that to largesse on their part rather than indifference). Given their status as the 800 lb. gorilla, they'd dominate through mind-share irregardless of quality. And although some feedback and recognition might be welcome, they know quite well what sells and what doesn't, so I don't think it would have any practical value for them.

I think I've ended up getting at least on new ENnie product each round that I probably wouldn't have. Not so much for the nomination or win, but because it brought it to my attention and the other feedback here was positive.

I do think the financial costs outweigh the benefits, though. Same was probably true of any other industry award program though, so maybe in 20 years the ENnie will have the same kind of impact on sales as a Grammy does for music.

 

[HellHound]

3) IMO, there should be some sort of fan vote and nomination process that is independent of the formal submission process - even if it's just for 1 or 2 categories.

Uhmm... isn't there a Fan's Choice award for Best Publisher?

That had an independent submission and voting process from the standard nomination process for that category.

Sounds like exactly what you are asking for to me.

 

[DaveMage]

Uhmm... isn't there a Fan's Choice award for Best Publisher?

That had an independent submission and voting process from the standard nomination process for that category.

Sounds like exactly what you are asking for to me.

Something similar, but for specific products, not publishers.

 

[HellHound]

So, in other words, for 2 or 3 categories instead of for 1 or 2 categories.

Or are you looking for something different than the Fan's Choice award in other respects?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I'm just as glad WotC doesn't participate (and I choose to attribute that to largesse on their part rather than indifference). Given their status as the 800 lb. gorilla, they'd dominate through mind-share irregardless of quality.

I'm a little dissapointed WotC doesn't participate. I'm more than happy to go a few rounds with that 800 pound gorilla.

 

[DaveMage]

Just 1 would be fine.

Something like: Fan's choice for best d20 product.

 

[Khairn]

I feel very good about the ENnies. Its a good crop of choices. I disagree with some and thought others should have been nominated, but over-all I'm just waiting for the results.